Fruitfulness through Trusting, Part 3 – By Bart Hadaway
Jeremiah 17:5-8 NASB – 5) Thus says the Lord, “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength. And whose heart turns away from the Lord. 6) For he will be like a bush in the desert and will not see when prosperity comes, but will live in stony wastes in the wilderness, a land of salt without inhabitant. 7) Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord. 8) For he will be like a tree planted by the water that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit” (Emphasis mine).
First and foremost, trust is always an issue of the heart. Faith AND trust are both essential in our relationship with God (Heb. 11:6). Faith comes through the revealed will and word of God (Rom. 10:17). Trust is that dynamic of the heart which takes us beyond faith. Trust is the assurance in our hearts in the goodness of God period. From vs. 7 we can see that a promise revealed will cause us to trust in God. But…….. A promise experienced will cause the Lord to become our trust! Through knowing and experiencing His promises, His will, and His nature, our trust is established and fruitfulness is guaranteed. Look at these three amazing promises to those who trust in the Lord.
- Will not fear – When we are rooted and grounded in the love of God (See Eph. 3:16-19), our security is not founded in the world or our circumstances. Our hope, our confidence, our identity, and our security are firmly established in the heart of the Father, the finished work of the cross of Jesus, and the Presence of the precious Holy Spirit.
- Will not be anxious – Not only is so much our world living in fear, they are also being consumed with the worry that goes with it. But not so for the sons and daughters of God! We have nothing to fear or worry about!
- Will not cease to yield fruit – Notice the context of this promise. It is in the midst of drought! Every city, state, region, and nation has unique challenges and problems. But none of them are problems for our great God. He is the all loving God. He is the all powerful God. NOTHING is too difficult for Him (See Jer. 32:17). Jesus came on the scene when the religious system was powerless and dry. The Jewish people as a nation were being ruled by a godless Roman government. But Jesus came with a message for them that is the same message for us today. The Kingdom of heaven is here! Church, we need to not look for answers, help, or hope in any other than Him. His Kingdom is alive and well. The King is on His throne. I have had the privilege to travel to several countries in the last seven years. In the midst of poverty and prosperity, the powerful Kingdom of God is manifesting all across the earth. It is happening here in the United States. It behooves us as sons and daughters of God to lay hold of every promise He has given. It behooves us to draw close to Him so that He may reveal His heart to us in deeper ways (See Ps. 25:14). It behooves us to believe Him. It behooves us to trust Him!
Two weeks ago while worshipping the Lord, He spoke a word to my heart that I am laying hold of. It is not a new word, but it was fresh, powerful, and so encouraging to me. I was simply telling Him the wonderful things that I love about Him. Lord, You are faithful. Lord, You are merciful. Lord, you are unchanging. Lord, You are good. While I was speaking, He clearly spoke to me. “I am willing.” He immediately reminded me of Mark 1:41. Jesus told the asking leper that He was willing to heal him. And He did! I believe with all of my heart that God is saying to His people, “I am willing. Believe and trust Me.”
Father, I pray for those reading this, that You will speak clearly to them. I pray that You will fill them afresh with faith, assurance, and trust in You. I pray that they will come to believe quickly that You are not only able, but that You are willing. You can be trusted, in Jesus’ name! Amen.
