O you of little faith, why did O you of little faith, why did you doubt?you doubt?

• When Jesus calmed the great tempest on the sea:When Jesus calmed the great tempest on the sea:– ““Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” – Matt. Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” – Matt.

8:268:26– ““Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no

faith?” – Mark 4:40faith?” – Mark 4:40– ““Where is your faith?” – Luke 8:25Where is your faith?” – Luke 8:25

• When the risen Jesus appeared to the eleven:When the risen Jesus appeared to the eleven:– ““Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in

your hearts?” – Luke 8:38your hearts?” – Luke 8:38• When Jesus saved Peter from his sinking faith:When Jesus saved Peter from his sinking faith:– ““O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” – Matt. O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” – Matt.

14:3114:31

O you of little faith, why did O you of little faith, why did you doubt?you doubt?

• Peter had a fine beginning of the storyPeter had a fine beginning of the story– His fear (Matt. 14:26) gave way to faith (14:28)His fear (Matt. 14:26) gave way to faith (14:28)– He had tremendous faith/confidence in the Lord to He had tremendous faith/confidence in the Lord to

climb out of the boat to walk on waterclimb out of the boat to walk on water• Did he look silly? He was the only one doing it.Did he look silly? He was the only one doing it.

• Peter had a rough middle of the storyPeter had a rough middle of the story– His faith (14:29) gave way to fear (14:30)His faith (14:29) gave way to fear (14:30)– To doubt/fear is always to sinkTo doubt/fear is always to sink• ““Without faith, it is impossible!” – Heb. 11:6Without faith, it is impossible!” – Heb. 11:6

• Peter had a better end of the storyPeter had a better end of the story– He turned his faith/trust back to JesusHe turned his faith/trust back to Jesus

O you of little faith, why did O you of little faith, why did you doubt?you doubt?

• Why do we doubt? …doubts arise in our hearts?Why do we doubt? …doubts arise in our hearts?– Some folks will to doubt, for a multitude of reasons.Some folks will to doubt, for a multitude of reasons.– Some, through willful disobedience, begin to doubt.Some, through willful disobedience, begin to doubt.– Some are led by others to have & foster doubts.Some are led by others to have & foster doubts.

O you of little faith, why did O you of little faith, why did you doubt?you doubt?

• Why do we doubt? …doubts arise in our hearts?Why do we doubt? …doubts arise in our hearts?– Some children of God focus on their problems.Some children of God focus on their problems.• Become obsessed with their difficulties.Become obsessed with their difficulties.• Like Peter, turn full attention to the wind & waves of life.Like Peter, turn full attention to the wind & waves of life.

– Our national problems, financial problems, worldly influences, Our national problems, financial problems, worldly influences, temptations, daily battles, family issues, health issues, etc.temptations, daily battles, family issues, health issues, etc.

– It is not wrong to be aware of these things, but we must not allow It is not wrong to be aware of these things, but we must not allow them to trap us, control us and take our eyes of faith off the Lord.them to trap us, control us and take our eyes of faith off the Lord.

• Focusing on problems Focusing on problems Doubt Doubt Fear Fear Overcome faith Overcome faith• Which is more powerful:Which is more powerful:

– Our problems (the wind & waves of life)Our problems (the wind & waves of life)– Or the Creator and Sustainer of all things?Or the Creator and Sustainer of all things?

• When we focus on our problems, we willfully forget When we focus on our problems, we willfully forget Ephesians 3:20.Ephesians 3:20.

O you of little faith, why did O you of little faith, why did you doubt?you doubt?

• Why do we doubt? …doubts arise in our hearts?Why do we doubt? …doubts arise in our hearts?– Some children of God focus on skewed perceptions.Some children of God focus on skewed perceptions.• Become blind to truth & reality because we choose to see Become blind to truth & reality because we choose to see

matters only through our eyes.matters only through our eyes.• Like the Israelites in Numbers 13-14, we trust only our Like the Israelites in Numbers 13-14, we trust only our

skewed perceptions rather than God’s promises:skewed perceptions rather than God’s promises:– God promised the land – it was theirs for the takingGod promised the land – it was theirs for the taking– Joshua & Caleb had faith – but that was just two guysJoshua & Caleb had faith – but that was just two guys– The majority of the spies had doubts – they had blinded The majority of the spies had doubts – they had blinded

themselves to the joys and advantages of the land by looking at themselves to the joys and advantages of the land by looking at the giants instead of looking at God.the giants instead of looking at God.

– Faith was overcome by fear due to skewed perceptions.Faith was overcome by fear due to skewed perceptions.• ““Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart

of unbelief in departing from the living God” (Hebrews of unbelief in departing from the living God” (Hebrews 3:12).3:12).

O you of little faith, why did O you of little faith, why did you doubt?you doubt?

• How can we overcome doubts/fears?How can we overcome doubts/fears?– Like Peter, face two fundamental facts!Like Peter, face two fundamental facts!• Without full faith & focus on Jesus, we are sinking!Without full faith & focus on Jesus, we are sinking!• We cannot manage life alone or save ourselves!We cannot manage life alone or save ourselves!

– Like Peter, look to Him who is able to help!Like Peter, look to Him who is able to help!• Take eyes off the storms of life & fix them again on Jesus!Take eyes off the storms of life & fix them again on Jesus!• Pray for help!Pray for help!• Reach out in faith, knowing the Lord is always there to save!Reach out in faith, knowing the Lord is always there to save!

– Like Peter, get back in the boat with others!Like Peter, get back in the boat with others!• Abide with those who encourage faith and are of like faith!Abide with those who encourage faith and are of like faith!• Encourage faith in others!Encourage faith in others!

O you of little faith, why did O you of little faith, why did you doubt?you doubt?

• How can we overcome doubts/fears?How can we overcome doubts/fears?– Trust completely that if/when God commands us to do Trust completely that if/when God commands us to do

something, we can do it…with His help!something, we can do it…with His help!• If we attempt to fight our own battles with our own If we attempt to fight our own battles with our own

strength, ideas and humanly-devised plans, we demonstrate strength, ideas and humanly-devised plans, we demonstrate our lack of faith in God and the gospel. We will fail!our lack of faith in God and the gospel. We will fail!

– ““So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” – Romans 10:17word of God.” – Romans 10:17

– PRAY! “Let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he PRAY! “Let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.” – James 1:6by the wind.” – James 1:6

– Trust in the Lord Trust in the Lord despitedespite the wind and waves! the wind and waves!