#2042 1022 14W

            The object of God teaching us is that we learn spiritual lessons of trust from Him—it is the most important information we will ever receive.  God wants to teach us these lessons—that is His responsibility, but we must be willing to learn them—that is our responsibility.  Every living soul must learn what God’s divine power will do for them, when a trusting faith is placed on Him.

            The Christian life begins with a willingness on our part to believe that God will do what He promises when we trust Him in faith to do it.  Everyone begins life with a sinful nature that does not want to trust God in faith for anything, so it can take much training and many lessons to change our attitude to one that will trust God for everything.

            The situation is the same today as it was in the beginning.  Adam disobeyed God and listened to Satan simply because he thought he could obtain what he wanted by himself.  The world today strives for things, and struggles to find happiness, contentment, or financial freedom—but seeking these things apart from trusting God in faith.

            Every plan the world depends on—like medical insurance, health care plans, retirement funds, Social Security checks, real estate investments, state lotteries, and other such plans, are human things to trust—in the hope of finding financial security—but at the high spiritual cost of omitting trust on God—something that cannot be omitted.  We must know what God has promised in His Word, so we can claim those promises on the merit of the Atonement Blood He shed for us.

            The believer should not go into debt for anything, because the world is in debt for everything.  God’s plan is to rent a house, as the apostle Paul rented a room to teach the true gospel of Jesus Christ.  Renting anything keeps us in a position of trusting God in faith for the money to pay the rental cost—this is an issue of major importance.

            All insurance is based on unscriptural money—large sums are kept in reserve to eliminate trust on God—Who alone is to be our Supplier, Protector, Healer, and Teacher.  The world does not believe that Truth, and will not accept that doctrine.  The root of all sin is eliminating trust on God.  The apostle says Ephesians 4:22 “ye are to put off concerning the former behavior the old man, that is corrupt according to the desires of the deceit.”

            Every need, every insult, and any discrimination are to be placed in God’s hands in prayer and in faith—and left there.  Psalm 103:6 “The Lord gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly [oppressed].”  God will take care of any injustice—but letting Him do that is our responsibility.  The world wants to get back, but the believer turns back to God in faith and trust.

            Psalm 146:8 “The LORD gives sight to the blind” –reminding us to trust God to restore or improve our eyesight.  We should not wear eye-glasses, contacts, or have laser surgery in an attempt to improve our vision.  God gave us sight in the first place, so Satan has no right to take that from us. 

            If we are oppressed, depressed, or discouraged we should be encouraged that “the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down”—it is an opportunity for us to trust Him in faith.  Freedom from depression is a choice on our part to trust God in faith.  “The LORD loves the righteous,” but we are righteous only by a trusting faith on the shed Blood of Christ.

            A believer is not to borrow money for any reason, but to trust God in faith to supply all needs.  We are not to avenge ourselves concerning any wrong or injustice, but to get out of the way and let the Lord work.  Romans 12:19 “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord” Deuteronomy 32:35.

            Meeting such things in a scriptural way, by trusting God in faith, is producing spiritual fruit.  When spiritual lessons of trust on God are learned, it will not matter how we are treated, who insulted us, or what wrong was done to us—we just go on trusting God in faith and letting Him right our wrongs.  It is the Spirit of God who enables us to meet things according to the Word of God.

            Injustices are met in life to test our faith in God—we may be misquoted, misrepresented, misunderstood, wrongly blamed, or had personal information shared—something we did not want told.  Whatever took place, and whoever was involved, God says that we are to place the matter into His hands and not say one thing to anyone.  That is a spiritual lesson of trust on God.

            Jesus said self must die before fruit can grow, because John 12:24 “unless the grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains what it was—a single grain; but that if it dies, it yields a rich harvest.”  Praying instead of complaining produces spiritual fruit—resulting in a harvest of Christ-like attitudes because we were willing to learn that spiritual lesson of trust on God.

            Meeting wrongs as Jesus says to meet them is staying connected to Him.  1 Peter 2:21 “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” 

            If we try to hold on to worldly ways and plans—striving for a high-paying position, saving money for the future, buying a house in the suburbs, taking a loan on the mortgage, and then purchasing an insurance policy to protect everything we are holding on to in a worldly way—will eventually end in our losing everything, and eternal life also, due to not trusting God in faith.  Hebrews 10:38 “The just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.”

            Jesus gave His life on the cross so we could have a life of trust on God.  John 12:25 “He who holds his life dear, is destroying it; and he who makes his life of no account in this world shall keep it [for eternal life].”  A huge price was paid for our life—it belongs to God.  1 Corinthians 6:20 “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

            We should not expect praise or accept praise for anything—God receives all the honor and glory for any success we have.  1 Corinthians 10:31 “Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”  There can be no self in our heart, because some self means some pride. 

            Some self can be some resentment—holding on to a resentful and unforgiving attitude will land us in Hell.  Jesus said Matthew 6:15 “If you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”  To forgive from our heart is to erase from our mind.

            If there is any resentment, anger, malice, or bad feelings in our heart against anyone, for any reason, that bitterness will defile us Hebrews 12:15, and eventually send us to the flames—if there is no repentance before God and no forgiveness toward others.  Matthew 18:35 “In the same way my Heavenly Father will deal with you, if you do not all of you forgive one another from your hearts.”  Resentment is spiritual poison—it is fatal!

            Getting rid of resentment is such a vital lesson on trust, drastic measures may be needed for God to reveal it, and remove it.  The “pure in heart will see God” Matthew 5:8, but we are not pure in heart if we are resenting someone or something.  When an unjust remark is said to us, or an untrue story told about us, resentment in our heart will definitely be revealed—if there is any.  Resenting means not forgiving.  We must know it, so we can confess it.

            If there is any unbelief in our heart, a serious oppression will reveal it.  When we are attacked physically, it will show who we trust for healing.  The world will immediately seek medical help, because it does not trust God, but Bible Christians trusted Him concerning any difficulty—whether being oppressed in body, persecuted by unbelievers, lacking material needs, or seriously tempted in some way.

            There are more human plans and more Satan’s substitutes for help today than ever, but the principle of trust on God remains the same.  Psalm 146:5-6 “Happy [blessed] is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in the Lord his God, 6 Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth forever.”

            It is wrong to use a little self, because a little of the devil will corrupt our whole trust on God.  Galatians 5:9 “A little yeast corrupts the whole of the dough.”  Satan is constantly trying to have us use a little self, but a little self is a big mistake in the Christian’s life of trust on God.  The Scriptures plainly state God’s will on any matter we meet.

            Owning a home is a major concern for people in the world, but God’s Word speaks against having laid-up treasure on earth.  This principle of trust remains the same since God’s Truth was established many years ago.  Anyone who holds on to laid-up finances in real estate, a savings account, a pension plan, government assistance money, or any such treasure to trust on, would have no hope of receiving eternal life—unless that idolatry is repented of and their trust transferred to the living God alone.

            We would not get as far as the next doorstep toward Heaven, but we would go straight to the Lake of Fire as the rich man did Luke 16 if we do not repent of that idolatry, and put a believing faith in the living God and based on the Atonement sacrifice of Christ.  Today is the day to learn spiritual lessons of trust—that is the object of God’s teaching.

            Spiritual lessons like that are more valuable than any treasure on earth.  Eternity is too long; Heaven too wonderful, and Hell too horrible to miss God’s gift by being stubborn and rebellious.  Everyone must know God and what He wants to do for those who will trust Him in faith.  John 17:3 “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

            When we really know God, we will really trust on His power—to heal, deliver, protect, provide, avenge, and save—that is the spiritual lesson of trusting God in faith everyone has to learn.  If God made the universe, and if He is by our side waiting to do anything for us, then it is to our spiritual advantage to trust Him in faith, and receive what He has promised.