Faithful (2)

As a pastor I often feel led to look at a specific passage of Scripture or book of the Bible, and even relate some of the verses in my head. I know that is the passage I am supposed to share, and then as I study, my expectation of where the sermon is heading takes a completely different turn.

This morning is one of those experiences for me. One, I wasn’t wanting to go down the road to, but I need to share with you as it became evident to me what God was wanting to say.

How many of you are glad that GOD KEEPS HIS WORD?

God is FAITHFUL!!!!

We love to claim the promises of God, and the faithfulness of God, and my sermon title is FAITHFUL --- but if you notice the picture of the wall on the title - there is a crack - there is no crack in God’s faithfulness - the crack is in our faithfulness or because of our faithlessness.

2 Timothy 2:11–13 NLT

11 This is a trustworthy saying: If we die with him, we will also live with him. 12 If we endure hardship, we will reign with him. If we deny him, he will deny us. 13 If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.

It is this passage and the message of the book of Hosea I felt strongly led to share today. I want you to however, fasten your seat belts and open your hearts.

God is Merciful

God is Love

God is Just

God is Holy

We love the first two, but forget that the third is as equally a part of the character of God. Therefore in His being faithful to Himself, His character and His Will - if God’s love is not discovered through his mercy and enacts our faithfulness, He still must remain faithful to WHO HE IS. HOLY

We serve a loving God who in His mercy sent His son to die for our sins, but there was a reason Jesus had to die. OUR SINS contradict His holiness and justice which demands punishment for sin.

God receives us AS WE ARE and bestows HIs mercy and love upon us - He simply asks that when we experience HIs great mercy and love that we respond by being FAITHFUL!!!! WHY? because He cannot deny Himself.

1. PROMISE OF A FUTURE

These verses offer us a promise of a great future...

For every person who has dealt with persecution for our faith, surrendering our will to His will and the such...

IF WE DIE WITH HIM, WE LIVE WITH HIM

IF we put up with HARDSHIP FOR HIM, WE will REIGN WITH HIM

But if we DENY HIM, if we are UNFAITHFUL TO HIM --- He will deny us, and that is not HIM being unfaithful, but faithful to WHO HE IS --- HOLY AND JUST!

This verse is so often interpreted that He will be faithful to us in our unfaithfulness, but that is not in character with WHO GOD IS...

Our denial, rejection, unfaithfulness to God has REPERCUSSIONS because God’s HOLINESS STILL DEMANDS JUSTICE and God must remain faithful to WHO HE IS.

He cannot deny that part of himself.

THESE DAYS we think punishing people or demanding justice for wrong doing is UNLOVING or HARSH - but it only actually makes us a lawless people where no boundaries or right doing can be expected because there is always a justification.

We have to realize that TRUE JUSTICE DEMANDS ACCOUNTABILITY FOR WRONG DOING --- we only attain mercy when we LIVE IN RELATIONSHIP, A RELATIONSHIP OF SURRENDER to CHRIST!

Hebrews 4:14–16 NLT

14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

The issue is when we REJECT our HIGH PRIEST, when we REJECT HIS ROLE in our life, HIS Sacrifice made for us, we have lost the ability to approach Him with boldness. WE CREATE THE BARRIER!

You cannot deny Christ and experience His mercy at the same time. You cannot be unfaithful and experience the benefits as the BRIDE OF CHRIST....

2. ILLUSTRATION OF THE PROBLEM

The book of Hosea is a fascinating 14 chapters of the Bible that tells a story of a prophet from the NORTHERN KINGDOM of Israel who prophesied to that Norther Kingdom alone. He and one other prophet (AMOS) were the only ones with books of the Bible that prophesied to this Northern Kingdom.

These Jews had forsaken worship in Jersualem and set up their center and Capitol in Samaria. They had engaged in PAGAN RELIGION AND PRACTICES earlier then the Southern Kingdom of Judah had.

They also lost their land and Capitol and Kings earlier as well.

As an example of their unfaithfulness --- these people had turned in sexual desire and depravity, greed and violence and drunkeness as a way of life — sound like a familiar country???

So God, had Hosea marry a woman who either was or would become a PROSTITUTE as an example to His people. Gomer, his wife