Doubt, Deliverance and Declaration

And also there's a notice there about the vacancy and the appointment of a vacancy committee and I'll just read that notice through.

The Kirk session met on Monday the 15th of July and agreed to follow the practice previously adopted during a vacancy by taking on the role of the vacancy committee.

The purpose of the vacancy committee is to arrange for the pulpit to be supplied with ministers who are considered suitable to fill the vacancy.

But the final choice belongs to your communicant membership.

The vacancy committee would like to stress that they are seeking to secure the full scope of congregational interest so that the process of contacting ministers and arranging dates for them to preach can begin.

The initial meeting of the vacancy committee is scheduled for Monday the 26th of August.

And over the next five weeks as we pray to the Lord for guidance, the elders would like to encourage everyone in the congregation to speak to their own elder or any elders or any of the elders and inform them of who you would like to be invited to preach in Stornoway.

Please bear in mind that certain procedural steps are required, namely the completion of a financial schedule as well as a congregational development plan.

It is hoped that both these items will be presented to the congregation in September before being sent to the Presbytery and the Mission Board for approval.

All these intimations are, of course, God willing.

We'll now join together in our worship of God by singing to his praise in Psalm 1 in the Scottish Psalter version that you'll find on page 200.

Psalm 1.

The opening psalm to the book of Psalms, a psalm that speaks about two ways to live.

The words there are,

And that man has perfect blessedness, who walketh not astray, in counsel of ungodly men, nor stands in sinners' way, nor sitteth in the scornish chair, but platheth his delight upon God's law, and meditates on his law day and night.

He shall be like a tree that grows near planted by a river, which in his season yields his fruit, and his leaf fadeth never, and all he doth shall prosper well.

The wicked are not so, but like they are unto the chaff, which wind drives to and fro.

We'll sing this whole psalm down to the end, verse Mark 6, to God's praise, and the tune is Denfield.

We'll stand to sing,

That Man Has Perfect Blessedness.

That man has perfect blessedness.

The man has perfect blessedness.

That man has perfect blessedness.

It was the man that God has perfect blessedness.

That man has perfect blessedness.

It was always a love.

The man has perfect blessedness.

The man has perfect blessedness.

The man has perfect blessedness.

信 R winger

crawly

Dutchmen therefore shall not stand

such as the God we are.

Glory to the Savior of the just

shall we give in the year.

For by the way of God we may

come to the Lord his throne.

Great as the way of wicked name

shall quite be overcome.

Let us now join together in prayer.

Let us pray.

Our Father in heaven, we thank you that we can be joined again this evening now to return

praise and thanks to you.

And as we sing these words we are mindful of the separation that is made, of the divisions that is made between the chaff and the wheat, between the righteous and the wicked, between the believer and the unbeliever.

So Lord, we pray as we gather that we would be set before your feet this evening.

That we would see ourselves in light of your word.

That you would illuminate who we are before God.

That we would draw near to you with reverence and fear.

Saying and announcing, proclaiming that you are holy, holy, holy.

Lord, our God, we pray that you would have mercy upon us.

That we would know the full extent of your everlasting mercy and love that has been shown to us in Christ Jesus.

And it is in Christ Jesus that we have confidence to draw near to you.

For we look at ourselves and we see so many failures.

We see the sinfulness of our hearts.

We see the desires of the flesh.

Leading us in ways contrary to your word.

But Christ saw us in our affliction.

In our great need of a saviour.

And Christ chose us before we chose him.

Christ loved us before we loved him.

And so Christ came in his abundance of compassion.

To alleviate us from our great suffering of sin.

To take that burden of condemnation away from our backs.

A burden that we cannot carry.

A burden that leaves us guilty before God.

You take it from us.

You part us.

You part us from the sins.

So that those who believe in you have no more condemnation before God.

We wonder that Christ would ever love us.

But let us stand with all that he does.

Let us come before the cross and see the riches that are immeasurable.

In his love that he died for his friends.

No greater love is this that anyone can show to another.

That he would give up his life.

And so he did for all his people.

So let us have understanding of this.

Let us see Christ.

In a way that we have never seen him before.

In his beauty.

In his beauty.

In wonder.

In ways that we cannot fully comprehend.

Lord, by the power of your spirit.

Open our eyes and unblock our ears.

To see Christ.

To understand the gospel.

To receive Jesus Christ.

And to believe in him.

To trust in the resurrected and risen Lord Jesus.

And we pray that this gospel message would go out with power across our nation.

To all lands and all countries.

And we pray for Labourish to go with it.

We pray that you would raise up people to bring your message to the world.

To our nation.

To our towns.

To our villages.

To the people that have no word of Jesus Christ.

Who have forgotten Jesus Christ.

Who do not know what the cross means.

Lord, we pray that you would bring understanding to our people.

And that we would have a concern for souls that are lost.

Whether they be in our nation or in our families.

We pray that you would give us wisdom in these things that are so difficult.

We wish that we could make them understand.

We wish that we could open their eyes to see Christ Jesus in all his beauty.

But we pray that you would give us words according to your will and according to your ways.

Aligned with your providence.

That you may open their eyes to the power of your spirit.

And Lord, we give thanks for faithful ministries from this pulpit.

We give thanks for the ministry of James McKeever.

We thank you for him and Donna being here.

We pray that we would be mindful of him in his retirement.

And likewise, Kenny I.

We pray that we would be mindful of him also.

And we pray for Calum Mordo.

We pray for Johan and the family.

We pray that you would uphold them and strengthen them for the time ahead.

The time of vacancy.

Time of uncertainty.

A time of changes.

Lord, we pray that we would be prayerful as a people.

That we would be considerate of one another.

That we would be asking you to show us and direct us in your ways.

And lead us to someone whom you have chosen.

To be our under-shepherd.

To direct us and to guide us.

Lord, we pray for the Lord.

We pray for congregations who are likewise in vacancy.

We pray for Graver.

We pray for Shobost.

We remember the two congregations in use.

We pray likewise that you would give them one mind together.

Lead them to a man that is suitable for them.

To teach and instruct them.

To show them Jesus Christ.

Lord, we acknowledge that it is not of our own strength.

Nor any man's strength.

That we can open eyes.

But we fully rely upon the power of your spirit.

God, we pray for the Lord.

God, we pray for the Lord.

God, we pray for the Lord.

God, we pray for the Lord.

So as we turn to your words this evening.

As we sing your praises.

As we consider it.

Instruct us.

Guide us.

Teach us.

Forgive us if we say anything on this.

Lord, just turn us towards you.

Show us your paths, we pray.

Meet us at our own need.

Whatever it is.

For you are a God that hears our prayers.

You are a God that hears the cries of our souls.

The anxieties and anguish that we feel.

The cries and pains of life.

You know them.

But you are a loving heavenly Father that knows what is best to give to his children.

And so we wait faithfully upon you.

To instruct us and guide us.

We pray for those who do have worries.

We pray that you would be a wonderful counsellor to them.

We pray for those who are born.

We pray that you would be their comfort.

For you are the God of all comfort.

We pray that you would be near to those that are broken hearted.

For we know that the scars of loss can last many years.

And often never go away.

And remain with us.

Comfort your people, we pray.

Lord, we ask that you would feed our souls.

Enrich us as we join together here.

May we know the blessing of being together as your people.

Speak to us through your word.

Encourage us.

Enrich us.

Guide us.

And keep us.

We pray in Jesus' name.

Amen.

We'll continue in our praise of God by singing in Psalm 4.

Psalm 4 in the Sing Psalms version.

Find that on page 4.

Singing from verse 3.

Down to the end of that psalm again.

Psalm 4.

Sing Psalms.

Singing from verse 3.

Know that the Lord has set apart the godly as his own.

The Lord will hear me when I call.

And my request make known.

In anger do not break God's law.

Consider and be still.

Present a righteous sacrifice.

And wait upon his will.

Oh, who can show us any good?

I hear so many say.

Oh, Lord, shine on us with your light.

Show us your face, I pray.

You filled my heart with greater joy than others may have found.

As they rejoiced at harvest time.

When grain and wine abound.

I will lie down and sleep in peace.

My heart will rest secure.

For you alone, oh gracious Lord.

Will keep me safe and sure.

We'll sing these words to the tune.

We'll stand to sing.

Know that the Lord has set apart the godly as his own.

The Lord will hear me when I call.

And my request may know.

In anger do not break God's law.

Consider and be still.

Present and be still.

Present and be still.

Present and be still.

And wait upon his will.

Or who can show us any good?

I hear so many say.

O Lord, shine on us with your light, show us your grace, I pray.

You fill my heart with greater joy, another may have found.

As they rejoice at harvest time, when rain and wine are.

I will lie down and sleep in peace, my heart will rest, Savior.

Are you alone, O gracious Lord, will keep me safe and sure.

Let us turn now to a reading in Scripture, and we'll find that in the Gospel of John.

John chapter 11, from the beginning of that chapter.

John 11 · chapter mention

And again this evening we'll have two readings from the Gospel of John.

After reading in John 11, we'll turn to John chapter 20.

John 20 · chapter mention

John chapter 11, the beginning, down to verse 27.

John 11 · chapter mention

The account of Lazarus' death.

Let us hear God's word.

Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.

It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother

Lazarus was ill.

So the sister sent to him, saying, Lord, he whom you love is ill.

But when Jesus heard it, he said, this illness does not lead to death.

It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.

Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.

So when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.

Then after this, he said to the disciples, let us go to Judea again.

The disciples said to him, Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?

Jesus answered, are there not twelve hours in the day?

If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.

But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.

After saying these things, he said to them, our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.

The disciples said to him, Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.

Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest and sleep.

Then Jesus told them plainly, Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe.

But let us go to him.

So Thomas called the twin, said to his fellow disciples,

Let us also go, that we may die with him.

Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days.

Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off,

and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother.

So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house.

Martha said to Jesus, Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.

But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.

Jesus said to her, your brother will rise again.

Martha said to him, I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.

Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life.

Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.

And everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.

Do you believe this?

She said to him, yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.

Now, we turn to John chapter 20.

John 20 · chapter mention

And we read there from verse 24.

This is Jesus' resurrection appearance to Thomas.

We'll read down to the end of the chapter.

Now, Thomas, one of the twelve called the twin, was not with them when Jesus came.

So the other disciples told him, we have seen the Lord.

But he said to them, unless I see his hands, the mark of the nails,

and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.

Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them.

Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, peace be with you.

Then he said to Thomas, put your finger here, and see my hands, and put out your hand and place it in my side.

Do not disbelieve, but believe.

Thomas answered him, my Lord and my God.

Jesus said to him, have you believed because you have seen me?

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.

Now, Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book.

But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,

and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Amen.

May the reading of God's word be a blessing to those who have heard it.

We'll continue in our praise now by singing in Psalm 147 in the Sing Psalms version.

You'll find that on page 193 of the Blue Praise Book, singing from verse 14.

Sing down to verse marked 18.

Psalm 147 in verse 14.

The Lord will grant you peace within the borders of your land,

and finest wheat will fill your fields from his sustaining hand.

To all the corners of the earth the Lord's commands proceeds,

for when he speaks his word goes forth through all the world with speed.

He spreads the snow as wool, the frost like ashes on the land.

He hurls forth icy hail like stones.

Who can such cold withstand?

But when he sends his mighty word and makes the warm winds blow,

the frozen waters start to melt and once again to flow.

May the Lord break down the coldness of our heart and make the warmth of his spirit flow in us.

Let us stand to sing this Psalm 14 to 18, the tune is Torwood.

The Lord will grant you peace within the borders of your land.

The Lord will grant you peace within the borders of your land,

and kindness we will fill your fields from his casting hand.

To all the corners of the earth the Lord's commands proceed.

For when he speaks his word goes forth through all the world with speed.

He spreads the snow as wool, the frost like ashes on the land.

He earns for price in him like stones.

Who can such cold withstand?

He earns for price in him like stones.

But when he sends his mighty word and makes the warm wind blow,

the frozen waters start to melt and once again to the wind.

Let us stand back.

To всю life.

Now we turn back to the passage that we read there in John chapter 20.

John 20 · chapter mention

As you read it, verse 29.

Jesus said to him,

Have you believed because you have seen me?

Blessed are those who have not seen

and yet have believed.

Now if you were with us in the morning,

we thought about Jesus' resurrection appearance

to the fearful disciples within the locked room.

Now it took place on the evening

of Jesus' first appearance to Mary.

Jesus appeared to Mary at sunrise.

He appears to the disciples at the evening hour.

And now we come to this account with Thomas.

We're eight days later in the storyline,

but it doesn't seem like we've progressed very far, does it?

We're still in a locked room,

which we believe is the same.

Locked room.

And this third resurrection appearance,

it seems to be the subsequent resurrection appearance

that Christ has made.

We noted in the morning that John didn't include

every resurrection appearance,

but when we consider all that we have,

it seems like this is the next appearance of Christ.

But there is a focus here in this appearance.

There is a significance in this appearance

because it is focused on one man, Thomas.

And this appearance tells us that Thomas was not present with them

on the first day of the week with the rest of the disciples.

Why we're not sure?

I wish we did know.

It would fill out the story for us with more detail.

But we don't know.

Thomas wasn't there.

Thomas missed out on the appearance of Jesus Christ.

And I'm sure that's a feeling that we can all relate to,

that we've missed out on something.

There's surely some point in our lives

where we've missed out on something

that we really wanted to see.

And it can be made all the worse

by our friends and our families

telling us how amazing it was,

how inspiring it was,

how special it was

to see this thing take place.

I suppose in many ways it's been lost

with the advances in technology.

Things can be captured in video.

Things can be photographed.

You can re-watch TV programs you've missed.

You can see goals that you've missed.

You can see pictures of the northern lights that you missed.

In fact, it's swung so far now

that technology has advanced.

When you see these things,

you're not actually sure if it's true now

because they can be recreated and edited in such a way.

And I believe that if there was that sort of evidence of Jesus

in his resurrected state,

I don't think it would help us much.

There would still be doubted.

There would still be people sceptical of it.

And you can have these moments replayed.

You can have these photos to re-look at.

But it doesn't quite capture

what people call the magic of the moment.

You feel it like you've missed out

by not being there.

And it leaves you saying,

I wish I had been there.

I wish I had seen it.

I wish I had that experience

that my friends and family are telling me about it.

And I believe Thomas would have been saying

the exact same words.

I wish I had seen the Lord.

I wish I had seen him appear.

All his friends as the ten disciples were telling him,

we have seen the Lord.

Jesus is alive.

But it doesn't quite capture the magic of the moment for him.

He doesn't believe them fully.

And you know yourself

that when we experience something in our lives,

it's not quite the same

as someone telling us about it.

Now there are many people in this building,

there are many believers in this world

that have had amazing experiences

where the Lord Jesus has revealed himself to them.

And they want to tell people about it.

It's a natural thing for you to tell someone

about something spectacular that has happened in your life.

Something unbelievable.

You want to tell them about it.

You want them to believe.

You wish that they would have experienced it as well.

But it's often true

that when the believer tries to express

their new understanding of who Jesus Christ is,

that Jesus has revealed himself to them,

when they tell their testimony

about why they believe in Jesus Christ,

doesn't quite have the same impact on people.

They can tell it with passion.

They can tell it with excitement.

They just...

Something just doesn't click.

Just don't get it.

The disciples here are telling Thomas,

we've seen the Lord.

He's alive.

But it doesn't have an effect until he experiences it himself.

We can be told something a hundred times over.

It doesn't quite hit home until we experience it.

And you hear people who have recently been converted

echo something like,

why did no one tell me?

And it's like, we did.

We did tell you.

It just...

You didn't get it.

It just didn't...

It just didn't...

Your eyes hadn't been opened to understand.

You didn't see Jesus fully when I spoke.

Jesus had to reveal himself to you.

And we can have doubts.

We can feel like we've missed out on things.

And I believe there are many of us here

who are just like Thomas,

who see what the Christian has.

And they say in the secrecy of their own hearts,

I wish I had what they have.

I wish I could say the same thing

that the believer says.

I wish the Lord would show himself to me

so that I could say to everyone,

I am a Christian.

So that I could have the assurance

to give my life to Jesus Christ.

But I just don't have it.

I hope as we continue looking through

the resurrection appearances of Jesus Christ.

And as we turn to Thomas,

the man that doubted,

I hope that we will get to see Jesus,

that he will reveal himself to us,

that he would displace all our doubts,

that we would not miss out on Christ.

And as we look at Thomas,

I firstly want to consider

Thomas and his doubt.

Thomas and his doubt.

Thomas has become known as Doubting Thomas.

It may not be the most fairest name to give him.

I don't know if we can build

a true character of Thomas

by what we have from him in Scripture.

We don't have a lot about him in Scripture.

There's a few occurrences where he appears.

He actually appeared in the first reading that we had.

Jesus is there.

He hears about Lazarus having died,

well, having been ill.

He waits two days.

He knows that Lazarus has died.

He says,

we must return to Judea.

We must return because

I will give him life.

And the disciples are going,

no, no, no, hold on.

You can't go there.

The Jews are ready to kill you.

They're going to stone you.

Why are we going to go there?

Jesus says,

we must go.

The disciples see a problem with it.

Jesus' account there is that

Jesus tells him plainly,

Lazarus has died.

And for your sake,

I am glad that I was not there

so that you may believe.

Let us go to him.

And then Thomas comes in

and he says to his disciples,

let us also go

that we may die with him.

Thomas is ready to die with Christ.

He's ready to go with Christ,

whatever it means.

And he encourages all the other disciples

to be of the same mind.

But obviously,

obviously highlights a zeal

and a passion within Thomas

to do what is right,

to go with Jesus

and to follow him wherever he goes.

To encourage his friends

to come as well.

But when the rubber hit the road

and Jesus is captured,

the threat of death comes to them.

When Jesus has been taken

to be crucified,

they're nowhere to be seen.

They're displaced.

They're dispersed.

The only other time we come across Thomas

is actually in the chapter

that we read in the morning as well,

in John 14,

though we didn't read this part.

Thomas said to Jesus

when he says that,

I am the way,

the truth,

and the life.

When he says that,

I have gone to prepare

a place for you.

Thomas asks,

how do we know

where you are going?

How can we know the way?

Thomas wants to be with Jesus.

Thomas wants to know

where Jesus is going.

And although we look at these

few comments that we have,

we can say,

well,

there's a bit of doubt

in his comments.

He's doubting that,

he's not saying that

Jesus will resurrect Lazarus.

He's questioning

where Jesus is going

and how can we know the way.

It's more pessimistic

than doubtful.

There's a negative

sort of outlook

in his life.

But he's seeking an answer.

He's asking,

how can we know the way?

Where are you going?

Are you leaving us?

It's hard to form

a true character of Thomas

to say for sure

that we can call him

doubting Thomas.

But it is worth noting

that Thomas was not

the only doubter

in the Gospels.

You go to Luke's Gospel

and you read the account

where Mary returns

saying,

I have seen

the risen Lord Jesus.

She says these things

to the apostles

and Luke's Gospel

tells us

that all the apostles

thought

what she said

was an idle tale.

A story that was

made up.

And it says

that they did

not believe him.

Luke goes on

to say that

when they did

see Jesus,

the disciples

disbelieved for joy

and were marvelling.

They disbelieved.

They couldn't believe

that Jesus

was actually alive.

They couldn't believe it.

They were marvelling

that Jesus

appeared before them

in his resurrected body.

So you can see,

well,

the disciples

had doubts.

Thomas

had doubts.

And it is true

surely that

we have our

doubts as well

in our experience.

we question

the resurrected

Lord Jesus.

It's hard

to grasp.

It's difficult

to understand.

Thomas

couldn't believe it.

And he said,

unless I see

his hands,

the mark of his nails,

I put my finger

into these marks,

place my hand

in his side,

I will never

believe.

John's gospel,

it's largely

based on signs

of Jesus Christ.

But it's wrong

to ask

Jesus Christ

and to

place our salvation

on a sign

that we request

of him.

because it's not

signs,

really.

We see this

account of Thomas.

Jesus stands

before him.

He asks him

to put his hand

into his scars,

but I don't think

he did.

It doesn't quite

tell us if he did

or not.

Seeing was enough

for Thomas.

And to see

Jesus Christ

is enough

for us too.

We ask

for signs.

Sometimes

the Lord

can use signs.

And sometimes

the Lord

will answer

our requests.

But

it's not

a good way,

I don't think.

It's not

a way

in which

we should

be seeking

the Lord Jesus.

We should

be seeking

to see

him.

Seeking

that he

would reveal

himself to

us in

his way,

in his

timing.

But anyway,

we're in the

locked room

with the

disciples here.

Eight days

later.

And that

period carries

some significance

about this

so-called

doubter.

He wasn't

there for

the first

revealing.

And I'm

sure he

heard about

it straight

away.

That first

day,

Jesus was

there in

the morning,

Jesus was

there in

the afternoon

with the

two on

the road

to the

mails.

Jesus

appeared to

the

disciples

at night.

And I

believe when

he heard

all of

these

accounts,

he

wouldn't

dare

depart

from being

with the

people.

You can

imagine him

waiting the

next day.

Comes and

goes.

Nothing

happens.

Third day,

nothing.

Fourth day,

nothing.

Fifth,

sixth,

nothing.

Seventh,

nothing.

But what

he did

do was

he remained

with the

people.

He remained

with the

disciples.

He remained

with the

early church,

expecting to

see Jesus,

that Jesus

would reveal

himself to

him,

faithfully,

holding on,

expecting to

see Jesus.

and he

missed out,

yes,

in the

first place.

But he

came back

to where

Jesus had

revealed

himself to

the people.

And that

is true

of all of

everyone that

is here

today.

If you

want to

see Jesus,

if you

feel like

you've

missed out

on what

the Christian

has,

if you

wanted to

believe,

come to

where the

Lord Jesus

reveals himself

to his

people,

come to

the gathering

of the

church,

to the

believers.

This is

the place

where he

pours out

his blessings

upon the

people.

And it

is often

the place

where he

has awakened

many souls

that have

been in

darkness.

Many of

you here

who are

believers

will have

memories

of sitting

in pews

and being

awakened

by the

reading of

scripture,

feeling

condemned

by the

words that

were preached,

feeling the

psalms

speaking to

you as

they were

sung.

This is a

place where

Jesus meets

with his

people.

If we

isolate

ourselves

from the

church,

we cannot

expect that

Jesus will

reveal himself

to us.

And I

believe that

if we are

duly diligent

in attending

the means

of grace

and gathering

with the

Lord's

people,

he will

reveal

himself to

us.

But it

is true

that the

believer can

also have

many doubts

as well.

We can

doubt whether

he loves

us, we

can doubt

at times

whether we

are truly

saved, and

the devil

will play

havoc with

your doubts.

But you

know that we

are really

filled with

doubts when

we look at

ourselves.

There is

nothing within

us that

deserves

salvation.

There is

nothing within

us that

deserves the

redeeming power

of Jesus

Christ in

our lives.

We look

inwardly and

we plague

ourselves

with

doubts.

It is

said that

never doubt

in the dark

what God

told you

in the

light.

Never doubt

in the dark

what God

told you

in the

light.

What God

says to

you in

scripture,

we can

go away

with it

and we

can doubt

it.

when we

are isolated

from it.

When we

are in

the dark

we can

doubt

these

things.

We must

come back

to Christ.

We must

change our

vision from

looking at

ourselves when

we are

doubting to

looking at

the Lord

Jesus Christ.

As we

are saying

to the

children to

keep our

eye on

him, to

keep our

eye on

the word.

And if

we do

that we

will be

delivered from

doubts.

We will

look at

the love

of Christ.

we will

look at

his

compassion.

We will

look at

his death.

We will

look at

his eternal

promises to

his people

and it

will give

us a

hope.

To

displace

the doubt

the believer

must turn

from looking

at himself

and focus

upon the

Lord Jesus

and his

love for

them.

We find

here that

we can be

plagued with

doubts.

But also

there is a

deliverance

from these

doubts.

We have

doubts but

there is a

deliverance.

The radical

difference in

this man's

life is the

appearance of

Christ again.

Every

appearance of

Christ has

made a

radical difference

of those who

witnessed him.

And he

comes into

this room

and he

says,

peace be

with you.

Jesus

speaks

addressing

Thomas

in the

words that

he spoke

to his

disciples.

meaning that

Christ

hears

every word

that we

utter.

He did

not have to

be physically

present to

hear the

doubts of

Thomas.

He heard

them.

And when he

appeared he

addressed Thomas

personally.

said he

needed to

put his

fingers into

the scars

of Jesus'

hands which

would have

been more

so his

wrists.

then he

says to

touch him.

But we

don't know

if he

did or

not.

But Jesus

adds there

do not

disbelieve

but believe.

And we

can struggle

to believe

at times.

The

resurrection

is hard

to grasp.

The

disciples

struggle to

understand it.

We

struggle to

understand it.

But we

look at the

evidence that

we have

here.

We look at

the gospel

that John

has written

here.

And we

come to

it again.

The purpose

was that we

would believe.

We have

seen lives

radically

changed by

the appearance

of Christ.

And he

wishes, he

prays, he

writes that

you too

would believe

that when

you come and

consider the

resurrected Lord

Jesus Christ

he would

reveal himself

to you.

The

resurrection

appearance as we

said motivated

them like

nothing else

could have.

It was the

match to

the fire

that ignited

their hearts

for the

Lord Jesus,

ignited them

to turn the

world upside

down.

They went

out with

their own

testimony.

We have

seen the

Lord Jesus.

Thomas could

say the

same thing

in his life.

I have

seen the

Lord Jesus.

and he

declared it

amongst the

people.

He had

his doubts.

He was

delivered when

he saw

Jesus Christ

but he

went out

declaring

what he

had seen.

When you

see Jesus,

when Jesus

reveals himself

to you,

it changes

everything.

Thomas here

had his

own

declaration.

He says

there,

my Lord

and my

God

in verse

28.

A

personal

declaration

that Jesus

Christ is

his Lord

and his

God.

In many

ways it

is so

personal

that Jesus

speaks

directly

into

his

circumstance,

directly

to his

heart,

to his

need,

and yet

it is so

public.

Because he

has been

transformed.

He has

a new

testimony

to speak

about.

Something

exceptional

has happened

in his

life.

And he

wants to

tell people

about it.

He has

to tell

people

about it.

Jesus

Christ is

my Lord

and my

God.

And that

phrase

highlights

the divine

deity

of Jesus

Christ.

The

title

of God

his

Lord.

And

Jesus

receives

it

because

it is

right.

If it

was wrong

Jesus

would have

said

do not

worship

me.

with such

words.

But

Thomas

is

entirely

right.

And

Jesus

receives

that

declaration

from

Thomas.

The

change

that

Christ

brings

to us

is

personal

and

public.

God

will

God

will

speak.

He

speaks

to the

depths

of

our

needs.

Yet

we

cannot

but

speak

about it.

We

wish that

others

would

likewise

know

who

Jesus

Christ

is

and

the

change

that

he

has

made

in

their

lives.

It's a

true

feeling

that we

too

can't

doubt.

Thomas

was set

never

to believe.

That's what his words

unless he had

seen him

himself

which adds

a huge

credibility

to the

fact that

Jesus

appeared

to him.

the

one

that

said

never

turns

around

and

says

my

Lord

and

my

God.

Thomas'

experience

delivered him

from all

doubts

and I

pray that

the Lord

Jesus

would

reveal

himself

to

you

in

scripture

in

his

word

in

the

singing

of

his

psalms

in

the

proclamation

of

his

word

whether

it's

in

three

days

time

and

eight

days

time

and

three

years

time

and

eight

years

times

do

not

disbelieve

that he

can do

it.

Believe

in the

Lord

Jesus

Christ.

Believe

that he

will reveal

himself

to you.

Do

not

doubt

the

resurrection.

Thomas

went on

with his

declaration

and

tradition

suggests

that

Thomas

travelled

as far

as

India

with

the

gospel

where

it

is

reported

that

he

was

martyred

with

a

spear

killed

by

someone

with

a

spear.

With

the

assurance

of

Christ's

resurrection

in

his

life

he

went

out

declaring

the

wonderful

gospel

of

Jesus.

and

his

earlier

declaration

where

he

said

to

his

disciples

let

us

go

so

that

we

may

die

with

him

became

a

truthful

reality

in

his

life.

He

put

his

life

on

his

line

this

time.

He

didn't

run

away.

He

put

his

life

on

his

line

on

the

line

because

he

had

absolutely

no

doubts

that

Jesus

was

alive.

Thomas

makes a

declaration

but there

is another

declaration

made here

in this

passage.

The

risen

Lord

Jesus

pronounces

a

blessing

upon

everyone

who

believes

in

Jesus

Christ

without

having

to see

him.

And it

is a

blessing

because

it was

the

Lord

delights

to see

men,

women,

boys and

girls

turning

to the

Lord

Jesus

and

trusting

in

the

resurrected

Lord.

Believing

what the

gospel of

John

has written

about

him.

With

the result

is

that you

may have

life

in his

name.

God

yes

doubting

Thomas

is a

lesson

to each

of us

to

faithfully

trust in

the Lord

Jesus

Christ

but it's

maybe

significant

that it

follows

after what

we

consider

in the

morning.

Jesus

came to

them

with

a

work

he was

handing

over his

work

to them

and it's

funny

that they're

still in

the locked

room

at this

point.

Eight days

later they

haven't

moved

even after

Jesus

came with

his peace

his purpose

and his

power to

them.

I think

the disciples

see themselves

in Thomas.

they haven't

moved from

where they

have been

after Jesus

has said

to them

I'm

sending

you.

Are they

doubting

that they

are able

to do

the work

and continue

the work

that Jesus

has asked

of them

that we

considered

in the

morning?

It's

hard to

see

but I

think

there's

a measure

of

something

there

a lesson

for the

disciples

also

not to

doubt

believe

what the

Lord Jesus

has said

to them

that he

has sent

them

and that

he has

sent them

with a

helper

to go

with them

into this

world.

So what

about us

tonight?

What about

each or

one of

us

tonight?

Do we

feel like

we've

missed out

on the

proclamation

of the

gospel?

Do we

feel like

we've

missed out

on seeing

Jesus?

Well if

we do

come to

where he

reveals himself

with the

people and

keep coming

faithfully.

Do not

disbelieve.

Believe that

he will

show himself

to you

and I

believe that

he will

if you

do it

with

diligence

and a

heart that

is seeking

and longing

to know

him.

What will

you be

declaring

for all

eternity?

Yes we

have doubts.

Jesus

promises to

deliver us

but what

will be

our

declaration?

Will it

be my

Lord and

my God?

will it

be I

wish I

had

received

what the

Christian

has.

I wish

I had

joined

with the

people of

God.

I wish

I had

received

his blessing.

I pray

that we

have

understanding

of these

things

and that

he would

help us

in our

doubts

and help

us in

our

disbelief.

I pray

these

thoughts

blessed

to each

of us.

We'll

conclude by

singing in

Psalm 133

in the

Scottish

Psalter

version

that you'll

find on

page

424.

Psalm

133

you'll

find out

on page

424

of the

blue

praise

book.

A

psalm

that

speaks

about

the

blessing

of the

Lord

pouring

down

upon

the

people

as they

gather

together.

The

Lord's

people,

the

brethren,

behold

how good

a thing

it is

and how

becoming

well.

Together

such as

brethren

are in

unity

to dwell.

Like

precious

ointment

on the

head

that down

the beard

did flow,

even

Aaron's

beard

and to

the

skirts

did

off his

garments

go,

as

Herman's

Jew,

the Jew

that

doth