Our trust is in the Lord | Stefan Schlogl

Victory Christian Centre, Hutt City, New Zealand

2 Timothy 3:1 (AMP) BUT UNDERSTAND this, that in the last days will come (set in) perilous times of great stress and trouble [hard to deal with and hard to bear].

• Apostle Paul addressed this Letter of 2nd Timothy to Timothy, and to all future generations of Christians

• He said that in the last days there will be times of great stress

• Of course, there have been times of great stress before for many believers in previous generations and in various localities

• But Paul's warning about times of great stress in the last days should be understood as:

  • Definitely applicable to the last generation of believers
  • A world-wide situation

• When Jesus spoke about end times, He used the phrase: "Distress of nations, with perplexity" (Luke 21:25)

• A minister of the Gospel recently said: There is not one single Scripture in the Bible that says that things will be easy in the last days

• For NZ Christians, things have been "so good for so long", that most are shocked by these new conditions of great stress

• We have to adjust to these "new" conditions, and ramp up our faith walk to a new level

• Great faith will cause us to overcome in times of great stress

Finding your "secret place" & "trusting in the Lord"

Psalm 91:1–4 (NKJV) He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust." 3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. 4 He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge;__His truth shall be your shield and buckler.

• God has a "secret place" for every believer
• Not every believer has found his/her secret place yet
• Some visit it from time to time
• But God wants us to live (dwell) permanently in our secret place
• When you trust God fully with all aspects of your life, you have found your secret place

Good prayers to pray:

• Lord, I fully surrender my life to you now …
• Lord, I entrust you with my whole life …
• Lord, I fully trust you concerning my life and my future …
• (Walking in faith and trusting the Lord is the self-same thing)

Proverbs 3:5–7 **(NKJV)**_ **Trust in the Lord _ with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;fear the Lord and depart from evil.

• We should – trust in the Lord with all our heart
• We should not – lean on our own understanding
• We should - acknowledge God in all of our ways
• God will - direct our paths (notice the sequence!)
• We should not - be wise in our own eyes

Isaiah 28:16 (NKJV)**_Therefore thus says the Lord God: **"Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation;__ whoever believes will not act hastily. _

• Those who believe do not act hastily
• Don't let stress motivate you into making rash decisions
• By all means, prepare, but don't act out of step with God's leading

Psalm 18:1–3 (NKJV)I will love You, O Lord, my strength. _ 2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 3 I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies._

Psalm 20:7 (NKJV)Some trust in chariots, and some in horses;__but _ we will remember the name of the Lord our God. _

• Chariots and horses were means of natural warfare
• The answers to today's stresses won't be natural answers

Proverbs 18:10 (NKJV) The_ _ name of the Lord is a strong tower ; the righteous run to it and are safe._

Psalm 118:8–9 (NKJV)It is better to _ trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. 9 It is better to_ _ trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes._

• Many of today's princes (politicians) aren't part of the answer, they and their demands are part of the problem

Psalm 37:39–40 (NKJV)But _ the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in the time of trouble. 40 And the Lord shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in Him. _

Psalm 37:3 (NKJV)**_ **Trust in the Lord, _ and do good;__dwell in the land, and _ feed on His faithfulness. _

Psalm 73:28 (NKJV)But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all Your works.

Psalm 112:5–8 (NKJV) A good man deals graciously and lends; he will guide his affairs with discretion. 6 Surely he will never be shaken; the righteous will be in everlasting remembrance. 7 He will not be afraid of evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. 8 His heart is established; he will not be afraid,__until he sees his desire upon his enemies.

Things got very close before:

• The crossing of the Red Sea during the Exodus
• Enemy armies surrounding Judah in the days of Jehoshaphat

Exodus 14:13 (NKJV)And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever.

2 Chronicles 20:17 (NKJV)You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you."

• There is no promise in God's Word that says that we will not be inconvenienced
• But there are numerous promises in God's Word that promise us deliverance from the evil plans of the enemy