Although, it is not true, it seems that certain things
in life are certain. Like, after working all week and anticipating a day off to
enjoy out, it seems to always rain on Saturday! Whenever you discover that you
are low on cash, but did not know it, that every ATM you stop at is “off line!”
As a preacher, I could count on a family argument on Saturday night or Sunday
morning right before I preach!
Of course, all those examples are exaggerations, but it seems to be consistent. Consistency is a very important issue in this life. Perhaps we all
have feelings like mine that exaggerate the consistency of certain things, but
one item we will never exaggerate on is the people in our lives. We KNOW which
ones are consistent and those that are not. Someone that is faithful to their
word is very important in our lives. Here is what is more important...are we seen that way by
others?
The fruit of faithfulness is a most precious production from
the Spirit of God; it sets the tone of our life with God, with our family and
friends and even with the world. The faithful commitment to love our enemy was
the power the early Church had to turn the world upside down for Christ. For
three centuries the Church wrote the gospel of Christ to the world through
their blood.
What interferes with the growth of this fruit? That is what we
will look at, and as we do keep these questions before you.
· What is the number one stopper to our
faithfulness?
· What is the most difficult thing about being
involved with people?
· If you were describing someone faithful – what
words would you use?
Remember our definition: Steadfast in affection or allegiance.
Let me expand on that to paint the proper picture: The Characteristic
of not only starting something but also being involved all the way to the
finish!
Take marriage for example – getting married is nothing,
anyone can do that. However, being still together after 50 years states a lot…but even
that is not enough. Many people remain together but there relationship is more like a business contract. When you get married and spend 50 years growing and experiencing life together,
THAT is a marriage! It’s much more than just showing up!
Church History testifies that this has continued to be a
problem for all of us. God called us to Himself and said to reach the world
with His love. Many have done that, but many have been diverted. Their
commitment turned to leaders:
1 Corinthians
1:11–13 For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s
people, that there are quarrels among you. Now I mean this, that each one of
you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of
Christ.” Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or
were you baptized in the name of Paul?
Later it became denominations that we were committed to, then
movements. Where are we now? Many are
faithful to Self! We have a consumer mindset, we look for what the Church will
do for us and will commit only as long as it does not cramp “our lifestyle.” What’s
the result? The faithful ones are few, which leads to more burn out. The Church
is top heavy with those that are going along for the ride, and it is crushing
the faithful at the bottom that are trying to carry that load.
This lack of faithfulness has clouded the waters of our vision
for God –
which in turn leaves us confused about our purpose.
In Charles Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol” when Scrooge is being
confronted by the ghost of Marley about how he wasted his life in the pursuit
of money, this conversation takes place:
Marley: “Business!” cried the Ghost, wringing his hands
again. “Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity,
mercy, forebearance, and benevolence were, all, my business. The dealings of my
trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!”
Live in this world we must, but if we do not remain faithful to
God and His call, we will spend all our energy on what would be “a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean
of our business for the King!”
We need to ask ourselves who’s kingdom are we investing our life in…Our
Own?...or God’s?
None of us can control what others do, nor should we try. So
let each one of us focus on ourself right now?
Why should we stay
with it? Because Jesus did! Jesus was always faithful to - God the Father and
the purpose for which He was called. He is our model. Let’s also count the
cost. Where will the fight come from?
Things that will try and interfere with the Holy
Spirit's fruit of faithfulness:
· Circumstances
There will never be the “perfect” time, or the “perfect”
moment. There will always be issues and problems in every situation we find
ourselves in. We need to be faithful in spite of bad or good circumstances!
GOOD? Yes, they can be the most dangerous!
Matthew 21:7-13 and brought the donkey and the colt, and
laid on them their garments, on which He sat. And most of the multitude spread their garments in the road,
and others were cutting branches from the trees, and spreading them in the
road. And the multitudes going before Him, and those who followed after were
crying out, saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is He who comes
in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!" And when He had entered
Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, "Who is this?" And the
multitudes were saying, "This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in
Galilee." And Jesus entered the temple and cast out all those who were
buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the
moneychangers and the seats of those who were selling doves. And He said to
them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer'; but
you are making it a robbers' DEN."
Here Jesus had just been praised and worshiped, why take a
chance of turning the crowd against you by doing what He did in the temple?
Jesus was faithful to Who God is, not the applause of men! He did not care
about His popularity, He care about the truth.
Acts 5:1-5 But a certain man named Ananias, with his wife
Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and kept back some of the price for
himself, with his wife's full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid
it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled
your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back some of the price of the
land? "While it remained
unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under
your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You
have not lied to men, but to God." And as he heard these words, Ananias
fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came upon all who heard of it.
The context here is clear – this couple had been
moved by what they saw Barnabas do in Acts 4 when he gave such a large gift to
the Lord. So they also sold their land with plans to do the same thing, but
apparently the sum they received was a good one and their heart listened to the
enemy. The issue was not that they did not give it all, Peter makes it clear
that God had given all of it to them to manage. The issue was they pretended
they were giving it all so they would look spiritual, the good circumstances
led them to lie! They became faithful to their greed, instead they should have
been faithful to what God had put in their heart!
·
People
The enemy will use people, even family members to try to divert
your focus. We need to be faithful in spite of people, no matter who they are!
John 2:23-25 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover,
during the feast, many believed in His name, beholding His signs which He was
doing. But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew
all men, and because He did not need anyone to bear witness concerning man for
He Himself knew what was in man.
People will kill you.
People will kill you.
I remember as a young Pastor there was a man that would
constantly praise and compliment me. He even compared me to some of my favorite
preachers that was so famous. By God’s grace I received all of this with
appreciation, but I knew better! I was not “all that!” So I would thank him, but not become
proud. Within a year, because I did not do what he wanted me to do at the
Church, he became one of my greatest adversaries! Trust God, care for people,
but know, like you, they have a sin nature.
Matthew 16:21-23 From that time Jesus Christ began to show
His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the
elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the
third day. And Peter took Him
aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This shall
never happen to You." But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind
Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind
on God's interests, but man's."
Sometimes, the people you love and count on the most can be
used by the enemy. Don’t hate them, most times they do not even realize how they are
tempting you to leave your commitment. Just remember to seek God’s
mind on everything, no matter the counsel they give you. How many times those
close to us have tried to convince us to minister in the comfort of our home and
leave the impoverished country were are in. They meant well, but were ignorant
that they were asking us to trade the peace we had from God for “creature”
comforts. How many rich suicides prove that those comforts never satisfy!
·
The Unknown
Many times we lose
our commitment because we are afraid of taking the risk on something that is
unknown. We need to be faithful in spite of the unknown.
Mark 14:35–36 And
He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground and began to pray that if
it were possible, the hour might pass Him by. And He was saying, “Abba! Father!
All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will,
but what You will.”
Jesus knew WHAT was going to happen, but He did not know the
experience of it. It was frightening and the only way He would ever know about
it was to experience it. He did not allow fear to control Him.
We need to heed the counsel Jesus gave Peter. Peter was wondering about
what John would do, and Jesus told him to adjust his focus:
John 21:18–22 “Truly,
truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk
wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and
someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.” Now
this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when
He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me!” Peter, turning around, saw the
disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on
His bosom at the supper and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” So
Peter seeing him said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?” Jesus said to
him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow
Me!”
Many believers I know sense God calling them to specific
things, but hesitate because they do not know everything. The unknown is
compromising their faithfulness. How about you? Is there anything or anyone
holding you back to being completely faithful to God?
1 Thes. 5:24 Faithful is He who calls you, and He also
will bring it to pass.
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