Believing Thomas

Pastor Linnecar continues to look at the truth which lies behind the man we have learnt to write off as Doubting Thomas, but who should rather be seen as Believing Thomas.

Thomas, is often referred to as Doubting Thomas, and he has that title because of the episode we know, when he wanted to be sure for himself that Jesus had risen from the dead. I referred to the earlier time when he was with Jesus.

The wonderful thing about studying the characters of the apostles is that it dawns on you that Jesus Christ manages to reach any individual, any personality. I want to state categorically that Jesus Christ is alive. It doesn’t matter what the enemy throws at you, doesn’t matter what voices you hear off-stage, what people try and cover up with, Jesus Christ is alive and is here now. How do we know that? He’s here by His Holy Spirit. He was here when the choir got here this morning to practise. He’s here because He loves you.

On Friday we looked at a time when Jesus was saying a few things and the Pharisees and others didn’t like what He said, and were about to stone Him. Jesus left that place and heard that Lazarus was sick. Then He stayed where He was, even though He knew that Lazarus was dead.

John 11:14-16

They knew that when Jesus said they would go over to him, he was walking into a den of lions. But Thomas’s reaction was that he was going to go too. There was a courage in Thomas. He knew as he walked with Jesus over those years, there was something different about Him. As they walked with Him, they tried to work out what He meant – would He bring triumph over the Romans, for instance?

John 13:36-53

Jesus always tells the truth. But here Thomas wondered whether he did know the way.

John 14:5-7

What a reply to Thomas’s question! Jesus patiently in the earshot of all the disciples said He was the way, the truth, the life, and no man comes to the Father but by Him.

So that’s why in the last week, God by His Holy Spirit has been talking to you, and has been asking you this question – “Do you believe in me? Do you realise that up to this point, I’ve guided you. I’ve been with you.” “Right up to this point, I am the way the truth and the life. You don’t have to find out some hidden thing – I am the way.”

I’m sure it dawned on Thomas a little bit more that there was something totally different about getting involved with Jesus. He didn’t say, “I tell the truth”: it was “I am the truth.” It wasn’t that there are various ways you could try: “I am the way.” It wasn’t that there are various forms of life. “I am the life.”

That’s why everything turns on you and your relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is central to everything. And this morning He wants to remind you that every prayer you’ve prayed in the last week, anything which is on your heart, He’s heard you. And quite specifically this morning, He’s here for you.

“I am the way, the truth and the life.” So when Jesus died on the cross, Thomas couldn’t figure it out. “He told me I am the way, the truth and the life.” He was now crucified. And sometimes we can’t figure things out. Sometimes we think that God has somehow messed it up. Sometimes we think He hasn’t heard us, or that we don’t deserve anything because we’re no good. But there mere thought of getting things from God because of good deeds is completely wrong.

There’s something about the way God plans our lives which shows the intent of Him who loves you to reveal Himself to you. I know some people would dismiss all this, and say, “I don’t believe all this.” But if truth were known, these people in their heart of hearts know that something inside needs sorting out. And God by His grace – somehow He organises things so we find a solution.

“But Christianity is just a crutch. I don’t need Christianity. You do – you’re weak.” Well yes, I am weak. When it came to the power of sin in my life, I needed a solution. I was getting nowhere.

There was an honesty about Thomas. With Peter it was all up-front. Everyone knew what he thought. With Thomas there was always, “That’s true. I believe it. But I need clarification.”

I’ve done quite a bit with personality profiling. It’s often used in interviews – the four different aspects of a personality. And it’s fascinating to me to see the different types of personalities there are – the DISC model. If you’re a high “C” you want to dot every I and cross every T. And we need people like that. If you’re high “D”, it’s over the top, follow me. Thomas, I think, was more of a high “C” than a high “D”. But I think he was actually quite bold, because he often spoke up what others were only thinking – “We don’t actually know the way.” “If he’s going back to Judea, I’m with Him.”

And then Jesus died, and the first day of the week, Mary came to the tomb, and then found Peter and John, and they went to the tomb, and then Mary stood outside the sepulchre weeping, and had a personal encounter with Jesus.

Already before the Holy Spirit was given, Jesus was talking to Mary, telling her He was ascending to His Father, their Father, His God, their God. And that’s why you’re here this morning. Regardless of anything you’ve done this week, God has drawn you.

We’re not told what the disciples thought when Mary went to them. But they were glad when Jesus came to them that evening. But Thomas wasn’t there that evening. We don’t know why. Maybe he wasn’t as afraid of the Jews as they were.

Jesus said to the disciples – “Here are my hands and side – it really is me.”

And then Jesus left. Twice, He said, “Peace be unto you.” When the sea billows roll, there is a peace in Christ, which this world cannot give. He is our peace. And this morning, His words to some of you are, “Peace be unto you – peace, right in the midst.”

Jesus heard what Thomas said. I know you know that. But I want to concentrate on the timing, because God’s timings in your life are perfect.

There are people sitting here who are still looking for a job. I could quote you a number of people who sat where you are, where at the right time the job was made available and it has been secure. There is nothing God will not sort out for you. He’s your provider. Those facing financial difficulties – He is your provider. Whatever your difficulties are, God’s timing is perfect. What happened last year is in God’s timing for your life.

Was Thomas being stubborn – “I won’t believe unless I put my hands into His side”? I don’t think it was like that. I think he almost didn’t dare to believe what they were saying as true. He’d been so close to Jesus.

That night, Thomas went to sleep wondering. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust what the others disciples were saying. He’d been with them for at least three years. Why didn’t God include Him in what had happened? God listens to our thoughts. We’re talking here about the character of God who is a God of love. He hears you. Even this week He’s been listening. He’s not weak.

The next night Thomas went to bed like this. And the next, and the next. For seven nights he was trying to reconcile himself to the fact that God had revealed Jesus to the others and he hadn’t been there. He wanted it to happen to him. He wanted to be certain. He didn’t dare believe until he was sure.

Don’t stop coming to church. There’s something about when we meet together, that God by His Holy Spirit through His word reveals Himself. We don’t earn brownie points by coming to church, but when God reveals Himself it’s special.

Thomas still met with the other disciples even though Jesus hadn’t revealed Himself to them. And then Jesus came again. Imagine the effect upon Thomas. Wow – He’s showed up again! He’s here – I can see Him! What am I going to do now? What’s He going to say to me after what I’ve done?

It doesn’t matter what you’ve done in your life. It doesn’t matter the verbal abuse you’ve aimed at God – He’ll still keep coming.

Don’t react by saying you’ll just carry on doing it. Inside you know what I’m saying is true – you’ve been like Thomas. But Jesus by His Holy Spirit is here this morning.

When Jesus came He didn’t have a go at Thomas. He liked him. He knew he was straight and honest. Jesus didn’t speak to the others – He just looked straight at Thomas and told him to reach into His side.

“Be not faithless, but believing.” This is the bottom line for you this morning, and for me.

“Blessed are they who have not seen and yet have believed.” That’s us. He’s here by His Holy Spirit. Same thing.

A little later, Thomas was with the disciples on the beach when Jesus appeared and told Simon to throw out the nets. Thomas specifically is mentioned as being there this time.

Thomas’s life thereafter was a continuous proclamation of the risen Christ. He ended up being martyred for the Gospel, but it’s thought that before that he preached the Gospel at various places in India.

God by His Holy Spirit causes us to see. He’s doing that even now as I speak. To see what? To see who Jesus Christ really is. “My Lord and my God,” Thomas said. Is He your God this morning? Or is your God yourself, your intellect? Is your God mere cynicism and dismissiveness, bound up in me, me, me? God doesn’t want that.

What Jesus was all about was others, others, others – the whole world. This morning, I want to encourage each one of you that in the same way that Jesus heard all that Thomas thought and said, so Jesus Christ has heard you this week. And this morning He’s speaking to you because He wants that relationship to be real to you.

I think rather than Doubting Thomas, the phrase should be Believing Thomas. He was true and honest, and God revealed Himself to Him.

Caleb's Faith

Pastors Peter and Carolyn Linnecar looks at the life of Caleb and how God told him he would possess the land. Caleb saw the giants in the land just as the other spies did, but his eyes were fixed on the promise not the problems. When we look at our doubts and fears we can become swamped, but when we look at the nature of our Father there is nothing that He will withhold from those who love Him and walk with Him.

Pastor Peter Linnecar – There is an old African proverb which says: It takes a whole village to raise up and educate a child. Some of you may think, well I don’t have children. But today we want to focus on something which affects everyone whether you are a parent or part of a church.

Pastor Carolyn Linnecar – We’re going to look at the life of one of the giants of faith. Last weekend Pastor Linnecar looked in Hebrews chapters 11 and 12 at the list of historical people of faith.

Hebrews 11:33

We have a greater provision than they knew. We have the indwelling Christ. They lived according to what they knew, but we have the indwelling Christ. We have His word and we have His power within us.

The life of Caleb

I want to look at the life of Caleb. He possibly wasn’t an Israelite by birth. He was born into a nomadic tribe, but Caleb had become a Hebrew by adoption. He stood out as a man of integrity, as a man of his word. He had the capacity to represent his people.

Caleb was one of the ones who was chosen to go in and see the land. His name means dog, not a pretty meaning. But he had the dogged persistence to believe God no matter what. His faith took God’s word and stood on it. He had a stubborn faith.

There are two ingredients we need as parents. One is faith in our God. And the other is to take his principles and apply them in our homes.

Deuteronomy 1:20-21

God has given you the land. God has said the land is yours. It doesn’t matter what the opposition is, the land is yours. But there’s something in human nature which thinks it knows better than God.

Deuteronomy 1:22–23

When there are problems in your life be careful who you listen to, be careful what advice you take on board. Do you take on board advice from someone who has proven through their life that they know their God?

The spies explored the land. They discovered that the land was one flowing with milk and honey. But they also found a tribe of giants living there. Caleb and Joshua weren’t blind. They saw the giants just as much as the others saw the giants. Unbelief looks at the problems and assesses the situation in terms of their own weaknesses. Faith looks at God. Faith says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Faith looks at the one who makes the way. Caleb was one whose eyes were fixed, not on the problems, but on the promise.

Deuteronomy 1:29-33

After all God’s provision, protection and guidance. He had delivered them from Pharaoh. Now they said ‘We can’t go, it’s too great a task, we can’t face it, we can’t go’. It was a moment of definition. And in that moment a whole generation discarded everything that God had done and had promised. Because of that they perished in the wilderness and only Joshua and Caleb went into the Promised Land.

I want to say something to the young people in particular. And I want you to listen with seriousness as if it’s for the first time. Some of you are concerned about the concept of being born again. ‘I am not sure what I believe any more. It doesn’t happen for me, I’m not sure it happens at all’. But in the background of your life there is the provision of God. And if you’re honest you can’t deny God’s provision for you and your family. You can’t deny God’s faithfulness in providing your education, your job, opened doors for you. And you say, ‘I give up’.

Hebrews 3:7–11

Listen to what God says; don’t listen to what you’ve discussed amongst yourselves.

Hebrews 3:12–14

I don’t think there’s hardly a young person in this room who hasn’t known at some point the moving of God in their heart. You might have pushed it away, you might have forgotten about it. When God starts something in your life He intends to finish it. When God opens a door in eternity for you He intends to take you through it. God isn’t tantalising you with something you can never have.

I want you to go back in your mind and remember the time that you knew God was there for you, and rest on that. Your confidence should be in Him, not in yourself. He loves, and He seeks, and He saves and that can never change and can never vary. You’re not just beyond the pail of God’s provision. You’re one for whom He sent His Son.

Do you think He did that lightly? Do you think He did that in order that He would fail in your life? For we hold our confidence in Christ steadfast until the end. We need to stop examining ourselves and look unto Him who is the answer. The same applies to the parents who are perhaps concerned about their child. Whether that child is here or somewhere else.

Two reports came back from that land, both accounts were true. But one looked at the problems, the other looked at God.

Deuteronomy 7:9

When I think about the future, knowing that God is going to keep His mercy and His love for a thousand generations, I’m happy with that.

Caleb heard the promise of God. He heard God say that He had given a land to the children of Israel. And he took hold of that promise and refused to let it go. This was a general promise for an entire people. It wasn’t just for Caleb, and yet Caleb actually dared to believe that God meant what He said.

Numbers 13:26–29

All the problems listed, you can imagine the response. The panic rose within the people.

Numbers 13:30–31

Caleb stood in the midst of the panic, and stilled the people because Caleb had believed the promise God gave him - a personal promise. And here God has always shown us that His promise is to the generations. That’s a general promise in God’s Word. And if you will believe His general promise God will give you a specific promise.

Deuteronomy 1:34–36

Numbers 14:24

This was no longer a general promise for a people; this was a promise for Caleb, and for Caleb’s family. The very place where he’d been sent in to reconnoitre, that very place God was going to send him in to possess it.

Take the general principles of God and apply them in your life, start to believe that they’re real for you, and God will give you a specific promise.

Not everyone has the same experience, take what you know is true, hold on to what you know is true, and God is going to come and reveal Himself to you. Don’t sit there saying there’s nothing I can do. Grab hold of what you know, stand in what you’ve been taught, and wait for God to come for you with the Word that is for you. But you can do an awful lot from just believing God’s general principles.

Caleb had to wait for 40 years. He had to wait for a whole generation to wander in the wilderness. A whole generation wandered, but I dare to believe that Joshua and Caleb walked with God.

We now come 40 - 45 years on in the life of this man and the same persistent dogged trust in God still motivates him. He won’t back down. And as parents we won’t back down. We will take these principles and apply them in our families. We will put our trust in a God who is a Shepherd, a God who has never been against us but is for us and our children. And as we apply these general principles in our families we’re going to see God come with the specific.

It took 40 years. And after that the Israelites went into the Promised Land and all Israel gathered at Gilgal to determine how they were going to divide up the remaining land. And before they were going to draw lots Caleb stood up and made his claim.

Give me this mountain

Joshua 14:7–14

Give me this mountain. The mountain that the people feared because of the inhabitants. The word of God is as strong and as alive to me now as it was 45 years ago. Because there’s a faith and a faithfulness in my heart. I know the God who gave me this faith, and it is as strong in me as ever it was.

Live by the principles which you know to be true and God will speak to you.

When we look at our doubts and fears we can become swamped. But when we look at the nature of our Father there is nothing that He will withhold from those who love Him and walk with Him. Take the general and God will give you your own personal promise.

This man Caleb, who came through so much and waited for so long. For all those years he walked in the wilderness some of the faith that was in him was transmitted to his family. And I know that as Christian parents that’s what we want. We hope that the faith we have will grow and flourish in the lives of our children.

Pastor Peter Linnecar -

Joshua 15:16-20

It sounds familiar doesn’t it. Caleb said give me this mountain. Then his daughter married and said give me a blessing, give me springs of water.

John 4:7–14

This weekend is about Christian parenting in an uncertain world. This woman at the well with Jesus had an encounter with the living God face to face. The conversation was intimate.

When, perhaps as a parent, you are at your wits end, what we’re trying to say now is that God’s faithful. He is a God of love. And it doesn’t matter what the circumstances look like. You as a Christian parent have within you living water – His name is Jesus. Do not write yourself off as having done your bit, don’t think what is the point. There is a particular word for you – there is a well of life inside you and you can’t stop it springing up. You can’t. The nature of God is everlasting. The nature of God is always faithful, a limitless supply, always causing you to triumph. Why? Because of what happened on the cross. He conquered death and there is nothing that can hinder Him giving you that spring of eternal life.

He will give you the wisdom with your family. He loves you. It could be that what you’ve heard today has been particularly personal – where you’re thinking OK Lord I’ve got to recognise where I am in you. I’ve got to recognise that I can go forward in you knowing that you are the solution. And the faith that you’ve given me will increase. You are the author of that faith and you are going to be the finisher of it. He’s inside, by His Holy Spirit.

Stop Fearing, Be Believing

In the story of Jairus, we see how Jesus meets our every need, no matter what assails our faith. His message to us is, “Stop fearing. Be believing.”

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We need to keep our focus on the One who endured the Cross.

Why did He do that?

Hebrews 12:1- 3

If you don’t want to be wearied and faint in your mind, consider Him. We are looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith.

To be set down means that the work is accomplished. Jesus went through the Cross so that He might purchase, for Himself, with His own blood, the Church – you and me.

He was so careful to reach people. The message we have is to the unsaved of the world, to those who have no hope – and the message is hope, a way out, the solution to life, Jesus Christ, who is life. It’s not a case of having a solution for life – He is life.

There are three occasions in the New Testament where Jesus raised people from the dead.

Luke 7:11 - 18

This was an incredible miracle. The only son of this widow had died. And Jesus “had compassion on her”. It was so dramatic, the rumour of Him went forth through all the region round about.

Luke 8:41 - 42

There was no doubt that Jairus heard what happened at Nain, because the news went round all Judea. He was ruler of the synagogue, and he was facing a problem – his own daughter was on the verge of death. What would his thoughts have been? As a ruler of the synagogue, it wouldn’t have been natural for him to look to Jesus for the solution.

Jairus means God enlightens. In your life He has got hold of you, and because He loves you, He wants to reveal more of Himself to you. He’s so careful and concerned for you and me to know Him and to understand what it meant to Him to go through the Cross and through the Resurrection so we could have life.

I know there are people who have been thinking for years ‘this isn’t for me’. But circumstances are such that God has got hold of you. He is telling you that He is the solution, the way, the truth and the life. He’s adept at catching us – He wants us to focus on Him. He is the solution.

Jairus fell at Jesus’ feet and besought Him to come to his house. But as He went there were people all around Him – see for example verse 43, which Jairus witnessed:-

Luke 8:43 - 49

What incredible timing. Jairus had just witnessed the healing of a woman who hadn’t even spoken to Jesus. She had pushed through to touch the hem of His garment and received her healing. And as Jesus spoke to that woman, Jairus would have been so encouraged. Her miracle had happened. His faith was uplifted – Jesus can do the miraculous, Jesus is the answer. But, while Jesus was speaking, news arrived of Jairus’ daughter’s death.

Some of you have reached the point where you think that even though you’ve tried time and again, it doesn’t work. Yet you still come. It’s as if someone has been whispering, “Why are you bothering? You know it doesn’t work.”

“Your daughter is dead, Jairus, trouble not the Master.” Luke 8:50 But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.

Stop fearing and be believing

What Jairus was told, in a human sense, was a cataclysmic end. She was dead. But Jesus is life. Fear not. Stop fearing and be believing. Some of you need to do that. It’s through the preaching of God’s word that faith comes. Perhaps, today, God is getting hold of your heart and saying, “Stop fearing. Be believing.”

Luke 8:51 - 53

“You don’t want to believe that Christian stuff. You know it hasn’t worked out in your life. God isn’t interested in you – you’re not good enough.” You may have experienced that scornful message in your heart. “How can you say that? You know she’s dead. The professional mourners are here already.”

Luke 23:35 - 37

Matthew 27:39 - 44

At that moment, Jesus could have thought, and that thought could have been actioned to wipe them out. “Are you going to rebuild the Temple in three days? Why are you up there, making out you’re something? Why are you going through that, thinking that somehow you will make a difference?”

What this highlights is that the Creator God, the one who created everything, humbled Himself as a man, came to that point when He was on the Cross because of you and me. So when those things were being hurled at Him on the Cross, He had you in mind. It wasn’t the person next to you. I’m talking about you – you, individually, were on Jesus’ mind, when He hung on the Cross to set you free and give you life itself. He loves you.

“This is pretty basic stuff.” But it matters. God wants you this morning to stop fearing and be believing.

But you say “I worry about money, my health, my job, bringing up my children. Will I be married? I’m worried about being lonely in old age. What career should I pursue?”

There are people here who came with a concern, and the concern has been eating you up and making you forget that you should set it aside and look to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Jairus heard the laughing and scorn, and he, as well as they, knew that his daughter was dead.

Luke 8:54 - 56

Her parents were astonished. I have talked with some people recently about how God has got hold of their lives and guided them. It’s always a wonder to me the way God organises things to get hold of you and reveal Himself to you. He is love, and wants that love to be in your life. He guides you.

Hebrews 12:1 - 2

The work is complete

With the writer, we are looking to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, who endured the Cross, despised the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. The work is complete. There’s nothing else to be done. Everything to prepare the Bride of Christ has been done. We’re in the time now where you and I and others who will come will become part of the Bride of Christ, the church.

Is He careful about His church? You bet He is. His church worldwide, the Bride of Christ.

He endured the Cross for the sole reason of making a way forward for you and me. And today His word for us is “Stop fearing and be believing.” Your circumstances have happened because God wanted to say this to you. “But I’m no good. I’m not like X or Y.” I know. He knows.

“But what will it mean for me?” It will mean the difference between light and darkness, death and life. Stop fearing. Be believing. He’s the author of your faith.

There are some here who have faith for the first time through what is being preached. He is the Finisher of your faith until we meet Him face to face. Don’t think this is too basic – or some arcane doctrine for the elite only. It is why He came.

“For the joy set before Him.” He had in His mind the joy He would have when He was seated at the right had of God and had taken our sin into Himself. “I’m going to set people free. I’m going to do what Father wants me to do.”

Hebrews 12:2

Nothing disturbs the peace where He is. It’s done. Nothing will hinder His work in your life.

And in terms of going forward in your life, I want to confirm to you ... don’t be afraid. Stop fearing. Be believing. He’s the one who is involved with you right now, because He loves you.