Golden State Pastor's Blog

A Matter of Trust - Pastor Cliff Donoho

Have you ever heard someone comment about how hard it is to trust God?  I have even been guilty of this.  Without thinking I will mutter “Okay God, I hope you know what you are doing.”  This has caused me to start thinking about trust in my everyday life.  Think with me for a moment about all of the things and people that we put our trust in everyday.  How about the common things that we even take for granted?

When we go to bed at night, we set an alarm and trust that it will go off in the morning.  Then we get up and get into the shower and trust that water will come out of the faucet.  Then we get into our cars and trust that it will start, stop and carry us to our destination.  Those are just little things; let’s look at some big things.   You drop your kids off at school and trust that they will not be harmed.  Leaving on vacation and trusting the pilot is in his right mind that day.  My point is that all day, everyday, we place our trust in things that very easily and most likely have let us down.

We need to realize that our God is the only real constant in our lives.  When everything and everyone else fails us, God will never cease to surpass our expectations.  Even when things don’t turn out the way that we hope they will, God is looking out for our good.  I am learning that all our good times are only good because of God grace.  Vice versa, in our hard times, the only way we can get through them is because of God’s grace.  God is so committed to our success.  It is his plan for each of us to go from victory, to victory.  I’m not saying that God never intends for us to have difficulties.  I believe that He allows us to go through tough times so that we will realize how much we need him.  It’s also an opportunity for us to see His awesome power at work.  Let me end this way...Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus.... I’m still learning day by day, it really is a sweet thing.

"Determination!"

The principle of determination is this: absolutely nothing worthwhile in life happens without effort. The only way you coast is when you're going downhill. If you're coasting in life right now you're headed downhill. Paul said, “I fight to the finish.”

The great people in life are just ordinary people with an extraordinary amount of determination. They don’t know how to quit. They keep on keeping on. They never give up.

Notice the terms Paul uses in Philippians 3:13-14 “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,¹⁴   I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Paul is saying to press on, keep straining toward the mark... press on to win the prize.
Feel the intensity of Paul, the determination. That phrase, “Press on” in the Greek literally means “I over extend myself. I go for it with all I've got. I throw myself into it, straining with every nerve and ounce and muscle to reach the prize.” He’s a man of intensity, maximum effort. No gain without pain. That's the way to live!

What would happen if Christians would put as much energy into growing in the Grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, as they do into making money or their favorite sport?

Acts 20:24 says “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”

This is Paul’s life verse. Paul said he's not going to stop, he’s not going to give up or quit. He's going to keep on keeping on until he's experienced all that God has for him in life. He wanted to finish the purpose for which God made him. He saved you and me for a purpose. Paul said he was going to finish what he started.

I hate the word “quit.” It sounds like such a losing word. I don’t like the word “impossible” either. God says all things are possible. Yet the world is full of quitters, people who throw in the towel at the drop of a hat. They give up on their business, their marriage, their kids, relationships, and dreams.

Paul said “I am not going to quit. No matter what happens, I'll never give up.” I want God's best for my life and I'm going to complete what He’s called me to do.

The last words of Paul are in the last book that he wrote. 2 Timothy 4:7-8 “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:⁸   Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

More than anything else I want to be able to say this about my life when I die. I finished the race and fought the good fight and kept the faith and as a result there is a crown laid up for me in heaven.

Paul’s not talking about salvation here – that’s a free gift. He’s talking about rewards. He’s running for rewards. There’s a crown that’s going to last on that side. I'm going to spend more time on that side of eternity than this side. Paul wanted to be a winner in life, not the winner of the world, but the winning that really counts.

Galatians 6:9 encourages the Christian, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

Don’t give up. Don’t give up on your marriage, or your dream. You will reap a harvest at the proper time if you do not give up.

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” (Philippians 1:6).

What God starts, He finishes. He doesn’t lead you out on a limb and cut you off. You do your part and God will do His part. You do your best and He'll do the rest.

Our church in Nashville, TN. is the Rejoice Free Will Baptist Church.  It is a place where we don't care about your past. I’m interested in the direction you headed right now. That’s what matters, - not yesterday, but today.
If God only used perfect people nothing would get done. It matters where you're headed now. What counts now? What's the direction now?

You need a power outside of yourself to let go of the past and to be able to focus on the future. You need to have the power to keep going, to keep on keeping on, to do the things you know to do – and that only comes in a relationship with Christ.

The words of a song come to mind. “I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back, no turning back.” That’s determination!