Good evening.  Well, after thinking about it for a while, I decided that since this morning we talked about trusting God, that I would address that issue in our lives this evening.  Now, this morning I began with a song, and again tonight, I would like to use a song as part of our discussion.  Before we listen to that song though, allow me to give you a little background on this song.

Diamond Rio is a country band formed in 1989.  They consist of 6 people that are passionate about music.  In March, of 2005, this song was performed at a Diamond Rio concert.  They received an immediate standing ovation, and continue to do so every time they perform it.  Sadly though, some major radio stations wouldn’t play this song because it was considered politically incorrect.  Consequently, the song was never released to the public.

The title of this song is, “In God We Still Trust.”  Listen to the words of this song: PLAY CD OF “IN GOD WE STILL TRUST”

Before we move on, let’s begin with a word of prayer.  Let’s Pray!

Now, from this song, let’s consider how we still trust in God in America.
1- We still trust God to be our God.
2- We still trust God to take care of us.
3- We still trust God to save us.

First, We Still Trust God To Be Our God
In Psalm 33:12 it says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He chose for His inheritance.”

If we still honor Him as God then He will be our God.  But we can get into some serious trouble when we don’t allow God to be our God.  Can you imagine what this world would be like without God as God?

In God we trust.  Is this true?  Is this true for most of the American people?

Well, I fear not.  For most, God is not their God.  Anything and everything has become the god of many Americans.

Romans 1:18-25 says, “1”

Americans are worshippers, for sure.  But they don’t worship what should be worshipped.  Preacher Adrian Rogers of the large Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, TN, said one time, “And idol is anything you love more, fear more, value more, or serve more than you do Almighty God.  You fill in the blank.”

What are some things that tend to replace God in our lives?

I Peter 5:8-9 tells us to, “Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith…”

You see, we must trust God to be our God and not anyone else or anything else.  We must seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness if we expect Him to be our God.

Second, We Still Trust God To Take Care Of Us

Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

Do we trust God to take care of us in life or do we try to go it alone, thinking we can handle everything by ourselves?

How do we trust God to take care of us?

A minister tells this story: “I remember many years ago a young wife and mother came to see me about some trouble she was having in life. I don’t even recall what the trouble was. Her father was the local police chief and did not go to church anywhere. I don’t think he believed in church at all. She said to me, “Please don’t tell my father that I came to see you for help. He believes that a person should take care of themselves and not lean on anyone or anything.””

But you know what, that kind of attitude and action will last only so long.  Some day everybody who believes that way will come to the end of their rope and will begin to realize they are not all-sufficient.  God allows such people to come to the end of their rope so they will realize that He is God and He alone can help them in life.

James 4:8-10 says, “Come near to God and He will come near to you.  Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  Grieve, mourn and wail.  Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.  Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.”

Can God take care of us in life and in death?  What do you think?  Where’s your faith?  Do you believe Hebrews 11:6?  “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”
A preacher named James Brown said, “There is no situation I can get into that God cannot get me out.  Some years ago when I was learning to fly, my instructor told me to put the plane into a steep and extended dive.  I was totally unprepared for what was about to happen.

After a brief time the engine stalled, and the plane began to plunge out-of-control.  It soon became evident that the instructor was not going to help me at all.  After a few seconds, which seemed like eternity, my mind began to function again.  I quickly corrected the situation.
Immediately I turned to the instructor and began to vent my fearful frustrations on him.  He very calmly said to me, “There is no position you can get this airplane into that I cannot get you out of.  If you want to learn to fly, go up there and do it again.”  At that moment God seemed to be saying to me, “Remember this.  As you serve Me, there is no situation you can get yourself into that I cannot get you out of.  If you trust Me, you will be all right.”  That lesson has been proven true in my ministry many times over the years.”

If we still trust God as the only true, living God then He will take care of us.

And Finally, We Still Trust In God To Save Us

One Chinese preacher wrote, “Almost 15 years ago, my family and I visited China.  We had a relative in Canton, who was responsible for distribution of food.  When we visited him, we were treated to the best in every way.  In China, whether you think it is fair or not, relationship is everything.  People are not always rewarded based on ability, but based on their connection to one another.”

I think that’s very interesting.  Relationship is everything!  Ability and money mean little.  What matters is who you are and to whom you are related more than what you are or how much you are worth materially.  AND SO IT IS WITH GOD!

How does relationship play a role in God saving us?

Romans 6:23 tells us, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Ephesians 2:6-7 says, “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”

And in Philippians 4:19 we are told, “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

You see, God gives to us certain blessings, rewards, etc. mainly because of our relationship with Jesus Christ.  Because we are in Christ!  And, of course, the greatest reward of all is eternal life!  And we trust God to save us in Christ!

Listen to this story from another minister.  He writes, “Just hours before my mother passed away at the Freeman Hospital in Joplin, MO, on that Sunday morning, June 30, 2002, she talked with a lady from the nursing home who stayed with her while I driving fast to get to Joplin, MO.  The lady from the nursing home was Jill Smith, the activity director for the National Healthcare where mother spent the last 10 months of her life on earth.  Mom loved Jill and Jill loved her and she always told mother that if she had to go to the hospital for any reason that she would be with her until a family member got there.  And Jill was with her.
But not only did she just sit with mother she also talked to mother and led her in the Lord’s Prayer and the 23rd Psalm.  Jill said that mother’s voice was the strongest when she came to that part in the Psalm, “And yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me…”

Jill indicated that mother was not afraid to die.  Why?  Mother was a Christian but at times in her life she had not been the best Christian in the world.  But why then was she not afraid to die?  I believe at that time in her life she fully trusted in Jesus to save her and take her to Heaven.  I believe that when it came down to the nitty gritty, at death’s door, she believed and trusted God to save her in Jesus.

Mother’s faith was not perfect, but she believed in a perfect God and a perfect Savior!  And that’s what makes all the difference in life and in death!”

So what about us?  More importantly, what about you?  Do we still trust God to saves us in Jesus?  In today’s world, it is more important now than ever before that we trust God.  Like I said this morning, most people believe in God, they just have a hard time trusting Him.

As we close this evening, what can we do as a way of continuing to trust God?

Well, as we go throughout the rest of our lives, may we continue to trust God to be our God, may we trust God to take care of us, and may we always trust God to save us.

Let’s Pray!