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Psalms 12:1  <<To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David.>> Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.

THERE ARE FEW PEOPLE TODAY WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT DOING THINGS RIGHT AND DOING THEM WELL.  THE PREVAILING ATTITUDE IS, “GET BY AS EASILY AS YOU CAN WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF EFFORT.”    FEW PEOPLE ARE FAITHFUL IN DOING THEIR BEST.

 

CHRISTIANS MUST BE DIFFERENT !

 

1. IT IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE LORD, AND IF WE DON’T SHOW IT, WE FAIL TO REVEAL THE LORD EFFECTIVELY.

Psalms 40:10 I have not hid Thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared Thy faithfulness and Thy salvation: I have not concealed Thy lovingkindness and Thy truth from the great congregation.

A. EVEN WHEN THINGS SEEM TO BE GOING BADLY, GOD IS FAITHFUL. THAT IS IMPORTANT !

Psalms 119:75 I know, O LORD, that Thy judgments are right, and that Thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.

B. GOD’S FAITHFULNESS IS WHAT KEEPS US FROM BEING DESTROYED. THAT IS IMPORTANT !

HE MADE A PROMISE TO KEEP US, AND HE DOES, EVEN THOUGH WE DON’T DESERVE IT.

Lamentations3:22-23 It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness.

C. GOD WAS FAITHFUL TO FULFILL ALL HIS WORD. THAT IS IMPORTANT !

Luke 24:44 And He said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning Me.

2. FAITHFULNESS NOW IS A PREDICTOR OF WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR US.

Luke 16:10-12 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?

A. THE WALK OF THE FAITHFUL BOTHERS THOSE WHO WANT TO EXALT THEMSELVES.

Daniel 6:4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.

B. WE MUST HAVE FAITHFULNESS TO GET GODLY RESULTS AND PUT DOWN SELFISHNESS.

—EGO IS A SIGN OF AN UNFAITHFUL MAN.  EGO IS SELF-DECEPTIVE.

Proverbs 20:6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find? 

–IF WE WANT TO FAITHFUL WE MUST BE HONEST ABOUT OUR LIVES. THIS REQUIRES EXAMINATION OF WHAT WE DO DAILY.

—Ask the Lord to see things as He does. Evaluate how you do in each situation.

Psalms 26:2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

—See the consequences in our lives, and in others (both those around us, and those examples in the Word). We will not see this—even though it’s obvious to others—unless we grow to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

1 Corinthians 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

3. A FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN SHARES THEIR SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS WITH OTHERS.

Matthew 24:45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? The faithful persons shares their faith with others !

A. FAITHFUL PEOPLE RECEIVE THE SPIRITUAL NUTRITION FROM OTHERS IN CHRIST.

2 Timothy 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

B. FAITHFULNESS SHOULD BE YOUR LIFE’S CHOICE TILL YOU DIE.

Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

C. FAITHFULNESS WAS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CHURCH. IT STILL SHOULD BE.

3 John 1:5 Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;

IT IS IMPORTANT TO GOD.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU. WITHOUT IT YOU DON’T GET ALL THE THINGS GOD WANTS YOU TO HAVE.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO THOSE AROUND YOU. WITHOUT A FAITHFUL TESTIMONY, PEOPLE WILL CONCLUDE THAT BEGIN A CHRISTIAN IS WORTHLESS.

 

”How Important Can Faithfulness Be ?”

A Bible Study with Dr. Ed J. MacWilliams

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