l Do Believe (John 20:29-31) | Bishop Robert Ellis (Sermon)

What do you do when faith is tested by what you cannot see?

In this powerful sermon, “I Do Believe,” Bishop Robert Ellis ministers from John 20:29–31, where Jesus speaks to Thomas and declares, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Faith is not built only on what is visible, comfortable, or easily explained. Faith trusts Jesus when the answers have not arrived, when the situation is unclear, and when all you can do is stand on His Word.

John wrote that these things were recorded so that we may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing, we may have life in His name.

This message is a call to move beyond doubt, hold on through uncertainty, and make a personal declaration: “I do believe.”

Whether you are seeking hope, rebuilding your faith, or learning to trust God in a difficult season, this sermon will encourage you to believe again.

📖 Scripture: John 20:29–31
🎙️ Speaker: Bishop Robert Ellis
🎧 Podcast: New Life Now
⛪ New Life Pentecostal Church – North York

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Transcript

SPEAKER_01 1:42

The things that can be seen an experience with our physical senses or what science can test and do. And in today's world where secularism and humanism is on the rise. This modern world wants to make fools out of believers. But I stand today as a proud unapologetic believer. And I am not ashamed to declare that I walk by faith, not by sight. See, a believer does not depend on physical evidence. But with ask is an accreditable word that comes from a credible person. So like a jury, who wasn't present at the crime scene, but who hears an evidence being offered. They would examine the credibility of that evidence. And all not being at the scene of crime. They are able to come to a decision beyond reasonable doubt. And will convict a person for life without being present or without there being an eye witness. Amen. I want to say today that a believer will open the unseen. And is willing to step forward into the unknown solely on a credible word from a credible person. There are many people who would want to ridicule faith. But they will glorify optimism and positive thinking. In fact, I would say everyone is a believer. It's just a matter of what you believe in and who you believe in. Some people believe in science. Some people believe there is no God, but that's still a belief. Some believe in evolution. There are some people who believe in nothing, but that's still a belief. Some people believe that positive thinking and optimism will get you whatever you want. But I stand here to say if you are an optimist or you practice positive thinking, it must be based on something or someone. I am not an optimist, I am a believer in the Almighty God. I don't practice positive thinking, I practice faith in the word of Almighty God. I am a believer. I believe in God because I see order and intelligence and design manifested through the universe. I believe in God because when I look into the heavens, I say there must be a cause to all of what I see around. I believe in God because I see the fingerprint of God manifested throughout creation. David looked up in the skies and he says, When I consider the heavens, the works of thy fingers, the sun and the moon that thou hast made, what is man? I believe in God. In today's world, atheism is on the rise, and our children are being schooled to believe that there is no God. But I'm a proud believer to declare that I believe in God because I met him over 30 odd years ago. I came in contact with the one true and living God. I believe in God because I spoke to him this morning, and I was able to feel his divine presence. Personally, I am a believer, I do believe. Amen. I am a believer. I believe in the Bible. I believe it is the word of God, it is God's revelation to man. As scripture says, holy men of God spake as they were inspired by the Holy Ghost. As Paul wrote to Timothy and says, All scriptures are given by the inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, and is profitable to bring us to righteousness. I believe in the Bible because its prophecies have been validated by history. When Jesus was born, he fulfilled more than 300 specific prophecies. I believe in the Bible because its credibility has been verified by archaeology. There has not been an archaeological discovery that has gone against the word of God. There has never been a scientific discovery that has contradicted the Bible. Long before men came to the knowledge, amen, and thought that the world was flat. The Bible thousands of years ago spoke about the circle of the earth. They did not have telescope and scientific instruments, but they were inspired by the word of God and were able to make correct scientific pronouncements without those scientific instruments. It verifies that the Bible is not just the works of human intelligence, but it is the inspiration of God. I believe in Jesus Christ. Amen, somebody. Amen. The Bible is the only book that gives a credible explanation to origin. There is not a better explanation that has been offered than what the Bible opened with. In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. I believe in the Bible because it is the only book that gives credible answers to the major questions of life, the question of origin, the question of purpose, and the question of destiny. It's the only book that tells us who we are, that we were created in the image of God. It's the only book that defines our purpose truthfully. That tells us here the conclusion of the old matter. Fear God and keep his commandment, for this is the old duty of man. It's the only book that tells us of our destiny, that it is appointed once to die, but after death, the judgment. This is the book of the revelation of God. And I believe in the Bible. No matter what men may say, no matter what intelligent will offer, I do believe. Hallelujah. I believe in Jesus Christ. I believe he's a son of the living God, the physical manifestation of the invisible God. After his resurrection, he showed himself to Thomas. And he said, Thomas, here am I. I am alive forevermore. Amen. You can handle me. Because Thomas was skeptical and said, Unless I see him for myself, and I'm not just gonna trust my eyes, I have to push my hands in the scars of his hand and in the wound of his side. And unless I can do that, I won't believe. But when Jesus was risen, he appeared unto Thomas and said, Thomas, here am I. Handle me. Put your hands on my side and see that it is I. And Thomas declared, I am now a believer. My Lord and my God.

SPEAKER_00 12:19

Jesus said, Thomas, because you see, you believe, but blessed are they that I've never seen, but they will believe. I believe that Jesus is Christ. And there is no name given under heaven. We must be saved by the name of Jesus. I do believe Hallelujah.

SPEAKER_01 13:11

I believe in Jesus. I believe he was a second Adam, who like the first Adam came forth not by the acts of man. He wasn't procreated, just as the first Adam wasn't procreated by a man and a woman, but he was created by God himself. So the second Adam, Jesus Christ, was not brought forth by man, but the Bible says when the time came for him to be manifested in the world, the Holy Ghost overshadowed Mary, and he was begotten by God Himself. Somebody praise God because he was the second Adam. The first Adam messed us up. The first Adam brought death into the human family. The first Adam brought sin into the human family. The first Adam corrupted the human nature, and man needed a new beginning. And here come Jesus, the Lamb of God, the seed of the woman. He says, The first Adam messed you up, but I come to offer myself to make a new generation, not a generation of sinners, like those begotten by sinful Adam. But I come without sin. I come as a perfect man, and I come to represent all humanity. He said, I come to conquer death.

SPEAKER_00 15:25

I come to conquer sin so that they that believe in me can share in the victory over sin. Can share in the victory over death. He said, if you believe in me, though ye were dead, yet shall he live. He says he came unto his own, and his own receive him not, but as many as receive him, to them gave him power to become the sons of God, even them that believe on his name. I'm no longer a sinner, I'm a son of God, but I believe in the Savior, the sacrifice of Calvary, I satisfy me from a sinner to a son, beloved. Now are we the sons of God? I wonder if there's a son here. Yes, you became a son.

SPEAKER_01 16:41

You believed in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I'm a believer. I believe in miracles. Amen. I said I believe in miracles. Science does not respect or believe in the supernatural. They want a natural explanation for all phenomena. So they come up with theories and hypotheses to explain the things that are beyond their understanding. But I want to say I believe in miracle. I believe in miracles because the universe is a miracle. When I consider the universe, oh God spake it into existence. I see miracle. When I look at myself in the mirror, I know that I'm a miracle. Fearfully and wonderfully made. I know that I could not have evolved into the man I am. I know there must have been a designer who designed me perfectly and then brought me into being. All kind of sinful proclivities filled up my heart when I went to church one night.

SPEAKER_00 19:31

My heart was right, and something got hold on me. I lift my hands. I said, Lord, I'm a sinner. I can't help myself. I keep sinning and can't stop sinning. I need help, Lord. I'm a sinner. And I cried out to God. And a miracle took place that night. Because I went through an instant transformation. This is not the boy I was a miracle. Transform me from a wretched sinner. Next day I woke up and lose the desire for sin. Places I used to go, I didn't want to go there no more. What happened to you, young man? Did you take something to drink last night? No, I went with last night. But something the Holy Ghost performed a miracle.

SPEAKER_01 20:50

On my life, lift your hands and worship God. Hallelujah. If you're here today, and your back's against the wall, and there is no natural help that you can get. Amen. Don't lose hope. You see where you can get natural help, you take it. So if the medicine will cure you, you take it. But there comes a time when the doctor may tell you we have no natural cure for your sickness. There comes a time when the lawyer will tell you we have exhausted all legal challenge, and there's nothing natural that we can do.

SPEAKER_00 21:43

There comes a time when the banker will tell you we have exhausted all legal challenge, and we have to repossess, but don't lose hope because there is a supernatural that in To feel in the natural la and violate the natural laws to bring about the divine will. Somebody give God a place. I never bush in the forest. I never in heaven.

SPEAKER_01 23:24

I said I believe in heaven. Because this world could not be man's final destiny. If life ended at the grave, and if all there was to life is what we can now enjoy, then this life would be the greatest waste of resources there ever was. Because you live your good life and it's interned. And if that was the end of man, this life would make no sense.

SPEAKER_00 24:15

Who says this is all I've got? And you have got a lot. So it's quite right for me to try to get a little.

SPEAKER_01 24:33

Oh, you're not hearing me here.

SPEAKER_00 24:36

If this was all there was, what could we tell that man?

SPEAKER_01 24:43

Should we tell him keep suffering till you die? And then it all ends. Or should we tell him, get a little bit of it, get a little bit of the fun before you die, and by whatever means you can get it, get it. And man's existence ended at the grave, life would be the greatest injustice there is in the universe. Because the good die, the wicked die, the holy die, the rapist die. I was in a community where they held a thief. He was a well-known, notorious thief, and he was held by the mob. And I went on the scene. The police appeared shortly after. Somebody from the crowd cried out to him. They knew him by his name. And they say, X, you're going dead. And he cried out back to the man. Then you know how go dead too. And he was quite logical in asking that question. Because if everybody gone dead, then might as well is thinking, try my chances of getting a little of the fun. Hallelujah. Oh, you're not hearing me here. There was an incident some years ago. Where a criminal thief held up a young lady at your gate. And the father went to her rescue. He was a lice of firearm holder. And he engaged the criminal. And in the crossfire, he shot her daughter to death. And the criminals escaped. If this life was all there is, it would be a nonsense life. Hallelujah. But I believe in the afterlife that there will be a resurrection. I believe in divine justice. That we may burst the justice system of the nation.

SPEAKER_00 27:38

But ultimately, God has the last word. And death is not an escape from our judgment.

SPEAKER_01 27:47

For we all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ. Hallelujah. So I believe that beyond this world there is a better place. I believe there is a place prepared for the righteous. That's why Moses, the Bible said he chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. That's why Abraham, despite all he had received and all the promises, he still looked for a city whose builder and maker was God. Because he said this world could never be my destiny. Hallelujah. I believe in heaven. But I also believe in hell. Hallelujah. Man, once he comes into being, never cease to exist. Because he has the eternal nature of God breathed within his being. We are not just physical being, we are spiritually eternal being. And the Bible says that is a separation of the spirit from the body. And when that separation takes place, it says the body returned to the dust. And the spirit returned to God who gave it. And the destiny of that spirit rest with God. God has the last word on your destiny. And there's a place for those who have rejected God and his ways. For a devil like Satan. For the devil and his angels. But man who followed the devil will end up where he is. Some people say God will never create these beautiful people and confine them to punishment. I'm here to say you're right. Because God will not send anybody to hell. We choose hell. Praise God.

SPEAKER_00 30:56

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

SPEAKER_01 31:11

Jesus came into the world, the Bible said, not to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. But this is the condemnation. Light has come. But the people rather darkness than light. Because their deeds are evil. Brothers and sisters, we are accountable to God ultimately. And we'll all have to stand one day to give an account of the life we have lived. And before we die, it suits us eternally well to have our sins remitted through the blood of Jesus Christ. And commit our life to him and serve him in truth. Because at the end of the day, what does it profit a man?

SPEAKER_00 32:17

If he gained the whole world and lose his own soul.

SPEAKER_01 32:35

And the only true thing that we own our soul, we have lost it. I do believe. But is passed from death to life. He said, He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. He said, If you believe on me, out of your belly shall flow rivers of living what. And of the Spirit. You must be baptized in the name of Jesus after you have repented of your sin. When you recognize your state as a sinner and come to a decision to change, you begin to make a turnaround. That turnaround is demonstrated by your willingness to be identified with his death and burial through baptism in his name. And that is, as the Bible put it, sealed by him placing his Holy Spirit within you that's been born again, living for Jesus. I want to encourage you today that just shall live by faith. Faith is a substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. We are people of faith. Whatever you're going through today, never lose hope. Never lose faith. Believe in Jesus Christ. I am a believer that all things work together for good to them that love him. I don't believe he will never leave you nor forsake you, no matter where life puts you.

SPEAKER_00 35:24

I don't believe there is always a bounce back from your setback.

SPEAKER_01 35:31

I don't believe that we are not just conquerors, but more than conquerors through him that loves us. And in this sensual world, where our faith is challenged every day, and sometimes the weight of the world erodes our belief. I encourage you to sharpen each other, encourage each other's faith, grow each other's faith. The word of God is the source of our faith and belief. Know the word, live the word, believe the word, it will never fail, for heaven and earth shall pass away, but not one chart of his word shall fail. Stand with me, please. I do believe. An atheist, agnostic, whatever your belief system is. I challenge you today. Jesus Christ. The manifestation of God came to man so that we can relate to him personally. You can experience God. Hallelujah. You can experience him if you come to him. They that come into him must believe that he is, and he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. If you have never experienced God, you can experience him today. If you walk to this alt with a humble heart, say, God, you must exist somewhere. This world could not have made itself. Your ways and understanding are above ours because you are the God of creation. But I believe in you. I want to know you. Hallelujah. I want to know you. I want to meet you, God. If you come and call out to him through his name, says, Jesus, make yourself known to me. I can guarantee you. He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. You'll begin to feel the divine presence of God coming to you. You begin to experience a change. And if you heal and surrender to that change, it will lead you right into the presence of God. I do believe that if you seek, you shall find. If you knock, you shall be open. I do believe. And if you ask, you will receive. Can the believers lift their hands and worship to God today? If you're a believer, just worship him. Worship Him. Worship Him. If there's someone today you have not connected with your purpose, you're living life without a divine direction. You can have a change this morning. If you don't mind, you could walk to this altar. I'd like to pray for you before I hand over this mic. This step of faith can start your journey to God. Can start a journey of faith that will reward you spiritually. It will cause a transformation in your life. If you're here today and want to have that experience with God, I'm opening the heart. I'd like to pray for you before we close. If you have never received the Holy Ghost, then you want that experience. This is a moment where your faith can ascend to the heavens. Connect with God, and you have America. Oh, praise God. God bless. And I pray for our brother. Oh, Koshama. Somebody just worship God. We do believe that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. What we ask in his name, he will grant. God bless those who have come forward. So we're gonna pray. Just worship the Lord Church.