TRUSTING God
I Corinthians 13:13
May 31, 2020
Intro:
Focus: Identify clearly on how to TRUST God
I. TRUST God with Your Faith
It is easy to say I TRUST GOD in a general sense - when life seems so good and our expectation for our life is high. But what about when life is on the rough times? When our “good life” is on the verge of collapsing?
Question to think about: How do you enjoy the Faith you have in God?
Illus: Crises are a challenge from God to exercise confidence in Him. -copied
Numbers 13: 17--Num. 14: 9 On this story, Moses sends a dozen of men that will search the land of Canaan, which God will give to the Israel. The intelligence was to be used to develop battle strategy. Gathering intelligence in order to develop a plan of attack was the smart thing to do. The fact that God had promised to give them the land did not mean that they were to be totally passive in taking possession of that land. God expects us to use our brain, while at the same time exercising complete reliance on Him.
The challenge was to view everything they saw in the light of what God had promised. They were being challenged to see everything from God’s point of view. God knew the giants were there all along. God knew the cities were walled all along. God knew that the inhabitants were a strong people all along. Still He said, “I’ll give you this land.”
In every crisis through which we pass, we must decide whether to view it through the eyes of faith or the eyes of our flesh.
Illus: Faith in God makes great optimists. -copied
Illus: Doubt sees the obstacles; Faith sees the way.
Doubt sees the darkest night; Faith sees the day.
Doubt dreads to take a step; Faith soars on high.
Doubt questions, "Who believes?" Faith answers, "I!" –Gregory Dawson
God had told the Israelites they were to go in and possess the land. That He was giving them the land of promise. Joshua and Caleb’s argument was that to reject God’s word to them was an act of rebellion. The same idea is brought out by Paul, when he said, “…whatsoever is not of faith is sin” (Rom.14:23). The writer of Hebrews says, “…without faith it is impossible to please him (God).” (Hebrews 11: 6).
The children of Israel experienced a challenge as they listened to the controversy between the spies: Were they going to believe the majority, or were they going to believe God?
The crises of life often present us with the same challenge. Just because the majority says its suicide to trust God doesn’t make it so.
When you’re up for something whether it is huge or small it doesn’t matter. If it is for God and if God says “Go”… then Go for it. God challenge you to do something better and so you must challenge Him that you can do it with confidence in Him.
It is so sad that God had to wait 40 years to give His people, the Israelites what He’d promised. The whole faithless generation had to die off before Israel could enter the Promise Land.
II. TRUST God with your Hope. Psalms 37: 5-9; 42:5
Those people who understand “hope” are those people living in dry times. They are those people who experienced troubled- discouraged life. They want a release… they want space… a bright side in which they can start again this purposed-life calling. They need hope. And only God can serve us that kind of Hope. The question today is… Do you put your hope in God? How do you challenge God with your hope?
It is simply by “never quitting” .. Never “gives up”. Our life is always on the battle. The enemy is so busy doing things in our life in order us to quit and stop doing the Lord’s will. He will do everything. He will throw the flamed-arrows of disappointment, discouragement, failures… and those personal setbacks. He is prepared for this battle. And all he wants is to see us in defeat.
If we confessed that truly we have a God that can-do miracles and do impossibilities and can work in our deepest desires. Then why quit? Surrender all your heavy loads to Him. And say, “God, I’m putting my hope in you.” “I will continue doing what you want me to do and I will never give up the fight. Because this is your fight.”
III. TRUST God with Your Love. Psalms 42: 1-2
Illus: What Would Jesus Do?
A mother was preparing pancakes for her twin, Thon and Ryan. The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake. Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson. "If Jesus were sitting here, He would say, 'Let my brother have the first pancake. I can wait.' “Thon turned to his younger brother and said, "Ryan, you be Jesus!"
People are always in Love. From the pages of the Bible, from cover to cover the timeless piece of Love-calling is always the same. Love God and Love His people!
Challenge Him with your decision today that you will surrender only to God and trust Him that He can do everything in your life if you will let Him do.
Conclusion:
We are all witnessed that this church surpasses a tremendous and mountainous level of setbacks.. Spiritually, morally, and financially. As we celebrate this special service let us all remember and understand that the challenge is always code red.
It always “ON” - not to prove that we can do anything and everything but completing the Lord’s wants. This is not a church show off… but letting experience what God can do to us as we challenge Him in Faith, hope and in Love.
