Trust God (Part B)

Even though small, it is what is makes the difference. Faith is not happening big has to be life producing has to get the believer from one port to another port from one harbor to another harm or from one battlefield that have faith has to do, that's what it does. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Mark, please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching, but for now let's join Pastor Rick in first John chapter 5, you'll begin there and then continue in Mark 11. Here he is with his message called trust God. First John chapter 5 verse four for whatever is born of God comes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world. Our faith that's what he says. John was there when Jesus gave this teaching. John was there when he was persecute when John was persecuted and put on the Isle of Patmos and other persecutions that he experienced. John was there word came that they killed James's brother with the sword. He's dead know something about facing immovable obstacles. God is saying here in Christ Faith gets the job done is very easy to understand is very painful to live out because of time. You notice he doesn't say how fast you can move that mountain if you have faith without doubting say that mountain be uploaded to move it to the sea, but he doesn't tell you might take 10 years doesn't say to be instantly we read it that way because we wanted that way, but faith even though small, it is what the potential that is within it makes the difference. Faith does not have to be big has to be life producing has to get the believer from one port to another port from one harbor to another harbor or from one battlefield to have. That's what faith has to do, that's what it does and so when Jesus gave his parable got faith like a mustard seed is not about being big. It's about having life that seed produces life is with us. He does so he says here again in verse 23 what, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says who would be dumb enough to say anything I have anything I want, I can have all the twisters I want to buy just FA prayer has rules, surprise. Who gets to say a mountain can be removed. This one or that one and where it is to be moved to who has a say so you think God of the universe going to trust anybody that I mean Daniel wasn't entrusted with that Joseph would come to them in a moment is you or is it someone else is a God who decides what immovable objects get move when they get moved and where they get moved to NY. Only faith can answer okay who owns my faith. Is it me is God who owns my faith. This is important I need to know ownership.

It disturbed King David that the ark of the covenant presents the visible presence of God, not the visible or the visage of God, not the face of God, but his presence was symbolized with the ark of the covenant anybody baby we got into Jerusalem it's under 10. I'm living in this palace is king. And this is not right.

So he says this to the prophet Nathan wants to do something about this is what Nathan said. Then Nathan said to the king go to all that is in your heart for Yahweh is with you.

Well, there's some truth in that Nathan was going to get corrected. That night Nathan came back to David was that night God came to Nathan and said listen, you goofed say like that is to gentle but David could not build the house of God first Chronicles chapter 17 verse four.

Go tell my servant David versus Yahweh you shall not build me a house to dwell in. But it was not an abrupt no God took so much care, explaining his reasons to David. Much love and promises to David build you a house I'm in a take care you and it's it's put in second Samuel and first Chronicles is spread out a little bit to get more of the story and as you read it just to look at that God was so gentle with David and Nathan, but David could be not say back to Nathan what was my idea I came up with this plan to build a house for God. How can you say no to me is not his idea, but he could not they would never say such a silly thing because he knew his faith belong to God.

He writes about this Psalm 16 all my soul. You have said to Yahweh you are my lord, my goodness is nothing apart from you David saying anything good in me like Jerusalem, all the springs are found in Yahweh is the source of life and relief. So Hebrews 12 two looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. That's ownership. The author owns it.

In fact, we have all these copyright laws to Tim and straight that the author owns it. Be guilty of infringement to faith is the property of God. And so Paul says be diligent to show yourself approved unto God. Worker does not need to be a shame works hard to be aggressive when it comes to hard work. So we see the power in this these verses say to us throughout the Scripture.

Your faith belongs to God before you go moving shoving mountains out of the way understand this faith.

It is to get that job done is not yours. You are part of the process, but it's not yours. His word is such a lamp, but it is the lamp is not the flame when our sorceress is what I'm saying. Psalm 119 through your precepts. I get understanding. Therefore I hate every false way said through your teaching to the rules you set out for me to precepts the rule I get understanding. B says I hate every false way because those false ways hurt people. That's why you find of a pretentious or a false Christian one that is pretending to be one. You know somebody's going to get hurt. Said this before, as as a child watching war movies whenever there the bad guys usually the Nazi troops whenever they dressed up like the good guys you know one your favorite actors were going to get killed in the movie and it is that is that is the truth in life is a parallel, there when Satan dresses up like a believer.

Somebody's going to get hurt so we look to have discernment otherwise. Who needs a sermon. Why does God give discernment so we can figure out what's going on spiritually. We can look beyond what's in front of our eyeballs and see you guys of faith looks gospel listen to this because false ways lead to destruction. We get that near many who go in by it.

The true way through faith goes to heaven in Christ. Again the center of the lesson is this tree is destroyed because it made a promise he couldn't keep as emblematic of Israel. I don't want you to be this way your Christian live like one.

Please pursue it by faith. You will be the last man standing in heaven after earth looks gospel chapter 16.

This is Lazarus the beggar dogs licked his sores. But he was a righteous man. How did he get that way but I wouldn't tell us to be a whole bunch of things. Good had a disaster catastrophe in his life he could become a drunk who knows what happened the last something happened, but one thing that did not happen. She did not go to hell. Luke chapter 16 verse 22 so it was that the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom.

The rich man also died and was buried see that stark contrast one carried by the angels. The other buried is put in the to hurt profound lesson for us. Trust God, you want the pastor to come up and say you know why you don't get the things you don't do things you want. You don't get them, she don't have enough faith will I'm not saying that is just too easy to easy to blame a person were at war. In this life there out there are forces that are contesting every single step. We try to make forward for the king were not supposed to be surprised by these things. I'm shocked sometimes when Christians see evil getting away with evil.

That's what evil does. It wasn't getting away with evil dead be no evil responses to be just that.

What is our response how we going to do a good preach anyway.

Verse 24 therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them.

You will have them.

I repeat prayer has rules. He most certainly is not saying you asked anything and you'll just get what he said that's what he means.

Keep the context to the context of all Scripture and reality and how Christ conducted himself in the next verse has one of those rules were just give you an example is if you don't forgive. You will be forgiven.

Don't expect your prayers to be answered. That's a rule that belongs to prayer this statement in verse 24 subsumes that the sovereignty of God is embraced by the believer. Like in Gethsemane when Jesus Christ said, take this cup from me.

Nevertheless, what you want what he is also saying here in verse 24 is that there is no limit to the power of a faithful prayer if it be God's will, however, if it is God's will, and no one prays it will it get done many times. No negligence. How can it get done.

I mean you go to find find a church whether God wants to work but nobody is letting him work. He behaved behold, I stand outside I'm knocking on the dogs.

I wanted to get inside and do stuff to this church, but I can't because I can't. I'm nauseated church at Laodicea until the church of Sardis you've got leaves no fruit. You have a name that you're alive which a dead says of the church at Ephesus got all these things going on that good things which you lost your love for me there people in the world. It rejected me.

They do things to why you acting like them all seven letters are quite me 77 letter seven church quite profound.

She tells the pastor of that church and to the angel of the church is the pastor is not some angelic being. That's the messenger of the church as it rolls from the pulpit out. That's how God set it up doesn't exclude you but doesn't this devalue your devotional time, your service, it includes you, but it sets rules for us.

He says if you don't get this right, I'm to take your lampstand that will leave you in darkness and you don't want that and so coming back to Jesus when he says therefore I say to you, which is built on so many of the things this means that there is so much power available in prayer we know it's true.

And because you don't see your prayers answered instantly doesn't mean the war is not taking place.

Hebrews 1139. All these, having obtained good testimony through faith.

That's what I want.

I when I finally leave this life.

I want to have left this life with a good testimony through faith. And then he says all these, having obtained good testimony through faith did not receive the promise. They died before they saw their mountains moved some of them, but ultimately they saw them all moved when they got to heaven so we get the impression that moving a mountain again will not take seconds.

If we don't doubt it's a long drive whether he got a not. It took Joseph years it took David years to escape those immovable problems in their lives. Meanwhile God was doing invaluable work in the lives of others. For example, Joseph's brothers, they were ready. I mean these guys were cold. They sold their brother. They do some of the one this kilo just because he didn't like, you know his his word because he was little naďveté I had a dream. I'm better than all of you.

I may lose Evelyn Skilling for that by the time he goes men get to him.

Years later, a decade later, more he asked the vet them, he has to see if these guys have changed not he goes through some painstaking stuff to get to that conclusion would God have been working in them through their guilt. How many times a day get up out of the 10 walkouts he manages which you should've done that. You never know what God is doing in the lives of others.

Was he supposed to give us a list and then updated.

We trust God. That's what we do because it makes destruction from judgment not necessary.

There are rules. As I've mentioned and and don't forget, I would strongly suggest you don't forget there are those that have problems with the church that has rules. Therefore, they are going to have problems with faith to you can't get away from rules exist to count her bad ideas, bad people saying all thought the job everybody has them and it's remarkable how many people want to see you drop your rules while they keep their rules doesn't work that way. And if that doesn't get upset.

But let's go back to this if you ask for it you get it kind of fought, what about Noah and Moses and Samuel in Job and Daniel could they get anything they wanted. Just because they lack faith God held these men as such high esteem that after their deaths. God told other prophets to use their names to tell the people how special their prayers were. But how limited their prayers were Jeremiah chapter 15 verse one then Yahweh said to me you can't challenge Jeremiah me this was Nick's extraordinary profit.

Yahweh said to me, even if Moses and Samuel stood before me. My mind would not be favorable toward this people cast them out of my sight. Let them go forth. God is saying those powerful men of prayer Moses and Samuel. Samuel powerful manner.

Prayer is even if they pray with all the faith they had my will, would not be to answer their prayer what we get out of that. That's we get just that that when we pray, is God's will, not ours. No matter how much we insist or demand, we can't name it and claim it which is a hellish thought. Dare you go to God's eye Lane I needed to get up smack you cross your mouth stop you from making such foolish prayers, is the difference between praying and seeing God. I believe you.

Nevertheless, your will be done. Verse 14 of Ezekiel 14. Now Ezekiel gets his turn to name some warriors of the faith, even if these men know what Daniel and Joe were in the city they would they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness, says the Lord God is God saying those men are righteous and by their prayers, they would be delivered but their prayer would be limited to themselves.

Abraham exhibited this. We pray for solemn God listen to God when the tolerated images. Such a lesson got to sing.

I don't mind talking to you in prayer.

I don't mind going back. I don't mind you laying out for me. But in the end, the terms will be set and I will set Abraham did not set the terms he thought he was making progress with God do with this is going.

God drew a line at 10 okay five Methodist 10. Define 10. I'll spare the city we can find 10.

God knew that he ended the conversation before Abraham got five I mean is a lot of wisdom and that is a great lesson that God got you not move him. This is the big part of what were saying God has a personality, a character is he is is him whereafter it is Jesus Christ the person, not the words, the person I don't, you can take my Bible away. Just don't take Jesus from you see what I mean, he's everything. Of course we use the Bible to learn Christ to whereafter in prayer whereafter him, Lord, what do you want, and he doesn't always open the sky up and say I would like this. I don't know if he is baritone and not with verse Ezekiel again. Chapter 14 verse 20 is repeated even though Noah, Daniel and Job were in it, as I live, says Yahweh God or the Lord Yahweh they would deliver neither son nor daughter.

They would deliver only themselves by their righteousness, profound.

There is a big part of the meaning about prayer and its power through faith, the rules of course metaphors critical for getting us to understand the victories that will come our way. The fact that you're sitting listening to God's word evidence God answers prayer, and if we stop looking to change the landscape by moving mountains focus on being faithful to the death finding the will of God, which is really what Christ is saying find that will of God line up with it righteousness comes through faith righteousness is the adjusted life to God to his truth. There are many truths if you buy a bicycle that comes with a manual of how to build it. That's truth according to the building, the bicycle, but there's the truth of God. The spiritual truths so you get into a car that's not yours you want to drive this car and the seed is not right you have to adjust the seat. That's what righteousness does it adjust itself so that it can be led by God it can be used by God. Righteousness is the life adjusted to God as found in the Scripture and faith which comes with righteousness if it is valued by God as being such a big thing.

As Jesus says, have faith in God trust God valued by the believer that is true, then it becomes by default. You could say instantly automatically by default. Faith becomes a high-value target for Satan, why, why is it that many, many Christians are more problematic in church and in life in many unbelievers. Why is that, I mean I used to be a shop steward on large construction sites with many men that were they were rank pagans and heathens. They were easier to manage. Many times in Christians you can go up to them.

You can reason with them that every time I mean there were those that were just, you know, looking for a fight and there Christians like why why is this what ones we expect more from Christians, but we fail to remember Christians are also sinners saved by grace, but sinners defective. The other is they are prized targets of Satan. Satan messing with them the skills that they remain Christians they can remain useful but is still getting messed with. On spiritual matters more than the world so it's not a large faith were looking for but it's a living faith and this is the again the only destructive miracle of Christ targeting this faithless tree. This fruitless tree was a big deal to Jesus was a big deal to Peter, the big deal to God.

And it's a big deal to our spiritual enemy and it's a big deal to a serious believer is a very big, so serious believer can look at that person say I don't understand I don't understand was being said it was. I can't prove this in my life, but I have enough of you, Lord Jesus, to trust you. You don't have to answer this for me, I'd like you to, as I like to know everything I like to be smarter than everybody else, to assure that is anybody else who wants to be dumber than everybody else. We narrated the screen of the Vista strongly back incidental on the way to name me. This is his last week on earth move.

Thanks for tuning in to cross reference radio for this study in the book of Mark cross reference radio is the teaching ministry of Pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia to learn more information about this ministry. Visit our website cross reference radio.com what you there you'll find additional teachings from Pastor Rick. We encourage you to subscribe to our podcast. When you subscribe will be notified of each new edition of cross reference radio. You can search for cross reference radio on your favorite podcast app that's all we have time for today, but we hope you'll join us next time.

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