Faithfulness Series

August 29, 2020

We often confuse Faith and Faithfulness.

Faith:

• Dictionary - Faith is “trust, confidence, complete acceptance of a truth which cannot be proved.”

• Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

• Oswald Chambers - Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time.

Faithfulness:

• Faithfulness expresses the idea of “reliability” or “trustworthiness.”

• Faithfulness is the concept of remaining loyal and unwavering to someone or something regardless of the circumstance.

o "The Faithful." - That is what 49er fans are called. In recent years, that has been pretty easy. In the years before however, it might have been difficult to remain a 49er fan. Nearly eight years of struggle, composed of a revolving door of coaches and players, made being one of The Faithful a difficult endeavor. Yet “The Faithful” remain true to their team, regardless of how the franchise itself is performing.

Today, if something isn’t working, instead of sticking it out, we dump it and move on to the next thing. If one job isn’t the greatest, we quit and find something else. If a relationship isn’t meeting all our dreams and desires, we get out and look for someone who will make US happy. Commitment seems temporary, only lasting as long as “it’s working for me.” When things get difficult, our world tells us to cut and run.

Because we live in this type of “Cancel Culture”, Faithfulness as a concept of “remaining true regardless” is tough to wrap our heads around.

Luckily for us, God is not in to “Cancel Culture”. He is faithful = He remains true regardless = He completes what He starts and brings about what He has promised:

• Deuteronomy 7:9 - Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.

• Psalm 33:2-4 - 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.

• Isaiah 55:10-11 - For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth, and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; 11 So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

• Lamentations 3:22–23 - The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

• 1 Corinthians 1:9 - God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

• 1 Thessalonians 5:24 - The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it {see Philippians 1:6}

• Hebrews 10:23 - Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.

• Revelation 19:11-16 - I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True…. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Faith is a gift from God. Faithfulness, on the other hand, is what we do with our faith. Faithfulness is Faith in action.

• When we accept Jesus as our Savior {the One Who SAVES us}, we put our faith IN Him.

• When we accept Jesus as our Lord {the One Who has authority OVER us}, we are faithful TO Him.

o 2 Chronicles 31:20 - This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful before the LORD his God.

o Matthew 25:21 - His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

o James 2:17-20 - Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. 18 But someone may well say, "You have faith, and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works." 19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. 20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?