Ps. 118:8-9                        Bethel                               1/10/10

Trusting God

Intro.  There are choices we make which will not only affect us in this life but for all eternity.  What you believe, who you trust, and what you value will determine not only the quality of your life now, but also your eternal destiny!

There is nothing more important than to learn to trust the Lord.  Faith in God, and in particular trusting God, is essential for salvation and for power for living victoriously in this present life.

This morning I want to present the options we have of who we can trust, the hindrances to trust, and some powerful aids to help us learn to trust God.

The first three are not to be trusted.  The last two are synonymous with trusting God.  His Holy Spirit confirms His Word in our minds and hearts, and leads us to what is right and good.  We cannot go wrong by trusting God and we cannot do right by mistrusting God.

• Objects of Trust:

1.  Self.  There are some ways in which I can trust myself.  I can trust myself to basically act in my own best interest, but only to the degree that I know what that is.  I cannot trust myself to always know what is right and to always do what’s right.  Therefore I need a higher power to help me and even save me from myself!  Pro 28:26  “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.”  Pro 3:5  “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”

2.  Society.  The “world” is society, the culture, civilization, the present order.  Can we trust society?  Does society’s standards become right, because they are generally accepted?  Does common consensus become our foundation for truth or trust?  Jer 17:5  “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man…”

3.  Satan.  Now you might say right off the bat, “Of course not!  Who would trust Satan?”  Yet he wears a disguise!  Satan just might be society, your best friend, your family, or your own inclinations.  Satan may disguise himself as, some political, scientific, sociological, psychological, or spiritual expert that appears quite sound!

No one, except the mentally deranged, would knowingly trust Satan, but many place their trust in him, unknowingly, when they trust his lying agents.  2Co 11:14  “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”

This leaves the last two,

4. Scripture – II Tim. 3:16-17 and the

5.  Holy Spirit.  Tit 1:2  “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;”

Now these two are the same!  God’s Holy Spirit will never contradict His Word.  After all, He is the author of it!  Since the Holy Spirit is God, and since God works with us through His Word, we need to not only read God’s Word, but we must do so with a pure heart that is open to God’s presence in our hearts.

It is possible to read the Word and fail to get the benefit of it.  It is possible to be blinded by human frailties that can hinder our understanding of scripture.

• Hindrances to Trust:

1.  Prejudices – Things we think are true that are contrary to truth.  Prejudice is a blinder and the father of ignorance!  Past misteaching, flawed influences, etc.

2.  Philosophies – Guiding values that can cause us to misinterpret God’s Word.  “My ways are not your ways, saith the Lord.”  Human logic can hinder understanding.

3.  Pride – Selfishness and ambition can cause us to fail to understand God’s word.  We must not interpret God’s Word through the lens of selfish gain.

4.  Past – Experiences we have had can block our eyes or deafen our ears.  The past either assist us or warp us.

5.  Passions – Competing emotions, demanding drives can cause us to miss God’s truths.  Fear, lust, hate, anger, envy, and other fiery emotions can quench the Spirit and hinder our understanding of God’s Word.

• Helps toward Trust:

1.  Timing – Some things we read now may not sink in until later.  Jesus said this to his disciples.  John 16:12  “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.”

2.  Teaching – Some things require us to listen to another.  God gifts teachers for this work.  Eph 4:11-12  “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  (12)  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”

3.  Tuning – Some truths can only be discerned through a mature, spiritually groomed heart.  I Cor. 2:11-14 

So before trust there must be understanding.  Once we rightly understand God’s Word, we can then choose to trust Him!  Failure to trust God is one of the most damaging things that can happen to us!

1.  Eve failed to trust God and initiated the Fall of Man!

2. Abraham failed to trust God and lied about his wife.

3.  The children of Israel wondered about the wilderness for forty years because they did not trust God.

4.  King Saul failed to trust God and had the kingdom removed from him.

5.  The rich young ruler failed to trust God and went away sorrowing rather than accepting Christ.

6.  Multiple millions have failed to trust God and have rejected salvation through Jesus Christ.  Hell is populated by those who refused to trust God!

Conclusion:  God is worthy of our trust.  We insult Him, and suffer loss to ourselves by failing to trust Him.  We do Him honor, and bring blessings to our lives when we choose to trust in God.