Today’s message summary from Pastor Gus Brown:
As Christians, are we always faithful? Faithfulness is something that we have lost in our relationships with others. Trust is broken. Loyalty is a principle that must be fulfilled in order to reflect faithfulness.
Faithfulness is something that has to be taught and built within a person. The Holy Spirit is the One who must present it to a believer.
Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
The faith referenced here is not a saving faith, but instead a faithfulness, or something that a believer is empowered with in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Faithfulness is reflected in the service that is rendered to others, and people will see your commitment in that service. Jesus Christ wants you to see that faithfulness is a reflection of His own character.
The laziness and indifference of our human nature doesn’t like to be constantly disturbed by the restlessness of faithfulness.
Faithfulness bears responsibility. It is to assume responsibilities that are in line with God’s character, and in that situation or circumstance, God will remain faithful.
1 Corinthians 1:9
God is faithful; you were called by Him into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Thessalonians 5:24
He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
Hebrews 3:6
But Christ was faithful as a Son over His household. And we are that household if we hold on to the courage and the confidence of our hope.
Philippians 1:6
I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
God’s faithfulness is being carried out every day, regardless of how faithful we are.
Faithfulness is not about having all of the answers. The most important thing is to believe in Him and then get started in trusting Him. We are looking to God’s faithfulness as a work in us.
Deuteronomy 7:9
Know that Yahweh your God is God, the faithful God who keeps His gracious covenant loyalty for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commands.
The Holy Spirit is teaching us how to be faithful to:
1. His Word
2. Our assigned task
3. To people
Luke 16:10-12
10 Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and whoever is unrighteous in very little is also unrighteous in much. 11 So if you have not been faithful with the unrighteous money, who will trust you with what is genuine? 12 And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to someone else, who will give you what is your own?
1 Corinthians 4:2, 17
2 In this regard, it is expected of managers that each one of them be found faithful.
17 This is why I have sent Timothy to you. He is my dearly loved and faithful son in the Lord. He will remind you about my ways in Christ Jesus, just as I teach everywhere in every church.
Matthew 25:21
“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy!’
Faithfulness is performed for the recipient of the kindness within one’s tasks and assignments. Within this process, the Holy Spirit teaches one how to remain faithful and to grow in faithfulness.
The Lord keeps the faithful. If you choose not to be faithful, you are the one who misses out.
Psalm 31:23
Love the Lord, all His faithful ones.
The Lord protects the loyal,
but fully repays the arrogant.
God watches over the faithful.
Psalm 101:6
My eyes favor the faithful of the land
so that they may sit down with me.
The one who follows the way of integrity
may serve me.
Three who were faithful:
1. Moses
Hebrews 3:2
He was faithful to the One who appointed Him, just as Moses was in all God’s household.
2. Paul
1 Timothy 1:12
I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry.
3. Onesimus
Colossians 4:9
He is with Onesimus, a faithful and dearly loved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here.
One who is faithful is one who is useful within the kingdom. Your faithfulness is being used by God for His glory. Look at where Onesimus was at one time, and where he was later when sent by Paul:
Philemon 1:9-12
9 I appeal to you, instead, on the basis of love. I, Paul, as an elderly man and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus, 10 appeal to you for my son, Onesimus. I fathered him while I was in chains. 11 Once he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me. 12 I am sending him back to you as a part of myself.
Ask yourself if you are indeed useful within the kingdom of God? Are you allowing the Holy Spirit to change you and work within you in being faithful? Are you truly faithful?
Akron Alliance Fellowship 