Importance of trust

Grounds for trust in God

Grounds for trust in God

“In Dog We Trust”

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Preaching Themes: Faith, Money, Wealth

The $500 rug in the lobby of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office in Florida was supposed to say, “In God We Trust,” but the rug manufacturer mistyped the word “God,” rearranging the letters so that the rug said, “In Dog We Trust.” It took a couple of months for someone to discover the typo, but then the rug was quickly removed and later auctioned off; the proceeds went to a nonprofit that serves abandoned and injured dogs.

Having made my share of typos, I understand how mistakes are made. Misspelling a slogan is one thing, but misplacing one’s trust is another. Yet every day many people place their trust in money instead of God, even though the currency itself declares “In God We Trust.”

—Jim L. Wilson

Wilson, J. L. (2015). “In Dog We Trust.” In E. Ritzema (Ed.), 300 Illustrations for Preachers. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

Wilson, J. L. (2015). “In Dog We Trust.” In E. Ritzema (Ed.), 300 Illustrations for Preachers. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

Wilson, J. L. (2015). “In Dog We Trust.” In E. Ritzema (Ed.), 300 Illustrations for Preachers. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

“In Dog We Trust”

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Isaiah 26:3 NKJV

You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.

Preaching Themes: Faith, Money, Wealth

The $500 rug in the lobby of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office in Florida was supposed to say, “In God We Trust,” but the rug manufacturer mistyped the word “God,” rearranging the letters so that the rug said, “In Dog We Trust.” It took a couple of months for someone to discover the typo, but then the rug was quickly removed and later auctioned off; the proceeds went to a nonprofit that serves abandoned and injured dogs.

Having made my share of typos, I understand how mistakes are made. Misspelling a slogan is one thing, but misplacing one’s trust is another. Yet every day many people place their trust in money instead of God, even though the currency itself declares “In God We Trust.”

—Jim L. Wilson

Wilson, J. L. (2015). “In Dog We Trust.” In E. Ritzema (Ed.), 300 Illustrations for Preachers. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

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. While Scripture insists that believers should be able to trust one another, it also provides examples of false or misplaced trust.

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

143 Christ Overcomes Fear

People fear many things. Here are seven well-known fears: (1) The past, (2) The future, (3) Mistakes, (4) People, (5) Sickness, (6) Loneliness, and (7) Death.

1. THE MASTER’S PRAYER—vv. 45–46

2. THE MASTER’S POWER—vv. 47–50

3. THE MASTER’S PRESENCE—vv. 51–52

4. THE MASTER’S PERSONALITY—vv. 53–56

Faith and fear just do not mix! If you have too much fear, it will destroy your faith. If you have much faith, it will destroy your fears. Allow Christ to fill your heart with faith, then all your fears will disappear.

Pentz, C. M. (1972). 150 Expository Sermon Outlines (pp. 78–79). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.

81 Trusting in the Lord

Many feel this psalm refers to Christ and His redemptive work upon the cross. The writer of Hebrews quotes a portion of this psalm in 10:5–9.

1. DELIVERANCE—vv. 1–5

2. DELIGHT—vv. 6–10

3. DESIRE—vv. 11–16

Though God may test His people that does not mean He is scolding, or punishing them. It is through times of testings, problems, and troubles that we learn more about God. Put your trust in Him, because He never makes mistakes—.

Pentz, C. M. (1972). 150 Expository Sermon Outlines (p. 49). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.

Look On Us

“And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.”

Look on us and see that:

1. Our Faith Exceeds Our Finance

2. Our Trust Exceeds Our Trials

3. Our Prudence Exceeds Our Poverty

Mayshack, J. L. (1979). 175 Sermon Outlines (p. 41). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.

Trust in the Lord

“Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.”

1. When We Trust God We Seek to Do Good

2. When We Trust God We Commit Our Lives to Him

3. When We Trust God We Delight in Him

4. When We Trust God We Exercise a Patient Spirit

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Mayshack, J. L. (1979). 175 Sermon Outlines (p. 26). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.

“Believing Does Not Come by Trying”

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Preaching Themes: Faith

Believing does not come by trying. If a person were to make a statement of something that happened this day, I should not tell him that I would try to believe him. If I believed in the truthfulness of the man who told the incident to me and said that he saw it, I should accept the statement at once. If I did not think him a true man, I should, of course, disbelieve him; but there would be no trying in the matter. Now, when God declares that there is salvation in Christ Jesus, I must either believe Him at once, or make Him a liar.

Charles Spurgeon

Ritzema, E. (Ed.). (2012). 300 Quotations for Preachers. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

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Preaching Themes: Faith

Believing does not come by trying. If a person were to make a statement of something that happened this day, I should not tell him that I would try to believe him. If I believed in the truthfulness of the man who told the incident to me and said that he saw it, I should accept the statement at once. If I did not think him a true man, I should, of course, disbelieve him; but there would be no trying in the matter. Now, when God declares that there is salvation in Christ Jesus, I must either believe Him at once, or make Him a liar.

Charles Spurgeon

Ritzema, E. (Ed.). (2012). 300 Quotations for Preachers. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

“Worldly Ease Is a Great Foe to Faith”

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Preaching Themes: Comfort, Suffering, Faith

Worldly ease is a great foe to faith; it loosens the joints of holy valor, and snaps the sinews of sacred courage. The balloon never rises until the cords are cut: affliction does this sharp service for believing souls. While the wheat sleeps comfortably in the husk it is useless to man, it must be threshed out of its resting-place before its value can be known. Trial plucks the arrow of faith from the repose of the quiver, and shoots it against the foe.

Ritzema, E. (Ed.). (2012). 300 Quotations for Preachers. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

Trust in God’s power and strength

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Trust in God’s unfailing love

Psalm 13:5 NKJV

But I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.

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Trust in God’s salvation

Isaiah 12:2 NKJV

Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’ ”

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Trust nurtured by God’s revealed truth

Proverbs 22:19–21 NKJV

So that your trust may be in the Lord; I have instructed you today, even you. Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge, That I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth, That you may answer words of truth To those who send to you?

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Expressions of trust in God

Praise and worship

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Perseverance in faith

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Holding on to God’s promise

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Jesus Christ’s trust in the Father

Luke 23:46 NKJV

And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” Having said this, He breathed His last.

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King Hezekiah’s trust in God

2 Kings 18:5–7 NKJV

He trusted in the Lord God of Israel, so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor who were before him. For he held fast to the Lord; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the Lord had commanded Moses. The Lord was with him; he prospered wherever he went. And he rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him.

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Further examples of trust in God

Ruth; the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh; Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego; Daniel; the meek and humble; members of the NT churches

The results of trusting in God

Peace

Isaiah 26:3–4 NKJV

You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, For in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength.

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Security

Psalm 37:3 NKJV

Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.

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Protection from danger

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Freedom from fear

Psalm 27:1 NKJV

The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?

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Prosperity

In the OT material prosperity is often seen as a sign of the spiritual wealth that belongs to those who trust God; ;

Strength

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Physical life

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Trust in people

God’s servants entrusted with responsibility

1 Corinthians 4:1–2 NKJV

Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

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Trust at home and work

A good wife gives her husband confidence; Employees should be trustworthy.

Examples of trusting others

Genesis 39:4 NKJV

So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority.

See also ; Moses to be trusted by Israel; the gatekeepers appointed by David and Samuel; Nehemiah is trusted by Artaxerxes to return to Jerusalem; Daniel given responsibility; Paul’s confidence in Epaphroditus; Timothy to find others to be entrusted to teach the gospel

Continued trust in those who fail

God re-appoints Jonah despite earlier disobedience.

See also Jesus Christ reinstates Peter after his denial; Barnabas gives John Mark a second chance.