Trusting God

SIMPLY TRUSTING

Every child of God knows that we honor our God when we trust him. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart is the desire of every healthy Christian. It sounds so simple. And yet we are challenged day by day with simply trusting.

When all is going well we can speak confidently of our trust in the living God. We quote Scripture, sing songs, and exhort others to trust in the LORD. But what do we mean when say we trust the LORD?

We believe Him. He is worthy of our confidence and so we believe what He says. We believe Him enough to live according to His revealed will.

We believe Him at all times. That is, we believe Him enough to do His will at all times no matter how we feel or the outcome of our obedience. We really do believe that He is right, that His will is best and that He will take care of us. If we do not see the desired result from our obedience, we continue to obey. After all, we trust Him!

We believe Him even when our way is dark, dreary, difficult and uncertain. We trust Him. We know His Word is true just like Himself, and therefore simply trust that His way is right no matter how we might perceive the outcome will be.

Are you simply trusting? It is possible to think you are trusting and yet your experience proves otherwise. If you are really trusting Him you will follow Him. You will not follow your own inclinations. You will not be satisfied simply with comfortable results from your own decisions. You will follow Him regardless of the results, simply trusting that He is worthy of full devotion and that His way is right.

Simply trusting is not always comfortable to our flesh, but perfect peace is promised to those who simply trust (Is. 26:3).

Why Do Christians Commit Public Sins?

(As opposed to heart sins)

We would all acknowledge that a true disciple of Christ has the potential while in this flesh to do anything that this flesh is capable of doing. But why would we?

·         Why would any Christian, much less a respected preacher of the gospel of grace, be unfaithful to his spouse?

·         Why would any Christian choose to live in the fantasy world of lust and pornography?

·         Why would a Christian binge eat, or turn to alcohol or drugs to escape emotional pain or loneliness?

·         Why would a Christian isolate himself in pity and spiral into a pit of depression?

·         Why would a Christian slander another, accuse falsely, or gossip?

Why do we do it?

·         Is it because we are living under such an understanding of grace that we know that we will be forgiven and therefore we don’t fight the strong urges or pull of sinful tendencies?

·         Is it because we have a view of the cross of Jesus Christ that liberates us in our spirit from the need or desire to fight the temptation of the world, flesh and devil?

·         Is it because we have immersed our minds in the teaching that essentially says God loves everything and hates nothing? He is angry with no one? Go ahead…God doesn’t care?

·         Is it because we justify our choices? (It is amazing the way the mind can work to give green light!)

Example: God knows I am but flesh. I am sure He understands. Surely He doesn’t expect me to lose out on fun, excitement, relief, etc.…I just can’t handle all the pressure – I’m only human!

Example: she did such and such which caused me to do such and such (Adam/Eve syndrome).

Why do we do it?

·         Peter says (1Pe 1:5) we are kept by the power of God through faith. Faith connects to the power of God.

·         A basic reason why Christians make sinful choices…especially sinful choices that are public in nature: we forget about our relationship to God!  This is a manifestation of unbelief.

• When we choose to sin, especially openly, are not living by faith! Faith is the victory that overcomes the world (1Jn 5:4); faith is the conduit that unites us with God in a daily practical way!
• When our heart/devotion is divided, regardless of past accomplishments in our Christian walk or present status in the church, we are headed for a fall.

Consider one who didn’t do it: Joseph – Genesis 39:7-10.

·         Joseph’s circumstances were rotten. Mistreated. Disrespected. And now, in a position of respect in his master’s house, he is desired by his master’s wife! Why didn’t he give in? Why didn’t he do it?

• Respect for his master. Relationship to the sovereign God he trusted (45:5;50:20). Recognition of sin.
• Joseph had a heart that was devoted to God! That’s where resistance to temptation begins.

·         If we will live with Joseph’s awareness of God’s sovereign rule and care, we will not choose sin as the remedy or solution for any of life’s needs or desires, no matter how difficult the circumstances!

·         If we do choose to sin, especially sins of public nature, do not offer justifying excuses! Take responsibility. It’s no one’s fault but our own!

• If we speak, talk like David, Against thee, thee only have I sinned (Ps. 51)…When confronted, he didn’t blame Bathsheba for bathing on top of her house! His was the sin – against God first!
• If we speak, talk about grief for being a stumbling-block to the world who is evaluating God and Christians in light of our sin.
• There is forgiveness, even of the most egregious sins. But temporal consequences are often deep.

What will keep YOU from doing it? (whatever sin IT might be in your life)

1. Live life (all of it; everyday) in relationship with God through Jesus Christ who gave His life for you.

2. Remember that your sinful choices (some more than others) can bring great shame upon the truth and the God of truth: 2 Peter 2:2; 1 Peter 2:12.

Decision-Making as a Christian

Decision-Making as a Christian:

Five Questions

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.  –Col 3:17

Some things are clear from God’s Word: thou shalt not steal, kill, or commit adultery, etc..  But some things are not so clearly stated. What about the ordinary lifestyle choices we make every day?  How do we work out how to live daily in a biblical way?

The Christian life is not about following man-made rules.  It is about setting our minds upon the Lord Jesus Christ: all of life flows from our relationship with Him.  Joined to Christ by faith we have died to the law, which could only condemn us, and we are liberated from the principle of sin that used to control us.  Our union with Christ is like a marriage, and just as a marriage produces children, so our union with Christ will produce a lifestyle of godly choices.

Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.  –Rom 7:4

Unless we are in union with Christ by faith, our best efforts will only amount to good moral choices, but will not be acceptable fruit unto God.

Grace teaches us to abandon self-effort to obtain righteousness that will justify us before God and trust in the righteousness of God found in Jesus Christ alone.  Grace continues to teach us to depend on the Spirit of Christ to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.  If Christ is your life, your life will show it.  You will walk in Him.  He will be the reason you live.

You will not be focused on do’s and don’ts, but upon Him.  You will not be asking how far you can go, how close to the edge you can get.  If Christ is the center of your life, all else orbits around Him.  God’s will does not feel restrictive—it is your delight.

You have one Master, and every decision must be submitted to His Lordship.   For the submissive heart, knowing the will of God is first.  Glad obedience follows, even when it is not what you might have originally desired.

Sometimes questions are asked of me as a pastor: Should I work on Sunday? Should my wife work outside the home? Should I watch a particular movie . . . or any movie?  Should I listen to this band or that group?  Should I read this book?  Should I drink this beverage, smoke this plant, or wear these clothes?

Every word and every deed needs to be laid before the Lord.  When faced with decisions like these, there are five questions that will help toward a godly answer:

Does God have ANYTHING to say about it? Does Scripture in any way address this issue?  You might not know the Word of God well enough to answer. It is helpful to obtain wise counsel from other believers who have a better knowledge of the Word.  Bible study tools, such as the Strong’s concordance, are useful as well.

If not forbidden, is this lawful thing beneficial?  Not everything that is allowed is helpful:  All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient” —   I Cor. 6:12a.  Is it helpful?  Is it necessary?

Does this lawful thing have a hold on me?  Am I controlled by it?  Can I give it up?  All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any –I Cor. 6:12b.

How will this affect fellow believers?  It is good neither to eat flesh, or to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.—

Rom 14:21  Devotion to Christ changes our perspective—it’s not all about me anymore:

We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.  Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification.  For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.—Rom 15:1-3

If our choice might affect another believer in a negative way, we should model Christ and deny ourselves.

How will this decision affect my testimony for Christ?  Will doing this affect my ability to be taken seriously as a follower of Christ in my culture? Will this affect my effectiveness in speaking  about the gospel so that others might be saved?

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.  Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.—I Cor 10:31-33

If Christ is your life, you will care how you live!