FAVOR WITH GOD - TRUST

PART 2 - TRUST

G.I.J.N. THE ONE WHOM WE CAN TRUST WITH ALL OUR HEART -

Proverbs 3:5–6 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.”

THE TRUST OF A CHILD IS PRECIOUS - THEY TRUST IN GOD AND THOSE WHO LOVE GOD BECAUSE THEY HAVE LIMITED UNDERSTANDING - SO IT IS RATHER EASY TO HAVE A FIRM BELIEF IN THE RELIABILITY, TRUTH, ABILITY AND STRENGTH OF GOD AND US AS PARENTS SINCE WE ARE ROLE MODELS TO THEM. PROVERBS GOES ON TO TELL US WHAT CAN BE THE ENEMY OF TRUSTING IN THE LORD - WHEN WE GROW UP AND BECOME MORE “INTELLIGENT” AND START TO THINK WE KNOW BETTER OR HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE SITUATION WE FIND OURSELVES IN… AND BEGIN TO ALLOW OUR KNOWLEDGE TO DIRECT OUR PATH INSTEAD OF SEEKING THE WILL OF THE LORD.

THIS MORNING I WANT TO LOOK AT THE SECOND KEY TO THE MESSAGE SERIES I STARTED BACK IN JANUARY - FINDING FAVOR WITH GOD - AND THE 1ST KEY WAS LISTENING - AND I PUT TOGETHER AN ACROSTIC FOR THE WORD LISTEN -TO HELP US KNOW WHAT I NEED TO ACHIEVE TO BE READY TO LISTEN TO THE LORD FOR HIS DIRECTION - AS WE DESIRE TO BE IN FAVOR WITH GOD LIKE THE EXAMPLES WE HAVE IN THE FAITH CHAPTER - THINKING OF NOAH - JOSEPH AND MARY - MOSES AND ABRAHAM AND JOSEPH TO NAME A FEW. SO LISTENING TO THE LORD COULD BE LOOKED AT THIS WAY.

L - IS FOR LOVE - I NEED TO LOVE GOD SO I CAN HEAR THE VOICE OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD WHEN HE CALLS

I - IS FOR INDWELLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT - SO I CAN UNDERSTAND AND OBEY THE WORD OF THE LORD

S - IS FOR - STILL SMALL VOICE - CAN I QUIET THE CLAMOR OF A BUSY LIFE AND THE WORLD SO I CAN HEAR THE VOICE OF THE LORD

T - IS FOR THANKFUL - AM I A THANKFUL PERSON OR A COMPLAINER LIKE THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL - MISSING THE BLESSINGS OF THE LORD HE HAS SHOWERED UPON ME.

E - IS FOR ENTHUSIASTIC - ENTHUSE OR EN - THEO IS THE GREEK ROOT WORD - WHICH MEANS “IN GOD” OR GOD WITHIN - AM I EXCITED AND AMBITIOUS LIKE ZACHEAUS TO SEEK THE LORD AND BE IN HIS PRESENCE.

N - IS FOR NEW CREATURE OR NEW MAN - LIKE ZACHEAUS - HAVE I PUT OFF THE OLD MAN AND AM NOW OPERATING UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT AND HAVE PUT ON THE NEW MAN - FOLLOWING AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS AND TRUE HOLINESS WHICH GOD HAS CREATED FOR US WHICH WE READ OF IN Ephesians 4:24 “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

ONCE WE ARE LISTENING AND HEAR THE VOICE OR DIRECTION OF HIS CALLING - THEN WE NEED TO TRUST HIM - TRUST THE LORDS THAT WHERE HE IS LEADING AND DIRECTING IS TRULY IN OUR BEST INTEREST. AS I THINK OF THOSE HEROES OF FAITH - WHO FOUND FAVOR WITH GOD - WE LOOK BACK AND SEE HOW IT ALL WORKED OUT - CONSIDER THIS - WHY IS IT - THAT GOD OFTEN SENDS THE ONE HE USES THROUGH A REFINING PROCESS BEFORE HE USES THEM TO DO A GREAT WORK FOR HIS GLORY. THINK OF MOSES - SPENT 40 YEARS IN THE WILDERNESS BEFORE GOD CALLED HIM TO LEAD THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. THINK OF JOSEPH - HE WAS TAKEN FROM HIS FATHERS HOUSE - THROWN INTO A PIT - HE WAS SOLD - FALSELY ACCUSED - AND THROWN IN PRISON AND FORGOTTEN BEFORE HE BECAME A MAN OF GREAT POWER. THINK OF JESUS - WHO WAS TEMPTED BY SATAN BECAUSE SATAN KNEW HE WAS ABOUT TO DO A GREAT WORK FOR HIS FATHER. EVEN THOUGH JESUS TRUSTED HIS FATHER - BY HIS PRAYER WE KNOW THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR HIM - YET HE STILL TRUSTED - EVIDENT BY HIS WORDS - NOT MY WILL BUT THINE BE DONE.

ALSO A PART OF THE TRUSTING IN THE LORD OFTEN REQUIRES A SEASON OF WAITING FOR THOSE ARE CHOSEN BEFORE THEY ARE CALLED TO THE POSITION GOD HAS CHOSEN THEM FOR - LIKE I MENTIONED - JOSEPH WAS ONE WHO WAITED - WHILE HE WAITED GOD WAS SHAPING THE CHARACTER OF HIS SERVANT SO THAT HE WAS READY TO FULFILL HIS RESPONSIBILITY. THINK OF DAVID - WHO WAS ANOINTED AS KING YET HAD TO FLEE FROM SAUL WHO WAS TRYING TO KILL HIM BEFORE HE SAT ON THE THRONE. EVEN PAUL HAD A TIME OF WAITING AND LEARNING AFTER HIS CONVERSION. Galatians 1:17–18 “Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.”

3 THINGS THAT THE ONES GOD USES FOR HIS KINGDOM BUILDING OFTEN GO THROUGH.

TRAINING - GOD USES LIFE AND CIRCUMSTANCES TO TRAIN US FOR THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO DO HIS WILL

TESTING - THIS MAY ALSO BE A TIME OF WAITING - OR HARDSHIP TO DEVELOP OUR CHARACTER SO WE ARE PREPARED TO DO HIS WILL. James 1:3–4 “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” SO IN A TIME OF TESTING AND WAITING WE NEED TO REMAIN FAITHFUL AND NOT LET GIVE UP AND ABANDON OUR CALLING - BUT KEEP PRAYING FOR SPIRITUAL ENDURANCE TO MAINTAIN A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD SO DOUBT AND DESPAIR DOES NOT CREEP IN.

TRUST - OFTEN FACED WITH CIRCUMSTANCES THAT ONLY GOD CAN MIRACULOUSLY RESOLVE TO BUILD OUR TRUST IN HIM - TO SHOW US THAT ONLY BY FAITH AND RELIANCE ON HIM CAN WE BE USEFUL TO HIS KINGDOM. IF WE ONLY MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR OWN UNDERSTANDING THEN WE ONLY SEE LIMITATIONS AND INSURMOUNTABLE BARRIERS - BUT IF WE TRUST IN THE LORD LIKE VERSE 6 OF Proverbs 3:6 “In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.” THEN HE WILL MAKE PATH THROUGH - OVER - OR AROUND WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS IMPOSSIBLE. EVEN WHEN DOORS CLOSE WE NEED TO TRUST THAT THE LORD HAS A GREATER BLESSING AND OPPORTUNITY IN STORE FOR US TO PROMOTE HIS GREATER PLAN. INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON THE DOORS OR OPPORTUNITY THAT HAVE CLOSED - WE SHOULD RATHER BE TRUSTING IN THE LORD WHO IS GUIDING US TO SEE WHAT HIGHER CALLING HE HAS FOR US. Isaiah 55:8–9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are my ways higher than your ways, And my thoughts than your thoughts.”

LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE :

2ND KEY TO BEING IN FAVOR WITH GOD IS TRUST -AS WE THINK OF NOAH AND MARY AND JOSEPH AND THE OTHERS WHO GOD USED -WOULD HAVE I BEEN WILLING TO TRUST THE LORD WHEN HE CALLED AS THEY DID? NOW WE CAN LOOK BACK AND SEE HOW IT ALL WORKED OUT - BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE THAT ADVANTAGE- WHAT WOULD MY ANSWER HAVE BEEN - LIKE JESUS? NOT MY WILL BUT THINE BE DONE? - SO WHAT DO WE NEED TO HAVE THAT LEVEL OF TRUST TO DO WHAT GOD ASK? I HAVE AN ACROSTIC FOR TRUST - WHAT IS REQUIRED?

T - TRUTH - GOD IS TRUTH - KNOWS ALL THINGS - I LIKE TO SAYS THERE IS HIS SIDE - HER SIDE - AND THE TRUTH - SO WE TRUST IN THE LORD COMPLETELY TO BE IN HIS FAVOR BECAUSE AS - John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” ONLY WAY TO GOD THE FATHER IS COMPLETE TRUST IN HIM AS WE RECOGNIZE THAT HE IS THE AUTHOR OF TRUTH.

R - RESIGNED TO HIS WILL - WE WILL NOT TRUST GOD AND BE IN HIS FAVOR IF WE ALLOW OUR WILL AND HUMAN REASONING TO BE PART OF THE EQUATION - Psalm 37:5 “Commit thy way unto the Lord; Trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” WHEN WE PUT OUR COMPLETE TRUST IN THE LORD - HE WILL MAKE A WAY. LIKE OUR CHILDREN MEETING - WHEN THE WIDOW WOMAN TRUSTED ELISHA THE MAN OF GOD - HE MADE A WAY.

U - UNDERSTANDING - WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT GOD UNDERSTANDS AND KNOWS ALL OF OUR CIRCUMSTANCES - AS HUMANS WE OFTEN USE THAT HUMAN REASONING TO JUSTIFY OUR ACTIONS TOWARDS OTHERS -SAYING “THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT THE SITUATION”. BUT GOD KNOWS ALL THINGS - IN Jeremiah 9:23–24 “Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Neither let the mighty man glory in his might, Let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth - glory in this, That he understandeth and knoweth me, That I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: For in these things I delight, saith the Lord.” GOD UNDERSTANDS AND WANTS US TO UNDERSTAND AND KNOW HIM AS ONE WHO EXERCISES LOVING-KINDNESS AND RIGHTEOUS JUDGEMENT SO WE CAN FULLY TRUST HIM IN ALL THINGS.

S - SEEKS OUR BEST INTEREST - WHY TRUST THE LORD? - 2 Corinthians 9:8 SAYS “And God is able to make all grace )AND THE GREEK WORD USED HERE CAN ALSO BE FAVOR) - AND GOD IS ABLE TO MAKE ALL FAVOR abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:” WE CAN TRUST GOD BECAUSE HIS DESIRE IS IN OUR BEST INTEREST - IT MAY NOT BE WHAT WE THINK OR HAVE IN MIND BUT GODS WAY IS BEST - TRUST HIM.

T - TRUSTWORHINESS - GOD IS A PROMISE KEEPER - GOD NEVER BREAKS A PROMISE AND EVERYTHING HE SAYS HE WILL DO - PAUL MAKES REFERENCE TO THIS IN Hebrews 6:17–19 READ IN THE NIV “Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:” I LIKE THE LAST PART - GREATLY ENCOURAGED TO TRUST GOD BECAUSE HE CAN NOT LIE AND HAS OFFERED US THE HOPE AS AN ANCHOR FOR THE SOUL. WHO ELSE WOULD WE WANT TO PUT OUR FAITH IN OTHER THAN OUR GREAT GOD WHO WE READ OF IN ISAIAH 55:6-13 YOU MAY TURN TO THESE VERSES - ISAIAH 55. THIS CHAPTER IS TITLED - INVITATION TO THE THIRSTY - SO IF YOU ARE SEEKING WHO TO TRUST - OR ARE SEEKING A DEEPER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD- LOOK AT THE BLESSINGS AND PROMISES IN THESE VERSES AND KNOW THAT NOW IS THE TIME TO PUT OUR TRUST IN THE LORD -

Isa 55:6 ¶ Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

WE SEE THE LOVE AND MERCY OF GOD IF WE TURN TO HIM AND ALLOW HIM TO GUIDE US - THE LORD’S WILL AND DESIGN FOR MANKIND IS SO MUCH HIGHER THAN WHAT WE CAN COMPREHEND.

TWO PROMISES THAT STOOD OUT TO ME

V12 THOSE WHO TRUST IN THE LORD WILL BE FULL OF JOY AND PEACE.

V13 WE CAN TRUST IN THE LORD - BECAUSE HIS PROMISES ARE EVERLASTING AND WILL NOT BE CUT OFF. IT IS A COVENANT HE WILL NOT BREAK - LIKE WE SAW IN HEBREWS 6 - IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD TO LIE SO WE HAVE NO REASON TO DOUBT HIS PROMISES - THEREFORE LET US TRUST IN HIM IN ALL THINGS.

IN CLOSING - I TRUST YOUR DESIRE IS LIKE MINE - TO BE FOUND IN THE FAVOR OF GOD SO HE CAN USE ME FOR HIS KINGDOM. SO AS WE LISTEN FOR HIS VOICE AND DIRECTION MAY WE THEN TRUST HIM TO LEAD AND GUIDE OUR HEARTS AND MINDS BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AND AS WE CONTINUE TO TRUST THE LORD IN ALL THINGS WHETHER PHYSICAL OR SPIRITUAL MAY WE FIND FULFILLMENT IN LIVING OUT INTENTIONAL CHRISTIAN LIVING AND EXPERIENCE THE THE JOY AND PEACE THE LORD WANTS US TO HAVE IN OUR HEARTS.

ACROSTIC OF WHAT DESCRIBES ONE WHO IS IN FAVOR WITH GOD.

F- IS FOR FAITHFUL TO THE LORD

A - AVAILABLE AND ALIGNED WITH GODS WILL

V - VICTORIOUS CHRISTIAN LIVING

O - OBEDIENT TO THE WORD OF GOD

R - REPENTANT AND A NEW CREATION UNDER GODS CONTROL.

JESUS IS OUR PERFECT EXAMPLE AND HE WAS FOUND IN FAVOR WITH GOD AND MAN.

ACROSTIC OF ONE WHO IS IN FAVOR WITH MAN

F- FORGIVING OF OTHERS - NOT HOLDING GRUDGES

A- ATTENTIVE TO THE NEEDS OF OTHERS

V - VIBRANT AND ENTHUSIASTIC FOR THE KINGDOM

O - OPEN AN HONEST HEART BEFORE OTHERS.

R - RESPECTFUL OF OTHERS.

SO MAY WE FACE THE FUTURE ENCOURAGED TO LISTEN AND TRUST IN THE LORD - SO WE MAY GROW IN FAVOR WITH GOD AND MAN - SO THE LORD MAY BE GLORIFIED AS WE LIVE FOR JESUS - EVERY DAY - ALL DAY - PURPOSED IN OUR HEARTS TO LIVE AS DISCIPLES OF CHRIST.

KNEEL FOR PRAYER - THANK YOU FOR YOU WORD AND THE EXAMPLES OF THOSE WHO HAVE FOUND FAVOR WITH YOU AND LIVED THEIR LIVES ACCORDING TO YOUR WILL AND PLAN FOR THEIR LIVES . LORD HELP US TO PUT OUR TRUST IN YOU AND EVEN WHEN IT DON'T MAKE SENSE OR SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE - HELP US TO LEAN ON YOU AS THE ONE WHO’S THOUGHTS ARE SO MUCH HIGHER THAN WE CAN IMAGINE. LORD HELP US NOT TO BE WEARY - FEARFUL OR DISCOURAGED AS WE GO THROUGH TIMES OF TRAINING - TESTING OR WAITING - BUT BE READY TO BE OF SERVICE FOR THE WORK YOU HAVE CALLED US TO DO. LORD MAY YOU BLESS EACH ONE HERE AND AS THEY FORTH INTO YOUR YOUR MISSION FIELD MAY THEY BE A WITNESS AND A TESTIMONY OF YOUR GREAT LOVE. THAT WHATEVER IS DONE IS TO YOUR HONOR AND GLORY. AMEN .

AS I THOUGHT ABOUT TRUST + WHO SHALL I TRUST - THOUGHT OF THIS QUOTE - REMEMBER, AMATEURS BUILT THE ARK AND PROFESSIONALS BUILT THE TITANIC - SO WHO DO YOU WANT TO TRUST THE PROFESSIONAL OR THE LORD?

Psalm 118:8 “It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in man.”

I TRUST YOU THAT AS YOU GO FROM HERE YOU HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGED TO “TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL THINE HEART - AND LEAN NOT ON THINE OWN UNDERSTANDING”.

THANK EACH ONE FOR COMING OUT FOR EACH ONE WHO HAD PART AND FOR BEING WILLING TO BE USED FOR THE WORK OF THE CHURCH - MAY GOD BLESS YOU FOR IT.

Numbers 6:24–26 “The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.” IN JESUS NAME AMEN.