Sermon Notes
29 October 2006
Morning Worship
"IN GOD WE TRUST"
II
Timothy 2:12
12
If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will
deny us:
INTRODUCTION:
a. For many years our currency has had the phrase "In God We Trust." inscribed on one side. It is designed to demonstrate that our country has placed it's trust in God to guide it through the most difficult times in the past and hopefully, will in the future
b. "In God We Trust" first appeared on U.S. coins after April 22, 1864, when Congress passed an act authorizing the coinage of a 2-cent piece bearing this motto
c. Thereafter, Congress extended its use to other coins. On July 30, 1956, it became the national motto
d. The Christian should have a special appreciation for this phrase. It should be "In God We Trust" in every area of our life
I. TRUST GOD TO FORGIVE:
A. God wants to forgive us:
I Timothy 2:1-4
1
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2
For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and
peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4
Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the
truth.
II Peter 3:9
9
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness;
but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but
that all should come to repentance.
B. God has provided a means for our forgiveness, the blood of Jesus:
Ephesians 1:7
7
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,
according to the riches of his grace;
Romans 3:24-26
24
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ
Jesus:
25
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to
declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through
the forbearance of God;
26
To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just,
and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Hebrews 7:25
25
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God
by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
II. TRUST GOD TO KEEP US SAVED:
A. God has provided all we need to remain faithful:
II Peter 1:1-3
1
Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have
obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and
our Saviour Jesus Christ:
2
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of
Jesus our Lord,
3
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain
unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to
glory and virtue:
II Timothy 3:15-17
15
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to
make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
B. God has promised that we will not be tempted above our ability to bear -
I Corinthians 10:12,13
12
Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
13
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is
faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but
will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to
bear it.
C. We can rest assured that God will be with us in the most difficult of our
problems if we only lean of Him:
1. You see, God cannot remove all the problems that we have in this life. If
he did He would take away the freedom of choice of mankind. Christians are
not promised escape from trials
1
Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.
12
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
2. But What God does is help us through the most difficult of our problems
to deliver us whole as Christians on the other side of troubles
1
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told
you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you
unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
4
And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
5
Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we
know the way?
6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh
unto the Father, but by me.
33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the
world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the
world.
III. TRUST GOD TO KEEP HIS WORD ABOUT HEAVEN AND HELL:
A. God has promised Heaven to all His faithful
1
For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we
have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the
heavens.
5
For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in
the word of the truth of the gospel;
16
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice
of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall
rise first:
B. But He has also promised that the lost will go to a Devil's Hell
41
The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his
kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
4
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is
greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
46
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into
life eternal.
7
And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be
revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8
In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey
not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9
Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the
Lord, and from the glory of his power;
IV. HOW CAN WE KNOW THAT WE CAN TRUST IN GOD TO KEEP HIS PROMISES?
A. We can know because it is against the very nature of God to lie
2
In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the
world began;
18
That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we
might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon
the hope set before us:
4
God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written,
That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when
thou art judged.
Psa
51:4
B. We can trust God because He has given us a revelation of His Will:
Acts 27:25
25
Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even
as it was told me.
2. Paul believed God because He had given him a revelation of His will
3
How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore
in few words,
4
Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of
Christ)
5
Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now
revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
3. "Jesus loves me, this I know. For the Bible tells me so!"
C. We can trust God because we have record of a multitude of kept promises:
Solomon:
56
Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according
to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good
promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.
a. He brought the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage , just like he
said
13
And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt
in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner:
and these were confederate with Abram.
6
And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land;
and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four
hundred years.
Gen
15:13
b. He allowed His children to be in captivity to the Babylonians for 70
years, and then delivered them
11
And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these
nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.
12
And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will
punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the LORD, for their
iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual
desolations.
2
In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of
the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that
he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.
2. He kept His promise concerning the birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem
2
But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of
Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in
Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Mt
2:6
1
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the
king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2
Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star
in the east, and are come to worship him.
3
When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all
Jerusalem with him.
4
And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people
together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
5
And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by
the prophet,
6
And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes
of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people
Israel.
Mic
5:2
3. He kept His promise concerning the death and resurrection of Jesus
Isaiah 53
4. He kept His promise concerning the beginning the church in Jerusalem
1
The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
Acts 2
5. He kept His promises concerning the fall of Babylon, Tyre and Sidon,
Egypt, Assyria, Rome, and the destruction of Jerusalem. Not one promise was
not kept!
II Corinthians 1:19
19
For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by
me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.
CONCLUSION:
a. Trust God to keep His Word! He will always be true and faithful
b. He will be truthful to you, even if others will not!
DAVID'S KINDNESS TO MEPHIBOSHETH
II
Samuel 9:1-13
Introduction:
a. David wanted to show kindness to Jonathan's descendants because of the
covenant he had made with Jonathan when he was forced to flee from Saul
14
And thou shalt not only while yet I live show me the kindness of the LORD,
that I die not:
15
But also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever: no, not
when the LORD hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of
the earth.
16
So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the LORD
even require it at the hand of David's enemies.
17
And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved
him as he loved his own soul.
They had such great love for each other that they promised
they would always be kind to one another's descendants
b. As we study this text, we will make application to the grace of God
I. Mephibosheth was in terrible condition:
A. He was lame in both feet
3
And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may
show the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan
hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet.
4
And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five
years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his
nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee,
that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth. and had no
place to live
4
And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king,
Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar.
B. Compare this to one who is in sin. He is in a bad condition before God
1
Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his
ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
2
But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins
have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
II. David showed kindness for Jonathan's sake
1
And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I
may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?
2
And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when
they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And
he said, Thy servant is he.
3
And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may
show the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan
hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet.
4
And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king,
Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar.
5
Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of
Ammiel, from Lodebar.
6
Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto
David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth.
And he answered, Behold thy servant!
7
And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely show thee kindness for
Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy
father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.
A. Thus, Mephibosheth was blessed on the basis and merits of another
B. Forgiveness of sins is given on the basis and merits of Jesus Christ
Philippians 3:8-13
8
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the
knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all
things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law,
but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of
God by faith:
10
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship
of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
11
If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
12
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I
follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended
of Christ Jesus.
13
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do,
forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those
things which are before,
III. Mephibosheth came to David in great humility
6
Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto
David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth.
And he answered, Behold thy servant!
A. It was the custom of monarchs to destroy all the family who might be usurpers of the throne
B. Neither Mephibosheth's coming nor his humility made David his debtor
1. Neither is God indebted to us - However, we must come to God in humble obedience
4
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is
greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
12
And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble
himself shall be exalted.
IV. Mephibosheth showed his appreciation for what David did for him
6
Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto
David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth.
And he answered, Behold thy servant!
A. He later showed his love for David
24
And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither
dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the
day the king departed until the day he came again in peace.
25
And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that
the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth?
26
And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant
said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king;
because thy servant is lame.
27
And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the
king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine eyes.
28
For all of my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet
didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What
right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king?
29
And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I
have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land.
30
And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my
lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house.
B. We show our appreciation for what God has done for us by rendering a faithful service to Him
15
If ye love me, keep my commandments.
14
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
V. Mephibosheth continued to enjoy the bounty of the king
13
So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king's
table; and was lame on both his feet.
A. We continue to enjoy the spiritual blessings which come through Christ
3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us
with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
B. Must remain in Him to continue to be blessed
8
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is
the gift of God:
9
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which
God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one
with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all
sin.
Conclusion:
A. Thus, from the story of David's kindness to Mephibosheth, THE grace of
God IS ILLUSTRATED
B. God has been kind and merciful to us. Let us bear fruit to holiness
22
But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your
fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
