God’s Promises…………Faithfulness
Selected Scriptures
Introduction-
This morning we begin a new series called God’s Promises.
There are many promises that God tells us in His Word.
Most promises are conditional. God has done something, and we must respond to Him.
Some promises have been completed and we have an opportunity to enjoy them as children of God.
Some promises have not yet been completed or fulfilled, but one day will come to pass such as the promise that Jesus Christ will return for His church and His people.
There are promises for those that believe and there are promises for those who reject or dismiss His promises that carry a consequence.
These promises are found in His Word. The Bible.
To understand His promises you must be reading His Word.
We live in an age where there will be no excuses at least in America that I didn’t know or I could not get my hands on God’s Word.
We are going to take a few weeks and look at some of those promises.
We are going to dig in on them like a new believer that has just come to Christ. The hunger of seeking out God’s Word for answers to questions we have and standing on God’s promises.
The desire to be obedient to His Word and the faith to stand on His Word even when it looks dark because you know that His faithfulness is deeper than our faith.
The Bible has stood the test of time.
If you believe that God is the creator and God loves us and He has promised a way for our salvation, then you must also believe that He can protect His Word and maintain His anointing upon it to accomplish all that He said He would accomplish.
Psalm 119:105-
“Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path.”
John 8:31-32-
“If you hold to my teachings, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Psalm 32:8-
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.”
Joshua 1:8-
“Do not let this book of the law depart from your mouth, meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
God cares about you so much that He has given us a guide for life to follow. That guide is the Bible, His Holy Word. All of us who are believers are students of God’s Word throughout our lives.
We grow in our faith.
We see a bigger picture of what He is doing and has done .
We see His love for us and express his love to others.
There is wisdom and knowledge in the Bible.
There are promises- that have happened, are happening, will happen that each one of us need to not only be aware of but grab unto and take comfort in.
To believe God could not protect His Word would be like saying God is limited by what other people do.
Many have tried to disprove the Bible, but the best they can do is say that they don’t have answers for every question, and their thinking is limited to man intelligence.
That is okay with me seeing that God Himself tells us that as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are God’s ways higher and HIS thoughts higher than our thoughts.
I don’t know about you but I want , even desire, that my God be smarter than I am, stronger than I am, and thankful that if I let Him, be in control of my life because I don’t do such a great job at that on my own. Amen?
When God tells us that he is faithful- what is He telling us?
He is telling us that He can be trusted. (Repeat)
We have all been hurt by others professing faithfulness, people who told us that they can be trusted and then have let us down. God’s character is trustworthy. God cannot lie. It is against God’s very character.
The Marine Corp has a motto- “Semper Fidellis”, the short version “Semper Fi”. It is Latin and it means always faithful. God is always faithful.
God’s faithfulness is not based upon what situation we are going through because life is hard.
I have seen many members hurting, see fears, and frustrations and I have to remind you of God’s faithfulness.
He can be trusted.
What He does not take you out of, He will see you through. (Repeat)
God’s faithfulness means that what He says and does is certain.
That is why we need to know God’s Word to us.
His answers can be found in His word because it may be a promise to all believer or it may be that He will be with you through hard times to show His power working in you through endurance.
Either way as a believer, He promises to never leave you or forsake you.
I take comfort in that!
1 Cor. 10:13-
“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 endure it.”
I have cried out to God before and said to Him that what I was going through was more than I could bear!
He has always been there! Even when I didn’t think He was there.
Ephesians 3:20-
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurable more than all we ask or imagine according to his power that is at work within us.”
I have had many pity parties, but it does not change God’s faithfulness.
Same God that kept the Israelites in clothes and shoes in the wilderness for 40 years without anything wearing out.
Same God who still owns the cattle on a 100 hills.
How do we know God is faithful? Because He said so! That should be enough!
1 Cor. 1:9-
“God is faithful through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ.”
Psalm 36:5-
“Your loving kindness, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness reaches the skies.”
God not only tells us He is faithful, but He models faithfulness
If you ran a 100 yard dash and you only went 95 yards, it would be pointless because you did not finish the race.
If the bank cashed your paycheck and 90 % of the time they gave you back the right amount of money, would they be faithful? Could they be trusted? Would you be okay with that?
A faithful person is one who finishes the race. A faithful God does what He says He would do.
A Faithful God keeps his covenants, and a faithful person keeps his commandments.
Let me wind this down,
Being faithful means trustworthy- God is faithful to us.
He has proved it with not only making promises but keeping promises.
The other side of that relationship to God is God expects his people to be faithful, and trustworthy to do what they have promised Him.
God’s faithfulness does not always come back in money and stuff, but God will bless our faithfulness.
Hebrews 10:23-
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.”
For all of you who are going through tough times, white knuckled, I am praying and believing that you are on the brink of a blessing if you will hold on and continue to be faithful.
Can God trust you to be faithful to Him?
We stand on His promises, but can God trust you to keep your commitment to Him?
Do you realize that other people’s salvation sometimes rests on our faithfulness?
We are Christ ambassadors to a world that is dying without Jesus.
They need to see our strong faith in the promises of God, they need to see us standing strong even at our darkest moments.
There needs to be a transformation that takes place and they see the image of God through us.
Do you realize how much influence you might have in the lives of people you come into contact with?
