Potted or Planted – (Trusting, believing and having Faith in God).

Notes from Sermon 2^nd Sept 2018

Potted or Planted – (Trusting, believing and having Faith in God).

Psalm 1

“Oh, the Joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But delight in the law of the Lord meditating on it day and night.

They are like trees planted along the river bank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves will never wither, and they prosper in all they do.”

Did you know that the word planted appears many times in the bible and in fact potted is not mention at all?

Potted plants do look nice and they can be easily moved around but never really grow to their full potential because they are limited to the small spaces they are potted in.  Where as a planted tree is given space to grow and is given the best possible chance of success by being planted in the best place it can survive and thrive. It can then grow mighty in stature and produce plenty of fruit in season and weather many storms life throws at it. In Britain there are Oak trees and these trees can grow big, strong, and live for thousands of years.

If we allow ourselves to be planted by God, we will at first feel a little discomfort much like moving from a First world country to a third world country where there are less goods and services and are easily not at our finger tips.

Before we moved to Zimbabwe God told me through his prophets that he was going to plant us! Once in 2009 in a church full of Africans a prophet picked me out of a crowd and literally told me that God was going to plant that Gentlemen. And before we left the UK in 2016 a dear sister prophesised that God was moving us like a tree with its roots in a bag to plant in Zimbabwe. And when we first arrive the first thing I was given to plant by our neighbours was a tree.

The Key to being planted is trust!!! In fact, trusting God is the most important key to life that we can have trusting God will ensure our survival and our journey into the positive part of eternity.

Jerimiah 17:7-8

“But blessed are those whose trust is in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a river bank with roots that reach deep into the water such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.”

                The Holy spirit is speaking here about this trust he’s Says “Who have made the Lord their hope and confidence.

                Just take a pause ask yourself these questions

 “have I made the Lord my hope and confidence?”

Do I expect the God to help me? Even when no sign of help is visible.

Am I confident that he hears me when I pour my heart out to him?

What do you think the evidence is that someone has put their hope and confidence in the Lord other than just saying so?

I assure you if you do you will never be wasting your time or your effort.  But don’t trust my assurance, trust what the Holy Spirit is saying. I am a man I can let you down but God he will never let you down.

Its easy to see the signs of not trusting God – I find when I examine myself – I threat to do things rash things, I am short tempered, depressed and I believe the lies the enemy is whispering in my mind. I fight with my wife and I worry about life’s circumstances.

In these times are I find there are some things I can do to Help me to my hope and confidence firmly back in God.

1.       Feed on the Word day and Night.

The word of God is like the river that David in psalm 1 and Jerimiah chapter 17 are prophesising and testifying about. For example, the word of God can be a life line in discouragement - he says “fear not, I am with you” Isaiah 41:10. When we don’t know what’s the heck is going on he says “I have plans to prosper you and not to harm”. Jesus is the word becoming flesh, which means the written word is Jesus in words. A person who feeds on the word day and night is like that tree that has its roots deep in the water drinking it in all day and night continually feeding on life giving water.

2.       Trust God Not feelings.

Our emotions are not always a good guide and an emotional response can get us into a lot of unwanted trouble. There have been times in my marriage where I have said some terrible things and really wish I never said them and you know what once the words are out the damage has been done. But there has been times when I have held my tongue and been really glad I didn’t say what first came to mind in anger.

Proverbs 12:16 says this “A fool is quick tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted.” Furthermore proverbs 12:18 says “Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.”

My wife is really good at cutting remarks and when I sit back and think about what she is saying I know she is right and it comes mostly from wisdom when I’ve done something, or my behaviour has been stupid. So I shouldn’t get angry about that.

3.       Remember the crowd of witness in the Storm.

Jonah was thrown overboard in a storm and when he repented in the belly of the Whale and decided he would do what was asked of him he was put back on track. If God is asking you to do something and you’re in trouble because you haven’t done it, decide to do it. Daniel was in the lion’s den and the angel of the lord closed the mouths of the lions.

 The disciples were in a boat in the midst of a violent storm and then Jesus woke up, he stood, spoke “be still” and all was still.

Peter in Acts was on death row and the saints prayed for him day and night and an angel of the Lord was sent to release him from his bonds and the pray in the saints meeting stopped when it was discovered God has answered with Peter was knocking on the door.

With such a huge crowd of witness as an example and a witness and even our own experiences of God Calming the storm in our lives we can easily see that we can trust Jesus.

It’s easy I know to feel despair in a storm and I have learned from my own shipwrecks that’s not literal, but my own failures and faithlessness God has been Faithful.

So in the Storm Trust Jesus even in a ship wreck Paul trusted what God was telling him that no one would die and only the ship and its cargo would be lost we know this because he told the whole crew the same.

Psalm 107:43 says “Those who are wise will take all this to heart they will see in out history the faithful love of the Lord”.

The Bible is not Just a guide or Jesus in word it is also our history book, it reminds us that God loves us and is faithful.

4.       God does Love You, he loves me and loves US.

Trusting that God loves us, God doesn’t send his messengers in vain in fact we are all called to be his messengers of his gospel of peace. He does not favour Black or White or status nor even prefer Jew over Gentile.

Galatians 3:28 says;

“There is no longer Jew or Gentile, Slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ.”

God loves it when we put our roots deeply into this truth – we will always remember to run God even when we were amid our troubles. After all the scriptures say if we confess our sins God is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness, and even the prodigal son who said to himself when eating with pigs I will return to my father’s house and be his servant. The Moment he decided to return was the moment his father saw him coming home and went out to meet him on the way. Psalm 107 gives us examples of how God delivers people who call on his name.

The enemy can not separate us from Gods love. Romans 8:38 “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from Gods love. Neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow – not even the powers of hell can separate us from Gods Love.”

5.       Trust God not Mere Humans

Humans can and will let you down, even I can let you down.

Jerimiah 17:5-7 says “This is what the Lord says, cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord. They are like shrubs in a desert, with no hope for a future. They will live in a barren wilderness, in an uninhabited Salty Land. But blessed are those who trust the Lord and have made the Lord their confidence.”

Men can let you down – find out what God is saying you should do people have offer all sorts of advice and recommendations just look at politics.

       Last year I laid aside my political persuasion and asked God who I should vote and I hade peace about voting for the other guy, I don’t even like the other guy.  But I was humble and voted for him. Could you vote for the other guy if God asked you too against your own political convictions?

Ask God who he has chosen to be president?

Ask God who he has chosen to be your wife or husband, you may be shocked!?

I asked God to give me a specific sign to help me know who my wife was and now I am married to her. If I look over the hill and see greener grass I am reminded that God picked my wife for me and she is Gods best, and if I go an eat greener grass he will say plainly to me that I rejected his best because I fancied greener grass. But God doesn’t look at the outward appearance of things he looks at the heart. He knows who is best for me he found her led me to her and gave me the specific sign I asked for. She is the best one who can endure my troubles and stand by me and I her.

1 Samuel 16:6-7 “When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!”

7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Trust Gods choices he gives you peace about because he knows the heart of the person despite the outward appearance of how handsome they are or eloquent they speak.

6.       Shield yourself with your faith

     Faith is like a force field it is designed to stop the fear darts of the enemy. We have to raise our shield, or those darts are going to hit our hearts. A child of God who have effectively learnt to raise their shield of faith in God, his word, his promises and the pattern of his character can storm the gates of hell, liberating nations, cities, worlds and tearing down demonic strongholds.

                Remember the goodness of God toward those who love him, you love him You are no longer a slave to fear. Perfect love casts out all fear. And God loves you perfectly he must do because he sent Jesus to pay our ransom in his blood and broken body on the cross.

7.       Don’t take offence at Correction or instruction.

                To be mature – we to be willing to receive instruction, instruction is what makes us grow and its important to value the more mature members of the church they have been in similar places in their youth and have walked with God listen to the instruction he gives through the elders to grow to be where they are.

                In fact we need to recognise that taking offence is exactly what the enemy wants us to do in order to cripple us and get us to his will and bidding.

Proverbs 27:5 says: “The rebuke of a friend is better than secret love.”

You can not fulfil your purpose in life or in church if you remain offended at receiving rebuke. Rebuke is designed to put you back on the way of the Lord. If someone rebukes you its to save your life not to hurt you.

Being able to hear the rebuke of a wise person will put you back on track and instruction will help you grow in your faith. This is why fellowship with the saints (all believers) is so important.

And if a fool is someone who says there is no God, how wise therefore is someone who confesses that Jesus is Lord the only way to the Father and obeys his teachings.

8.       Obedience to the word – This is controversial among the disobedient.

Obedience to the word is the outward physical evidence of signs that we follow Jesus its not enough for someone to just say they are a Christian.

Do I have to feed on Gods word Day and night?

Does a baby need its mothers’ milk? Or a young man his sudza and stew?

Jesus said “The truth that you know will set you free!” We won’t know the truth is the truth if we don’t obey it. But If we obey and read it for ourselves the truth will set us free. If we seek God, we will find him in his word and he will set us free.

The first place to be familiar with Jesus is in his word, be acquainted to Jesus in his words. Then you will know the truth and it will set you free from the lies.

Obedience to the word will be evident by the fruit in our lives trusting to do what God wants us to do in difficult circumstance and they do indeed come.

Samuel 1 15:22 says “Obedience is better than sacrifice”.

If we obey God we will touch his heart!?!

I can remember at least three times I have touched Gods heart 1. When I was saved. 2. When my integrity in difficult circumstances delivered someone. 3. When I stood in the Gap by humbling myself turning from my wicked ways and seeking his face and praying.

I will expand on no 2, when I was in the army I was going to a local fellowship for British commonwealth soldiers and our pastor was always emphasising the importance of integrity we must be integral. Integrity is simple terms is just being honest.

 Anyway, our RSM wanted some of us to get a Mountain biking instructors certificate under our belts but to do that he asked me and two of my peers to lie about our training and falsify our documents. Although I wanted to do the course and get the certificate I couldn’t lie about it so I said” I am sorry sir I can’t lie about it.” He didn’t get angry he was a bit shocked but couldn’t punish me as one of the values of the British army is integrity he was annoyed and just said “Ok you can go!” he probably thought Blood Cpl Winyard wasting my time. Anyway, the RSM is the closest man from the ranks to the Commanding Officer and the news of my integrity must of reached her ears (this is important to note for later in my testimony). Needless to say, they all knew I was a confessing born again Christian.

A year later we were deployed on operations in Afghanistan and one of the Chefs had injured his back and was hospitalised my boss who was also his boss went to see him and after he had seen him he came out of the hospital and said that chef is faking it I am going to write his report and get him done for cowardice. He was mean about it and at the time the gossip around the chefs return to the UK with an injury was based on him being a coward. When I got back people were gossiping and talking about the chef behind his back as he was off on sick leave with depression.

I myself went on leave and didn’t return until after Christmas nearly four months later when I returned the chef was still on sick leave, he offered to give me a lift in his car to the doctors surgery on the way he talked about his problems how he thought our ex-boss was up to no Good he said I think he’s doing XYZ. When we stopped in the car park he asked me did I know what was going on… I PAUSED… I knew that even though God was not making himself felt present that he would know what my response would be, and although I fear my ex-boss but God that’s a whole new level of fear… So I said ”You know what chef I fear God Your XYZ is exactly what our ex-boss said he was going to do after he saw you in hospital that day in Bastian.” “The chef said “I won’t mention your name to the CO” but I said “No you must mention my name or it won’t carry any weight and I am only doing what I am supposed to do. After all I thought you were a coward but who am I to argue with medical experts!”.

He told the Commanding Officer what I had testified to him about, she didn’t even interview me because the reputation of being Honest was enough for the chef to just mention my name to know that I was speaking the truth. She interviewed the Master Chef afterwards and the set up unravelled itself all the liars ended up speaking the truth about what had happened. The chef was upgraded medically from his depression and was vindicated. And our Ex-Boss was made to write a letter of apology.

Literally if we obey God by being honest he will use us to rescue people from depression and persecution. Shortly after his vindication the Chef was baptised in the Garrison church.

There is a great lot of positive fuss in heaven made for those who obey the teachings of Jesus Christ. Jesus said” If you love me you will obey my commandments” (Teachings).

               

9.       Hope.

Hope is the expectation of the Positive things we expect that they cannot see yet?

Trust God he will deliver you in the storm.

He will never forsake you.

He will be with you in trouble.

He has and will plant you where you need to be.

If you receive rebuke you will be back on track.

Faith will be your impenetrable shield.

If you receive instruction you will grow.

Hebrews 11:1 says “Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of the things we cannot see.”

Put your hope in God alone. Hope is the expectation that God lives up to his character of being Good.

10.   Confidence

The Truth gives us Confidence.

Titus 1:2 says “The truth gives them confidence that they have eternal life, which God – who does not Lie promised them before the world began.”

We have confidence those of us who are born again, we have eternal life through Jesus Christ don’t cast it off or throw it away. God has given us eternal life not because we deserve it but because he infinitely loves us like a father his prized daughter!!

Remember God loves you, Obedience if better than sacrifice and God the father will be with you don’t throw away your confidence of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.

Final Prayer and conclusion

Father for Jesus name sake lead and feed us in your word Day and night, remind us to trust you in difficult situations, circumstances and conversations.

Remind us during life’s storms that the whole host of heaven has been delivered by you in their storms and if we have been disobedient if we confess and repent we will return to you. You will come to meet us on the way. Your word is not just a guide it is our history and in our history as a people you have proven yourself faithful to all those who love you and live according to your spirit.

  Help us to know for ourselves the truth that you love all of us equally from the least to the Greatest from the First to the last you have been with each of us and nothing can separate us from your love. Remind us not to put our trust in mere humans but in you God. Remind us in to raise our shield of faith to quench the fear darts of the evil one. For you have said perfect love casts out all fear.

Help remind us not to take offence but listen to the correction that puts us back on the pathway to you and let us heed instruction, so we can grow in grace like a tree planted by the waters that continually bears fruit in season and leaves that wither not. Remind us that suffering teaches us obedience and the truth that we know set us free and hope that does not ever disappoint us! For you have never lied. Lead us to where we have confidence as you haven’t given us a spirit of fear but of confidence and a sound mind. Let us go out and preach your good news to this broken world for your Glory and Jesus name Sake, Amen.