When Will Our Congregation Be Unfaithful?

When will our congregation be unfaithful?

I believe this church is rooted and grounded in the Faith, but applause will not keep it this way.

Brethren need to be aware of pitfalls that lead to destruction.

Just because someone might call us it unsound/unfaithful or “anti”, it does not mean that we are truly so.

Never let us drop our guard and say “It can’t happen here.”

The Devil watches us and works on whatever wedge he can find to divide us or destroy us. He will seek to make us unstable and wavering.

What “Unfaithful” Means

Human Definitions

From Webster’s 1828 Dictionary:

UNFAITHFUL

Not observant of promises, vows, allegiance or duty; violating trust or confidence; treacherous; perfidious; as an unfaithful subject; an unfaithful husband or wife; an unfaithful servant; an unfaithful bailee or agent.

Not performing the proper duty.

Impious; infidel.

Negligent of duty; as an unfaithful workman.

To be unfaithful is typically looked upon as being related to someone being unfaithful to their spouse.

Bible Definitions

O.T. Definition: “to act unfaithfully or treacherously” (Strong’s)

Nehemiah 1:8 NKJV - "Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations;

Proverbs 2:21-22 NKJV - For the upright will dwell in the land, And the blameless will remain in it; But the wicked will be cut off from the earth, And the unfaithful will be uprooted from it.

Proverbs 11:3, 6 NKJV - The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them. ... The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, But the unfaithful will be caught by their lust.

Ezekiel 39:23, 26 NKJV - "The Gentiles shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity; because they were unfaithful to Me, therefore I hid My face from them. I gave them into the hand of their enemies, and they all fell by the sword. ... 'after they have borne their shame, and all their unfaithfulness in which they were unfaithful to Me, when they dwelt safely in their own land and no one made them afraid.

N.T. Definition (positive) of faithful: “in the Active sense means "believing, trusting;" (b) in the Passive sense, "trusty, faithful, trustworthy." (Vine’s)

Luke 16:10 NKJV - "He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.

1 Corinthians 4:2 NKJV - Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

1 Timothy 1:12 NKJV - And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry,

2 Timothy 2:2, 13 NKJV - And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. ... If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.

Hebrews 10:23 NKJV - Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

Revelation 17:14 NKJV - "These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful."

Satan Succeeds...

When we fail to “let brotherly love continue.”

Hebrews 13:1 Let brotherly love continue.

Romans 12:10, 13, 15 NKJV - Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; ... distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. ... Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

Proverbs 6:16-19 NKJV - These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.

Lack of love for one another stirs strife, backbiting, and promotes division.

A Christian who is sweet on himself is contentious and will cause trouble.

If Unity is to prevail and Heaven to be our home, we must deal with one another in meekness and gentleness.

When we cease to be militant for the truth.

No cause should be more aggressive than the cross of Christ.

2 Timothy 2:2-5 NKJV - And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

Christ shed his blood by Grace, but grace also suggests “Fight”, “War”, “Wrestle”

Never compromise by allowing a "Bombing Halt”, thus giving the enemy time to regroup.

Press the battle, Use the sword instead of just waving it around.

2 Timothy 4:5-8 NKJV - But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. Galatians 4:6, 16 NKJV - And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" ... Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?

2 Timothy 3:12 NKJV - Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

When we allow other congregations to do our work.

All churches have responsibility to work according to ability and opportunity.

Especially in Birmingham, we might think that other, larger congregations are getting the work done, so we can be lax.

Let each church follow its own battle plan.

This congregation can be blessed only on its own merits and not that of others.

While our reputation is important, we can find no evidence of congregations being able to rest upon their earthly reputation for their destiny.

Revelation 3:17 NKJV - "Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'--and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked--

When our chief interest is “keeping house” for the Lord.

This happens when we lack spirituality.

When we were children, we would play like Church; Sang, Preached, Lord’s Supper. It amounted to just that - PLAYING.

Many Churches meet three times weekly, two meetings each year, weekly bulletin, and do little else.

If this is true of Pinson, it means we are playing Church, and we will profit no more than when we were children at play.

God is not fooled by fakery! Shake the bushes and sound out the Word of God.

Let Pinson know that the Lord’s Church is very much alive and radiates with the message of the Crucified Christ.

When the members of the body don’t know their place.

Many times the trouble maker in the church is one that is out of his or her place.

Elders should oversee, lead, rule.

Saints and Deacons should serve the Elders, even Preachers on occasions.

Preachers should know and stay in their place.

Gideon's success with 300 men was in the fact that "They stood every man IN HIS PLACE”

Result: Enemies ran, cried and fled. Judges 7:21; Rom. 12:4, 5

When indifference, neglect, and self-righteousness are allowed to exist.

Examine yourself.

2 Corinthians 13:5 NKJV - Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you are disqualified.

1 Corinthians 15:58 NKJV - Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Don’t say, TOMORROW, but TODAY