The following is a sermon transcript from our Sunday Service at The Rock Church in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. Each week, we gather to worship, learn from God’s Word, and grow together. This transcript is provided as a free resource to encourage and equip you in your walk with Christ. While you’re welcome to read and share this content for personal use, we kindly ask that it not be redistributed or published elsewhere without prior written consent from The Rock Church.
Introduction
Imagine being presented with the opportunity of a lifetime. You’ve worked years to reach this moment. Your dream job finally being offered. The salary is excellent. The hours are ideal. Everything you hoped for is now in front of you. And yet, instead of joy, fear suddenly grips your heart. What if I fail? What if this isn’t what I expected? What if I ruin everything?
The doubts rush in like a flood. And then a trusted friend speaks a simple word of reassurance. Don’t be afraid. Even if this doesn’t work out, there will be other opportunities. And almost immediately, what happens? This calm comes over you. Why? Because words have power.
We all know what it is to be ruled by irrational fears. We fear failure. We fear the unknown. Sometimes we even live as though somehow we could derail God’s sovereign purposes. But Scripture reminds us that the Lord is always at work bringing peace to our anxious hearts and accomplishing His perfect plan for those who love Him.
Yet there is a greater truth we must see this morning. The words of a friend may have comfort for a moment, but the word of Christ has the power to transform the soul. He’s not merely a counselor. He is the risen Lord. He is the eternal God, God the Son, the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us. And when He speaks, fear is confronted, unbelief is exposed, and faith is born.
Here’s a disciple who’s not merely struggling with questions. He’s making demands. Thomas refuses to believe unless Christ meets his conditions. Perhaps you know someone like that. You have prayed for them. You have shared the Scripture. You have answered objections. Yet they continue to say, unless I see for myself, I will not believe.
What hope is there for a heart like that? The answer is not ultimately found in better arguments or more evidence. The answer is found in the sovereign mercy of Christ who comes to the doubter, speaks peace, and creates faith.
And that is the central truth that we will see in our text this morning. From doubt to peace, Jesus gives faith that lasts forever. Amen.
Four things, really, we could look at. The first is what faith trusts unbelief demands. Secondly, the locked doors cannot keep Jesus out. And third, faith flows and then fruit follows. Lastly, faith is received. It’s not invented. And it’s also shared. It’s not solitary.
So with this in mind, we now come to the scene before us in the Gospel of John. Peace is needed here, but unbelief is standing in the way. The risen Christ has already appeared to the twelve disciples. Joy, although, has already begun to replace the fear. But one man remains outside that joy. Thomas is not merely confused. He is making demands upon God.
And that leads us to the first truth that we must see this morning.
Unbelief Is an Attitude of the Heart That Makes Unrealistic Demands
We look at verses 24 to 25, John chapter 20.
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 in 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.”
Let’s set the scene here. Last week, we celebrated the resurrection. He is risen. He is alive. The grave could not hold Him. And now we enjoy all of the benefits of what He has done and is doing.
But what was happening back in the first century right after Jesus rose from the grave? Consider His closest followers, the twelve disciples. They were with Him through His entire earthly ministry. They had just witnessed His terrible death and suffering. And after Jesus died, all hope seemed to be lost. What has happened to the one who’s performed all the miracles? Forgiving sinners, offering hope to the least and to the last. Now that He’s gone, what are we going to do?
You see, the natural response was fear. The disciples were afraid of the religious leaders. And so what did they do? They locked their doors and they stayed in their home. They put themselves on house arrest.
And then something incredible happened. Jesus came and stood among them and said those four powerful words, Peace be with you. He spoke words of life when they were distraught with fear. It was His spoken word that changed everything.
We all need to hear the words of our Savior. Why? Because we are prone to anxiety and fear. We are afraid of the unknown. We are afraid of failure. Some of us even have these plaguing thoughts that something bad is going to happen. I just know it.
Where do these fears come from? Well, they come from our frail humanity. And then they’re used by the forces of spiritual wickedness. But not so with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He has the words of eternal life. He has the words to calm the storms and the seas. And He’s able to do so with just a word.
This is the same eternal Son of God who brought about all of creation. We know this. John chapter 1, and He was in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Jesus is the Word. He’s the Creator. He’s the sustainer of all things.
And so now Jesus appears to the twelve disciples and He shows them His hands and His side. Why? To show that He was, in fact, the risen Christ. He was the very same one whose hands and feet were pierced. He was the very same one that endured all the agonies of the cross. But death would not keep Him alive.
And then He does something powerful. He sends them out in the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus knows that He must go to the Father. He must ascend, but before He does, He knows His followers are going to need help. You and I need help. We need the help that only God can give us through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Spirit is our comforter. He’s the one that leads us back to Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life. He is the one that enables us to forgive the unforgivable.
And now here comes Thomas. Hey Thomas, where have you been? We just saw the risen Christ. He’s alive. He showed us His pierced hands and side. Thomas, I can’t believe you missed it.
Right now, many of you are wondering, how come Thomas was not there to see Jesus? I don’t know. The text doesn’t tell us. But one thing that we can be encouraged by is that it was part of God’s sovereign plan for Thomas not to be there.
It never happened to you? No. You’re supposed to be there, you missed it, you have this regret because you missed out. You have this feeling of either depression or anxiety, anger. It appears that Thomas took the route of being a little angry. Did you catch that tone in his discourse here? Seems a bit hot on the temper.
But what do we know about this guy? Well, we could go back to John 11, verse 16. At that point, the disciples had become aware of an important reality. If Jesus was to go to Jerusalem, He must die. And Thomas, out of that great zeal and passion, says, man, let’s go. I’m ready. Come on. I’m going to die with Him.
Wait a minute. That sure sounds like somebody who’s committed to the cause. He was willing to die right alongside Jesus, but he still doesn’t understand that Jesus is more than a man.
Fast forward to John chapter 14, verse 5. And it’s here that Jesus is explaining to the disciples that He’s going to go to prepare a place for them in heaven. And Jesus tells them that He’s going to come again and take the disciples with Him. But they have no idea what He’s talking about. In fact, Thomas said to Jesus, Lord, we don’t know where You’re going. How can we know the way? Lord, please explain.
Jesus responds by saying, I am the way and the truth and the life and, and guess what? No one comes to the Father except through Me.
The problem with understanding spiritual truth without the Holy Spirit is simply this. It’s impossible. And that’s Thomas. He’s a man of loyalty, of devotion, but he’s missing a very important reality. The risen Savior is alive. The crucified One. He is God. He is man.
So that’s where we find Thomas at this point in our text. He’s full of doubt. He refuses to believe. It’s not possible unless I see Jesus Himself. But he takes it one step further. Not only does Jesus have to appear to him, but he also has to see the marks in His hands and His side. He’s got to be able to touch them.
You see how unbelief is an attitude of the heart that makes unrealistic demands? I’m sure that you know many people like this. Stubbornness of heart.
But faith is not a matter of seeing. It’s a matter of believing without seeing. The disciples had seen the risen Lord. What a privilege it was. But no Christian today has seen the risen Christ apart from the rare occasion of those who have seen Him in a dream.
So what is our faith then? Is it a blind mental assent to some reality that we have no proof of? Well, of course not. The Christian faith is a rational faith. In order to come to Christ, we don’t abandon our thinking and reasoning. But there is something that is unexplainable about Christ. How did God the Father raise Him from the dead? How did He do it? You could ask a number of questions that follow that train of thought. How did God create something out of nothing? How did He bring creation into existence? It’s one of those things that we’ll never understand because we are not God.
The strength of unbelief will remain without the work of the Holy Spirit. We can have all the questions, have all the answers, and know how to ask all the right questions. But unless the Spirit of God changes the condition of a dead heart to one that is alive to the things of God, it will not matter.
Now I’m not saying that we shouldn’t provide reasons for the faith. In fact, we should always be ready to have an answer for the faith. But our focus has to always be on the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. That Jesus came into the world to save sinners. That He appeared to many witnesses after He was raised from the grave. That Jesus has ascended to heaven at the right hand of the Father. And today and every day until He comes, making intercession for us.
See, God had a purpose for allowing Thomas to stand in disbelief. What do you think that purpose was? To show His glory. To demonstrate that the hardest of hearts can be changed.
Thomas had drawn a line in the sand. Unless Christ meets his conditions, he will not believe. And if the story ended there, well, certainly unbelief would win. Fear would come. The locked doors would remain closed. But the gospel, the glory of the gospel is this. Christ does not wait for perfect faith. Christ comes to create it.
Eight days later, the same fearful room became the stage for divine mercy. And that brings us to the second truth.
Jesus Breaks Through Unbelief With His Peace and Powerful Word
See what Jesus does here in verses 26 to 27. He breaks through unbelief with His peace and powerful word.
See what happens. Eight days later, His disciples were inside again. Thomas was with him. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said this, Peace be with you.
And then He said to Thomas, Hey, buddy, go ahead. Put your finger here. See My hands? Go ahead. Put your hand. Place it in My side. Do not disbelieve, but believe. Believe.
Well, something’s happened here. What is going on? Eight days have passed. The disciples are gathered together, but this time they’re with Thomas. The text tells us that their doors were all locked still. What are we to make of this? Well, it seems that the peace that they had just received before eight days ago has sort of floated away. And once again, there is fear. They don’t know what to do.
Even though the doors are locked, Jesus came right in and stood among them. Certainly no locked door is any obstacle to the risen Lord. All the physical barriers are no match for what Jesus intends to accomplish.
We might even assume that there are many souls right now that have locked doors to their hearts. They don’t want Jesus. They don’t want Him coming in. Certainly not. But He can break into those locked hearts. Tear down those fortresses that are built up around. There’s nothing that can stop the Lord Jesus from saving His people.
It’s common, you know, in America to refer to Jesus as this kind gentleman. Amen. This kind gentleman, He’ll never barge His way into your life. Well, you know what? I’m so thankful that He barged into my life. Because without Him, I certainly wouldn’t be alive today.
Thankfully, the Lord knows our heart. He knows that we want nothing to do with Him. Why? Because we love our sin. Man, do we love our sin. Amen. But nonetheless, the Spirit comes. He comes into that dead heart. He comes into that rebellious, hard heart. And He crushes it and He rebuilds it and He makes it new. And He changes that heart of stone into a heart of flesh.
He breaks into that unbelief and just speaks His Word. Once again, we see it repeated. What does He say? Peace be with you.
Why did He have to say it again? Jesus, You’re getting a little repetitive here. Listen, because we receive the peace of the Lord and then turn our attention right back to our problems. Oh Lord, I went to church. It was great. Spirit fill me. Receive the word. I get home and now all I can think about is my problems. Where is my peace? The peace we once knew floats away.
You can be standing on a busy street, cars whizzing by, honking their horns, lights flashing, and suddenly someone puts his hand on your shoulder and just says these four words, Peace be with you. But this is no stranger. This stranger is no regular man. He’s the one who is truly able to impart His peace to our weary, restless hearts.
He doesn’t come with a casual greeting. He doesn’t come as a gentleman with long blonde hair and blue eyes. He comes with sovereign comfort.
See, Jesus doesn’t waste His words. He knows exactly what’s in our hearts and what we need. And He knows how easy it is for us to lose our peace. We need those calming and comforting words from the Savior. Peace be with you. Peace to dominate you. Peace to invade your busy, your hurried heart and find rest. Find rest in the arms of the Savior.
See, Jesus didn’t come with harsh words for Thomas. He didn’t come to beat him up by saying, Thomas, what’s your problem? Why are you like that? Why are you so unbelieving? Why do you make such unrealistic demands? But instead, He comes in peace to give us peace.
He knows what Thomas had said and meets him right there. Okay, Thomas, you want to see Me? Here I am. He then invites him. Go ahead. Put your hands right here, man. Right here. Put them in. Look at My side. Go ahead.
What does Thomas do? How does he respond to that? Does he oblige and say, okay, Lord, yeah, that’s exactly what I’m going to do. Come here. No, he doesn’t do it. Instead, he responds to what Jesus says to him directly. Do not disbelieve, but believe.
What just happened? He spoke his faith and gave it to Thomas. He believes now. He called His powerful word. It’s this concept, this irresistible grace. When God breaks into our hearts and changes them, man, when He calls us to come to Him, we will come. We will believe.
But pastor, some won’t believe no matter what the circumstances are. That’s exactly right. They won’t. That’s why the change needs to happen on the inside. It needs to happen inside of them before it can come out of them. And that change has happened. Jesus spoke belief, and the result was faith arose from Thomas.
Do you see Thomas doing anything? Do you see him saying, Lord, explain, Lord, do this, Lord, I pray this particular prayer. He just, we’re going to see how he answers in a second, but Jesus spoke belief and the result was faith.
He first reassures all them in their fear. He says to them as He comes, peace be with you. And then He moves to the immediate need of Thomas’s heart. He had dissolved that rebellious heart and created faith in him.
When Christ speaks, something happens. His words are never empty. They never just merely inform us. No, they transform us. The command, do not disbelieve, but believe. That’s not just instruction. That’s sovereign grace of God working in his heart. That locked heart that was evident in him is now blown open. And that resistant will is now bowing before his Savior. That doubter became a worshiper in an instant.
And now we witness the beautiful fruit of Christ’s work.
Faith Flows and Fruit Follows
Let’s read verses 28 to 29.
Thomas answered. 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.
So simple five words that changes everything. My Lord and my God. I don’t want you to pass over that too quickly. It’s not simply that Jesus is Lord and God. No, Jesus is my Lord, my God. In other words, this is a personal thing for Thomas. Fruit has come into his soul, flowed out as a fruitful gift. The gift was his ability to do what was not possible before.
You see, Thomas did not understand that Jesus is God. But Christ did something. He spoke and he responded. And now he knows that Jesus is his Lord. Look at this. Is there any doubt? He realizes the doubt and unbelief would no longer rule over his heart and life. Instead, it’s this idea of the lordship of Christ. It’s the power of Christ. It’s the fact that Thomas is under the absolute authority and control of his master. That’s great freedom. Yeah. That’s great joy.
That’s what happens to every soul that was once lost but is now found. This is the power of the perfect lordship of Christ. We are His servants. We serve at His pleasure. And He’s no wicked Lord. He’s a perfect Master who arranges our hearts so that we would gladly submit to Him. He knows what’s best for us. His plan is far greater than anything that we could devise, any scheme. There’s safety there. There’s rest there. There’s surrender there.
But notice the other phrase. Thomas now knows that Jesus is his God. As believers, He’s our God. He’s not just a man who performed miracles and provided moral instruction. No, He’s the eternal Son of God who took on flesh. Let all doubts be dispelled. Jesus is God. Thomas declares it. We embrace it.
Imagine this for a moment. You’re trying to grow crops in a dry and barren land. So you invest in the tools to break up the fallow ground, that hard ground. You spend all of your energy, all of your efforts to no avail. Suddenly, soil is transformed into that which is rich and fertile. Not only that, we see a spring breaks forth from the ground. What was impossible in a dry and barren heart is now possible with the life-giving power of the Word.
That’s what Jesus does. He changes the soil of the heart to receive the seed of faith. And that faith, it then begins to grow. And it grows not from your effort. It grows by the powerful working of the Spirit who takes His Word and applies it to your heart and life. And the Word of God continually washes over that seed, causing it to grow, causing it to bloom, causing it to become that fruitful tree.
See, what was once hopeless and without purpose is now made alive by the Lord. That’s what Thomas experienced here. And this is the promise for all that Jesus has called by His effectual grace, this powerful grace, effectively drawing them in, irresistible.
Jesus even tests Thomas’s heart. What does He say? Do you believe simply because you’ve seen Me? No, it’s much more than that. He has believed because Jesus has given him faith to believe. It wasn’t hidden seed in the depths of his soul that he had to kind of work through to find and pull out. It’s a seed that was placed into him. And it was planted in a heart that was once barren and unfruitful.
We all need that. The spiritual work of the Spirit, the Spirit working in us to impart faith in us. We cry out, Lord, help me. Help me believe. Help me in my unbelief. Help me to grow into a fruitful tree that bears peace and joy and forgiveness, eternal life. That’s a heart that lives forever, trusting in a faithful Savior who will never let us go.
And as believers today, we are blessed. We are blessed because we didn’t demand the risen Lord to stand before us and show us who He is. We are blessed because Jesus has given us faith even without seeing. Our faith, it rests on the same faith given to the very witnesses to the resurrection who saw Him risen. Nail-pierced hands and side.
We need not abandon all reason in believing in our Savior. There is firm evidence that points to the reality of the resurrection. It’s a hope that will never put us to shame. We stand on the shoulders of countless saints who are blessed to receive this faith, the very same faith that was once delivered to them.
We need not fear or worry because Jesus has overcome the world. He’s overcome our fearful frame. And He’s spoken to us peace. But we need to keep hearing it. Who needs to keep hearing it? Peace be with you. Peace be with you. Peace for us.
Thomas’s confession is not merely recorded for historical interest. The moment is not preserved so that we can admire his transformation from a distance. The Spirit inspired this account for a reason. Because most of Christ’s people would never see what Thomas saw. They’d never touch His wounds. They’d never stand in that locked room. Yet they too must believe.
And that’s why John now, as the writer here, lifts his eyes there from Thomas’s experience to the very written word itself. And that’s the last point here.
Faith Is Formed From God’s Word, Guarantees Eternal Life
Verses 30 to 31.
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written. Why? So that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing, there’s a benefit of believing, you may have life in His name.
This is the central message of the Gospel of John. That we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Look at the beginning of verse 30. Jesus did many other signs. And the question is, why? Why did Jesus perform these signs? So that many would marvel at His power or that His message would be authenticated.
Understand this. Signs and wonders, I’ve mentioned this before, always confirm that the messenger is speaking the truth. In other words, the messenger speaking God’s very words, going back to Moses in the Old Testament, you know this, he was God’s mediator, he was the go-between, he was the one that spoke God’s word.
And when Moses was afraid to boldly proclaim to Pharaoh, let my people go, what did the Lord say? Exodus 4, verses 1 to 9. Moses performed signs before Pharaoh. And why did he do that? So that Israel would believe that the Lord had appeared to him. Elijah called fire down from heaven to prove that Yahweh, not Baal, was the true God.
That’s the ancient times. The king sent a message. The messenger carried the scroll, sealed with the king’s signet ring, pressed in hot wax. Anyone could claim to speak for the king, but only the true messenger carried the seal. The seal did not replace the message. It authenticated the message.
The same way, miracles were God’s royal seal. They confirmed the prophet or the apostle truly spoke for Him. And as believers, we are to rest in the final authority of God’s Word. We’re not to seek after all the signs and wonders and all the deeper spiritual experiences. Again, the point of the signs and wonders is not to wow us, but to cause us to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.
We don’t need experiences to strengthen our faith. We need the Word of Christ to dwell richly within us. It’s our hope. It’s our life. Since Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, look to Him.
Hebrews chapter 1 reminds us that in times past, God has spoken in various ways. In visions, in dreams, in prophecies. But in these last days, He has spoken by His Son. And since He has spoken a better word, we enjoy a better faith. We enjoy the fullness of God’s revelation and the fullness of God’s Son. Man, there’s nothing better than that.
Since we have life in Christ, we need not life in our experiences. Our experiences should always point us to Christ. They should verify the faith that was once delivered. God’s Word was written for us so that we would know the Son, that we might cherish Christ, that we might have life in Him.
The question for you is, where are you seeking life apart from the Son? Some seek it in possession and property. Others seek in knowledge or education or man’s approval. Every false source of life is a broken pot. It promises to satisfy you, but man, that thing is cracked and leaking. It can’t hold the living water.
It’s from doubt to peace that Jesus gives faith that lasts forever. It’s not some temporary gift that just will one day fade away. No, the grass withers. You know this verse, the flowers fade, but the word of the Lord will endure forever. You may grow tired and weary and weak, but the Lord will sustain you by His righteous right hand.
So if you lack faith, look to Christ. Look to the One who is able to speak a word of peace and faith to you.
See, many people assume faith is something they just have to work up in themselves. Like building enough sincerity or enough certainty before they come to Christ. The gospel reverses that order. We don’t believe because we’re strong. We believe because Christ gives us sight to the blind.
Faith here is not the cause. It’s the fruit of Christ’s saving work applied to our hearts, flowing through us. The 1689 clearly teaches this scripturally, that faith is a saving grace of God. It’s not produced by a fallen nature. It says that the grace of faith is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts. That means that faith originates in Christ’s saving work. It then is applied by His Spirit. It’s then received by the sinner. It’s not self-generated.
Believers can rest knowing their faith is not ultimately dependent on their emotional strength or their intellectual certainty. It rests on Christ and His powerful grace.
John Calvin writes this, faith is a firm and certain knowledge of God’s benevolence toward us, revealed to our minds, sealed upon our hearts by the Holy Spirit. For Calvin here, faith is revealed, not discovered. Sealed by the Spirit. It’s not manufactured by man. It’s rooted in God’s promise in Christ. Not some inner potential. You’ve got to have faith. No.
This protects believers from an introspective despair. Looking in. Trying to find. Assurance grows not by analyzing faith, but by beholding Christ. Faith is not the root of salvation. Christ is. Faith is the hand Christ himself creates to receive Him. Faith perseveres because it’s rooted in Christ. He gave it to us and He’s never going to take it back.
So the question moves from Thomas’s heart to ours. Will we continue to demand more signs? Will we continue to anchor our peace in our circumstances? Or will we rest in Christ who speaks through His Word? Because the same Savior who entered that locked room now addresses us through Scripture. And His purpose has not changed. That we might believe. And that by believing, we might have life in His name.
Conclusion
So where does that leave us today? We’ve walked with Thomas from a stubborn doubt to settled peace. We’ve seen the locked room. Fearful disciples, heart making unrealistic demands, but we also have seen something far greater. We’ve seen the risen Christ break through barriers, speak His peace, and create faith.
This is the great comfort of the gospel. Your salvation does not rest on the strength of your faith, but on the power of your Savior. Thomas didn’t climb his way out of unbelief. Jesus came to him. Jesus spoke to him. Jesus changed him. And He still does the same today.
Some of you here this morning with an anxious heart. You’re afraid of the future. You’re weighed down by doubts. You’re struggling to believe. God, it doesn’t feel like You’re really at work in my life. I want you to hear the words of Christ. Peace be with you. Not peace that depends on your circumstances. Not peace that comes from finally understanding everything. But peace that flows from knowing the crucified and risen Lord.
Others of you may be standing where Thomas once stood, demanding more proof, more certainty, more experiences, but the Lord in His mercy today is calling out to you and saying, do not disbelieve, but believe. Believe. You don’t need a private appearance of Christ. You have the trustworthy testimony of His Word. You have the witness of the apostles. You have the promises that all who come to Christ will not be cast out.
Listen carefully what Jesus says next. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe. That’s you, Christian. You’re blessed. Blessed not because your faith is perfect. Blessed not because your doubts never return. But blessed because Christ has given you faith that rests upon Him.
So when that doubt whispers in your ear, look to Christ. Speak to Christ. Listen to His Word. When fear arises, listen for His voice in His Word. When your faith feels weak and faltering, remember, remember, He is the author and finisher of your faith.
And one day, one day, faith will give way to sight. The peace you now experience in part will be full and everlasting. Until that day, keep hearing His Word, keep trusting His promises, keep resting in His finished work. Because from doubt to peace, Jesus gives faith that lasts forever.
Closing Prayer
Let’s pray together. And if you are not a Christian, this is your time to cry out to the Lord and hear Him say to you, do not disbelieve, but believe. And meditate on that as the Lord works in your heart.
We’re going to take a moment now in quietness. That’s your opportunity. I don’t know where you are, but I know there are unbelievers in this room. I just know it. So I want to pray for you, and we’re going to give you a moment to talk to the Lord Jesus.
Lord, You’ve heard our cries for mercy. And I pray for those in this room who are in need, that are asking for faith to believe. I pray for them because they may have been asking for evidence and proof and signs and experience, but Lord, You are the One that creates faith. So create faith, I pray. Speak Your Word, Lord. Grant Your peace, even now, as the lost are saved.
We trust You, Lord. We know that You will save Your own. But we’re still going to pray that they be saved now and plead with them to come to Christ and to believe. But it’s only You that can give that belief. So do what we pray.
And for those that are saved, Lord, those that know the Savior, Lord, we pray Your blessing over them. You would cast aside the fears and the doubts and the worries that constantly plague us. And help us, Lord, to trust You. You’re the sovereign King. And yet we want to put ourselves in places of control and power to make things happen.
Oh, Lord, we confess our sin. We confess our self-dependence, our worship of self, our worship of comfort, our worship of pleasure. All these things. Lord, satisfy our hearts. Ravish our hearts. Fill us afresh, Spirit of God. We want You. We want to enjoy You. We want to dwell with You. We want to walk with You.
So now we come. We give You thanks for all that You’re doing and all that You will do.
In Jesus’ name, amen. Amen.
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