The Fruit of Faithfulness

Introduction:

Spring is always one of the business seasons here at Reliant.

We just had our Daddy Daughter Dance (Thank everyone that made that a success.)

Discipleship and Classes are in full swing

We gearing up for our Community Climb Initiative in March

Our 6 year anniversary is a few weeks away

We will be starting 22 days of prayer on March 6th.

And Easter is right around the corner.

I had some great blessings this week.

Thank you everyone for praying for My daughter Kellie and Taylor as we welcomed baby Dakota into the world.

David and I had a chance to talk with our sister Church, Bethlehem Church, in Armenia. Since we brought discipleship to them in September they have mentored 118 people in 180°and have started discipleship in at least 4 churches. We were able to help them with a gift of $2500 to help with a need of $5000 in taxes they are having to pay for their building.

With all this stuff going on it is easy to get overwhelmed. I think it’s a great time to talk about faithfulness.

Faith or faithfulness is the seventh characteristic listed in the fruit of the Spirit. When a person is walking in the Spirit, faithfulness comes natural as Mark was describing last week. Let’s take a second and recap what we’ve learned so far.

Galatians 5:22–23 ESV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Fruit of the Spirit Recap:

1. We received our marching orders:

Galatians 5:25 ESV

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

2. Love, Joy and Peace are Divine characteristics that transform the heart of the believer.

3. Goodness and kindness are the natural result of the divine nature and is shown to all people.

Those on the other side of the sea.

Those on the other side of the tracks.

Those on the other side of the street.

Today we will be looking at the characteristic of faith or faithfulness.

Definition: Faith is the absolute assurance of the almighty God.

Hebrews 11:1 ESV

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Faithfulness is not the ability to spin as many plates as possible, but trusting in God when some of the plates fall.

So how do we stay in full assurance of our faith while the world seems to be crashing around us?

There are three realities needed for living in assurance and faith:

1. My Secured Position

Who I am in Christ

My assurance is founded in Christ.

Hebrews 12:1–2 ESV

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

My assurance comes from the finished work of Christ.

Hebrews 10:19–22 ESV

19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

My assurance is fleshed out in Christ.

Galatians 2:20 ESV

20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

2. God’s Sovereign Power

Who God Is.

Hebrews 11:6 ESV

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

God Pleasers: Trusting God with every aspect of our lives as we join Him in His Work.

Your faith releases God’s strength in your life.

God is all-powerful.

Walking in the fruit of the Spirit unleashes the power of God in your life.

Matthew 9:27–31 (ESV)

27 And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” 28 When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” 29 Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.” 30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, “See that no one knows about it.” 31 But they went away and spread his fame through all that district.

Matthew 17:14–20 (ESV)

14 And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and, kneeling before him, 15 said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he has seizures and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. 16 And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him.” 17 And Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

James 1:5–8 (ESV)

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

God desires to walk with us and through us, not despite us.

The fruit of the Spirit is the manifestation of God in us.

Do you believe the all-powerful God resides in you?

3. God’s Faithful Promises

God’s faithfulness.

Our victory rests in God’s faithfulness.

Hebrews 10:23 ESV

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

I believe because of who He is, not who I am.

I walk in full assurance of faith because of his faithfulness and not mine.

I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

God will fulfill all his promises made to us.

Philippians 1:6 ESV

6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

He will never leave us nor forsake us.

My God will provide all our needs according to His riches in glory.

He will change us in the twinkling of an eye into some glorious.

He will return to rule and reign.

We shall return with Him to rule and reign by his side.

The story of the Father in Marks gospel cries out to Jesus:

Mark 9:23–24 ESV

23 And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

How can a person walk in full assurance of faith?

Believe in God’s Word.

“Faith comes by hearing hearing by the Word of God.” (Rom 10:17)

Learn who God is and what he has promised to you.

Walk in the Spirit.

Let the Spirit work in the midst of your circumstances.

The trials of life are not punishments from God but opportunities to walk with Him.

Pray in faith and watch God move mountains.

Believe in the presence of God.

Call upon the power of God to do the miraculous.