The Faithfulness Of God

From the Desk of Toby Powers

Pastor of Truth Baptist Church

Hwy 78

Bremen, GA

The Faithfulness of God

Isaiah 49:7

Intro: Israel had failed the Lord. He told them of his frustration with them. He expressed to them that he may have spent time working on them in vain. Even so, he would not cast his people away, and matters would change. He predicts that there will be a day when salvation will come to Israel, and all the other nations will see it and worship the Lord. I am interested, however, in the cause he gives for believing this promise- "because of the Lord that is faithful and the Holy One of Israel." I want to preach with God’s help on "The Faithfulness of God." We are serving a faithful God. Man may forsake you. Your friends may let you down. The preacher or the church might disappoint you. Your family may turn their backs, but God is faithful. The theme of God’s faithfulness is throughout the Bible:

1 Cor 1:9, "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Cor 10:13, There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

II Thess 3:3, "But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil."

I John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Heb 10:23 "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)"

I Must Say Today, He is Faithful:

I. In Redemption:

A. 4,000 years before Calvary, the efforts of man to cover his condemning sin failed. He made aprons of fig leaves, but God revealed his plan to redeem ungodly man. He killed an animal and used the coat to clothe man.

B. 4,000 years before Calvary, Cain and Able brought offerings to God. But Able offered a more excellent sacrifice than that of Cain. The blood is the only thing that pleases God!

C. 1,500 years before Calvary, (Lev. 16:2) God descended into the Tabernacle and made his abode above the mercy seat.

This was in the Tabernacle that was but a tent. But David was burdened to build the Temple. Solomon built it, and God honored it.

D. 1,100 years before Calvary, God took up abode in the Temple, hovering over the mercy seat. (II Chron 6:1 "Then said Solomon, The LORD hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.") There was no light in the Holiest of Holies, where the mercy seat was, except for the light of the glory of the Lord.

E. For over 1,500 years God hovered over the mercy seat in the tabernacle seeing only the blood of bulls, goats, sheep, heifers, and doves. But these could never wash sins away. Hebrews must have wondered, if the Lamb of God would ever come, But God is Faithful!

F. Up Calvary’s Mountain one dreadful morn walked Christ my Savior, weary and worn. He was crucified- The Father put him to death, and it satisfied his judgment! He cried it is finished. The Vail that separated man from God in the Temple was rent from top to bottom.

God does not dwell in the darkness above the mercy seat any more!

He is not looking for a sacrifice anymore! He is faithful in redemption, and his plan is completed in his Son!

II. In Revelation: II Pet 3:9, The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness. God performs what he promises!

I Kings 8:56 "Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant."

Psalms 37:25, "I have been young, and now I am old, but I’ve never seen the righteous forsaken or his seed begging bread."

This is knowledge that comes by experience not education- Job 12:12 "With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days is understanding."

a. I don’t know it all, but I have experienced enough to make me trust God and keep going on!

b. I’ve sipped enough nectar out of the Rose of Sharon, that I believe I¡¦ll keep on sipping!

c. I’ve tasted enough bread of heaven that I believe I’ll just keep on eating!

Climbed enough mountains, keep on climbing

Won enough battles, keep on fighting

Sailed through enough storms, keep on sailing