Faithfulness # 2
Last week we were ministering on the subject of the faithfulness. Our last V that we looked at was (Matthew 24:46) Which says, “Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.” This V is talking about faithfulness. The lord of this household gave the servants certain things to do in his absence. The servants that will be blessed are the servants that are faithfully doing what the lord told them to do.
I. But Jesus didn't just stop there at (MATT 24) teaching on faithfulness.
A. Look at MATT 25:1-13
1. People try to analyze this in every way, you see a parable, like this one & like the 1 in (MATT 24) has 1 main point, sometimes you can get more out of it than 1 point but it still has only 1 MAIN point.
a. The main point that Jesus is trying to make in these Vs is that we need to be prepared & diligent.
b. Those are the ones that are going to be blessed, & they are qualities of faithfulness.
B. Jesus continued of the subject of faithfulness.
1. MATT 25:14-15
a. The one that was given 5 talents made 5 more talents & that one that was given 2 talents made 2 more talents. (Varying in different places and times. In Israel 1 talent in silver was about 100 lb., in gold it weighed about 200 lb. If this was gold it would be worth about 1,000,000 per talent)
2. But now look at V 18
a. In other words he didn't make anything.
3. After a period of time the master returned.
a. The 2 that had an increase reported to the master on what they did with the talents.
b. Listen to what the lord said to them. MATT 25:21
4. Then, the last servant reported to the master.
a. MATT 25:24-29
b. When Jesus ascended into heaven, He gave us His name, His authority, His power.
i. Then He gave us our assignment & sent the H. S. to endue us with the power necessary to fulfill the assignment.
ii. MARK 16:15-20
iii. In these Vs we can see that we are to preach the gospel, plus a hole lot of other things, & in (MATT 28:20) Jesus said to teach the believers to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.
c. We're to do what Jesus did & what He told His disciples to do.
i. Look at MATT 10 This is what Jesus told the disciples to do. Vs. 7-8
ii. And this is what we are to do.
II. Did you notice in the parable that Jesus told about the talents in (MATT 25), He said to the faithful in (V 21) “Enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”
A. It's only those that are faithful that will truly have joy.
1. No real joy in the world (nothing lasting)
a. People in the world will say that they have joy, but their joy is always dependent on something. (New relationship, new job, raise at work, winning the lottery) Money never gives anyone true joy.
b. They say that it would make things a lot easier.
i. Sure in the natural it might make things easier.
ii. But did you know the more you have the harder it is to be faithful.
iii. If you only made $100 per week, it's not that hard to give $10 per week as your tithe, but if you made $10,000 per week, to give $1,000 a week is a little harder. A $1000 a week is a lot of money.
iv. But if you're making a $10000 a week, that's over 500,000 a year. The Lord might tell you to give ½ of it to Him.
c. Why do I say that the more you have the harder it is to be faithful?
d. LUKE 12:48
i. I like to read it from the NIV. (Luke 12:48) “But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
B. Back to my point on Joy.
1. It's only those that are truly faithful to the Lord in doing what He's told us to do, that are going to have this joy.
2. PSA 48:2
a. This is the city of our King & this is where true Joy comes from.
b. And it only comes from our faithfulness to Him.
III. How do we become Faithful?
A. Well, part of it is commitment.
1. (James 4:7) Says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God.”
2. (Psalm 37:5) Says, “Commit thy way unto the LORD.”
B. But I think that we become faithful and loyal to the Lord because of our love for Him.
1. 1st of all 1JOHN 4:19
a. This is why we love Him, because He 1st poured His love out upon us.
2. Jesus said in (John 14:15) “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
3. (MARK 12:30) (“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”)
a. The reason we are faithful & loyal to keep His commandments is that we do love Him.
C. (Ephesians 5:1) Says, “Be ye therefore followers (imitators) of God, as dear children;”
1. When you're faithful & loyal to someone, you're going to become more & more like that person.
a. (1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV) Says, “Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character.”
b. Opposite is true. If you're going to be with the Lord you'll become more & more like Him.
2. ROM 8:29 We are to be conformed to the image of His Son.
a. This will take place as we are faithful to Him.
b. It's those people that will receive the blessings of God.
3. ROM 8:18
a. Paul, under the inspiration of the H. S., is trying to tell us that the sufferings that we will experience in giving up the things of this world is nothing compared to the glory of God which will be revealed in us.
b. As I said last time, God is not looking for any great ability, He just looking for your heart.
i. Make that commitment today to give Him your heart.
WOLCC SUN 11/1/92 AM from Gloria Copeland's book “Walk in the Spirit” Chapter 1 Pg. 11-16