Per Kerry's Request, this is the outline of what I talked about at Expresso!
Outline:
A) Definition of Trust: From the Illustrated Bible Dictionary- To put one’s confidence in a person or thing. God’s name and His Word are worthy of our trust. Christ warned that humans may deceive and be unworthy of trust, but we may place ultimate trust and confidence in Him.
a. Jill Briscoe: “God is trustworthy whether we trust Him or not. But He would have us trust him so we don’t have to worry.”
b. Ray Steadman: Adventuring through the Bible The hardest struggle we have is the same struggle that the Israelites had – the struggle to believe and trust that God is in control. He knows what He’s doing and what He’s talking about, and He doesn’t make mistakes. Again and again, we Christians get into trouble because we believe we know better than God, we are closer to the situation than God, and we had better handle the situation ourselves because we can’t trust God to come through for us when we need Him. Proverbs puts it very strongly but accurately: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death” (Prov. 14: 12). Ray Steadman also says: We continually place our trust in the things around us. We accept by faith that the chair we sit in will support us or that the roof over our heads will not cave in on us. Faith is the automatic response of the human spirit. The problem is that we so easily place our faith in things that let us down. We place our faith in people or systems or false gods and philosophies that lead us to grief or even to destruction.
c. Introduce “Home in your hearts:
i. Ephesians 16-18 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is
ii. Talk: Just think about that verse, (reread vs 17). Wouldn’t you like Christ to make a Home in your heart?
1. Christ will guide you
2. He will give you strength
3. It will help you understand Him better and His love
4. A home in your heart, will cause awareness of your sins
5. I think, with Christ placed in my heart, I stay in constant prayer, I feel more confident
B) Touchpoints: What does it mean to Trust God?
a. It means knowing that God is trustworthy and then actually trusting Him above all else.
i. Plain and simple: God IS trustworthy and Trust Him!
ii. Bible example: Psalm 33: 20-22 We depend on the Lord alone to save us. Only he can help us, protecting us like a shield, in him our hearts rejoice, for we are trusting in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone.
b. Obeying His commands even when we don’t understand
i. I get not understanding why He wants you to do something, but He is the only one who knows what is best for you!
ii. He Knows better than you do!
iii. Bible Vs. Example.: Acts 20: 22-24- 22 And now I am going to Jerusalem, drawn there irresistibly by the Holy Spirit., not knowing what awaits me, 23 except that the Holy Spirit has told me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. 24 But my life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned to me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about God’s wonderful kindness and love.
1. Verse about the apostle, Paul
2. Background on Paul: In Paul’s day, Christianity often brought a person persecution, isolation from family, and, in many cases, poverty. There were few tangible benefits from being a Christian in that society.
3. Reread vs. 23-24, Paul suffered, because he knew his life meant nothing without doing what God called him to do.
c. His Word is true and brings happiness.
d. Trusting God means depending on Christ alone for salvation
e. Trusting Christ for salvation means ceasing to trust in our own efforts to be righteous.
i. Verse that works for this one and last one: Galatians 2: 17- 21, 17 But what if we seek to be made right with God through faith in Christ and then find out that we are still sinners? Has Christ led us into sin? Of Course not! 18 Rather, I make myself guilty if I rebuild the old system I already tore down. 19 For when I tried to keep the law, I realized I could never earn God’s approval. So I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ. 20 I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loves me and gave himself for me. 21 I am not one of those who treats the grace of God as meaningless. For if we could be saved by keeping the law, then there was no need for Christ to die.
ii. Notice the Verse 20, (reread)Christ lives in me… that’s Christ having a Home in your Heart.
f. Trust brings Joy!
i. Very true, have you ever been in a bad relationship?
ii. Example of ex, I was in a very untrusting relationship with a boy in high school and the first part of college… he didn’t give me much to trust, and I surely did not trust him. How horrible it is to have a relationship with someone and you cannot trust them. It’s almost painful! Very stressful!
iii. You can trust God and trusting God brings you joy! How comforting.
C) Character Makeover
a. I’ve been reading Character Makeover by Katie Brazelton, the eight character traits she discusses are what all Christians should follow, these traits, I believe come from Trust in God:
b. I’ll talk about these traits in more depth in future Expresso’s, but in the meantime, here’s a bit of an overview.
i. Humility:
1. James 4:6 But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say,
1.“God opposes the proud but favors the humble.”
2. Matthew 6:1 “Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven.
3. Acts 20:19 I have done the Lord’s work humbly and with many tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews.
a. Another example of the humble servant Paul
4. Ephesians 4: 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.
ii. Confidence:
1. Psalms 27: 1 The Lord is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid?
2. I John 3: 1 See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.
iii. Courage:
1. Deuteronomy 20:1 “When you go out to fight your enemies and you face horses and chariots and an army greater than your own, do not be afraid. The Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you!
2. Isaiah 41:10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
3. Joshua 1:9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
iv. Self Control:
1. Psalms 141: 3 Take control of what I say, O Lord,
1.and guard my lips.
v. Contentment:
1. Isaiah 26: 3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
2. Psalm 23: 1 The Lord is my shepherd, I have everything I need.
3. Psalm 23: 4 Even when I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.
vi. Generosity:
1. Matthew 25: 35- 36 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
vii. Patience:
1. Psalms 40:1 I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.
2. Habakkuk 2:3 This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.
3. Galatians 5: 22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
4. Romans 8: 24- 25 We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope* for it. 25 But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)
viii. Perseverance:
1. Romans 5: 3-5 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
2. Hebrews 3: 14 For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.
3. James 1: 2-4 Dear brothers and sisters,* when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
D) Biblical Examples of Trust:
a. David: Throughout the Old Testament are stories of David and his trust in God. David was described as a man after God’s own heart.
i. In 1 Samuel 17, we hear of David defeating the giant Goliath. Several times in the rest of 1 Samuel, we hear of Saul being jealous of David and trying to kill him, David had the chance to retaliate several times, but didn’t because he trusted the Lord’s plan for him.
ii. In 2 Samuel, we hear about David as King and the many battles he fought.
iii. Pg 194 in Adventuring through the Bible- Explains 1 Chronicles- put out word obedience
iv. 1 Chronicles 29:10-20 10 Then David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly: “O Lord, the God of our ancestor Israel, may you be praised forever and ever! 11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things. 12 Riches and honor come from you along, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and it is at your discretion that people are made great and given strength. 13 O our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name! 14 But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give only what you have already given us! 15 We are here for only a moment, visitors and strangers in the land as our ancestors were before us. Our days on earth are like a shadow, gone so soon without a trace.
1. What an amazing example of Trust, David is, he is humble, obedient. I strongly suggest reading about David.
v. PSALM 56 A psalm of David, regarding the time the Philistines seized him in Gath. O God, have mercy on me, for people are hounding me. My foes attack me all day long. 2 I am constantly hounded by those who slander me, and many are boldly attacking me. 3 But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. 4 I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?
vi. PSALM 33 4 For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does.
vii. Psalms 33: 18-21 But the Lord watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love. 19 He rescues them from death and keeps them alive in times of famine. 20 We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. 21 In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.
b. Mary:
i. Luke 1: 35- 38 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. 36 What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she’s now in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God.*” 38 Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.
1. Mary was a willing and faithful servant. Such strength and obedience
2. Reread: Verse 38- I find that amazing, very obedient, very trusting. She knew God’s plans were the best for her.
c. Jabez:
i. 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 There was a man named Jabez who was more honorable than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez* because his birth had been so painful. 10 He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!” And God granted him his request.
ii. That takes guts to pray something like that, but Jabez’s prayer shows supreme trust in God and those who pray like Jabez can and will be very blessed by God.
E) Close: I know that’s a lot to take in, a lot of verses. Please read the Bible and look for God’s examples of Trust. Let in soak in.
a. God has spoken volumes to me about Trust
i. Speaking today- scared, not like me.
ii. Felt peace and strength when surrendering it to Him!
b. Trust is hard and is unnatural to some, to most, but God is so very trustworthy and He wants your trust.
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