24th September 2023
TEXT : JEREMIAH 17:5-8
Reading: 5 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.
6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.
7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
8 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.
INTRODUCTION : These verses speak about trust. Verse 5 says, ” Cursed be the man that trusterh in man….” and verse 7 says,” Blessed is the man that trusterh in the LORD…..”
To trust means to place one’s confidence upon, or to place one’s hope in, or to rely upon the ability of another..
These verses are not teaching us that it is wrong to put trust in man for anything ( Example:: I trust that Pastor Mark will preach the right doctrine from God’s word. I have heard him teach or preach several hundred times. I have confidence that he will rightly divide the Word of Truth.)
You all know how much I love Pastor Mark and how Pastor Mark also loves me.
However, when it comes to my life, — my daily needs of provision, protection, guidance, and deliverance, I must put my trust in the LORD!
We all trust in someone or something to meet our needs – we ought to put our trust in the LORD!
Today, I want to give you two truths about trust,
(1) TRUSTING IN MAN BRINGS A CURSE.
God specifically says, ” Cursed be the man that trusterh in man.. … “
It is a huge mistake to place your trust in man.
(A) We depend on the limited and flawed for our help.
Psalm 39:5, ” Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity.”
No man has the ability to meet all our needs. Every man is limited — in finances, in strength, in knowledge, and in wisdom.
No man always makes the right judgments or decisions.
We are all flawed and have faults. We make mistakes.
Trusting in man will lead to discontentment, discouragement, and
disgruntlement, it will bring a curse!
Why? MAN WILL LET YOU DOWN.
Psalm 146:3 & 4 ” Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.
4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. *
(B) Our heart departs from the LORD.
In the text, Jeremiah 17:5 it says, ” Cursed be the man that trusterh in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the
LORD. “
When we put our trust in man to meet our needs and rely on man for our strength — it will lead our hearts away from the LORD.
Look down at verse 9,. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked who can know it? ” When we place our trust in man, instead of God, our wicked heart will quickly depart from God.
(C) We don’t see God’s goodness in our lives
Jeremiah 17:6, ” For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited”
Do you see God’s goodness in your life? Can you see that God has been good to you?
When we trust in man, then we will be focused on the shortcomings and failures of man and well neglect to see the goodness of God in our lives!.
(D) Our lives are barren and fruitless.
Jeremiah 17:6. ” For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited”.
The one who places his trust in man will have a barren and unfruitful life.
Are you bearing friut for God? In your services to God, Church attendance, your tithe and offering, your job, and your life. doing all these can be a good indicator of whether your trust is in God or in man.
(2) TRUSTING IN THE LORD BRINGS BLESSING.
It is obvious that if you put your trust in man, it bring curse, then it is logical to say putting your trust in God brings Blessing.
Jeremiah 17:7, ” Blessed is the man that trusterh in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. “
(A) Our hope is in the Omnipotent. Caring Father Who is able!.
That is a blessing! There is no problem too big that God can not solve! There is no mountain too big that God can not move! There is no Storm too dark that God can not calm it! There is no sorrow too deep that God can not soothe it!
We can trust God!.
I love what the Psalmist said in Psalm 121, ” I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help, My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and the earth, “
God is able to create heaven and earth ! I can trust Him!
God is able to make water come out of rock and bread to fall from heaven! I can trust Him!
God is able to roll back the Red Sea and the Jordan River! I can trust Him!
God is able to send fire from heaven! I can trust Him!
God is able to feed thousands of people with 5 loves of bread and 2 fishes! I can trust Him!
God is able to make the blind to see, the deaf to hear, the dumb to speak, and lame to walk! I can trust Him!.
Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD !
God has no limits to His wealth, power, or wisdom. Every judgment and decision He makes is the right one.
He is our Omnipotent, Heavenly Father, who is ever ready to meet the needs of His Children.
Jeremiah 17:8 ” 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.
The LORD is the Fountain of Living Water! Trusting in the LORD is like running the roots of your life to a water that flows continually.
(I) God can meet your needs.
Psalm 37:25, ” I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
Remember Elijah….. With the widow woman of Zarephath.
What of Abraham and Isaac? Where is the lamb? God will provide… and He did ! GOD WILL ALWAYS PROVIDE !
(II) Proverbs 3:5,6 ” Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Remember Moses and the children of Israel; at the Red Sea, nowhere to go, Moses said, ” Fear ye not, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD. “
Sometimes we get confused and we don’t know the way we should go. We don’t know what decision we should make. We need to look to God and trust in Him for guidance.
(III) God can strengthen us.
Isaiah 26:4 ” Trust ye in the LORD forever; for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength “
When you get weary and tired, trust in the LORD.
When you have no strength left, trust in the LORD.
Isaiah 40:31 ” But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
He can strengthen you for the journey ahead. Trust in Him.
(IV) God can protect us.
Nahum 1:7, The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. “
Psalm 27: 1,2 .. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
In 2 Kings 6, Syria and Israel where at war; the King of Syria was angry because someone was telling the King of Israel his plans; he found out it was Elisha; he sent an army to surround the city where Elisha was staying, in the morning Elisha’s servant went out and saw horses of chariots surrending them. He was afraid and asked Elisha what they should do, Elisha told him not to fear for the ones on his side were more than the enemy: he then prayed for the LORD to open the eyes of his sevant, his servant then saw horses and chariots of fire about them; Elisha asked the LORD to make the enemy army blind and He did; Elisha then led them to Samaria into the hand of the King of the Israel– AMEN!
Our God is powerful! He is able to deliver us! He is able to protect us.
Psalm 20:7, ” Some trust in the chariots, and some in horses: but we will be remember the name of the LORD our God .
(V) We will Bear fruit.
The last part of Jeremiah 17:8 says, “. ….. neither shall cease from yielding fruit “.
When we put our trust in the LORD, it is like we are as a branch connected to the vine, The natural by-product is that we will bear fruit for God’s glory!
Jesus said in John 15:8 ” Herein is my father glorified that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples “.
He went on to say in verse 16 ,. ” Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordered you, that ye should go and bring forth, fruit and that your fruit should remain, that whatsoever ye shall ask of the father in my name, he may give it you. “
Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD. He will bear fruit for God.
CONCLUSION : In whom will you put your trust in?
In God or in Man?
Remember putting your trust in man Bringing curse, but putting your trust in God brings blessing.
We all want blessings, so let’s put our trust in God Almighty.
Amen.