Believe Be - Faithfulness

Fremont Community Church

“KEY QUESTION

Why is it important to be loyal and committed to God and others?

KEY IDEA

I have established a good name with God and others based on my loyalty to those relationships.

KEY VERSE

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

Proverbs 3:3 – 4”

Psalm 36

Lamentations 3:19-24

Deu 7:9 "Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;

God IS Faithful

• He never changes
  • Heb 13:8 - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
• He will ALWAYS act like HIMSELF
  • 2 Tim 2:13 - if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.
• His promises are always trustworthy
  • 2 Cor 1:20 - For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
• His character - the way He reacts to the world - can be COUNTED UPON

God is calling and empowering US to be Faithful - and to be like God we must CHOOSE FAITHFULNESS

• The culture we live in is a culture that shuns commitment -
  • we do not want to be obligated
  • we refuse to feel obligated
  • We would always rather give our time and money to an event or a project than to make ourselves be connected to a long term objective or plan.
• Faithfulness is the FOUNDATION of the Kingdom
  • 2 Tim 2:2 - FAITHFUL MEN
  • What would we do??
• We are called to mirror the love and faithfulness of Jesus in our relationships with others - especially within the body of Christ
  • We are called to Make commitments to each other
    • long term self-sacrificial connections - to BE FAMILY to one another -
      • BECAUSE WE ARE!!!!! THIS ISN’T a CHOICE we made - if we are in Jesus we are connected to each other!
        • Romans 12:5 5so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
    • Connections that survive because of Grace
      • disagreements
      • hurts
      • betrayals
      • mistakes
      • we forgive - because we have been forgiven
    • Connections that are not based on circumstance or convenience
      • They may change from season to season but they never go away
      • Our relationships with one another may get difficult but we don’t get to give up
  • We are called to be faithful in giving our time, talents, and treasure into the Kingdom
    • We are called to be mindful of the resources we have and to USE THEM CONSISTENTLY for the Glory of Jesus
      • 1Pe 4:10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:
    • We are called to SHOW UP when there is a need.
  • We are called to think of each other before we think of ourselves
    • BEFORE YOU THINK about your rights THINK ABOUT SOMEONE ELSES NEEDS! -
      • Gal 5:13 - For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
• As followers of Jesus Christ - WE ARE OBLIGATED to Faithfulness - to CONTINUE and never stop
  • Obligated to love - even when it is hard
    • Romans 13:8 - We OWE each other Love.
  • Obligated to the LOST
    • Romans 1:14 - I am under obligation to all men
  • Obligated to serve - even when it is costly
    • We are in this - not for ourselves but to be FAITHFUL in serving one another - thinking of the other before we think of ourselves
  • Obligated to SHOW UP

4For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not havethe same function,

• We are not complete without one another
• We are together a whole that suffers without the other

5so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

6Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, [each of us is to exercise them accordingly]: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7if service, in his serving; orhe who teaches, in his teaching;

8or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality;he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

9[Let] love [be] without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.

10[Be] devoted to oneanother in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;

11not lagging behind in diligence,fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

12rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,13contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind,but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. 18If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. 19Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath [of God], for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord. 20"BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD." 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.