Is Your Christian Life Working - Part 3
Part 3
Faith and Trust in God and His Promises
When Jesus began His public ministry, He taught and preached two concepts - Repentance and Trust. (Mrk.1:15) Repent from your sin and trust what God says.
We've shown from scripture the importance of repentance from sin, now we will show the importance of faith and trust in God.
"Without TRUST it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God." (Heb.11:6) This short but powerful verse shows us that we CANNOT please God if we do not trust Him completely.
But practically everyone says they believe there is a God and many also claim they believe in God. So what does it mean to believe in God?
To truly believe God, means you will live by what He says. (Jam.2:17) To have faith in God and His word means, you will do what He says. (Jn.3:36) To trust God, means you will not just give mental assent to what He says, but will endeavor with ALL your heart to "prove yourselves doers of the Word and not merely hearers who delude themselves." (Jam.1:22)
We may read the Bible every day and not really trust God for ANY of it. If we really trust God, it will TRANSFORM our life.
Here's one of the best examples I've ever heard of what real trust is.
In the early 1900's a professional tight rope walker was performing over Niagara Falls. For each audience he would walk back and forth over these deadly and powerful falls doing various acrobatic stunts.
One day, he asked his audience if they believed he could walk across this tight rope blind folded. Most of the audience had either seen or heard of his abilities and practically everyone then raised their hand to show they believed he could indeed walk over Niagara Falls on his tight rope blind folded.
He then asked one question that would reveal the true nature of their belief. He asked who would volunteer to ride on his back as he walked blind folded over Niagara Falls.
Is there a difference between saying you believe someone can walk blind folded over Niagara Falls, and actually going the distance with them?
Of course there is. True faith or real trust is being willing to do what he says and go where he goes, side by side.
How does your faith or trust rate when we define it this way?
For example, if we REALLY believe that God loved us as much as He loved His Son (Jn.17:23), would that change how you respond to everyone and everything? You bet it will!
Would you EVER be jealous of another about what you received or didn't receive from our heavenly Father? (Lk.15:28f)
Would you be depressed and discouraged if we REALLY believed that EVERYTHING that comes into your life is allowed and measured by our loving heavenly Father for our good? (Rom.8:28)
Would you EVER be unthankful if we truly believed that NOTHING can separate us from the love of our heavenly Father, who ONLY gives us what is best? (Rom.8:37-39)
Would you EVER be unthankful or depressed if we truly believed God has provided EVERYTHING we need to please and obey Him? (II Pet.1:3)
If we truly believed God would provide ALL our needs (Ph.4:19), would we EVER worry about our finances, health or anything else?
If we truly believed and trusted that God ____________ (you fill in the blanks) would you ______________?
See, we really don't believe what God says.
Will you now begin to see and repent of your "evil unbelieving heart" (Heb. 3:12) and of calling God a liar? "The one who does not trust God has made Him a liar." (I John 5:10)
To doubt God and His proven Words, is an insult and evil of great proportions. There is NOT one reason to doubt HIM.
He has promised to "NOT fail us nor forsake us." (Dt.4:31; 31:6; Josh.1:5) Plus, the Bible says that God ALWAYS has done what He has promised!
"Not ONE of the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed, ALL came to pass." (Josh.21:45; 23:14; I Kng.8:56)
Plus God has NEVER failed or disappointed ANY of His children.
"In Thee they trusted, and were not disappointed (or ashamed)." (Ps.22:5: Is.49:23)
"And you shall praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you, then My people will NEVER be put to shame. Thus you will know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God and there is no other: and My people will NEVER be put to shame." (Joel 2:27)
To make sure NO one missed this message, he mentions it twice!
When the writer of Hebrews quotes this same promise, (Heb.13:5f) he adds: "Let your character be free from the friend of money, being content with what you have, for He Himself has said 'I will NEVER desert you nor will I ever forsake you... Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever."
Since God never changes, His love and His promises NEVER fail! Even "if we are faithless (trustless), He remains faithful (completely trustworthy); for he cannot deny Himself." (II Tim.2:13)
So we can trust God for EVERYTHING!
For we have access to ALL the resources necessary for victory!
"Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Heb.4:16)
Remember, hearing God's word alone does nothing! The demons hear, believe (to a limited extent) and even shudder, yet they are not saved from sin, nor have a change of heart and behavior because of it. (Jam.2:19)
How does your or my belief in God differ from that of the demons?
God's Word can ONLY benefit us if we trust it implicitly and let it sink deep into our heart so it works and transforms us in every area of our life. (Jam.1:22; 3:13; Mt.7:24-27; Heb.4:2)
How do I know if I really trust God?
When your faith and trust is tested, how do you respond?
Do you "consider it ALL joy when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance or steadfastness." (Jam.1:2-3)
If you and I don't respond this way to trials, then our faith is weak or does not exist!
How do you increase your trust in God?
Rom. 10:17 says "So trust comes from hearing and hearing by the word of Christ."
Immerse and saturate yourself in the word of God and His promises. "Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you..." (Col.3:16)
If you are truly convinced in your heart and mind that God loves you and that His word is 100% true and will always come to pass, then you can't help but trust Him.
Picture this. If you are 100% sure a rope bridge that spans a deep chasm in front of you is safe, then you will walk over it. If you weren't sure it was safe, you would not likely risk your life and walk over it, right?
We doubt Him and fall away when we don't really believe and trust what He says to us!
He can be trusted! The God who sent His only son to die for us miserable sinners, will not forsake us.
Paul said, "I am convinced that neither death, nor life nor... anything shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom.8:38-39)
Are you convinced? Why not?
If we can trust God for our salvation, what is the problem with trusting Him for all the other things in our life?
Jesus said, "If any man is willing TO DO His will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself." (Jn.7:17)
The issue is not if God is trust worthy, but if we are willing TO DO what He says!
So the real question is - Are you willing to do what He says.
He deserves NOTHING less than our complete TRUST!
Faith and Trust in God and His Promises
When Jesus began His public ministry, He taught and preached two concepts - Repentance and Trust. (Mrk.1:15) Repent from your sin and trust what God says.
We've shown from scripture the importance of repentance from sin, now we will show the importance of faith and trust in God.
"Without TRUST it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God." (Heb.11:6) This short but powerful verse shows us that we CANNOT please God if we do not trust Him completely.
But practically everyone says they believe there is a God and many also claim they believe in God. So what does it mean to believe in God?
To truly believe God, means you will live by what He says. (Jam.2:17) To have faith in God and His word means, you will do what He says. (Jn.3:36) To trust God, means you will not just give mental assent to what He says, but will endeavor with ALL your heart to "prove yourselves doers of the Word and not merely hearers who delude themselves." (Jam.1:22)
We may read the Bible every day and not really trust God for ANY of it. If we really trust God, it will TRANSFORM our life.
Here's one of the best examples I've ever heard of what real trust is.
In the early 1900's a professional tight rope walker was performing over Niagara Falls. For each audience he would walk back and forth over these deadly and powerful falls doing various acrobatic stunts.
One day, he asked his audience if they believed he could walk across this tight rope blind folded. Most of the audience had either seen or heard of his abilities and practically everyone then raised their hand to show they believed he could indeed walk over Niagara Falls on his tight rope blind folded.
He then asked one question that would reveal the true nature of their belief. He asked who would volunteer to ride on his back as he walked blind folded over Niagara Falls.
Is there a difference between saying you believe someone can walk blind folded over Niagara Falls, and actually going the distance with them?
Of course there is. True faith or real trust is being willing to do what he says and go where he goes, side by side.
How does your faith or trust rate when we define it this way?
For example, if we REALLY believe that God loved us as much as He loved His Son (Jn.17:23), would that change how you respond to everyone and everything? You bet it will!
Would you EVER be jealous of another about what you received or didn't receive from our heavenly Father? (Lk.15:28f)
Would you be depressed and discouraged if we REALLY believed that EVERYTHING that comes into your life is allowed and measured by our loving heavenly Father for our good? (Rom.8:28)
Would you EVER be unthankful if we truly believed that NOTHING can separate us from the love of our heavenly Father, who ONLY gives us what is best? (Rom.8:37-39)
Would you EVER be unthankful or depressed if we truly believed God has provided EVERYTHING we need to please and obey Him? (II Pet.1:3)
If we truly believed God would provide ALL our needs (Ph.4:19), would we EVER worry about our finances, health or anything else?
If we truly believed and trusted that God ____________ (you fill in the blanks) would you ______________?
See, we really don't believe what God says.
Will you now begin to see and repent of your "evil unbelieving heart" (Heb. 3:12) and of calling God a liar? "The one who does not trust God has made Him a liar." (I John 5:10)
To doubt God and His proven Words, is an insult and evil of great proportions. There is NOT one reason to doubt HIM.
He has promised to "NOT fail us nor forsake us." (Dt.4:31; 31:6; Josh.1:5) Plus, the Bible says that God ALWAYS has done what He has promised!
"Not ONE of the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed, ALL came to pass." (Josh.21:45; 23:14; I Kng.8:56)
Plus God has NEVER failed or disappointed ANY of His children.
"In Thee they trusted, and were not disappointed (or ashamed)." (Ps.22:5: Is.49:23)
"And you shall praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you, then My people will NEVER be put to shame. Thus you will know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God and there is no other: and My people will NEVER be put to shame." (Joel 2:27)
To make sure NO one missed this message, he mentions it twice!
When the writer of Hebrews quotes this same promise, (Heb.13:5f) he adds: "Let your character be free from the friend of money, being content with what you have, for He Himself has said 'I will NEVER desert you nor will I ever forsake you... Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever."
Since God never changes, His love and His promises NEVER fail! Even "if we are faithless (trustless), He remains faithful (completely trustworthy); for he cannot deny Himself." (II Tim.2:13)
So we can trust God for EVERYTHING!
For we have access to ALL the resources necessary for victory!
"Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Heb.4:16)
Remember, hearing God's word alone does nothing! The demons hear, believe (to a limited extent) and even shudder, yet they are not saved from sin, nor have a change of heart and behavior because of it. (Jam.2:19)
How does your or my belief in God differ from that of the demons?
God's Word can ONLY benefit us if we trust it implicitly and let it sink deep into our heart so it works and transforms us in every area of our life. (Jam.1:22; 3:13; Mt.7:24-27; Heb.4:2)
How do I know if I really trust God?
When your faith and trust is tested, how do you respond?
Do you "consider it ALL joy when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance or steadfastness." (Jam.1:2-3)
If you and I don't respond this way to trials, then our faith is weak or does not exist!
How do you increase your trust in God?
Rom. 10:17 says "So trust comes from hearing and hearing by the word of Christ."
Immerse and saturate yourself in the word of God and His promises. "Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you..." (Col.3:16)
If you are truly convinced in your heart and mind that God loves you and that His word is 100% true and will always come to pass, then you can't help but trust Him.
Picture this. If you are 100% sure a rope bridge that spans a deep chasm in front of you is safe, then you will walk over it. If you weren't sure it was safe, you would not likely risk your life and walk over it, right?
We doubt Him and fall away when we don't really believe and trust what He says to us!
He can be trusted! The God who sent His only son to die for us miserable sinners, will not forsake us.
Paul said, "I am convinced that neither death, nor life nor... anything shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom.8:38-39)
Are you convinced? Why not?
If we can trust God for our salvation, what is the problem with trusting Him for all the other things in our life?
Jesus said, "If any man is willing TO DO His will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself." (Jn.7:17)
The issue is not if God is trust worthy, but if we are willing TO DO what He says!
So the real question is - Are you willing to do what He says.
He deserves NOTHING less than our complete TRUST!
