Thrive.Church Weekly Message

Doubt can come from the ____________________ we face.

[Mark 9:14-24] When they returned to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd surrounding them, and some teachers of religious law were arguing with them. [15] When the crowd saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with awe, and they ran to greet him. [16] "What is all this arguing about?" Jesus asked. [17] One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, "Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won't let him talk. [18] And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn't do it." [19] Jesus said to them, "You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me." [20] So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth. [21] "How long has this been happening?" Jesus asked the boy's father. He replied, "Since he was a little boy. [22] The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can." [23] "What do you mean, 'If I can'?" Jesus asked. "Anything is possible if a person believes." [24] The father instantly cried out, "I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!" 

Doubt is a ____________________ part of our journey.

There's a difference between having ___________________ and being an ____________________.

[Mark 9:25-29] When Jesus saw that the crowd of onlookers was growing, he rebuked the evil spirit. "Listen, you spirit that makes this boy unable to hear and speak," he said. "I command you to come out of this child and never enter him again!" [26] Then the spirit screamed and threw the boy into another violent convulsion and left him. The boy appeared to be dead. A murmur ran through the crowd as people said, "He's dead." [27] But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up. [28] Afterward, when Jesus was alone in the house with his disciples, they asked him, "Why couldn't we cast out that evil spirit?" [29] Jesus replied, "This kind can be cast out only by prayer."

We can ___________ ___________ into our place of doubt.

Doubt can actually be a catalyst for ___________________.

[Hebrews 11:6] And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

My faith is in ___________, not in an __________________.

Things that we compare:

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WHY GOD HATES WHEN WE COMPARE

Comparison is the Death of ____________________

[2 Corinthians 10:12] Oh, don’t worry; we wouldn’t dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant!

_______________ in life isn't being superior or inferior to someone else.

When you compare yourself to someone it creates either ____________________ or ____________________.

Comparison Make us ____________________

[Luke 18:9-12] Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: [10] “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. [11] The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! [12] I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’

Comparison Makes us ____________________

[1 Samuel 18:6-9] When the victorious Israelite army was returning home after David had killed the Philistine, women from all the towns of Israel came out to meet King Saul. They sang and danced for joy with tambourines and cymbals. [7] This was their song: “Saul has killed his thousands, and David with ten thousands and me with only thousands. Next they’ll be making him their king!” [9] So from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.

When we compare, we ____________________ God's goodness in other people's lives and ____________________ God's blessing in our own life!

HOW TO OVERCOME COMPARING

1. Know What You _______________

[Philippians 4:11-13] Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. [12] I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. [13] For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

2. Know _______________ You Are

[Ephesians 2:10] For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

When recognize that you are God's _______________________ you no longer see the need to compare.

God loves to work through ___________________ people.

[Exodus 3:10-14] Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt." [11] But Moses protested to God, "Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?" [12] God answered, "I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain." [13] But Moses protested, "If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, 'The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,' they will ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what should I tell them?" [14] God replied to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you."

You can't do God’s will _______________ __________ from God.

[Exodus 4:1-5] But Moses protested again, "What if they won't believe me or listen to me? What if they say, 'The LORD never appeared to you'?" [2] Then the LORD asked him, "What is that in your hand?" "A shepherd's staff," Moses replied. [3] "Throw it down on the ground," the LORD told him. So Moses threw down the staff, and it turned into a snake! Moses jumped back. [4] Then the LORD told him, "Reach out and grab its tail." So Moses reached out and grabbed it, and it turned back into a shepherd's staff in his hand. [5] "Perform this sign," the LORD told him. "Then they will believe that the LORD, the God of their ancestors--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob--really has appeared to you."

Don’t let doubt become a _______________ _______________.

[Exodus 4:10-14] But Moses pleaded with the LORD, "O Lord, I'm not very good with words. I never have been, and I'm not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled." [11] Then the LORD asked Moses, "Who makes a person's mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the LORD? [12] Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say." [13] But Moses again pleaded, "Lord, please! Send anyone else." [14] Then the LORD became angry with Moses. "All right," he said. "What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he speaks well. And look! He is on his way to meet you now. He will be delighted to see you.

Faith is not the ___________________ of doubt.

[Exodus 5:22-23] Then Moses went back to the LORD and protested, "Why have you brought all this trouble on your own people, Lord? Why did you send me? [23] Ever since I came to Pharaoh as your spokesman, he has been even more brutal to your people. And you have done nothing to rescue them!"

God will ____________ give us more than _________ can handle.

[1 Corinthians 1:27-28] Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. [28] God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.

Fear of __________________________

Fear of __________________________

Fear of __________________________

Fear of __________________________

2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Fear is placing faith in the “____________-_________.”

Exodus 4:1 But Moses protested again, “What if they won’t believe me or listen to me? What if they say, ‘The Lord never appeared to you’?”

What you fear reveals what you ___________ the most!

What you fear reveals where you trust God the _______

I'm not trusting God with: ___________________

1. Acknowledge your fear & ____________ to trust God.

Psalm 56:2-4 I am constantly hounded by those who slander me, and many are boldly attacking me. 3 But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. 4 I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?

I make a _________________ to trust!

I choose to _________________ you no matter what!

2. Seek God until he _____________ away your fears.

Psalm 34:4 I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.

"I have never known more than fifteen minutes of anxiety or fear. Whenever I feel fearful emotions overtaking me I just close my eyes and thank God that he is still on the throne reigning over everything and I take comfort in His control over all the affairs of my life.” - John Wesley

When I'm fearful I need to close my eyes and remind myself that God is on the __________________!

Isaiah 41:10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

_________ puts circumstances between us and God. _________ puts God between us and circumstance.

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Doubt is a ________________ part of life.

[John 12:3-6] Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus' feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance. [4] But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, [5] "That perfume was worth a year's wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor." [6] Not that he cared for the poor--he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples' money, he often stole some for himself.

Doubt can lead us down ________________ paths if left unchecked.

[Matthew 26:14-16] Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests [15] and asked, "How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?" And they gave him thirty pieces of silver. [16] From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

Doubt can ultimately lead to ________________.

[Matthew 26:21-25 NIV] And while they were eating, he said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me." [22] They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, "Surely you don't mean me, Lord?" [23] Jesus replied, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. [24] The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born." [25] Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, "Surely you don't mean me, Rabbi?" Jesus answered, "You have said so."

Doubt can easily lead to ________________.

[Matthew 27:3-5] When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and the elders. [4] "I have sinned," he declared, "for I have betrayed an innocent man." "What do we care?" they retorted. "That's your problem." [5] Then Judas threw the silver coins down in the Temple and went out and hanged himself.

We need to ________________ our doubt, not ________________ our doubt.

[Genesis 3:12] The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.”

[Job 10:1] “I am disgusted with my life. Let me complain freely. My bitter soul must complain.

[Exodus 16:2-3] There, too, the whole community of Israel complained about Moses and Aaron. [3] “If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt,” they moaned. “There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death.”

If you want to live a life that _______________ God, we need to stop complaining!

Complaining ______________ the heart of God.

[Numbers 11:1-2] Soon the people began to complain about their hardship, and the Lord heard everything they said. Then the Lord’s anger blazed against them, and he sent a fire to rage among them, and he destroyed some of the people in the outskirts of the camp. [2] Then the people screamed to Moses for help, and when he prayed to the Lord, the fire stopped.

Complaining carries significant _________________

Complaining is a ________________ of God.

[Numbers 14:27-30] “How long must I put up with this wicked community and its complaints about me? Yes, I have heard the complaints the Israelites are making against me. [28] Now tell them this: ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very things I heard you say. [29] You will all drop dead in this wilderness! Because you complained against me, every one of you who is twenty years old or older and was included in the registration will die. [30] You will not enter and occupy the land I swore to give you. The only exceptions will be Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.

If you want to find something to __________________ about you can. If you want to find something to be filled with ___________ about you can.

What can we do? Stop ___________________.

Philippians [2:14-15] Do everything without complaining and arguing, [15] so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.

Ephesians 4:29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

Why shouldn't we complain? So we can be more like ____________.

[Luke 6:45] A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.

How? Choose to ________________ no matter what.

[Philippians 2:17-18] But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. [18] Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.

[Philippians 4:11] Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.

[Philippians 4:4] Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!

Doubt and _______________ go hand in hand.

[Luke 1:5-9] When Herod was king of Judea, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah. He was a member of the priestly order of Abijah, and his wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron. [6] Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God's eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord's commandments and regulations. [7] They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old. [8] One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. [9] As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense.

God is _________________ even He doesn't do what we want.

[Luke 1:10-12] While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying. [11] While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. [12] Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him.

We can respond to problems with _______________ or with _______________.

[2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV] For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

God wants us to have _______________ _______________.

[Luke 1:18-20] Zechariah said to the angel, "How can I be sure this will happen? I'm an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years." [19] Then the angel said, "I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! [20] But now, since you didn't believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time."

Unbelief is a _______________.

[Luke 1:24-25] Soon afterward his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months. [25] "How kind the Lord is!" she exclaimed. "He has taken away my disgrace of having no children."

Our irritations can remind us of God's ____________________.

[Luke 1:59-64] When the baby was eight days old, they all came for the circumcision ceremony. They wanted to name him Zechariah, after his father. [60] But Elizabeth said, "No! His name is John!" [61] "What?" they exclaimed. "There is no one in all your family by that name." [62] So they used gestures to ask the baby's father what he wanted to name him. [63] He motioned for a writing tablet, and to everyone's surprise he wrote, "His name is John." [64] Instantly Zechariah could speak again, and he began praising God.

We can turn our doubts into _______________.

As soon as I decide to be different, devil gives me excuses to ____________ ____________ ____________!

[Luke 14:16-20] Jesus replied with this story: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. 17 When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’ 18 But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’ 19 Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’ 20 Another said, ‘I now have a wife, so I can’t come.’

So many people have ____________ intentions instead of ____________ intentions.

What does God want to be __________________ about your life?

________ does God want this to be different in your life?

[1 Corinthians 6:19] Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,

When you connect the ____________ to the ____________ it will increase your motivation.

[Romans 8:31b] If God is for us, who can ever be against us?

No ____________ can keep you from perfect will of God.

[Exodus 4:10-12]  But Moses pleaded with the Lord, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.” 11 Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.”

I will ____________ what I can do and trust God to do what I _________________ do!

When you ____________, God will help you and ____________ you along the way

There are some things God ____________ do for me!

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Doubt can either ________________ your faith or ________________ your faith.

[James 1:6 NIV] But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

God doesn't expect you to have ________________ faith.

God is ______________ ______________ to handle your doubts.

[Mark 1:7-11] John announced: "Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am--so much greater that I'm not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals. [8] I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!" [9] One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. [10] As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove. [11] And a voice from heaven said, "You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy."

John was the first one to ________________ Jesus was the Messiah.

[John 1:35-37] The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples. [36] As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, "Look! There is the Lamb of God!" [37] When John's two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus.

Sometimes we have ________________ when God's ________________ doesn't look like we think it should.

[Matthew 11:2-3] John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, [3] "Are you the Messiah we've been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?"

Even people with strong ________________ face doubt in ________________ times.

Doubting for too long can turn into ________________.

[Matthew 11:4-11] Jesus told them, "Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen-- [5] the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor. [6] And tell him, 'God blesses those who do not turn away because of me.'" [7] As John's disciples were leaving, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. "What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind? [8] Or were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? No, people with expensive clothes live in palaces. [9] Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet. [10] John is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say, 'Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way before you.' [11] "I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is!

Doubt should drive us to seek ________________.

[Genesis 26:12-18] When Isaac planted his crops that year, he harvested a hundred times more grain than he planted, for the Lord blessed him. [13] He became a very rich man, and his wealth continued to grow. [14] He acquired so many flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, and servants that the Philistines became jealous of him. [15] So the Philistines filled up all of Isaac’s wells with dirt. These were the wells that had been dug by the servants of his father, Abraham. [16] Finally, Abimelech ordered Isaac to leave the country. “Go somewhere else,” he said, “for you have become too powerful for us.” [17] So Isaac moved away to the Gerar Valley, where he set up their tents and settled down. [18] He reopened the wells his father had dug, which the Philistines had filled in after Abraham’s death. Isaac also restored the names Abraham had given them.

[John 7:37-39] On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! [38] Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” [39] (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)

[Genesis 26:1] A severe famine now struck the land, as had happened before in Abraham’s time. So Isaac moved to Gerar, where Abimelech, king of the Philistines, lived.

God often uses famines to force us out of our __________________ __________________.

You'll always be in the groove if you know how to ________________ __________________ __________________.

You can't increase _______________ without confrontation.

As our capacity increases so do __________________.

God will push you out of comfort zone so you find your ___________.

if you aren't careful you won't recognize the __________________ when it shows up looking like a __________________.

What kind of __________________ has the enemy put in the well to try to block my blessing?

Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

Dig out __________________

Dig out __________________

Dig out __________________

God can bring _________________ ______________ from old wells.

[John 4:13-14] Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. 14 But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”