Faithful Intro

Faithfulness

Defined:

Faith and faithfulness are logically and linguistically one in the OT and NT. That is, the major words for faith in both Testaments also connote the concept of “faithfulness.” This indicates that faith is more than momentary assent to the truth of God. It is commitment to that truth, and it manifests itself in continued obedience. Stuart D. Sacks, “Faithfulness,” Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1988), 765.

Exemplified in Abraham

Abraham’s life in this regard is instructive. He assented to, relied upon, and acted in conformity to the revealed Word of God Stuart D. Sacks, “Faithfulness,” Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1988), 765.

Faithfulness as Consistency

Faithfulness, then, must not be viewed as an isolated act. Rather it is an attitude that should characterize the entire life of those who say they have faith in God. Stuart D. Sacks, “Faithfulness,” Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1988), 765.

Faithfulness as our Standard

Before Paul, Silas, and Luke would trust Lydia as someone who could host them and be in a place of leadership and trust- faithfulness was the measure by which she was judged

If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), Ac 16:15.

As Paul offers guidance to Timothy he writes:

2 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), 2 Ti 2:1–2.

Faithful here is translated from “Pistos” which is an adjective translated as faithful, believing, trustworthy

As Paul expands on the idea of looking for faithful men, he encourages Timothy to avoid the distractions of everyday life and focus on Christ, stay within the path laid out by Christ for his life, and he will receive his reward before others. In other words it will be worth it

English Standard Version Chapter 2

3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 The saying is trustworthy, for:

If we have died with him, we will also live with him;

12  if we endure, we will also reign with him;

if we deny him, he also will deny us;

13  if we are faithless, he remains faithful—

for he cannot deny himself.

2 Timothy 2:3-13

After everything, remember Jesus Christ is the reason for our faithfulness and the supporter of it.

If we endure, we reign, even when do fall short of faithfulness- he remains faithful!

That is our hope that we can try again tomorrow!

Faithfulness as our final thought of the day

English Standard Version Chapter 2

7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

When you go to bed at night the final question you should ask yourself is this “have I been faithful (reliable/believing/trustworthy) to God with my day”

The Goal of our Saturday Meetings on Faithfulness

Look at God’s word and practical applications of faithfulness as it applies to us in different areas of life

Recap and check on one another each week to see if we are achieving faithfulness and if not help one another to achieve it

At work, my job is to sell repairs. Whether or not I sell a repair is irrelevant, the standard for me when I lay my head down at night is did I take care of the customer in educating them and equipping them to make educated decisions. If I do that well I will sell repairs. My focus and my success is not on the results but on me being diligent to do my job with excellence.

In the same way, the purpose of our group will be to orient our focus properly upon faithfulness to God as the standard by which we asses our days and weeks and take our focus away from work success, relationship success, peer adoration, friendships, etc.

Faithfulness Future Topics

in Friendships

in Romantic/

in work

in family/home responsibilities

in Jesus

English Standard Version Chapter 25

His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’