God is Faithful

Intro

Who is someone in your life that you trust? That you can always count on?

For me, those people were my parents

When you can always trust what someone says, that person is “faithful”

but no human being is 100% faithful

Imagine I promised to buy milkshakes for everyone after Youth Group (Like Oprah)

I might not be powerful enough (not enough money)

I might change my mind

There is only one being in the universe that is 100% faithful all the time, and that is God. (God is faithful)

Numbers 23:19

Read Verse.

This verse has 4 lines. Each lines tell us something about God. What do they tell us?

It is impossible for God to lie.

It is impossible for God to change his mind. (Immutability)

Everything he says, he does.

Everything he promises, he fulfills.

This is different than every other religion’s view of God.

Greek mythology - the gods lied and cheated all the time.

Islam - they teach that God can change his mind.

As Christians, the Bible teaches us that God can do all things…except go against his character.

Since God is faithful, he cannot lie, he cannot change his mind, and he cannot make a promise without fulfilling it.

God is faithful - and I want to see how that plays out in the life of Abraham

Genesis 15:1-21

Context

Abram lived a long time ago (Over 4000 years ago, over 500 years before Moses)

God made Abraham a promise (Who knows what it was?) To bless him and make him a blessing. And make him a great nation.

Some time had passed, and Abram still didn’t have any kids. (Him and Sarah were old)

Read 15:1-6

Vv. 1-3 - Abram is discouraged, this “other guy” would be his heir

Vv. 4-5 - God responds, and doubles down on his promise. “Look at the stars.”

Vv. 15:6 - Abram believed God, and God counted it as righteousness.

In other words, its saying Abraham was saved. He had a relationship with God.

“How do I become saved?” - Salvation the same in the OT and the NT - Believe the promises of God.

We can’t earn our salvation by good works, but we believe what God says in his word .

Believe that he sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to live the perfect life that we couldn’t live, die the death that we deserve, and rise again from the dead, so that in him we have eternal life.

John 3:16 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

We’re saved just like Abraham - by believing the promises of God. We should have faith in God, because he is faithful.

Verses 7-11

Read 15:7-11

V. 7 - God makes another promise - land.

V. 8 - Abram asks, “how can I know for sure?” It’s getting really hard to believe God.

Maybe you’ve said that before - how am I supposed to trust you, God?

God’s answer - a Covenant. (Who knows what a covenant is?)

Def: A mutual, binding agreement. Like a contract, but even more serious. The most serious way to make a promise.

How they made covenants in Abraham’s culture - Get all of these animals and cut them in half.

Split up the room to illustrate this.

Way this works - Deal with Billy - I will give my car to Billy in a year (How can he know for sure?)

Covenants Inflict a Self curse - walk with Billy - “If I do not keep my promise, I will become like these animals”

That’s how Covenants work. You make a promise, and you put a curse on yourself if you break a promise.

Exactly what we see in v. 9

Verses 17-21

Read 15:17 - weird…who is walking through? Is it Abraham?

What is God saying by walking through these animals?

God is saying - “I will die if I break my promise.”

But is it possible for God to die? (eternal) What does that mean for his promise then? (He will keep it)

God is saying - “I swear on my own existence, I will keep my promises”

Read 15:18-21 - The point is, God will keep his promises. He can’t not keep his promises. He is faithful, and he’s bound himself in a Covenant with you.

This promise came true. And this promise has effected our lives as well, 1,000’s of years later.

Real Gal 3:7 - Christians are the sons of Abraham (not physically, but Spiritually).

Think about all the Christians that have ever existed - As numerous as the stars! - God came through!

When he told Abraham to “look at the stars,” he was talking about you and me!

Conclusion

The main point is, when God promises something, you should bet your life on it.

Everything else in life gives us promises, but it never delivers like God does.

If I just had a boyfriend / girlfriend, I would be fulfilled

If I just had the new PS5 or XBOX

better grades

Made the Sports team

Have you ever felt like that? I know I still do sometimes.

Adults can feel the same thing (More money, a bigger house, a better job)

The world makes promises, but the world is not faithful like God is faithful.

The world’s promises almost always disappoint.

Instead, believe in the promises of God.

He is good, and he is faithful. He comes through every time.

He will satisfy every desire.

Some of my favorite promises of God from Scripture

Eternal life to all who believe in Jesus. (John 3:16)

Can’t lose my salvation. (1 Thess 5:24)

Jesus is coming again (Revelation 22:12)

There will be no more death or evil when he comes back. (Revelation 21:4)

If we pray, he hears us (Matthew 6)

If he says no to prayer, its always because it is better for us (Luke 12)

Any hardship / suffering we experience, is somehow for our good.

He will provide our daily needs (Matthew 6)

I could go on and on. But I encourage you. Find promises when you read Scripture.

When it is a promise, highlight it, circle it, write it in a journal. And pray those promises to God.

What happens when you pray the promises of God? (He has to answer, in his timing)

Maybe some of you here…you believe God exists…but do you believe what he says?

Do you believe in his Son?

Do you believe in his Word?

Have you bet your life on Jesus? Have you trusted him for your salvation?

If not, do that today. Come talk to a youth leader.

We should have faith, because he is faithful.

Let’s Pray.....