Sunday, July 24, 2016

The Faithfulness Of God

Temple Baptist Church - 7-24-2016

1 Thessalonians 5:24


Introduction:

A.  We have spent a long time preaching through the Book of Thessalonians and I find no better verse to begin ending this study with than verse 24. 

1.  I fear that we get so busy trying to the work of God that we begin to depend upon our flesh to get the work done.  Salvation is the work of God!  Sanctification is the work of God!  Sinners saved is the work of God!  Building the church is the work of God! 

2.  It is not that God does all of this without using us but we need to understand that the arm of flesh will fail but God will not!  God chooses to use us to do His work but let us never forget that it is still His work.  1 Thessalonians 5:24  Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

B. Based upon God’s faithfulness, we now can trust our future into His loving hands.  Does this mean that we will never have a problem or be disappointed?  No, it means that He will be there with us and for us. 

Isaiah 43:1-2  But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I hav e redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.  (2)  When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

Lamentations 3:22-26  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.  24  The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.  25  The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul thatseeketh him.  26  It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. 

When I fall, He lifts me up!
When I fail, He forgives!
When I am weak, He is strong!
When I am lost, He is the way!
When I am afraid, He is my courage!
When I stumble, He steadies me!
When I am hurt, He heals me!
When I am broken, He mends me!
When I am blind, He leads me!
When I am hungry, He feeds me!
When I face trials, He is with me!
When I face persecution, He shields me!
When I face problems, He comforts me!
When I face loss, He provides for me!
When I face Death, He carries me Home!              
                          
C.  Just how much can God be depended upon?  He is everything, for everybody, in every place, in every situation, in every time frame.  He is God and He is faithful!  I am His and He is mine!

1.  He Is Faithful In His Word - Psalms 119:86 All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me   wrongfully; help thou me.

            a.  His Prophecies will not fail

b.  His Promises will not fail

            c.  His Preservation will not fail

2.  He Is Faithful In His Purposes - Isaiah 25:1  O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy    name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.

            a.  His Plan has not changed - salvation by grace

            b.  His Person has not changed – holiness follows true salvation

            c.  His Purpose has not changed – to conform us to His image


3.  He Is Faithful In His Salvation - 2 Timothy 2:13  If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

a.  In His Confirmation - 1 Corinthians 1:8 - Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.  God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
                                                                  
b.  In His Sanctification - 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 - 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.  Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

4.  He Is Faithful In Protection - 1 Peter 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God   commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

5.  He Is Faithful In Answered Prayer - Psalms 143:1  Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.

6.  He Is Faithful In His Mercy - Lamentations 3:21-22  This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.  It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.       

Psalms 103:10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us   according to our iniquities.

7.  He Is Faithful In His Chastisement - Psalms 119:75 I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou   in faithfulness hast afflicted me.

a.  Faithful to warn - 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

            b.  Faithful to correct

(1)  Sign of eternal life – 1 Corinthians 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

(2)  Sign of eternal love - Proverbs 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

(3)  Sign of eternal sonship - Hebrews 12:6-7 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

8.  He is Faithful In Forgiveness – 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.


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