JESUS’ ANSWER TO THE DEVIL’S DOUBTS!  

 In Matthew 11:2-6 and Luke 7:18-23 we have a very interesting and challenging way by which Jesus dealt with the doubts that John the Baptist was struggling with while he was in prison. John, who was born of a miracle, came as the “Voice of one crying in the wilderness” (Mark 1:1-8). He came as the forerunner of Jesus Christ, and had a very powerful, “outside the box” ministry (no one had come baptizing people by total immersion in water before him). His ministry impacted multiplied thousands, all flocking out to the Jordan River to hear him and to be baptized by him. Yet there came a time when the devil so attacked John’s mind that he doubted whether or not Jesus was the Christ. So he sent two of his disciples to ask Jesus if He were the Coming One. Jesus’ way of dispelling doubts in His followers was to go out and heal the sick, the blind, and to deliver people of evil spirits. He did not tell John that he had to pray harder, or study the Scriptures more; He simply demonstrated the power and authority of Who He was (is). Jesus told those men to “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the Gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me” (Luke 7:22-23. See also John 10:24-25). If someone like John the Baptist could be tempted with doubts of Jesus, then it is very likely that you and I will battle with the devil’s doubts as well.

This brings us to a very important challenge. Christianity is all about knowing Jesus, knowing that He lives inside us right now through the power of the mighty Holy Spirit ~ the same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead ~ and that His power within us should be being released to demonstrate to a lost and needy world that Jesus is alive today ~ in us! Jesus taught us that we should “lay hands on the sick and see them recover,” to “cast out devils” and bring“recovery of sight to the blind,” etc. (Mark 16:15-20; Luke 4:18-21). So why don’t we obey what Jesus taught us? Why are we so besotted about turning Christianity into Bible knowledge, praying, and church attendance; none of which convinces a doubting mind that Jesus is alive today “to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8) through us, His believing people? Are we guilty of “having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof”? (2 Timothy 3:5).

I don’t know about you, but I long to see more of the supernatural power of God demonstrated through my own life. Whenever that has happened ~ and there have been some wonderful healings and miracles that I have personally witnessed over the years ~ people are always greatly impacted to believe in Jesus Christ! God’s will is to see the people healed and set free from the devil’s doubts, and to give them a solid foundation upon which to base their faith, so they can go and tell others “what the Lord has done.” A doubting Christian, and an unbelieving world will not be convinced by mere words. We have to demonstrate that what we have in Jesus far surpasses every other religious belief system, and gives people a confident hope that will last throughout time into all eternity. It is time for us to “let God be God” in us, and for Him to use us to heal and put back together a broken generation of people. If there are no supernatural happenings in and through your life, how will people know that you are in relationship with a supernatural God? God’s answer to doubts is a supernatural demonstration of the power of God ~ through us (who else has He got?). ~ Rodney W. Francis.

Bible  Readings:  Matthew 21:21; Mark 11:23-24; James 1:2-8; 1 Timothy 2:8.

Please Pray This Prayer:

“Dear Lord Jesus, I submit my thoughts and life to You afresh. Please put Your finger on any doubts about Who You are that are lodged in my mind. Convict me of any negative thoughts and words that I speak. I do not want to be among those who doubt Your presence and Deity. Help me to serve You fully in faith day by day. I ask this in Jesus' name, Amen."

The Gospel Faith Messenger Ministry,  New Zealand. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.