Fruit - Faithfulness Pt 4…It’s simple...not easy, just follow the model!

During war games Private Glenn Sollie and Private Andrew Bearshield of the Fifteenth Infantry had been ordered to make their way to a bridge, and guard it. They were told to stand on duty at the bridge until relieved. The two were faithful soldiers. They went and they guarded—and guarded. They stuck to it for three days and three nights without food and without blankets. Then they were—no, not relieved, they were found! They were guarding the wrong bridge!

A funny story…but with a seriously important point; “they were found!” That really says it all, neither of them were going to allow circumstances to deter the commitment they had made to be faithful to their orders. Should we allow any less dedication to the commitments we have made to the King of the Universe?

To succeed we need to have engrained into our very being the fruit of faithfulness, which the Holy Spirit would delight to produce.

Having laid the proper foundation, a clear understanding of what “faith” is, we are now ready to examine this fruit. To do that we will define it and then look at the Producer of this fruit as our model of how it functions in real life.

Defined: Steadfast in affection or allegiance. 

This describes exactly how committed God is to us.

Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

2 Tim. 1:12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

How does God show this attribute of His?

·      He is Faithful in His work

1 Cor. 1:9 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

This should give us great confidence, remember the context here, the Church at Corinth was a Church with a lot of sin problem! Does this mean we can relax toward sin? No! The point is God is faithful to us no matter what we do!

1 Thess. 5:24 The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.

2 Thess. 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

Challenge: Even when we do not understand what God is doing, are we faithful to Him? No matter what we think about what someone has done, are we faithful to continue to represent Christ to them?

·      He is Faithful in His teaching!

         All four aspects:

                  (a) Conviction

John 15:15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

Proverbs 27:6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.

                  (b) Chastisements

Psalm 119:75 I know, O Lord, that your laws are righteous, and in faithfulness you have afflicted me.

  

(c) Testings

1 Cor. 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And 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                                                           stand up under it.

                  (d) Persecutions

1 Peter 4:14-19 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?" So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

Challenge: When God convicts, do you receive that truth? When He chastises, do you humble yourself and accept it? When He tests, do you look for where He desires growth? When you are persecuted for Him, do you thank Him for that honor? When someone in your life is convicted or chastised, do you patiently help them through that time? When someone in your life is going through a test, do you proactively try to encourage? When someone in your life is suffering for the cause of Christ, do you offer comfort and pray for them?

·      He is Faithful concerning sin!

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

2 Tim. 2:13 if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

Challenge: When you sin, do you go to Him for cleansing and believe His promise that He will restore you? When you see someone in sin, do you think..."I am glad I am not like that!" or "Except for the grace of God I could do that!" When someone sins against you do you forgive them and offer restoration?

Faithfulness is that quality that allows the greatest maturity to take place in our life! In our next and last Devo on Faithfulness we will look at what things the enemy uses to keep us from being faithful.