"God's In Your Corner"
February 19, 2006

The Old Testament Lesson: Psalm 41

To encourage people to truly trust in God

I.  What does it really mean to say “I Trust in God?”
   A. Trust in God is a phrase that is bandied about too easily.
        1. If you’ve got some money, I want you to take it out of wallet/pocket.
            a. Really do this! Doesn’t matter if it’s change or Paper
            b. don’t worry… it’s not a new fund raising ploy.
            c. If you don’t have any, get close to someone who does.
        2. Our coins and bills all have a debated phrase on them.
            a. Do you know what that is?
            b. They all say “In God we trust!”
        3. The debate has been that this is a breach of the separation clause.
            a. The secularists want it removed.
            b. I’m about ready to agree, but not for the same reason.
            c. I want it removed because it is basically a lie!
        4. Is it really true that we trust in God?
            a. From what I have seen, people trust in almost everything but
            b. People trust in Money, Education, Jobs, and Health. (new gods?)
            c. When those things go, they are left treading water in stormy seas!
   B. Just a few minutes ago, we received new members.
        1. They are asked the question we all answered: Do you Trust in God?
            a. That is a basic component of being a Christian.
            b. It is impossible to live as Jesus taught without it.
        2. What really is trust? When we make that claim, what are we saying?
   C. Trust is the emotional component that goes with our belief.
        1. Beliefs generally tend to be about God.
            a. I believe that God is loving.
            b. I believe that God is the creator of the World.
            c. I believe that God sent Jesus to save the world.
        2. But notice the word “that”
            a. There may be a distance between what I believe and how I act.
            b. Many people believe that seat belts are good for safety.
            c. Unfortunately, they don’t take the time to buckle up!
        3. In same way, people can believe all sorts of neat things about God.
            a. But they can fail to act upon those beliefs.
            b. They can Believe God is in control, but Trust in their portfolio!
        4. But when we trust, we are acting upon all those beliefs.
            a. To Trust in God is to make God the bedrock of your life.
            b. Material things may come an go, but that doesn’t shake you.
            c. The reason for that is your confidence is in God!

II.  In times of difficulty, we absolutely must Trust in God.
   A. Psalm 41 is part of a series of Psalms that deal with trust.
        1. There are wonderful phrases that describe how the Psalmists feel
            a. My Hope is in You!
            b. You deliver the weak from those too strong for them.
            c. I believe I shall see goodness of the Lord in the land of the living
            d. Happy are those who make the Lord their trust.
            e. Happy are those who consider the poor; the Lord delivers them in the day of trouble.
        2. But those wonderful statements of trust come with a price: Suffering.
        3. Everyone of them in written in a time when the writer faced trouble.
            a. Some faced a time of illness.
            b. Some faced financial hardship.
            c. Some faced persecution from their enemies…some friends!
        4. Trust is a response called out of faith by difficulty!
   B. When we are doing well, it is difficult to trust in God.
        1. Oh, we might say we trust God…but do we really?
        2. If we are financially stable, we do not need to look to God.
            a. We have enough to meet our needs.
            b. We feel confident…there isn’t really a reason to turn to God.
        3. When we are physically healthy, we don’t need trust.
            a. We feel great!  We feel strong!
            b. Illness is a distant concern, we may never face it.
            c. We feel confident…there isn’t really a reason to turn to God.
        4. When we are surrounded by friends and family, we feel good.
            a. People are kind and loving toward us.
            b. They tell us how wonderful we are...how beautiful…how talented
            c. We feel confident…there isn’t really a reason to turn to God.
        5. But when these basic sources of our identity are threatened
            a. That’s when we need strength.
            b. That’s when we start casting about for a life preserver!
   C. In that kind of time, our faith holds the same answer for us as it did for the Psalmists.
        1. There is one who has promised to always be on our side.
        2. This is the God proclaimed in these psalms.
        3. It is God in your corner!
            a. And not just any God!
            b. One Hebrew name Adonai Tsabaoth (Lord of Hosts)
            c. The implication: God is the one who fights for us!

III.  How do you know whether or not you are truly trusting?
   A. Now the question is “Do you really trust in God?”
        1. How can you judge the real foundation of your life?
        2. What are the signs of your trust.
        3. There have to be indications that you are founded on the Solid Rock
   B. You can look at your behavior and see the signs.
        1. Some of those indications might tell you, that you aren’t
            a. What do you spend your time thinking about?
            b. If you spend all your time thinking about you next vacation, your bankroll or your job, your foundation might need work.
            c. If you find your faith shaken by the physical trials we all face, your foundation might need work!
            d. If you have a decision to make and turn everywhere but prayer, your foundation might need work!
        2. If you are really trusting in God, ask those questions in confidence.
            a. You will find yourself to be thinking about the marvels of God.
            b. You are a person who looks in the Scripture to discover guidance
            c. When little troubles come you way, you turn immediately to God.
            d. In fact, you don’t wait for troubles; Your face is set toward Him.
        3. Those are the signs of someone who is constantly trusting!
   C. Friends, The time to be sure of this is right now!
        1. When the day of testing comes, it’s too late to learn how to trust.
        2. Often, we are too overwhelmed to do much of anything.
        3. I have seen unprepared people sink under the weight that life piles on.

      I’ll be very honest with you.  This has been a tough couple weeks for me.  The congregational meeting was difficult to say the least.  Additionally, there have been letters that hurt and have shaken my confidence and caused me to ask myself questions.  My life is wrapped about my ministry.  Anything that effects my ministry is bound to cause some pain.  But, through this time of trail, I have become certain that my life is supported by my faith which allows me to trust in God!  I believe that God is in control and I put my trust in that reality.  The Bible declares that God’s will shall be done and I put my trust in that reality!  The Spirit promises to strengthen and to guide us and I put my trust in that reality! Jesus promised to be with us always and I put my trust in that reality!  With the Psalmist, I am ready to say: Happy are those who consider the weak; the Lord delivers them in the day of trouble!  And I want each of you to join me in God’s place of refuge.

     The only real place to put your trust is in God.  Everything else will eventually fail you.  Everyone else will eventually fail you.  God alone is the one in whom we trust!