Sustained by His Faithfulness
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The Creation of an Artwork
The Creation of an Artwork
Have you ever seen someone create a work of art?
Whether it is a painting, a sculpture, something with chalk...
Even if they told you what they were creating, it would be hard to see it until much of it was done.
But they can see if in their minds, and every stroke of the brush, every cut of the knife, every layer that is applied has purpose and intention.
What started as a confusing, chaotic, and unrecognizable conglomeration of colors emerges as a beautiful and detail work of art.
Hear this message today: if you are a believer today, your life is a progressive work of art in the hands of our “faithful creator.
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” 19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.
Peter wrote this letter to Christians scatter throughout what is not modern day Turkey, in order to help them to stand firm in their faith as they faced persecution, trials, and suffering.
Verse 19 is perhaps the most important verse in the entire discourse on suffering.
Particularly in the word “entrust their souls to a FAITHFUL CREATOR”.
We have tackled some pretty weighty and rich theological concepts in the past several weeks.
Justification
Imputed Righteousness
Progressive Sanctification
Eschatology (the end times)
Today I want to talk about the Faithfulness of God.
The Faithfulness of God
The Faithfulness of God
Toward a definition:
Louis Berkhof says of God’s faithfulness “he always keeps His promises… He does not make promises lightly. The promises He does make, He keep.”
Millard Erickson says “God is ever mindful of His covenant and fulfills all the promises made to His people.”
9 Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,
9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.
God’s faithfulness is at the core of who He is.
He is faithful to His promises because He is faithful to Himself, to His purposes, and to His own glory.
Thinking back to the analogy I started with
We can think of God’s faithfulness as the picture the artist has in their mind as the are creating their work.
God is the artist, our lives are the canvas, and all the events of our lives, as chaotic, confusing, and challenging as they may be, are all being used by God to make us in to His masterpiece.
6 “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the Lord. Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Peter is pointing to God’s faithfulness as the way through trials and suffering in life.
1) KNOWING of it GROUNDS our CONFIDENCE.
1) KNOWING of it GROUNDS our CONFIDENCE.
The way he starts this section is important:
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
You have to understand the source of these words.
Peter was a close friend and follower of Jesus. His whole life was transformed by Jesus.
He heard Jesus say these things live and in person:
20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
And Jesus directly told him:
18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”
“Do not be surprised by fiery trials” - The reason fiery trials are surprising to believers is that we do not have an accurate knowledge of who God is or the promises He has made to us.
How we understand who God is and how He works makes a huge difference in how we navigate not only trials in life, but really every aspect of our lives.
We often consciously or unconsciously place expectations on God.
He ought to help me because I am a good person.
He ought not let anything bad happen to me because He is supposed to be a good and loving God.
God wants me to be happy so it should be fine for me to do this, have that, or be with them...
The reason we are surprised is that we have attempted to hold God to certain promises He never made.
AJ in Youth group Wednesday
God never promised to make me happy or to keep me safe or healthy.
God never promises to give us the American dream or to give us a happily ever after marriage.
Peter says that the fiery trials are used to “Test you”.
This is not the first time he has made this arguement
7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
He and James are making the same argument.
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Trials are tools in the hands of God to shape us into those who hope in His promises more than the promises of the world.
If we know God’s character (who He really is) and are familiar with His true promises, we can face trials and struggles with confidence.
2) TRUSTING in it FILLS our hearts with JOY.
2) TRUSTING in it FILLS our hearts with JOY.
19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.
More that knowledge, we must entrust
The average distance between your head and your heart is 18 inches, but it can be the most difficult journey.
We can be filled with knowledge, but it makes no difference in how we think, feel, and act.
To know God is faithful is one thing, but to trust Him as a Faithful God is a whole other thing.
There are 3 ways we respond when we do not trust in God faithfulness:
Anxiety (Fear)- The heart of anxiety looks ahead and fears that things won’t go my way.
We want to be in control because we don’t believe God is in control or that He has our best interests in mind.
Anger- The heart of anger looks back and identifies what didn’t go my way
We think we have earned something or have expectations that were not met and so we get angry
Despair (Sadness)- Also when we look back and identify what didn’t go our way and so we struggle to find hope. God doesn’t care or just can’t help me.
This is why knowing and trusting in God faithfulness is so vital.
trusting leads to joy as the weight of control is lifted as the promises of God lead us to praise and away from fear or fighting.
When we entrust our souls to our faithful creator we are giving ourselves to the one who created us and letting Him shape us back into the image He created us into, HIMSELF.
3) LIVING under it SHAPES our EVERYDAY.
3) LIVING under it SHAPES our EVERYDAY.
14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
“If you are insulted…your are bless” - “Do not be ashamed if you suffer for the name of Christ” - you will be shamed for living your life for Christ. But know this:
It is a sign that the Spirit of God is on you.
It is a sign you are a Christian (literally “little Christ” or one of His)
So
Don’t be ashamed, Glorify God - make much of God, make Him Big
Have compassion on those who cause you harm and remain under judgement
Rather “Do Good” - do what is right and do good to others.
Living under the faithfulness of God frees us to live our everyday lives for His glory, both in our own lives (thus bringing true joy) and as a witness to others, by doing good.
Do you know the promises of God?
Do you know the promises of God?
19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.