Trusting in the Lord (cont...)

Psalm 125:1-2 (AMP)

Those who trust in, lean on, and confidently hope in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides and stands fast forever. ² As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about His people from this time forth and forever.

If we trusted God, we would be so relaxed that we can let go and allow Him to hold us with His arms. If you trust in the Lord God Almighty, lean on Him and have your confidence remains in God, you will be like Mt. Zion, that cannot be shaken.

In the times we are in, there are so many Christians that are being shaken. These are the ones who get moved easily around with what they hear, about churches, economy rising etc. If your trust is in God, no matter what you hear or see, you will hold on to God, knowing that you cannot be shaken. These are people who are surrounded by God, and whatever comes your way finds His surrounding.

   

Deuteronomy 33:27

The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms;

No matter what you hear, fear not. God is your refuge.

John 15:4-8

"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me."I am the vine, you are the branches. ⁵ He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. ⁶ "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. ⁷ "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. ⁸ "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

If you trust in God, you will abide forever, on Christ Jesus, because He is the only Rock that cannot be shaken. John 15:4-8 tells you what happens as you are abiding in Christ. As you are abiding in Christ, you are becoming fruitful. While you are there, there is so much of the word of God that is cooking in your spirit, making you a fruitful child. In so doing, there are so many people that will know that you are a disciple of Christ. It is just not about trusting and abiding in God; it’s about remaining unmoved, and bearing much fruit.

Those who do not abide in Christ are cut off.

Jesus is a Rock in the weary land, a shelter in the time of storm.

In the midst of such storm and wilderness (dry physically, financially, relationships, job search, business etc.), He remains a shelter in a time of storm. I have tried him and I know He is true. Those who trust in Jesus will find Him to be a reliable shelter in a time of storm.

Genesis 28:10-12

Now Jacob went out from Beersheba and went toward Haran. ¹¹ So he came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep. ¹² Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.

Jesus had the dream when he was resting his head on the rock, a symbolism of Jesus. You will see great things when you lay your head on Jesus, your Rock and resting place. You will see open heavens and be walking under them, as long as you are resting on Jesus. 

God defends our trust in Him, and this causes the fourth man to appear. The trust we have in Him will attract Him to the fire. When the fourth man came, the fire had no option but to go off for them on their behalf (Daniel 3). The men who came to throw Shadrach, Misheck and Abednego got burnt when they were just about to throw those who trusted in God into the fire. When you trust in God, those who set traps for you will fall into the same traps. God will avenge for you. You will get out of the fire without even smelling of smoke.

Because Daniel trusted in God, the lions could not touch him. (Daniel 6). The same people who threw Daniel into the pit, were thrown into the same pit and were torn into pieces by the lions even before they landed. In those moments when you are feeling like the world is turning upside down, you will remain form.

If you are being moved by what is around you, check your trust in God.

When you remain founded on Jesus, the world reads you. The world does not read the Bible; they read and watch you. The Lord will be glorified when you trust in God. When people fail to trust in God, they deny other people an opportunity of seeing God glorified. When you trust in the Lord, many people, believers and non-believers will know who your God is. My testimony must be seen when I am here, on earth. We are called forth to show His excellence.

Daniel 3:26-30

Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here." Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire. ²⁷ And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king's counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.

²⁸ Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! ²⁹ "Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this." ³⁰ Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.

There comes a time when you do not have to tell people anything, when people will testify on your behalf, like King Nebuchadnezzar did. They will have no choice but to see and testify of the Lord’s doing in our life. When you trust in God, you make people trust in Him too. Trust in God till you get out of the fire with a promotion. Do not deny the world the opportunity of seeing your God glorified; trust in Him.  

Daniel 6:26-28

I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, and steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, And His dominion shall endure to the end. ²⁷ He delivers and rescues, And He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. ²⁸ So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Daniel trusted in God and prospered. The same king who had said no one else must be worshiped but him, stood and testified that there will be no other dominion but the Lord God Almighty. People will be offended by the God you trust in, but He will defend your cause.

What is it that would make Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego hold on to faith as they saw the lions and fire ahead of them and look like they are mad? In the worldly interpretation, they see us going all the way and holding on to God, as others are taking shortcuts. What would make us hold on to God, while everyone else is taking shortcuts?

1.      If you know your God.

Daniel 11:32.

… but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.

 If you do not know God, you cannot trust Him. If you have problems of trusting God, you do not know Him.

2 Timothy 1:12 

For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. {believed: or, trusted}

Do you know your God? If you do not know Him, you cannot trust Him.

2.            If you have  a testimony of what He has done for you.

If you have a testimony of what He has done, you will try nothing else, knowing He is the only one who can do it for you.

3.            If you have the promise in His word

When you know what God's word says about you, you will stand on the word, and watch it being fulfilled. 

Jeremiah 1:12

Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word.”

Numbers 23:19

“God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

Trust in the Lord. 

Amen. 

-- Pastor Mary Mugo. 

09/03/14 Sunday service sermon, Teaching Transformation Ministry. 

Pastor Mary Mugo is the Administrative Pastor at Teaching Transformation Ministry. We are located along the Thika-Ruai Flyover Junction (at the Thika Rd./ Bypass intersection), Next to Eastgate Restaurant.