Leadership Development (August 25, 2020)
KNOWING GOD AND TRUSTING HIM ALONE
Psalms 16:1,2; 17:6-8; 18:2,30; 19:7-9; 20:6,7; 21:6,7
The central theme in these Psalms is trusting the Lord. The Psalms give us real spiritual insights into relationship with God, with one another, fulfilling the calling that God has given us and who ministers ought to be. The word “trust” is mentioned repeatedly in these psalms and reveals an indispensable criterion for a minister’s significance in life and ministry. What the Old Testament refers to as trusting God, His word and name, the New Testament refers to as faith in God (Hebrews 11:6). We have to trust and believe in God’s word to be saved, sanctified, filled with the Holy Ghost, healed and delivered from the power of darkness. There is no error in God’s infallible, pure word. Therefore, we should trust it. Others may trust whatever they want, but we must trust in the name of the Lord who has made us kings and priests under His authority. Trusting God is not time-bound; we must keep on trusting in Him alone and not the god of this world, idols, powers of darkness, self or any other thing.
- THE TITLES AND TRUSTWORTHINESS OF THE ALMIGHTY GOD
Psalms 16:1,2; 18:1,2
The psalmist highlighted some titles of God when he referred to Him as my Lord, Strength, Rock, Fortress, Deliverer, Buckler, “the horn of my salvation, and my high tower”. There are three things to note:
(i). The Timelessness of the Almighty God
Psalm 16:8,11; Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalm 90:1,2; Isaiah 57:15; Jeremiah 10:10; 1 Timothy 1:17
Our God is “eternal” and “everlasting”. He has been before time and all the time. He is infinite and timeless. The psalmist could not think of any generation where God was not pointedly visible in action. He is God, “even from everlasting to everlasting”. Before we were born, He was there. After we leave this world, God would still be there. If we associate with “the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity”, we will live with Him, the everlasting King, forever and ever.
(ii). The Truthfulness of the Almighty God
Psalm 19:9; Deuteronomy 32:4; Numbers 23:19; 2 Samuel 7:28,25; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18,19
“The judgments of the LORD are true…” and so are His proclamations. He is “a God of truth” in all He says and does. In all principles and dealings with man in all dispensations, He is “just and right”. He is not a man that He should lie. He will “make good” His promises to save, sanctify, baptise in the Holy Ghost, heal and deliver, and prepare a place in heaven for His children. Therefore, in times of challenges or difficulties, you can approach Him to “do as [He] hast said”. He is the “God that cannot lie” and none can change His nature.
(iii). The Trustworthiness of the Almighty God
Psalms 18:2,3; 36:7-9; 89:34; Matthew 24:35; 1 Timothy 4:9,10; James 1:17; Acts 27:25
“The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust”. The Lord is trustworthy. Situations and circumstances cannot move or change Him. He is able to solve all problems when we call upon Him. His promises are “yea and amen” in Christ. Those who trust Him “shall be abundantly satisfied”.
- THE TRAGEDY AND TRIBULATION FOR TRUSTING ANOTHER GOD
Psalm 16:4
Since God is light, eternal, truthful, unfailing and infallible, there is tragedy and tribulation for those who abandon Him to trust or serve another diminutive, manmade or Satan-inspired god. “Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.” There are three things to consider:
(i). The Transgression of Trusting Another god
Deuteronomy 6:14,15; 1 Corinthians 10:20-22; 2 Corinthians 11:3,4,13,15; Galatians 1:6-9
It is a great transgression to leave the living, truthful, infallible, eternal God for a manmade god. Believers cannot share their allegiance, faithfulness and trust in God with devils. Those who do so are transgressors who “provoke the Lord to jealousy”. In times of crisis, we must be watchful to avoid being deceived by thoughts that suggest seeking another god or by persons who peddle the perverted version of the gospel. Those who “pervert the gospel of Christ” and call people into “another gospel” other than the “grace of Christ” are transgressors.
(ii). The Temptation of Trying Another god
Deuteronomy 13:1-5; 1 Kings 12:27-30; 1 Corinthians 10:13,14; 1 Thessalonians 3:4,5; 1 Timothy 6:9,10
Temptation is common to all, but yielding to it is what brings sin. We must not yield to the temptation of trying another god. Like Jeroboam, there are people who employ evil strategies to turn the hearts of the people away from the true God. Although God has promised to help believers in times of temptation, His stern warning remains, “my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry”.
(iii). The Torments for Turning to Another god
Exodus 32:8,10,33; Deuteronomy 7:4; Jeremiah 7:6,8-10,13,15; Hebrews 12:25,29; 2 Peter 2:21,22; Revelation 14:9-11
All who do not flee idolatry will suffer torments for forsaking God. The Lord says, “Whosoever hath sinned against me (gone to another god), him will I blot out of my book.”
- OUR TRANSFORMATION AND TRIUMPH THROUGH THE APPROACHABLE GOD
Psalms 18:32,35; 65:4
There is transformation, transparency and transference of God’s Spirit in trusting the approachable God. The psalmist approached God with ease and present-day believers have a better privilege of approaching Him because Christ has opened the way to the throne of Grace with His sacrifice and blood. There are three things to note:
(i). The Transformation of Sinners by the Appeased God
Psalms 19:7,8; 51:1-5,17; Isaiah 1:16-18; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 1 John 1:5-9; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
God’s word transforms and cleanses a sinner. “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple”. True and total conversion affects the mind, soul, character and the work we do. Having repented, you must make efforts to remain free from sins and cease to do evil. The Scripture says, “if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new”.
(ii). The Transparency of Seekers before the All-knowing God
Psalms 17:3; 19:14; 139:1-4,23,24; Acts 1:24; 15:8,9; Hebrews 4:13,14,16
Sincere seekers do not hide anything when they come to the omniscient Lord. When we are transparent before Him, He grants us great grace. After salvation, we keep our lives open before Him. While we seek sanctification, we must also remain transparent before Him and consecrate everything without reservation. By so doing, we will “obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need”.
(iii). The Transference of His Spirit by the Anointing God
Psalm 18:50; 1 Samuel 16:13; Psalms 51:10,11; 143:10; 2 Corinthians 1:20-22; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4,5,8
God “…sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore”. David was anointed and Christ, His Seed, was also anointed by God. All believers in Christ have been promised this anointing. The power of the Spirit can be transferred into our lives such that everything we need is given to us by God. His promises of salvation, sanctification, Holy Ghost baptism, healing, deliverance, strength, provision, unsearchable riches and answers to prayer are ours to claim from God who “stablisheth us… in Christ, and hath anointed us”. Since He “hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts”, we can minister to others with the anointing by faith in Him.