What does it take for you to believe?

John 20: 24 ~ 31

Have you seen the commercial where the guy sits on the side of the bed and says “I can’t believe I ate the whole thing”?  Even with the truth staring us in the face we sometimes have trouble believing. What does it take for you to believe?

1. Thomas one of the 12

    a. spent time w/Jesus

    b. many miracles done by own hand

2. Wouldn’t accept the word of others

   a. he is hurt crushed inside/doubts everything

   b. it has to happen to me personally

3. How different are we than Thomas

   a. spend time w/Jesus prayer & study/ religious good works

   b. we believe what we have seen

4. Jesus wants to stretch our faith

   a. can we trust Jesus at the next level

   b. can we trust those who have been there

   c. even though the scripture says so do you believe

5. there will be a time of confrontation for you

   a. Jesus will lay out the evidence before you

   b. reach out your hand & put it in His side

   c. stop doubting & believe

6. How will you react

   a. Thomas ~ My Lord and My God

   b. Will you continue to doubt

   c. never done it that way or we don’t believe that

   d. will you believe when you see or continue to doubt

7. Learn from scripture it is the best way

   a. what is told of Jesus is true/ He is physically alive

   b. yet there is so much more that isn’t written

   c. so you  believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God

Do you believe that Jesus rose from the dead?  Thomas believed after he saw Jesus.  If you actually believed that God heard and acted upon things according to the way which you pray would your prayer life be different?  Jesus said stop doubting and believe.  Jesus proved the truth of His words by rising from the dead.  Do you doubt or do you believe?