Sermon Tone Analysis

*Today* I just *felt led* to *teach on faithfulness*.

So *often* we *teach on* the subject of the *faithfulness of God*, & that's a valid & true statement.

For *example*; (*/1 Corinthians 1:9/*) “*/God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord/*.”

But *today* I feel that *we need* to *teach on* the subject of *faithfulness to God*.

      *I.*

Turn with me to */NUM 12:5-8a/*

                  *A.* In (*/V 7/*) it *says* that *Moses was faithful* in the Lord's house.

*1.*

*What does it mean to be faithful*?

*a.*

We *could say* that *faithful people are **/dependable/*.

And they *fulfill their **/responsibilities/*

                                          *b.*

*According to the dictionary* it says that *faithful people are*:

                                                      *i.*

*/Loyal/*

                                                      *ii.*

*/Consistent/*

                                                      *iii.*

*/Constant in performance of duties & service/*.

*2.*

In (*/NUM 12:7/*) *where* it *says* that *Moses was faithful*, *the word* “*/faithful/*” *means* “*/To support, confirm, be faithful, uphold, pillars, to be established, make firm, lasting, reliable, trustworthy, to stand firm, to believe in, & trust/*.”

*a.*

*Most of the time* *when* the word “*/faithful or faithfulness/*” is used throughout the Bible it *means the same thing*.

*B.* */1SAM 2:35/*

                              *1.*

This *V* tells us *what the faithful to God will do*.

*a.*

*/1st/* the *faithful* will *do* what is in *the heart of God*.

*b.* */2nd/*, *they* will *do* *what is in the mind of God* */for them to do/*.

*2.*

In other words, *faithfulness to God & obedience to Him go hand in hand*.

*a.*

*Those* that are *faithful & obedient* to the Lord *will be blessed*.

*i.*

In (*/ISA 1:19/*) it says that the *willing & obedient* (that's faithfulness) will *eat* the *good of the land*.

*b.*

In (*/1SAM 2:35/*) *God said* *to* the *faithful* that *He will build them a sure house*.

*i.*

The *NIV* translation *says*, “*/I will firmly establish his house/*.”

*II.*

*Let's look at some Biblical examples of faithfulness* & what it did for them.

*A.* Starting in (*/Dan 6:1/*), we see that *DANIEL* *was promoted* was one of the *leaders* in the *city* of *Babylon*.

He was *just about to be placed as the chief leader* in the city under only the king.

*1.*

The *other leaders* in the city became so *jealous* over him, they *sought* a *way* to *bring him down*, but they *couldn't find any fault against him*.

*/DAN 6:4/*

                              *2.*

They *finally reasoned* within themselves that the *only way* to *find* *fault against him* was to *have* the *king make a decree* *or* a *law* that was *contrary to his belief in God.*

                              *3.* *They talked the king into making a decree* (which is also called a *writing*) that *no one* was to *pray* to any God for 30 days.

*Daniel would not go against* what *God* has said.

*a.* */DAN 6:10‑12a; 16‑23/*

                                          *b.*

*Daniel* was *faithful* *to* the *king* & the *king wanted to promote him*.

c.

But *Daniel* *was most of all faithful to God* & God saved him & prospered him & God got all the glory.

*4.*

*/DAN 6:26‑28/*

                                          *a.*

*There are times* that *you* have to *make* a *choice*, *whether* to be *faithful to God* *or faithful to man*.

*b.*

*/ACTS 5:29/*

                  *B.* */GAL 3:9/*

                              *1.*

Here we see that *Abraham was faithful*.

*a.*

He was *always faithful to God*.

                                          *b.*

But his *faithfulness paid off*.

*i.*

The *Lord made him* a *very prosperous man*.

*ii.*

The *Lord made* a *covenant* with him.

*iii.*

The *Lord* *gave* him a *child* when he was past the years of having children.

*iv.*

The *Lord made* *thru him* the *chosen people*, the Jews.

*v.*

The *Lord made* him the *father of many nations*.

*III.*

*/1COR 4:2/*

                  *A.*

This *V* is *definitely telling us that ministers* *&* *those in leadership* position *must be faithful* to the Lord.

*1.

I won't put someone in a leadership position unless* *I know them to be faithful to the Lord*.

*a.*

This *V* *says* the *same thing*.

It says that the *stewards* (*those in leadership*) be */FOUND/* *faithful*.

*b.*

The *word* “*/FOUND/*” in this *V* *means*

                                                      *i.*

*to meet with*

                                                      *ii.*

*after searching*, to find a thing sought

                                                      *iii.*

*to find by inquiry, thought, examination, scrutiny, observation, to find out by practice and experience, i.e., to see, learn, discover, understand; to be found, i.e., to be seen, be present; to be discovered, recognized, detected, to show one's self out, of one's character or state as found out by others (men, God, or both); to get knowledge of, *

                              *2.*

That *might be talking about leaders*, *but God is no respecter of persons*;

                              *3.*

*If He expects His leaders to be faithful* *then He wants to see all of His children faithful*.

B *When you're faithful even in* the *small things*, *God does not see them as small*.

*1.*

*If you feel* that *all* *you're qualified* for is *sweeping* the *floor*, *if* you're *faithful in that*, *God sees you as faithful in much*.

*2.*

*/LUKE 16:10/*

                                          *i.*

*If you're doing what God told you to do then you are faithful*.

*IV.*

Let's *look at* what will be the *results if you are faithful* to God.

                  *A.* */PRO 28:20/*

                              *1.*

(*/PRO 28:20/*) In the *NIV* says, “*/A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished/*.”

*a.*

In this *V* *God* is *telling* his *people* that *if you'll be faithful to Him you will be richly blessed*.