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Trust in God proves who we are
By Administrator | December 7, 2008
“Trust in God Proves Who We Are” Part II Sermon 12-07-2008
All relationships are based on trust.
Relations, dealings, associations, affairs, contact and interaction between God, other humans, animals, the natural world, the environment… all of interaction between life is based on trust.
Trust is important. Trust is the adhesive element that assists in the formation of inter- and intra- action with other things. Whether the thing is living or dead, if it exist and has “value”, our relationship with it, depends on TRUST.
Trust, you know when you have it, and you know when you don’t have it.
· Yet, what is trust?
· How is trust defined?
· Can you form a trust?
· How do you maintain and build upon trust?
Susan Heathfield writes in her article “Trust Rules: The Most Important Secret About Trust”
Trust forms the foundation for effective communication, employee retention, and employee motivation and contribution of discretionary energy, the extra effort that people voluntarily invest in work.
Let’s examine this idea carefully. The writer states “Trust forms” the foundation…
Could it be that this statement is lacking the understanding of what a Trust is?
First, a Trust must be formed. Trust is formed by a person or persons. We form the Trust, not the Trust forms us.
Trust is based on an agreement. The agreement must be between two entities or persons. The entity or person that is forming the trust makes an irrevocable grant.
Example: Let’s look at the principle of a Trust agreement between God and Trinity United Methodist Church.
It would read like this.
This Irrevocable Trust Agreement is made this 7th day of December, 2008, between Almighty God and His Word, which can be found written in the Holy Bible located at 714 Fair Avenue, Shelbyville, Shelby County, State of Indiana, herein referred to as Grantor, and the members of Trinity United Methodist Church, who live in the Shelby and Rush Counties, State of Indiana, herein referred to as Trustees.
In consideration of the mutual covenants and promises set forth herein,
Grantor and Trustee agree as follows:
1. Transfer of Trust. Grantor herewith assigns, transfers, and conveys to Trustee the property described in Exhibit “A” attached hereto and made a part hereof by this reference, and receipt of such property is hereby acknowledged by Trustee. Such property, hereafter designated the Trust Estate, shall be held by Trustee in Trust for the uses and purposes and on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
2. Disposition of Principal and Income. Trustee shall administer and manage the Trust Estate, collect the income therefrom, and, after payment of all taxes and assessments thereon and all charges incident to the
management thereof, apply and dispose of the net income and the principal of the Trust Estate as follows: The beneficiaries of the Trust Estate shall be those in prison, naked, hungry, sick, discouraged, depressed, diseased, blind, crippled, addicted, and in distress. All those children who are lost and abused and do not know the way of life.
3. Additions to Trust. Grantor and any other person shall have the right at any time to add property acceptable to Trustee to the this Trust. Such property, when received and accepted by Trustee, shall become part of the Trust Estate.
4. Irrevocability of Trust. This trust shall be irrevocable and shall not be revoked or terminated by Grantor or any other person, nor shall it be amended or altered by Grantor or any other person.
5. Compensation of Trustee: The original Trustee hereunder, and all Successor Trustees, shall be entitled to reasonable compensation for their services as Trustee.
6. Successor Trustees: If [name] [Original Trustee] resigns or is unable to continue to act as Trustee, YOUR NAME [Successor Trustee], of [address], City of [city], County of [county], State of [state], is hereby appointed as
Successor Trustee.
7. Governing Laws: The validity, construction, and effect of this agreement and the Trust created hereunder and its enforcement shall be determined by the laws of the State of [state].
In Witness Whereof, Grantor and Trustee have executed this Agreement on the date above written.
_________________________ _________________________
Grantor Trustee
_________________________ _________________________
Witness 1 Successor Trustee
_________________________
Witness 2
All things require trust in a relationship with the unseen”.
Trust must depend on others—for love, for advice, for help, or what have you need—especially when we know that no outside force (e.g. the law) compels them to give us such things.
Trust always involves the risk that the “trustee” may not fulfill his job. But, that is the chance the grantor has to take. If the grantor could guarantee that the trustee would follow through with all of his or her wishes, then the grantor would have no need to set up the trust.
The grantor therefore cannot assume, while setting up the trust that the trustee will do what she/he desires. That is the reason why the Grantor sets up the Irrevocable Trust. The grantor believes that if she/he sets up the Trust then the trustee has no legitimate choice in the matter.
Since people, in the general population often can choose whether to obey God or be true to one another, we often have a need to trust them.
Now, do you see what I mean in the title of this sermon… Trust in God proves who we are?
We know that we are the “Trustees”. We are the impermanent part of the Trust. God and His Word are the permanent part, we are the temporary part.
In Isaiah 40:6b-8 The Bible says, “all flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, because the breath of the LORD blows upon it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.”
See the Bible tells us who we are? If we trust the Word of God we know and can prove who we are. We are grass and beautiful flowers.
In Psalm 139:15-18 the Bible says, “You created every part of me; you put me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because you are to be feared; all you do is strange and wonderful. I know it with all my heart. When my bones were being formed, carefully put together in my mother’s womb, when I was growing there in secret, you knew that I was there— you saw me before I was born. The days allotted to me had all been recorded in your book, before any of them ever began. O God, how difficult I find your thoughts; how many of them there are! If I counted them, they would be more than the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.
See the Bible tells us who we are?
Every microscopic part of us was created by the Grantor. The Grantor put us together in our mother’s womb.
Because of this, we need to fear the Grantor and fulfill the instructions of the Trust.
We know this with all of our hearts.
We know that when our bones were being formed, and we were carefully being put together in our mother’s womb, when we were growing there in secret, the Grantor knew that we were there.
We know that He saw us before we were born.
We know that before we lived one day, all our days are numbered and written down in His book.
We know that He knows the exact number of days we will live.
We know that after we die in this physical life and we awake in the life of the spirit, He will still be with us.
Trusting the Word of the Grantor, we know we are personally known, loved and protected. We are all special blades of grass and beautiful original flower arrangements.
In St. Mark 1:1-8 the Bible tells us more good news.
Now, this is the Good News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
The Grantor told the prophet Isaiah to write this down about the birth of Jesus.
This proves that God KNOWS far in advance about the details of our life.
This needs to be an encouraging example to us about how important we are to him.
Eight hundred(800) years before Jesus was conceived, Isaiah said that “God said, ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you to open the way for you.’ ‘Get the road ready for the Lord; make a straight path for him to travel!’ ”
So, John the Baptizer was preaching just a few months before Jesus began His ministry. He was baptizing and preaching this message.
“Turn away from your sins and be baptized,” and God will forgive your sins.” Many people from the province of Judea and the city of Jerusalem went out to hear John. They confessed their sins, and he baptized them in the Jordan River.
John announced to the people, “The man who will come after me is much greater than I am. I am not good enough even to bend down and untie his sandals. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Trusting this word, we realize how far in advance the Grantor knows, in meticulous details, about our lives. It is impossible for me to tell you how important you are to your Heavenly Father.
Finally, lets remind ourselves of what one of the Trustees of the Jesus Trust, tells us in the Bible.
But do not forget one thing, my dear friends!
There is no difference in the Lord’s sight between one day and a thousand years; to him the two are the same.
The Lord is not slow to do what he has promised, as some think. Instead, he is patient with you, because he does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants all to turn away from their sins.
But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief.
On that Day the heavens will disappear with a shrill noise, the heavenly bodies will burn up and be destroyed, and the earth with everything in it will vanish.
Since all these things will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people should you be?
Your lives should be holy and dedicated to God, as you wait for the Day of God and do your best to make it come soon—the Day when the heavens will burn up and be destroyed, and the heavenly bodies will be melted by the heat.
But we (TRUST) and wait for what God has promised:
new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness will be at home.
And so, my friends, as you wait for that Day, do your best…
· Be pure and
· Be faultless in God’s sight and to
· Be at peace with him.
· Look on our Lord’s patience as the opportunity he is giving you to be saved…
· Be on your guard, then, so that you will not be led away by the errors of lawless people and fall from your safe position.
· Continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory, now and forever! Amen.
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