Category: Faithfulness
Subject: Faithfulness
Invitation: Fear God, Not Men
Invitation delivered by: Josh Cox
In Matthew 10:16-26 Jesus taught his disciples of impending persecution. However, he admonished them to remain faithful to God, rather than fear the reprisals of men. A lesson we should learn as well.
Invitation: All Seek Their Own
Invitation delivered by: Stan Cox
In Philippians 2:19-23, the apostle Paul gave a great commendation of Timothy for his desire to serve His Lord.
FB: What is Required of Stewards?
In 1 Corinthians 4:1-2, Paul wrote concerning his apostolic ministry, “Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”
A steward is a manager or overseer. He is put in charge of a particular work or department. It might be a household, a project or a division. In all cases, he is held responsible by the management for the success or failure of the effort.
Paul was an overseer of the mysteries of God. It was his purpose to proclaim the gospel of Christ to God’s satisfaction, not man’s. So, it is not surprising that it was of little concern to Paul that others would judge him to be unsatisfactory (cf. vs. 3). As Paul wrote, “He who judges me is the Lord” (vs. 4).
The same is true of us. We shouldn’t worry what man thinks, but what God thinks. When we consider those things to which God has granted us stewardship, (our children, home, local church, etc.), our only worry must be whether we are faithful to His instructions!
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Sermon: Faithful Hannah
1 Samuel, chapter 1 we have recorded for us the faithfulness of Samuel’s mother Hannah. She serves as a good example to us.
Sermon: Promises to the Lord
In the 101st Psalm, the singer makes five promises to the Lord that we would do well to emulate ourselves.
* Sing praises
* Behave wisely
* Set nothing wicked before my eyes
* Not endure slander and pride
* Bless the faithful
Sermon: Analyzing the Letters to the Seven Churches of Asia
The Sermon analyzes the letters of the Lord to the seven church of Asia, found in Revelation 2 & 3.
The letters emphasize Jesus’ knowledge of the works of the churches, His call for some to repent, and His promise of reward to the faithful.
Sermon: Know Your Enemy
While powerful, the devil is not the evil antithesis of God. While God is omniscient, the devil is limited in knowledge, and is fallible. His pride is his downfall. We can be successful in resisting him.
Invitation: God Keeps His Promises
Invitation delivered by: Josh Cox
Matthew 7:7-11 shows clearly that God keeps His promises to us.
Joshua: A Godly and Successful Leader
The book of Joshua contains a wonderful summary of his leadership of Israel. Joshua was a man of great character and loyalty to God. During his service to God and His people, the nation took possession of the land of Canaan, obtaining the inheritance God had promised to Abraham and his descendants.
While each individual is responsible for his own relationship with God, a good leader can exert influence to keep men faithful to the Almighty. Joshua is an example of such a man. As he ascended to the leadership role, God promised him, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (1:9). Of course, that favor was contingent upon his loyalty to the Lord, “Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go” (1:7).
Sermon: A Heart with Purpose
In Daniel 1:8, the text reveals that Daniel purposed in his heart not to defile himself with the King’s delicacies. This text introduces the importance of having a heart with purpose to please God.
Invitation: God’s Approval
Invitation delivered by: Stan Cox
Ultimately it does not matter whether we are approved by others, or even by ourselves. All that matters is that we meet with God’s approval.
Mining the Scriptures: 2 Timothy 1:13-14
This text contains an admonition from the apostle to the young evangelist to be faithful to the word of God. While this is certainly an important aspect of the preacher’s work, it is equally applicable to every Christian.
The first phrase “the pattern of sound words” indicates what many refuse to accept, that God’s word contains a pattern or blueprint that Christians are to follow. “Pattern theology” is ridiculed today, but is certainly advocated by Paul in this text. As Adam Clarke wrote in his commentary, “No man was left to invent a religion for his own use, and after his own mind. God alone knows that with which God can be pleased.”
The second phrase “that good thing which was committed to you” indicates the effectual nature of God’s word. It is “profitable” and able to “complete” the man of God (cf. 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Timothy was to be a good steward. He was to “hold fast” to that which was “committed to” him. We have the same obligation.
Excessive Loyalty
Loyalty is a good thing. A very good thing. Consider the beautiful expression of Ruth’s loyalty to her mother-in-law Naomi, “But Ruth said: ‘Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me’” (Ruth 1:16-17).
Loyalty to God must be absolute. Divided loyalties are unacceptable. There is no way to be excessively loyal to Him. As Jesus said, “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:37). Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 4:1-2, “Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”
From the Preacher’s Pen: A Lasting Heritage
In my reading this week, I came across the account of James’ martyrdom at the hands of King Herod (cf. Acts 12:1-2). I was struck with the concise, matter-of-fact description of that tragedy, recorded by the Holy Spirit through Luke’s pen. “Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword.”
As an apostle, James was one of the most important men of the first century. And yet, little is known of his life, character, and even his death. In our day, such an influential man would be profiled, biographied, eulogized and even idolized. His death would be portrayed as a tragedy of immense proportions. There is a lesson here for us. While men are focused on this life, the Holy Spirit is concerned with the life to come.
In His ministry, Jesus promised his disciples, “He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 10:39). While time may have obscured the influence and accomplishments of James while he lived on this earth, his faithfulness to His Lord secured for him a far greater and more lasting heritage. Because of his faith, he secured a mansion, (cf. John 14:1-3).
We too should live our lives for the eternal goal of a home with God in heaven. Living in such a way may not secure for us any lasting notoriety, but that is no great loss. What it will do is attract the attention of our Lord. May He say to us all, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (Matthew 25:23).
Sermon: Strive to Enter In!
Sermon by Marc Smith.
Marc ended our gospel meeting with his exhortation to the congregation to “strive to enter in” to the narrow gate that leads to life. He rightly pointed out that effort is required in staying faithful and pleasing the Lord.
