The Faithfulness of God
Notes
Transcript
In 1967 a book was published with the title, The God I Want. It is a collection of essays by people who are examining God and trying to decide, what parts of God, if any, they actually want. It is an attempt to put God within mans parameters.
This is something people have attempted for years. The problem is that this exercise is futile. Man does not define God, God defines God. It is when we accept this truth that our lives begin to flourish, they don’t become easier, we just now know we have a God who is faithful no matter what our circumstances are.
Pray for us
that Gospel advancement will take place
Delivered from persecution from the evil, faithless people.
But the Lord is Faithful
We have confidence that you are living out your faith
May the Lord direct your hearts to God’s love and Christ’s endurance
Solid Foundation vs. cracked foundation in house
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
Why can Paul and Jesus say these types of things?
God is faithful.
19 God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
So when Paul says
Pray for us under persecution
We know you are living it out
God will turn your hearts to His love and Christ’s endurance
He is doing so because he knows the truth about God’s faithfulness in all time, places, and circumstances.
TRUTH: God’s faithfulness never changes.
Sun shines the same on a clear day as a cloudy one.
but it isn’t enough just to know it, we must act upon it and Paul shows this in this text in 6 ways,
When we see the truth of God’s faithfulness we can:
1. Pray Confidently. (vs. 1)
Pray Specific Prayers
Missions
2. Trust that God will save sinners. (vs.1)
GOSPEL
3. Believe that God can bring deliverance. (vs. 2)
The far off, addict, emotionally hurt
4. Know that God protects us spiritually. (vs. 3)
Satan always comes forth when we resolve to obey God - John Calvin
5. Be confident that God will empower us to obey Him. (vs. 4)
GV 10 Year Anniversary
6. Rejoice that God will turn our hearts to Himself. (vs. 5)
Comforting thought
So no matter what we are facing we know God is faithful and we can live as He calls us to live individually and as a Church.