Trust In The Lord

Trust in the Lord

May 14, 2017

Wagoner High School Baccalaureate

First Assembly of God, Wagoner, OK

Rick Boyne

Message Point: Trust in the Lord and serve Him!

Focus Passage: Proverbs 3:5-6

Introduction: It has been a few decades since I sat where you sit; on the cusp of beginning a new chapter in your life. I couldn’t wait to shake the dust off my shoes and begin classes at OU. I had always been a pretty good kid. I obeyed my parents, made good grades, and even went to church. I was planning a little different route for my life in college. I was going to drink a little, have sex, and definitely quit going to church. I had plans to live it up a little, outside the watchful eyes of my parents. My goal was to be a doctor so that I could make bucketloads of money. In fact, money was my sole motivation for studying. My goal was to please me. But God had other plans. As a result, the greatest thing that happened to me while at the University of Oklahoma was that I learned how to walk with God and trust Him for direction.

I. Trust in the Lord with all your heart

a. God is trustworthy. He never changes; He is not capricious.

b. It is better to take refuge in the LORD Than to trust in man. (Psalms 118:8 NASB)

II. Do not lean on your own understanding

a. The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel. (Proverbs 12:15)

b. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever. (Psalms 111:10 NASB)

c. Listen to counsel and accept discipline, That you may be wise the rest of your days. Many plans are in a man's heart, But the counsel of the LORD will stand. (Proverbs 19:20-21 NASB)

d. Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals." (1 Corinthians 15:33 NASB)

e. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil. (Proverbs 3:7 NASB)

f. The world says to trust your heart: "The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9 NASB)

III. Acknowledge the Lord in all your ways

a. What does acknowledge mean?

i. declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of.

ii. report the truth of.

iii. express recognition of the presence or existence of, or acquaintance with.

iv. express obligation, thanks, or gratitude for.

v. accept someone to be what is claimed or accept his power and authority.

vi. accept as legally binding and valid.

b. When we acknowledge the Lord, we, more or less, do all of those things listed above.

c. You can flunk out of college, or end up in jail, or worse, if you have the wrong life objective. If you get in with the wrong crowd, say, “the party crowd,” whether you go to college or not, and certainly after college, their objective is to have fun. They simply do not have your best interest in mind. God ALWAYS has your best interest in mind.

Application/Invitation: The best way to “trust in the Lord” and “acknowledge the Lord” is to partake of the offer He has made through Jesus Christ.

• "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16 NASB)

• Romans 3:23- “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”

• Romans 6:23- “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

• Romans 5:8 - “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”

• Romans 10:9-10- “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”

• Romans 10:13-”Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

You can trust Jesus right now and change your whole life; and your eternity. There isn’t a magic prayer, or a special “thing” you have to do. The Bible says words like “believe,” “trust,” “accept.” As you begin this new and exciting chapter in your life, why not begin it with a new relationship with God through Jesus Christ!