Trust in the Lord
John 14:1-4
Introduction
Do you ever feel like your lives are just spinning out of control?
Is there ever a feeling that things just keep compounding themselves and they never really let up?
This morning, I’d like to take a look at the need for comfort, the promise of comfort, and the desire that each of us should have to seek comfort from the Lord.
I feel that looking back over the past 2-3 months our church has gone through several uneasy times, personal struggles, and today we should be encouraged to take stock in the knowledge that God is still in control – and continue with the expectation that Jesus is still promised to return one day.
Because we have the faithfulness of the Lord promised to us, our job is simply to obey and move forward in service.
Pray
Point 1 – Trust is the key (v1)
Let me ask you a really honest question – Do you have a problem with trust?
Have people let you down before and therefore you have an issue trusting?
Jesus proclaims in this one verse to “trust in God”.
Our first loyalty is to the Father. He is the creator, He is the author of our lives, and it is to Him that we even owe our thanks for salvation to.
It is important that no matter what goes wrong in our lives, no matter how bad things may seem or no matter how difficult a challenge becomes, trusting in the Lord is our first responsibility in all situations.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
The word “direct” means to make smooth or to guide – and yes, it even means to correct when we need it.
How does God guide our paths? Through the study of His Word!
If you are not in it, you are not being guided!
2 Tim 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
It is imperative that we understand everything that happens in our lives is directly under God’s control. There is no surprise that we will go through, and there is no shock that the Lord will see or be caught off guard on.
Then, Jesus tells us to trust in Him!
Many Christians today walk through life holding up the banner of Jesus Christ as their Savior, but they don’t really mean it.
Remember the caution referring too many calling Jesus “Lord, Lord” (Matt 7:21-23) but not being allowed into the Kingdom? I believe this is where this warning comes from.
It is because we fail to trust in Jesus.
We proclaim Him as Lord and Savior of our lives, but in the grand scheme of things we live lives that are just short of God’s plan for us.
Do not get caught up in the ways and nonsense of this world. Do not allow yourself to be deceived and believe falsely that because you have Salvation … we can then hop into the driver’s seat and control our paths and destiny.
When we say that we trust in the Lord, we need to trust Him in all things.
God is not to be our co-pilot -- he is to be the one in charge of the vessel!!
Jesus knew that we struggled in this area, and this is why He said it.
We deal with things on a regular basis in this life – things that cause us to struggle, or fret, or worry, or even sin … but Jesus said that we need to continue to trust in His Father and in Him, and this is the first principle of climbing over the mountain of despair.
When we trust, it is because we believe.
Simple lesson here: If you do not live it, you do not believe it. (Expound …)
Trusting in the Lord is the KEY!
Second here is that Jesus is not a liar!
Point 2 – Jesus is not a liar (v2-4)
We know these verses; we say them all the time. We even have merchandise in our homes with this same saying on them – and one day we look forward to the mansion (or room) of our own.
But, do you believe that it exists? Have you made your reservations?
Jesus has promised to go and prepare a place for you and come back.
Do you believe it? Does your life reflect that belief to others around you?
You see, there is a simple application here in these couple of verses. If you do not know the way that you need to go, how can you get there?
Jesus has promised not only to prepare a place for you, but He would have to come back and show us how to get there – else we would be lost trying to find it!
Therefore, if He has said to us that He will come back, our job is to follow what He has given us to do and be faithful to Him in all things!
As Christians, this is where we succeed, and where we fail most often. Because Jesus has said that He will come back, we must be prepared to continue looking up and continue to focus on His provision and guidance for our lives.
Read John 14:5-7 …
You see, the rest of this life is details. (Expound on Philip questioning and not listening to Jesus ...)
We cannot focus solely on the details forever else we run the risk of getting lost in them!
If Jesus is the center – if Jesus is the focus – how can we not simply follow?
Conclusion
In this life, we are promised to have many troubles and many trials – we are even guaranteed to be hated because the world hated
Invite singers
Let me ask you this morning … Do you trust in the Lord for all things?
Do you believe in the Lord for all things?
With every eye closed …if you are not trusting in the Lord this morning, I want to encourage you to settle that issue right now. I want to encourage you to come forward and talk to me and let’s get the issue of trust between you and God out in the open, and settled once and for all.
He is calling you, and waiting for YOU to respond.
Pray
