HCBC 8-5-07 AM
The Lord’s Table Celebrates God’s Faithfulness!
What comes into our minds when we think about god is the most important thing about us!
A. W. Tozer
Everything that God has promised will come to pass.
His faithfulness guarantees this fact.
He does not lie. What He has said about Himself in the Bible will come true.
The faithfulness of God refers to His utter dependability!
Faithfulness Trustworthiness Integrity
devotion honesty virtue
loyalty sincerity honor
allegiance goodness morality
trustworthiness integrity uprightness
God’s faithfulness refers to His: Firmness, stability, truth, reliability
The Bible on Faithfulness:
In Deut 7:1-10 As God gives instruction to His people as they enter the promised land,
He says to them in verse 9:
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God,
keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him
and keep his commands.
Deut 32:1-4 Listen, O heavens, and I will speak; hear, O earth, the words of my
mouth. Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like
showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants. I will proclaim the
name of the LORD. Oh, praise the greatness of our God! He is the Rock, his
works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong,
upright and just is he.
Ps 33:1-5 Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to
praise him. Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-
stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.
For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.
The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.
Ps 36:5 Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.
Ps 86:15 But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger,
abounding in love and faithfulness.
Ps 100:5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Ps 117:2 For great is his love toward us, and
the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD.
Ps 119:90 Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the
earth, and it endures.
Isa 25:1 O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for
in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long
ago.
Lam 3:22-23 Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his
compassions never fail. They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT:
1. In His Creation & Providence:
God has made the world and all that is in it.
He orders it and keeps everything going, and has for a long time.
ALL is under God’s control and He can be relied upon.
This produces in the believing observer a response of praise in God’s
might and majesty. (Psalm 104)
2. In His Redemption:
The whole sweep of God’s redemption in the Old Testament, from the call of
Abraham to the deliverance of His people into the Promised Land,
was evidence of God’s faithfulness.
3. In His promises and their fulfillment.
In the O. T. God is not presented simply as doing things in history.
He is seen as making statements and promises and covenants.
And He is seen as fulfilling those statements and promises and covenants.
From the CALL OF ABRAHAM in Gen 3 and onward the unlikely promises of God to Abraham of a land and descendants were slowly but surely, against all odds, being fulfilled.
The greatness of Abraham was found in the fact that he believed the faithful God.
Faith in the God of the impossible brought Abraham into a new relationship with Him.
God’s promises were made not only to Abraham but to many others including David and the prophets.
Perhaps the strongest demonstration of the faithfulness of God is seen in His
covenant relationship with His people.
A covenant is so much more than a contract between two parties where all of the
details have been worked out for the greatest possible advantage for both
parties.
When God makes a covenant, He says “This is what I promise to do and this is
what I expect you to do.”
He says: “I will be your GOD and you will be my people.”
4. In His personal relationship to His people.
God demonstrated His faithfulness in a personal relationship with:
Noah - Abraham - Moses - David - Elijah - and all the prophets
God was always faithful to His character and to His Word.
THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD IN THE NEW TESTAMENT:
As the Gospels proclaim the arrival of the Messiah/Savior, they proclaim God’s
faithfulness in keeping His promises.
Faithfulness is demonstrated in fulfillment of promises in the past!!!!
God is true to His character! He will not fail to act according to who He is.
God is true to His Word!
He will not fail to do what He promises. (1 John 1:9 forgiveness)
The fulfillment of the O. T. prophecies in the N. T. demonstrate the
faithfulness of God.
The Providence of God in guiding the birth and growth of the Church is a
demonstration of the faithfulness of God.
The faithfulness of God is the solid foundation upon which all of Paul’s
writings stand.
In Rom 3:1-4, Paul asks powerful question that underscores the faithfulness of God.
What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in
circumcision? Much in every way! First of all, they have been entrusted
with the very words of God. What if some did not have faith? Will their
lack of faith nullify God's faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true,
and every man a liar.
Faithfulness is demonstrated in promises of the future!!!!
1 Th 5:23-24 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.
May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.
2 Tim 2:11-13 Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live
with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will
also disown us; if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot
disown himself.
Heb 10:23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is
faithful.
GOD IS A FAITHFUL GOD -- He will act according to His Character!
He will act according to His Word!
God’s faithfulness is seen is preserving His people!
God’s faithfulness is seen is disciplining His people!
God’s faithfulness is seen is glorifying His people!
God’s faithfulness is specifically expressed in:
Temporal blessings
Spiritual blessings
Support in trials & tribulations
Support in persecution
Sanctifying discipline
Direction in difficulties
Enabling in perseverance
Fulfilling all His promises!
Awareness of God’s faithfulness:
Keeps us from worry
Keeps us from grumbling – murmuring – complaining
Keeps us confident in God
How has God been faithful to Hollis Center Baptist Church?
Last month we celebrated God’s faithfulness to this church for the past 90 years!
Ps 100:5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
We posted in the bulletin, a list of all of the pastors of HCBC over the past 90 yrs.
This is a record of God’s faithfulness!
In our church library there is a written record in 7 volumes of the people and the
activities of this church. The lives of these people and what God did
through them is a record of God’s faithfulness.
We showed a collection of photographs that in a slide show, now posted on our web
site as a record of God’s faithfulness.
The record of all those believers who have gone on to their reward before us is a
record of God’s faithfulness.
The fact that you and I are saved and changed is a record of God’s faithfulness!
The long list of ministries here in this church that many of you participate in to lead
others to Jesus Christ and teach them to live for Him is a record of God’s faithfulness.
The finances of this church and the management of them is a record of God’s
faithfulness.
The fact that we have held fast to the teaching of God’s Word regarding how to live as
Christians is a record of God’s faithfulness!
The fact the new people continue to hear the gospel and receive Jesus Christ as Savior
and Lord is a record of God’s faithfulness!
What we do here this morning in celebrating The Lord’s Table is a testimony to God’s
Faithfulness!