Our Faithfulness
Faithfulness means keeping faith, staying loyal, showing a strong sense of duty. The
word “faithfulness” is frequently used in the Old Testament to describe the way God
always keeps His promises. Since God is always true, He can logically be trusted.
Our faithfulness is expected of us, because we are made in the image and likeness of
God, and God shows His faithfulness from the book of Genesis through the book of
Revelation. Even after mankind fell into sin and gave their rights to the devil, God
declared in Genesis 3:14-15, “and the Lord God said to the serpent, because you
have done this you are cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field,
upon your belly shall you go, and dust shall you eat all the days of your life. And I will
put enmity between you ad the woman, and between your seed and her seed, it shall
bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel”. God proclaimed His plan of
redemption.
And when the world became so corrupt (Genesis 6:5-7) “and God saw that the
wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts
of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that He had made
man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart. And the Lord Yahweh said, I will
destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast,
and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air, for it repents Me that I have made
them”. God found one (Noah) who He could work through and save mankind
(Genesis 6:8-9), “but Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord Yahweh. These are
the generations of Noah, Noah was a just man, and perfect in his generation, and
Noah walked with God”. Noah was faithful, he continued with the Lord in spite of the
corruption of his times. Hebrews 11:7 says “by faith Noah, being warned of God of
things not seen as yet, moved with reverence, prepared an ark to the saving of his
house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness
which is by faith”.
Abraham was faithful. Faith is a commitment to the truth, and is shown through
obedience. Abraham’s life is an example; he relied upon God’s word and acted upon
it; he left home and country, and settled in a strange land, and even offered up his
son Isaac as God commanded. It is no surprise, therefore, that Abraham is
described in the New Testament as one whose behavior should be imitated by
Christians (Galatians 3:6-9), “even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted
to him for righteousness. Know you therefore that they which are of faith, the same
are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the
heathen through faith, preached before the gospel to Abraham, saying in you shall
all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful
Abraham”. And in Hebrews 11:8-10, it says “by faith Abraham, when he was called to
go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance obeyed, and he
went out, not knowing where he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise,
as in a strange country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of
the same promise. For he looked for a city which has foundations, whose builder and
maker is God”. Faithfulness, then, is not a one time act; rather, it is an attitude that
should characterize the entire life of those who say they have faith in God.
Moses was faithful (Hebrews 3:5), “and Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a
servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after”. In spite of
Israel’s faithlessness, God showed Himself to be reliable. He is loyal to the covenant
He made with the Israelites throughout the Old Testament, and He will always show
His steadfast love to His people (Psalms 136).
Daniel was faithful (Daniel 6:4-5), “then the presidents and princes sought to find
occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom, but they could find none occasion
nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in
him. Then said these men, we shall not find any occasion against this Daniel except
we find it against him concerning the law of his God”. These men tricked king Darius
to sign a decree that whosoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days,
save of the king, shall be cast into the den of lions. After the king signed the decree,
when Daniel found out, he went into his house, and opened his windows and prayed
to his God and he had aforetime. He was thrown into the lion’s den, but God rescued
him (Psalms 31:23-24), says “O love the Lord Yahweh all you His saints, for the Lord
preserves the faithful and plentifully rewards the proud doer. Be of good courage
and He shall strengthen your heart, all you that hope in the Lord Yahweh”, in Psalms
101:6, which says “My eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell
with Me, he that walks in a perfect way, he shall serve Me”. And in Proverbs 28:20, it
says “a faithful man shall abound with blessings, but he that makes haste to be rich
shall not be innocent”. You see God spared Daniel by shutting the lions mouth, and
when the king saw what they had done, he threw them and their families into the lion’
s den and they were devoured.
Jesus was faithful; the pinnacle of faithfulness in the Bible is seen in the work of
Jesus Christ, who showed Himself faithful to His Father (John 17). Jesus made
Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a man, and became obedient
to death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:6-8). The death, burial and
resurrection of Jesus Christ completed God’s work of redemption for mankind.
Jesus spoke of us being faithful (Matthew 24:44-47), “therefore be you also ready for
in such a hour as you think not the Son of man comes. Who then is a faithful and
wise servant whom his lord has made ruler over his household, to give them meat in
due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he comes shall find so
doing. Verily I say to you, that he shall make him ruler over all his goods”. And in
Matthew 25:13-30 Jesus says that the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a
far country, who called his own servants, and delivered to them his goods. To one
he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; and immediately took his
journey. When he returned, the one that had five talents gained another five, and
the one that had two gained another two, but the one that had one, hid it. And the
lord said to the one that had the five and gained another five, well done, you good
and faithful servant, you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler
over many things, enter you into the joy of your lord. He said to the one that had two
and gained another two, the same thing, but to the one that had one and hid it, he
said you wicked and slothful servant, you ought to have put my money to the bankers
and at my coming I should have received mine own with interest. Take therefore the
talent from him and give it to him which has ten talents.
God calls men and women to be faithful by following Christ, relying on Him for all
things. Our faithfulness is a gift that God has given (Ephesians 1:3), “blessed be the
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual
blessings in heavenly places in Christ”. Faithfulness is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians
5:22-25), “but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith. Meekness, temperance, against such there is no law. And they that
are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lust. If we live in the Spirit,
let us also walk in the Spirit”.
Our faithfulness is a requirement of Christians (I Corinthians 4:2), which says
“moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful”. Jesus says in
Luke 16:10 “he that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much, and he that
is unjust in the least is unjust also in much”. Remember that the little foxes spoil the
vine.
God’s faithfulness should be so deeply reflected in the lives of His people that they
can be called simply “the faithful” (Psalms 31:23).
Paul is said to be faithful, and he commented many for their faithfulness, in
Ephesians and Colossians; and well as the apostle John in III John 3-5, says “for I
rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, even
as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in
truth. Beloved, you do faithfully whatsoever you do to the brethren, and t strangers”.
We are called chosen and faithful in Revelation 17:14, which says “for He is Lord of
lords, and King of kings, and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and
faithful”. The faithful receives a crown of life, it says in (Revelation 2:10).
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: August 7, 2009
Faithfulness means keeping faith, staying loyal, showing a strong sense of duty. The
word “faithfulness” is frequently used in the Old Testament to describe the way God
always keeps His promises. Since God is always true, He can logically be trusted.
Our faithfulness is expected of us, because we are made in the image and likeness of
God, and God shows His faithfulness from the book of Genesis through the book of
Revelation. Even after mankind fell into sin and gave their rights to the devil, God
declared in Genesis 3:14-15, “and the Lord God said to the serpent, because you
have done this you are cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field,
upon your belly shall you go, and dust shall you eat all the days of your life. And I will
put enmity between you ad the woman, and between your seed and her seed, it shall
bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel”. God proclaimed His plan of
redemption.
And when the world became so corrupt (Genesis 6:5-7) “and God saw that the
wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts
of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that He had made
man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart. And the Lord Yahweh said, I will
destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast,
and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air, for it repents Me that I have made
them”. God found one (Noah) who He could work through and save mankind
(Genesis 6:8-9), “but Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord Yahweh. These are
the generations of Noah, Noah was a just man, and perfect in his generation, and
Noah walked with God”. Noah was faithful, he continued with the Lord in spite of the
corruption of his times. Hebrews 11:7 says “by faith Noah, being warned of God of
things not seen as yet, moved with reverence, prepared an ark to the saving of his
house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness
which is by faith”.
Abraham was faithful. Faith is a commitment to the truth, and is shown through
obedience. Abraham’s life is an example; he relied upon God’s word and acted upon
it; he left home and country, and settled in a strange land, and even offered up his
son Isaac as God commanded. It is no surprise, therefore, that Abraham is
described in the New Testament as one whose behavior should be imitated by
Christians (Galatians 3:6-9), “even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted
to him for righteousness. Know you therefore that they which are of faith, the same
are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the
heathen through faith, preached before the gospel to Abraham, saying in you shall
all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful
Abraham”. And in Hebrews 11:8-10, it says “by faith Abraham, when he was called to
go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance obeyed, and he
went out, not knowing where he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise,
as in a strange country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of
the same promise. For he looked for a city which has foundations, whose builder and
maker is God”. Faithfulness, then, is not a one time act; rather, it is an attitude that
should characterize the entire life of those who say they have faith in God.
Moses was faithful (Hebrews 3:5), “and Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a
servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after”. In spite of
Israel’s faithlessness, God showed Himself to be reliable. He is loyal to the covenant
He made with the Israelites throughout the Old Testament, and He will always show
His steadfast love to His people (Psalms 136).
Daniel was faithful (Daniel 6:4-5), “then the presidents and princes sought to find
occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom, but they could find none occasion
nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in
him. Then said these men, we shall not find any occasion against this Daniel except
we find it against him concerning the law of his God”. These men tricked king Darius
to sign a decree that whosoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days,
save of the king, shall be cast into the den of lions. After the king signed the decree,
when Daniel found out, he went into his house, and opened his windows and prayed
to his God and he had aforetime. He was thrown into the lion’s den, but God rescued
him (Psalms 31:23-24), says “O love the Lord Yahweh all you His saints, for the Lord
preserves the faithful and plentifully rewards the proud doer. Be of good courage
and He shall strengthen your heart, all you that hope in the Lord Yahweh”, in Psalms
101:6, which says “My eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell
with Me, he that walks in a perfect way, he shall serve Me”. And in Proverbs 28:20, it
says “a faithful man shall abound with blessings, but he that makes haste to be rich
shall not be innocent”. You see God spared Daniel by shutting the lions mouth, and
when the king saw what they had done, he threw them and their families into the lion’
s den and they were devoured.
Jesus was faithful; the pinnacle of faithfulness in the Bible is seen in the work of
Jesus Christ, who showed Himself faithful to His Father (John 17). Jesus made
Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a man, and became obedient
to death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:6-8). The death, burial and
resurrection of Jesus Christ completed God’s work of redemption for mankind.
Jesus spoke of us being faithful (Matthew 24:44-47), “therefore be you also ready for
in such a hour as you think not the Son of man comes. Who then is a faithful and
wise servant whom his lord has made ruler over his household, to give them meat in
due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he comes shall find so
doing. Verily I say to you, that he shall make him ruler over all his goods”. And in
Matthew 25:13-30 Jesus says that the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a
far country, who called his own servants, and delivered to them his goods. To one
he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; and immediately took his
journey. When he returned, the one that had five talents gained another five, and
the one that had two gained another two, but the one that had one, hid it. And the
lord said to the one that had the five and gained another five, well done, you good
and faithful servant, you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler
over many things, enter you into the joy of your lord. He said to the one that had two
and gained another two, the same thing, but to the one that had one and hid it, he
said you wicked and slothful servant, you ought to have put my money to the bankers
and at my coming I should have received mine own with interest. Take therefore the
talent from him and give it to him which has ten talents.
God calls men and women to be faithful by following Christ, relying on Him for all
things. Our faithfulness is a gift that God has given (Ephesians 1:3), “blessed be the
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual
blessings in heavenly places in Christ”. Faithfulness is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians
5:22-25), “but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith. Meekness, temperance, against such there is no law. And they that
are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lust. If we live in the Spirit,
let us also walk in the Spirit”.
Our faithfulness is a requirement of Christians (I Corinthians 4:2), which says
“moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful”. Jesus says in
Luke 16:10 “he that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much, and he that
is unjust in the least is unjust also in much”. Remember that the little foxes spoil the
vine.
God’s faithfulness should be so deeply reflected in the lives of His people that they
can be called simply “the faithful” (Psalms 31:23).
Paul is said to be faithful, and he commented many for their faithfulness, in
Ephesians and Colossians; and well as the apostle John in III John 3-5, says “for I
rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, even
as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in
truth. Beloved, you do faithfully whatsoever you do to the brethren, and t strangers”.
We are called chosen and faithful in Revelation 17:14, which says “for He is Lord of
lords, and King of kings, and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and
faithful”. The faithful receives a crown of life, it says in (Revelation 2:10).
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: August 7, 2009
