FAITHFULNESS – THE ROAD THAT ENDS IN VICTORY – Part 6 of 6

The Road That Ends in Victory

“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the wine-press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. (Revelation 19:11-16)

There is no doubt that faithfulness leads to victory. This is the victory. The ultimate victory. Revelation 2:10 says “Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life”

Here-in the Victory is complete.

• •      The dwelling of God will be with humankind v.3

• •      God will wipe away all tears v.4

• •      There will be no more death v.4

• •      Everything will be made new v.5

• •      Anyone thirsty may drink from the spring of the water of life. v.6

• •      We will be in the presence of the celestial wedding party v.9

• •      We will live in a jewel-encrusted new city vs. 15-16

• •      Nothing impure will enter the city v.27

• •      All our neighbors will be those whose names are written int Lamb’s book of life v. 27

In all, the Second Coming is a celebration of the faithful. The faithful will sing: “Hallelujah; For our Lord God Almighty Reigns.”

The Road That Ends in Victory as it relates to The Purpose of God in My Life

“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37-39)

This passage tells us that there are ten things that cannot separate us from the love of God.

1. 1.      1. Death – Jesus conquered death so we can too

1. 1.      2. Life – It’s tough but we have Jesus as a guide and He is faithful to guide us

1. 1.      3. Angels – our companions in the heavens

1. 1.      4. Demons – we have the Armor of God and the authority of Jesus

1. 1.      5. Present – We occupy but will not always be here

1. 1.      6. Future – Only glory

1. 1.      7. Power, – We have the Holy Spirit the only power we need. There is none greater

1. 1.      8. Height – Not to fear for He is with us

1. 1.      9. Depth – There is no place to hide or to be hidden where He cannot find us

1. 1.       10. Everything else in all creation – All was created by Him. He is faithful to fix it.

Today is a day in eternity for the believer. Jesus is faithful. We have only the prize to look forward to. When we have completed this race we ill claim the prize.

The Road That Ends in Victory as it relates to My Relationship with Christ

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” (Revelation 3:20-21)

First we must Overcome then we reign. First comes Faithfulness, then comes Triumph

We overcome through faithfulness.

Imagine this, when Jesus reentered heaven after his resurrection:

The Father spoke “Son, have you redeemed the world I sent you forth to save?”

“I have.” said the Son.

“Son” said the Father, “were you successful in redeeming the world?”

“Some were saved” replied the Son

“Some?” asked the Father.

“Some, Those that you gave Me, 12 or so (those that were faithful)”, said the Son.

“What, not more? Have you any evidence that your mission was a serious struggle to redeem?

At this the Son held out his hands. “These,” he said, “I gained in loving earth. I have not other evidence but these.”

The Father gazed upon his hands and wept.  The Father’s tears were molten gold and as they fell, they collected into a circlet of bright light. Then he took the crown fashioned from His tears and set it on the Savior’s head.

All heaven stood in silence before this simple truth: tears are the stuff of which all crowns are made.

 The Road That Ends in Victory as it relates to My Service to Others

“There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.” (Luke 16:19-25)

In reading this passage let’s try to understand how the Pharisees were thinking.

• • • They thought that the rich were rich because of their obedience to God.
    • They thought the sick were sick because they were sinners. But, this passage confused them.
    • Here a rich man went to hell because he refused to care about those less fortunate.
    • The rich mans’ cry was unsettling to the Pharisees: “send Lazarus”, “send Lazarus”, the poor man. Then he said: “at lest send him to my fathers house so he will listen and not come here” (my translation).
    • He wanted another sign. Jesus said no and “…neither will will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.”

Now why did Lazarus go to heaven?

• • He was a beggar at the rich man’s gate

• • When the world was generous he ate

• • When the world was stingy he was hungry.

• • But, He was faithful

An Interesting Story

There is a story told of a missionary and his wife returning from Africa on the same ship that Teddy Roosevelt was on who was returning from an African Hunting Safari. Teddy got the great greeting and applause. The missionaries didn’t. Why? They weren’t home yet!

Faithfulness is always the road that always ends in victory.

The Road That Ends in Victory as it relates to My Personal Worship

“…not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25)

Why “The Assembly”?

• • 1. If there is one place that constantly reminds us that heaven exists – it’s the Church

• • 2. God’s house is a constant reminder to the nation that it ought to be more like God’s house.

• • 3. God’s house is a place of worship, and worship is a hassle-stopper. Those who constantly run without stopping for God eventually become all legs and no heart.

• • 3. Church is a routine of re-energizing. Most of our routines make for weariness, but church makes for vitality.

• • 4. Church teaches our children the life of faith and faithfulness. It trains our children to become tomorrow’s moral giants.

• • 5. There we live in a community of need – our brothers and sisters, like ourselves, have many needs. We can lift them up as they lift us.

• • 6. The church is a place of praise, and praise keeps us from losing hope in a world overrun with despair.

• • 7. The Bible is read in church. Just to hear these ancient words of God gives us the power to triumph over momentary problems.

• • 8. The Gospel is preached there, and where the gospel is preached people come to Christ.

• • 9. Jesus is exalted there, and anywhere that Christ is exalted is a place where our spirits soar.

We are the Church. Not the building where the Church Assembles. The Assembly is the assembling of believers together. Hebrews is a call not just to worship, but to worship in a specific place where we (the Church) assemble together; where alters are central and God is expected to show up.

Verses for Further Reflection

• • John 8:31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.”

• • John 8:51 “I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.”

• • John 15:10 “If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in His love.”

• • 1 Corinthians 9 “God, who has called you into fellowship with his son Jesus Chris our Lord, is faithful.”

• • Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful, he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way our so that you can stand p under it,”

• • Thessalonians 5:24 “The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.”

• • 2 Thessalonians 3:3 “But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.”

• • Hebrews 3:6 “But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are His house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.”

• • Acts 26:1-6, 12-20 “Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself: “I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answer for myself before you concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently. “My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know. They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers.” “While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me.  And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ Paul’s Post-Conversion Life “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.

Conclusion

What else can be said about faithfulness?

• • It is Consistency in Christ

• • It is True, to the Word of God

• • It is Believing to the end regardless of circumstances

• • It is Suffering, for the prize that lays before us.

• • It is Never, never, never, giving up.

Enough said:

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)