Faith understands that God not only cares for our needs but that He answers to meet those needs. Faith places a trust in God to fulfill His word, to extend His grace, to move on our behalf. Faith is simply placing our trust in the word of Jesus. Trust sounds like a simple things but it is any but simple. Trust requires us to allow God control of our lives. Trust means that we
Common Challenges to trust
Burden
29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Luke 12:29-31
Independence
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the LORD. Isaiah 31:1
Uncertainty
6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. James 1:6-8
Mistrust
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6
Sin
But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. Galatians 3:22
Distress
In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me? Psalm 56:4
What does it mean to trust?
Webster: Basic dependence on someone or something, Belief that something will happen or someone will act is a prescribed way
Trust is found in our unswerving belief that the God of Heaven will indeed work on our behalf to bring His perfect will for our lives into being
Biblical Examples of Trust
Moses trusted God to deliver the Israelites at the Red Sea.
Joseph trusted God while he languished in the Pharaoh’s prison.
Hezekiah trusted God to extend his life
Jehoshaphat trusted God to deliver Jerusalem from their enemies
Jonah trusted God to answer his prayer in the belly of the whale.
Peter and John trusted God as they stood before the Sanhedrin and gave their defense of the Christian faith.
1 When Jesus had finished saying all this in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2 There a centurion's servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, "This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue." 6 So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: "Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.8 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." 9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel."10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well. Luke 7:1-10
Unusual nature of this story
1. Roman centurion is concerned about the servant
2. Roman centurion has a good relationship with Jewish leaders
3. Roman centurion approaches Jesus
4. Roman centurion has great faith
Trusting faith starts with a spirit of dependence
Dependence means that we understand our need
The centurion was in a place in life where his power, his position and all that made him a great success meant nothing. There are times in life when God brings us to the point that we need to solely depend on Him. We face problems that are beyond our ability to solve, we suffer with pain we cannot overcome, and we struggle with peace we cannot seem to find.
We cannot depend on God when we believe that we are self sufficient
There is no way that we can fully place our trust in Christ until we admit that we don’t have everything together. It is not until we admit that not all things are within our ability, that we can embrace Christ’s ability. We don’t have all the answers, we don’t have all that we need. When we depend on ourselves, we will go no further than our human ability.
Dependence means that we move to act
Acknowledge our need – Understand the needs that we have
Admit our need – Take the need before Jesus
Act to see the need met – Move beyond the prayer
Trusting faith seeks the assistance of Jesus
Seeking means that we humble ourselves
We will never truly seek Jesus until we are ready to humble ourselves. Why does God desire for His people to humble themselves? The word humble means to be in submission, to live in a state of surrender. When we humble ourselves, we are literally saying to God, you are in control of my life. To be humble means to be brought low.
One of the greatest revivals the world has ever seen began with humbling of the heart. The Welsh Revival began with people praying a simple but effective prayer: Bend me O Lord. When we humble ourselves before God we are allowing Him to bend us to His will.
Humility opens us to His guidance (Psalm 25:9)
Humility allows us to know His grace (Proverbs 3:34)
Humility gives us a gentle heart (Matthew 11:29)
Humility leads us to true greatness (Matthew 23:12)
Seeking means that we place our hope in Christ
Trusting faith sets a focus on Jesus
Focus means to be centered on Christ
Our lives are pulled in so many different directions that we often fail to remember the things that matter most. It is not until we face a crisis that faith moves to front and center of our lives. Living with a faith that trusts means that our focus is squarely on Jesus. The moment that we put Jesus in the center of our life, things begin to come together. Sometimes it takes a difficult situation for us to remember where we need to focus. When life is a blur, we need an even greater focus on the Word of Jesus.
Focus means to know Christ’s power
Notice the attitude of the centurion: But say the word, and my servant will be healed. We need to get some of this attitude in the church. We need to get focused on Christ and trust in His word to fulfill our needs. What would happen in the life of the church if we just trusted more in the Word of Jesus? What would happen in our own lives if we just trusted Jesus more?
Focus means to know Christ’s provision
Trusting faith stirs great power
Stirring amazes the heart of Jesus
Stirring moves the heart of Jesus
Stirring experiences the power of Jesus
