Last week we talked about the difference between belief and trust. We need to do an evaluation of our life to see where we need to trust Jesus more. When things are good we forget to trust in Jesus but when things get bad we tend to question God . Asking where He is, why is He not helping. Are we trusting Him in all areas of our lives.
I. Why should we trust Jesus?
Father vs Jesus... they are on the same team.... God is one... Father is God...Jesus is God...Holy Spirit is God . They are one.
1. He has walked in our shoes. Hebrews 4:14-16 (ESV) "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." He was despised, rejected, ridiculed, mocked, abandoned, he experienced loss, tortured, he died. Everything you could go through, he went through. Jesus knows what we are going through. No one can understand like Jesus.
2. He kept His word. Jesus predicted the destruction of the temple. He told of the coming Holy Spirit. He told about the resurrection. John 2:18-22 (ESV) "So the Jews said to him, 'What sign do you show us for doing these things?' Jesus answered them, 'Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.' The Jews then said, 'It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?' But he was speaking about the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken." Matt. 27:62-64 (ESV) "The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, 'Sir, we remember how that imposter said while he was still alive, 'After three days I will rise.' Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, 'He has risen from the dead,' and the last fraud will be worse than the first." Jesus had/has credibility, a track record, he never lied. Jesus is a TRUTH teller.
3. He proved His love Romans 5:8 (ESV) "-but God show his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." John 15:13 (ESV) "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." He proved His love for us when he taught us to love one another. He calls us friends.
4. He really cares. He is not a Deist God, He is actively involved in our lives. Luke 12:6-7 (ESV) "Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows." 1 Peter 5:7 (ESV) "casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you."
II How do we trust Jesus
Belief can be easily changed or altered, but trust involves aligning actions with the belief, creating a more consistent and reliable relationship.
James 2:19 (ESV) "You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe-and shudder!"
"Oh for grace to trust him more."
1.Trust Jesus for Salvation
Acts 4:11-12 (ESV) "This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
Jesus to be at the center of what you believe. If you have never trusted in Jesus it is not too late...it is NEVER too late for you...the thief on the cross, Samson, David, Sarah
2. Follow through in baptism
Acts 2:41 (ESV) "So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls."
3. Obey in sharing the word
Romans 10:13-15 (ESV) "For 'everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!'"
Evangelism is hard. You may not be a natural born evangelist, but all are called to share the word. We don't know in the moment what God will do, how He will you use you and you will be blessed.
4. Submit to the call
God has a plan to use you. We are to follow through with His call. Listen for God.
5. Pray, Read, Believe, Do
John 14:15 (ESV) "If you love me, you will keep my commandments."
John 14:21 (ESV) "Whoever has my commandments and keeps them he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him."
Romans 12:2 (ESV) "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
III. Why Trust in Jesus?
1. Eternal Life Eventually something is going to get us. No one is getting out of here alive. There is something greater that awaits us.
2 Cor.5:6-8 (ESV) "So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord."
Phil. 1:23 (ESV) "I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better."
2. Abundant Life
John 10:10 (ESV) "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."
John 11:26 (ESV) "and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
3. Rest
Matt. 11:28 (ESV) "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
4. Direction
Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
5. All good fruit
Gal. 5:22-23 (ESV) "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
IV What about when disaster strikes This is a sin sick world. But God is not far away. We can trust God . Sometimes God uses our circumstances to discipline us...Jonah, the Babylonians. Sometimes God our circumstances to test us...Abraham. Sometimes God uses our circumstances to teach us. Sometimes God uses our circumstances to put us in a different place.... Joseph and his brothers. But make no mistake in all of it God loves his people.
Romans 8:18 (ESV) "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us."
Romans 8:28 (ESV) "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."
Romans 8:35 (ESV) "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?"
Romans 8:37-39 (ESV) "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
No matter what you are going through is going to compare to what we will experience when we are with Him.
This is not a far off God. This Jesus is worth trusting.
Isaiah 41:10 (ESV) "fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
The song "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" was written out of tragedy. The writers husband was killed in a accident where he was trying to save a child from drowning in the ocean. She went on to become a missionary.
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