Trusting God

 (Part 1)

Introduction:

Lost sinners trust in the things of this world for salvation, and for protection in this life. They don’t know the Lord, and therefore they don’t trust in Him with their souls.

This evening we will consider what it means to trust in the Lord. Next week, the Lord willing, we will bring a message on “Trusting God in troubled times”, from 2 Kings 18 and 19. In our message this morning, we want to consider some of the things that people cannot trust, whether for their eternal salvation, or salvation in this life.

1. First this morning, we cannot trust in ourselves.

1) We cannot trust in our own hearts:

Proverbs 28:26 He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

Our hearts are deceitful and desperately wicked, and we cannot even know them. We cannot trust in our feelings or emotions, because they are faulty from the curse of sin.

We cannot trust in our own thoughts or our own natural understandings:

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Our natural understanding is corrupt. Our natural minds cannot understand the things of the Spirit of God. They are foolishness to us.

Lost people want to reason out their salvation. They think this or that about what it means to be saved. But the natural mind is contrary to the mind of God. It cannot understand, or receive, or believe the truth about salvation.

Yes beloved, we need a new heart and mind from the Lord that can truly love, and trust Him for salvation, and obey the Lord and His Holy Word.

2) We cannot trust in our human works for salvation:

Jeremiah 48:6-7 Flee, save your lives, and be like the heath in the wilderness. 7 For because thou hast trusted in thy works and in thy treasures, thou shalt also be taken: and Chemosh shall go forth into captivity with his priests and his princes together.

Here, the Moabites trusted in their works to save them. Beloved, we still have these Moabites with us today! What will become of all who trust in their works for salvation? They will be taken!

They will be taken away in the judgment that is forth coming upon this earth, which will carry them all away like a whirlwind, to their place of eternal separation from God.

3) We cannot trust in our self-righteousness:

Luke 18:9 And he (that is Jesus) spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

Here in Luke 18 is the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican. The Pharisee thought he was righteous within himself, but the publican said “Lord, have mercy on me a sinner”.

The Pharisee thanked God that he was not like other wicked men, and went on to tell the Lord how wonderful he was. Again, the poor publican could only say “Lord, have mercy on me a sinner”.

But Jesus said the publican went down to his house justified rather than the Pharisee. Beloved, God hates self-righteousness, and counts it all as filthy rags in His sight.

“Oh Lord, have mercy on all we, who are self-righteous like that Pharisee!”

4) We cannot trust in our beauty or outward glory (I don’t have to worry here!):

Ezekiel 16:15 But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy fornications on every one that passed by; his it was.

The inhabitants of Jerusalem trusted in their beauty and their outward pomp and splendor, all of which the Lord had given them.

How many today are trusting in their own glory, and their good looks to get them where they want to go in life. Look at the glamorous movie stars. But where do they end up? Many end up playing the harlot, and selling their bodies and souls for a piece of bread.

Beloved, favor is deceitful and beauty is vain, but the woman (or man for that matter) that feareth the Lord, the same shall be praised of God.

2. Secondly, we cannot trust in wealth:

Psalms 49:6-7 They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:

We are not redeemed with such things as silver and gold, or earthly wealth of any kind, but we are only redeemed with the precious blood of Jesus that He shed on the cross.

Proverbs 11:28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

There are at least two problems with trusting in wealth. First, all the wealth in the world can do a person no good on the other side of the grave. And secondly, wealth can be so easily taken away, and corrupted, that it cannot even be trusted in this life.

And all lost sinners who are trusting in their wealth and material possessions are headed for a great fall. Those material things cannot save them at all from the judgment of God.

Likewise, Christians need to be careful about trusting in uncertain riches.

1 Timothy 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

Believers need to be careful not to get caught up in wealth and materialism. These things are so deceitful, and fickle.

We need to be careful beloved. We are living in very materialistic times. Be careful that we don’t get caught up in the snare of materialism, and be carried away in its lust. How many professed believers have forsaken the service of God, for the love of money?

3. Thirdly, we cannot trust in idols or false gods for salvation:

Psalms 115:4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. vs. 8 They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.

Idols are manmade, and they are only figments of men’s imaginations. They can’t walk, or talk, or see, or move, much less do any good for them who worship and serve them.

God says that men who worship them are like unto them. They are also blind, and deaf, and dumb, and helpless to find the true way of salvation in the only true and living God.

And how prone all men are to idolatry. Man is a religious being by nature, and if he isn’t brought to know the living God, then he will worship and serve idols of his own making.

Isaiah 42:17 They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods.

God is going to make all idolaters ashamed of the idols, and He will put all of their idol gods to shame. He will disappoint their trust, and cause their trust in idols to fail them. Dearly beloved, let us who name the Name of Jesus, flee from idolatry!

4. Fourthly, we cannot trust in other men:

1) We cannot trust in any man for earthly deliverance, or for eternal salvation.

Jeremiah 17:5 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.

Psalms 118:8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

All men are but weak and feeble creatures. We cannot trust in any other man, any more than we can trust in ourselves. The Bible says that “all men at best are vanity.”

We cannot trust men for earthly deliverance, much less for our eternal salvation. No, there is no hope in the pope, or in any other carnal, earthly men, however great and glorious they may appear to us to be.

There is only one man that we can trust for salvation, and that is the man Christ Jesus. We can trust Him because He is the God man, the incarnate Son of God from heaven.

2) Beloved, we cannot even trust in friends:

Psalms 41:9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. (This is a prophecy of Judas Iscariot).

Micah 7:5 Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.

We cannot trust worldly friends and even our own family members who know not the Lord. Friends will deceive you and cause you great harm, and bring your life and your testimony to shame and ruin.

Be careful how you trust your worldly friends. Don’t put too much confidence in them because they will let you down.

Sad to say, but sometimes we can’t even trust in our brothers and sisters in the Lord. Yes beloved, sometimes we let each other down, and fail one another, and hurt one another. This ought not to be; yet sometimes it is.

May God help us as His people to be trusting, and trustworthy friends to all men, especially our brothers and sisters in the Lord.

3) We cannot trust in princes and rulers:

Psalms 146:3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.

Psalms 118:9 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.

Some people put a lot of trust and hope in presidents and earthly leaders. Beloved, they are all just men, and are subject to God and His power, and His dominion, and authority.

Earthly princes are depraved sinners like everyone else. Earthly princes make great promises to their people, yet most of their promises go unfulfilled.

Many “would be” rulers promise one thing during their campaign, and then when they are elected they do the opposite.

We need to pray for our leaders, and help them by being good citizens, but be careful not to put our trust in them. Whether our nation stands or falls is in God’s hands.

 4) We cannot trust in false prophets and their lies:

Jeremiah 28:15 Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie.

There are more false prophets in the land today than we can shake a stick at, and there are far more lies being taught about God and the way of salvation, than there is truth.

Beloved, be careful who we listen to, and what we receive into our hearts as truth.

5. Fifthly, we cannot trust in nations or in national security:

Isaiah 31:1 Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!

Deuteronomy 28:52 And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fenced walls come down, wherein thou trustedst, throughout all thy land: and he shall besiege thee in all thy gates throughout all thy land, which the LORD thy God hath given thee.

Many people are trusting in America today. But as great a nation as America was, and still is, we cannot trust in her.

We cannot trust in a nation that kills her unborn children, and allows homosexuals to corrupt and pollute the land with their filthy abominations, and allows wicked ungodly men to take all the remembrance of God out of the land, and put humanism in its place.

No, beloved, I don’t put my trust in America. Americans are owing only to the mercy of God that our nation is not consumed by the Lord today. We need to get on our faces and beg God’s mercies on our nation, because if she does not turn, she is soon going to burn.

6. Sixthly, we cannot trust in the law of Moses for eternal salvation:

John 5:45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.

All who trust in keeping the laws of Moses for salvation will answer to the law of Moses in the judgment. May lost sinners see that they cannot keep God’s Holy law, but the demands of the law are far exceeding greater than any man is able to bear.

The Law of Moses is not the way of salvation, but it merely points to the way of salvation that is in Jesus Christ our Lord.

The law says: “You are a sinner! You are worthy of God’s wrath and eternal death!” The law says “Look to Jesus who died for sinners, to pay their sin debt, and set them free from the law, and to give them life eternal with Him in glory!”

7. Seventhly and finally, we cannot trust in our Baptist pride:

Amos 6:1 Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!

We cannot trust in our Baptist pride, any more than the Jews could trust in the pride of Jerusalem. We cannot trust in the name Baptist or in our Baptist heritage, any more than the Jews could trust in their forefathers and their Jewish heritage.

We cannot trust in our church or what she has stood for over the years, and the heritage that has been passed down to us. Those things are all great, well, and good in their place, but we cannot trust in those things to deliver us today.

Beloved, we must humble ourselves before the mighty hand of God, and come to Him in faith and serve Him in the beauty of holiness ourselves, out of a meek and humble spirit.

We are not anything because we are Baptists, but because of what our God has made us, and what He is doing for us, and yet will do for us. If we would be a great church, then God must make us great.

We are totally dependant upon God’s grace and mercy for all things to our church. So let us never be lifted up in pride and think that we are anything apart from the grace of God.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, what are you trusting in this morning? Lost sinner, you cannot trust in yourself, or your wealth, or your idols, or other men, or nations, or the law of Moses, or in your religious heredity. These are all vain and useless, and they cannot save your soul.

There is only One whom you can trust for eternal salvation, and that is the Lord Jesus. “There is no other Name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.”

Are you trusting in Jesus Christ alone this morning for the salvation of your soul?

Are you fully depending on His death on the cross, and His burial and resurrection the third day for the forgiveness of your sins?

If not, repent of your sins and wicked ways, and trust in the Lord Jesus for salvation.

As believers this morning, are we wholly trusting in Jesus for all things, both for eternal salvation, as well as our earthly deliverance in this life?

May the Lord help us not to trust in ourselves, or in our wealth, or in other men, or leaders, or our nation, or idols, or in keeping the law of Moses, or in our Baptist pride.

But may we trust in Jesus alone for all things pertaining to this life and the life to come.

Trusting God

(Part 2)

This evening we want to see some of the benefits and blessings of trusting in the Lord.

1. First, we trust the Lord for our eternal salvation:

1) God opened the way for us Gentiles to trust in the Lord for salvation:

Matthew 12:21 And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

Romans 15:12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.

What a precious prophecy concerning Christ and the salvation of the Gentiles. We who are Gentiles this evening, all have so much to be thankful for. Aren’t you glad that God included us in His plan of salvation?

We who were “…afar off…”, the Bible says, “…who were without hope and without God in the world, were made nigh by the blood of Jesus.” Yes beloved, “in him shall the Gentiles trust” for the salvation of our souls. Praise the Lord, He included you and me!

2) We first come to trust in the Lord through hearing the gospel of Jesus:

Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Beloved, we are saved through hearing the Gospel and then trusting in Jesus. We were not saved when we were born into this world, but we had to be born again.

We were born again by the Spirit of God, and the Word of God, by the means of hearing and trusting the Gospel of our salvation.

How important is the preaching of the gospel to lost sinners? The Gospel is the difference between heaven and hell to all lost sinners. That’s right!

God is sovereign, and in His sovereign will He chose to use the preaching of the gospel to save them that believe. Every one of His elect are saved through hearing the gospel, and not one is saved apart from the Gospel.

Have you heard the Gospel with the spiritual ear this evening. Have you heard that Jesus died for your sins, was buried in the tomb, and rose again the third day for you.

Repent this very hour, and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.

3) We trust in the Lord for salvation complete:

2 Corinthians 1:9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: 10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;

Beloved, we were saved from so great a death when we came to faith in the Gospel. That is, we were saved from the second death in the eternal lake of fire.

We are presently being saved from the power and pleasure of sin, and from all our spiritual enemies as we travel through this lower life of sin. And we shall be saved in the future from the very nature and the very presence of sin.

Beloved, the Lord completes every job that He starts. “He which hath begun a good work in you shall perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Phil. 1:6).

4) We who trust in the Lord for salvation are to the praise of God’s glory:

Ephesians 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

Who gets the glory for our salvation? It is not us. We had nothing to do with our salvation. It was not our freewill, or our good works, or our righteousness.

It wasn’t our decision to come to Jesus, or to choose Jesus. But it is wholly owing to God’s grace that we are saved! Yes beloved, salvation is all to the praise of the glory of His grace.

So then we see that we trust in the Lord for our eternal salvation. This is the first and most important part of trusting the Lord. If we don’t trust in Jesus for eternal salvation then we don’t trust God at all! Do you trust Him for salvation this evening?

2. Secondly, trusting the Lord will bring great blessings to our lives:

1) Those who trust in the Lord have great joy:

Psalms 5:11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.

The Christian life is, or at least should be, the most joyful life possible on this side of eternity. If ever a people had a reason to be happy it is God’s people. But not only that, the Holy Spirit gives us joy:

Acts 13:52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.:

Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

One of the great blessings and benefits of being saved is the joy of salvation, which is given to us by the Holy Spirit.

“Lord, help us not to be gloomy, downcast, pickle faced Baptists.” Beloved if we have all that we say that we believe that we have in our sovereign God, then ought we to be a joyful people above all people on the face of the earth.

2) Those who trust in the Lord find happiness:

Psalms 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

Proverbs 16:20 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.

The word “blessed” in Psalms 34:8, is the same Hebrew word translated “happy” in other places. To be a “blessed” person, then is to be a happy person.

Yes, the Bible says that “whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is He!”

How many times I have heard people say that all that really matters in life, is that we are happy. Now, I don’t know for sure what they mean, and I’m not so sure if they know what they mean.

But if I understand my Bible correctly, the only way a person can truly be happy is to trust in the Lord. Therefore, if we are trusting the Lord, then we are happy people.

And if we are a happy people, then other people should want what we have. May we show this lost world by our lives, what it really means to be happy in the Lord. Maybe then they will come to want what we have!

3) Those who trust in the Lord are kept in perfect peace:

Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

I can think of nothing that we desire and need more in our lives than peace. We need inner peace of heart and mind. We need peace in our homes, and peace in our churches. We so desire national and world peace.

But the only true and lasting peace in this life, comes from trusting the Lord. Beloved, the Lord will keep our hearts and souls in perfect peace when we trust in Him. The same principal applies to our homes and churches.

It also stands to reason that the reverse is true. If we are not at peace within ourselves, and our homes and churches, it is because we are not trusting in the Lord like we should.

May the Lord help us to trust Him more, so that can we have the peace that only He can give.

4) Those who trust in the Lord receive His goodness and lovingkindness:

Psalms 31:19 Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!

Psalms 36:7 How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

The goodness and lovingkindness of God speak of His mercy, love, grace, compassion, long-suffering, pity, which all are the attributes of God’s character that He bestows upon all those who trust in Him.

“It is the goodness of God that leads His people to repentance” (Rom. 2:4).

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16).

“Like a Father He pities His children, so the Lord pities those that fear Him. He knoweth our frame, and He remembers that we are but dust.” (Psalm 103:13-14).

“His mercy is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him” (Psalm 103:17).

“He loved us with an everlasting love, therefore in lovingkindness has He drawn us.” (Jer. 31:3)

How we need the goodness and lovingkindness of God. Where would we be without these this evening? Yes beloved, all who will trust in the Lord will receive these blessings from His hand.

3. Thirdly, the Lord keeps and protects all who trust in Him:

1) The Lord preserves those who trust in Him:

Psalms 16:1 Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.

The preservation of the saints is a great Bible doctrine. But this great truth is only for those who trust in Him. People who do not trust in the Lord cannot claim His preserving grace.

The hardshells believe in predestination, and unconditional election, but don’t believe in a personal trust in the Lord through faith in the Gospel. They have no Scriptural claim on the preservation of the elect. Preservation is only for those who trust in the Lord.

The Lord does preserve all who trust in Him for salvation. It is the Lord who keeps and preserves us in life, and not we ourselves. What a blessing it is to know that we are preserved in grace by our sovereign God?

2) The Lord is the Defender and Protector of all who trust in Him:

Psalms 20:7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

Yes, some trust in chariots and some in horses. Worldly men trust in their might and power, and in their military strength, and in a strong economy, and in modern science and technology, and so on.

But the Psalmist went on to say that God’s people will remember the name of the Lord. That is, we will trust in the Lord, who is the Almighty and All-powerful God. All power and might belong to Him, and He is able to defend and protect His people.

3) We can trust in the Lord in times of fear:

Psalms 56:3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

Are you ever afraid? No, not us men! Yet king David was afraid at times. Fear is one of our greatest enemies. Many times we live in fear, and become slaves to fear. But in times of fear, and dark and evil times that come in our lives, we need like David to trust in the Lord.

If we are really trusting in the Lord with all of our hearts, we won’t fear anything. We won’t fear men, or what men can do to us. We won’t fear poverty or bankruptcy. We won’t fear cancer or heart attacks. We won’t fear death! The Psalmist said:

Psalms 56:11 In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.

When we can really put our trust in the Lord as David did, we will have the victory over our fears, and victories over all of our enemies.

4) Those who trust the Lord will not be ashamed:

Psalms 25:20 O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.

The Lord will not disappoint our hopes. He will not fail to keep and preserve His people. He will not make us ashamed of our trust that we placed in Him, but He will keep His promises that He made to us, and He will preserve us and keep us unto the end.

4. Fourthly, those who trust in the Lord will receive special privileges:

1) Those who trust in the Lord are bidden to pour our hearts out to Him in prayer:

Psalms 62:8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

I don’t know that any of us fully appreciate the privilege of prayer. The Almighty God of heaven bids us lowly sinners saved by grace, to come into His very presence, within His very throne room in heaven, to seek His favor, and ask His answer to our petitions, and to offer our praise and thanksgiving for all that He does for us.

Beloved, this should not be thought of as a chore or a burden, but rather, it is one of the greatest privileges bestowed upon the sons of men, that we should be granted access into the presence of the King of Kings, to find mercy and grace to help in time of need!

2) Those who trust in the Lord can look to Him for all things:

Psalms 141:8 But mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.

Like all the humble little creatures of God’s creation, all who will trust the Lord can look up to Him in full dependence and assurance that He will provide our every need.

We don’t have to worry about tomorrow, and what will become of us. Look up to the Lord in simple childlike trust, and He will provide all those things that we have need of.

3) Those who trust in the Lord will find special direction for their lives:

Psalms 143:8 Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

Psalms 37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

How often times in our lives do we come to a place where we don’t know which way to turn, or what direction that we should go?

Beloved, if we trust in the Lord He will show us the way that we should go. He will provide us direction, both spiritually as well as physically. This is a promise of God, and a special privilege that we have as believers.

And we might add that the Lord knows the best way for us to go. When we follow His leadership, we cannot go wrong, but He will lead us into the ways of life and blessings!

4) Those who trust in the Lord have special strength:

Isaiah 26:4 Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

We are so weak and feeble by nature. And the older we get, the weaker we feel- right Paul?

How we need the Lord’s strength! And in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength. We need the Lord’s strength to live the Christian life. We need His strength to serve Him, and to accomplish His will in our lives.

The good news is, He will give us His strength if we will only trust in Him.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, may God give us the grace to trust in the Lord the all things. If you are lost in your sins, may the Lord give you the strength to trust in Jesus for salvation complete.

May we who are saved trust in the Lord for blessings, and joy, and happiness, and for preservation and protection.

May we take full advantage of His privileges that He gives to those who trust Him. May we may full use of our privilege of prayer, and of special direction, and of His strength.

Job said:

Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

May we learn to trust the Lord in all things in this life, whether they seem good to us or evil, and even in death, if it be the Lord’s will to take us on home.