What does it mean to trust Jesus? Pastor Troy Murphy addressed that question during his message on Sunday, Oct. 8. Here are some key points:
*The ultimate source of our discontent is the failure to love God first. If you love something more than God — money, time, power, control — you wind up deeply dissatisfied and discontented. You can’t know generosity until you have fully received the generosity of God.
*Charles Blondin was known for his expertise in walking a tight rope over Niagara Falls in the 1800s. He started hauling a wheelbarrow containing a sack of potatoes across the Falls with ease. He asked the crowds of people watching him if they thought he could cross the Falls with a person in the wheelbarrow, to which they all responded affirmatively. Then he asked for a volunteer to get into the wheelbarrow. No one came forward. That, in a nutshell, is the difference between belief and trust. You can believe in something but until you get in the wheelbarrow, do you really trust?
*James 2: 18-19 points out that even the demons believe in God. As Christians we are called not just to believe in God but trust him. Belief requires a trusting response.
*How do we reconcile trust vs. belief. When trust is involved, it’s a relationship of dependence. It’s like taking the first step on a staircase where you don’t know where it leads.
*One form of doubt people have about God is that they once trusted Him but had a falling out, usually caused by circumstances. We must remember that when we trust God it’s not supposed to be dependent on an outcome that we want. Many people trust God to come through with the things they desire.
*There’s another form of doubt, when people come from a position of seeking and searching. They really want their questions about God answered. They are in a seeking posture for the truth. John 20: 24-29 tells the story of doubting Thomas, who needed some assurances about Jesus’ resurrection before believing. In this case doubt was the first step toward trust. It’s OK to have doubts if you are earnestly seeking the truth.
*Many Christians get stuck believing that we must know more about God in order to become more spiritual. This is not true. Jesus reproved the Pharisees, who supposedly had all the religious answers. Jesus said to the Pharisees: You don’t know me because you don’t have a relationship with me.
*When you choose to trust Jesus, it’s like waving the white flag of surrender. It’s getting into the wheelbarrow. Or in the case of Peter in Matthew 14, it’s getting out of the boat and walking on water. Trusting Jesus is stepping out of what you know and can control. It was a ‘wow’ moment for Peter. The God of the Universe is longing to surprise you that way and bring you freedom.
*When Peter took his eyes off Jesus he became afraid and started to sink. We can quickly lose our faith if we get distracted or lose sight of Jesus.
*So many of us are not free. We are entangled by money issues or busy-ness and can’t respond to God’s call. Trusting God is about freedom, not guilt or shame. Trusting Jesus will bring fulfilling freedom.
*Trusting God is not about doing more for the church or getting pumped up emotionally. God doesn’t require that you learn the right things or earn favor with him. He’s calling you to let him push you across this thing called life. When you know God intimately you are compelled to surrender. And when you are met with a generous God you can’t help but be generous in return.
