Trusting In God; Doing Your Part

February 8, 2015

Morning Worship

Text: Psalm 46:1-11

Subject: Kingdom Life

Title: Trusting in God – Doing Your Part

This Thursday evening at youth we are having movie night and are showing the first Left Behind movie with Kirk Cameron. I played the movie as I was preparing for this week’s sermon and it really made me think about some things.

1. As your pastor have I taught you well enough and prepared you for the difficult times that are going to come – not the Tribulation – but the “birth pains” leading up to the Tribulation.

2. Have you placed your faith in the Lord and are you trusting Him to get you through the difficult times that you will face in this life?

3. Have we committed ourselves to being a full gospel church, believing the whole word of God and acting in the power and authority of the Holy Spirit that has been given to us?

If you haven’t seen the movie it is the story of the events leading up to the rapture of the church and the fulfillment of prophecy that follows. I don’t want to share too much – I don’t want to spoil it for our young people who will be here on Thursday. But my point is this – as self - proclaimed believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, are we willing to be all He has called us to be?

Matthew 21:28-31 (NKJV)

28 "But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, 'Son, go, work today in my vineyard.'

29 He answered and said, 'I will not,' but afterward he regretted it and went.

30 Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, 'I go, sir,' but he did not go.

31 Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said to Him, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.

James 1:22 (NKJV)

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

There is a lost and dying world outside these doors that is waiting to hear a clear presentation of the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ and we are called to be those messengers.

In our passage today I want to show you that God has given us a promise, He has shown us the source, and He has given an invitation.

The words that I speak today are for you.

Psalm 46:1-11 (NKJV)

1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah

4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.

5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.

6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted.

7 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has made desolations in the earth.

9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire.

10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

11 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

I believe this is God’s word…

I believe it is for me…

I accept it as mine…

I appropriate it to my life today…

You can be everything God has called you to be…

I. The Promise… 1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Refuge - a condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble; a place of shelter, protection, or safety. Isn’t it easy for a Christian to say that God is my refuge? You know, the funny thing is that when times get difficult even non-Christians tend to run to God – looking for help in their time of trouble. But we can say that not only is God our refuge, He also is our strength. Here is a problem that we as Christians run into and we don’t even see it as a problem. We run to God in times of trouble and we cry out to the Lord and say, “God, help us!” and then we sit back and expect Him to do everything. But the Holy Spirit, through David wrote, God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Now there is one word in verse 1 that we tend to ignore and that is the word “help”. God is our help right here and right now – in the present… but if we say He is a very present help doesn’t that imply that in order for Him to help we have to be doing something? Oh God, deliver me from this tobacco habit… it requires that you make the effort. Father, provide for my needs… isn’t it your responsibility to participate then in the spiritual principle of sowing and reaping? God, I need help against those who are attacking me… Matthew 5:44 (NIV2011)