GOD IS FAITHFUL
Deut. 7:9
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR: 4 AFRICAN PROVERBS
1. “Before you hunt an elephant, consider whether you’re up to the test.”
2. “When you’re sent to clean the chicken, that’s not to say it’s yours.”
3. “The slippery rock can’t make you fall twice.”
4. “The nights that grow the children are the nights that age the parents.”
B. ILLUSTRATION
1. Senator Mark Hatfield told of touring Calcutta with Mother Teresa and visiting the so-called "House of Dying," where sick children are cared for in their last days, and the hospital, where the poor line up by the hundreds to receive medical attention.
2. Watching Mother Teresa minister to these people, feeding and nursing those left by others to die, Hatfield was overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the suffering she and her co-workers face daily.
3. "How can you bear the load without being crushed by it?" he asked. Mother Teresa replied, "My dear Senator, I am not called to be successful, I am called to be faithful." [Beyond Hunger, Beals]
C. IDEA & TITLE
1. Today we’re celebrating the “faithfulness of God.” We’re going to look at 5 ways God is faithful and then at why we should be faithful.
2. Title: “God is Faithful.”
I. FIVE WAYS GOD IS FAITHFUL
A. FAITHFUL TO HIS NAME
1. “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war” Rev 19:11. Jesus' name is Faithful!
2. God says, “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold” Prov. 22:1. For thousands of years there were no such things as contracts. How did people do business? By their good names. Their reputation for honest dealing made them the best person to do business with.
3. God too is concerned about His reputation. He wants us to know we can trust Him. God is one who lives up to His Name! He IS FAITHFUL!
B. FAITHFUL TO KEEP HIS PROMISES
1. “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” Deut. 7:9.
2. Aren’t you glad God is a faithful God? He keeps His covenant to a thousand generations! That would be at least 40,000 years! (if a generation = 40 years, Deut. 1:35).
3. When God makes a promise, He never forgets it! He is “watching to see that My Word is fulfilled” Jer. 1:12. At times, it has looked like God wasn’t answering His promises. Hebrews 11:13ff tells about those who died “NOT RECEIVING THE PROMISES.”
4. But they had faith that God would not fail and claimed His promises from a distance! So you can depend on God’s promises!
5. ILLUS. Faithful in Providing.
a. James Spurgeon, the grandfather of Charles Spurgeon, had a large family and a very small income. He was a poor preacher. One day his milk cow died. The family relied on that milk for the children. James Spurgeon said, “God said He would provide; I believe He could send us fifty cows if He pleased.”
b. In London a group of donors parceled out money to poor pastors & had 5 pounds left over. They each added a little & someone mentioned James Spurgeon. It was exactly enough money to buy a new milk cow!
c. You can trust God to keep His promises and provide for your needs. “My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”—Philippians 4:19
C. HE’S FAITHFUL EVEN WHEN WE’RE NOT
1. “If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.” 2 Tim 2:13, NLT.
2. It’s wonderful to contemplate the faithfulness of God. If we are weak, if we stumble, if our faith fails – still God remains committed to us and will work for our good! He knows our frame...that we are dust.
D. HE’S FAITHFUL TO FORGIVE US
1. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” 1 John 1:9.
2. If we were to fall into sin 490 times in the same day, God would still forgive each time! Matt. 18:22, “ not seven times but “seventy-times seven(lit. Gr.)”
3. It’s wonderful to know God won’t get tired of us & discard us. He’s committed to us.
E. FAITHFUL IN TEMPTATION
1. He won’t allow any greater temptation than we can stand. He puts limits on them so we won’t be overwhelmed. You say, “Why does He allow them at all?” Because in His wisdom He knows that for eternity – we need to be a tried & tested people. 1 Cor. 10:13, “There has 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 you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.”
2. This life is the dressing room for eternity. Our lives & dedication to God are tested. According to several parables, our positions in the next life are dependent on how faithful we are to carry out His will now! [Lk. 16:10-11, “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?]
3. Therefore, because GOD is faithful (and He calls us to be faithful) – WE SHOULD BE FAITHFUL TOO!
II. REASONS WHY WE SHOULD BE FAITHFUL
A. GOD COUNTS US AS STEWARDS
1. A STEWARD is defined as “One who manages another's property, finances, or other affairs.”
2. 1 Cor. 4:1-2 says, “Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”
3. Every Christian is a steward of the gifts, talents, opportunities, and influence they have. God expects us to use them for His kingdom (Parable of the Talents or Minas).
4. Luke 12:43, “Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord, when he comes, shall find so doing.” BE FAITHFUL! Requirement is not to be talented, but to be faithful.
5. What does it mean to be faithful? Dictionary defines "faithful" -- Firm in a belief, to the truth and duty; reliable; dependable; honest; loyal. Consistent in the performance of duties or service. Steady; not fickle."
B. THINGS WE SHOULD BE FAITHFUL TO
1. Faithful to GOD’S WORD. 2 Tim. 2:2, “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. Faithful to GOD’S WORK. Heb. 10:24, “24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works.”
3. Faithful to GOD’S HOUSE. Heb. 10:25, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
C. FAITHFULNESS DOES NOT COME NATURAL
1. Prov. 20:6 says, “but a faithful man who can find?” Faithfulness comes as a development of character. We learn to say "yes" to some things and "no" to other things.
2. We should be people of principle, of conviction, and not blown about by every wind of doctrine.
3. We should be faithful to godly priorities. God must be first in our lives in everything. “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me” Ex 20:3-4. " Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” Rev. 2:10.
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION
1. An elderly preacher was rebuked by one of his deacons one Sunday morning before the service. "Pastor," said the man, "something must be wrong with your preaching and your work. There's been only one person added to the church in a whole year, and he's just a boy."
2. Tears came to the minister’s eyes and his thin hand trembling. He replied, "God knows I've tried to do my duty." As he finished the message, he felt a strong inclination to resign, but put it off.
3. After everyone else had left, that one boy came to him and asked, "Do you think if I worked hard I could become a preacher--perhaps a missionary?" Again tears welled up in the minister's eyes. "Ah, this heals the ache I feel," he said.
4. "Robert, I see the Divine hand now. Yes, I think you will become a preacher." Many years later that boy, now an aged missionary, returned to London from Africa. He had translated the Bible into Tswana and won thousands to Christ and he’d become the most famous British missionary – Robert Moffat!
5. Lord, help us to be faithful! Let’s do the work and leave the results to God! https://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/f/faithfulness.htm
B. THE CALL
1. Do you need assurance of God’s faithfulness? Are you struggling with prayers which haven’t been answered?
2. Are there some areas of unfaithfulness in your life? Do you need to make a new commitment to do God’s will no matter what?
3. PRAYER for life dedications.
[This is a rewrite of Kevin Keeling’s message of the same title.]
