Can God Really Do That?

 

Can God Really Do That?

ROMANS 9:1-5 (Vs 14)

SUBJECT: ROMANS/ ISRAEL’S PAST

THEME: the foundation of God’s entire economy of redemption rest upon his nature and character; therefore, we can breathe easier without any probability of disappointment in his mercy, power, and faithfulness.

INTRODUCTION:

If God is fair in his dealings with Israel, then the rest of humanity can unreservedly entrust their eternal future with him.  However, if he was unfair in his dealings with the nation of Israel, then how can we as Gentile Christians even begin to rest in him for our own eternal destiny?

There are several questions I hope to answer from this passage and this chapter in Romans:

1) Is salvation based on our good works or is it based on the calling and compassion of God?     

2) What does it mean when the God of love says he loved Jacob but hated Esau?

3) How can we reconcile God’s sovereignty with human responsibility?    

4) Have the promises of God failed Israel? Will they fail us also?   

5) After looking at his record, can God still be trusted today?

RELEVANCE: Basically, God exercises the prerogatives of a sovereign God and man functions within the orbit of God’s will as a free moral agent. In both instances neither violates the opportunities and choices of the other. It is this understanding that sets the stage as we come into Romans chapter nine.

MESSAGE:

I.    A Sincere Desire to See the Nation of Israel Saved. Vs 1-4. Paul’ s burdened for the salvation of his kinsman, the nation of Israel.    

Rom 9:1, I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,

II. Yet, The Nation of Israel Is Not Saved. Vs 4-5.

Paul recounts the privileges of Israel, but still they are not saved nationally.  

Rom 9:4-5, Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; [5] Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

    A.  THE DIVINE FAVOR, GOD’S GRACE, ON THE NATION OF ISRAEL

This section places great emphasis on divine sovereignty and human responsibility.  Romans 9 deals primarily with His Sovereignty and Chapter 10 will balance things out concerning Human responsibility. Notice that God extended his sovereignty to grant Israel’s opportunities rooted in his grace.

            1.   They Were Privileged with Divine Adoption     Vs 4, ...  to whom pertaineth the adoption.... Adoption has to do with the placing of a son and God had adopted the nation of Israel to be His son.  He was a father to Israel.

Exod 4:22-23, And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn: [23] And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.

Jer 31:9, They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.   (Hos. 11:1; Deut. 14:1)

APPLICATION: What a Privilege is Ours to be the very Sons of God, Adopted into His family and made Joint Heir with Jesus Christ! Romans 8:15-17, For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. ¹⁶ The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: ¹⁷ And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Eph. 1:4, Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

1 John 3:1-2, Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. ² Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

           2.  They Were Privileged with Divine Accompaniment   Vs 4, ...and the glory

The Glory Cloud or Shekinah Glory that visible luminous appearance of God's presence. It was a symbol of God presence, guidance, and protection of His earthly people Israel.  What a privilege to have God’s Leadership as a Nation!

                A)  It led them across the wilderness (Exod. 13:21-22; Num. 9:17-22).

                B)  It protected them at the Red Sea (Exod. 14:19-20,24).

                C)  It filled the tabernacle during Moses' dedication (Exod. 40:34-38).

                D)  It filled the temple during Solomon's dedication (1 Kings 8:10-11; 2 Chron.

5:13-14).

                E)  It was removed during Ezekiel's time (Ezek. 10).

APPLICATION: What Great Privilege is Ours to Have the Glory of God in Us; to be indwelt by the Holy Ghost.  We have Power for living in the Filling of the Spirit, Guidance in life, and the very Presence of God With us always. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

          3.  They Were Privileged with the Divine Agreements Vs 4, ...and the covenants

                A) The Abrahamic Covenant-Promising a Mighty Nation (Gen. 12:2-3,7;13:14-17; 15:5, 18; 17:8).

                B) The Palestinian Covenant-Promising the land from Egypt to the Euphrates   Gen. 15:18; Deut. 30:3

                C) The Davidic Covenant-Promising an Eternal Kingdom (2 Sam. 7:12-16; 23:5;2 Chron. 13:5).

                D) The New Covenant-Promising New Hearts (Jer. 31:31-34).

APPLICATION: As New Testament (New Covenant) Saints We Will share in all the Blessed Promises with the saved Nation of Israel at the time of their National Redemption. Hebrews 9:14-15, How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? ¹⁵ And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. Christ offered His own blood as the sacrifice for our sins, He is the mediator of a new covenant (see Heb. 8:6). He focuses on God's promise of forgiveness of sins under the new covenant. Christ is not an abandonment of these Jewish roots. Instead, he is a fulfillment of that heritage. 

           4.  They Were Privileged with The Divine Articles Vs 4, ...   and the giving of the law

Israel alone were the recipients of the Holy Law of God (Deut. 5:1–22).

It was to Israel that the law was given. They and they alone were its recipients.^[1]

It was to them that the ceremonial and judicial law were given, and the moral law in writing pertained to them. It is a great privilege to have the law of God among us,^[2]

APPLICATION: We today have the entire preserved Word of God. We have the privilege of the great example of Believers from the past to inspire us to live for God.  We have the privilege of knowing what God thinks is important, and what God values.  We can know exactly what to do to please God from the Bible. Also, I always use a KJV Bible, and I hardily recommend that you secure one if you belong to the English-speaking world.  Every scrap of solid evidence, and genuine Christian History points to the KJV Bible as God’s preserved Word in English.

           5.  They Were Privileged with The Divine Administration Vs 4, ... and the service of God. They performed services for God (ministering in both tabernacle, temple, and the priesthood).

This had to do with the worship of the tabernacle and temple. They were to be a kingdom of priests. “And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel” (Exod. 19:6). The nation failed God, but God did not give up His purpose that they should be priests. God took the tribe of Levi and gave them the responsibility of serving and caring for the tabernacle and, later, the temple. In the future, in the millennial kingdom, the nation of Israel will once again be God’s priests upon the earth.^[3]

APPLICATION: it is still a privilege to serve God in the local church, through the in-resident local assembly today. To worship God, teach, be a member of, send the gospel to the world, to assemble, disciple, to encourage each other, to hear the Word preached/explained, and to pray and call upon God in the church body is what we are to do. The great properties of belonging, fellowship, and purpose that people look for in other organizations can be found in a proper church body in most cases. What great privileges we take for granted as members of a church of our Lord Jesus Christ! What pleasures we take for granted by being a part of Christ’s functional body on earth. How honored we are to be a part of our Lord’s sweet precious bride, the church!

1 Cor 12:26-28, And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. [27] Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. [28] And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. (See Rom. 12:5; 1 Cor. 12:12, 14-20; Eph. 1:23; 4:12; 5:23; 5:30; Col. 1:18 & 24)

           6.  They Were Privileged with The Divine Affirmations Vs 4, ... and the promises….

In addition to the covenants mentioned above, God made innumerable promises to Israel of protection, peace, and prosperity.^[4]

APPLICATION: We who are saved have the promises of an eternal inheritance; eternal life, eternal home, and eternal glory. Heb 9:15, And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

“The promise of the eternal inheritance” takes us back to the inheritance that God promised to Abraham, where we become heirs through having the same faith as Abraham. It includes justification by faith, being part of a spiritual nation, a new immortal body, and eternal life. (See Gal. 3:15-18, 29; Rom. 8:15-17; 1 Cor. 15:50-58)

           7.  They Were Privileged with Their Human Ancestry    Vs 5, ...Whose are the fathers, ... (See Matt. 1:1-16). This is the Jewish heritage and family line.

The Jewish people rightfully claim the patriarchs as their own—Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the twelve sons of Jacob. These were the forefathers of the nation.^[5]

Later in New Testament times we as Christians can point to Matthew, Paul, Peter, John etc.

APPLICATION 1: If you have parents that brought you up in church and on the Bible, then you should make a point of frequently thanking them for their faithfulness to the Lord. They have given you one of the most valuable gifts, a spiritual family heritage in Christ. We should appreciate them for not quitting on us, not resorting to other philosophies, and not allowing themselves to get out of church and backslidden. You have a steadfast heritage because of their faith. This is a wonderful gift!

APPLICATION 2: Perhaps you don’t have the family history I just described. In fact, you experienced quite the opposite! Though you have the pain and scares from the past, it still all can begin with you. You can be the “Abraham” in your family lineage.  The one who believes God and separates from the old trends and ways of the family looking to the promises and provisions of God as you journey to the land of promise! You can be the “David” in your home who leads your family to victory after victory through the many battles of life. The one who leads your family to having a heart for God. By the grace of God, it can begin with you regardless of the challenges and unfavorable circumstances! Relinquish the grip of victimhood and embrace the hope of responsibility under God’s economy!

APPLICATION 3: We too have the privilege of a great spiritual ancestry in the servants of God of yesteryear.  In people like D. L. Moody, Billy Sunday, Charles Spurgeon, Charles Finney, George Whitfield, Hudson Taylor, Jim Elliotte, Corrie Ten Boom, C. T. Studd, John R. Rice, Amy Carmichael, W. W. Wiersbe, and many others.  These men and ladies trusted God, believed God to work in their lives and He did.  My how this should create a hunger and thirst in our souls to see revival come to our hearts, to our churches, and to our nations. It happened with these men and women, why can’t it happen with us!

           8.  They Were Privileged with The Highest Aim      Vs 5, . . .and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

They are the nation that God chose to bring our Savior into the World, the Lord Jesus Christ.  The Messiah Himself.  How would you like to be the people from which the Sovereign of the Universe was born, the eternally blessed God of Heaven.  It is through the Messiah that all of the promises and privileges afforded Israel will realize their ultimate fulfilment and consummation!

APPLICATION:  Divine Favor is not enough to make salvation complete.  God did all that He did with Israel because of a Sovereign Choice, but that alone didn’t save them.  In fact, great privilege means great responsibility. Thus, we learn that even when God acts Sovereignly in our lives, we are still accountable and held responsible for our actions. We are still liable for our failures.

Basically, God implements the choices of a sovereign God and humanity acts within the path of God’s will as a free moral agent. In neither case do the parties violate the opportunities and options of the other. It is this dynamic that Romans chapter nine seeks to highlight.

     B.  THE DOWNFALL OF THE NATION OF ISRAEL INSPITE OF GOD’S GRACE

Rom 9:31-33, But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.

          1.  Their Works and Self Righteousness Was One Reason for Their Downfall

Rom 9:32, Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law.

          2.  Their Willful Rejection of the Savior Was Another Reason for Their Downfall

Rom. 9:32, For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

Rom 9:33, As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

APPLICATION 1: The primary focus of this entire chapter is the Sovereignty of God, but from the very start of the chapter we see strong testimony here to the responsibility of man in the matter of salvation.  It is difficult to reconcile these two doctrines, however, both are clearly taught here and will be in the next chapter.  God may give us today great privileges, blessings and benefits, but in the end it all boils down to whether or not we have trusted Him in a saving capacity or have we rejected His grace for our own works and self-righteousness.

APPLICATION 2: As Christians we can fail in our responsibilities to trust and serve God. God in His sovereignty has blessed us richly as Americans, but are we taking advantage of the privileges He has afforded us to trust Him to work in our lives and through our lives individually and institutionally?  With great privilege comes great responsibility and we as Christians have a wealthy heritage, the power of God, and the blessings of God. Are we executing his will with gratitude? God is not about to change because he is absolutely faithful; it seems the ball is in our court now.

CONCLUSION:

God’s past dealings with the nation of Israel are based on two things, His grace and government.  His grace refers to his character and nature. His dealings with them in grace involved the privileges of being Israelites, the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the law, promises, the service in the tabernacle, and the fathers. The most important blessing is Christ, the Messiah.  God’s governmental dealings with Israel involved His wisdom, will, and Word.  God was governed by fixed principles and not capricious whims.

The basis of God’s entire economy of redemption rest upon the foundation of his nature and character, therefore we can be assured without any possibility of disappointment in his mercy, power, and faithfulness.

Furthermore, the Scriptures say that we all are sinners. Unless God, pure and righteous, take our place and suffered the penalty for our sin, we would have to bear that penalty ourselves. The Apostle Paul explained this in Romans 3:10–18: As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: [11] There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. [12] They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. [13] Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: [14] Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: [15] Their feet are swift to shed blood: [16] Destruction and misery are in their ways: [17] And the way of peace have they not known: [18] There is no fear of God before their eyes.   

Jesus’ death on the cross for us never needs to be repeated, and neither does anyone else ever have to suffer and die as He did. He is the sacrificial, substitutionary, all-sufficient atonement (Romans 5:20-21; 6:10-11). Yes, Christ died for us. Jesus came so that you and I might transfer our guilt to Him, and accept, by faith, that He is the guiltless One who has received our sin and taken it to Himself.

So, in this light, the only thing you need to do to receive salvation is to literally receive God’s forgiveness. And when you do, you truly have made a choice for life. We cannot simply believe anything about Jesus or be forgiven for any reason though. We must believe the Son of God, Jesus Christ, died for our sins, was buried, and God raised Him up again from among the remaining dead people the third day for our justification before The Father (see 1 Cor. 15:1-4 and Rom 3:21-31). I need you to understand that it is faith in Jesus Christ and His Gospel that is the power of God that saves us…that grant us eternal life through Christ (Rom. 1:14-17). Again, receive God’s salvation even now. You can experience God’s spiritual new birth right now!

 

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^[1] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1716.

^[2] Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994), 2216.

^[3] J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary, electronic ed., vol. 4 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997), 711.

^[4] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1716.

^[5] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1716.

Trusting God Instead of Fears

Trusting God Instead of Fears

Psalm 62:1-2

Subject: Trusting God

Introduction:

Are you feeling inadequate or uncertain about yourself? Do you feel insufficient about your physical appearance, spiritual growth, relationships, financial stability, or even professional skills?

Failures can drive feelings of insecurity encouraging us to become too critical/extremely faultfinding of ourselves. Even though we may be talented and treasured, you tell yourself otherwise.

Fear in the form of insecurity can become a vicious circle. If you feel bad about how you look or doubt your value, you may shy away from social situations or shun experiences that would test your abilities. And in doing so, you cripple or even wreck your potential for effectiveness, victory, and interrelationship.

What is the further impact of being insecure? 1) You’ll have difficulty trusting others. 2) You may feel paranoid in many things and worry people are coming over to get you. 3) You may be mistakenly perceived as superior or conceited when trying too hard to cover up your insecurity. 4) You may feel at times like panicking over small issues and exaggerating the problems.

Relevance: We are often tempted to give in to our fears and insecurities, but the Lord presents Himself as the only viable alternative to our fears. Psalm 62 says trust God instead. The Psalm is a healthy reminder for troubled times…when we feel threaten as we live a God focused life. Psalm 62 is for us. David affirmed that the Eternal God of heaven is the Source of his personal security, therefore he could not be shaken! Likewise, He is our refuge, the place we run to hide.

Message:

Psalm 62:1, Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.

“Truly” implies the presence of fears, worry and anxiety rooted in a measure of uncertainty. There appears to have been a battle with such fears, but the Psalmist emerges with a sense of affirmation. He is now asserting the reality of his exclusive confidence trust in the Lord.

I.               Fears are the Basis for These Challenges.

A.    Fear. Fear is an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat. To fear is to be afraid of (someone or something) as likely to be dangerous, painful, or threatening. (from Oxford Languages)

B.    Worry. Worry is a state of anxiety and uncertainty over actual or potential problems. Worry gives way to anxiety or unease; allows one's mind to dwell on difficulty or troubles. (from Oxford Languages)

C.    Anxiety. Anxiety is a feeling of fear, dread, and uneasiness. It might cause you to sweat, feel restless and tense, and have a rapid heartbeat. It can be a normal reaction to stress. For example, you might feel anxious when faced with a difficult problem at work, before taking a test, or before making an important decision. (From MedlinePlus)

1.     Why do I feel the need to be in control?

2.     Several things can drive controlling behavior. The most common are anxiety and personality disorders. People with anxiety disorders feel a need to control everything around them in order to feel at peace. They may not trust anyone else to handle things the way they will. (from WebMD)

D.    Uncertainty. Uncertainty encompasses something that is uncertain or that causes one to feel uncertain. It is suspicion expressing a lack of faith in the truth, reality, fairness, or reliability of something or someone.

1.     It is doubt, skepticism, suspicion, or mistrust pointing to a lack of sureness about someone or something. Uncertainty may range from a falling short of certainty to an almost complete lack of conviction or knowledge especially about an outcome or result. (From Merriam-Webster)

2.     What brings uncertainty? Uncertainty is the result of having limited knowledge about an occurrence or event, making it difficult to control, plan, or predict a future outcome, which can often be distressing. (From umich.edu)

E.     Insecurity. Insecurity is uncertainty or anxiety about oneself; it is lack of confidence. It is a vulnerability, the mindset of being open to danger or a threatening condition. Insecurity is a perceived lack of protection. (from Oxford Languages)

1.     It is often a feeling of inadequacy (not being good enough) and uncertainty. It produces anxiety about your goals, relationships, and ability to handle certain situations. Everybody deals with insecurity from time to time. It can appear in all areas of life and come from a variety of causes. (from WebMD)

2.     The Lord called Gideon a “mighty man of valor” (Jud. 6:12) even though he was insecure and fearful. Jesus likened Peter a stable and steadfast rock even though he was a pebble and kept crumbling. God called Abraham “father of many nations” when he had no children. Sarah was called a “mother of nations” even though she “laughed” and mocked the Lord for being childless. (Based on Gen. 17 & 18 and Insight for Living)

3.     God knows that people are insecure for various reasons. Moses, Gideon, and Abram expressed their insecurities in different ways. But, what does God says about insecurities? We can conquer insecurity the same way we do any temptation rooted in our carnality and flesh. 1 Corinthians 10:13, There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

                                                                        i.     God promises that we can, in the power of the Holy Spirit, respond to any given temptation by resisting it. Finally, Paul adds to this promise that God will always make a way of escape out of whatever temptation stands before us. So, we not only come to it, but we can go through it also!

                                                                      ii.     What is the prayer for 1 Corinthians 10:13? Father, forgive me O Lord for my past sin, and by your grace and through your Word, strengthen me with your Holy Spirit so that I too may overcome the temptations that Satan uses to sever my fellowship with you. Through the name of my Protector and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, I ask this. Amen.

II.           God Answers our Fears and Insecurities with Promises.

A.    What causes our insecurity? There is no one cause of insecurity; many factors can lead to the condition. Insecurity may stem from a traumatic event, crisis such as divorce or bankruptcy, or a loss. It can also result from one’s environment, as unpredictability or upset in daily life can cause anxiety and insecurity about ordinary, routine events.

B.    What Does the Bible say when I’m feeling insecure? Some Supportive Verses against Fears and Insecurity….

1.     Ephesians 1:4-6. Remember who you are in the Lord, your spiritual identity. 

2.     Romans 8:31-32. Count on the fact that God is for you. He is with, in, and for you! If he is for you, then nothing can stand against you. He's given his Son for you. And not just in the past. Jesus, the risen Son of God right now is at the right hand of God interceding for you. And nothing in this world can separate you from his love for you.

3.     1 John 3:1. Take God’s view of yourself as a person he loves and calls His child.

a.      What is the love of the father? The Father's love for us is nowhere clearer and more compelling than in the sending of his only Son—freely, unprompted, and undeserved. The same Scriptures proclaiming Christ's love in dying also reveal the immense love of the Father as the sending source. He so loved us that he gave his only begotten Son (John 3:16).

b.     How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

4.     1 John 4:18. Embrace the truth that God’s perfect love removes all kinds of fears. The ultimate punishment or fear is separation from God. Thankfully, for those who believe in Jesus, that fear has passed. We need to learn to accept the reality of His love for us, so that our fears do not control us. If you're afraid of facing a person or a situation in your life, God's love can help you put your fears to rest.

5.     1 Corinthians 6:11. Take inventory of what you have in Christ as a person who is washed, sanctified, and justified.

6.     Matthew 10:29-31. Do not fear the circumstances because God values his people greatly. His involvement, power, control, meticulousness, and wisdom prove he highly values us.

7.     Psalm 139:13-14. Devote yourself to worship and praise God for victory. I will dedicate myself to God’s praise because he is my Creator and I marvel at his exploits.

III.        God Wants Us to Place our Faith in Him in the Most Unique and Complete Way.

A.    This Involves an Inner Trust. Psalm 62:1, says, “My soul waiteth upon God”….

1.     “My soul” speaks of the inner life or a person…the seat of our emotions and passions and the activity of the mind. Trusting God includes the essence of the real me. I cannot fake this or pretend with him…this must come from my soul…my heart and resolve are to be available NOW! My expectations, my inner life, my interior being is present instantly, attentively, and immediately! Fix your mind and heart on the Lord. Focus on him instead of your fears and insecurities. He provides a healthy place to concentrate your thoughts and emotions.

2.     “Waiteth” points to rest or finding rest. It is a silent, still, repose of still waiting quietly on the Lord for deliverance.

a.      To wait quietly entails believing God will triumph someday if not today. In his timing he will make thing right. I am to get out of the way but be responsible to trust him to exercise good judgment, fairness, and justice.

b.     Why wait on the Lord? The Psalmist speaks of the longings of his soul when he says, “My soul waiteth upon God” (Psalm 62:1). This recognizes God’s authority which helps me to be patient and to anticipate God’s work/timing with assurance. Waiting is also about what we will become as we wait. In calling us to wait, God is rescuing us from our bondage to our own plan, our own wisdom, our own power, our own control. Then we wait because the Lord has orchestrated our lives; our times are in the hands of the Lord, and we know it. We are hemmed in by God, totally given over to Him.

c.      What is the power of waiting upon the Lord? Waiting upon the Lord prepares us to receive the blessings He wants to give us. God will fulfill His promises in our lives, and as we wait patiently, we will receive what he promised (Heb. 6:15; Ps. 37:9; Matt. 5:5). Trust him to renew spiritual strength, the strength to endure, stand and carry on.

B.    This Involves a Complete Trust. Again Psalm 62:1, says, “upon God”

1.     “God” in this verse is viewed as our Creator, Ruler, and Judge. This is not merely waiting on anyone or anything, but our unique Creator, Ruler, and Judge, Elohim alone and only (see also verse 2, 5, 6-8). The one who created me for himself, rules over me by his standard, and who holds me accountable is worthy of our trust. Our help is the all-powerful eternal God of heaven!

2.     Then in Psalm 62:2, it says, “He only is my rock and my salvation” then verse 5, says, “my soul, wait thou only upon God.” Rest in God alone, because “my expectation” or hope “is from him” that is it comes from Him. God is our only true refuge!

3.     Compare verse 2, “I shall not be greatly moved” with verse 6, “I shall not be moved”, and we immediately notice an improvement or a progression. The Psalmist moves from a more tenuous condition to a position of assurance and affirmation. We can expect to follow a similar pattern as we grow in our ability to trust God completely with our fears and insecurities. God is pleased with such growth.

 Conclusion:

As we end this thought, we are often tempted to give in to our fears and insecurities, but the Lord presents Himself as the only viable alternative to our fears. Whether insecurities related to physical appearance, spiritual growth, relationships, financial stability, or even professional skills, Psalm 62 says trust God instead. David asserted to us that the Eternal God of heaven is the Source of his personal security, therefore he could not be shaken!  

Finally, one more truth about trust should be observed. The evidence that we all have sinned is the fact that we die physically. Physical death is also indicative of a human condition of pervasive spiritual separation from God. Eternal death is suffering forever in the Lake of Fire.

God promises to save all who will acknowledge their sins to Him while trusting Jesus Christ as their Savior. You see, sin is defined as violations of God’s Laws. We have put idols before the true and living God. We are guilty of taking God’s Name in vain. We have not honored our parents fully and always. We have not treated people with real love and respect exclusively. We do not measure up to the perfection of God’s standard of morality. We NEED His forgiveness...He offers us forgiveness not condemnation. With this being the case...condemnation is something you chose by refusing Christ.

We are all guilty of transgressing God’s Law. We all have gone beyond the limitations established by God in the Bible, and as a result we must now be punished for our awful sin. We are all facing the death penalty. The only hope is God’s forgiveness made available to each of us through faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Beloved, it was Jesus who died for our sins, was buried because he actually did die and satisfied the death penalty against sin. He also rose again the third day exactly as he repeatedly stated he would. Yes, the Lord Jesus Christ conquered death, hell, sin, and Satan through his cross and resurrection. He is alive to save you if you turn to him confessing your sin and receiving his sacrifice for you (Rom. 10:8-17). Trust the living Lord Jesus as Savior to be forgiven as God promised. 

Jesus is not motivated to condemn, but to help us see our incredible need for God’s forgiveness. Do not put your trust in a church, a membership, a denominational affiliation, a ritual or ceremony, a work of service, yourself, or a religious creed. These methods will only fail…. Trust Jesus, the Savior.

Fostering the Attitude of Trust 2

1 Thessalonians 5:17

SUBJECT: Cultivating the Christian Attitude of Trust

THEME: We can foster the spiritual attitude of Trust by praying without ceasing; infusing prayer with communion, confidence, and consistency!

INTRODUCTION: Our aim here is to expand further on the attitude of trust. We have examined how our prayers must be infused with communion with the Most High as an exercise of trust. Now, we need to explore the role of confidence in prayer noting how this demonstrates trust also. Referring to trust The Dictionary of Bible Themes adds this definition,

Trust: Reliance on and confidence in a person. Scripture affirms the total trustworthiness of God, especially in relation to his promises to his people. Christian faith is, essentially, trust in the person and character of God.^[1]

For us believers, trust rests soundly on the person and character of the Almighty. God is the proper object of our confidence; He presents us with every convincing argument of his unique trustworthiness and anything he says or promises can be taken as true, reliable and fully credible. Again trust is not some philosophical consideration for the intellectually elite to debate in the ivory towers of academia; no, trust is most relevant to life and certainly to a robust Christian experience.  

So then, how may we improve our trust in Jehovah God? One way to practice and cultivate trust/confidence in God is to “pray without ceasing” (1Thess. 5:17).

RELEVANCE: As Christians our inner life is deeply important to God and our spiritual welfare—attitudes, motives, and behaviors are equally weighty aspects of our growth in grace. Doing the right things and being the right person should be in harmony. Certainly, our inner lives are to be consecrated to the glory of our Lord God.

FOSTER THE ATTITUDE OF TRUST THROUGH PRAYER  

1Thes 5:17, Pray without ceasing.

Recall the Lord Jesus’ promise, “Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. ²² And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.^[2]” (Matt. 21:21-22). 

Prayer and trusting God should be viewed as constituent parts of one whole. Much like neutrons, protons and electrons belong to a single atom. Meager prayer formalities empty of real trust/faith in God are powerless and ineffectual! So, how may be continue to build trust into our prayers?

Thesis: We can foster the spiritual attitude of Trust by praying without ceasing; that is infusing prayer with communion, confidence, and consistency!

LESSON:

I.               Foster the Attitude of Trust through Prayer Confidence

A.    Another Reason for Praying without Ceasing is Unwavering Confidence!

B.    Prayer Confidence is an Exercise of Trust

                                                  1.     Confidence in a faithful person is well placed; we cherish no fears that God will betray our expectations, disappoint or let us down as long as we pray his will.

                                                  2.     The Scriptures challenge us often to pray with confidence in the Lord…to cry out to him in faith and unflappable trust.

a.      Mark 11:22-24, And Jesus answering saith unto them, ^sHave faith in God. ²³ For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. ²⁴ Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.^[3]

b.     1 Tim 2:8, I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. ^[4]

c.      1 John 5:14-15, And this is the confidence [boldness and courage even in intimidating circumstances] that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: ¹⁵ And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.^[5]

d.     James 1:5-7, If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. ⁶ But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. ⁷ For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.^[6]

                                                  3.     Prayer confidence stems from extensive trust in the character, competency, and counsel of God. Can we justify our doubting and reluctance to stand on God’s promises? When was the last time we privately or publicly claimed a promise of God’s Word in prayer?

C.    God is Worthy of our Trust 

                                                  1.     The Almighty Lord God is the true object of our trust.

a.      Prov. 22:19-21, That thy trust may be in the Lord, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. ²⁰ Have not I written to thee excellent things In counsels and knowledge, ²¹ That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; That thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?^[7]

b.     Prov. 3:5-7, Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. ⁶ In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths. ⁷ Be not wise in thine own eyes: Fear the Lord, and ^odepart from evil.^[8]

c.      Psalm 62:7-8, In God is my salvation and my glory: The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. ⁸ Trust in him at all times; ye people, Pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.^[9]

                                                  2.     The fear of God leads to trust. Pr 14:26.^[10]

                                                  3.     There are concrete grounds for trusting in our Father-God

a.      Trust in God’s power and strength Ex 14:31; 2Ti 1:12 See also 2Sa 22:1-3 pp Ps 18:2-3; Ps 9:9-10; 115:9-11; 144:1-2

b.     Trust in God’s unfailing love Ps 13:5 See also Ex 15:13; Ps 17:7; 21:7; 33:18; 52:8; 147:11

c.      Trust in God’s salvation Isa 12:2 See also 1Sa 17:37; Ps 22:4-5; 40:2-3; Isa 25:9

d.     Trust is nurtured by God’s revealed truth. Pr 22:19-21 See also Ps 18:30; 119:42; Pr 30:5; Jn 12:36; 14:1-3^[11]

                                                  4.     Why don’t we trust God more often than we do? Do we secretly doubt his power or ability to deliver? Are we too proud to need him?

                                                  5.     Why don’t we believe God will answer our prayers? Are we afraid that we are only setting ourselves up for a letdown? Do we think ourselves selves self-sufficient...independent?

                                                  6.     Why don’t we commit our needs to God with confidence? Are we afraid his love is insufficient to move him to meet our needs? Beloved, if God is worthy and deserving of our full confidence then why don’t we immediately run to him or turn to him? Do we trust ourselves more…than our Almighty Father-God?

                                                  7.      6929 Putting Down Whole Weight

To celebrate an old man’s seventy-fifth birthday, an aviation enthusiast offered to take him for a plane ride over the little West Virginia town where he spent all his life. The old man accepted the offer. Back on the ground, after circling over the town twenty minutes, his friend asked, “Were you scared, Uncle Dudley?” “No-o-o,” was the hesitant answer. “But I never did put my full weight down.”^[12]

D.    Faith in God can Achieve Great Things

                                                  1.     Faith in our heavenly Father can move unmovable obstacles. Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. ²² And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.^[13]” (Matt. 21:21-22). 

                                                  2.     The Lord literally looks for opportunities to show himself strong in the affairs of his people! 2 Chron. 16:9, For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.^[14]

                                                  3.     It is wisdom to commit the hard cases to the Father with full confidence. Drug attics are drug free because of him; violent offenders are now given to nurturing and treasuring others because of him; vagrants are transformed to productive citizens because of him; lairs have become people of integrity living and speaking the truth because of him. Financial needs are met, loneliness is replaced with family, friends, and church, and heartbreak is healed and strong enough to trust again. Keep praying for that lost love one, that prodigal daughter, that nearly worthless husband, that wife who medicates her emptiness by spending money you don’t have…commit them to the Lord in prayer. Believe him for the impossible.

                                                  4.     God still makes everything possible—all options remain on the table! Matt. 19:26, But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.^[15]

                                                  5.     NOTHING is impossible with God! Luke 1:37, For with God nothing shall be impossible.^[16]

                                                  6.     1499 Epigram On Faith

a.      Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible, and receives the impossible.

b.     Faith is to accept the impossible, do without the indispensable, and bear the intolerable.—David Lloyd George

c.      A little faith will bring your soul to heaven; a great faith will bring heaven to your soul.—Spurgeon

d.     Faith is not believing that God can, but that God will!^[17]

E.    Trusting God involves giving Control to God (Matt. 26:36-42)

                                                  1.     The relationship between trust and control must be considered: if we trust God more then we will need to control less. Lord Jesus fully illustrates what it means to trust God and his will completely at Gethsemane. You see, control is God’s place and trusting him with control is our place. Have you surrendered to his will and plan like the Lord Jesus did?

                                                  2.     How do we do this? How do we give control to God?

a.      Acknowledge God’s perfections and constantly affirm these realities to yourself

b.     Give him space to execute his will in his timing

c.      Refuse to give way to your fears, worries, anxieties, or your need to achieve/produce certain results or outcomes

d.     Use prayer to help you manage your associated stress or the risks associated with committing the matter with the Lord. The Lord Jesus clung to the Father in prayer during his most stressful moments. His sweat was mingles with his blood as he worked through the bone-crushing pressure of Calvary in his immediate future. He consciously choose to trust and prayer was his method to cope with the associated stress!

e.      Be open to change or different outcomes than originally anticipated; acknowledge that God has the freedom to do his work. The Lord Jesus wanted the will of the Father above all else.

f.      Be willing to live or even die under divine authority and wisdom; fear, worry, and anger are inappropriate responses to God’s control. Daniel faced down hungry lions by trusting God with control. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego faced the roaring fiery furnace by trusting control with God! Clearly, the Lord Jesus trusted God’s wisdom and authority yielding his entire being to God’s control at Calvary and in the resurrection. See also Hebrews 11:35-40 for more examples of unflappable trust in God’s sovereign control.

                                                  3.     6924 Cromwell’s Secretary

Oliver Cromwell’s secretary was dispatched to the continent on some important business. He stayed one night at a seaport town, and tossed on his bed, unable to sleep.

According to an old custom, a servant slept in his room, and on this occasion slept soundly enough. The secretary at length awakened the man who asked how it was that his master could not rest.

“I am so afraid something will go wrong with the embassage [business of the envoy],” was the reply.

“Master,” said the valet, “may I ask a question or two?”

“To be sure.”

“Did God rule the world before we were born?”

“Most assuredly He did.”

“And will He rule it after we are dead?”

“Certainly He will.”

“Then, master, why not let Him rule the present, too?”

The secretary’s faith was stirred, peace was the result, and in a few minutes both he and his servant were in sound sleep.—Gleanings^[18]

F.     Trusting God involves real Obedience (Heb. 11:8-10)

                                                  1.     Obedience is marked by confidence

                                                  2.     Obedience is marked by courage

                                                  3.     Obedience is marked by commitment; Abraham cast all caution to the wind and confidently and courageously committed himself and his family to God’s plan—he believed God and his radicle obedience proved it.

                                                  4.     6925 Hudson Taylor’s Discovery

On June 25, 1865, James Hudson Taylor at thirty-three came to the great crisis of his life. The locale was Brighton beach on the south coast of England. There on a quiet Sunday morning he took a step of faith in response to a simple spiritual principle he had just discovered. He was surprised that this truth had so long eluded him. “If we are obeying the Lord, the responsibility rests with him, not with us!” Months of struggle were over, and the way ahead was clear. To obey the Scriptures and trust God to be faithful to his pledged Word was not rash.

Throwing caution and tradition to the winds, Hudson Taylor formed the China Inland Mission.—Arthur F. Glasser^[19]

CONCLUSION:

The second attitude the Apostle Paul prescribes for individual believers, Christians collectively and for entire congregations is to, “Pray without ceasing” (1Thes 5:17). Beloved, this is the expressed plan of God for us all in Christ Jesus. Yes, God commands this because it honors him, and it is wonderfully beneficial to us temporary and eternally. Your attitude matters to God because it often includes your emotions, intellect and behavior! We can foster the spiritual attitude of Trust by praying without ceasing; infusing prayer with communion, confidence, and consistency! Our prayers must not be reduces to mere rituals where we “say our prayers,” but never reach heaven. No, a thousand times NO! God invites us into sharing life with him through the sweet excellent communion and confidence of dialog with him. Why not take him up on his offer to engage him by praying without ceasing?

What about your prayer habits? Do you pray without ceasing? God fully expects us, his children, to engage him and come to him in prayer regularly. Do you enjoy communion with your heavenly Father? Do you cry out to him with confidence? Do you trust him implicitly and explicitly? Beloved, a pervasive trust in the Almighty is an essential attitude to cultivate. Please do not allow dull routine and mere rituals to rob you of a vibrant and fruitful life with our Father at the center of it!

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^[1] Manser, M. H. (2009). Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies. London: Martin Manser.

^[2] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Mt 21:21–22). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[3] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Mk 11:22–24). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[4] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., 1 Ti 2:8). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[5] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., 1 Jn 5:14–15). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[6] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Jas 1:5–7). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[7] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Pr 22:19–21). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[8] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Pr 3:5–7). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[9] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Ps 62:7–8). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[10] Torrey, R. A. (2001). The new topical text book: A scriptural text book for the use of ministers, teachers, and all Christian workers. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Bible Software.

^[11] Manser, M. H. (2009). Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies. London: Martin Manser.

^[12] Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (p. 1526). Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.

^[13] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Mt 21:21–22). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[14] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., 2 Ch 16:9). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[15] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Mt 19:26). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[16] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Lk 1:37). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[17] Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (p. 405). Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.

^[18] Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (p. 1525). Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.

^[19] Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (p. 1525). Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.