Confident Trust During Opposition

CONFIDENT TRUST DURING OPPOSITION

INTRODUCTION: THE PERSON WHO TRUSTS IN GOD IS AN ENDANGERED SPECIES

Psalm 62:1-12 My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. 2 He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. 3 How long will you assault a man? Would all of you throw him down-- this leaning wall, this tottering fence? 4 They fully intend to topple him from his lofty place; they take delight in lies. With their mouths they bless, but in their hearts they curse. Selah

5 Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. 6 He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. 7 My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. 8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Selah

9 Lowborn men are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie; if weighed on a balance, they are nothing; together they are only a breath. 10 Do not trust in extortion or take pride in stolen goods; though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them. 11 One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, 12 and that you, O Lord, are loving. Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done.

I. OUR SOUL FINDS REST IN GOD

A. NOTICE THE PHRASE “GOD ALONE” – IN OTHER WORDS TRUST IN ANYTHIGN ELSE IS A COUNTERFEIT TRUST!

B. GOD ALONE IS OUR ROCK – HE IS OUR SAFETY

C. GOD ALONE IS OUR SALVATION – HE IS OUR DELIVERER

D. GOD ALONE IS OUR FORTRESS – HE IS OUR SECURITY

E. GOD CANNOT BE SHAKEN!

II. MEN SEE OUR WEAKNESS

A. WE ARE SEEN AS A TOTTERING FENCE

B. WE ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO LIES

C. WE ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE USE OF DECEIT

III. WE HAVE A RESOURCE IN GOD

A. WE HAVE A GOD IN WHOM WE CAN CONTINUALLY TRUST

B. WE HAVE A GOD TO WHOM WE CAN POUR OUR HEARTS OUT TO

C. WE HAVE GOOD AS OUR REFUGE ( A PLACE OF SHELTER IN A TIME OF DANGER), IF WE WILL ONLY SEE IT!

IV. THE FALSE CONFIDENCE OF HUMAN CONFIDENCE

A. WHEN COMPARED TO GOD MEN ARE INSIGNIFICANT

B. THEY ARE ONLY A VAPOR

C. THEY WOULD NOT TILT A SCALE WERE THEY TO BE PLACED ON IT

WE NEED TO EMBRACE THE SIMPLE TRUTH THAT GOD IS BOTH STRONG AND LOVING

STRONG – SOVEREIGN IN ALL EVENTS, EVEN THOSE THAT SEEM TO THREATEN US

LOVING – THE HEBREW WORD IS HESED, REFERRING TO HIS COVENANT KEEPING ATTRIBUTE, SO THE GREATEST ILLUSTRATION AND DEFINITION FO GOD’S LOVE IS THAT HE KEEPS HIS COVENANT TOWARDS YOU!