THE TEMPORARY ECLIPSE OF FAITH

MATTHEW 11:3

A. "ART THOU HE THAT SHOULD COME, OR DO WE LOOK FOR ANOTHER?"
  1. What a paradoxical question for John to ask:
    1. He was the voice - crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord - Is. 40:3
    2. He was a fearless preacher of the truth - Matt. 3:7-8
    3. He rebuked kings - Matt. 14:3
    4. He boldly proclaimed the presence of the Messiah - John 1:29
  2. Yet, he had a temporary eclipse of faith:
    1. Moments of doubt - "Art thou he that should come?"
    2. Or do we look for another?
  3. Reasons for the eclipse of John's faith:
    1. He was in prison - Luke 7:18-35
    2. He was disappointed in Jesus; did not fully understand the mission of the Messiah B. THE TEMPORARY ECLIPSE OF FAITH
  4. Is common to all men:
    1. Elijah, that might man of God, had an eclipse of faith - I Kings 19:4
    2. The prophet Jonah had a bad one - Jonah 4:1-8
    3. Jeremiah became discouraged - Jer. 20:7
  5. Reasons of partial blackout:
    1. Depressing environment
    2. Disappointment
    3. Erroneous concept of the mission of the Messiah
  6. John's eclipse of his faith was only partial:
    1. He still had faith in the coming of the Messiah - "Do we look for another?"
    2. Elijah, Jeremiah, Jonah and other men of God recovered their faith
    3. The disciples, notable Peter, too, recovered their faith - Luke 24:13-32
  7. The Lord understands our human weakness and has made a way for recovery:
    1. To Peter He said, "Thou shalt know hereafter"
    2. To John He said, "The blind receive their sight; the lame walk; the dead are raised" C. WHAT A MIGHT LESSON FOR GOD'S PILGRIMS TODAY
  8. The best of them may have temporary eclipse of their faith:
    1. Physical environment may give them a dim view of many promises of God
    2. Erroneous ideas of the events in the last days; the fulfillment of last day prophecies
  9. The great second Advent movement:
    1. Views of the pioneers
    2. Current events
    3. A new approach to some of last day prophecies
  10. The lukewarm condition of many of the members of the church:
    1. Preoccupied with the cares of this life
    2. Attracted by modern way of living
    3. Lethargy in evidence in many areas
  11. We must not lose faith in the ultimate and glorious triumph of this movement:
    1. The great outlines of Bible Prophecy that are basic to the movement have not changed; they are the same
    2. The core of God's remnant people are loyal and dedicated to the movement
    3. There are many omens in events of the day that are encouraging for us - they do strengthen our faith and enlarge our concept of the verity of the promises of God to His people
  12. There may be moments of partial blackouts:
    1. That will not change God's plan for His church
    2. What was promised will come to pass in due time
    3. Let the saints raise up their heads, look up for our redemption draweth nigh


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