Romans 1:17, "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith."

Hebrews 11:6, "But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

A. We must Learn How to trust the Lord.

1. Often, we do not trust the Lord as much as we say we do.

2. Much of our trust in the Lord is only Verbal And Temporary.

B. Without Trust in the Lord and full dependence upon Him Your Needs Will Not Be Met.

A. Make the Object of Your Security, things which will not pass away with time.

1. Psalms 31:6, "I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD."

2. Have no desire to make your objects of security those things which can and will pass away.

3. Do you get Upset when there is a minor financial problem?

4. Don't allow those who place their faith in this world's goods to become your close friends.

B. Openly Identity With Jesus as the Lord of your life and provisions.

1. Psalms 31:19, "[Oh] how great [is] thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; [which] thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!"

2. There must be an Openness concerning your willingness to trust in the Lord and not in men.

3. Are you actively giving a witness as the Lord provides?

4. When there is an opportunity to share how the Lord has moved in your life to supply a need, do you share it in a manner that will give God The Glory or You The Praise?

C. Put Priority on Things Which Please The Lord.

1. Psalms 37:3-4, "Trust in the LORD, and do good; [so] shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."

2. Actively become Involved in those things that are Pleasing In The Eyes of God, those things that Delight Him.

3. I John 3:22, "And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight."

D. Reserve Your Respect And Honor for those who are Humble And Truthful.

1. Psalms 40:4, "Blessed [is] that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies."

2. Don't Give Honor or Favor to those who are insolent (haughty, arrogant) toward the Lord.

3. Do you have Among Your Close Friends those who spend more time building themselves up than others.

4. Do you spend great amounts of time with those who Question God's Word and Ability To Supply?

E. Don't Be Afraid of What Men May Say or Do.

1. Psalms 56:3-4, "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me." --- V. 11, "In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me."

2. Isaiah 12:2, "Behold, God [is] my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH [is] my strength and [my] song; he also is become my salvation."

3. Develop the ability to Praise The Lord Even In The Most Difficult of Circumstances.

4. Have Confidence that He Will Redeem And Justify Your Faith In Him.

5. Have Greater Fear of The Lord --- than of man.

6. Is the first thing that you do when faced with adversity Praise The Lord or Complain About His Injustice?

7. Do you spend more time Complaining to the Lord than Praising Him.

8. Do you Complain to others when God Does Not Move According To Your Time Schedule?

F. Confess Your Sins.

1. Psalms 62:8, "Trust in him at all times; [ye] people, pour out your heart before him: God [is] a refuge for us. Selah."

2. Proverbs 28:13, "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh [them] shall have mercy."

3. Lay bare your whole being before the Lord with your desires and needs.

4. Stay in an attitude of prayer.

5. Keep abreast of confession.

6. Keep a time with the Lord on a regular basis.

7. Or, do you Refuse To Admit Your Sins and desire to look at them as Only Mistakes?

G. Rely Upon The Lord.

1. Psalms 25:1, { [A Psalm] of David.}" Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul." --- V. 4, "Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths."

2. Psalms 37:3, "Trust in the LORD, and do good; [so] shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed."

3. Psalms 118:8-9, "[It is] better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. [It is] better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes."

4. Psalms 146:3, "Put not your trust in princes, [nor] in the son of man, in whom [there is] no help."

5. Isaiah 50:10, "Who [is] among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh [in] darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God."

6. Hosea 12:6, "Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually."

7. Romans 5:3-5, "And not only [so], but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."

A. Our Needs Are Provided.

1. Boaz told Ruth that God rewarded her trusting Him.

Ruth 2:12, "The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust."

2. David proclaims God's promise of abundant provisions.

Psalms 37:3, "Trust in the LORD, and do good; [so] shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed." --- V. 25, "I have been young, and [now] am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread."

3. God's provisions shall be so great that you shall have an Over Abundance.

Proverbs 28:25, "He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat."

B. We Are Protected.

1. Samuel told David that God would protect him and David praised God.

II Samuel 22:2-4, "And he said, The LORD [is] my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; The God of my rock; in him will I trust: [he is] my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence. I will call on the LORD, [who is] worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies."

2. God Can Be Depended Upon to protect those who Trust in Him.

Psalms 5:11, "But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee."

II Samuel 22:31, "[As for] God, his way [is] perfect; the word of the LORD [is] tried: he [is] a buckler to all them that trust in him."

Proverbs 29:25, "The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe."

3. God Will Protect You from those whose aim is to cause problems by starting Rumors, Slander And Gossip.

Psalms 31:19-20, "[Oh] how great [is] thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; [which] thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues."

C. God Stands With Us.

God will not turn His back on you in your hour of need.

Psalms 9:10, "And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee."

D. God Strengthens Us.

1. God will be Your Strength For All Occasions.

Psalms 18:2, "The LORD [is] my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, [and] my high tower."

2. You will become Solid As A Rock and Unswerving in your Faith and Confidence in the Lord.

Psalms 125:1, {A Song of degrees.} "They that trust in the LORD [shall be] as mount Zion, [which] cannot be removed, [but] abideth for ever."

3. You will Avoid Backsliding.

Psalms 26:1, { [A Psalm] of David.} "Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; [therefore] I shall not slide."

E. We Have The Victory.

1. Israel had the enemy given into their hands because they trusted the Lord.

I Chronicles 5:20, "And they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all that [were] with them: for they cried to God in the battle, and he was entreated of them; because they put their trust in him."

2. David praises God for His deliverance.

Psalms 22:4-5, "Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded."

3. You will have Victory (Deliverance) From Satan and his snares.

Psalms 37:40, "And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him."

4. God Will Justify Your Faith in Him by bringing to completion those things you have committed to Him.

Psalms 37:5, "Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring [it] to pass."

F. We Shall Not Be Ashamed.

1. Psalms 25:2, "O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me." --- V. 20, "O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee." --- 31:1, "In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness."

2. Hebrews 13:5-6, "[Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord [is] my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."

G. God Blesses Us For Trusting Him.

1. Psalms 2:12, "Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish [from] the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed [are] all they that put their trust in him." --- 17:7, "Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust [in thee] from those that rise up [against them]." --- 34:8, "O taste and see that the LORD [is] good: blessed [is] the man [that] trusteth in him."

2. Proverbs 16:20, "He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy [is] he."

3. Jeremiah 17:7-8, "Blessed [is] the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and [that] spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit."

H. We Have Peace And Rest.

1. He will Shield Us from Pressures and Worries.

Proverbs 30:5, "Every word of God [is] pure: he [is] a shield unto them that put their trust in him."

2. When all those around you are undone and lacking any type of real security, you will have Complete Peace of Heart in your God.

Isaiah 26:3-4, "Thou wilt keep [him] in perfect peace, [whose] mind [is] stayed [on thee]: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH [is] everlasting strength:"

I. We Are Able To Think Straight.

1. You will Not Be Deceived by the designs of Satan.

Psalms 22:5, "They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded."

2. You will have Answers for those who ridicule you.

Psalms 119:42, "So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word."

3. God will give you a Sense of Direction on the Decisions you have to make in life.

Psalms 143:8, "Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee."

J. We Have Everlasting Life.

1. Psalms 32:10, "Many sorrows [shall be] to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about."

2. Isaiah 57:13, "When thou criest, let thy companies deliver thee; but the wind shall carry them all away; vanity shall take [them]: but he that putteth his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain;"

3. Psalms 125:1, {A Song of degrees.} "They that trust in the LORD [shall be] as mount Zion, [which] cannot be removed, [but] abideth for ever."

A. To Assure Success.

1. As we believe the Lord and His Word, God promises to Establish Us and Prosper those things we do in obedience to what the Lord says.

2. II Chronicles 20:20, "... Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper."

B. To Fulfill Our Fundamental Duty.

1. The Main Work or man is to believe in Christ.

2. This is Basic To Everything else we do for the Lord.

3. John 6:28-29, "Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent."

C. To Obtain Our Defensive Weapon.

1. It is Only By Faith and trusting in the Lord that Satan's snares, accusations and temptations are warded off.

2. Ephesians 6:16, "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked."

D. It Is Impossible To Please The Lord Without Trusting Him.

Hebrews 11:6, "But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

E. It Is Essential For Effective Prayer.

James 1:5-7, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord."

F. It Is By Love For One Another That Faith In The Lord Is Displayed To The World.

I John 3:23, "And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment."

G. Necessary For Salvation.

1. It is by refusing to place any dependence upon our works but entirely upon the Lord and His finished work on Calvary that salvation is received.

2. John 3:15, "That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life."

3. John 20:31, "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."

A. Lack of Sympathy on The Part of Other Believers.

1. There are times when Even The Members of Christ's Church will not understand your trust in the Lord.

2. They may even become a Source of Ridicule.

3. The Lord allows this to Check Out The Sincerity of Our Faith.

4. Mark 10:13, "And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and [his] disciples rebuked those that brought [them]."

B. Discouraging Circumstances.

1. The Lord at times, allows difficulties to Test Our Desire to have His Best.

2. The speed with which we become discouraged is Inversely Proportionate to our faith.

3. The men with the paralytic were unable to reach Christ because of the crowd.

Luke 5:18-19, "And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought [means] to bring him in, and to lay [him] before him. And when they could not find by what [way] they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with [his] couch into the midst before Jesus."

C. Unbelieving Friends.

1. Those who tell us that our problems are Beyond The Capability of the Lord or, are too Insignificant to bring to Him.

2. Mark 5:35, "While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's [house certain] which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?"

D. Scoffers.

1. Those who try to Explain Away the workings of the Lord in "logical" terms or Give Men Credit For God's Work.

2. Rulers of the synagogue told the blind man healed by Christ that Christ could not have done it.

3. John 9:24, "Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner."

E. Unexplainable Divine Delays.

1. Our Faith Is Strengthened by His supplying our needs when all seems lost.

2. Christ delayed to go to Lazarus in order that others might see the full power of God.

3. John 11:3-6, "Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard [that], he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was."