Great Expectations Luke 7:18-23 At Jesus’ Feet

Doubt is the skeleton in the closet of faith… and I know no better way to treat a skeleton than to bring it into the open and expose it for what it is: not something to hide or fear, but a hard structure on which living tissue may grow… Those who honestly confront their doubts often find themselves growing into a faith that transcends the doubts. Philip Yancey

Great Expectations Where does doubt come from? Unexpected circumstances

Great Expectations Where does doubt come from? Unexpected circumstances Then the eyes of the blind will be opened And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. Then the lame will leap like a deer, And the tongue of the mute will shout for joy. Isaiah 35:5-6

Great Expectations Where does doubt come from? Unexpected circumstances Your dead will live; Their corpses will rise. You who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy…. Isaiah 26:19 On that day the deaf will hear words of a book, And out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see. Isaiah 29:18

Great Expectations Where does doubt come from? Unexpected circumstances The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners; To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord…. Isaiah 61:1-2

Great Expectations Where does doubt come from? Unexpected circumstances …To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord And the day of vengeance of our God…. Isaiah 61:1-2

Great Expectations Where does doubt come from? Unexpected circumstances Spiritual attack

Great Expectations Where does doubt come from? Unexpected circumstances Spiritual attack So Moses said to the Lord, “Why have You been so hard on Your servant? And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have laid the burden of all this people on me?... So if You are going to deal thus with me, please kill me at once…” Numbers 11:11, 15a

Great Expectations Where does doubt come from? Unexpected circumstances Spiritual attack I say to God my Rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?” My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, “Where is your God?” Psalm 42:9-10

Great Expectations Where does doubt come from? Unexpected circumstances Spiritual attack Moral inconsistencies Intellectual challenges

Great Expectations Where does doubt come from? What we expect from God What God promises to us

Great Expectations Where does doubt come from? What we expect from God What God promises to us Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25