TRUST IN GOD ALONE
Date Teaching Given: January 4, 2024
God is working on your behalf.
Even when it doesn’t look like things are changing, put your trust in God alone because:
He will do what He says; (Isa. 38:7; 55:11; Heb. 6:18) and
He gives you strength, (Isa. 40:31; Neh. 8:10, Eph. 6:10 AMPC, Phil 4:13 AMPC) victory, and everything you need. (Isa. 40:29-31)
When you have a firm, focused foundation on the Father, you won’t be moved because of Whose you are and who you are in Christ. (John 17:13-17; Rom. 8:17; 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 4:4-7; Eph. 1:5; 1 John 3:1-2, 4:4)
Remember:
How big God is;
He is in control; (Ps. 22:28; Prov. 19:21; Jer. 10:23; Dan. 4:17, 2:21-22; Col. 1:17)
He is the Most High God; (Ps. 97; Rev. 22:13)
He is the Judge over all the Earth; (Gen. 18:25; Ps. 75:7)
He is the Author and finisher of your faith; (Heb. 12:2) and
you have a Covenant with Him. (Gen. 15—entire chapter, 17—entire chapter; Heb. 9:11-28; Luke 22:20)
You have a choice. As a child of God, you are to choose:
faith over fear;
to believe God;
to fight the good fight of faith; (1 Tim. 6:12) and
to hold on and not let go.
1 Peter 5:6-8
You are to humble yourself before God and trust in Him.
Even in the midst of trials, give your cares to God because His hands are big enough, and He wins. (Num. 11:23; 1 Peter 5:7)
Find out what God has to say about it and ask Him what you should do.
God is:
your advocate; (John 14:26; 1 John 2:1)
your comforter;
your deliverer; (2 Sam. 22:2-3; Isa. 12:2-3)
your fortress; (Ps. 18:2)
the God of the impossible; (Ps. 147:5; Matt. 19:26; Luke 1:37)
the Great I AM; (Ex. 3:14)
your healer; (Ps. 147:3; 1 Peter 2:24)
your light; (Ps. 18:28, 27:1; John 8:12; 1 John 1:5-10)
your protector; (Ps. 23:1)
your provider; (Gen. 22:14)
your Savior; (1 Tim. 4:10)
your strong tower; (Prov. 18:10)
your victory; (Zeph. 3:17; 1 Cor. 15:57)
your answer; (Isa. 65:24; Matt. 7:7) and
the answer to every problem in the world. (Ps. 25:4; Matt. 7:7)
The enemy wants to destroy everything that God has already done for you, just like he destroyed Adam and Eve in the Garden. (Gen. 3)
Satan twists and misrepresents God’s Word, (Matt. 4:6; Luke 8:12; James 2:19) which is why you need to be firmly planted in the Word of God.
Plant the Word as a seed deeply into your heart. (Matt. 13:18-23; Mark 4:2-9; Luke 8:4-8)
Tend to and care for those seeds by spending more time in the Word of God so:
those seeds have deep roots that cannot easily be plucked out;
you are not moved by doubt, worry, stress, or fear during difficult situations; and
you recognize your Shepherd’s voice. (John 10:27)
God’s Word is:
spirit and life; (John 6:63)
truth; (Ps. 119:160; John 8:32) and
eternal. (Ps. 119:89; Isa. 40:8)
Micah 7:8
When you fall, get back up. It doesn’t matter how many times you fall. It matters more that you get back up every time.
Go to God and repent. (1 John 1:7-9)
Don’t let the enemy convince you that God is holding something against you.
The enemy wants to keep you in shame and guilt. The enemy wants you to be overwhelmed and distracted. The enemy wants your focus anywhere but on God, so you become discouraged and stop trusting in, leaning on, and relying on God.
God says to resist the devil (James 4:7) and fight the good fight of faith. (1 Tim 6:12)
1 Tim. 6:12
To fight the good fight of faith, you need to spend time continually caring for the seeds that have been planted by:
reading God’s Word;
praising and worshiping Him; (Ps. 100:4-5) and
spending time in prayer.
Those things build up your faith and bring your focus back to God.
The Word of God is your greatest weapon. (Eph. 6:17; Heb. 4:12) It sets you free and destroys the enemy. (Ps. 37:17; Col. 2:15)
Prayer and praise are weapons to win battles.
There is a war of good versus evil, life versus death, truth versus lies. And whether you want to be in a battle or not, you’re in one.
There are two options:
fight; or
don’t fight.
Abstaining from the fight guarantees defeat; fighting promises victory. (2 Cor. 2:14)
When you start fighting back, don’t go by what things look like (2 Cor. 5:7) because that is when the enemy throws everything at you.
The enemy tries to make things look bad so you become overwhelmed and frustrated, surrender to defeat, and don’t receive your victory.
Defeat isn’t for you, so never surrender because the enemy is already defeated. (Deut. 28:7; Isa. 41:12; Col. 2:15; Rev. 1:18)
It’s always darkest before dawn, but you can be sure dawn is coming.
God is your victory, and His victory is overwhelmingly good.
There are two reports: God’s and the enemy’s. Which report do you believe?
God’s good report brings truth, freedom, and victory. (Rom. 8:31-39)
The enemy’s evil report brings deception and destruction.
There are many examples in the Bible of people believing God’s report or the enemy’s report. In whose footsteps will you follow?
Joshua and Caleb wanting to take the Promised Land, or the other spies who thought they couldn’t? (Num. 13)
David running towards the giant, or the other Israelites hiding in fear? (1 Sam. 17)
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego not bowing, or everyone else who did? (Dan. 3)
Christ gives you victory and the strength, power, and might to overcome. (Rom. 8:31-39; Phil. 4:13; Heb. 13:20-21)
Have bold faith to trust in God because He guarantees the victory through the Blood of Jesus. (Matt. 26:28; Luke 22:20; John 1:7; Heb. 9:11-28, 10:22; 2 Cor. 2:14)
God fights the battles for you when you stand, trust, pray, praise, and rely on Him and His Word. He is undefeated. (Ex. 14:14; Deut. 3:22; 1 Sam. 17:47)
Receive God’s victorious plan because you are a child of the Most High God and in His Army.
Declare: I am destined to win because God is on my side. God is Jehovah Nissi, my victory. (Ex. 17:15)
2 Chron. 20:2-27
Fear of the Lord is to have respect for Him. He should have first place in your life.
Your responsibility is to:
seek God in all things; (Deut. 4:29-31; 1 Chron. 16:11; Ps. 105:4) and
trust God in all things. (Prov. 3:5-6; Ps. 62:8; Rom. 8:28)
God should be in all areas of your life—family, church, government, school, business, media, and culture—because He is the Most High God. (Ps. 97:9)
God rules over all kings and kingdoms, (Ps. 22:28, 47:8-9, 113:4-9) and He brings the counsel of nations to nothing. (Ps. 33:8-10)
If God is removed from a nation or a person’s life, He must remove His hand of protection.
But God always warns before He takes action, to help lead and guide you, prepare you, and keep you walking in peace if you are willing to listen.
You have the right to petition God and remind Him of His Word. (Isa. 43:26)
God remembers His Covenant, His oath, and His promise. (Ps. 105:42; Heb. 6:17-20)
He promises to never leave you nor forsake you. (Deut. 31:6; Josh. 1:5; Heb. 13:5)
If God did something once, He’ll do it again because He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8), and He is no respecter of persons. (Acts 10:34-35; Rom. 2:11)
He delivered the Israelites out of Pharoah’s control and parted the Red Sea (Ex. 12:31-42, 14:21-31), and He will do the same for His children today.
God hears the cries of His people (Ps. 34:17-20), and He saves them.
God is the One Who can change all things.
God wants you and all His children around the world free so you can freely serve Him.
Prayer:
Neh. 8:10
Phil. 4:7
2 Tim. 1:7
Rom. 8:37
Phil 4:13
Deut. 28:13
Gal. 3:13-14
John 8:36
Colossians 2:15
John 1:5
John 8:32
