Bearing the fruit of faithfulness
1 Corinthians 4:1-2 NKJ
Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
Illus. By David Jeremiah
Integrity is telling the truth to yourself. Honesty is telling the truth to others. Faithfulness is doing both, when the only person who knows is you!
In spiritual terms the word integrity, is directly linked to faithfulness.
Illus. By Todd Coget
Television interviewer and journalist Larry King describes three farmers who gather daily in a field during a horrible drought. The men are down on their knees, looking upward, and praying the skies will open and pour forth a much-needed rain.
Unfortunately, the heavens are silent, and the petitioners become discouraged, but they continue to meet every morning to lift up their request to God.
One morning an uninvited stranger approaches and asks the men what they are doing. They respond, "We’re praying for rain." The newcomer looks at each of them and shakes his head, "No, I don’t think so."
The first farmer says, "Of course we’re praying. We are down on our knees pleading for rain. Look around; see the drought. We haven’t had rain in more than a year!"
The outsider continues to nod his head and advises them their efforts will never work.
The second farmer jumps in and says, "We need the rain; we aren’t asking only for ourselves, but for our families and livestock." The man listens, nods, and says he still isn’t impressed. "You’re wasting your time," he says.
The third farmer can’t take any more, and in anger he says, "Okay, what would you do if you were in our shoes?" The visitor asks, "You really want to know?"
The three landowners answer, "We really want to know! The future of our farmlands is at stake.” The guest announces, "If I really wanted rain, I would have brought an umbrella!"
Sometimes faithfulness requires not telling someone what they want to hear, but what they need to hear! Sometimes faithfulness requires the same of the reflection we see in the mirror on a daily basis.
1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJ
13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to [d]bear it.
The accuser, has society convinced that the spirit of faithfulness comes with a high price. Doing the right thing all the time might just cost you more than it’s worth.
Illus. From Dr David Jeremiah’s a “ Life beyond amazing”
A 19-year-old named Joey was working at the local Dairy Queen in Hopkins Minnesota. When a blind man was placing his order and a $20 bill slipped out of his pocket and fell on the floor. The woman behind him quickly picked up the money and stuffed it into her pocket.
When she stepped to the counter, Joey asked her to give the money back to the blind man and she said no. She claimed it it fell out of her pocket and that it was her money. Joey refused to serve her and ask her to leave the store.
Joey remained calm as the woman begin to scream in an angry outburst and then stormed out the door. He then went over to the table where the blind man was sitting, explained what happened and gave him $20 out of his own billfold to replace the money that have been taken.
A customer who witnessed the scene emailed an account of what had taken place, to the owners of the Dairy Queen. The store posted the email, someone then photographed it and put it on Facebook, and the story went viral.
It was soon reported on cable news and in newspapers across the nation. Joey was inundated with calls and accolades. He even got a call from Warren Buffett, who’s company owns Dairy Queen inviting him to the next share holders meeting! Joey set the benchmark for everyone of us!
Instead of wondering of whether we’re going to be reprimanded for Faithfully doing the right thing as we’ve seen others over the years suffer from the worlds tainted view of political correctness. God calls us to bear the fruit of faithfulness, regardless of what the world around us may say or do, leaving Him in charge of the details and the outcome.
To bear the fruit of faithfulness, whatever the task required one must first be found faithful!
There are lotta things that we may not want to do, but the Bible says whatever we have been called to do, we need to do them as unto God.
Be it at our job,
Be it at our school,
at family functions,
Wherever we are, whatever we do, we are called to faithfulness!
Psalms 34:1-9 MSG
I bless God every chance I get;
my lungs expand with his praise.
2 I live and breathe God;
if things aren’t going well, hear this and be happy:
3 Join me in spreading the news;
together let’s get the word out.
4 God met me more than halfway,
he freed me from my anxious fears.
5 Look at him; give him your warmest smile.
Never hide your feelings from him.
6 When I was desperate, I called out,
and God got me out of a tight spot.
7 God’s angel sets up a circle
of protection around us while we pray.
8 Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see—
how good God is.
Blessed are you who run to him.
9 Worship God if you want the best;
worship opens doors to all his goodness.
Worship is another form of faithfulness we show in our lives. We were created for and we are called to worship and love the Lord with all our heart, soul and mind!
Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see—
how good God is...isn't that great advice?
God is not.... a that was then and this is now kind of God...
We read of so many examples throughout the Bible of ordinary people who became extraordinarily blessed as they trusted and walked with God. Yes they had an awful lot to be thankful for, but so do we church.....so do we!!
If you don’t agree with me go home and walk through your house, take a a notebook and write down all the luxuries instead of necessities you possess...I think you’ll be in agreement after all!
This isn't a burdensome life God has called us to live, this is extraordinary life God has called us to journey with Him on! Listen, God would have me tell you if your feeling burdened down by life, then your depending to much on yourself and not enough on God!
But you don't know about....I don't have to know and I don’t need to know....what I do know is this, "God’s word says and declares...if we are faithful and put our trust and future in Gods hands, “His burden is easy and His yoke is light" and His Blessings are always greater...then the accusers distractions and disappoints!
If God has called you to be faithful and trust Him with Salvation, isn't it about time to let go of the wheel and fully take advantage of the love, His wonderful goodness, He has already chosen to give to you?
Ours is not to try to figure everything out. In fact, the less we try to figure things out and the more we rely on God‘s faithfulness and commitment in our relationship and walk with him, the more freely his blessings flow in our lives!
The Bible says to ask, seek and knock! What the Bible doesn’t say is anything about first figuring out Gods methodology, to accomplish what He says He can and wants to do you in your life!
The journey of a relationship on the way to the destination God has planned for us, ask us not to question the route, but to shine at every juncture of the journey.
The good ole days are sweeter to remember sometimes, than they were to go through.
As good as our best days ever were, Gods Word declares and reminds us that our best days are still to come.
His faithfulness promises them to us, our faithfulness allows us to experience them one at a time, with the assurance each day will be sweeter than the day before!
Illus by Eric Vertien
A king, who went out hunting one day. In the forest, he was surprised to come across several trees which had targets painted on them, and in each of the targets, perfectly in the center, there was an arrow.
“I must find this incredible archer and make him part of my special guard.” So he and his hunting crew went in search of their new quarry. Before long they came across a boy with a bow and arrow, just stepping away from another bullseye, perfectly struck.
“Come here, my boy,” called the king. “Did you really shoot these arrows, or did you simply stand next to the tree and drive the arrow in from close up?”
“I swear, my King, I shot from 100 paces.”
“Indeed! Then please join my hunting group, for you are an amazing shot! Please, tell me, how did you learn to aim with such precision?”
“I simply look squarely at the tree, hold my breath, and let the arrow fly… Then I walk up to the tree and paint a target around the arrow.”
The act of painting the bullseye after the fact of completing the task of what we’ve been called to do, is our self effort in all its glory. The faithfulness of trusting God to always help you hit the mark from the get go, gives God all the glory!
Each and everyday we are faced with circumstances and opportunities to let the fruit of His Holy Spirit shine through us and in us.
Every day of the journey is different, every day of the journey holds a new set of circumstances to trust God and remain faithful to the calling that he has called us to.
TBS and we must believe, “ he who started a good work will be faithful to complete it in you!”
Let our prayer be, for the Lord to help us remain faithful to what He has called us to do. Lift up and share the name of Jesus until the day He calls us home and says, “well done thou good and faithful servant”
