PUTTING OUR TRUST IN GOD.

Text: Jeremiah 17:5-7, Romans 3:5.

Trust is the firm belief in the reliability of someone. It is believing that the person who is trusted will do what is expected. To trust is to rely and to depend on someone. It is to have or to put confidence in someone or something.

God is the creator and the ruler of the universe; the author and the finisher of our faith; the one who rules the affairs of all individuals; the one who knows our beginning and our ending. He formed us and knitted us together in our mother's womb. Ps 139:13. Putting our trust in God is to rely and depend absolutely/totally on the one that created us, and rules over our lives and controls our destiny. Pro 16:1-4. God is sovereign, supreme and is all in all. The Bible enjoins us to put our trust in the Lord.

Ps 118:8, "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man or in princes."
Ps 146:3, "Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in who there is no help."
Pr 3:5, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding."

Brethren, do not put your trust in man but God. We already have contract of covenant with God through the blood of Jesus Christ as He had with our father Abraham. All we need do is to believe and have faith in the Word and put our trust in Him. His Word will never go void and He is faithful to His word. In suffering, affliction and during storms of life, remain steadfast, look unto Him and put your trust in Him.

He is unlimited in power and unrivalled in majesty. He is in control of all circumstances. He is the Lord of host and a mighty warrior. He is always fighting battles for us. He will always provide for us and meet our needs for his name is Jehovah Jireh. He is our healer for he heals all our diseases for his name is Jehovah Rapha. Ps 103:3. He is a God of miracles, a God of signs and wonders. He reverses the otherwise irreversible. He will bless us if we put our trust in Him. .Jer 17:7, "But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him."

Brethren, you will surely be blessed as you put your trust in Him. Let us consider some characters who put their trust in the Lord in the Bible.

Abraham - Gen 22.
Abraham’s trust in God made him set out to the region of Mount Moriah in order to sacrifice Isaac. Abraham was tested by God and he passed the test. Gen 22:2, "Then God said, 'Take your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain that I will show you." Abraham obeyed. On the way to sacrifice, Isaac asked his father but where is the lamb for the burnt offering? Abraham answered; “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering my son”. And God really provided the ram and Abraham named the place ‘The LORD Will Provide’. Abraham demonstrated his absolute trust in God with faith and obedience.

David – 1 Sam17.
David had so much trust and confidence in God that facing giant Goliath would be a victory. David said in v37, "The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine." In Ps 25:1-2 he said, "In you, Lord my God I put my trust, I trust in you, do not let me be put to shame nor let my enemies triumph over me." Despite his small stature and discouragement from his senior brother Eliab, he faced giant Goliath in the name of the Lord Almighty whom he put his confidence and trust in. Without a sword, David triumphed over the Philistine and killed Goliath with a sling and stone.

Gideon – Judges 6:33-7:1-23.
Gideon’s absolute trust in God made him obey God's instruction and reduced the thirty two thousand men he prepared for war against the Midianites to three hundred men. He faced the vast army of Midian with three hundred men carrying trumpets with empty jars in their hands with touches instead of arms and ammunition. God gave the Midianites into his hands and he won the battle.

Jehoshaphat - 2 Chron 20.
King Jehoshaphat put his trust totally in God when he had to face the three nations that rose against him in Judah. He said in v9, "If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgement or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress and you will hear us and save us." He had so much confidence and trust in God that He would save them. He said in v12, "For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do but our eyes are on you." He did not lean on his own understanding. In obedience to God's instruction and absolute trust in Him, he led the army with songs, praises and thanksgiving. And the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir who invaded Judah and they were defeated. God really fought for Jehoshaphat as He proclaimed that the battle was not his. (v 15).

Brethren, you are admonished to put your trust in God with faith and obedience. The above characters demonstrated these qualities and it was well with them. Whatever you are trusting God for, remain steadfast and do not waver. For those who put their trust in Him are never put to shame and they are like Mount Zion which can not be shaken. Ps 125:1.

Prayer.
Dear Father, grant unto me the grace to put my trust absolutely in you in all situations and circumstances and not to waver in Jesus' name. Amen.