Sermon Tone Analysis

!     WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT FAITHFULNESS

!

OR

*REMAINING FAITHFUL IN A FAITHLESS GENERATION*

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*INTRODUCTION:*

 

*A.

*Philip Paul Bliss was directing the singing for a series of services being conducted by the well-known preacher Dwight L. Moody.

As he closed his message, Moody told the story of a captain who was attempting to bring his boat to the Cleveland Harbor one very dark and stormy night.

“The waves rolled like mountains,” Moody said, “and not a star was to be seen in the clouded sky.”

He pictured the boat rocking on the violent waves as the captain peered through the darkness for the sight of a signal light by means of which to guide his vessel to safety.

When he finally spotted a single light from the light-house, he turned to the pilot and asked, “Are you sure this is Cleveland Harbor?”

“Quite sure, sir,” the pilot replied.

“Then where are the lower lights?” the captain continued.

“Gone out, sir,” the other man answered.

“Can you make the harbor?” the captain asked anxiously.

“We must, or perish, sir,” the pilot replied.

But despite his strong heart and brave hand, in the darkness he missed the channel.

With a resounding crash the boat piled up on the rocks and then settled slowly to a watery grave.

As the congregation listened intently, Moody concluded with this admonition to the Christians, “Brethren, the Master will take care of the great light-house; let us keep the lower lights burning.”

That was all Bliss needed to pen one of his most popular hymns “Let the Lower Lights Be Burning.”[1]

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*B.  */Proverbs 20:6  / Everyone talks about how loyal and faithful he is, but just try to find someone who really is! \\                                                                                                             GNT

 

*C.

*We live in a day of disposable relationships!   Dependable people are rare; those who are reliable, consistent, faithful are hard to find.

Think about it.

Can you quickly come up with five people you would identify as faithful people?

They will be there barring illness or death; they will see their project through to the end; you can count on them to be there for you when you are in need!

 

* *

* *

*                                    Psalm 33:1-5        p.

870*

1 Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him.

\\ 2 Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.

\\ 3 Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.

\\ 4 For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.

\\ 5 The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.

NIV

*Note verse 4 & 5 : the Lord God is described as right and true: always faithful in all He does!  & the earth is full of His unfailing love.*

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As we explore what the Bible says about faithfulness we will be looking at why develop faithfulness & the characteristics of a faithful person.

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*WHY DEVELOP FAITHFULNESS?*

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*1st.

Because the God we serve is a faithful God!  3 of many ways…*

 

*1.

*9 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

1 Cor.

1:9

NIV

 

If we are believers it is because a God who is faithful has called us into fellowship with Jesus Christ!     */He Saved us!/*

*/ /*

*2.   *13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.

And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.

But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

1 Cor.

10:13

NIV

 

*Not only has He saved us; He keeps us in His protective care.*

* *

*3.  *9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

NIV

 

My confession of wrong; of sin against Him is always graciously received.

If I agree with him that I have sinned and I come to Him with a broken and contrite heart He is faithful and just and will forgive my sin.

I am not only forgiven but He also cleanses me so our relationship will go on not hindered by the past.

2nd            Because faithfulness is a qualification for service.

Consider the pattern given us in the New Testament.

We will start with the Apostle Paul.

*Paul, the apostle said;*

12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 1 Tim.1:12

NIV

 

Paul was chosen and called by God to his ministry but he adds that faithfulness to the call on his part was also part of the equation.

Paul then poured the good news into Timothy, his son in the faith, and sent him out.

17 For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord.

He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church. 1 Cor.

4:17

NIV

 

Paul was faithful in ministry……He entrusted the message to Timothy who also was faithful….he

then encouraged Timothy to pass the message on….

* *

2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 2 Tim.

2:2

NKJV

*His instruction wasn’t just pass it on but: pass it on to faithful men who will in turn pass it on to others.*

* *

*I would in no way diminish the power of the written word or the wooing of the Holy Spirit but in your life consider this.

Can your relationship with Jesus Christ be traced back through a line of faithful witnesses?*

* *

*I like the way “The Message” translates Paul’s letter to the church at Rome…*

* *

14 But how can people call for help if they don’t know who to trust?

And how can they know who to trust if they haven’t heard of the One who can be trusted?

And how can they hear if nobody tells them?

\\ 15 And how is anyone going to tell them, unless someone is sent to do it?

That’s why Scripture exclaims, A sight to take your breath away!

Grand processions of people telling all the good things of God! Rom.

10:14-15

The Message

 

The call I hear from Paul is to be faithful day in and day out.

I don’t understand him to be calling us to a certain success standard of a certain number of converts a year; but rather to living a consistent life day in and day out.

*I think this short story illustrates the kind of faithfulness we are talking about*…

 

 

 

When 20th Century-Fox advertised in the New York papers to fill a vacancy in its sales force, one applicant replied: “I am at present selling furniture at the address below.

You may judge my ability as a salesman if you will stop in to see me at anytime, pretending that you are interested in buying furniture.

“When you come in, you can identify me by my red hair.

And I will have no way of identifying you.

Such salesmanship as I exhibit during your visit, therefore, will be no more than my usual workaday approach and not a special effort to impress a prospective employer.”

From among more than 1500 applicants, the redhead got the job.

—Irving Hoffman[2]

 

The qualification for ministry isn’t physical good looks, extreme talent, or an IQ of over 160.

You don’t get voted off God’s team because you are too heavy, too thin, too tall, too short, or the wrong race.

The qualification we just looked at is faithfulness in our everyday life!

Consistent day in and day out!

* *

*3rd            Faithfulness opens the windows of heaven for God’s blessing.*

For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him…2 Chronicles 16:9

/ /

*God is looking for people who are committed to Him!** *

*He*/ /*wants to strengthen His faithful children.**

*

* *

20 A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.

Prov.

28:20

Note the Comparison                                                NIV 

What would we rather have; earthly riches gained at the expense of God’s blessing or the unhindered blessings of God?