Faithfulness
March 24, 2001
Several years ago a major newspaper tabloid ran the headlines: "They said it wouldn’t last." The paper was celebrating the first anniversary of a famous couple whose marriage many had predicted wouldn’t last. The tabloid gleefully proclaimed that the predictions were all wrong and that the marriage was healthy and strong. Weeks latter they had to eat their type as Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley filed for divorce.
We have been looking at the fruit of the Spirit for the last number of weeks and today we reach the quality of faithfulness. Stories such as this reveal that the character quality of faithfulness is sorely missing by our society.
Hallmark has a greeting card which says "I can’t promise you forever, but I can promise you today."
I heard a guest on Canada AM speak of todays sexual practices as serial monogamy. This partner for three months, the next for six, the next for two the next for twelve, and so on and so on.
AS we have done with each of the other aspects of the fruit of the Spirit we need to start with the character of our God, but I want to do something a little different because I want us to define faithfulness by the way it is revealed in The character of the God we serve.
A. God is Faithful
1. God’s faithfulness invloves the upholding of His responsibilities.
1Corinthians 1:7-9
The term faithful is particularly used in connection with the keeping of God’s promises.
Psalm 145:13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made.
Lamentations3: 21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
22 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Hebrews 10:21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,
22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 11:11 By faith Abraham, even though he was past age-- and Sarah herself was barren-- was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise.
FAITHFULNESS INVOLVES THE KEEPING OF OUR WORD; THE FULFILLING OF OUR RESPONSIBILITES
2. God’s faithfulness come despite the faithlessness of those to whom he made the promises.
1 CORINTHIANS 1:7-9
Deut. 7:7 The LORD did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.
8 But it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
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.
2 Timothy 2:11 Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him;
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us;
13 if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.
FAITHFULNESS INVOLVES THE KEEPING OF OUR WORD; THE FULFILLING OF OUR RESPONSIBILITES EVEN WHEN THE OBJECTS OF OUR FAITHFULNESS ARE UNWORTHY.
B. As God’s children we need to be faithful
1 Corinthians 4:1-2
Matthew 25:14-29
We live in a society that looks for loopholes to excuse unfaithful behaviour.
What stewardship has been entrusted to you?
A husband or wife? Be faithful!
Children? Be faithful!
An opportunity to serve? Be faithful!
A chance to share the gospel? Be faithful!
On that day when God calls for an accounting of the gifts he has entrusted to us:
Well done my good and faithful servant.
