Nahum 1:7 “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.”
He only knows those who trust in him. Knowing him is quite important: see below.
Matthew 7:21,22,23 (21)“Not everyone that says ‘Lord, Lord’ shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (22) Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord,’ have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (24) And then I will profess unto them ‘Depart from me you workers of iniquity, I never knew you.’”
Jesus states in Matthew that even though you worked miracles, if you do not “know” God, you will be sent away on the day of judgement. If you know Him, you will know that trusting him is the best thing for you to do, and it won’t be hard to do.
I. To trust him you must know him.
A. To trust you must know. You need a relationship with him that is not just praying when you need something or for the food at dinner.
1. PRAYING: 1 Thessalonians 5:17 statest that we should “pray without ceasing.” This doesn’t mean that we should always have our hands folded, head bowed, and eyes shut. It implies a relationship of continual contact and fellowship between you and God.
2. SPENDING TIME: Abraham made a covenant with God in Gen 15:18, showing the kind of relationship we need to have. The talked to each other, and Abraham wasn’t doing all the talking - or asking - either. He got to know God by the time he spent with him.
11. Spending time with someone seems to be the number one way to know them. My twins seem very much alike until you spend time with them, and then they are very different. Same with anyone, really. See: being introduced to a bunch of strangers at an event.
3. LISTENING: Ephesians 3:1-3 Paul makes the statements that you can get to know God by listening to the “dispensation of the word, you-ward.” Basically, listening to teaching and/or preaching.
4. READING: Ephesians 3:4 Paul also goes on to say that this preaching will help in understanding what you read. Reading his word helps in getting to know God.
B. By knowing God and his will for us, trusting him will be made easier.
II. If you trust him, you will be faithful to obey, doing his will, regardless of logic.
A. Matthew 25:21 “Well done thy good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make the ruler over many things: enter thou into the the joy of the Lord.
1. Notice that it didn’t say “good and honest, or smart, or annointed, or punctual.” It says “faithful.” Faithfulness means doing it even though we don’t know why, or understand why.
a. We have all heard sermons on the Will of God, and we have learned that God desires the best for his children, yet how we get the “best” is what brings the confusion.
b. This seems to be one of our biggest challenges: being faithful to do God’s will even though we don’t understand why, and in spite of our own logic.”
11. Proverbs 3:5,6 states that we should “Lean not to your own understanding.” This seems to be a hard thing to do. Sometimes we think we know what should happen or what He should do. See the following example:
22. Numbers 13:26-33, 14:8, 9-12. Even though there were giants in the land, Caleb trusted God to do what he said, although the other Israelites looked at the circumstances and leaned on common sense. In verse 10 you see that people will get mad! “Be reasonable.” “Use some common sense.” Numbers 14:23-24 tells what happens to those who believe and those who do not.
33. 1 Corinthians 1:25 “Foolishness of God is wiser than men.”
aa. 2 Kings 5:9-14 Elisha told Naaman to cleanse his disease by washing in the Jordan River 7 times. This made Naaman angry because he had a different way in mind. His own logical understanding told him the way he thinks it should work. Elisha’s way sounded foolish to him. It worked, though, when he finally did what he was supposed to.
bb. Abraham in Genesis 15-17 is promised a son, and does it his own way instead of trusting God’s way. He pays for his mistrust by getting a bad son, Ishmael, who still haunts the Jews to this day. b. Sometimes we don’t know where God is going; we don’t understand what he is doing, and we don’t necessarily have our own way.
11. Genesis 22 - God tells Abraham to sacrafice Isaac on the altar, no telling Abraham why it is necessary. He obeys to the end, passing the test.
III. Why trust God? Here are 3 reasons:
A. Reason #1: He is all powerful
1. Jerimiah 32:27 “Behold, I am the Lord. Is there anything too hard for me?”
2. Is there anything too big for God? No. In Job 38:1-41 God makes his case to Job that there is no one more powerful. He can do anything, and he is on your side! Now when he says to “cast your burdens on the Lord,” you know that he can handle whatever you got.
3. Ephesians 3:20 “...exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power...”
4. When hit with a difficult trial, Daniel was in good standing with God and was protected against lions, the law, and a demanding king. Daniel 6:23. Not only did God save him, he turned a nation and a king to God while punishing those who stood against Daniel.
B. Reason #2: He cares.
1. Matt 10:29-31 Are you not worth more than the sparrows which he takes care of? He cares and loves. you.
aa. God cares about the large issues and large things. Psalms 46:2-5 God promises to protect Jerusalem, a whole city.
bb. God cares enough to give even the little things for each person. In 1 Kings 17:3-9 God had ravens bring food to Elijah and provided him water from a brook.. This shows God’s looking after us individualized.
ee. God loves you! John 3:16 “For God so loves the world that he gave his only begotten Son, ...”
C. Reason #3: His promises.
1. Psalms 34:15-22 The Lord sees the circumstances you are in and cares, promising to take care of you.
2. Psalms 91 He promises to keep you well, safe, etc. No insurace policy can keep something from happening, only respond to it.
aa. God has made you these promises. Either you believe that he will do what he said he would, or you don’t believe him.
11. Jerimiah 17:5-7 “Cursed be the man who puts his trust in man instead of God, and blessed be the man who trusteth in the Lord.”
bb. You might say that there are promises that God hasn’t kept in your life. In 1 Samuel 3:10-12 God mentions that “He will soon do what he promised.” This tells us that He knows there are promises that he hasn’t done yet. He knows, and he will keep them in His time.
3. 1 Peter 5:7 “Cast your cares upon the Lord.” He has promised to help you in your time of need. He is the stronghold for those who know and trust him. Nahum 1:7
aa. In Joshua 1 God promises you success
bb. Isaiah 26:3 God promises you peace
cc. Psalms 26:1 God promises you stability
dd. Proverbs 28:25 God promises you enough to eat.
IV. Reasons why people do not trust God:
A. Fear. What if it doesn’t work? Paul said it best when he said that if God doesn’t deliver me out of their hands and I am killed, then I will be with God, and I’ve gained--not lost. So you see, you have nothing to fear. Even if it doesn’t work for you, you will be rewarded for trusting.
1. In Daniel 3:12-29 the story of Shadrach, Mechack and Abednego and the fiery furnace. They stated that their God is able to save them, but if he doesn’t, then his word is still true. If it doesn’t work, then they will be rewarded for trusting him.
2. John 11:1-45 Jesus is told that his good friend Lazarus is sick and needs healing. Jesus does not go immediately to heal Lazarus and he dies. This is where people quit believeing, saying that God doesn’t care, isn’t all powerful, or doesn’t keep his word. Instead, verse 45 explains why he waits until Lazarus is dead. So God would get the glory, causing the lost to believe. This is Jesus’/God’s prrority. It takes presedence over your health, happiness, wealth, etc. Look at verse 35, though. This shows that He does care, but he may have different priorities.
B. Negative experiences. We know people who have prayed, believed, and it didn’t work. They might say, “I’ve tried that and it doesn’t work.” They need to keep Charlie Brown, Lucy, and the football in mind. No matter how many times Lucy pulled the football away and Charlie fell down as he tried to kick it, he still went back and believed that she was going to hold it still for him the next time.
C. Lack of Faith. Thomas stated that he would believe it when he saw it. Show me and I’ll believe. John 20:24-29 Jesus stated that “blessed be those who believe without seeing.”
V. If you trust him, you will be rewarded.
A. 2 Chronicles 16:9 “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show himself strong in the behalf of those whose heart is perfect toward him.
A. Matthew 25:21 “Well done thy good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make the ruler over many things: enter thou into the the joy of the Lord.
B. He says in Psalms 55:22 that we are to “Cast your burdens on the Lord.” We don’t have to endure these things alone, or at all. Lay them all at his feet. He can handle them.
1. Once we have done that though, we have to be willing not to get Plan B ready immediately, but trust him to “watch over his word,” as Jer 1:12 says. He will do what he says.
aa. Trusting God means that no Plan B is necessary. “What if it doesn’t work...” never is entertained as a good thought. It might creep in your mind, but you shouldn’t give any place to it.
11. The devil will try to remind you of times when it didn’t work. Just quote scriptures, remember God’s promises, and keep trusting that he will do what he said.
Closing: What happens if you choose not to trust God?
A. Jeremiah 17:5 “Cursed be those men who put their trust in men.”
