Catch the Spirit of Faithfulness
- Rev. Jerry Lepasana
- Mar 6, 2005
- Series: Catching the Winning Attitudes
CATCH THE SPIRIT OF FAITHFULNESS
Galatians 5:22-23; Proverbs 20:6; Proverbs 28:20
- But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
- gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Proverbs 20:6
Many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find?
Proverbs 28:20
A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.
Today, there are basically two kinds of people. The first can be compared to a thermometer, and the other to a thermostat. A thermometer registers the temperature. It simply reflects the environment, whether it’s hot or cold. While the thermostat controls the temperature. It influences its environment. It sets the standard. Which are you, a thermometer or a thermostat? Is it possible that some of us have settled to being a thermometer, simply registering the spiritual coldness of the environment around us? Or would rather be God’s thermostat in the places where He puts you?
As we continue our series on the fruit of the Holy Spirit, we need to recognize that these attitudes when practiced will radically influence the people around us. God is calling us to be good influences.
This morning I would like to continue this study and focus on faithfulness. According to the Proverbs 20:6, faithful people are rare to find. But God continues to challenge us to live in faithfulness, because His rich blessings follow this attitude (Proverbs 28:20). Let’s open our hearts to what God has to say about it:
I THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FAITH AND FAITHFULNESS:
In the usage of “faithfulness” in Galatians 5:22, the Greek word used is the same for the word faith – PISTIS. This is the reason why in other translations like King James Version, the word faith is use instead. Significantly, it would not be difficult to establish the relationship – faith is dependent on faithfulness.
What does faithfulness mean? Three basic words come to mind – Trustworthy, dependable, and consistent.
When we want to understand this attitude, our starting point is God himself.
- Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
- They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
During one of the most difficult times of Jeremiah, the prophet, he received comforts by depending on God’s great faithfulness.
God is faithful to us in several ways:
A. He is faithful in His promises:
13) Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made.
B. He is faithful in our trials:
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
C. He is faithful to forgive sins:
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
God is faithful; so we can absolutely depend on Him. Stuart Briscoe, a leading Christian author, wrote these words about God’s faithfulness:
One of life’s greatest treasures is the knowledge that with God there is no false advertising, no deceptive business practices, no broken contracts. He is utterly faithful. Upon this we can build lives set upon the rock; without this we have only sinking sand.
II THE ROAD OF FAITHFULNESS:
How can we be faithful? In what ways can we demonstrate faithfulness? Here are several suggestions:
A. We need to be faithful to God:
Our relationship with God is often represented in the Bible in the form of marriage. Choosing to love anyone or anything more than God is equal to spiritual adultery:
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
When James wrote to the early Christians who are being persecuted, he rebuked them for trying to run with the world instead of Christ. In times of persecutions, we are often tempted to change our loyalties. God wants us to remain in Him until we see Him face to face.
Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.
B. We need to be faithful with what God has loaned to us:
We are all simply care-takers of what God has loaned to us. He expects us to be faithful in investing our time, talents, and treasures.
Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.
God will never expect us to use what we don’t have, but He will surely hold us accountable with what we have. Are we maximizing our opportunities? We are all accountable to use what God has given us to the best of our abilities. God has invested on us, and our return to God will come when we use what we have to minister to others.
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.
C. We need to be faithful to others:
There’s another aspect of faithfulness that we need to emphasize – our dependability in our relationships with other human beings.
- In Marriage – Are you true to your vows?
Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.
- In Friendships – Are you loyal as a friend?
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
- In the body of Christ – Are you dependable as a member of the church?
And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.
There is greater order in the world when we are committed to these very basic relationships we have. Faithfulness makes life easier, but unfaithfulness brings a lot of complications in life. No wonder Proverbs 25:19 says these words:
Like a bad tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the unfaithful in times of trouble.
III THE REWARD OF FAITHFULNESS:
In one of our chosen texts, Proverbs 28:20, we are given the promise that the faithful will receive God’s rich blessings. These blessings are immediate rewards brought by faithfulness. But God’s blessings are not only for the present time, there are also rich rewards for the future.
"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
When Jesus taught His disciples concerning the parable of the talents, He did not fail to emphasize that God is going to judge us and reward us according to our faithfulness. Those who were faithful receive appropriate commendations and rewards, while the unfaithful, his condemnation. What do you expect to get at the end of your life? We all need to seek God’s rewards.
Think about it: In what areas of life do you and I need to be more faithful, more stable, more reliable, more dependable? I’m sure all of us want to hear those words of affirmation: "Well done, good and faithful servant."