John 20:25 (NKJV) The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”
Thomas doubted the resurrection of Jesus Christ because he had witnessed with his own eyes the crucifixion of the Lord where he saw that Jesus’ side was pierced by the soldiers to ensure that He was dead. Therefore, He asked to see Jesus personally if He had indeed resurrected and to confirm it by putting his hands on Jesus’ nailed pierced hands and sides. Both the officer who was mentioned in 2 Kings 7:2 and the Apostle Thomas echo our struggle to have faith in the Word of God.
James 1:6-8 (NKJV) But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
However, the Bible tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God. The Christian lifestyle is a lifestyle of faith—from now towards eternity. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. We are generally uncomfortable when we can’t see, feel, or lack sufficient information on certain matters, and give into anxiety easily until all the evidence is before our eyes. Unfortunately, the Kingdom of God does not work in this way, and everything must be done by faith in God and His Word. Therefore, it can be very challenging for us to believe or have faith in something that is unseen. However, we need to develop our “faith muscle” by exercising faith in the little things so that we can believe God for great things. Faith is found in the heart, or spirit man, and not in the mind, even though the renewal of the mind will make faith in God easier. A mind that is not renewed with the Word is a hindrance to having faith in God as a Christian.
Whenever God asks us to do something, the situation and circumstances always seem impossible. Therefore, we need faith to trust in Him. Faith believes that He is whatever the Word of God says He is, and faith believes that He is a rewarder or giver of all things to those who diligently seek Him. The key is to diligently seek him.
Hebrews 11:6 (NJKV) But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Sermon Series: Step Out!
如何讨神喜悦
约翰福音 20:25 那些门徒就对他说：“我们已经看见主了。”多马却说：“我非看见他手上的钉痕，用指头探入那钉痕，又用手探入他的肋旁，我总不信。”
多马怀疑耶稣基督的复活，因为他亲眼目睹了主的受难，并看到了士兵扎了耶稣的肋旁，以确保祂已经死了。因此，如果主耶稣真的复活了，他要求亲眼看到，还要用指头探入手和肋旁的钉痕中来证实这一点。列王纪下7:2中提及的这位军长和使徒多马都回响了我们在信靠神的话语上的挣扎。
雅各书 1:6-8 只要凭着信心求，一点不疑惑；因为那疑惑的人，就像海中的波浪，被风吹动翻腾。这样的人不要想从主那里得什么。心怀二意的人，在他一切所行的路上都没有定见。
然而，圣经告诉我们，人非有信，就不能得神的喜悦。基督徒的生活方式是一种信心的生活方式，从今直到永远。信是所望之事的实底，是未见之事的确据。当我们无法看到、感觉到或对某些事情没有足够的信息时，我们通常会感到不安，直到所有证据都摆在眼前。可是，神的国度并不是这样运行的，我们所做的一切都必须通过对神以及神话语的信心来完成。因此，对我们来说，相信或对未见之事有信心是非常不容易的。我们需要锻炼我们 “信心肌” ，藉着在小事上操练信心，好教我们在大事上也相信上帝。信心存在于内心，或灵人，而不在于心思意念中，尽管心意的更新会让我们更容易建立对神的信心。作为基督徒，如果不用神的话语来更新心意，就会阻碍我们对神的信心。
每当神要求我们做事时，情况和环境总是看似不可能的，因此，我们需要信心来信靠祂。信心就是相信无论圣经上说祂是什么，那么祂就是什么，信心是相信祂是万物的赏赐者和施予者，赏赐那些孜孜寻求祂的人。关键在于要努力寻求祂。
希伯来书11:6 人非有信，就不能得神的喜悦；因为到神面前来的人必须信有神，且信他赏赐那寻求他的人。
讲章系列：信心跨越
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