Fruit of the Spirit - Faithfulness

Galatians 5:22-23 (New International Version)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Psalm 31:23 (New International Version)
Love the LORD, all his saints!
The LORD preserves the faithful,
but the proud he pays back in full.

Psalm 117:2 (New International Version)
For great is his love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.
Praise the LORD. [a]

Faithfulness by definition and translation infers trustworthiness, reliability or someone who can be counted on. It means keeping our commitments over the long haul and not giving up when things get tough. Faithfulness deals with our relationship with God and others. The relationship with God gives us the tools to help us remain faithful in the toughest times.

There are many times when we want to give up, when faithfulness becomes very, very hard. I know over the past few weeks, I have questioned whether this page or my efforts are worth it. Is anyone listening, does anyone care. Or like this morning when I spent an hour typing up today's message only for my computer to crash and I lost everything!! I also know over the years my "religion" has come in fits and starts. I will try to find a new church, go for a little while, become disillusioned and just stop going. There are many things that make faithfulness a challenge for us. Here are just some of them...

1. Faithfulness isn't always easy or fun. Is the thought of going to the beach, pool, hunting, fishing, etc sound more fun than spending your Sunday morning in church?

2. Faithfulness takes time, it takes an investment of time and energy on our part over the long haul. Faithfulness is more like a marathon than a sprint. How many of us have the endurance to see it through?

3. Faithfulness typically requires sacrifice. We usually have to give up something in order to remain faithful.

4. Faithfulness is not valued in our society. People leave jobs, teams, families to find "greener" grass on the other side regularly. Remaining faithful and loyal is no longer a noble concept in the world we live in.

5. Faithfulness waivers when times get hard. Bad things make us doubt and our faithfulness comes into question.

Well, given all the challenges we face in our efforts to remain faithful to God and those around us, the good news is, God wants us to succeed. He makes faithfulness attainable to us through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is with the Holy Spirit inside of us, we can remain faithful in this world.

Romans 7:18-19
I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[a] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.

1 Timothy 6:12
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

1 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 out so that you can stand up under it.

There are things we can do to help build up our faithfulness.

1. We can hold on to the faithfulness of God. No matter how we have messed up or strayed God never gives up on us. He is always there to pick us up and help us on our journey.

2 Timothy 2:13 (New International Version)
if we are faithless,
he will remain faithful,
for he cannot disown himself.

1 John 1:9 (New International Version)
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

2 . We can keep focused on doing good even when we don't feel like it. We can train ourselves for the marathon and not the sprint. We can keep promises and our word. We can show up when we say we will. We can say what we mean and mean what we say. We can produce top quality work. We can faithfully encourage our spouse, family and friends.

Psalm 37:28 (New International Version)
For the LORD loves the just
and will not forsake his faithful ones.
They will be protected forever,
but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off;

3. We can fully embrace the power God has given us through the Holy Spirit. God wants us to remain faithful and has given us the tools we need to stay the course. We just need to hang on to them and call on him for help.

Psalm 97:10 (New International Version)
Let those who love the LORD hate evil,
for he guards the lives of his faithful ones
and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

2 Timothy 3:15 (New International Version)
and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

4. Start or continue to do even small acts of faithfulness. If you are having trouble in your marriage or family life start doing the small things you used to do. Do small things that will restore your faith in God. Let God's power help you get back on track.

Matthew 25:21
"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

5. Get someone else to help you stay faithful. We need the help and support of family and friends on our spiritual journey. God intended for us to be a family of believers, each helping the other along the way. Join a bible study, small group, get a pray partner or find a church.

Hebrews 3:12-14
See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:
If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

6. Remember that being faithful is worth it!!! God is always there telling us to never give up, to never quit. He never told us it would be easy but he said we would get great reward for staying the course and remaining faithful!!

Revelation 2:10 (New International Version)
Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.

So, when you think you can't go on another day, and your faith starts to falter, remember always that God has never given up on you. He loves you and wants you to succeed. He has offered us the greatest of help in the power of the Holy Spirit. All we need to do is grab on and stay the course and our reward will be awesome!!

Prayer:
Father, I thank You that You don't quit on us that You have not quit on me and that You haven't quit on anyone else reading out there. I thank You that You won't EVER quit on us. For great is Your faithfulness. You are big enough to take us through anything, You can take us to the goal line we we never thought we could finish the race. I put into Your hands all of us and that You will strength and challenge and whatever they need to be faithful to You, those around them and theirselves. In Jesus name we pray, Amen