Category: Faithfulness
Subject: Faithfulness
Be Strong in Grace
Paul’s admonition in 2 Timothy 2:1, is amazingly sublime, “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”
There are truths that are intimated by these simple words. First, it affirms Paul’s words in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” The redemptive grace of God is accomplished through the sacrifice of His Son. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:16-17).
Second, it affirms that God’s will for any individual can be resisted and thwarted. Stephen told the Jews, “You stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you” (Acts 7:51). Though God is “not willing that any should perish” (cf. 2 Peter 3:9), some refuse to come to repentance.
Consequently, we understand our responsibility to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling! (Philippians 2:12). This does not mean that God’s sovereignty is denied, nor does it in anyway indicate that we earn our salvation by works of merit. Rather, it acknowledges man’s free will, and the obligation of our salvation debt.
Paul understood it, do we? “Be strong in the grace”!
Sermon: Who Can Find a Faithful Man?
A simple premise. To find a faithful man, one must know his attributes. These attributes can be seen by looking at the characters of faithful men such as Abraham, Moses and Daniel.
Sermon: Are You Still Fighting Sin?
Paul’s letter to Corinth reveals several truths about our struggles with sin. The devil will never stop probing, and his devices are many. However, there are things we can do to fight him, and faithfulness is possible!
Sermon: The Judgment of Stewardship
Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 give us some interesting and important insight into the importance of stewardship, and the reality that judgment comes from God, not man.
Sermon: Are You a Friend TO Jesus?
In order to be a friend of Jesus, like Abraham, you need to be friendly. I.e. – You need to be a friend TO Jesus. Things like sacrifice, loyalty and faith. Are YOU a friend TO Jesus?
Sermon: When I Sin
No one is immune to sin. Only the Son of God Himself lived his life without sinning. Since all sin, the key is responding to that sin in your life appropriately. In doing so you can escape the consequences, and benefit from God’s mercy.
Sermon: Do You See Yourself?
Felix and Paul are presented as two examples, illustrating the forgetful hearer, and the doer of the work, noted in James 1:21-25.
Spiritual Navalwatching
I came across a quote from 1970 by a denominational writer that indicates a problem that, in my opinion, is applicable to the Lord’s church today. The quote is below, with some of my own comments after.
“…(We) of the late twentieth century contribute to the falsifying of the church’s proper function through our subjectivism … (The present) is possibly the most subjective period in all of church history. Today everybody talks in psychological terms. We enjoy nothing better than to probe our inner life and its real or imagined frustrations. We wallow in our misery. We go to psychologists, we go to psychiatrists, we go to counsellors. This predilection has been called “navelwatching” by some people; that is, we enjoy nothing better than to sit down narcissistically and look at our own psychic navels. This delightful activity allows us to become completely involved in ourselves. We enjoy our problems. Someone has called our epoch “the Age of Analysis” . . . and it is that, for we want to solve all our problems by subjective concentration upon them.”
John Warwick Montgomery
So much of the Christian’s responsibility is focused outward. We can become so entranced by our own spiritual “navels” that we leave the greater commands to “love God” and “love our neighbor” undone. It seems to me important to focus on God’s commandments, and our responsibilities to Him and others, and spend less time focused inwardly – “paralysis by analysis.” Now, I am not objecting to examining ourselves (cf. 2 Corinthians 13:5), but rather noting the destructive tendency to focus on self rather than others.
Are your insecurities, feelings, musings, captivating your attention? Does they lead to missed opportunities to do the Lord’s work? Does your faith consist predominately of introspection – whether of your failings or your strengths? If so, perhaps you need to look outside of yourself, and get busy doing “the work” (cf. James 1:25).
Some thoughts that came to my mind while reading the quote above:
- Truth is objective, not subjective.
- Selflessness is seen in our actions toward our fellow man.
- The spiritual works of evangelism and edification are indicators of a faithful, zealous Christian.
- Intellectualism does not equate to strength in faith (“…and the common people heard Him gladly” Mark 12:37).
Invitation: A Godly Jealousy
Invitation delivered by: Stan Cox
In 2 Corinthians 11:1-4 Paul uses the marriage metaphor to call his readers to faithfulness to the Lord.
Spring 2007 Gospel Meeting with Nathan Quinn
Spring 2016 Gospel Meeting. Speaker: Nathan Quinn
May 6-11, 2017
Theme: Faith Under Fire (Lessons from 1 Peter)
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Audio 1 (What Angels Long to See)
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Audio 2 (Conducting Ourselves with Fear)
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Audio 3 (The Enduring Word of God)
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Audio 4 (The Day the Lord Has Made)
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Audio 5 (Imitating Christ by Suffering)
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Audio 6 (Understanding God’s Will for You)
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Audio 7 (Living the Good Life)
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Audio 8 (Be Sober in Spirit)
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Audio 9 (The True Grace of God)
FB: The Promised Mercies of God
“I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever; with my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations” (Psalm 89:1).
The poet’s proclamation was made within the specific context of the promises made by God to King David. “I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn to My servant David: Your seed I will establish forever, and build up your throne to all generations” (verse 3).
God is certainly faithful concerning His promises to man. He always has, and always will do as He says. The “Son of David”, Jesus the Christ, reigns in Heaven today.
Consider this truth, and remember the promise of mercy that God has given to us. As Paul wrote:
“Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8)..
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Sermon: Christ, the Faithful Son
This sermon is a discussion of Hebrews 3.
Sermon: The Faithful Few
Throughout history, God’s faithful have been few. But, those few have preserved humanity, relied upon God’s wisdom and strength, found the way of life, and have been found worthy!
Sermon: The Prophet Elijah
What kind of man was Elijah. The same type of man as many who are righteous (cf. James 5:17).
Sermon: The Easy Way
Where is self denial? Where is “giving all diligence”? Where is “striving”? Too few are willing to sacrifice for their faith and their God.
