BLESSINGS OF FAITHFULNESS
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Continual, faithful, persisting, perseverance, constantly . . .
1. JUST AS SURELY AS THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES TO SIN, THERE ARE ALSO CONSEQUENCES TO RIGHTEOUSNESS.
A. ABRAHAM.
ABRAHAM REJECTED THE WORLD’S VIEWS OF SALVATION, AND PUT HIS FAITH IN GOD. HE WAS CONSTANTLY SURROUNDED BY THE PAGAN IDOLS AND GODS. BUT, HE STOOD STRONG, AND INHERITED ETERNAL LIFE BY HIS FAITH THAT DID NOT WAVER.
Romans 4:20-22 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
B. JOHN THE BAPTIST.
HE WAS BLESSED WITH A POWERFUL TESTIMONY. NO ONE ELSE HAD BEEN ABLE TO STAND UP AGAINST THE ROMANS OR THE RELIGIOUS TEACHERS OF THE DAY. JOHN DID, AND PEOPLE WERE AMAZED AND RESPECTED HIM FOR IT.
Matthew 11:7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
Jesus implied that they would not have gone out to see a man who was blown over and fallen down from the pressures of other people.
C. WE WILL HAVE TRUE LIFE WHEN WE STAND IN OUR FAITH.
1 Thessalonians 3:8 For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.
–THERE WILL BE TEMPTATIONS TO MOVE AWAY FROM BIBLICAL PROPHECY IN THESE LAST DAYS.
2 Thessalonians 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
2. OUR WORK FOR THE LORD SHOULD BE UNMOVABLE.
A. WE ALWAYS SHOULD KEEP SERVING GOD.
THE DISCIPLES HAD DAYS OF SORROW. THEY HAD DAYS WHERE THEY WERE PHYSICALLY HURTING. YET, GOD COMMANDED THEM TO BE UNMOVEABLE IN THEIR WORK.
2 Corinthians 4:15-18 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
B. WE CAN’T AFFORD TO BE MOVED IN OUR FAITHFUL BELIEF OF GOD’S WORD.
Colossians 1:21-23 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled In the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
C. PRAYER THAT IS ANSWERED REQUIRES FAITHFULNESS AND FAITH.
Luke 18:1 And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
Luke 11:8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.
3. BLESSINGS FOLLOW THOSE WHO OVERCOME THE ENEMY’S DESIRE TO MOVE US AWAY FROM THE UNCHANGING TRUTH.
A. GOD WON’T ALLOW THE RIGHTEOUS TO BE MOVED.
WHAT MAKES A PERSON RIGHTEOUS ? FAITH. REAL FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS. REAL FAITH REQUIRES TURNING EVERYTHING – OUR LIVES, OUR BURDENS, OUR TEMPTATIONS, OVER TO GOD.
Psalms 55:22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
When Jesus was tempted to back out in the Grden of Gesthemeny, He set the example of turning it all over to the Father.
Matthew 26:38-39 Then saith He unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with Me. And He went a little further, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt.
B. WHERE ELSE COULD WE GO ?
Psalms 62:6 He only is my rock and my salvation: He is my defence; I shall not be moved.
C. BY BLESSING GOD AND PRAISING HIM, WE WILL NOT BE MOVED. IF WE ARE SINGING ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE EXCEPT GOD’S BLESSINGS, WE WILL FALL.
Psalms 66:8-9 O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of His praise to be heard: Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.
”The Blessings Of Faithfulness”
A Bible Study with Dr. Ed J. MacWilliams
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