Putting Our Trust in the Lord

by:  Matt Allen

 

FILING INFORMATION:

96043

08/17/96 - Cyclone, KY

Part 3 of 7 in a Gospel Meeting Series

 

 

I.  Introduction.

 

 

A.  Tonight, we are going to talk about the all important subject of putting our trust in the Lord. 

1.  Today, the way trust is treated, has caused many of us to forget the true meaning of the word.

a.  an age where most politicians tell us anything just to get our vote.

b.  an age where honesty in a person is considered a rarity.

2.  Trust is a very important subject that is relevant to each and everyone of our lives.

a.  it has become easy to lose trust in other people, but from our lesson this evening, we want to stress the point that we should never lose our trust in the Lord.

B.  Our theme for the meeting is “Being Fit for the Kingdom.” - Luke 9:57-62

1.  The men in the text had not put their trust in the Lord to follow Him no matter what the costs.

2.  They were still putting their trust in the material things of this earth.

a.  They didn’t have the trust in the Lord that is necessary to produce patience to endure the trials of being a disciple.

b.  The men in v. 59 & 61 were not ready to place trust in the Lord because they were still trusting in the affairs of the world.

1.  Let me go bury my Father?.....

a.  a lying corpse?  Not likely....against Jewish tradition.

b.  this man simply had other worries which he thought more important than following the Lord.

2.  The man in v. 61 wasn’t ready yet either to put his trust in the Lord.

C.  We’ve already talked this week about how these men had divided affections, were unstable in their commitment to the Lord, and tonight we want to examine how a lack of trust in our Lord will cause one to be unfit for the kingdom of God.

1.  We should be willing to do whatever is necessary to make ourselves fit for the kingdom.  What a tragic predicament we will be in on the last day if we are found to be unfit for the kingdom.

a.  perhaps no more terrifying words than to hear Jesus say, Depart from me, I never knew you, you who practice lawlessness. - Mt. 7:22

D.  In this lesson, we are going to be talking about several things concerning trust.  We are going to examine why we should never lose trust in the Lord.

1.  First of all, we want to define what trust is.  What do we mean when we put our “trust” in the Lord?  What do we mean when we “trust” in something.

2.  We will look at some examples in the Scriptures of those who did not put their trust in the right things.

3.  We will look at some examples of those who put their trust in the Lord.

4.  We will close our lesson by asking the question, “Who are you putting your trust in?”

5.  Then you will have the opportunity to respond to the invitation of the gospel of Christ and put your faith and trust in the Lord.

 

 

II.  Definition of Trust.

 

 

A.  In the Bible, the word “trust” comes from a Greek word - Peitho - and means to put one’s confidence in.  Vines Expository Dict. of Greek wds - p. 1183.

B.  Webster’s Dictionary defines it:  “a firm reliance in the honesty, dependability, strength or character of someone or something.”

C.  Certainly, when we mention the word, we immediately have some kind of connotation of the word trust.  (We already have some sort of def. in our minds as to what the word means.)

1.  We can all understand what someone means when they say they are putting their trust in something.

2.  When we put our trust in Christ, we are putting our confidence in Him.  We have a firm reliance (From what the Scriptures teach) that if we do the things commanded of us, we will reap an eternal reward in Heaven.

 

 

III.  Bible Examples of Those Who Trusted NOT in the Lord.

 

 

A.  Uzziah - Trusted in himself.  2 Chr. 26:1-15

1.  Uzziah started out doing things right in the sight of God.

2.  In the passages we read that:

a.  He sought God & followed His commandments just as his father had done during his life - v. 1-4

b.  Read v. 5 - God made him prosper as long as he served him.

c.  God helped him out against the Philistines. v. 7

d.  built towers in the gate of Jerusalem, desert, and caused growth of the city of Jerusalem. v. 9-10

e.  had a great army of fighting men that went out before him and fought his battles for him.

1.  #’s of his army foretold in v. 13-14

2.  had skilled fighting men & thus became very strong.

3.  But notice something here.

a.  read v. 8 & v. 15

1.  all these things caused His fame to spread and caused him to think of himself better than he actually was.

b.  result of putting his trust in himself or his pride:  it caused his downfall.

1.  v. 16-21

c.  How was he remembered?  For all the great wonderful things he had done for Jerusalem?  For the great army that he had amassed?  for all of the other great things he did?

1.  no, not hardly.  v. 23

d.  Pride caused his downfall.

4.  This is a problem we all have to face today, too.  Pride.  What is it?  It is putting too much trust in oneself.

a.  when we place too much trust in ourselves, and forget where all things come from, we will cause ourselves some problems.

b.  Pride will cause us not to admit we are wrong - when we really are!

1.  26:19 - Why was Uzziah furious? b/c, he wasn’t receiving the glory.  He was the king, he deserved to do this!

2.  Had he not b/c furious, had he realized he was wrong - it is possible that the Lord would not have struck him.  no pride, he wouldn’t have been there in the first place!

c.  We do the same thing today by holding to an extreme point b/c we don’t want to admit we’re wrong!  Result:  much sadness, bitterness & division, that ought not to be there!

5.  Some put trust in themselves by believing/acting:

a.  like they know it all.

b.  like they have to be in on everything that goes on.

c.  like they need special treatment.

6.  The writer of Proverbs wrote in:  Prov. 21:4, 22:4; 27:2; 28:25

7.  Putting too much trust in oneself can lead to pride, which will cause one to become unfit for the kingdom of God.

B.  Gehazzi in 2 Kings 5 put his trust in Money & Material possessions.

1.  We have all heard the story of Naaman having to dip himself in the waters of the Jordan to receive relief from the leprosy that encompassed his body.

a.  He was a great man - commander of the Syrian army.  2nd only to the king.

b.  departed to Elisha with riches 2 Kings 5:5

2.  Know the story of how he became furious over having to do some “little” thing to receive relief - but he did it.

a.  comes back in v. 15...

b.  Elisha refuses the gifts - v. 16-19

3.  The story of Gehazzi in 2 Kings 5:20-24

a.  result: leprosy.  Surely this lesson taught him that gold & silver aren’t everything.

4.  Look at what greed & trust in it caused him to do:

a.  lie - twice - to Naaman and to Elisha.

b.  hide it from everyone because he had gotten it in a wrong way.

5.  People today put their trust in money and mat. possessions and do the same things as Gehazzi w/o knowing it:

a.  many don’t think it wrong to lie/cheat/steal/take advantage of just to get ahead in the world.

b. spend too much time worrying about getting more & more w/o worrying a/b spiritual things.

c.  Mt. 6:19-21

d.  Paul told Timothy in 1 Tim. 6:9-10

1.  Are you piercing yourself through with many sorrows?

6.  Putting too much trust in material possessions causes one to become unfit for the kingdom of God.

C.  The Unprofitable Servant - Matt. 25:24-30.

1.  the servant was scared to put his faith and trust in the Lord.

a.  back to v. 14-18

2.  Why did he do this?  He was afraid.

a.  c. 24-25 - was afraid to put trust in His Master.

3.  Jesus is our spiritual master, are we afraid to trust him?  Are We afraid to Grow?

a.  some are content on sitting around doing nothing, just as this man.

1.  How many of us have buried our talents in the ground?  And then have the audacity to say we are scared to use them?

b.  pers. ex - used to be sacred of serving on Lord’s Table.  Scared to lead prayer...

1.  more I did it, more comfortable I became.

c.  All of us are “afraid of doing something” for the Lord.  We don’t realize that we hide under the shadow of fear.  It prohibits us from:

1.  Pers. work.

2.  visiting - members of the church or those who need to hear the gosp.

3.  “fear” keeps us from doing many of the things we need to be doing.  it is the “horse that we ride out on” to keep from fulfilling our responsibilities.

4.  Religious world full of people today who are evangelistic.

a.  TV, radio, newspaper, T-shirts, Flyers, etc.

b.  why aren’t members of the church as evangelistic?  Too many are scared of going out and spreading the truth.  Why is this?  We have the truth!  We need to get it to the people! 

c.  The problem boils back down to not have an adequate trust in the Lord to go forth and spread the gospel.

5.  What happened to this servant?

a.  Read v. 26-30.

b.  everlasting destruction.

c.  Are you bound for ev. dest. because you don’t trust in the Lord?

 

 

IV.  Those Who Put Their Trust in the Lord.

 

 

A.  Abraham.

1.  Gen. 12:1-8

a.  Told to get up & go leave kinfolk, go to a place where he’d never been before.

2.  How did he reveal his trust?  v. 8 built altar. - the very first thing he did!

3.  Contrast this to us today.  Some not willing to come to service, muchless travel to a GM, debates, or singings.  Under the excuse, too busy, don’t feel good.

a.  We reveal through our actions whether we have trust in the Lord.  We may hide it from men, but the Lord knows if we trust in Him.

4.  One other note of trust in Abraham - Heb. 11:17-19

a.  imagine the deep trust.  We can see how devoted to the Lord Abraham was.

b.  many today reveal their lack of trust by a lack of dedication & loyalty to Him.

5.  Reward of trust?  Heb. 11:12

B.  Moses - Heb. 11:23-29

1.  Left all of the fineries of the kingdom of Egypt.

a.  could have been the next ruler.  Had anything his heart desired!

2.  Yet he chose to b/c the leader of a people whom the Egyptians held as slaves.

a.  treated them worse than dogs.  A people who were the dregs of Egypt. society.

3.  Would we have as much trust in God as Moses to sacrifice all of this?

a.  some today can’t give up the passing pleasures of sin to serve Him.

b.  some today can’t give up their time engaging in worldly affairs to do the work of His kingdom.

c.  some today can’t give back to the Lord because they worry about purchasing mat. things of the earth!

4.  Moses was reward by his trust in god by having the hope of entering the promised land, as well as having the hope of eternal life.

C.  Joshua - Josh. 24:14

1.  Put his trust in the Lord.

a.  stood up to the people.

b.  set the precedent.

2.  results of his trust and commitment to the Lord:  v. 24, 31.

D.  The Apostle Paul & 1st Cent. Christians.

1.  Perhaps no great example, in my opinion, of someone putting trust in the Lord, than Paul.

a.  He along with untold #’s of 1st. cent. Christians remained faithful through:

1.  untold stories of prejudice, predicaments & persecution.

b.  Paul comes to mind as a great example b/c he is the principle writer of the NT.

2.  Certainly, great examples of trust were seen in the unsung and unknown Christians, who were put in the mouth of lions, sawn in two, burned at the stake, stoned, & crucified.  No other act could more prove trust in the Lord than dying for His cause.

2.  Think of Paul as he lived on the earth preaching the gospel:

a.  Acts 14:5-6

b.  stoned & left for dead - Acts 14:19-20

c.  in & out of prison - Acts 16:16-25

3.  But examine the attitude of Paul, while writing from prison in Phil 1:12-14.

4.  examine his confidence in 2 Tim. 4:6-8

a.  he could face the things as confidently as he did because he put his ENTIRE trust in Jesus Christ.

b.  many of us would NEVER react to these circumstances as Paul did.

1.  Oh poor pitiful me.....to many concerned with themselves more than spreading the gospel.

5.  His reward:  the hope & confidence of reaping the eternal reward he sought after while here upon the earth.

 

 

V.  Are You Putting Your Trust in Christ?

 

 

A.  From the things presented here tonight we have a clear difference in the men listed here.  

1.  those who didn’t put their trust in the Lord but in other things:  destruction.

2.  those who put their trust in the Lord:  eternal life.

B.  The men back in Luke 9:57-62 were not putting their trust in Jesus.  Therefore they were UNFIT for the kingdom of God.

1.  Surely from their example, and the other examples we have looked at tonight we can see that it is IMPERATIVE that we put our trust in the Lord.

2.  Remember we talked earlier, how trust has been eroded in today’s society.  Should our trust ever erode in the Lord?

a.  Prov. 3:5-8

b.  The Scriptures tell us that God Cannot Lie:  Titus 1:2

c.  Jesus promised us in John 14:2-4...

3.  That is why we put our trust in God.  So we can have the hope of eternal life.

4.  to put our trust in anything else, it will NOT lead us to eternal life.

 

C.  Where are you putting your trust?

1.  Are you headed for destruction?  Are you fit for the kingdom?

2.  You have the opportunity tonight to make things right in the sight of the Lord.  Why not take advantage of this opportunity to obey the gospel this evening.

a.  all things are ready.  All you have to do is come.  Come tonight and put your trust in the Lord by:

1.  hearing, believing, repenting, confessing, and be baptized for the remission of your sins.

b.  Already a Christian but put your trust in other things, then renew that trust this evening while you have the chance.

D.  As we sing this invitation song, ask yourself, “Am I Fit for The Kingdom?”