The following is taken from the sermon 14-7-2024, on our response to God’s faithfulness.

July 15 – As Grudem says, p.195, ‘God can be relied upon, and He will never prove unfaithful to those who trust what He has said.’

Father, we can always trust what Your word says. Without faith on our side, it is impossible to be faithful to You.

The religious cannot be faithful – only those who receive the gift of grace leading to faith in Christ. The Lord Jesus is faithful. Jesus is faithful to strengthen us. He is faithful to protect us.

1. Faithful to Christ. You call us to be faithful to the Lord Jesus. 2 Chronicles 16:9, CSB,

‘For the eyes of the Lord roam throughout the earth to show himself strong for those who are wholeheartedly devoted to him.’

We pray that many in Telford Elim will be faithful to Jesus, and thus You able to show Yourself strong on their behalf. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

July 16 – 2 Chronicles 16:9, CSB, ‘For the eyes of the Lord roam throughout the earth to show himself strong for those who are wholeheartedly devoted to him.’

King Asa of Judah had been faithful to God most of his life. Earlier in his reign, he trusted God even in the face of a huge invasion and saw Him move mightily on his behalf.

However, there came a point where he turned from his wholehearted commitment to God. Pride filled his heart and he thought it was because of his own wisdom and skill as a leader that good things had marked his reign.

The next time Judah was threatened, this time by the evil King Basha of Israel, instead of turning to God, Asa turned to the King of Aram [Syria]. This produced a temporary reprieve, but made Judah beholden to the evil Kings of Aram.

Asa was rebuked by the prophet Hanani on the Lord’s behalf. Instead of humbling himself and listening to the Lord’s word, Asa hardened his heart against God’s word, imprisoned the prophet and became enraged against him because he dared to point out his fault in this matter.

Father, help us to remain faithful to Christ throughout our whole lives, not just when we feel that good things are happening for us. If we need to be disciplined by You, may we submit, humble ourselves, and accept the loving rebuke that leads to life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

July 17 – In the midst of Hanani’s rebuke of Asa, is this wonderful Scriptural point:

‘For the eyes of the Lord roam throughout the earth to show himself strong for those who are wholeheartedly devoted to Him.’

God will show Himself mighty to ‘those who are wholeheartedly devoted to Him.’

The CEVUK renders it this way,

‘9The LORD is constantly watching everyone, and he gives strength to those who faithfully obey him.’

Father, being faithful to Jesus, obeying Him as Lord, is central to a life of faithfulness before You. Holy Spirit, help us to be faithful. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

July 18 – 2. Faithful to God’s word.

Father, You give strength to those who faithfully obey Christ. Last week I spoke about Your incommunicable attributes; one of them is omniscience, You are all knowing. You see and know everything.

Here we have the picture of You diligently searching for faithful people, people who are whole-heartedly devoted to Christ. In 2 Thessalonians 3:3, the Lord Jesus is faithful to strengthen and protect us.

In 2 Thessalonians 3, it is because the people are faithful to Your word, that this promise is given to them. Verses 4-5, ‘4We have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command. 5May the Lord direct your hearts to God’s love and Christ’s endurance.’

‘4We have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command.’ Paul’s commands became the written Scriptures which we all have today.

Being faithful to read and obey Your word not only enlivens the promise of Jesus’ faithfulness to strengthen and protect us, it also is the doorway to a deeper experience of Your love and Christ’s endurance.

‘5May the Lord direct your hearts to God’s love and Christ’s endurance.’ In Jesus’ name. Amen.

July 19 – Father, in order to be faithful, we need to be immersed in Your love. It is ‘direct your hearts to God’s love.’ It is about the heart. Many acknowledge You in their thoughts, but that is as far as it goes.

True biblical renewal of the mind in Your word always leads to heart devotion. When the heart is touched without the renewal of the mind it leads to empty emotionalism – the immature spirituality that Paul challenges the Corinthian church about.

When the heart is devoted and mind renewed in reading and doing/obeying Your word, spiritual life grows. The gifts of the Spirit, biblical wisdom, and heart love and devotion all come together in a faithful believer.

A person can have amazing perception and insight, wonderful gifts of power and language, but without faithfully reading and doing/obeying Your word, and encountering and being changed by Your love in the heart, Paul tells us that it is empty actions (1 Corinthians 13).

Proverbs 28:20, CSB, ‘A faithful person will have many blessings.’

If a person wants to have many blessings in life, then be a faithful person to Christ. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

July 20 – Father, walking through life according to Your word, Your Spirit’s guidance, the counsel of the godly saints, in the fellowship of Your body – these all release Your blessing in our lives.

3. Faithful in Service. As we consider our response to Your faithfulness, it is about being faithful in our service of Christ.

In our church we often talk about we want worshippers who serve, not servers who do a bit of worship. We already have looked at being faithful in heart to Christ, and being faithful to His word.

Being a faithful servant of Christ is part of what You are searching the earth to prove Yourself mighty on the behalf of.

It is in being found a faithful servant that ultimately determines our temporal and eternal rewards. It is really that important. A servant gives him or herself wholeheartedly to the person and cause of Christ.

Holy Spirit, being faithful in our service of the Lord Jesus Christ is crucial to maturing in faith – anoint us to be so. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

July 21 – Matthew 25:21, CSB, The Parable of the Talents,

‘“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.”’

As Morris writes, ‘good and faithful’ both commends the servant’s character and diligence (Matthew, 629).

The servant’s faithfulness in stewarding the five talents of silver led to a hundredfold increase of return for the Lord. Now he hands back to the Lord 10 talents.

He was faithful to give back to God that which God asked of him.

The servant’s good character meant that he made sure the original sum entrusted to him was wisely managed. His diligence led to its increase. He applied himself wholeheartedly to the service entrusted to him.

His service led to new doors of opportunity opening up to him, ‘I will put you in charge of many things.’ His character, diligence, abilities, gifts and wise stewarding would now be exercised on a greater scale than before.

‘Share your master’s joy,’ his master approves of him, and wishes him to have a place close by so he can share fully in his master’s joy.

 Proverbs 28:20, CSB, ‘A faithful person will have many blessings.’ Including the blessing of a close walk with the Lord Jesus.

Lord, anoint and help us to be faithful in our service. We would to please You and thus share in Your joy. In Jesus’ name. Amen.