July 25, 2004 Galatians 5:22 The fruit of the Spirit is faithfulness.
In Psalm 12:1-2, David prayed, Help, LORD, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men. In Proverbs 20:6 God’s Word also asked, Many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find? When we talk about the fruit of faithfulness, then, we realize that this is no ordinary fruit. Indeed, it is a rare fruit that can only be formed by a miracle of the Holy Spirit.
Even though it is formed only by the Holy Spirit - it is a fruit that all of us are to strive for. In his parable of the talents, Jesus didn’t focus so much on how many talents each person was given, but on how each person USED those talents. When they used them well, the master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” But when one servant didn’t do anything with his talents, God called him a “wicked and lazy servant” and threw him into hell. It wasn’t a matter of how many talents each one had at the end - but how FAITHFUL he was with the talents he had. In Revelation 2:10 God says to - Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. The measure for God is not on how SUCCESSFUL you are, but on how FAITHFUL you are with what you’ve got. Isaiah was not necessarily successful in the eyes of the world - Jeremiah either. But they were FAITHFUL with the calls God gave them - which were NOT easy calls by any stretch of the imagination.
What is faithfulness? How would you describe it? It is best described by looking at what God calls faithful in the Scriptures. First and foremost, God calls HIMSELF faithful. He said to Moses that he was the LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and FAITHFULNESS. (Exodus 34:6.) He describes what that means in Psalm 89:30-37 “If his sons forsake my law and do not follow my statutes, if they violate my decrees and fail to keep my commands, I will punish their sin with the rod, their iniquity with flogging; but I will not take my love from him, nor will I ever betray my faithfulness. I will not violate my covenant or alter what my lips have uttered. Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness— and I will not lie to David— that his line will continue forever and his throne endure before me like the sun; it will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky.” Faithfulness is found in the fact that God stuck to His promise to give a Savior through the Jews - even though they had completely violated His covenant and even started worshiping other gods. In spite of that God said, “even though you’re a bunch of unfaithful whores I’ll stick to my promise. I’ll still send a Savior - I’ll still send my Son to become a man - through your rotten and stinking line.” Faithfulness is keeping your Word even when it hurts - even when it stinks.
But faithfulness is more than that. Let’s look at Christ. He too, of course was described as faithful. Hebrews 3:1-6 Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. He was faithful to the one who appointed him. The faithfulness of Jesus was in the fact that He fulfilled what He was called to do - to die for our sins - and He continues to be faithful to His call - to pray and intercede for His Church yet today. Faithfulness means sticking to the job and fulfilling your calling - no matter how hard it gets or how long it takes. Jesus didn’t rest - doesn’t rest - until we are HOLY and SAVED.
This is what Scriptures mean when they describe Abraham, Moses, David and other patriarchs as being faithful men of God. Abraham did what God told him to do - leaving his home country, believing in the promise - believing that God would give him a son even at 100 years old - after having waited 25 years for it. Moses continued to lead God’s people for 40 years - even when the constantly complained to him and even tried to rebel against him. He stuck to his call even though it wasn’t any fun. David is an interesting example. During the earlier part of his kingship he was unfaithful to God by committing adultery with Bathsheba and murdering Uriah. God forgave him, but told him his family life would be a wreck and the son born to him would die. David had a tremendous amount of guilt over what he did. He had to live through the death of several of his rebellious sons and knowing that one of his daughters was raped. The whole country knew what he did. Yet God wanted him to continue on as king. This is where David was faithful. He remained in his office, and he continued to rule God’s people to the best of his ability - even though he knew he’d messed up. In other words - He didn’t give up. That’s faithfulness.
In the New Testament church, faithfulness was the mark for who would be elected to be bishops. Alan Siggelkow writes, “The bishops and presbyters were always targeted in the persecutions. Respect for their faithfulness and and witness to the faith grew as more and more were martyred or persecuted. Many church histories write about the scars on the bodies of the bishops who attended the Council of Nicea in 325.” (WLQ 101:3:167) That’s faithfulness.
Faithfulness is something that God wants each and every one of us to have - the ability to stick to God’s Word - not to faulter - to be able to perform the duties that are put before us - no matter how difficult the road may be. I recently watched the movie “Band of Brothers.” It talks about Easy Company who fought during World War II - a group of young men who were dropped into Europe on D-Day and traveled up through Norway. You wouldn’t believe what these young men had to go through in their battles - especially one called Bastogne. It was simply incredible. Many men in their company died. But none of them deserted. They stayed the course. They kept on fighting. Some of them lived to tell about it - and they are highly respected yet today. That’s how I would like you to look at your journey through this world. God never said it would be easy. As a matter of fact - He says that you will have demons and forces of the evil realm fighting against you. Faithfulness requires sticking with it - continuing to fight the battle - in the face of persecution - doing what God calls you to do - even when it isn’t easy.
When I look at my life - and when you look at yours - how do you measure up? Are we being “faithful” to God? Here’s where we need to take a good hard look at ourselves. Is it just a coincidence that when we get a little bit of snow on the ground that our attendance drops dramatically? Was it just a coincidence that when it rained out a few weeks ago our attendance was below fifty? Or did some of you look out the window - see that it was gloomy out - and say to yourselves - “I’m just going to sleep in this morning.” Are we being faithful to God when we are not forced but we choose to work overtime on Sunday mornings? Are we being faithful to God when we don’t take time for reading the Bible every day? Are you giving your children devotions every day? Do you review their Sunday School lessons with them? Are we being faithful in making sure our children KNOW their memory work?
You can apply this faithfulness to EVERY aspect of life - every one. Faithfulness is displayed in doing the duties that are put before you. It means doing your chores every day and doing them WELL. It means working hard for your employer and keeping a good attitude - showing up regularly for work. It means taking time to cook good healthy meals for your kids and bathing them and taking care of them with a whole hearted effort. Faithfulness means performing the duties you have - and not complaining about them or neglecting them.
In this sense I don’t believe that our generation really knows what faithfulness is. Instead of sticking with a difficult marriage, more and more people are giving up and getting divorced. Instead of trying to work through difficulties at a job - many would rather just quit and draw unemployment. As Americans we have been raised to give up - to complain - to only do what we WANT to do and what PLEASES us instead of thinking to ourselves - “how can I be faithful to the duties I’ve been given.” Instead we ask, “how can I be faithful to the things I WANT to do?” But what does God say to us? 1 Corinthians 4:2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. Faithfulness does not include sleeping in on Sunday mornings. Faithfulness is not found in leaving your Bible on the shelf. Faithfulness is not included in letting your children be raised by a television. Faithfulness is not found in children who are too lazy to help their parents and complain about any amount of work they’re asked to do. It isn’t found in people who complain about going to worship. It isn’t found in people who put themselves and their pleasures over what their conscience and their God tells them they should be doing. That’s what God calls WICKEDNESS.
The Old Testament Israelites had a knack for this kind of behavior. Amos said of them - Amos 6:4-7
You lie on beds inlaid with ivory and lounge on your couches. You dine on choice lambs and fattened calves.
You strum away on your harps like David and improvise on musical instruments.
You drink wine by the bowlful and use the finest lotions, but you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph.
Therefore you will be among the first to go into exile; your feasting and lounging will end.
God wouldn’t put up with their unfaithfulness. He won’t put up with ours.
Yet in spite of their unfaithfulness, God told the Israelites - Psalm 89 I will punish their sin with the rod, their iniquity with flogging; but I will not take my love from him, nor will I ever betray my faithfulness. I will not violate my covenant or alter what my lips have uttered. Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness— and I will not lie to David— that his line will continue forever and his throne endure before me like the sun; it will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky.” In spite of their sin, God stuck to His promise to send a Savior - He remained a FAITHFUL God and sent Jesus to become man. When the disciples fell asleep in the midst of a spiritual battle and deserted Him - Jesus remained FAITHFUL to His calling - and went on to die on the cross. Isaiah promised in chapter 53 that he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. Jesus said on the cross - IT IS FINISHED. Therefore, John says to us in 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. This is not a promise from a man - but a promise from God. When Balak wanted Balaam to curse Israel, Balaam responded, God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot change it. (Numbers 23:19-20)
Remember the story of the Prodigal Son? When the son asked for his inheritance and blew it on prostitutes and wild living - he did it by LEAVING HOME. But when he returned - he found that his father was still there - in the same spot he had grown up - with open arms. That father was representative of our Father in heaven. He doesn’t leave. His homestead of grace remains for us. If you’ve been unfaithful to God like the Prodigal Son - if you’ve run away from your God given duties even a hundred times - a thousand times - God is still in the same spot - and He’s saying to you - RETURN to me. God is still in the same place. His grave is still empty. His blood is still shed. His Word and His sacrament endure for all generations. This is where we need to return to daily - hourly - is the faithful God. Take comfort in the fact that God is FAITHFUL to His promises and His character as a MERCIFUL LORD. If you’re sorry for your unfaithfulness, feel God take you in His arms and squeeze you and say to you, “I forgive you. Welcome home.” This is the anchor for our faith - it’s what we sing about in the song Come to Calvary’s Holy Mountain -
God is faithful; God will never
Break His covenant of blood,
Signed when our Redeemer died,
Sealed when he was glorified.
With this foundation for our faith, God is encouraging you to start on a fresh journey of faithfulness this morning. You need to remember that life is not going to be easy. Envision it like the soldiers of Easy Company - who didn’t have an easy journey to the freedom of Europe. It took hard work and dedication to fight for freedom. Revelation says in 2:10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Later on in Revelation 14 John also says that, There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name.” This is not an easy thing. Therefore, what did John say to do? This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus. . . . Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. Paul promises us that in the midst of the battle that the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. (2 Thessalonians 3:2-3)
When you stay in the Gospel - His Holy Spirit will develop this faithfulness. He will encourage you to have devotions. He will change your will so that you want to get up every Sunday morning. He will give you more energy to do the things that God asks you to do. Imagine what a glorious thing it will be to finally lay your trophies at His feet - to have walked and fought through the battlefield and have God Himself welcome you in His arms - to have God say to YOU - “well done, good and FAITHFUL servant.” What an unworthy honor! What an awesome thing that will be! What a relaxing thing it will be to finally have an end to the battle - to have no more attacks from Satan, the world, and our own flesh.
When Esther was made the queen and wife of King Xerxes, her own people were put in jeopardy and facing elimination under the evil underlord named Haman. She was the only one who could talk to the King on behalf of her people. At first, Esther didn’t want to. She was scared of even approaching her crazy husband. But Mordecai said to her, who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this? (Es 4:14) It was dangerous, but she needed to be faithful to her God and her people. She went - and God granted her success.
We live in dangerous times as Christians. The battles are getting worse and worse. Now is not the time to give up. Now is not the time to let your faith rest - to take it is easy. Remember what Paul told the Corinthians - “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:2) You have been entrusted with the prize gem of God - the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Remain faithful to it. Read it. Learn it. Stick to it. The more you do, the more faithful the Holy Spirit will make you. The more fruitful you will become. God will make you into one of those rare birds - the few - the faithful - the free - the Christians. Amen.
