Last week we talked about how we are to live safe int he Love of God. This means we are to:
- Know God loves us like He loves Jesus
- When we fail we can come to God.
- We are to be like Jesus in relationship to those around us.
Now we want to look at names of God
1. The Name
We have called this series “The Name: and are going to be looking at the names of God because names represent various attributes and properties that make up who God is.
EXAMPLE:
- Jehovah Jireh our provider
- Jehovah Rapha, Our healer
- Name above every other name Philippians 2: 9, 10 and at that name, every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth
- Solomon the name of the Lord is a strong tower. Righteous run into it and are safe.
2. Trust
Psalm 20: 7 Some nations trust in their chariots and horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
Trust = what comes to mind
We need to train our mind to act differently when certain thoughts come into it.
EXAMPLE: secret service agent is trained to make himself big when a target is threatened to protect the target. The normal person would make themselves small to protect themselves.
3. Trust in what we see.
Now I have never been in a situation where I was thinking If only a chariot would show up then I would be able to get out of this situation.
What is difference between a horse and chariot and the Name of God? Visible help and invisible help.
So easy to run to things we see.
“Christians should not come before God with general faith. When God commands us to come boldly before His throne to receive mercy and grace in time of need, we can’t have only a general idea of why we’re there. We can’t just say. “Lord you know my heart. Give me whatever you see fit.”
We know promises like all things work out for good…Romans 8: 28 is a promise, but many people cling to it for hope in times of trouble. The problem is that this verse does not build up the kind of faith we need to have a life of faith in specific trials.
Something more concrete to be able to stand in these days or our minds will go to horses and chariots and ignore the help that comes from a relationship with God.
4. Trusting in the Unseen
What are requirements that will help us train our minds to be able to trust in God.
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Trust is a walk of obedience.
Genesis 12: 1 Leave this place and go to a land I will show you.
Hebrews 11: 8 Abraham when he was called out…obeyed not knowing where he was going.
EXAMPLE:God did not tell Abraham what direction he was taking him or where he was going to finally end up. On the journey Abraham had to cross a desert snow covered mountains another desert, a land filled with waring people of Canaan, and then a drought so they had to go to Egypt.
Building a life of trust is not a one time obedience and then four land superhighway easy travel. It is a walk of constant obedience
Result of this? Genesis 15: 1 Fear not Abraham I am your shield and very great reward
Jeremiah 7: 23 but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in all the ways I command you, that it may go well with you.
God telling you to lay something down and step away from it? We need to obey and allow strength from the Holy Spirit to come into us to empower us to obey.
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Trust when lives are threatened.
Last few years the economy and jobs that are threatened.
Pilgrims “our affections bribe our discernment”
Loves for the horses and chariots around us ruin our ability to discern what we are suppose to do in these times.
Every dollar of national debt, every lowering of the value of a house, every tax increase, nothing has caught God unaware.
How do I know that?
Matthew 6: 25 – 33 Knows the hairs on your head, feeds the birds of the air and clothes the flowers of the fields.
6: 25 do not worry = give no thought to.
We can’t allow our minds to go to these things.
Luke 1: 73 – 75 The covenant he swore with an oath to our ancestor Abraham. We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear in holiness and righteousness for as long as we live.
Who are the children of Abraham that this promise is given to?
Romans 4: 16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring–not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.
We are
Do you think God knows the hairs on your head and not the dollars in your wallet?
Hunger, nakedness, sickness, they are enemies. We need to come boldly before the throne of God with the promise.
Some may trust in horses, some may trust in chariots, but I will trust in your name, my mind will go to your name. I will walk in obedience to your name, I will give no thought to worries that will overwhelm others in your name.
Spend next few weeks looking at specific names for specific promises in these times.