The Faithfulness of the Lord
Notes
Transcript
SERIES ON FAITHFULNESS
On my heart: faithfulness, connection
There is NO connection without faithfulness
It’s just pretend, superficial, social group
This series is a challenge
75% of NT is corrective
I’m OK with that, God inspired it
Two choices: Either you’ll get over it or you won’t
I pray this series grows us, changes us
CCC needs connection. I need connection. You need connection
We need to be connected with the LORD, first - many here are not
We need to be connected with each other - most here are not
We need to be connected with the community - would our community say we are?
SO…we start with connecting to the LORD, because you can’t truly do the other “connecting” without that foundation.
Our Faithful Lord
Our Faithful Lord
OPENING QUESTION: When do we say “God is faithful?” When does God say we are faithful?
FAITHFULNESS: unfailing loyalty (to a person, thing, cause); putting that loyalty into consistent practice regardless of extenuating circumstances
FAITHFULNESS: unfailing loyalty (to a person, thing, cause); putting that loyalty into consistent practice regardless of extenuating circumstances
God’s Faithfulness: Stated - by Him
God’s Faithfulness: Stated - by Him
Presupposition
Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth;
NOTE: God is angry when He states His faithfulness
Golden calf, tablets broken
This is when God explains who He is
“Truth” NASB = faithfulness, fidelity
God’s very name - I AM - He does not choose to be faithful. HE IS!
And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.
His very name consists of Faithful
Stated - by Others
Stated - by Others
O Lord God of hosts, who is like You, O mighty Lord? Your faithfulness also surrounds You.
36 times in Bible - “God is faithful” and many, many others where His faithfulness is stated in other ways
“Great is thy faithfulness” from Lamentations 3 and Job’s trials
Remembered by those entering the Promised Land
Paul, apostles, disciples, NT authors who walked with and encountered Jesus personally
God’s Faithfulness: Seen
God’s Faithfulness: Seen
The example of Abraham and then Abraham and Isaac (recall from Genesis 12 and 22)
By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.
He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.
God’s Faithfulness: Shown
God’s Faithfulness: Shown
Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
God showed His faithfulness in so many ways, and the pinnacle was Jesus
Jesus Christ was faithful to the point of going to the cross!
God’s people - Israel - saw and rejected
Others saw, and accepted, and yes, some rejected
You have seen His faithfulness, guaranteed! How have you reacted and responded?
Truths about His faithfulness
He never lies
He never leaves
If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.
He always provides what is needed- hard, but sometimes we struggle and rest in what we need. (example: kids learning to swim, or ride a bike, or fail - we are so afraid to allow people to struggle or even fail - GOD ISN’T)
His faithfulness is designed to bring us closer
God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
REM: God is patient, His faithfulness persists, as He desires two happenings:
More to get saved
Believers to demonstrate their faith
CLOSE
God’s Faith is ALL-IN
God’s Faith is ALL-IN
Is ours? That’s where we are going to go
God is faithful when:
A healthy child is born
Get a new job
Financial needs are met - He provides right on time
GOD IS FAITHFUL WHEN LIFE IS “GOOD”
Parents divorce
A cousin is killed because the driver of the car she was in was drunk
Lose a job
A friend takes his own life
A child is still-born
COVID-19 illness
Someone leaves a bag in the mall....
GOD IS FAITHFUL WHEN LIFE IS NOT FAIR
When do we say God is faithful? Do we see it? Are our eyes really open to it?
When does God say we are faithful?
Is our faith all-in? God’s is. And He tells us to be likewise!
He does not tell us to choose to be faithful, He tells us that believers ARE!
I hope I see you here next week. We all pull up our big boy and big girl pants and prepare to change!