Wholehearted Trust: Embracing God's Promises for Our Future
Summary
### Summary
Today, we embarked on a new series titled "Trust Issues," focusing on the importance of trusting God wholeheartedly. We began by examining Jeremiah 29:11, where God assures us that He has plans to prosper us and not to harm us, to give us hope and a future. This scripture sets the foundation for understanding God's nature and His intentions for our lives. Many of us struggle with trust issues, not just with people but with God Himself, often due to past experiences and disappointments. However, to achieve the future God has planned for us, we must learn to trust Him completely.
We delved into Proverbs 3:5-6, which instructs us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and not to lean on our own understanding. Trusting God means having confidence in His eternal wisdom and plans, even when they don't align with our limited human understanding. We explored various scriptures that emphasize the importance of trusting God over men, riches, or our own understanding. Trusting God brings numerous benefits, including peace, happiness, protection, and prosperity.
We also discussed the practical aspects of trust, such as committing all our decisions to God and allowing Him to direct our paths. This involves making God the center of our lives and relying on His wisdom rather than our own. We used the analogy of leaning on a sturdy chair versus a flimsy one to illustrate the reliability of God's wisdom compared to our limited understanding.
The sermon concluded with a call to action, urging everyone to trust God fully, not just partially. This involves making a conscious decision to follow God's ways in every aspect of our lives, from finances to relationships to lifestyle choices. Trusting God 100% is the key to experiencing the abundant life He has promised us.
### Key Takeaways
1. Trusting God Overcomes Past Disappointments: Many of us have trust issues with God due to past experiences and disappointments. However, Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that God's plans are to prosper us and not to harm us. Trusting God means believing in His good intentions for our future, despite our past. [20:51]
2. Complete Trust in God Brings Peace and Prosperity: Proverbs 3:5-6 teaches us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and not to lean on our own understanding. This complete trust in God brings peace, happiness, and prosperity, as we rely on His eternal wisdom rather than our limited human understanding. [22:22]
3. God's Wisdom is Superior to Human Understanding: God's wisdom is far superior to our own. He sees the end from the beginning and knows what is best for us. Trusting in His wisdom rather than our own understanding ensures that we are on the right path to the future He has planned for us. [23:49]
4. Practical Trust Involves Committing All Decisions to God: Trusting God involves committing all our decisions to Him and allowing Him to direct our paths. This means making God the center of our lives and relying on His guidance in every aspect, from finances to relationships to lifestyle choices. [27:33]
5. 100% Trust in God is Essential for Abundant Life: Partial trust in God is not enough. We must trust Him 100% to experience the abundant life He has promised. This involves making a conscious decision to follow God's ways in every aspect of our lives, fully committing to His plans and purposes. [48:55]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[15:51] - Introduction to "At The Movies" Series
[19:38] - Opening Prayer
[20:15] - Introduction to "Trust Issues" Series
[20:51] - Jeremiah 29:11 - God's Plans for Us
[21:32] - Trust Issues with God
[22:22] - Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord
[23:07] - The Meaning of Trust
[23:49] - God's Eternal Wisdom
[24:43] - What Not to Trust
[25:22] - Trusting God Over Riches and False Gods
[26:09] - Trusting God Over Human Wisdom
[26:52] - Psalm 37:3 - Trust and Do Good
[27:33] - Committing Decisions to God
[28:15] - Benefits of Trusting God
[29:01] - God as Our Helper and Shield
[29:43] - God's Proven Promises
[30:34] - Trusting God for Future Benefits
[31:19] - Benefits of Trusting God
[32:02] - Trusting God for Deliverance and Victory
[32:34] - Leaning on God's Understanding
[33:21] - Trusting God Over Human Logic
[34:09] - Examples of Trusting God
[35:17] - Trusting God in All Aspects of Life
[36:19] - The Importance of Developing Your Mind
[36:49] - God's Wisdom vs. Human Understanding
[37:35] - Leaning on God's Wisdom
[38:23] - Trusting God in Relationships and Career
[39:38] - The Consequences of Human Wisdom
[41:14] - God's Way vs. Human Way
[42:42] - Trusting God for Prosperity
[44:17] - God's Thoughts vs. Human Thoughts
[45:40] - Trusting God in Difficult Situations
[47:07] - God's Superior Wisdom
[48:55] - Trusting God with All Your Heart
[50:41] - Peter Walking on Water - A Lesson in Faith
[52:15] - Indiana Jones - A Step of Faith
[53:38] - Trusting God for a Better Life
[55:06] - Trusting God in All Aspects of Life
[56:33] - Abraham's Faith in God's Promise
[57:55] - Trusting God with Your Lifestyle
[59:30] - Trusting God Over Worldly Pleasures
[01:01:08] - Abraham and Isaac - A Test of Trust
[01:02:32] - Isaac's Trust in God
[01:04:08] - Conclusion and Call to Trust God
[01:05:25] - Invitation to Follow Jesus
[01:06:25] - Prayer of Salvation
[01:07:40] - Congratulations and Next Steps
[01:08:59] - Opportunity to Give
[01:10:12] - Encouragement to Tithe
[01:11:23] - Closing Prayer and Announcements
[01:12:24] - Final Blessing and Farewell
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV): "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
2. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
3. Psalm 37:3-5 (NIV): "Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this."
### Observation Questions
1. According to Jeremiah 29:11, what are God's plans for us? How does this verse address our trust issues with God? [20:53]
2. In Proverbs 3:5-6, what are we instructed to do instead of leaning on our own understanding? [22:08]
3. Psalm 37:3-5 mentions several actions we should take. What are they, and what are the promised outcomes of these actions? [27:35]
4. What analogy did the pastor use to illustrate the reliability of God's wisdom compared to our own understanding? [36:37]
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does understanding God's plans in Jeremiah 29:11 help us overcome past disappointments and trust issues with God? [20:53]
2. What does it mean to "lean not on your own understanding" in practical terms, and why is this important for our faith journey? [22:08]
3. Psalm 37:3-5 talks about committing our way to the Lord. What does this commitment look like in everyday decisions and actions? [27:35]
4. The pastor mentioned that trusting God 100% is essential for experiencing the abundant life He has promised. What are some areas in life where partial trust might be holding us back? [49:53]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a past disappointment that has affected your trust in God. How can Jeremiah 29:11 help you reframe that experience and renew your trust in Him? [20:53]
2. Proverbs 3:5-6 instructs us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts. Identify a specific area in your life where you have been leaning on your own understanding. What steps can you take to trust God more fully in that area? [22:08]
3. Psalm 37:3-5 encourages us to commit our way to the Lord. Think about a recent decision you made. How might the outcome have been different if you had fully committed it to God? [27:35]
4. The pastor used the analogy of a sturdy chair versus a flimsy one to illustrate trust. What "flimsy chairs" (unreliable sources of trust) are you currently leaning on, and how can you shift your trust to God instead? [36:37]
5. The sermon emphasized the importance of trusting God in all aspects of life, including finances, relationships, and lifestyle choices. Choose one of these areas and discuss a practical way you can start trusting God more in that area this week. [49:53]
6. The pastor mentioned that trusting God brings peace, happiness, and prosperity. Can you recall a time when trusting God led to a positive outcome in your life? How can this memory encourage you to trust Him more in the future? [22:22]
7. Reflect on the analogy of Peter walking on water. What is one "step of faith" you feel God is calling you to take, and what fears or doubts do you need to overcome to take that step? [51:03]
Devotional
Day 1: Trusting God Overcomes Past Disappointments
Many of us have experienced disappointments and setbacks that make it difficult to trust God fully. Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that God's plans are to prosper us and not to harm us, to give us hope and a future. Trusting God means believing in His good intentions for our future, despite our past. It involves letting go of past hurts and disappointments and embracing the truth that God is for us and not against us. When we trust God, we open ourselves up to the possibility of healing and restoration, allowing Him to work in our lives in ways we could never imagine. [20:51]
Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV): "Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."
Reflection: Think of a past disappointment that still affects your trust in God. Can you ask God to help you release this hurt and trust in His good plans for your future today?
Day 2: Complete Trust in God Brings Peace and Prosperity
Proverbs 3:5-6 teaches us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and not to lean on our own understanding. This complete trust in God brings peace, happiness, and prosperity, as we rely on His eternal wisdom rather than our limited human understanding. Trusting God means surrendering our worries and anxieties to Him, knowing that He is in control and has our best interests at heart. When we trust God fully, we experience a deep sense of peace and contentment, knowing that He is guiding our steps and providing for our needs. [22:22]
Isaiah 26:3-4 (ESV): "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are struggling to find peace? Can you commit to trusting God fully in this area and surrendering your worries to Him today?
Day 3: God's Wisdom is Superior to Human Understanding
God's wisdom is far superior to our own. He sees the end from the beginning and knows what is best for us. Trusting in His wisdom rather than our own understanding ensures that we are on the right path to the future He has planned for us. When we rely on our own understanding, we are limited by our human perspective and can easily make mistakes. However, when we trust in God's wisdom, we tap into His infinite knowledge and understanding, allowing Him to guide us in the right direction. [23:49]
Romans 11:33-34 (ESV): "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?"
Reflection: Think of a recent decision you made based on your own understanding. How might the outcome have been different if you had sought God's wisdom instead? Can you commit to seeking His guidance in future decisions?
Day 4: Practical Trust Involves Committing All Decisions to God
Trusting God involves committing all our decisions to Him and allowing Him to direct our paths. This means making God the center of our lives and relying on His guidance in every aspect, from finances to relationships to lifestyle choices. When we commit our decisions to God, we acknowledge that He knows what is best for us and that His plans are better than our own. This requires humility and a willingness to surrender our own desires and preferences in favor of God's will. [27:33]
Psalm 37:5-6 (ESV): "Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday."
Reflection: What is one decision you are currently facing? Can you commit this decision to God and seek His guidance, trusting that He will direct your path?
Day 5: 100% Trust in God is Essential for Abundant Life
Partial trust in God is not enough. We must trust Him 100% to experience the abundant life He has promised. This involves making a conscious decision to follow God's ways in every aspect of our lives, fully committing to His plans and purposes. When we trust God completely, we open ourselves up to the fullness of His blessings and the abundant life He desires for us. This requires a daily commitment to surrender our will to His and to seek His guidance in all that we do. [48:55]
John 10:10 (ESV): "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."
Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you are holding back from fully trusting God? What steps can you take today to surrender this area to Him and experience the abundant life He has promised?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Ain't nobody glad God won't fail. We can trust Him. We can rely on Him." [19:38] (100 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "You must learn to trust God. You must believe in Him. In spite of what has happened to you in the past. In spite of what people have done to you. In spite of what you're seeing right now." [21:32] (12 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "God wants you to put your confidence in Him. Instead of in anything else in this world." [23:49] (6 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "God says no, put your trust in me. You know we're in a day and age where people like to invest in the stock market. And of course now things are a little bit more volatile. But sometimes what people do when they first start investing. Is they try to find out what the most successful businessmen have invested in. So many people will look to see what has Warren Buffet invested in. And they'll invest in what he invested in. Because they trust his knowledge and his experience. Well God is wiser than Warren Buffet." [25:22] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "God's way is tried and true. It's proven. You are guaranteed to ultimately be satisfied if you trust him." [30:34] (10 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "You know, many people have a hard time trusting other people. Because they've been let down before. Because they've been betrayed. Sometimes they've even been manipulated. And that's often the case. It's often called. That inability to trust people. It's often called trust issues. But you know, there are a number of people. Even Christians. That have trust issues with God. We don't trust God. Because of our previous life experiences. Or even because of what people did to us. Yet if you're going to have the future that God says He wants to give you." [20:51] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "He says don't trust in your way. He says don't trust in men. We just finished reading that. He says don't trust in government. That's a revelation some of us need to get a hold of. Right? We just finished reading that scripture. It's better to put your trust in the Lord than your confidence in princes. Today we might say presidents, congressmen, supreme court justices, etc. The Bible says don't put your trust in wrong. It says don't trust in riches. It says those who trust in riches will fall. It says don't put your trust in false gods. If you're trusting in Allah or Buddha or sometimes you're trusting in sex or other things. It says don't put your trust in those things." [24:43] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife, but he who trusts in the Lord will be prospered. He who trusts in his own heart is a fool. I'm smart. I'm intelligent. I'm educated. Thank God for that. God will use that. But you aren't better than God. In fact, Isaiah 55 verse 8 says, For my thoughts, God's talking, are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, said the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." [42:42] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "You can't do better with your life than God can. I could stop right there and somebody just got minutes or two because that right there, says a lot. You can't. You aren't the creator of the universe. Reminds me of what God said to Job. If you read the book of Job, you know, Job, because of his fear, opened the door for Satan to attack him. And he was in a time and age where there was a lesser revelation of God. So he was kind of saying, well, God did this and he's blaming God. And you go chapter after chapter after chapter after chapter of the longest pity party you will ever find in the Bible." [45:40] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Faith is faith is you got to get to that place where I can't see it. It doesn't make sense to me, but God said it and I trust him. So I'm going to step out. And if it ain't God, well, well, I'm going to trust that he still saves me. Then that's what happened to Peter. He started walking on the water. Then he realized, oh my goodness, I'm out here. He starts, you know, he starts freaking out and Jesus saves them, but he got saved while he was in the water. Not while he was in the boat." [52:15] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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