WHAT IS TRUST, HOW IS THE WORD DEFINED? TRUST IS DEFINED AS, "ASSURED RELIANCE ON THE CHARACTER, ABILITY, STRENGTH OF SOMEONE OR SOMETHING; OR ONE IN WHICH CONFIDENCE IS PLACED. WE, AS CHILDREN OF GOD, ARE TO PLACE OUR TRUST IN GOD. WE ARE TO TRUST IN, RELY UPON, CLEAVE TO THE LORD GOD. DAVID, KING OF ISRAEL, WAS INSPIRED OF GOD TO RECORDED THESE WORDS.

2Sm:22:3: The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.

2Sm:22:31: As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.

2Sm:22:32: For who is God, save the Lord? and who is a rock, save our God?

2Sm:22:33: God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.

CHILDREN OF LIGHT, IT IS GOD THAT LOVES US, PROTECTS US, PROVIDES FOR US FOOD, CLOTHES, HOMES, AND OTHER THINGS THAT MAKE LIFE PLEASANT. HE IS OUR SHIELD IN TIME OF TROUBLE, HE IS OUR PHYSICIAN WHEN WE ARE SICK, FOR THERE IS NONE OTHER THAT CAN HEAL OUR BODIES. IT IS HE THAT GIVES US WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE, AND UNDERSTANDING SO THAT WE CAN BE UP, AND ABOUT HIS BUSINESS, AND ALSO DOING OUR DAILY CHORES. WITHOUT GOD WE COULD DO NOTHING. THE MAN THAT PLACES HIS TRUST IN GOD, HIS TRUST HAS A FIRM FOUNDATION IT IS LIKE THE HOUSE THAT WAS BUILT UPON A SOLID ROCK. IT IS GOD THAT GIVES US SUCH WONDERFUL GIFTS AS LOVE, JOY, PEACE, GENTLENESS, GOODNESS, FAITH. IT IS GOD THAT GIVES US HOPE, IN THIS PRESENT WORLD. SAINTS OF GOD, WHEN THE HOLY GHOST COMES TO DWELL WITHIN A PERSON THESE WONDERFUL GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT SHALL BE PRESENT.

Gal:5:22: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Gal:5:23: Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law

WE HAVE A STRONG ENEMY CALLED SATAN THE DEVIL. IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE HEDGE THAT GOD HAS ABOUT US; SATAN WOULD KILL US ALL. LET JOB BE AN EXAMPLE HOW SATAN, OUR POWERFUL INVISIBLE ENEMY, WOULD PLAGUE US, IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE HEDGE THAT GOD HAS ABOUT US. REMEMBER HOW THAT SATAN BLASPHEMED JOB WITH THESE WORDS.

Jb:1:7: And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

Jb:1:8: And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

Jb:1:9: Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

Jb:1:10: Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

Jb:1:11: But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

REMEMBER HOW THAT SATAN TOOK, OR DESTROYED ALL THAT JOB HAD, EVEN KILLED JOB'S CHILDREN, AND PUT SORE BOILS UPON JOB FROM THE SOLES OF HIS FEET, TO THE CROWN OF HIS HEAD. AFTER JOB HAD SUFFERS SUCH A GREAT LOST JOB SAID THESE WORDS

Jb:13:15: Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. (KJV)

LET ME ASK YOU A SERIOUS QUESTION IF A PERSON WERE TO BETRAY YOU, OR STEAL FROM YOU, COULD YOU EVER TRUST THAT PERSON AGAIN? WHEN I WAS A SMALL CHILD I READ A STORY ABOUT HUMPTY, DUMTY. IN THE BOOK THEY HAD A PICTURE OF AN EGG DRESSED AS A LITTLE BOY SITTING ON A WALL. THE STORY WENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS. HUMPTY DUMTY SAT ON A WALL, HUMPTY DUMTY HAD A GREAT FALL. ALL THE KINGS HORSES, AND ALL THE KINGS MEN COULD NOT PUT HUMPTY DUMPTY TOGETHER AGAIN. AND THAT, IN MY OPINION, IS THE WAY MANY PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT TRUST. TRUST IS A VERY FRAGILE THING. ONCE SOMETHING AS WONDERFUL AS "TRUST" HAS BEEN VIOLATED, I DO NOT BELIEVE IT CAN EVER BE RESTORED TO IT'S ORIGINAL POSITION. HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE TRUST THESE DAYS. THE BANKERS, DOCTORS, DENTIST, RESTAURANT OWNERS, DRUGGIST, STOCK BROKERS, EVEN THE LOCAL BARBER. I SAT DOWN IN A BARBERS CHAIR ONE DAY, AND TOOK MY TIME, AND EXPLAINED HOW I WANTED MY HAIR CUT, I JUST WANTED A TRIM, WITH THE FIRST PASS OF THE CLIPPERS, ONE OF MY SIDE BURNS WENT MISSING. I NEVER RETURNED TO THAT BARBER FOR A HAIR CUT AGAIN. IF YOU WANT A GOOD EXAMPLE OF TRUST, WATCH LITTLE CHILDREN, HOW READILY THEY TRUST PEOPLE. BUT AS THEY GROW OLDER, AND PEOPLE VIOLATE THEIR TRUST, THEN THEY BECOME CAUTIOUS. IT TAKES TIME TO BUILD TRUST, AND IT CAN BE SHATTERED IN A MOMENT. THE LORD JESUS SPOKE A PARABLE OF AN UNFAITHFUL STEWARD. THE WORD STEWARD IS DEFINED:

one employed in a large household or estate to manage domestic concerns (as the supervision of servants, collection of rents, and keeping of accounts)

IN THESE VERSES OF SCRIPTURE, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS SPEAKING TO HIS DISCIPLES, AND HE SAYS THESE WORDS RECORDED IN,

Lk:16:1: And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.

Lk:16:2: And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.

Lk:16:3: Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.

Lk:16:4: I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.

Lk:16:5: So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?

Lk:16:6: And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.

Lk:16:7: Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.

Lk:16:8: And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

Lk:16:9: And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.

Lk:16:10: He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

Lk:16:11: If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

Lk:16:12: And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?

Lk:16:13: No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

COULD THE MASTER OF THE HOUSE EVER TRUST THE UNFAITHFUL STEWARD AGAIN? IN MY OPINION THE ANSWER IS "NO." ONCE SOMETHING AS WONDERFUL AS "TRUST" HAS BEEN VIOLATED, I DO NOT BELIEVE IT CAN EVER BE RESTORED TO IT'S ORIGINAL POSITION. HOW CAN WE AS CHRISTIANS STRENGTHEN PEOPLES FAITH IN US? THE HOLY SCRIPTURES ANSWERS THIS QUESTION JUST PERFECT. GOD INSPIRED THE APOSTLE PAUL TO RECORD THESE WORDS.

1Thes:5:22: Abstain from all appearance of evil.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ABSTAIN FROM THE APPEARANCE OF EVIL. IF YOU ARE A BOOKKEEPER MAKE SURE THAT YOUR BOOKS BALANCE. IF YOU ARE A SPOUSE DO NOT BE SEEN WITH OTHERS OF THE OPPOSITE SEX ALONE. IF YOU ARE A SPOUSE DO NOT WASTE THE FAMILIES MONEY, NEITHER GO INTO EXCESSIVE DEBT. IF A PERSON LOVES THIER FAMILY THEY WILL BE CAREFUL WITH THIER FAMILIES MONEY. THE BIBLE GIVES AN ACCOUNT OF A VIRTUOUS WIFE. I BELIEVE THAT IF A WOMAN WANTS HER HUSBAND TO LOVE HER SHE SHOULD STUDY THESE WORDS VERY CAREFULLY.

Prv:31:10: Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

Prv:31:11: The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

Prv:31:12: She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

Prv:31:13: She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

Prv:31:14: She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

Prv:31:15: She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

Prv:31:16: She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

Prv:31:17: She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

Prv:31:18: She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

Prv:31:19: She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

Prv:31:20: She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

Prv:31:21: She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

Prv:31:22: She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

Prv:31:23: Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

Prv:31:24: She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

Prv:31:25: Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

Prv:31:26: She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

Prv:31:27: She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

Prv:31:28: Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

Prv:31:29: Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

Prv:31:30: Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

Prv:31:31: Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates. (KJV)

I BELIEVE THAT KNOWLEDGE COMES INTO THE BRAIN THREE WAYS THROUGH EXPERIENCE, PERCEPTION, AND REVELATION. WITH AGE COMES MUCH EXPERIENCE. LET ME TELL YOU OF AN EXPERIENCE THAT I KNOW OF. ONE OF MY FRIENDS ON ONE OF THE HOLIDAYS YEARS AGO BOUGHT SOME FIRECRACKERS. THE FIRECRACKERS SEEMED HARMLESS ENOUGH, SO HE GAVE THEM TO HIS SON, ABOUT TWELVE YEARS OF AGE. THE YOUNG BOY PUT THE FIRECRACKERS IN A GLASS FRUIT JAR. AND LIT A FIRECRACKER, AND DROPPED IT IN THE FRUIT JAR. ALL THE FIRECRACKERS EXPLODED AT ONCE. THE EXPLOSION FLEW THE CHILD'S HAND OFF, BLINDED HIM IN ONE EYE, AND PUT SPLINTERS OF GLASS IN MUCH OF HIS BODY. I TELL YOU OF THIS EXPLOSIVE SITUATION THAT AT FIRST LOOKED HARMLESS. A LITTLE FLIRTATION, MAY APPEAR TO BE HARMLESS, BUT I SAY TO YOU WIVES DO NOT MAKE YOUR HUSBANDS JEALOUS, HUSBANDS DO NOT MAKE YOUR WIVES JEALOUS; WHY NOT? FOR THE MAKING OF YOUR SPOUSE JEALOUS MAY NOT PRODUCE THE RESULTS THAT YOU DESIRE. THE JEALOUS SPOUSE MAY BELIEVE YOU TO BE UNFAITHFUL AND END YOUR LIFE, OR THEIR LIFE, OR ALL THREE LIVES. THE FIRST FUNERAL THAT I EVER ATTENDED WAS CAUSED BY A MAN KILLING HIS WIFE, HER MAN FRIEND, AND HIMSELF. ALSO, I PREACHED A SERMON IN A JAIL IN LOUISIANA IN WHICH A MAN WAS PLACED FOR KILLING HIS WIFE, AND HER MALE COMPANION. IN THE JAIL THEY HAD A TELEVISION TYPE ELECTRONICS SO THEY COULD WATCH THE INMATES. AND THEY HAD THE CAMERA ON THE CELL OF THE MAN THAT HAD KILLED HIS WIFE, THE MAN PACED THE FLOOR DAY, AND NIGHT SIMILAR TO A CAGED WILD ANIMAL. HOLY CHILDREN, JUDGMENT DAY IS COMING, PAY DAY IS COMING. A TIME WHEN JESUS CHRIST SHALL JUDGE YOUR WORKS. LET EVERY THING THAT YOU DO, AND EVERY THING THAT YOU SAY, BE FOR A CREDIT TO YOU WHEN YOU ARE JUDGED. HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHY GOD CREATED YOU? GOD CREATED YOU FOR HIS PLEASURE. AND WE GIVE GOD PLEASURE WHEN WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS.

Rv:4:9: And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,

Rv:4:10: The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

Rv:4:11: Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

NOW THE QUESTION I WOULD FOR YOU TO MEDITATE ON IS THIS, IS YOUR LIFE A PLEASURE FOR GOD TO LOOK UPON? IF YOU ARE CARNAL MINDED YOUR LIFE IS NOT PLEASING TO GOD BECAUSE THE CARNAL MIND, THE MIND OF SENSE, AND REASON WITHOUT THE HOLY GHOST IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE LAWS OF GOD. HAVE YOU RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST SINCE YOU BELIEVED? IF YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST, REPENT AND BE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS, AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE THE HOLY GHOST.

Acts:2:38: Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (KJV)

LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT.

Acts:19:1: And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

Acts:19:2: He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

Acts:19:3: And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.

Acts:19:4: Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

Acts:19:5: When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Acts:19:6: And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Acts:19:7: And all the men were about twelve.