Trusting
Text: Psalm 76:10. Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the
remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain. (KJV).
Introduction.
This
sermon is about trusting God. It speaks of why we should be able to rest in Him
as we walk in obedience to His commands. We cannot expect God to approve
wickedness. His promise of continual “restoration” is for those who are led
“in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” (Psalm
23:3). In other words, we are
assured divine guidance, protection and blessing only when we submit to
God’s plan for our lives.
Direction
If
you have a direction problem examine God’s written word. The Bible can help you
determine, generally at least, what the Lord expects of you day by day. The
Psalmist David said, “Show me Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths, Lead me in Your truth
and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day.” (Ps. 25:4). Let the Bible speak to you as you read it
regularly. It contains profitable information for those willing to obey its
commands.
Preach
Christians are God’s servants. We serve Him
by adding to His kingdom. Mark 16:15 is our prime directive. It tells each of
us to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to
every creature.” Although God may not require you to
venture far from home as a “preacher,” He does expect you to “preach”
wherever you are at any given time.
Don’t let the word
“preach” throw you. As Jesus used it, in Mark 16:15, it means to “proclaim” Him
Savior of the world. Let the world see Jesus in you by the ways in which you
serve people in His Name. Tell them the One who saved you is able to save all
who come to God through Him. (John 14:6).
The Fifth Chapter of Matthew’s Gospel
contains the Beatitudes, a set of instructions Jesus gave to His followers as a
guide for living. Verses 14-16 say this: “You
are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor
do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it
gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Jesus was not trying to make anyone feel good. He simply
expressed what Paul would call “the hope” of the gospel that leads to reconciliation
between God and men. (Colossians 1:19-23). Men
who are born-again by the blood of Jesus are privileged to have Him dwell in
them. Colossians 1:27 calls that “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
Our
role
Matthew 5:14-16 is not a half-hearted suggestion. Jesus expects us to react positively to it. The “hope” is that, from within us, He can reach out to draw other men to Himself. As He indicated, we represent Him effectively only when His light shines through us brightly and consistently, without hindrance of any kind.
We must not block the light of the gospel of Jesus in us through any action of our own. We must not allow circumstances to interfere with it either. Our roles, as consistently vibrant effective witnesses for Him, are the most important ones we have in this life. No other can even come close.
Hindrances
Christians are not immune from the ravages of time and circumstance. We
can expect trials and tribulations. Those who serve the Lord effectively will
face interference from Satan. He never stops trying to render Christian testimony ineffective. Some
of His attacks involve people he incites to violence of one kind or another.
Of course God loves you. He wants you to “prosper and be in
health even as” your soul “prospers.”
(3 John 1:2).
But He may not deliver you from
all of life’s trials. He may choose to glorify Himself as he leads you through
an uncomfortable situation you would rather have avoided. However, God is our “refuge in times of
trouble.” (Psalm 9:9). We must learn to trust
Him whether He delivers us from a particular trial or only leads us through it.
Since many of God’s promises are conditional, ignoring the conditions may cost
us a deliverance we might have enjoyed.
Let
me repeat my text here; Psalm 76:10: “Surely
the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou
restrain.” (KJV). As that Scripture indicates,
God is able, according to His choices, to either use, or to render ineffective,
any expression of man’s wrath against us.
God is in
charge
God can, and often does, use the mean and spiteful treatment directed at Christians to accomplish purposes of His own. Many a person who shook his fist at God, literally or figuratively, has discovered that the One they dared challenge did use their expressions of wrath for His purposes.
A bit later I’ll cite a few
instances recorded in the Bible. In the mean time, listen to Matthew Henry’s
comments on Psalm 76:10. “We
live in a very angry provoking world; we often feel much, and are apt to fear
more, from the wrath of man, which seems boundless. But this is a great comfort
to us, 1. That as far as God permits the wrath of man to break forth at
any time he will make it turn to his praise, will bring honor to himself and
serve his own purposes by it: 2. That what will not turn to his praise
shall not be suffered to break out.”
(Matthew Henry’s Commentary, Vol. 3, page 526).
There is a secret to being able live above our circumstances as we share our faith in Christ. It involves an active trust in God. It requires praising Him in every circumstance.
Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep
him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts You.”
Psalm 37:5 tells us how to begin that peaceful pursuit: “Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it
to pass.” 1st Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells us how to maintain
our peace: “Rejoice
always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will
of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Praising God may not always be easy but it is necessary, not only as an act of obedience but for our benefit. God inhabits the praises of His people. (Psalm 23:3). He provides favor for men who trust Him in the midst of adverse circumstances. (Acts 7:10).
“God’s ways are known only to Him.” (Acts
16:18). Who can say how He might act in response to your need,
or how you might benefit from enduring a trial of your faith? As Proverbs 3:5-6
says, “Trust in the LORD with all
your heart; And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways
acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
Let’s
consider 1st Thessalonians 5:16-18 here: “Rejoice always, pray
without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in
Christ Jesus for you.” That Scripture does not require us to give thanks
for everything. It commands us to give thanks in everything.” We
are not required to rejoice over tragedies. We simply need remember that God is
in charge, He has our best interests at heart, and He is in the process of
delivering us to glory.
The command to “rejoice always” was written by the Apostle Paul, a man who learned to
trust God in the midst of many tough situations. At one time Paul decided to preach in Asia.
The Holy Spirit said, “no” and then vetoed an alternate choice. Finally a
heavenly vision directed Paul and Silas to Macedonia. Their ministry there was
so effective that Satan offered serious opposition. The two missionaries were
beaten and jailed in Philippi. The jail was not a pleasant place. Archaeologists
say it was little more than a hole in the ground, with dirt floors and no beds.
The two men could not have been comfortable. Being chained to a wall would have
made that impossible.
If
something similar happened to you, or to me, could we react as Paul and Silas
did - after their submission to the Holy Spirit’s leading landed them in jail?
Perhaps you remember the account in Acts, Chapter Sixteen? Paul and Silas did
not accuse the Holy Spirit of misleading them. They didn’t complain about the
beatings, or about being chained in a dirty cell along with accused criminals.
Despite being bruised, sore and uncomfortable, they believed God was leading
them. They were glad to submit to His plans, and they proved it by singing
praises to Him. As someone else said, “it was a performance that brought down
the house.” Suddenly, shortly after midnight, a jolting earthquake freed all of
the prisoners from their chains.
The
jailer was upset, about to commit suicide. Paul talked him out of it and shared
the gospel with him. As a result, the jailor and his family were saved and
baptized. Their persecutor treated their wounds, took them into his house and
fed them. The next morning, public officials apologized for their mistreatment
and they were free to go. Their trust in God had sustained them and helped them
fulfill their purpose, making them even stronger because of the ordeal. Because
God had delivered them so dramatically in Philippi they were more than ready to
meet the next challenge to their faith.
Genesis 37 begins an account of the life of Joseph, the eleventh son of Jacob. Joseph was a splendid example of the kind of industriousness, faithfulness, morality, and honesty God appreciates in men. But Joseph suffered troubles enough for a scoundrel. This favorite son of Jacob was envied by his ten brothers before he dreamed of ruling his family and told them about it. When one brother objected to a plan to kill him they chose to sell him to slave traders - who resold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of the king’s guard.
Potiphar
Potiphar recognized Joseph’s industry and integrity and put him in charge of all his affairs. Then Satan struck again. Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph. When he resisted her advances she told a lie that put him in prison. Again Joseph made the best of a bad deal. He worked hard, did not complain about his misfortune, and was soon in complete charge of the prison.
Despite his awful circumstances, Joseph believed God was directing his life. He let God do things His way while he did his own job. Although he didn’t know it, God had a special job for him, one that would result in sparing his father’s family from starvation and help assure the birth of our Redeemer.
Eventually, after Joseph’s adverse experiences had prepared him for the position God wanted him to occupy, he was delivered from prison. Acts 7:9-10 says, “God was with him and delivered him out of all his troubles and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.”
Brothers
A few years’ later Joseph’s ten brothers arrived in Egypt to
buy grain Joseph had stored away in anticipation of a worldwide famine. Joseph
gave his brothers a bit of a bad time but he did not express any personal anger
or bitterness toward them. He knew God sent his brothers there to obtain food
that had been prepared for their survival, and he made sure they received it.
Later, Joseph made arrangements for his entire family to move to Egypt for the
remainder of the famine. And he told them;
“It was not you
that sent me hither, but God.”
(Genesis 45:8).
Reiterate
Do you remember my text,
from Psalm 76:10? “Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the
remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.” (KJV). God used the part of the wrath that caused
Joseph’s brothers to sell him into slavery. He restrained the part that
would have killed their innocent brother.
Joseph’s attitude in his trials pleased God. He was able to direct the paths of this man who trusted had Him and committed His ways to Him. (Proverbs 3:5-6). Although they did not know it, if those brothers had succeeded in killing Joseph they might have caused their own deaths as well.
Question
Can you believe the promise of Psalm 76:10 pertains to you?
Are you serving God in faith, believing He will work things out for your
eventual good and for His glory? Can you thank Him in the midst of distressing
circumstances because you know you are in the center of His will? Consider the
promise of Romans 8:26-28: Verse twenty-eight says: “And we know that
all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the
called according to His purpose.”
Jess
Many years ago I heard John D. Jess tell a story about a couple who lost their home by fire one stormy night. The two of them faced the situation from totally different perspectives. I cannot speak concerning their devotion to God or to their desire to serve Him according to His direction. Their story does illustrate God’s ability to bring blessings through losses.
This couple lived very close to the ocean where the man made his living. He was out at sea when the fire took place. She was at home, apparently unaware of the danger he faced. When he arrived home his wife was lamenting their loss. He told her the loss wasn’t as tragic as she imagined, saying it could have been much worse.
A few hours earlier he had been lost on the dark sea in a bad storm and he was very afraid for his life. Suddenly he saw a faint light from what he thought was a lighthouse. He and his crew began rowing toward the light. As they did the light became brighter and brighter. Eventually it erupted into a blaze that guided them safely to shore. Later he discovered it was the light of his burning house that saved their lives. So it was easy for him to rejoice in spite of the loss. Of course, his wife, and the wives of the other crewmembers, became able to rejoice along with him.
Wrap
If you haven’t done so already, turn your life over to God and begin trusting Him with all your affairs. Allow Him to save you by His grace and use you according to His wishes. Remember, the most important way in which you can serve Him is by introducing other people to Him through His Son, Jesus Christ.
The light of Jesus dwells in you to lead lost sinners to Him. Let it shine brightly wherever you are. Cause the world to glorify your Heavenly Father because they see your good works. (Matthew 5:16). As you do, learn to thank Him for the experiences, good and bad, by which you bless Him on your way to glory.
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David Beneze, 1006 Fairview Ave., Canon City, CO.
81212. Latest revision 02/15/2007.
Page last updated 11:03 AM 5/24/2007