If we are going to be in the ministry or if we are going to be involved in a church, one of the areas that we must learn to deal with is doubt. For many who have been converted, changed, and saved by God through Jesus Christ, it is tough when people doubt your testimony, your witness or a word from God through you. 

In the text this morning, the blind man had continuously told the Pharisees and others that it was Jesus who healed him. The Pharisees, even after talking with his parents, still didn’t believe. In John 9:26-27, they asked the blind man “What did He do to you?” “How did He open your eyes?” He went on to tell them, “I told you already….” Just like the blind man, when your past, has been filled with something for a long time, it is hard for people to see you any other the way than the way they always saw you. They doubt the power of God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit working in your life. 

For many of us the problem comes when people began to revile or verbally abuse us. After awhile we reach the point where we have humanly, fleshly had enough. Our new relationship with God, through Christ, challenges us to respond to our doubters in the Spirit and not in the flesh. We are now required to seek the biblical respond to our situation. 

In the first verse of the text, John 9:28, they began to revile him. This term revile, means reproach, to vilify.   It also means to “heap abuse upon”. Imagine us trying to share what Christ has done in our lives and we are having abuse heaped upon us.   How would you respond? The question this morning is not how would you respond but how should you respond?

The answer to the question or what should I do is found in 1 Corinthians 4:12 which states “when we are reviled, we bless. Whew, wow, what does God’s word say we do? We bless!   For many of us from the pulpit to the back door, this is a completely new level of our spiritual walk with God.  

My challenge to the readers of the message is: Are you where you want to be with God? This is moving from milk to meat when we have a challenge of this magnitude and we ask God to help us be obedient to His word. Lord, help me to bless those who revile me, who heap abuse upon me.

One of the greatest places of challenge can be right in our own homes. They are the people who are supposed to be the closest to you and yet they cannot see you for who God has made you to be; but, only as how they knew you before.   Then if that wasn’t bad enough, you leave home and go to church and you still have doubters, church folks, so-called Christians.   At this point you can choose to walk away from, family, church and your calling or you can choose to ask God to help you to be obedient to His Word. It is your choice.

1 Corinthians 4:12, goes on further to say, “when we are persecuted, we endure”.   Endure, oh no! In today’s day and age people don’t want to endure anything for Christ. And yet, Christ endured so much for us. The question is, are we really his disciples? In this morning’s text, the Pharisees claimed to be disciples of Moses not of this Christ. What about us? Are we willing to go through some things for Christ? Are we willing to put up with doubters and other verbal attacks for Christ? When there are doubters, who revile you, there are a couple of points I would like for you to consider.

 When we are dealing with doubters…

A.     We should expect to be attacked. (They reviled him)

APPLICATION:   Don’t take it or make it personal.

B.     We should expect that some will doubt just because of our relationship with Christ. (His disciple)

1.       The Pharisees were claiming their relationship with Moses

2.       The blind man was being doubted because of his relationship with Christ.

APPLICATION: Accept the fact that our relationship with Christ is enough to justify others      doubting us.

For us not much has changed. Many doubted Christ and the works of Christ in their lives; however, we must continue to profess Christ as Lord and Savior to a dying world.

I leave you with this prayer, “God give us the boldness and the courage to stand when others refuse to stand. Lord, take us to another level in our ministry, in our calling and in our walk with you. Thank you in advance for what you are going to do. In Jesus Name we pray. AMEN.