Sermon Central
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Who Are You Depending On
Contributed by Arthur Good on Nov 25, 2002 (message contributor)
Summary: Questions if we are depending on God or the arm of the flesh.
WHO DO YOU DEPEND ON?
Introduction: When troubles come in life, whom do you depend on? Who or what do you turn to first when a problem or difficulty arises? Our first response should be to turn to the Lord for help.
To depend on God is to do four things that are found in Psalms 115:
1. Give God all of the glory (v. 1).
2. Turn away from purely human solutions (v. 2-8).
Psalms 118:8 - It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.
Isaiah 31:1, 3
1 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the LORD.
3 But the Egyptians are men and not God; their horses are flesh and not spirit. When the LORD stretches out his hand, he who helps will stumble, he who is helped will fall; both will perish together.
5 This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD.
6 He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.
7 "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.
8 He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."
3. Trust in the Lord (v. 9-11).
Psalms 37:3 - Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Proverbs 3:5 - Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
Isaiah 26:4 - Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.
Isaiah 50:10 - Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.
4. Be in a position to receive His help and blessing (v. 12-18).
115:13 he will bless those who fear the LORD-- small and great alike.
- FEARING God shows that we acknowledge our DEPENDENCE on Him.
Conclusion: Depend on Almighty God in every situation! He will NEVER fail you or let you down.
