Believing God: Part 2 Was faithful in my past

A powerful motivation for believing God in our present is intentionally remembering how He’s worked in our past. I. The problem is we tend to…

1. Have a very short memory of God’s provisions. “When our fathers were in Egypt, they gave no thought to your miracles; they did not remember your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea.” Ps 106:7

2. Focus most of our energy on the present crisis. 3. The results: We tend to question God’s ability / willingness to fulfill His promises.

“Then they believed his promises and sang his praise. But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his counsel.” Ps 106:12-13 “What do these stones mean?” Joshua 4:6

Count Your Blessings When upon life's billows You are tempest tossed, When you are discouraged Thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings Name them one by one, And it will surprise you What the Lord hath done.

Count your blessings Name them one by one. Count your blessings See what God hath done. Count your blessings Name them one by one. Count your many blessings See what God hath done.

Are you ever burdened With a load of care, Does the cross seem heavy You are called to bear. Count your many blessings Every doubt will fly, And you will be singing As the days go by.

When you look at others With their lands and gold, Think that Christ has promised You His wealth untold. Count your many blessings Money cannot buy, Your reward in heaven Nor your home on high.

So amid the conflict Whether great or small, Do not be discouraged God is over all. Count your many blessings Angels will attend, Help and comfort give you To your journey's end.

II. God was faithful in my past when: 1. He made me “But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?'” Romans 9:20

‘Moses said to the LORD, "O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” Exodus 4:10

“But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.” Is 64:8

2. I wasn’t faithful to Him “Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: "Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly.” Mt 26:75

“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” Matthew 16:18 We tend to be unfaithful to God but God remains faithful to His promises.

3. Bad things happened to me. “Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move.

I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers.

I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.

Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” 2 Corinthians 11:24-30

III. God has not … 1. Forgotten me “I say to God my Rock, "Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?” Ps 42:9

“For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers,” Deut 4:31

2. Forsaken me “Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.” Ps 9:10

“Everyone has been betrayed by someone, some more profoundly than others. Betrayal is a violation that strikes at the core of our being; to make ourselves vulnerable and entrust our well- being to another,

only to be harmed by those on whom our hopes were set, is among the worst pain of human experience.

Sometimes the way God treats us feels like betrayal. We find ourselves in a dangerous world, unable to arrange for the water our thirsty souls so desperately need. Our rope won’t take the bucket to the bottom of the well.

We know God has the ability to draw water for us, but oftentimes he won’t. We feel wronged. After all, doesn’t Scripture say that if we have the power to do someone good, we should do it (Prov. 3:27)? So why doesn’t God?

As I spoke with a friend about her painful life, how reckless and unpredictable God seems, she turned and with pleading eyes asked the question we are all asking somewhere deep within: “How can I trust a lover who is so wild?”

Indeed, how do we not only trust him, but love him in return? There’s only one possible answer: You could love him if you knew his heart was good.” (The Sacred Romance, 70)

IV. God has… 1. Forgiven me “But with you there is forgiveness;” Ps 130:4

2. Been there all along “For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.” Ps 57:10

Great is Thy Faithfulness. "Great is Thy faithfulness," O God my Father, There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

"Great is Thy faithfulness!" "Great is Thy faithfulness!" Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand hath provided— "Great is Thy faithfulness," Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest, Sun, moon and stars in their courses above, Join with all nature in manifold witness To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide; Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

“Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.” Ps 78:7