The Faithfulness of God.
By
Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
OPENING: - It is amazing when God speaks. This week while trying to get a message together God put in my spirit this subject: The Faithfulness of God. So many times, we will struggle in ourselves with the delivering power of God and forget how God has delivered us before. When things seem hopeless or are just difficult, we cannot lose sight of God’s faithfulness. God’s faithfulness cannot be defined by our perception as to whether events or circumstances work out in what we want or think it should. God is faithful even if events don’t turn out as we may want it to or think they should. God will never deny His own character or His divine plan to grant our request or just to make us happy. UNDERSTAND: God is always faithful to His character, for Him to do otherwise He would become unfaithful. We need to stand on the fact that God is steadfast and unmovable, He is an ever-present help in the time of trouble. God is a consistent provider, sustainer, encourager, comforter, source of strength, and supporter, a way maker a miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness.
I want to talk with someone today who may be going through a season of rejection, loss, grief, or uncertainty. Hold on and be encouraged because God’s faithfulness will never fail.
PRAYER
SCRIPTURE: Deuteronomy 7:9 “Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations”. 1 Corinthians 1:9 “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord”.
Let’s Understand FAITHFULNESS: The Hebrew root from which the words translated "faithful" and "faithfulness" (Emunah) means to prop, stay, or support. When applied to a person, it means someone a person can safely lean upon. The Greek word used in the New Testament (Pistos) means trustworthy or to be relied upon. Faithfulness deals with being reliable, fidelity, firmness, stability, trustworthy, trueness, certainty steadiness, permanence and dependability. Faithfulness exudes from a place that is firmly established with endurance. Faithfulness is unchanging. Faithfulness never wavers. Faithfulness is a foundation that can be safely built upon with no concern for changes in the future.
The Faithfulness of God speaks to the core of God’s character. God is always faithful to Himself and to us. God is immutable unchanging; therefore, He can never cease to be what He is and He will always be consistent with His Holy and righteous character.
1 Corinthians 1:9 says, “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord”. God is truly the only one who can safely be leaned upon. He is the only one who is steadfast in both affection and allegiance. He is firm in being truly able to adhere to promises Deuteronomy 7:9 says, “Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations” it’s hard for us to keep a promise a day sometimes.
When God says He will do something, there is no doubt that it will happen. There is no obstacle, no hinderance, no devil in hell that can hinder Him from doing what He said He would do. Once God has spoken, it is impossible for those words to return without completing the task they were sent to do. Isaiah 55:11 says, “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it”.
Let me give a example of the faithfulness of God. When God set the sun, moon, and stars in place, He was displaying His faithfulness. Without a doubt, we have day and night. The sun rises and sets. The moon provides light in the night. It is unchanging and relentless in its job. We can without a doubt be sure that the sun will rise in the morning. God established the order of the universe after Himself. He never changes. Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and forever”. He is the same, day by day, year by year, and generation by generation.
Psalm 89:1 says, “I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever; with my mouth, will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations.” This is what we are to be doing, we are to sing of the mercies of the Lord forever. Psalm 105 1-5 says, “O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth”. We must let the word of God erupt in us in such a way that it causes our minds to understand without a doubt that our God is faithful. Then, we must open our mouths and tell the world how awesomely faithful God is assuring them He will never fail.
A little bit ago I said that Faithfulness is the very core of the character of God. Let’s look at God’s faithfulness and His Holy character. The more deeply we dig into the Scriptures, the more we will uncover new and beautiful facets to the character of God. And the longer we spend time with Him and in His Word, the better we will know and understand His nature. But here is a quick look at the character of God God’s character is that He is a loving father to all believers. God, by His nature, is wholly good. His goodness is unmatched, and because of it, we can trust in Him. God’s holiness is unequaled 1 Samuel 2:2 says,“There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God”. God is righteousness, meaning He exists in a state of moral perfection God is also just; He is perfectly upright and fair in how he treats His creation Loving, compassionate, gracious, kind, and merciful.
When God created man He placed in him His moral/Holy character that truly establish the welfare and blessing of humanity: that men should not steal, lie, covet, murder, that man shall leave his mother and father and cleave unto his wife, honor the Lord of heaven and acknowledge Him as Creator and Sovereign. UNDERSTAND when we are disobedient and go against God’s moral guideline then negative consequences result. God will not be unfaithful to His moral nature by rescinding the consequences happen because we went against His moral character. God will not go against His character and His Holy character cannot tolerate sin. If He did, He would not be faithful to Himself and His character and therefore would not be faithful and we would not be talking about the Faithfulness of God. God will be faithful to His moral character and will never rescind His holiness for anyone no matter how much one prays for Him to do so. I truly believe the reason many of the things that are happening in the world today is because God is being faithful to His character and regardless LISTEN how much we pray it is not going to make a difference until we do the way He said. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land”.
God’s faithfulness in covenant. God made a covenant with Israel that if they were loyal to Him, didn’t embrace the god’s of the surrounding pagans, and would be a witness to the true God of heaven that He would bless them abundantly, but if they disobeyed and forsook Him they would experience the consequences of embracing other gods and would eventually go into captivity to other nations. God was faithful to His covenant, as when they obeyed Him they were blessed beyond measure and when they disobeyed they endured the bitter consequence of their forsaking their God. While the people blamed God when they found themselves in bondage, God was only being faithful to His covenant. He was faithful, they were not. God would have violated His faithfulness if He had changed the “terms” of the covenant to accommodate their disobedience. Deuteronomy 7:9 says, “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 commandments.” .
God’s faithfulness to His Word. Joshua 21:45 says, “Not one word of all His good promises have failed”. John 17:17 says, “Your Word is truth”. We can be sure of the truthfulness and reliability of His Word. Psalm 119:86 says, “All your commandments are faithful” . The Lord wants us to have assurance that His promises cannot and will not fail. He has promised He will never leave us or forsake us regardless of the circumstances, that He will work all things (good and bad) for the good of those who love Him and are the called according to His purpose. 2 Corinthians 1:20 says,“ all the promises of God in Christ are yes and amen”. To those who adhere to the Word find it is a firm foundation upon which to build one’s life, because God is faithful to His Word.
God’s faithfulness in His love. 1 John4:16 says, “God is love” God demonstrated His love toward us, that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. God is faithful in His love toward humanity. One may reject His love, scoff at His love, but He will continue to be faithful in His love. One may hide themselves from the sun but one can’t keep the sun from shining. In Christ God has expressed a love that shouts He will never stop loving us. His Love for us is not based on what we do or do not do it is all coming from His character of who he is.
The faithfulness of God’s love as found in the Christ of the cross towers over time, bidding us to come unto Him and therein find the confidence of redemption and hope.
The faithfulness of God is, so that it reaches every human need. It surpasses the supplying of just our needs. In a world of wickedness, it is His faithfulness that confirms us through the Word, and keeps us from evil. 2Thessalonians 3:3 says “But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you and keep you from evil”.
When we are tested, He is faithful in not allowing us to be tempted above what we are able to bear, and in making a way of escape 1 Corinthians. 10:13. Although we were born in sin, and though we come short of the glory of God, He is merciful and faithful to make reconciliation as our High Priest Hebrews 2:17.
Even when we have sinned against His righteousness, through our confession He is faithful and just to forgive us, and to cleanse us from all our unrighteousness 1 John 1:9.
There are many other scriptures on God’s faithfulness. However the life-changing ones are those that proclaim His forgiveness of our sins. It doesn’t matter what sins we have committed, no matter how "bad" we are, God is faithful to forgive us if we accept Jesus and repent of our sins.
REMEMBER: NOAH got drunk. JACOB lied. JOSEPH was abused. MOSES was a murderer and had a speech impediment. GIDEON was scared. RAHAB was a prostitute. DAVID was a murderer and adulterer. ELIJAH was suicidal. PETER denied Christ 3 times. The DISCIPLES fell asleep while praying. MARY MAGDLENE was demon possessed. PAUL was a murderer and many other people had great sins, but God forgave them all.
So, whenever you feel that life is unfair, be reminded that God is a Faithful. Because He is faithful your needs are being met.
If you feel rejected or abandoned, God’s word says, I will never leave you or forsake you Deuteronomy 31:6. When you feel you are searching for purpose, Jeremiah 29:11 affirms that God’s plans for you are to prosper you and not to harm you.
God is faithful when we are not and when life isn’t fair. When you want to throw in the towel or are feeling overwhelmed, be assured that God will provide, uplift, comfort, strengthen, and support you. Your immediate circumstances may not change but you can be sure that God will provide you with all that you need to persevere. God is faithful.
Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
