Can God Trust Me with His Glory?
The Heartstrong theme for this month is “Disciplined Heart,” where one abides in Christ by the knowledge that God completely loves them. They can then follow Christ by complete obedience to God’s instructions and practice these instructions by repenting, confessing sin and receiving healing from God. Abiding in Christ reveals our total dependency and trust in him, the “author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame“… Hebrews 12:2-3 NKJV.
Yes! For what Christ endured on the cross, out of love for us, we can trust Him. We can trust God wholeheartedly because God is trustworthy. We trust by depending on God according to His Word. God’s word tells us to “trust in God, refrain from our own understanding and acknowledge him to direct our path” Proverbs 3:5-6. The question worth asking is: in your pursuit to depend wholeheartedly on God, can God trust you? Can God trust you with the gospel? Can God trust you with His Glory? Can He trust you with His Power?
Have you ever asked: am I in a position for God to trust me with His Glory? No! God is not sitting on His throne, wondering and trying to figure out if He trusts you or not! He knows you. Before your formation, He already knew your thoughts. He knows who trusts Him and whom He can trust. The question is: do you “know” for yourself if God can trust you?
Trust is dependability – a deep confidence in someone/thing. Trust means to rely on the integrity of someone who is being truthful. As people, we tend to trust those who are reliable, consistent and who do not change with the season or the wind’s direction. God is reliable. He never abandoned those who seek him (Psalm 9:10 NKJV). This is why we trust in God.
Can God rely on you to:
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Have an intimate moment with Him every day (Deuteronomy 6:5; Psalm 5:3)
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Hear his still small voice (Isaiah 65:24; 1 Kings 19:11-13)
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Understand what He wants to be done each moment of the day (Psalm 119:105)
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Deliver what He wants to say or do to and for His people (Ephesians 5:15-20)
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Refrain from certain self desires to attend to his will for your life (1 Corinthians 10:24; Philippians 2:3)
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Get your attention (Jeremiah 23:18; John 8:27)
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Meet with him at the same time, in the same corner, on the same day, or He has to wonder “if” you will come.
The book of Matthew accounts God trusting three servants with His talents, one of whom was not trustworthy (Matthew 25:14 – 30 NKJV). However, we trust the One, whose name is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. Trusting God provides the security and safe haven we seek in our lives (Proverbs 28:36 NKJV). We trust in God, but can He (God) say the same about us?
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Can God trust you when you are under attack?
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To look up to the heavens and say, “The Lord is my light and my salvation of whom shall I fear?” Psalm 27:1 NKJV
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Can God trust you when everything seems to crumble under your feet?
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To declare wholeheartedly, “I will not be afraid of the terror by night or the arrow that flies by day….” Psalm 91:5 NKJV
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Can God trust you when Satan decides to shoot a fiery dart at your family? Marriage? Business?
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To take up your shield of faith which has the power to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one (Ephesians 6:16 NKJV)
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Can God trust you in the situation when the bank says the cheque bounced, you do not qualify for the mortgage or foreclose your home?
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To stand in awe of Him knowing, “He is Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides” Genesis 22:14 NKJV
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Can God trust you in a situation where your employer, manager or supervisor doubles your workload and not your pay?
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To intercede for their salvation, praying “Lord forgive them for they know not what they do” Luke 23:34 NKJV
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The Apostle Paul’s ministry highlights a few ways to truly understand what is being in a position to be trusted by God. It states:
“You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God, we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority” 1 Thessalonians 2:1-6 NKJV.
Paul, in the passage, makes a profound statement assuring the believers that his and the others’ visit to them are not in vain. In other words, their efforts are not in vain. Paul understood clearly that one could not expect to bear the glory, receive God’s blessing without effort, doing nothing! However, this effort is not completely and solely man’s pursuit but instead orchestrated with dependence on God.
So what are we making an effort to do?
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Give up fear – We have suffered in Philippi, but with the help of God, we dare to tell you His gospel in the face of strong opposition (vs 2).
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Give up ignorance – Consciousness that God examines our hearts (vs.4) – We are aware that God sees our hearts. God knows the hidden thoughts of man. He not only knows all we do, He knows why we choose to do it.
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Give up pleasing man – I can tell you the relief this brings to the heart of man! It is exhausting trying to please, and we ought to please God only (vs.4).
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Give up hiding – the gospel speaks; it’s the witness, and we are the instruments (vs.5)
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Give up the applause – feeling good or getting praise for everything (vs.6)
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Give up your authority to Christ – Paul said as the apostle of Christ, we could use our authority for personal gains. However, that is not what God requires (vs.6).