Sermon Tone Analysis

This is the */7th/* *teaching* on the *fruit of the spirit*, and today we’re going to be teaching on the *fruit of* */Faithfulness/*.

It’s *unfortunate* that the *KJV* */translates/* it */Faith,/* when most of the *other translations* *render* it *faithfulness*, even the *W.

E.* */Vine’s Dictionary/* of *N.T.* *Words*, *says* that it *should be translated* “*/Faithfulness/*."

*I.

**In the natural* quite a bit of the *world’s dealings* *has to do with Faithfulness*.

It goes from a */business/* *sense*, to */international dealings/* (*Treaties and Agreements*), to even *family* */relationships/*.

*A.

*Their *success depends* a lot *on Faithfulness* *or* *unfaithfulness* of those involved.

“*/Trust/*” is *part of* the */definition/* of the *word* “*/Faithful/*.”

*1.

**Faithlessness* brings *confusion*.

*B.

**Getting away* from the *natural side* of *faithfulness* and */into/* the */spiritual realm/*, a*l*l of *God’s promises*, and our hope for salvation, all *depends on* *one thing*, “*God is Faithful*.”

*1.

*That’s a very *important statement*.

*Remove* *His* *Faithfulness* and *all assurance vanishes*, all *faith* in Him *disappears*.

*2.

*Turn with me to a *few scriptures dealing* *with* the *faithfulness* of God.

                                      *i.

**/1COR 1:9/*

                                      *ii.

*(*/1CO 10:13/*) Says something similar.

“*/There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God {is} faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear {it}./*”

(KJV)

                   *C.

**/HEB 10:23/* You can *put* your *faith* *in* *God’s promises because He is Faithful.

*

                             *1.

**/HEB 11:11/* Whatever God promises He will faithfully carry them out.

*II.

*There are *basically* */2/* *covenants* in our Bibles, The *old* and *new* covenant.

*A.

**Both* of them *depend upon* the *faithfulness* *of* the *parties* *involved*.

*1.

*In the *O.T*.

*God was faithful*, but *Israel was not*.

*2.

*In the *N.T*.

*God* is *still faithful*, but the *difference is* that *our side* of the covenant is *guaranteed by the faithfulness of Jesus*.

*a.

**/HEB 2:17/* (*/HEB 9/*)

                                      *b.

*(*/REV 3:14/*) Says that *Jesus* is the *faithful and true witness*.

*III.

*We have *already mentioned* that *God is faithful*; it is an *attribute of God*.

*A.

**When we received Jesus*, *we also received* *the Fruit* of the spirit *in our hearts*.

*B.

*Paul said in (*/1CO 7:25/*) “*/As one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful/*.”

(KJV)

                             *1.

**You received faithfulness* *when* you *received* the *Lord*.

*2.

*Let me give you *some examples of faithfulness* from the Word.

*a.

**/HEB 3:1‑2/*

                                                *i.

*Here we see that *Jesus was faithful* and *so was Moses* *in* his *job* that was *given* to him.

*b.

*In (*/NUM 14:24/*) In referring to *Caleb* the Lord said, “*/But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it/*.”

(KJV)

                                      *c.

*Paul said of *EPAPHRAS* In (*/COL 1:7 & 4:12/*) “*/As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; who is {one} of you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God/*.”

(KJV)

                                      *d.

**Paul speaks of Timothy* in (*/1COR 4:17/*) as “*/Faithful in the Lord/*.”

*e.

*Paul also speaks of *Onesimus*, the ‘*RUNAWAY* *SLAVE*,’ as a “*/Faithful and beloved brother/*” in (*/COL 4:9/*)

          *IV.

*The *Word* “*/FAITHFULNESS/*” *implies* *not only faithfulness*, but also */Trustworthiness/*, */Loyalty/*, */Reliability/*, */consistency/*, or */Steadfastness/*.

*A.

**Being Trustworthy* is *essential* for the *Christian walk*.

*1.

**/JAM 5:12/* *We’re told to be men and woman of our word*.

*B.

**/1COR 4:2/* The word “*/FAITHFUL/*” here can also mean “*/TRUSTWORTHY/*.”

*1.

**All* of us *are stewards in the Lord* in some way or another.

*2.

**If* we’re all *supposed to be faithful*, *trustworthy*, and lo*y*al, *how much more* for *those* who *serve* *in the Church* or *minister* the *Word*.

*C.

**What about reliability*?

*1.

**Can the Lord count on you*?

                                      *a.

*If *He asks you to pray*, *will you*?

                                      *b.

*What *if He asks you to witness*?

*2.

**What about* *reliable in business*?

*a.

*That’s *one of* your *biggest witnessing tools*.

It might be in a *positive way*, *or* if you’re *not trustworthy* in business, it’s in a *negative way*.

*b.

**People are going to look at your business* *affairs* *to see if you’re a true Christian*.

*V.

**We need faithfulness to the end*.

*A.

*The */rewards/* *for God’s servants* are going to be */based on/* “*/Faithfulness/*” *in* the *job* the *Lord* has *given you*, *in His Word*, as well as what He has *spoken to your heart* (SPIRIT).

*1.

*In (*/MAT 25:21/*) Jesus said, “*/Well done, {thou} 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/*.”

*a.

*This was *faithfulness of diligent service.

Not just faithfulness alone.

*

                             *2.

**Look* at a *similar passage* of scripture over in */LUKE 19:17‑19/*

                                      *a.

**Both* of these men were *given* the *same job*, but the *reward was based* *on* their *faithfulness* *to that job*.*

*

          *B.

*We’ll *close with* this */1/* *last scripture*, */REV 2:10/*.

*1.

**No matter what happens* in life, *continue to be faithful* *to* the Lord *Jesus* Christ, *and you will receive that crown of life*.*

*

TFC and WOLCC Sun AM 8~/21~/94