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GENESIS 15:1-6

"HONEST DOUBT"

Intro: Abram had just defeated the confederacy of kings and saved Lot and his family, 
       the king of Sodom offered Abram the spoils which he refused.

I. THE OCCASION FOR THE HONEST DOUBT.
        A. God had just spoken to Abram two promises.
                1. "I am thy shield."
                        a. Perhaps Abram began to fear a retaliation from these four kings.
                        b. I am your defense.
                2. "I am thy exceeding great reward."
                        a. Abram had refused reward from king of Sodom.
                                1. To this pagan king he gave witness to the true God. "I
                                   have lifted up my hand to Jehovah the most high God, the
                                   possessor of heaven and earth."
                        b. Now Jehovah the most high God... is saying  "I am your exceeding
                           reward.
        B. This is where the doubt was created.
                1. It is interesting that the greatest spiritual experiences can oft times
                   create doubt.
                2. "Who am I to leave all this reward to , seeing I have no heir?"

II. THE MAN OF HONEST DOUBT.
        A. Abram whose name was to be changed to Abraham a name synomomous with faith.
                1. The father of faith.
                2. The example of faith for all who would follow him.
        B. A man of faith an have honest doubts.
                1. The difference between plain doubt and honest doubt.
                        a. If I didn't believe in God's love and His righteousness I would
                           never question the pain and suffering in the world.
                        b. I know His promises are true...

III. WHAT SHOULD BE DONE WITH HONEST DOUBT?
        A. Abraham talked to the Lord about:
                1. Sometimes we're afraid to talk to God about these things. He knows they
                   are there.
                2. Too often we talk to our friends about them seeking to infect them also.
                        a. This is where honest doubt often becomes dishonest doubt.
                        b. I overstate my case and refuse an answer.

IV. THE RESULTS OF BRINGING HIS HONEST DOUBTS TO GOD.
        A. God assured Him of His promise.
                1. "Look now toward heaven."
                2. This often is our problem, we've been looking around toward our problems.
                        a. Looking at the stack of bills.
                        b. Looking at our impotency.
                3. Think of the sky Abram saw.
                4. God said, "see if you can count them."
                        a. I'll go beyond what your mind can conceive.
                        b. "Now unto Him who is able to do exceeding..."
        B. He was brought to a deeper faith.
                1. There is room for questions with faith.
                2. The faith that questions and finds the answers is usually much stronger
                   than the faith that never questions.
                3. "And he believed in the Lord and He counted it to him for righteousness."
        C. What to do with your honest doubts?
                1. Bring them with an open mind to God, lay out the problems to Him as you
                   understand it. See what solutions cone to your mind.
                2. When God gives you the answer, believe it and rejoice in it.
                3. It does not always mean God is going to in the next five minutes fulfill
                   the promise. Abram waited for 14 years more, for God to keep His promise.