Faithfulness – The Habit of Spiritual Dependency
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Faithfulness really means that God can count on us. Can He count on us:
- To be positive – according to scripture
- To obey – not grudging acquiescence
- To follow – being totally dependent always needing Him
Faithfulness follows total dependency.
Faithfulness – The Habit of Spiritual Dependency as it relates to The Purpose of God in My Life
“Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, And the strength of salvation; The fear of the Lord is His treasure.” (Isaiah 33:6)
All fear is outlawed except the “fear of the Lord”
We tremble in His presence because we stand face-to-face with utter holiness
Our jaw drops in awe at His power and majesty
We owe Him our lives and we shake at the thought that we drop the task He puts before us.
It is in this kind of fear where we find that our faithfulness is truly the habit of spiritual dependency
Faithfulness – The Habit of Spiritual Dependency as it relates to My Relationship with Christ
“Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.” (Hebrews 13:5-9)
Note the martyrs of Hebrews never abandoned Him. I can’t live without Him but it amazes me that people try. People like: Jim Hawkins and Albert Einstein.
There is a purpose in life that can only be known through our dependence upon Him. First we must believe then we must do.
Faithfulness The Habit of Spiritual Dependency as it relates to My Service to Others
“Then Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, everyone at the door of his tent; and the anger of the Lord was greatly aroused; Moses also was displeased. So Moses said to the Lord, “Why have You afflicted Your servant? And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have laid the burden of all these people on me? Did I conceive all these people? Did I beget them, that You should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a guardian carries a nursing child,’ to the land which You swore to their fathers? Where am I to get meat to give to all these people? For they weep all over me, saying, ‘Give us meat, that we may eat.’ I am not able to bear all these people alone, because the burden is too heavy for me. If You treat me like this, please kill me here and now—if I have found favor in Your sight—and do not let me see my wretchedness!” (Numbers 11:10-15)
Moses said: “I cannot carry all these people by myself, the burden is too heavy for me”
This has been the lament of most Pastors through the years. People are slow to recognize the good times. They are quick to complain about the hard times. This grumbling of the believers is a “soul beater” for Pastors. The faithfulness and perseverance of Pastors must be great. They must recognize that they are not carrying the burden. We must focus on our responsibilities and TRUST HIM
Faithfulness – The Habit of Spiritual Dependency as it relates to My Personal Worship
“Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10)
The scripture from Luke 9:23 which says; “Take up your cross and follow me” really says is: “Come with me and die.”
Jim Elliot (a martyr) said: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot loose.”
A song of martyrs: (Words by Isaac Watts)
“Must I be carried through the skies
On flowery beds of ease
While others fought to win the prize
And sailed through bloody seas.
_ Am I a Soldier of the Cross?”
Faithfulness – The Habit of Spiritual Dependency as it relates to When the Whole World
Read A Character Study about Jeremiah, a very Unpopular Prophet (Note the two kinds of Prophets, Feel Good & Truth)
Now Pashhur the son of Immer, the priest who was also chief governor in the house of the Lord, heard that Jeremiah prophesied these things. Then Pashhur struck Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the high gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the Lord. And it happened on the next day that Pashhur brought Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then Jeremiah said to him, “The Lord has not called your name Pashhur (Glad-Free), but Magor-Missabib (Terror on Every Side). For thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will make you a terror to yourself and to all your friends; and they shall fall by the sword of their enemies, and your eyes shall see it. I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall carry them captive to Babylon and slay them with the sword. Moreover I will deliver all the wealth of this city, all its produce, and all its precious things; all the treasures of the kings of Judah I will give into the hand of their enemies, who will plunder them, seize them, and carry them to Babylon. And you, Pashhur, and all who dwell in your house, shall go into captivity. You shall go to Babylon, and there you shall die, and be buried there, you and all your friends, to whom you have prophesied lies.’” O Lord, You induced me, and I was persuaded; You are stronger than I, and have prevailed. I am in derision daily; Everyone mocks me. For when I spoke, I cried out; I shouted, “Violence and plunder!” Because the word of the Lord was made to me A reproach and a derision daily. Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in HAis name.” But His word was in my heart like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not. For I heard many mocking: “Fear on every side!” “Report,” they say, “and we will report it!” All my acquaintances watched for my stumbling, saying, “Perhaps he can be induced; Then we will prevail against him, And we will take our revenge on him.” But the Lord is with me as a mighty, awesome One. Therefore my persecutors will stumble, and will not prevail. They will be greatly ashamed, for they will not prosper. Their everlasting confusion will never be forgotten. But, O Lord of hosts, You who test the righteous, And see the [mind and heart, Let me see Your vengeance on them; For I have pleaded my cause before You. (Jeremiah 20:1-12)
Do you feel tested? Are you righteous? Jeremiah did not preach an easy sermon. It did not make him popular. But, he did not quit. He was faithful to the end and openly praised God. He never traded truth for acceptance.
Enough Said for Part 3. Now go on to Part 4, FAITHFULNESS – COMMITMENT TO WHAT IS RIGHT
Thy Words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, O LORD God of hosts. (Jeremiah 15:16)
