Message Notes

(I) THE PERSON EXPERIENCE OF TRUST

“I will love You, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” Psalm 18:1-2

1. Trusting in God is to be a personal experience

“In whom I will trust,” Psalm 18:2

2. It is to experience God in different multiple ways

3. Significance of each aspect of God…as rock, stronghold etc

4. Love and trust are inextricably linked

(II) THE PROCESS OF LEARNING TO TRUST

1. Trust is better learned when we learn to take tough circumstances

“The pangs of death surrounded me, and the floods of ungodliness made me afraid. The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me; the snares of death confronted me.” Psalm 18:5

2. Learn to cry out to God with trust

“I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.” Psalm 18:3 “In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry came before Him, even to His ears.” Psalm 18:6

3. Learn to appreciate what God can do

“He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my support . He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me.” Psalm 18:16-19

(III) PRINCIPLES THAT WE CAN APPLY AS WE LEARN TO TRUST GOD

” The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all His judgments were before me, and I did not put away His statutes from me. I was also blameless before Him, and I kept myself from my iniquity. Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in His sight.” Psalm 18: 20-24

1. There are principles that we can trust God for

2. Divine and universal principles

3. Apply to all and to ourselves personally

(IV) POWERFUL RESULTS OF TRUST

1. Spiritual sight

“For You will light my lamp; the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.” Psalm 18:28

2. Special protection

” As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.” Psalm 18:30

3. Strength

“For who is God, except the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God? It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of deer, and sets me on my high places. He teaches my hands to make war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.” Psalm 18:31-34

4. Support

“You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right hand has held me up, Your gentleness has made me great. You enlarged my path under me, so my feet did not slip.” Psalm 18:35, 36

5. Success

“For You have armed me with strength for the battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.” Psalm 18:39

“You have delivered me from the strivings of the people; You have made me the head of the nations; A people I have not known shall serve me.” Psalm 18:43