KNOWING GOD’S FAITHFULNESS
Knowing God #5
Roger Simms, hitchhiking his way home, would never forget the date—May 7. His heavy suitcase made Roger tired. He was anxious to take off his army uniform once and for all. Flashing the hitchhiking sigh to the oncoming car, he lost hope when he saw it was a black, sleek, new Cadillac. To his surprise the car stopped. The passenger door opened. He ran toward the car, tossed his suitcase in the back, and thanked the handsome, well-dressed man as he slid into the front seat. “Going home for keeps?” “Sure am,” Roger responded. “Well, you’re in luck if you’re going to Chicago.” “Not quite that far. Do you live in Chicago?” “I have a business there. My name is Hanover.”
After talking about many things, Roger, a Christian, felt a compulsion to witness to this fiftyish, apparently successful businessman about Christ. But he kept putting it off, till he realized he was just thirty minutes from his home. It was now or never. So, Roger cleared his throat, “Mr. Hanover, I would like to talk to you about something very important.” He then proceeded to explain the way of salvation, ultimately asking Mr. Hanover if he would like to receive Christ as his Savior. To Roger’s astonishment the Cadillac pulled over to the side of the road. Roger thought he was going to be ejected from the car. But the businessman bowed his head and received Christ, then thanked Roger. “This is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me.”
Five years went by, Roger married, had a two-year-old boy, and a business of his own. Packing his suitcase for a business trip to Chicago, he found the small, white business card Hanover had given him five years before. In Chicago he looked up Hanover Enterprises. A receptionist told him it was impossible to see Mr. Hanover, but he could see Mrs. Hanover.
A little confused as to what was going on, he was ushered into a lovely office and found himself facing a keen-eyed woman in her fifties. She extended her hand. “You knew my husband?” Roger told how her husband had given him a ride when hitchhiking home after the war. “Can you tell me when that was?” “It was May 7, five years ago, the day I was discharged from the army.” “Anything special about that day?” Roger hesitated. Should he mention giving his witness? Since he had come so far, he might as well take the plunge. “Mrs. Hanover, I explained the gospel. He pulled over to the side of the road and wept against the steering wheel. He gave his life to Christ that day.” Explosive sobs shook her body. Getting a grip on herself, she sobbed, “I had prayed for my husband’s salvation for years. I believed God would save him.” “And,” said Roger, “Where is your husband, Mrs. Hanover?” “He’s dead,” she wept, struggling with words. “He was in a car crash after he let you out of the car. He never got home. You see—I thought God had not kept His promise.” Sobbing uncontrollably, she added, “I stopped living for God five years ago because I thought He had not kept His word!” Why Christians Sin, J. Kirk Johnston, Discovery House, 1992, pp. 39-41 http://www.bible.org/illus/g/g-25.htm#TopOfPage
God is faithful. Even when we don’t think that God is faithful, He is faithful. As we continue our series on “Knowing God” this morning, we want to share with you another characteristic of our wonderful God. This morning we want to talk about “Knowing God’s Faithfulness”, and showing you seven ways in which God is faithful
It is especially important for us as Christians to know how faithful God is. It will keep us from discouragement when tough times come, and it will encourage us to be faithful ourselves. This morning I would like to share with you seven ways God is faithful based on the Scriptures.
FAITHFUL TO KEEP
Deuteronomy 7:9 - Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
This verse was first written for the nation Israel.
The two verses before Deuteronomy 7:9 show Israel, that without God she was nothing.
Deuteronomy 7:7-8 - The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: [8] But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
Now let’s update this thought for you and I who know Jesus as Savior. God didn’t save us because we were great or famous, or deserving. We are all sinners who deserve the punishment of hell.
In His love and mercy God saved us, declared us as righteous in His eyes, forgave our sins, and declared us to be His children.
We don’t deserve it, but He did it.
And now, according to Deuteronomy 7:9, we see that God is faithful to keep covenant and mercy to those that love and keep his commandments.
God keeps his covenant or promises.
God promises to save those who put their trust in His Son.
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
God promises peace to those who trust in Him and commit their problems to Him.
Philippians 4:6-7 - Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. [7] And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
God promises to meet the needs of His saints.
Philippians 4:19 - But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
God, the Son, promises never to leave us.
John 14:18 - I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
God promises to take care of us.
Psalm 121:7-8 - The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. [8] The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
God is faithful to keep His promises to us.
GOD IS FAITHFUL TO KEEP
FAITHFUL TO CALL
1 Corinthians 1:9 - God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
If you are saved, God has called you.
Romans 8:29-30 - For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. [30] Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
God faithfully called us into the fellowship of His Son.
· There is the fellowship that we are able to have with the Lord Jesus as we abide in Him. He is present with us every moment and wants us to stay close to Him. What a privilege it is to talk to Him at anytime, in any place, and in every situation.
John 15:4 - Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
John 15:7 - If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
· There is also the fellowship in God’s Son that causes us to fellowship with each other. We are all members of the body of Christ, and we are to work together and to care for each other as part of the body. There should be a fellowship with each other, a “having in common” that makes fellow Christians near and dear.
· We are also called into a fellowship with God’s Son that will mean us being with Him forever.
1 John 3:2-3 - Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. [3] And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 - For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: [17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Just think! If God hadn’t been faithful to call us we wouldn’t be saved.
If God hadn’t been faithful to call us we wouldn’t have fellowship with Christ.
If God hadn’t called us we would not have fellowship with Jesus and with each other right now.
If God hadn’t called us we would not look forward to fellowship with the Lord Jesus in Heaven for all eternity.
GOD IS FAITHFUL TO CALL
FAITHFUL TO DELIVER
1 Corinthians 10:13 - There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
In 1346, during the Hundred Years’ War, the English army of King Edward III met a French battalion at Crecy, France. The King’s Son, Prince Edward, led one vital division of the British force while Edward III stood nearby with a strong band of soldiers, ready to send relief if he saw the need. Soon after the battle started the prince thought he was in danger, so he sent for help. But the king didn’t come. So young Edward sent another message, pleading for immediate assistance.
His father responded by telling the courier, “Go tell my son that I am not so inexperienced a commander as not to know when help is needed, nor so careless a father as not to send it.” http://www.bible.org/illus/nt/nt-470.htm#TopOfPage
And so it is with our God.
When we are tempted, God is faithful.
He knows exactly when, where, and what to send as help in every situation.
God will always provide a way out of temptation exactly when needed.
I am impressed that God sends to us a way to escape.
It is up to us to take the way that God provides.
I think of Joseph who ran when Potiphar’s wife wanted to seduce Him.
And I think of Samson who hung around Delilah when he knew that she was trying to discover the secret of his great strength. He should have run too, and surely God had provided for Samson a way of escape.
If our building were on fire, and I say, “Quickly, everyone calmly file out of this door”, the way of escape would be provided. However if you just sit there and don’t take the way provided, you would burn up in the fire.
When you are tempted, God provides the way of escape.
Make sure that you take it.
God is FAITHFUL TO DELIVER
FAITHFUL TO PERFORM
1 Thessalonians 5:24 - Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
Please turn to 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 - Rejoice evermore. [17] Pray without ceasing. [18] In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. [19] Quench not the Spirit. [20] Despise not prophesyings. [21] Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. [22] Abstain from all appearance of evil.
Here are some familiar words.
These words are reminders as to how we should live as Christians.
These words are really keys to holy living.
As we practice them, we will be sanctified, set apart or holy.
[23] And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. [24] Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
It was Paul’s prayer that Christians be set apart totally unto God. And that in the end our entire spirits, souls, and bodies would be preserved blameless until Jesus comes.
The encouraging thing here is that the God who has called us to holiness will see us through to the end. Not only will He enable us to live holy lives here on earth, but He will bring us into His presence, totally holy, totally set apart for Him.
Jude 1:24-25 - Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, [25] To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
God is faithful to perform. He will preserve us as Holy unto Himself.
FAITHFUL TO INTERVENE
Hebrews 2:17 - Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
You have probably intervened in behalf or someone more than once in your life. And probably someone has intervened for you.
When I was almost 17 I mentioned getting my driver’s license. My Dad had just gotten a new car (to him), and he wasn’t too excited about my getting my permit and license. Mom intervened and I got my permit and license.
The funny thing was, after I got my license, Mom wasn’t that keen on my using the car. It was Dad who intervened, so that I could get the car for dates once in awhile.
When it comes to God, all of us need someone to intervene for us.
We are all sinners who have failed God.
We need someone to speak for us in behalf of God.
In Israel there was someone who intervened for the people once a year, bringing a sacrifice of blood into the tabernacle or temple. That was the high priest who brought a sacrifice of blood into the holiest part of the temple once a year.
God provided a greater high priest for us.
He sent his Son, the Lord Jesus in human form to the earth.
It was here that Jesus learned what is was like to be human, so He could knowledgably intervene for us as high priest.
Most important He offered the blood sacrifice for our sins.
When we Christians sin today, Jesus is present at the Throne of God to intervene in our behalf.
1 John 2:1-2 - My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: [2] And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Be encouraged that Jesus is always in the presence of the Father as our great High Priest, faithful to intervene.
GOD IS FAITHFUL TO INTERVENE
FAITHFUL TO FORGIVE
1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
You often hear me quote this verse.
Please don’t take it lightly.
Most of us can forgive minor offenses against us without even thinking about it.
Sometimes we struggle to forgive what we call major offenses against us or someone we love.
It is not always easy for us to forgive, even when we know we should.
1 John 1:9 tells us that God is faithful to forgive.
If we are Christians we know that when we sin against God, fellowship with Him is broken.
When we confess our sins, naming them specifically before God He is faithful to forgive them.
He forgives the big sins and the little ones.
And God does not limit how many time we can come to God and be cleansed for our sins.
Don’t think, Christian that you have ever sinned more than God can forgive.
Although God hates sin, He as God forgives and cleanses us when we come sincerely confessing our sins.
Praise God for this kind of faithfulness.
GOD IS FAITHFUL TO FORGIVE
FAITHFUL TO THE END – Lamentations 3:22-23
Lamentations 3:22-23 - It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. [23] They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
A college man walked into a photography studio with a framed picture of his girlfriend. He wanted the picture duplicated. This involved removing it from the frame. In doing this, the studio owner noticed the inscription on the back of the photograph: "My dearest Tom, I love you with all my heart. I love you more and more each day. I will love you forever and ever. I am yours for all eternity." It was signed "Diane," and it contained a P.S.: "If we ever break up, I want this picture back." Charles Krieg --James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988) pp. 97-98. Bible Illustrator 3.0
My friend, God puts no P.S’s on His commitment to you.
You who know Christ as Savior can be confident that His compassions will never fail, that He will be faithful to you to the end. Indeed, God is faithful to the end.
John 14:2-3 - In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Psalm 23:6 - Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
KNOWING GOD’S FAITHFULNESS
GOD IS FAITHFUL
FAITHFUL TO KEEP
FAITHFUL TO CALL
FAITHFUL TO DELIVER
FAITHFUL TO PERFORM
FAITHFUL TO INTERVENE
FAITHFUL TO FORGIVE
FAITHFUL TO THE END