Our trust is in the name of the Lord, but our life and mission are in the midst of a world that doesn't know the name of life. Those who believe in Jesus proclaim the promise that "the Kingdom of God is at hand". What a statement! However, if you look around you may notice that an actual locality of the kingdom doesn’t exist. There is no address or PO Box. The kingdom lives in us. All who claim the name of Jesus are the verification that the kingdom of God is here.

Trust is what gives power to all of our claims. We have been preached too and prayed for, we stand at the altar and wait for an answer; we trust. Christians trust in the promised kingdom, trust in Christ's presence through the Holy Spirit, and trust in our identity as "heirs to the promise." Trust is the foundation of faith.

The most basic confession of faith is a statement of trust. Faith is not having someone tell you that you are saved or that you know Christ. You are saved because you believe Jesus; you trust Him. When asked what the most important commandment was, Jesus replied without hesitation…

Mark 12:29-31    "The Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all you soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. You shall love your neighbor as yourself".

We live in a world that calls us to "trust the process," or trust the government and let them care for you. Who in their right mind could yield to such faith? Will we soon place on our currency, “in Obama we trust”?

We on the other hand are those who call the world to trust the promise. Those of us who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. We are a peculiar breed. There is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free man, neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. So if you belong to Christ you are heirs according to promise, if you have the trust to believe.

        

Now we look at the meat of the matter to our trust test. Don't be afraid, keep reading...

Surrender Everything to God
         Many people often say "If I only had more, I would give more." If we are honest, I think we all can agree that we have said that. However, Luke has something to say about such statements.

Luke 16:10 "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. NIV

         "He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much." Could Luke be saying, If you are not giving sacrificially with what you have now, you won't give sacrificially when you have more. Why would Luke say such a thing? Because there's a spiritual principle at work in our lives. It's not how much we have of the world that dictates our generosity towards God, but how much God has of us.
         Therein lies the problem, in a nutshell. The question for the Christian is very simple. Am I going to live like the world. Do I trust in myself, become independent and Do my own thing? Or am I going to live under Christian principles so that God has more of me? Am I going to be a truly trusting, obedient, dependent person upon God? Is God going to be my source.
         The issue this is not your talent, your time, your abilities, or your money. The issue is...Who do I trust in? Jeremiah describes both an independent person and a person of trust or  dependence.

Jer 17:5-8 This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD. 6 He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. 7 "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. 8 He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes;its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." NIV

         The independent person is cursed. "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, Cursed is the one who depends on flesh for his strength and , cursed is the one whose heart turns away from the Lord. Notice how He says what we'll be like if we're independent and do our own thing. Please reread Jer. 17:5-8.God says, If you're going rely on yourself, you're going to be a tumbleweed.  Having no roots, no fruit, nothing. Jeremiah goes on, and says, a person that trusts and is dependent upon God will bear fruit.

         Remember this, that for both people in this passage of scripture the circumstances are the same for the one who trusts God and the one who doesn't. Circumstances the same, results totally opposite

Test God's Promises.
         Every great Bible character had to go through the "Trust Test." As we end this series I want to tak about four bible characters who passed the trust test.
Bible characters who passed the trust test:

Noah  Genesis 7:6 (building of the ark): God told Noah, “build an ark, it was going to rain? Although to us this may seem like a reasonable request, It had never rained before. Major trust. Noah had to explain to his neighbor that is was going to rain because God told him. Then He had to some how convince all that since it was gonna rain he had to spend a fortune building the ark. Now we can see why they ridiculed Noah. However, Noah obeyed and trusted God.

Genesis7:6 "And Noah did according to the all that the Lord commanded."
Noah passed the Trust Test

Abraham     Genesis22:1-2 (give up everything): God spoke to Abraham, He wanted him to leave his family,wealth, idols and everything he held dear? Abraham was a wealthy man but God wanted him free of the world’s wealth so He could bless him.

Gen 12:1-2 The LORD had said to Abram,"Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. 2 "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. NIV
Abraham passed the Trust Test

Joshua Joshua 5:1 (crossing the Jordan): Joshua had seen Moses part the Red Sea. He saw Moses use a rod to part the waters. Imagine the people hollering at Joshua as he's going down to the Jordan. You don't have your rod. Go get your rod. But God didn't want Joshua to use a rod. He was moving in Joshua’s life a different way.

Josh 5:1 Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the LORD had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites until we had crossed over, their hearts melted and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites NIV
Joshua passed the Trust Test

David I Samuel 17:37-39 (fighting Goliath): Saul found out that David was going to fight Goliath, He clothed David with his garments and put a bronze helmet on his head, and he clothed him with his armor. Saul is 6'4", weighs 225; David's 5'6", weighs 130.

1 Sam17:37-39 The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you." 38 Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. 39 David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them."I cannot go in these," he said to Saul, "because I am not used to them." So he took them off. NIV
David passed the Trust Test

         Noah trusted in God, not the familiar. Abraham trusted in God, not personal feelings. Joshua trusted in God, not methods, David trusted in God, not man's armor.

You and I have to take the Trust Test.
If we want the promises that God gives His children, then we mus trust God enough to tithe.

Malachi3:10 "'Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse so that there will be food in my house...." "'Test me now on this,' says the Lord of Hosts. 'If I will not open for you, the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing until it overflows."

Malachi tells us in verse 10 that God He will provide for us. If we put God first, If I obey in this area-God blesses. If I choose to disobey, God disciplines.

Not only will he bless but God will protect us.

Mal 3:11   I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty.  NIV

Finally if we tithe, our lives will be attractive to others.

Mal 3:12   "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty.NIV

         This is the only area in the Bible where God tells you to test him.  Because he knows it's so difficult for us, He says, “Test me”. We have two choices about tithing…Tithing is not an issue of money; it's an issue of trust. God knows that the most difficult area for us to turn over to Him is our finances. Therefore He says to us test me. God said it. Can I trust Him to fulfill this promise? More importantly, can God trust me to obey Him?

Blessings,
Rev Al

         

        

The next step in the trust test is...

Recognize God as Your Source

Deut 8:18 But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today. NIV

         We need to come to a place where we recognize God as the source of life. Recognize that God knows everything. There's nothing hidden from Him; He's sovereign. He is the creator of all Make no mistake, we did not evolve into a human This reminds of a story.

A boy in biology class said, "It would not make any difference to me if my grandfather had been a monkey." A brighter lad beside him said, "It sure would have made a difference to your grandmother."  

Col1:15-20 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. NIV

         The Bible often tells us that without God it is impossible. Matthew 5:36 tells us, that we cannot change our hair, add hair to our head, without God being the source.Matthew 6:27 tells us that we cannot add a single moment toour life without God being the source. James 4:14 reminds us that we cannot even say with certaintywhat's going to happen tomorrow without God as the source. Act 27:20 tells us that we cannot save ourselves from disaster without God being our source.
         What happens when a people fail to recognize God as the source,supreme, and Lord?  Before I answer this, remember that God doesn’t want us poor. The curse found in Duet 28:15-68 tells us that debt is part of the curse. In Duet 28:1-14 tells us that increase and prosperity is part of the blessing.
         An article in the Chicago Tribune years ago entitled “Being Poor can be a Deadly Analysis”.

One study indicated that being poor is apparently as hazardous to your health as smoking, drinking, high blood pressure, and all the other known risk factors that doctors rail against. --The analysis focused on people between the ages of 35 and 54 years who participated in a national health and nutrition examination survey. The higher death rates found in poverty situations had basically three components. One third of the excess deaths were tied to smoking, obesity, and other known health factors. Another one third of the risks could be tied to low income. The final one third was due to unknown factors.

A study conducted by professionals has concluded that poverty is harmful to your health and overall well-being!

Prov 10:15 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor. NIV

Notice how proverbs 10:15 references the destructive power of poverty. Conversely, God wants to bless you and me.

Matt 7:11 If you though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! NIV

         No parent in their right mind who would wish poverty upon any of their children or loved ones. You will discover as you study about the subject of wealth and finances that God equates our use of wealth with our commitment to Him. I repeat, poverty is not the will of God. In the bible, there are very specific and direct instructions as to how we should handle our money in order to be free from poverty and lack. These specifics will be addressed in our upcoming blogs.
         Recently, there has been worldwide attention and focus upon a part of the world that is referred to as the 10/40 Window -from West Africa to East Asia from 10 degrees north to 40 degrees north of the equator-. The majority of the world's Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists live in this part of the world. This part of the world is overwhelmed with poverty, ravaged by disease, and afflicted with an intense spiritual blindness. Religious strongholds, false religions,and occult activities dominate the 10/40 window. The poorest of the poor live in this part of the world. Two point four billion people, almost half of the world's population, live on about $1.40 per day in the 10/40 Window. These facts reflect the curse in Deuteronomy. The consequences of following after false gods is seen by the massive poverty, that permeates the entire 10/40 Window.
         However, when you look at the United States of America and the fact that we are "One Nation under God" we discover that there has never been a wealthier more powerful nation on the face of the earth. This is a fulfillment of the Scripture...

Psalms 33:12     Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD... NIV

With all its problems, The USA is a blessed nation. Why? Because many in our country understand God’s principles.

Understand God’s Principles
Before we look at God's principles, let's look at three reasons why Christians don't give more to God.

• They don't think they can give and meet their own needs: Faulty thinking people say,"Well I'm not sure that I can give and still take care of family, still meet the budget, and meet my own needs.
• They don't know how to give:
• They don't plan to give: Without planning one is always in an emergency. We have to set a goal in our giving.

Stewardship principles that make a difference.

• The Who’s in Charge Principle: God's the Owner - I'm the Manager

Psalm 24:1 The earth and everything that is in it belongs to the Lord. The world and its people belong to Him.

• The Give and Grow Principle: practicing stewardship produces growth by doing because when we give…

         (1) We find our spiritual gifts, (2) It increases our faith, (3) We become spiritually          sensitive, (4) We become fruitful for God's kingdom, (5) We receive a blessing          from God, (6) We are a blessing to others, (7) We make a lasting contribution.

         Stewardship training isn't about raising money or gifts. Stewardship training is               about raising Christians and developing you the way that you need to be                         developed.

• The Do it Now Principle: stewardship deals with our present resources.

"The person who waits to do a great deal of good at once will never do anything."                                                                 Samuel Johnson

A poem: "Procrastination is my greatest sin. It brings me endless sorrow. I'm going stop doing it.Perhaps I'll start tomorrow."

         All of us should know what our spiritual gift is? How long are you going to wait before you use it? How long are you going to misuse the resources God has given you? There's tendency for us to say, "Well sometime, next year, or down the road I'm going to start using my gifts." I must ask, what are we doing with your resources right now?
         God is concerned about your present resources. For example, if you don't tithe now, you won’t tithe tomorrow. If you can't give 10% now, you're not going to give Him a 100% later. So many say God will provide. I hate to surprise you, but God has already provided. The issue is not God's provision. The issue is for you and I to learn to manage the resources He's given, be a good steward of them and pass them on!

CONCLUSION

• The I’m in Debt Principle: The moment we're born ... we're in Debt.

"Whatever you have received more than others -- in health, in talents, in ability, in success, in a pleasant childhood, in harmonious conditions of home life -- all this you must not take yourself as a matter of course. In gratitude for your good fortune, you must render some sacrifice of your own life for another life."  Albert Schweitzer

Rom 1:14-15 I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome. NIV

         Paul understood his obligations to God and previous generations. Our indebtedness is two-fold...First we are indebted to God and second to the previous generation.
         We are all subject to an indebtedness. I have difficulty dealing with a bunch of ungrateful people who look for a handout and think that everything that have they deserve. Everything you have is a gift from God or a gift somebody else. Our job is to use those gifts that God or others have given to us wisely.
         We must reproduce and multiply and develop our gifts for the glory of God and to help our fellow man. 

"No enterprise can exist for itself alone. It ministers to some great need, it performs some great service, not for itself, but for others; or failing therein it ceases to be profitable and ceases to exist."  
                                                                                                 Calvin Coolidge

 

    

        

         I want to talk to you about managing there sources that God has given to us. In a recent blog we answered the questions Can God trust me? This is a series which will expand on our trust. We're going to work through this whole issue of trust. We are going to find out how we do when tested.

Prov 3:1-2 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, 2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. NIV

         We are going to find out how we do when tested. We all come to a place where we ask the questions: Can I really trust God? Can I trust God with my life? Can I trust God with my future? With my family? With my health?Can I trust God with my possessions?
         I think every one of us comes to the place where we have to cross the line. The line of "Yes,I do trust Him" or "No,I don’t trust Him". At that Trust Test line we either grow spiritually by crossing it. Or we back away from that line and begin to shrivel in our soul and never reach our potential as a child of God. All because we were unwilling to let God take control of our life.
         Does anybody remember the first time they rode a bike? There was a thing most parents used to teach their children to ride a bike; training wheels. I want to give you some training wheels. Ways that you and I could learn to trust God more completely.
         In this series we will…
T  Take an inventory: asking ourselves how is must trust level?
R  Recognize God as your source: everything you have is a gift from God.
U  Understand God’s principles: Without understanding we will withhold
S  Surrender everything to God: Allowing Jesus to be Lord
T   Test God’s promises: It is in that testing that God proves Himself to us.
After we apply this type of trust our faith begins to build.

Take An Inventory
Psalms 139:23-24 Examine me, O God, and know my mind; test me, and discover my thoughts. 24Find out if there is any evil in me and guide me in the everlasting way. TEV

         Three observations about the psalmist's prayer of inventory.
1.       Only God knows everything about us.
The Today's English Version bible says discover my thoughts. Notice the implications; I don't know what's down there, I don't even know what I'm thinking. Look deep in my heart and help me take inventory.
2.       Only God can lead me correctly: The psalmist recognized our tendency is to want to follow evil ways.

Jeremiah 17:9-10 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? 10 "I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve." NIV

Only when God interrupts our life can we be lead correctly.
3.       Taking inventory and trusting God begins with me. This whole issue begins with me. I have to do personal inventory and ask myself, "How am I doing in this area of trust? "
Proverbs chapter 3 illustrates personal inventory...

Prov 3:5-10          Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.  7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. 9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the first-fruits of all your crops; 10      then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. NIV

         If you notice the word your in Proverbs 3:5-10 you will find that trust begins internally. The Proverb writer said that all trust starts with personal inventory. Take responsibility for doing your part. I do my part and ‑‑ God does His part.
         As we continue this journey of TRUST, i pray that in this first part you recognize that trust begins with self reflection.

Blessings,
Rev. Al Loma

        

The basis of God's trust in us is found in His expectations towards His will and desire. Since God owns everything, we can assume that like any owner he wants us, the steward, to use His property wisely.
         The owner has expectations of the steward. When the master, the owner, comes inspects his property, He wants to know what has been done with the possessions He's given us. You and I will be judged based on our profit to the Kingdom of God. What did you do with what God gave you?
Matt25:29   For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. NIV

Areas of Expectation

God’s expectation of dedication and commitment
God’s expectation of us all personally is seen clearly in Romans12:1.The first thing the owner expects is for us to consecrate, dedicate, and give ourselves to Him.

Rom12:1Therefore,I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. NIV

In the book of Romans there is a great sense of urgency written by Saint Paul. In the Living Bible Romans 12:1 begins with "I plead with you", In Today's English Version of the bible it reads "I appeal to you..." Paul is declaring that a living sacrifice is the most sensible way to serve God...
Settle immediately in your Christian walk that God is the owner.
         This begs the question we must all answer one day. Is Jesus in fact and deed Lord of your life? Before you quickly answer this question let us read Matthew 7:21.

Matt 7:21   "Not everyone who says tome, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. NIV

Those who claim Jesus as Lord and Savior do the will of the Father. To better understand God's Will, please refer to a previous blog entitled God's Will. Why does Jesus say such a thing in Matthew 7:21?
         The tragedy of those not truly following Jesus as Lord is directly related to the mismanagement of God’s gifts. The good steward must give him/herself to God completely. This speaks of commitment. Those who do so are better known as Servants of Jesus Christ.

Luke14:27 And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple

God’s expectation of Possessions
         God has an exhortation for what I'm going to do with the things that He has given me in my life. Now before you read the next verse, I suggest you pray and ask God for understanding.

Luke14:33 In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. NIV

As a result of Jesus' forthrightness, scriptures like the one found in Luke 14:33 often make the Sunday morning glories cringe in pain. In our commercialized churches Luke strikes at the heart of selfishness. This reminds me of a poem I once read...:
Now I lay me down to sleep-I pray my Cuisinart to keep.
I pray my stocks are on the rise-and that my analyst is wise,
And all the wine I sip is white-that my hot tub's watertight,
That racquetball won't get too tough-that all my sushi's fresh enough.
I pray my iPhone always works-that my career won't lose its perks,
My microwave won't radiate-my condo won't depreciate.
I pray my health club doesn't close-and that my money market grows.
If I go broke before I wake-I pray my Volvo they won't take.

God’s expectation of Time 
Eph 5:15-17 Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. NIV

Time spent wisely will effect positive change. Make no mistake, God demands positive change. You can not remain the same over the years and expect God’s blessings. Time not spent well will be judged for it profit unto the Kingdom of God.

Matt 12:36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day-of-judgment. NKJV

God’s expectation of The Gospel
1Thess 2:4 On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God,who tests our hearts.NIV

         God expects us to be a witness. When I describe a witness, I am not including those who say that "if I live a good life people will see the Jesus in me". No my friend, being a witness is going out and talking about what Jesus has done for you. Like in a court of law when a judge asks you to the witness stand. One would not go up to the stand and act good, one must speak!

Conclusion
The owner has an expectation that we are going to do something with what He's given. Being a steward of God is your business. As we faithfully discharge God's expectations, we illustrate to Jesus that we desire His trust. Let us all rise to the occasion and perform like a fortune 500 company adhering to the Apostle Peter's charge...

1Peter 4:10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. NIV

Blessings,
Rev Al

 

             

        

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