Faithnes
Last week we were on the subject of Faithfulness to God. This is an important step in our walk with God.
I. We brought out some points about faithfulness.
A. We said that Moses was faithful.
1. In (NUM 12:7 And in HEB 3:2) It says that Moses was faithful.
2. 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. In (1 Samuel 2:35a) “And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind:”
b. The Bible says in (1 Peter 2:9) That we are a “royal priesthood.”
c. The Christians that are faithful are the ones that are doing that which is in the heart and mind of God.
i. We are not to comprise what God wants us to do.
B. If you remember the story of Daniel, that I had you turn to last week, the King of Babylon made a decree that no one could pray to God.
1. Daniel was not going to compromise. He was even thrown in the lion's den.
2. Because of his faith and total commitment to God, God protected him and blessed him more than ever before.
a. Peter said in (Acts 5:29) “We ought to obey God rather than men.” (KJV)
i. Sure obey the laws of the land, but if the laws would make you violate the law of God, it's better to obey God rather than men.
C. In (1 Corinthians 4:2) It says, “It is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” (KJV)
1. The word “FOUND” in this V means:
a. to meet with after searching, 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).
b. If we went thru that kind of scrutiny, would we still be found faithful to God.
2. Why are we to be faithful to God?
a. 1 reason should be that God requires it.
b. Another reason would be that we love Him.
i. It should be in our hearts to do the will of God.
c. A 3rd reason would be that there's blessing in being faithful.
3. (Proverbs 28:20) “A faithful man shall abound with blessings.” (NIV “Richly Blessed”)
a. Jesus said to the faithful in (Matthew 25:23) “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (KJV)
II. I said this last time, but it's worth repeating. We are in a covenant relationship with God.
A. Being faithful is part of that covenant. As we are faithful to God & His Word, we'll be at a place where we can begin to receive His promises.
1. We need to know this 1 fact, “God is faithful.”
a. That means He can be trusted.
2. The Word of God says that He is “not a man that He should lie.”
B. When God says something He means it. You could say that God is faithful to His Word.
1. Look at PSA 119:89-90
a. Have you ever heard someone say, “that settles it?”
b. What does that mean?
c. In the shortest definition it means, “that just the way it's going to be.”
i. In other words, “there's no changing it, it's final.”
2. That's the way it is with the Word.
a. “There's no changing it, it's final, & that's the way it's going to be.”
b. He says in (Jeremiah 1:12 ) “I will hasten my word to perform it.” (KJV)
3. LUKE 16:17 (MATT 5:18 till heaven & earth pass away)
III. If He is faithful to His Word then He is Faithful to His promises.
A. His promises are His Word.
1. 2PET 1:4
a. He hasn't just given us promises.
i. The KJV says, “exceeding great & precious promises.”
ii. The NIV says, “His very great & precious promises.”
b. Reading it from some of my source materials it means, “PROMISES” but it also includes “His GREATEST PROMISES & the PROMISES that are MOST PRECIOUS to Him, even those of the greatest price.”
c. When He says that He has given us His promises, they are not just empty promises.
i. (Hebrews 10:23) Says. “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)” (KJV)
B. HEB 11:11
1. The reason that she was able to have children was that she knew He was faithful to His Word.
a. 2COR 1:20
i. I like how the NIV puts it, “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ.”
ii. NUM 23:19
2. As (HEB 10:23) Says, “He is faithful that promised.”
IV. Now there are some of you out here today that might be going thru some test, trials or even temptations that the Devil is bringing your way.
A. 2THES 3:3
1. God is faithful, He will see you thru.
B. In (1 Corinthians 10:13) It says, “With the temptation, test, or trail GOD will make a way to escape.”
V. For us to know that God is faithful, We have to build our confidence in Him
A. How are we going to have confidence in God or know that He is faithful to His promises?
1. 1st get to know his Word. The infallible Word of God.
a. That's what we've done today.
b. Know that He has make many promises & never broken 1 of them.
i. You must to get to know the Word for your self.
2. 2nd is to know Him.
a. JOHN 8:55
b. JOHN 14:6-7
c. JOHN 14:16-17
B. God is faithful. He will not let you sink, He will not let you drown, He will not let you be destroyed. He will see you thru. If you have confidence & faith in that, you'll see the manifestations of His promises.
WOLCC SUN AM 3/28/93