Let Us Rise Up and Build Faithfulness

Introduction

Review the Introduction

Today we’re continuing our annul theme found in Neh. 2:18 “Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.”

Last week I’d preached ‘Let Us Rise Up and Build Understanding’ - specifically understanding of the relationship between obedience and blessings.

Before that, It was ‘Let Us Rise Up and Build and Life of Purpose’

Before that, it was ‘Let Us Rise Up and Build the Right Mindset’

Today the Title of our message is ‘Let Us Rise Up and Build Faithfulness’ - but before we get into that, I want to go back to the beginning and revisit the introduction that was delivered here on January 1st.

In that introduction, I wanted to lay the groundwork for all that would follow - and before we speak about building faithfulness, I want to look again at why it needs builded in the first place.

Based on the premise of the book and situation of Nehemiah, during a time of much despair for the COI. The great kingdom of Israel has been torn down - symbolized by the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah came unto Jerusalem to rally the people into rising up and rebuilding the walls that were town down.

In this image, I pictured Jerusalem as our country, and the walls as the church. The country is being laid waste, and it’s because the church has broken down. Satan has destroyed, and we’ve allowed them to fall into disrepair. And if we’re to have any hope of safety, stability and sustainability for our country, then the walls must be repaired - and it all starts here.

So how do we build up the walls? How do we build up the church?

By building up the Right Mindset

By building up Understanding

By building up Lives of Purpose

And - as we’ll look at today - building up Faithfulness

In our text, Paul is speaking of the ministers of Christ being stewards of the mysteries of God. Church, WE are the ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. You and I are subordinates of Christ and are stewards. A steward is one who is charged with occupying their masters goods, yet they have no goods of their own (ill. Joseph a Steward of Pharoah) And IF we are to accomplish this great task, we must be found faithful.

So what is ‘Faithfulness’? Let’s begin by Defining Faithfulness

I. Defining Faithfulness

As I began pondering on this subject this week, I began to contemplate what exactly is faithfulness. And beyond that - what makes one faithful.

Hint: If you’re looking for definitions of words that are found in our Bible - one of the best places you can look is Websters 1828 dictionary. I have three adjectives to describe faithfulness and they are derived from those definitions found there.

What is Faithful

Conforming

Conformable to truth; as a faithful narrative or representation.

How many of you have seen something that is ‘based on a true story’ - do you know what that means? That means that they are telling a story and the underlying story is the basis, but it takes liberty with the truth in order to tell a ‘better’ story. In other words, it’s not FAITHFUL to the source material

Speaking of conforming, the idea presented is that when something is replicated, it doesn’t stray from the source material, but rather molds itself to it.

As Christians, if we’re to be faithful Christians (Christ-like) then we will conform ourselves to the source material (Christ).

Cleaving

Firmly adhering to duty; of true fidelity; loyal; true to allegiance; as a faithful subject.

To cleave is to hold on despite the winds of change and the forces around you. Cleaving to our duty & loyal unto it.

As Christians, we should cleave to our service for Christ. Despite the winds of public opinion and the forces of the flesh & Satan.

Being Consistent

Constant in the performance of duties or services; exact in attending to commands.

Being faithful is to be consistent in that behaviour. One is not faithful if they are not consistent.

As Christians - you cannot be counted as being faithful unto Christ if you care about Christ one day, and neglect them (& Him) the next.

These are what it means to be faithful.

But I think the next point is very important to consider

Why is One Faithful

They act in accordance to what they believe

If you break down the word ‘Faithful’, it would simply be ‘Full of Faith’.

This being said, one will be Faithful - they will Conform, Cleave & be Consistent, WHEN they have faith in the subject in question.

(Ill.) Take marriage for an example. Husbands & wives will be faithful to their marriage vows if they have faith in them. If they have faith in the institution of marriage. If they have faith in their spouse. If they have faith in the hope of having a spotless undefiled marriage. If someone believes that these things are of more value than their own personal satisfaction, then they will be faithful.

Now examining this from a Christian perspective speaking about being faithful unto the things of God - if a Christians has faith in the LORD, they have faith in God’s Word - if they believe that Jesus is their LORD, they are not their own, they believe that what God said in His Word He meant - then that will lead them to be faithful unto Jesus.

And I’ll tell you the truth - if a Christian is not faithful, it’s signifies a lack of faith. A lack of faith in the LORD and / or His Word.

This is what faithfulness is. This is what faithfulness means.

So we’ve Defined Faithfulness, next we’ll look at Demonstrating Faithfulness. What does faithfulness look like in regards to the Christians life

II. Demonstrating Faithfulness

If we are to be Faithful Christians - then this is what it will look like

Unto God’s Will

Doing what God wants instead of what you want

If we are Faithful to God’s Will then what that means is you have God’s Will (here), your will (here) - and instead of taking the easy route to do what you want to do, you will choose God’s Will over your own.

(Ill.) We’ll give an easy illustration for this. Do you believe that it’s God’s Will to attend church? How often? What do we have to go by? (Turn Heb. 10:23-25). Now what our flesh will tell many of us this afternoon that you went to church this morning, you’ve done your part to be a ‘good Christian’, and you don’t need it twice - especially in one day. However, God’s Word states otherwise. We’re to ‘not forsake the assembling’ which means that if we don’t come when the church assembles, we are disobeying His Word.

Now if you choose to be faithful to His Will - then you’ll be here no matter how comfortable that couch feels. No matter what ‘things you have to do’ - because it’s not about being faithful to you, it’s about being faithful to His Will.

If we’re faithful unto God’s Will we’ll place His above ours

Unto God’s Ways

Acting in a manner that would be pleasing in His sight

Acting ‘Christ-like’. This is asking the constant question ‘What would Jesus do’ in regards to our decisions of life. If we’re to be faithful unto God’s Ways, then our behaviour will be modified to where we bring honor unto the LORD instead of reproach.

The fruit of the Spirit will show rather than the flesh: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, righteousness, truth.

If we’re faithful unto God’s ways, we’ll act accordingly

Unto God’s Witness

Sharing the ‘Good News’ of Jesus Christ

Prior to Christ’s ascension, Mar. 16:15 “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

Paul said: 2Cor. 5:20a “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ...”

If we’re faithful unto God’s Witness, we’ll tell others about Him. Why? Because Christ has commanded us to. Because it’s our role upon this earth.

If we’re faithful unto God’s Witness, we’ll share the Gospel

Unto God’s Word

Spending Time in the Bible

Save the Holy Ghost of God, He’s given us nothing greater today than His Word. It’s through His Word whereby we know His Will. It’s through His Word where we gain wisdom & understanding.

God has preserved His Word for us

Men have bled & died to pass down His Word unto us.

If you have little to no interest in His Word, you have little to no faith in it. Either in the Word itself or the fact that we’ll be Judged by the things written therein.

If we’re faithful unto God’s Word, we’ll spend time in the Bible

Unto God’s Warring

Fighting the Good Fight of Faith

We’ll fight the flesh

We’ll fight Satan

We’ll not give in to their desires and designs for our life, but we’ll stand up and be counted. We’ll stand up with the whole armor of God!

(Ill) As a Christian. Everyday I wake up - the battle begins. My flesh has desires & designs for the day. Satan has desires & designs for the day. My God has desires & designs for the day. Constantly, pulling in different directions. Constantly vying for my attention. I am in constant warfare from the time I wake up, till the time I go to sleep. Then I believe Satan enters my cat to make sure that the battle wages on. (Jk)

If you are a Christian, and this is not your experience, then I must say you are suffering from one of two things. Ignorance or an identity crisis. Either you’re a Christian in name only (and not truly converted) OR you are ignorant of this constant battle.

We must be faithful unto God’s Warring - instead of giving in to the flesh, we fight!

Unto God’s Wounds

Carrying the Cross

Bearing the weight of a world that is anti-Christ

Mar. 8:34 “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

Jesus had a Cross to bear - and according to Him, so do you. So do I. The world by it’s very being is anti-Christ. Satan is not indifferent to Christ. Our flesh isn’t indifferent to Christ - they are anti-Christ. And just as they Crucified our LORD in the flesh, they will do so unto you in figure if you DARE to be faithful to Christ and take up your Cross & follow Him!

To be faithful unto His Wounds is to be faithful to carry our Cross! Not lay it down, but struggle up that Hill bearing the weight of a world that is anti-Christ KNOWING THAT YOU HAVE ONE WHO WILL HELP SHOULDER THE BURDEN!

Carry your Cross & be Crucified with Christ

Crucified with Christ

Denying self completely for Jesus’ Sake

Paul said this: Gal. 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

The life he NOW lives - as opposed to the one he used to live.

Paul was faithful unto Christ and the wounds of Christ. Because he CONFORMED, HE CLEAVED AND WAS CONSISTENT

Faithful to the Wounds of God

To Watch

Continually looking for the Return of our Lord

Luk. 12:37 “Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.”

We must be faithful to watch - continually be on the lookout for His return. He promised that He would. We should be looking for Him, because He’s a man of His Word!

This is what Faithfulness in the Christian walk looks like. Now I must remind you that if this does not describe you, then it’s likely that you suffer from a lack of faith in Christ, the Word of God and the Promises therein.

Remember the words of James Jam. 2:17-18 “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” Jam. 2:26 “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

Your actions dictate your faith or lack thereof - and your faith dictate your actions or lack thereof (Sit on that)

Demonstrating Faithfulness

III. Deciding to be Faithful

Understanding it’s a Choice

Deciding to be Faithful to God and the things of God is a choice. Plain and simple

Understanding it’s MY Choice

Not only is it a choice, but it’s your choice. No one but you can choose to be faithful to the things of God.

To be faithful to God’s Will

Faithful to God’s Ways

Faithful to God’s Witness

Faithful to God’s Word

Faithful to God’s Warring

Faithful to God’s Wounds

Faithful to Watch

That’s not anyone’s decision but your own. Your mommy, daddy, son, daughter, pastor nor the Christ Himself can make that decision for you. It’s yours & yours alone.

Understanding I’m Responsible for My Choice

YOU will make the choice to be faithful to the Things of God. And you will be RESPONSIBLE unto God for what you choose.

(Ill.) Oftentimes, we make excuses for the ones that we love. But standing before Christ you will have no one making excuses for what you choose. You’ll stand on the decisions you’ve made, whether good or bad.

Paul said: 2Cor 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”

This being the case, I implore you to choose wisely

Conclusion

If the walls (the church) are going to be built up - it’s going to require faithfulness unto the Things of God. This church will never be anything but mediocre / lukewarm if we’re not found faithful. And whether we’re faithful or not is a choice we each must make. So what will you choose?