TRUSTING THE WORD OF GOD

HOW DO WE TRUST THE WORD OF GOD?

We trust the word of God by confidently holding fast to the word (Josh. 22:5) “But take careful heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold first to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”  We trust the word of God by keeping His word and obeying His commandments. These were the words of Joshua to the Reubenites, the Gadites and half the tribe of Manasseh, who had received their possession of the land on the other side of the Jordan but had made an oath to cross over the Jordan helped their brethren’s receive their allotment before returning back to their possession.

TRUST AND OBEY HIS WORD

Victory was not automatic for the Israelites, for it required them to trust and obey the Lord. The defeat of Jericho, for example did not come by human might but by depending on the Lord’s power and obeying His instructions (Josh. 23:8) “But you shall hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have done to this day.” Conversely, when Achan disobeyed the Lord, the Israelites army suffered defeat at Ai. It is no wonder, then, that God urged Joshua and the people to be confident and courageous, not to be afraid, but trust in the Lord and obey His commands (Josh. 10:25) “Then Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; be strong and of good courage, for thus the Lord will do to all your enemies against whom you trust.” There is still no other way beloved for a full life in the Lord than to trust and obey His Word.

CONFIDENCE IN GOD’S WORD

The psalmist admitted thus (Ps. 62:5) “My soul wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him.” Here the psalmist expresses his trust and full confidence in God His Maker. He finds such trust appropriate because they experience God as refuge (Ps. 144: 2) “My loving kindness and my fortress, my high tower and my deliverer, my shield and the One whom I take refuge, who subdues my people under me,” fortress (Ps. 71:3) “Be my strong refuge, to which I may resort continually; You have given the commandment to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress,” rock (Ps. 62:6) “He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved,” shield (Ps. 84:11) “For the Lord God is a sun and a shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly,” shepherd (Ps. 80:1) “Give ear O Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph like a flock; You who dwell between the cherubim, shine forth!”  Light (Ps. 27:1) “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? And salvation (Ps. 18:2) “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” If we too experience God in this manner beloved, then we too will want to say, “I wait quietly before God, for my hope is in Him. My hope is in His Word.

THE TRUSTED WORD OF PROMISE

God’s promise to Abraham through His word was (Heb. 6:13-14) “For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will I will multiply you.” Not only had the Lord promised a seed to Abraham, but He underscored it by swearing by Himself, for there was no one greater than God to swear to. Thus we are being encouraged today not to be sluggish in faith as believers or sluggish in our endeavors for Christ and His kingdom. He calls believers to imitate those who “through faith and patience inherit the promises” (V. 12). Take a look at Abraham, who was ordered to sacrifice his only son Isaac, whom he waited for, for twenty five good years, provides the ultimate example of faith in God’s covenant promises. All Abraham had was the word of promise and several years of trusting God’s Word The covenant Lord had consistently proved Himself faithful to His promises. Now Abraham was also ready to believe that Isaac would be raised from the dead because of God’s ultimatum promise; of a great name and a great nation through his own son Isaac which made him not to waver in his faith but to trust Him who promised, who is faithful  not to fail. Then the Lord strengthened His original promise by swearing an oath by Himself. What a ministry of affirmation! How could it be otherwise, since the Lord our God is so gracious and faithful, so that the word of promise always can be trusted. And the preacher wrote “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe” (Prov. 29:25).

THE WORD OF GOD AS A TOOL TO PROSPERITY

Just as David, a man after God’s own heart; Joshua the servant of Moses was able to lead the children of Israel to the Promised Land because of his dedication to the things of God, the ways of God and daily meditating upon the laws and the commandments of God. God on the other hand was pleased with him and this was His promise to him (Joshua 1:3, 5) “Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.” This was God’s assurance word of promise to His servant Joshua who exceeded Moses because he trusted the word of God. (V. 6)”be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or the left that you may prosper wherever you go.” Here beloved is God’s promise of prosperity if we turn not from the right or left from His Word.  Let’s see the commandment that Joshua was commanded to obey before the death of his master and God’s servant Moses. In (Deut. 32:45-47) Moses finished speaking all these words to all Israel, and he said to them; “Set your hearts on all the words which I testify among you today, which you shall command your children to be careful to observe- all the words of this law. For it is not a futile thing for you, because it is your life, and by this word you shall prolong your days in the days which you cross over the Jordan to possess.” Fantastic! There is not only the prosperity wherever one goes or does but also longevity of life. I would say as Moses to us beloved, “It is not a futile thing for us, neither is it a vain thing beloved; to trust and obey the word of God. It is our life. Trusting the word to prosper and obeying the word to longevity! Come on! Beloved! This is not a hard thing, “yes we can to it!” God continues to instruct Joshua concerning His words and laws thus (Josh. 1:8-9) “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” This takes me to this subtopic:

WHAT GOD REQUIRES OF US

The first thing the Lord requires of us is; to be strong and of good courage. Second, to observe to do according to the word that we have been commanded to do. Third, not to turn from the word and commandments neither to the right hand side nor the left hand side; this means, not to either add a thing to the word or remove a thing. Fourth; the law or the word not to depart from our mouths, but meditate it day and night, sharpening with it the countenance of one another. And firth; observing to do all that is written in it. Just a simple command my brethren. And now let’s see what happens?

BENEFITS OF TRUSTING AND OBEYING THE WORD

I don’t use either bulletins or numbers because they get cut when I copy paste from word to blog; so bear with me please, but only pay attention to the word. The first benefit God gives us when we trust and obey His word is; an inheritance (V. 3) every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you.  Second we receive; God’s presence, preservation and cover that no one will be able to stand before us from V. 5.  The third benefit is prosperity wherever one goes, from V. 7. The forth benefit is; prosperity in whatever one does and success, V. 8 and the firth long life and God’s ever presence.  Analyze this beloved; that all this benefits we will come upon us and over take us by only trusting God’s word!  I do not force anyone but it is a matter of choice; See today what each one of us will choose and God’s grace to choose wisely and live it to the fullest.

“Grace to you and Favor from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with us all. Amen and Amen and Amen.”