Standing Firm. Three Questions. - 1 Kings 4

I find Solomon perplexing!

Solomon had everything and didn’t remain faithful. So I went to explore this week, what does it mean for us to remain faithful to God? How do we do it?

This was Solomon’s charge from God!

Deuteronomy 17:18–20 NASB95

“Now it shall come about when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself a copy of this law on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. “It shall be with him and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, by carefully observing all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted up above his countrymen and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, to the right or the left, so that he and his sons may continue long in his kingdom in the midst of Israel.

He had this command, but his problem was compromises in what probably seemed like small ways.

Wives. No other Gods. Horses. Some trust in horses in chariots but we trust in the Lord. Gold. Give us this day our daily bread.

What does it mean for us to be faithful?

Greg Laurie said, “The early church made a significant impact on its world, not because it was made up of great people, but because it was made up of faithful people. Faithful to the Lord, faithful to the ministry, faithful in menial tasks, and faithful in great tasks.”

Our faithfulness reflects God’s faithfulness. Our faithfulness has a greater person than just acting a certain way.

2. Faithful to the task.

3. Faithful to tenacity.

What is our strategy for faithfulness?

1 Corinthians 16:13 NASB95

Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

Jude 20–21 NASB95

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.

Be Watchful

Jude 17–25 NASB95

But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, that they were saying to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.” These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. And have mercy on some, who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh. Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Root Yourself in the Gospel

Don’t give in to fear. Courage! Courage isn’t a lack of fear but facing our fears head on.

Live out Christ’s victory!

Keep Yourself in God’s Love

1. Building - root yourself in the gospel

2. Praying - praying in accordance with the Spirit

3. Watching - Jesus is returning

Who is our example for faithfulness, if Solomon isn’t?

Hebrews 12:1–3 NASB95

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.