Our faith must be practical, in order to receive God’s promises. Considering the many options before us, Carl shares practical ways to attain God’s best outcome, when we pray. Sometimes we hedge God in, restricting His ability, because of the way we petition Him. The ‘when’ and ‘how’ are up to God; we just need to stand in faith. This is the essence of trusting God for His best. The promises of God are conditional and His word must abide within us, to see the promises come to pass in our lives (Jn 15:7). Join Carl now for the final broadcast of this three part series…
Here is a complete transcript of the broadcast (below)…
Friend, this is our third and final broadcast from our session, Trusting God for His Best. What do you believe in God for yourself, friend? Are you having trust issues? We’re going to address some of those shortly. Let’s join me now, live in session. But see, whenever you lean, you make a commitment, right? You make a commitment. As soon as you’re there, you’re going to fall over unless someone helps you, unless somebody is there to hold you. And the Lord wants you to make that commitment. But the trouble is, we’re like this, I trust you, Lord. I haven’t quite let go of that weight yet. And many of us are just sort of leaning over, like, I trust you, but I’ve got 16 back-up plans, but I love you. Right? This guy is fully committed, man. He is like, today I’m trusting Jesus, and He is holding me up. Psalm 37:5 says, “commit your way to the Lord, trust in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.” But notice you’ve got to commit your way to Him.
So whenever you’re starting a project, like moving into a new room, just say, Lord, we commit our way to You right now, and we know You’re going to work out the stuff. Now, to use a real example, in this room, we had some difficulty with a technician who was supposed to show us how all the stuff worked. And so it was getting very tight to the deadline, and then he’s like, I can meet you Thursday. What we failed to explain was that that was after the service. So I was like, no, because we really want to practice stuff before the service, right? And he didn’t really get the urgency. So sometimes in life, we have to be prompted to confront people in the right way.
I’ll caveat that way. Okay, in the right way. Now, when I did press this gentleman, he all of a sudden came up with three more options to meet that weren’t there before. So that was a positive outcome. And we got stuff done, and amen, it all worked out. Hallelujah. My wife did a fantastic job, because she’s the brains of the outfit. But the bottom line is, sometimes when you’re trusting God, he will get you to talk to people as well. You have to come out of your comfort zone, all right? And you have to have some conversations you may not want to have, all right? Other times, you just trust in him, and then he works it out.
I’ve seen both ways, all right? I’ve seen both ways, all right? We have to be open to both. Some people don’t want to confront. It’s not in their nature. I understand that. It’s not pleasant. But, you know, at the end of the practice session, we were high-fiving and like, oh, when’s your service, man? I might come. And, you know, everything was hunky-dory, right? Because God’s anointing was on it, right? But as we know, if we’re doing God’s perfect will, there can be opposition. People think that if you’re doing God’s perfect will, everything’s going to be awesome, everything’s going to be wonderful, there’s going to be no opposition, no setbacks, no problems. In fact, I would suggest it’s the opposite.
If you’re actually really sold out to the Lord and want to do his will, sometimes it can have great opposition, all right? And so we mustn’t be discouraged when that happens, all right? Often it’s a badge of honor because it’s like, well, you stirred up the demonic realm, so maybe we’re doing the right thing, amen? You have to have that mentality, friend, because you are warriors. You are of the line of the tribe of Judah. You don’t back down, all right? In the spirit, you don’t back down. That’s how it is. We know our authority. Do we? Do we know our authority or not? That’ll be tested, by the way. So how many are going to lean tonight? How many are going to go all the way and just say, Lord, I’m sold out to you? No matter what happens, God is in control, question mark. Is God in control? What is he in control of? If God is in control, this is what a reporter said, I think it was in one of the, I think New York Times, if God’s in control of everything, as some Christians say he is, he’s not doing a very good job of it. Good point.
If God’s in control tonight, then he’s complicit with murder, theft, rape, and kidnapping tonight. If he’s in control of everything, that’s not true. He’s not in control of everything, friend. There’s a curse at earth here, and there’s choice. Is there not? Right? Okay, but you, friend, are in God’s kingdom. You are delineated into the kingdom of light, in the kingdom of his dear son. Therefore, he has control over you. That’s a very important distinction, friend. You’re in the kingdom of God. Therefore, he has a sway in where you go and what you do and how you do it. Friend, you wouldn’t even know how much you’re influenced by God already without even knowing it. You wouldn’t believe it.
When you get to heaven, he’s going to be like, man, for six weeks you were doing this. I was just guiding you the whole way. You’re like, my, I thought that was my idea. Right? He gave you the idea. You didn’t even know it. All right? And so Acts 17:28 says, “for in him we live, move, and exist.” In the King James, it says, we live, move, and have our being in Christ. Hallelujah. And so, sorry, these promises in the Bible, the vast majority of them are conditional. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall have what you will, and it shall be done unto you. John 15:7, right? So, Jesus is abiding in everybody who’s in Christ, but the word is not abiding in them. That’s the condition, right? So it has to be this in here.
So that when the time of testing comes, you have an answer, right? Jesus never had a conversation with the enemy. If you read Matthew chapter 4, there was never a discussion between Jesus and the devil. All Jesus did was quote the book of Deuteronomy three times. That’s how it should be with you. If he comes knocking, you’re never gonna pay the rent by the end of the month. Yeah, dude, I mean, I’m six days overdue right now. So all of a sudden, you’ve entered into that conversation, right? Now you’re down the slippery slope. Yeah, because, well, you’re gonna get paid in two, well, no, you’re gonna get paid after that. Yeah, that’s true.
So now you’re in this agreement in your mind. Oh, yeah, I’m not gonna get my rent paid now because of this, this, and this. That’s the testing. The testing has to be stood upon the word, right? My needs are met in Jesus’ name regardless of those things. Regardless of those things, my needs are met. That is your response, friend. That is how you’re gonna win. By knowing your rights, privileges, treasures, and spoils in the word of God. Now, if I don’t get an amen for that, I’m gonna cry. This new room, we need to check it out, babe. There must be a sound issue in here. In order for God to assist you in making good decisions, you must involve him in the decision-making process.
Oh, I’m just gonna… Yeah, I just assumed the Lord was in that. No, we need to involve him in it. Lord, I’m going to make this decision. I commit my way to you, and I acknowledge you in this decision, and then I believe you’re gonna intervene. Right? That’s allowing him to come in, right? And that’s what we need to do when we’re making big decisions, okay? So, as everybody does, they come up with the seven-step plan. So I gave it a go. How to pray in a trusting way. Seven ways, kids. You can trust God, right? So it’s right here. Okay, trust the Father’s goodness, knowing he will provide for you, so you’re standing on his foundation of trust. Meditate on the scriptures that pertain specifically to what you’re believing for. You’ve got to have the word to back it up. Build up your faith in that area of need, all right? Meditate on areas where you could see people’s needs were met. The Shunammite woman, for example. Whatever you want to use as an example.
You could say, Lord, you did it for her. You can do it for me. You’re not a respecter of persons. Build your faith up in that area. Check your heart for sin issues or condemnation. If there’s a sin issue that has not been resolved, you’re not going to have confidence when you pray, right? You want to have confidence that God’s hearing you and that he’s going to do it. Then we come boldly to the throne of grace. We expect to receive our answer when we pray. We want to believe we receive when we pray, not down the road. Did you pray for that, brother? Yes. Did you get it? I’m not sure yet. I’ll see what happens.
That’s not prayer. That’s not faith. That you’re not standing on the belief when you pray. Then thank the Father for what he has already granted you until the manifestation comes. Father, I thank you that you heard me. I’m standing on your promises, and I’m going to continue to thank you until it manifests. Now, I didn’t say until it’s answered, because it’s answered when you pray. I said manifests, which is when the thing you prayed for comes into the natural realm, right? Amen. So, in review, if you trust God and believe him for his perfect will in your life, know that regardless of circumstances, he will show you the way.
But be pliable. Be willing to make adjustments in your path. Be sensitive. And in James 2:20, the context of this is helping people who are in need, and it says, “O man, O you vain man, faith without works is dead.” So we have to put action behind what we believe, otherwise it’s no faith at all, right? People who really believe are going to do something about it. And those who trust in God are never stagnant in their faithful actions, but they continuously develop their faith muscle, okay? If you’re doing bicep curls, you’re on that 15-pounder.
Oh, man. Woo! Let’s go to 20. Let’s go to 20 next week. But you’ve got to really ramp it up, right? If you want to see those muscles grow, you have more resistance, right? And the resistance is how you develop that faith, stronger and stronger. So, faith requires corresponding action as evidence of faith. Stretch forth your hand. To the man with the withered hand, Jesus said, stretch forth your hand. He could have said, no, I have a withered hand and I’m not stretching it. That could have been his response. Well, can’t you see, Jesus, that I’m crippled? I mean, how can I stretch forth my hand? What a stupid question. That could have been his response, right? Arise and walk. No, Lord, I’m crippled. I can’t walk. Why would I stand up and walk? That’s ridiculous. Okay, but in each case, the person saw, man, this guy is telling me that I can do this if I just put some action behind what I believe, right? And that’s what he’s saying to us.
What action are you going to put behind what you believe right now? Some people have put stuff on the back burner for 25 years. I mean, God is wanting to resurrect that in you guys. He’s saying, no, I still haven’t forgotten about this. And I’m still willing to do it in your life, but you have to put some action behind it. It’s time to get in that wheelbarrow, hallelujah, with the Frenchman and trust him. Amen. He’s very adept. Well, let’s pray right now. Let’s just pray and ask the Lord to reveal to us areas where our heart might need to be restored, where we may be wounded, where, you know what, that trust issue has never been resolved. I was hurt during that. And you release offense towards God. All right? That’s a real thing.
Many people don’t talk about this, but some people don’t forgive God for the perceived things that he’s done to them. And that can be a barrier to you. And also forgiving yourself for stuff you did that probably wasn’t smart, and you are way too hard on yourself. You wouldn’t judge somebody else to the same level that you judge yourself. Some people are really hard on themselves. All right? And we need to let that go too. Amen? How many are going to be brave and do that? Friend, are you brave enough to forgive yourself? Are you going to do that? And there we have, friend, the end of our series, trusting God for his best. You know, I saw a quote on the internet the other day, and it said this, God wouldn’t have allowed it unless he had a purpose. Okay? Now, friend, God will allow something that he does not necessarily agree with, or even author.
You know, people say that everything has a purpose, or God has a purpose for everything. Well, that may be true. God may have a purpose for everything, but not everything you’re going through has a purpose. All right? Now, there may be some solace in that when you’re coming to trusting God, but the truth is, again, God does not approve of everything that he allows. Right? And another statement people say is everything happens for a reason. Yeah. I stubbed my toe on the end of the cupboard because I wasn’t wearing a shoe. That’s why, all right? It doesn’t have to be a deeper thing. You know, sometimes we look too deep for even tragedy, and try and make meaning out of tragedy. All right? God’s not the author of sickness, disease, and suffering. We have to separate these items in our theology when we’re going through everyday life. Don’t fall for the trap that everything that happens is God’s will, and everything that happens is for God’s purpose. Friend, that is not true. Okay? You’re going to have to pray through that. But, friend, this is an extensive topic. We all have trust issues. We all have times when it appears like God may have let us down, but he hasn’t let us down. It’s what we think.
It’s what we believe, based on a situation that, you know, we probably got into that we shouldn’t have, or we weren’t heeding the warnings, etc. Okay? So when it comes to trusting God for practical things, we have to overcome some wounds, some hurts, some expectations that weren’t fulfilled. We have to be honest with the Lord. We have to lay our heart open and trust again, even if it looks like we’ve been betrayed. But God’s not a betrayer. Okay? It’s our perception of it.
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