Gerry van der Wende: Being Faithful!

Being faithful!

July 28, 2013

Psalm 37:28

INTRODUCTION

Story about couple, getting married, hard times, but commitment pulls them through
When two people get married, what is it that goes without saying, at the core of their relationship? Faithfulness
However, in life, things change
Nothing is so constant as change
In a marriage, over time, issues encroach on the relationship
Today, over one in two marriages ends in divorce
One of the major causes of divorce is marital unfaithfulness
But faithfulness is far more all-encompassing than that
Today we are going to look at some areas where God expects us to be faithful

OUR MARRIAGE TO GOD

Relationships with God are expressed in terms of a marriage
In the Old Testament, God was married to Israel
Ezekiel 16 – God finds a cast-off baby in the field, takes care of it, it grows up to be a beautiful woman, at the appropriate time, God marries her
Here he is speaking about ancient Israel
Israel listened to the requirements of this agreement, and says “I do” - Exodus 19:3-8
That marriage ceased, when Jesus died on the cross.
In the New Testament we are the bride of Christ
Rev 19:7-9 – wedding of the Lamb
Eph 5:25-30 – our physical marriage is a type of our spiritual marriage to Jesus
This spiritual marriage is no less real and literal than our physical marriage
Faithfulness is an essential part of this marriage to Jesus
The expression God is faithful, is mentioned many times throughout the Bible
God expects us to be faithful to him, just as he is faithful
Phil 2:5 – Let this mind or attitude be in you that was also in Christ Jesus

OUR RELATIONSHIP TO THE CHURCH

Our relationship to the church is also expressed in similar intimacy
Eph 5:23 – we are a part of the bride, the body of Christ
As a part of the body, we cannot be separated from it, without dying
John 15:1-6 – the branches must stay connected to the vine
1 Cor 12:12-18 – each part of the body is exactly where he has purposed it to be
Each part is needed in that place
Otherwise the body is maimed and incomplete
Our remaining present in the body, is a part of being faithful to God
Heb 10:25 – Do not give up meeting together
Stay committed to the part of the body where God has called you
Come to church services
Be at church events
Exercise your particular gifts God gave you, to edify the Church

OUR COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT THE CHURCH

Mal 3:8 – robbing God in tithes and offerings
Tithing is the God-ordained way to support the work he is doing
In the Old Testament this was the work of the Levites in the temple and religious ceremony
In the New Testament that work is being done through the church
When we are not obedient to God's command to give him his portion, we are robbing God
Being faithful to God includes supporting the church

BEING FAITHFUL IN ALL AREAS OF OUR LIFE

Being faithful is a state of being, not a single action of being faithful
If I am faithful at work, I will most likely be faithful at home and in my spiritual life
If I am unfaithful in my sexual life, I will most likely be unfaithful at work and in my relationship with God
Psalm 37:28 – If I am a faithful person, God will be with me
God supports his faithful ones
Matt 6:33 – seek first the kingdom of God, and he will take care of you
Here he is speaking of the necessities of life
Paul needed financial support
He was in prison, people had forsaken him, and he needed support
The church in Philippi came through, and brought assistance to Paul
Phil 4:19 – Paul tells the Philippians, and us, “My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus”

CONCLUSION

So let's be known as a faithful person
When Paul chose people for the ministry, he looked for people who were faithful
In 1 Tim 3, 2 Tim 2:2 and Titus 1, Paul makes clear that the leaders of the flock must be faithful
Faithfulness is one of the fruits of the Spirit – Gal 5:22-23
And faithfulness is the commitment that keeps things unified and moving forward
If we conduct our lives as faithful men and women, one day Jesus will tell us, as well as millions of others with us: “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord!"

Gerry van der Wende