God Has Been Faithful
Scripture Reference: Psalm 89:1 – 8
Introduction
This book called the Bible, the Holy Scriptures, or the Holy Writ contains more about God than any other book written or will be written. This is more than handbook about the Great I am, but a life book about a living God.
Matthew 16:16. And Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’
Matthew 22:31. "But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, 32. `I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.’’
Oh yes, He was alive and active in 2003. His presence spoken about in His Bible, portrayed by His Son, confirmed by His Spirit, and experienced by His children.
I don’t have time to explore all of the dynamics and theology of a God who presents Himself as strong, sovereign, and the ultimate Savior.
But just allow me a few known revelations about our God this last day of 2003.
Exodus 3:13-14 God is self-existent.
13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name ? what shall I say unto them? 14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
I don’t ever remember this year God ever depending on us to exist. He has not been to the life support ward of our religion or self-indulgence.
Psalm 50:10-12 God is self-sufficient...
10 For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. 11 I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine a. 12 If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.
I don’t ever remember this year God asking someone to loan Him dollar or give Him a meal.
Psalm 103:8 God is merciful...
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
I don’t ever remember this year God giving us completely the judgment that we deserved.
Deuteronomy 33:27 God is eternal...
27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.
Psalm 107:8 God is good...
8 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Jeremiah 23:24 God is infinite...
24 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.
Genesis 18:14 God is omnipotent…
14 Is any thing too hard for the LORD?
1 Timothy 1:17 God is wise…
17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 13:8 God is unchanging
8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Leviticus 19:2God is holy...
2 Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.
John 3:16 God is love...
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
But of all the things that God has revealed about Himself that is a most fitting conclusion to this year and a bridge of encouragement for the next is that God has been faithful.
The year has come and the year has gone, but God has remained faithful. He has remained faithful to His word. He has remained faithful to His Son. He has remained faithful to His Spirit. He has remained faithful to His children.
We all have had months with challenges, some week of a crisis, an hour of temptation, a minute of pain, or seconds of frustration, yet God has been faithful.
Psalm 89 is song of testimony, a song of an eyewitness account about God. This is not a Psalm written by some one who read it in a novel or who heard it from another, but who knows it for himself that God is faithful.
Look at the first two lines of the Psalm 89…
1 I will sing of the LORD’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.
2 I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself.
With my mouth I will make your faithfulness known. That’s how you end a year. With your mouth not cursing the darkness.
With your mouth not grumbling about the pain. With your mouth not criticizing the lack of shame. But with your mouth making His faithfulness known.
For hasn’t it been obvious, we have not been faithful but He has. Is it obvious that we were the ones who stumbled, tripped, struggled, and wavered but He has remained as constant as the rising and setting of the sun.
Psalms 40:10 I have not hid thy saving help within my heart, I have spoken of thy faithfulness and thy salvation; I have not concealed thy steadfast love and thy faithfulness from the great congregation.
Do you hear what the writer is stating? You can’t go long without speaking of God’s faithfulness. You can’t exit one year and enter another without saying to yourself, out loud, and eventually to someone around you – God has been faithful.
The New Living Translation states, “Young and old will hear of your faithfulness.”
But just in case you have a bad dose of amnesia and don’t remember His faithfulness. Just in case on this last night of the year you don’t want to brag on God and feel compel to brag on yourself.
It’s like you sing it with the psalmist his next words:
5 The heavens praise your wonders, O LORD, your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones.
6 For who in the skies above can compare with the LORD? Who is like the LORD among the heavenly beings?
7 In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him.
8 O LORD God Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty, O LORD, and your faithfulness surrounds you.
The heavens praise His faithfulness in the company of the holy ones. The sun, the moon, the stars, the clouds tell it everyday.
The choirs of holy angels sing anthems to His faithful ways. God of the Angel Armies, who is like you, powerful and faithful from every angle?
The birds sing it, the trees tell it, the seasons show it, the earth know it, and the Spirit confirms it.
Eugene Peterson wrote like this: “Your love, God, is my song, and I’ll sing it! I’m forever telling everyone how faithful you are. I’ll never quit telling the story of your love— how you built the cosmos and guaranteed everything in it. Your love has always been our lives’ foundation, your fidelity has been the roof over our world.” – The Message
How about you? How will you end the year? What words will be on your lips? What will come out of your mouth in these final moments? All I know right now is that God has been faithful.
But although we have experienced His faithfulness as a past tense action, you must remember it will always be a present tense practice.
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 Thessalonians 5:24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
2 Thessalonians 3 But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.
2 Timothy 2: 13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.
Conclusion
14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
love and faithfulness go before you.
15 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,
who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD.
16 They rejoice in your name all day long;
they exult in your righteousness.
17 For you are their glory and strength,
and by your favor you exalt our horn.
Maybe I’m taking too much of your time – but is there anybody here who knows that God just is.
Lamentations 3:21 This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. 22. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. 23. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.
He’s whatever I need, whenever I need Him to be, whenever He wants to be, whenever He promises to be. God just is.
I don’t want anybody to remind me how faithful God is. Allow me for a point of personal testimony, I have found out over the course of my life that God is faithful. He’s an awesome God.
He has protected me when no one else could. He has sheltered me from the storm. He has strengthened me when I’ve been weak. He has healed me when I’ve been sick.
He has helped me when I’ve been in trouble. He’s been my lawyer in a courtroom. He’s been my friend when I was all by myself.
And somebody in the this room – you don’t need nobody to remind you of how faithful God is – for some he’s a doctor, for some he’s a lawyer, for some he’s just God – ALL BY HIMSELF.
God says I’m a King – which suggests He’s been their covering and their protection. And yet, they have to be reminded of it.
I wish I had somebody who loved the Lord in here that could help me say the more I consider what the Lord has been in my life; the more I want to praise Him.
When I think about what the Lord has done for me – I want to praise Him. He’s been so good to me. Y’all think I’m playing, but the Lord has really been good to me.
I wish I could tell you about the times that He brought me through.
I wish I could tell you about the times that He fed me when I was hungry.
I wish I could tell you about the times that He encouraged me when no else would.
I wish I could tell you about the times that He held me when no one else would.
I wish I could tell you about the times that He protected me when no one else would.
I wish I could tell you about the times that He loved me when no one else would.
I wish I could tell you about the times that He rocked me to sleep when no one else would.
I wish I could tell you about the times that He gave me victory in courts when no else would.
I wish I could tell you about the times that He saw me cry and told me everything’s gonna be all right when no one else would.
I wish I could tell you about the times when He knew I fell but he picked up when no one else would.
I wish I could tell you about the times when my name was on the highway and he loved me anyhow when no one else would.
That’s why I’ve got to praise Him. I praise Him – for his power. I praise Him – for his love. I praise Him – for His son. I praise Him – for his Son died at Calvary.
I praise Him – for they buried him. I praise Him – for early Sunday morning, he got up. Will you help me praise him???…. (CLOSE)
He has been faithful to me…through the storm, through the sickness, through the rain.
