Part 7: Walking With Faith
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Tonight we’ll look at part 7 in our series on the characteristics or elements of the fruit of the Spirit. Tonight, we are looking at the 7th element we find here…Faith.
The word faith is used three different ways in Galatians:
23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.
What’s referred to as “the faith” in this verse is in context of the Christian Gospel.
14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
This verse refers to faith for salvation.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Our text verse refers to faithfulness in fulfilling our Christian duties.
In one sense, our faith should produce faithfulness.
Faithfulness is the Christian character produced by the Holy Spirit, that enables us to be reliable or dependable.
Faithfulness is something that is in short supply today. We see a lack of faithfulness in the corporate world, in the family, and in the church.
What we need to know tonight is that the Holy Spirit can make us trustworthy, or faithful!
The Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines faithfulness as:
1. Fidelity; loyalty; firm adherence to allegiance and duty; as the faithfulness of a subject.
2. Truth; veracity; as the faithfulness of God.
3. Strict adherence to injunctions, and to the duties of a station; as the faithfulness of servants or ministers.
4. Strict performance of promises, vows or covenants; constancy in affection; as the faithfulness of a husband or wife.
Faithfulness is doing our duty until our duty is done!
1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.
We need the kind of faithfulness the Holy Spirit can produce.
Think about the Disciples with me…The Holy Spirit made the difference in them. Of course, we focus a lot on their failures, but I want you to realize that every failure we find in them was while they were walking physically with Jesus…In the 3 1/2 years, we find all the failing, all the unfaithfulness, but what happened when Jesus ascended in Acts?
He went up, so He could send down the Holy Spirit! The Holy Spirit made all the difference in the Disciples! When the Lord had needed them the most, they were faithless, but then came the day of Pentecost and the filling of the Holy Spirit!
You ever wondered how a bunch of faithless men were able to lay down their lives and be faithful unto death? It’s because of the Holy Spirit!
Let’s take a look at:
THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD
THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD
God is faithful in His attributes:
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
Even when we are faithless, God is faithful.
13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
God is faithful during trials and temptations:
God is faithful during trials and temptations:
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
John Ritenbaugh wrote, “There is a reason for the Christian going through his trial. The trial God provides is good for him to experience. God wants to see what his reaction will be. Will he avail himself of "a way of escape" that he or the world might provide - or will he submit to "the way of escape" God makes available to him? Certainly, "the way of escape" will always involve the use of faith. God is testing the Christian's response to His declarations and His promises of faithfulness, and He wants to see if he will respond because God is faithful. Which way will he choose?”
God is faithful in His Word:
God is faithful in His Word:
86 All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.
89 LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
In all the changes that this world goes through, God’s Word remains firm...
25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
It’s settled today! It stands firmly in heaven in which it dwells, and where it came from!
THE FERVENCY OF GOD’S PEOPLE
THE FERVENCY OF GOD’S PEOPLE
God doesn’t require talent, but He does require faithfulness!
God doesn’t require talent, but He does require faithfulness!
2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
We should be faithful in our work places:
We should be faithful in our work places:
23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
We should be faithful in our families:
We should be faithful in our families:
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
We should be faithful in our stewardship:
We should be faithful in our stewardship:
10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?
As we are faithful with this world’s goods, we will be faithful in spiritual matters as well.
We should be faithful in our church attendance:
We should be faithful in our church attendance:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
1. God’s house is amazingly awesome
2. God’s house is beautifully better
3. God’s house is corporately comforting
4. God’s house is definitely delighting
5. God’s house is electrically exciting
6. God’s house is frequently fascinating
7. God’s house is genuinely glorious
8. God’s house is happily harmonious
9. God’s house is impressively important
10. God’s house is jubilantly joyous
11. God’s house is keenly kind
12. God’s house is lovingly loyal
13. God’s house is motivationally meaningful
14. God’s house is noticeably neighborly
15. God’s house is officially open
16. God’s house is personally productive
17. God’s house is quizzically quirky
18. God’s house is rightly regal
19. God’s house is supremely sacred
20. God’s house is tremendously terrific
21. God’s house is unquestionably unique
22. God’s house is valiantly victorious
23. God’s house is wholeheartedly wonderful
24. Well you get the point, church is awesome and we need to be faithful to it!
Always remember these few things!
God requires faithfulness, but God also produces faithfulness!
The Holy Spirit is in our lives to make our character more like Jesus.
Faithfulness is a character of the Holy Spirit.
THE FINAL EXAMINATION OF FAITHFULNESS
THE FINAL EXAMINATION OF FAITHFULNESS
One of these days, we are going to be examined for our faithfulness. Faithfulness isn’t something that we can just throw out and not have any concern about. People act like that, but one day, we will give an account to God.
2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.
4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
We all have different opportunities:
We all have different opportunities:
14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
The talents of this parable showed that unequal gifts, if used with equal faithfulness, will be equally rewarded!
We will all be examined according to our faithfulness:
We will all be examined according to our faithfulness:
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
I want you to remember this…We are not called to be successful, but we are called to be faithful!
10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Many of the early missionaries showed great faithfulness. William Carey for example, the great missionary to India saw very few early results…He wrote to a friend, “Pray for us that we may be faithful to the end.”
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
Faithfulness isn’t alway easy, but Christ commands us to walk in faithfulness by His Spirit.
Maybe if we keep in our minds the ultimate goal fo pleasing our Lord and Savior, we will find it a little easier to remain faithful in these difficult times!
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
How’s your faithfulness tonight?