SOME TRUST IN CHARIOTS: THE POTENTIAL OF THE SEED…
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
Psalm 20:7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
Psalm 20:7 (MSG) See those people polishing their chariots, and those others grooming their horses? But we're making garlands for GOD our God.
I START WITH A BIG JUICY APPLE IN MY HAND… I ASK HOW MANY SEEDS ARE IN THIS APPLE? Then I cut the apple open and expose the seeds. HOW MANY SEEDS ARE IN THIS APPLE? Normally there are 4 to 6 seeds… NOW LET US TALK ABOUT POTENTIAL --- I TAKE ONE SEED AND I ASK THE QUESTION: HOW MANY APPLES ARE IN THIS SEED? Let us consider the power of the seed… It will take 3 to 4 years or longer to produce apples. In the life span of a healthy apple tree hundreds, many thousands of apples can be produced. The apple tree can possibly out live the hand that planted the tree. Count all the seeds in all the apples harvested…
I HAD BEEN IN THE MINISTRY OVER 44 YEARS… WHEN A QUESTION KEPT POPPING IN MY MIND AND IN MY SPIRIT…
DO YOU TRUST ME? I knew how PETER must have felt when JESUS ASKED PETER: “DO YOU LOVE ME?” Well Lord, why do you keep asking me: YOU KNOW I DO? DO I TRUST YOU? JESUS YOU KNOW I TRUST YOU… 44 YEARS IN THE PASTORAL MINISTRY --- I HAVE TO TRUST YOU --- GOD, I HAVE TO TRUST YOU FOR SURVIVAL. The question just kept reoccurring in my heart: DO YOU TRUST ME?
WE FACE AN IMPERATIVE COMMAND: HAVE FAITH IN GOD… TRUST HIS PLAN…
I hear people say TODAY OUR SOCIETY HAS NO FAITH IN ANYTHING! This absolutely is not the truth. When you push the button in an elevator, you trust it. When you turn the key in your car… you trust the battery, the gas, the oil to start the engine… You trust your tires when you are going 70+ mph down the road… You trust your refrigerator and the freezer… You trust your deodorant… You trust that light switch to turn on the light… SEEMS WE HAVE THE GREAT ABILITY TO HAVE FAITH IN EVERYTHING… SEEMS WE TRUST THE COMPUTER, TV AND ALEXIS… WHY NOT TRUST GOD BY FAITH?
Mark 11:22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
WHY DO WE NEED TO TRUST?
The dollar bill used to say: SILVER CERTIFICATE, PAY TO THE BEARER UPON DEMAND… Now we have FEDERAL RESERVE NOTE… the dollar bill is a piece of paper… its value depends upon the confidence and faith of the people… Trust is essential to feel comfortable and safe.
**TRUST: security, to rely on, expect, to commit; to believe one is honest and fair, a charge, a duty, ENTRUSTED, firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength; assured reliance on the character or ability; CONFIDENCE, HOPE, DEPENDENCE ON, faith, expectation,
**FAITH: comes from a strong belief system, faith can lead to trust, duty, loyalty, COMPLETE TRUST.
TRUST THE SEEDS?
I lived in JELLICO TENNESSEE. The ladies of the town had a contest. Whoever had the prettiest landscaped yard would win $50.00. We lived in the church parsonage and my dad was determined we should win this contest to represent the church well. We borrowed a large ROTOTILLER. There were long hedges up and down the property. My older brother and I worked many hours tilling in front of the property. Then dad measured and made perfect circles in the front yard. There was an old man named Isom Sharp told my dad about this beautiful bright red flowers. His guarantee was we would win with the SCARLET SAGE. He gave us a large bag of SCARLET SAGE SEEDS… We planted, we watered, we weeded … many hours of work and sweat was invested. After several weeks THE SCARLET SAGE started coming up… we had all the confidence in the world that soon our yard would be the envy of the town with all the bright red flowers.
One day our neighbor Banner Todd was walking by to admire the young SCARLET SAGE. Mr. Todd informed us the plants were not SCARLET SAGE. After all our toil? The green plants were MUSTARD PLANTS… We had thousands of mustard plants. We were the laughing stock of the WOMEN’S FLOWER CLUB. We gave mustard away to anyone that would come. Mr. Sharp accidently gave us the wrong bag of seeds. WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS SCARLET SAGE --- WAS MUSTARD… Our yard was a mustard yard… we had confidence the seed was SCARLET SAGE.
I GUESS OUR LESSON WAS YOU MUST TRUST THE SEED, BUT YOU NEED TO PLANT THE RIGHT SEEDS IF YOU WANT THE RIGHT HARVEST!
GOD IS A REWARDER… WHAT ABOUT THE “IF’S”. TRUST ME TO BE FAITHFUL… DILIGENTLY SEEK AND BE FAITHFUL… THERE IS A PAY DAY AT THE END OF THE ROAD…
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Hebrews 11:6 (MSG) It's impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him.
Mark 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
Mark 9:23 (MSG) Jesus said, "If? There are no 'ifs' among believers. Anything can happen."
NOW FAITH: YESTERDAY IS GONE… TOMORROW MAY NEVER BE --- WE NEED NOW FAITH TO TRUST…
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
REAL TRUST IS BOTH A CHOICE AND A FEELING BEYOND EMOTIONS… Would I trust you to watch my children? Would I trust you to drive my car?
FIX IT MENTALITY? TRUST ME? TRUST ME? LET ME DO IT? THE HEART IN THE BIBLE IS YOUR WILL, THE CONTROL CENTER OF DAILY LIFE. THE SEAT OF AFFECTION.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5 (MSG) Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own.
My oldest son had a little hard rubber wheel bicycle we bought used from our neighbor. He loved his little bike with training wheels and he rode it for hours. He washed it daily and kept it shining. My son was riding his little bike and enjoying himself.
I asked my son if he would give our poor neighbor girl his bicycle. He said: No, Dad, I could never give my bike away. I explained: Son, Carrie has no bike and her dad is not working. TRUST ME SON, I WANT YOU TO GIVE CARRIE YOUR BIKE. He explained to me: Dad, I love this bike. I have always taken good care of it. I love to ride my bike.
I again said: SON, TRUST ME, GIVE CARRIE YOUR BIKE. I was teaching school and that day I stopped at the mall and purchased a brand new bike. It was orange, faded to yellow and bright red. It had pneumatic tires… (air in the inner tubes.) It was fancy. I knew this new bike was state of the art. I had it hidden in the back of the station wagon. My son was riding his little bike and enjoying himself. I again asked my son: TRUST ME, CARRIE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOUR LITTLE BICYCLE. Carrie lived about a half of a mile from our house. My son rode his bike for the last time to Carrie’s house. Going down the road my son was sad, but HE TRUSTED ME. He knocked on Carrie’s door, we asked Carrie to come out and my son give her his little bicycle. With a tear in his eyes we walked away. My son looked back and Carrie was riding the bike around and around their car port.
We walked back home. My son never understood but he trusted me. We walked up our drive way and I opened the hatchback on the wagon and pulled the brand new colorful bicycle out. Now he had a beautiful large bike that rode easier and pedaled so much easier. ONLY AFTER HIS SEEING HIS NEW BIKE DID HE UNDERSTAND WHY I ASKED HIM TO TRUST ME AND GIVE HIS BIKE AWAY.
I never really understood this story for many years. My son was now a teenager driving his car when he asked me: Dad do you remember when YOU ASKED ME TO TRUST YOU? TRUST YOU AND GIVE MY BELOVED BICYCLE AWAY? He said I had no idea that there was a brand new fancy bike waiting for me…
40 years later I understand this story better than ever… FOR MANY TIMES THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS ASKED ME: DO YOU TRUST GOD? DO YOU REALLY TRUST MY DIVINE PLAN? TO BE REAL HONEST WITH YOU: NO, I DO NOT ALWAYS UNDERSTAND WHAT GOD IS DOING… SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO LET GO OF WHAT IS IN OUR HAND TO RECEIVE THE BETTER OF THE DIVINE PLAN. We need to TRUST GOD!
We are on a journey… there are times this road does not make a lot of sense to me. GOD KNOWS WHERE YOU HAVE BEEN? GOD KNOWS WHERE YOU ARE? GOD KNOWS THE PLANS HE HAS FOR YOU… ONLY GOD CAN SEE THE POTENTIAL OF THE SEED…
OPEN YOUR EYES: LIFE IS NOT “HAVE IT YOUR WAY, BROTHER.” THERE IS A PATH… WE HAVE TO TRUST THE LEADERSHIP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Matthew 15:14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
WHY TRUST GOD? HE HAS MADE US PROMISES… GOD WILL FIGHT FOR US IF WE WILL LIVE FOR HIM. MANY SAY THEY WILL DIE FOR JESUS, BUT THEY REFUSE TO LIVE FOR HIM? TRUST THE BATTLE IS NOT YOURS… DON’T STEAL GOD’S WORK!
2 Chronicles 20:15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.
Exodus 14:14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
I CAN TRUST GOD BECAUSE HE IS EMMANUEL --- GOD IS WITH US… HE WILL NEVER LEAVE US OR FORSAKE US…
Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
WHY TRUST GOD? THE POTENTIAL OF THE SEED? WHAT IS TRUTH? IS THERE ABSOLUTE TRUTH? WHAT IS LIFE ABOUT? IS WHAT YOU SAY AND THINK VALID? WE SEEM TO TRUST EVERYTHING BUT GOD… DOUBT AND FEAR CAUSES US TO LOSE OUR FOCUS. WE ALLOW DARKNESS TO CAUSE US TO SEE HOW HARD AND DIFFICULT THE SEASONS WE ARE IN…
Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psalm 119:105 (MSG) By your words I can see where I'm going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path.
LIGHT IS NOT ABOUT CANDLES OR LAMPS… CANDLES ARE BUT VEHICLES TO REVEAL THE LIGHT… THE POWER OF THE LIGHT WILL ALWAYS GROW THE SEED. THE SEED MUST DIE… TO ALLOW THE LIGHT TO RULE… TRUST THE LIGHT. I TRUST THE POWER OF THE RESURRECTION!
John 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
WHAT HAPPENS IF WE STAY THE SAME WAY? THE SAME ATTITUDES? BLESSED IS HE WHO EXPECTS NOTHING … HE SHALL RECEIVE EXACTLY WHAT HE EXPECTED… DOWN AND UP? UP AND DOWN? SIT HERE AND ROT?
James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
I CAN TRUST GOD BECAUSE HE KNOWS ME… GOD SO LOVED ME HE GAVE… GOD KNOWS MY NAME…
Isaiah 43:1 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
Isaiah 45:4 For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.
WHY CAN I TRUST GOD? GOD HAS A PLAN AND PURPOSE FOR US, DON’T WASTE THE OPPORTUNITY?
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
DO YOU KNOW GOD WILL DEFEND YOU? DON’T STEAL REVENGE AND PAY BACK IN ANGER…TRUST THAT GOD WILL DEFEND YOU…GOD KNOWS YOUR CASE… GOD KNOWS WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH.
Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
1 Peter 3:9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing
I TRUST THE POWER OF REGENERATION TO CHANGE LIVES, FAMILIES AND CHURCHES. HOW DID I GET HERE? WILL I STAY HERE? WHAT MUST I DO TO GET OVER THERE? GOD KNOWS WHERE YOU ARE… GOD UNDERSTANDS HOW YOU GOT WHERE YOU ARE… GOD CAN DELIVER YOU!
Mark 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
Mark 9:23 (MSG) Jesus said, "If? There are no 'ifs' among believers. Anything can happen."
Mark 9:23 (NLT2) “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”
CONCLUSION: I CAN TRUST AND HAVE FAITH IN GOD IN EVERY DARK NIGHT, IN ALL THE TERRIBLE STORMS… GOD’S DIVINE PLAN TOOK CARE OF ADAM AND EVE… ABRAHAM AND SARAH, JONAH IN THE SEA, 3 HEBREW KIDS IN THE FIRE, DANIEL IN THE LIONS’ DEN, MOSES, JOSHUA AND CALEB, ELIJAH FROM AHAB AND JEZEBEL, AND YOU THINK HE CAN’T HANDLE YOUR PROBLEMS…
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Proverbs 3:5 (MSG) Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own.
6 Listen for GOD's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT2) Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
WHILE GOD HAS GOOD PLANS FOR YOU… HIS PLANS ARE CONDITIONAL… GOD’S PLANS KNOW WHAT IS BEST… BUT YOU HAVE A KEY TO UNLOCK AND TO OPEN THE DOOR. God is working for you… TRUST HIM.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28 (MSG) That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
THE GREAT I AM IDENTIFIED HIMSELF IN THE BURNING BUSH HAS PROVEN HE IS DEPENDABLE AND TRUSTWORTHY. GRAB GOD’S UNSEEN HANDS AND TRUST. THE ONLY CERTAIN THING WE KNOW IS UNCERTAINTY. I TRUST THE PLAN THAT THE GOOD NEWS IS THE BAD NEWS IS NOT THE TRUTH. We have a loving shepherd.
Let us close with this thought… quit trusting temporal solutions… TRUST GOD…
Psalm 20:7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
Matthew 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
