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Bible studies |
| Dear God, Teach us to be faithful in keeping the faith. Teach us what it means to have faith as a fruit of the Spirit. Build up our faith and grow this fruit of the Spirit in us. Help us if there is any unbelief in us. In Jesus’s name, Amen 🍎🍏🍎🍏🍎🍏🍎🍏🍎🍏🍎🍏🍎🍏🍎🍏🍎🍏🍎🍏🍎 Galatians 5:22-23 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 🍏🍎🍏🍎🍏🍎🍏🍎🍏🍎🍏🍎🍏🍎🍏🍎🍏🍎🍏🍎🍏 Song: Great is thy faithfulness https://youtu.be/ErwiBz1QA4o What is Faithfulness? Poem https://www.billkochman.com/Poetry/what-is-faithfulness.html Faith and Faithfulness In some translations, this fruit is referred to as faithfulness. Faithfulness is trustworthiness. It is being dependable. God is faithful. We have faith in God's faithfulness. God does not lie. Every word that proceeds from his mouth is faithful and purposeful and will accomplish what he has sent it to do. The Bible is full of his promises, and it is the living Word of God also powered by his Holy Spirit. Isaiah 55:10-11 ▼ We have studied the definition of faith. What is the definition of faithful (faithfulness)? https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/faithful Faithfulness is steadfastness. Steadfastness is the quality of being resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering. Faithfulness in a Christian is one who steadfastly holds to the truth about God and acts upon it. Here is a reading plan for the subject of steadfastness. https://intentionalbygrace.com/free-steadfastness-bible-reading-plan/ Faithfulness is adhering firmly, being devoted to a person, cause, or idea. Faithfulness is being proactive and not reactive. It is keeping loyal to a commitment regardless of the circumstances. It is not changing your loyalty to a commitment due to the circumstances. Faithfulness is being full of faith, strong in one’s belief, loyal, constant in the performance of duties or services, true to one’s work, reliable, and dependable. Faith as a fruit of the Spirit is the faith that is grown and established as it is exercised and you draw closer to God through prayer and reading his word. We studied previously how faith can be a shield when used as part of the armor of God. When I had talked about faith as a piece of armor, I had mentioned how Roman soldiers practiced with fake shields and swords first. Well, faith as the fruit of the Spirit is like the being skilled enough to use the real thing. The fruit of the Spirit is developed and grown. The armor is available immediately to begin training with and using. Hebrews 11:1 ▼ It is using your faith as the shield that builds our spiritual muscles. It exercises and strengthens our faith and increases our level of skill in battle and life in general. We learn how to use our faith and become transformed by the renewing of our minds. Romans 12:1-3 ▼ Faith is trustworthy reliance on God and being faithful toward him in Christ. The just shall live by faith, trusting in the goodness, mercy, grace, and character of our God. We must accept God for who he is. God as himself should be enough regardless what he chooses to do. Genuine faith is walking with God steadfastly for the pleasure of being in his company and not for self-gain. We should admire God's works, but God desires us to seek him and have a heart-to-heart personal relationship with him. God's Character and Faithfulness. God's attributes and character: http://www.theattributesofgod.org/list-of-attributes.html https://christianstt.com/abc-attributes-god-god/ Faithfulness is one of God's core characteristics. God always acts out of love because he is love. He always has our best interests and the best overall outcome in his heart. Everything is always worked out for good for those who love him. What he does and allows in our life will always lead us toward our purpose and calling. We can always 100% trust in who God is even when we don't understand his ways or what he is doing in our life. His ways and thoughts are higher than our own ways and thoughts. 1 Corinthians 1:9 ▼ The New International Version Bible calls him a God of Faithfulness in Deuteronomy 32:3-4. The King James Version is worded a bit different, but the meaning is pretty much the same. Deuteronomy 32:3-4 (NIV) ▼ Deuteronomy 32:3-4 (KJV) ▼ God is full of faithfulness and love. Great are his mercies and great is is faithfulness. His faithfulness spreads to the clouds. He is completely righteous. His loving kindness is excellent! Lamentations 3:22-23 ▼ Psalms 36:5-7 ▼ He is faithful to all generations. God does not waste his words. Every word he says, he means. No idle or useless words come from his mouth. His word is established and true. His word is pure with no corruption. Psalms 105:5-8 ▼ Psalms 119:89-90 ▼ God remains faithful even when we are not. Even if we don't believe in him, it doesn't change the fact that he exists or that he keeps his word. He is always faithful still. 2 Timothy 2:11-13 ▼ God is our faithful creator. He created us for his glory and good purpose. We have a specific reason for being here in existence on Earth. 1 Peter 4:19 ▼ God always keeps his promises. We can have assurance of or faith and our Salvation. We can always count on God. He never tells a lie. His promises are a sure thing. Hebrews 10:22-23 ▼ Hebrews 11:11 ▼ Hebrews 6:13-14 ▼ God's promises: https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/dictionary-of-bible-themes/5467-promises-... https://outuponthewaters.com/160-promises-of-god-from-scripture/ https://www.compassionuk.org/blogs/gods-promises/ God's Word is always faithful. It is good for exhortation, reproof, sound doctrine, wisdom, faith, correction, and righteous instructions. Titus 1:9 ▼ 2 Timothy 3:14-17 ▼ God is faithful to make a way for us to escape sin when we are being tempted. 1 Corinthians 10:13 ▼ If we do ignorantly commit sin, God is faithful and just to forgive us of that sin if we confess it to him and ask for forgiveness. We are cleanser from sin by the blood of Jesus Christ. 1 John 15-10 ▼ Romans 5:6-9 ▼ God never quits or gives up on those that love him. He also doesn't work behind people’s backs. He is not deceitful. He works in front of your face. Even those that hate him will see his works in front of them. We will all know he is God. Every knee will now before Jesus and every mouth will confess he is Lord one day. We will all be face to face with him someday. We had better be ready. We will either face him with love and receive love in return or we will face him with indignation and hate and receive his wrath in return. It is our choice. Deuteronomy 7:9-10 ▼ Romans 14:11-12 ▼ Hebrews 4 (warning) 1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. 5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. 6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: 7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. 8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Faith and faithfulness go together Being faithful to God requires: 1 Commitment and perseverance 2 Denying yourself and taking up your cross daily 3 Keep on keeping on! Don't quit! 4 Having God's priorities 5 Obeying God's commands 6 Always doing the right thing 7 Being a good steward 8 Spending time with him regularly Faith is grown by: 1Time spent in God's Word 2 A personal relationship with God 3 Time with other Believers 4 Time spent in worship 5 Thinking about all the things God does 6 Always praying 7 Recieving and following God's instructions 8 Trusting in God's Word and promises 9 Being grateful 10 Being persistent and not giving up As we can see from the two lists above, faith and faithfulness have a lot in common. We can see how they can be developed together through the work of the Holy Spirit. Ephesian 2:8-10 ▼ Belief and obedience go hand in hand. Faith is illustrated by what we do. We can show our faith by being faithful as a result of the Holy Spirit working in our lives. James 2:14-17 ▼ The Greek word used in Galatians 5 for faith/faithfulness is pistis. It refers to a man who is reliable. In the old King James Version, the word was translated as faith, but in the New King James Version, it was translated as faithfulness. I found this interesting. Even in translation, faith and works go together. 1 John 2:1-5 ▼ 1 John 5:2-6 ▼ Acting Faithfully Full of Faith If you want to be considered righteous, simply believe what God says and act accordingly. Romans 4:3-5 ▼ Faithfulness requires perseverance. Perseverance is persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. Suffering and pain are a part of life. There will always be difficulties, delays, obstacles, and disappointments. In order to be faithful, we must persevere through everything life throws at us. A faithful believer shows strength when facing trials. They will be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. The unstable believer and immature Christian will display doubt when facing trials. They are compared to a wave in the ocean. Their trials are like a wind that tosses them around. They may be easily deceived.They are double-minded and unstable in all their ways because they have doubt in their heart. James 1:2-8 ▼ A faithful, steadfast, persevering Christian will avoid sin, be delighted in God's laws, and meditate on God's Word. As a result, he will have stability and prosperity. Psalms 1:1-3 ▼ The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth. He gives us faith when we hear God's Word. We don't come to saving faith based on our own understanding. Also it is the Holy Spirit that works to develop our faith and turn it into faithfulness. John 16:13 ▼ Romans 10:17 ▼ Find us faithful song https://youtu.be/eERKnxzNzwg God expects us to be faithful to him and consistently follow his will. He wants us to serve him from the heart. We should do everything we do for Christ with pleasure and willingly. Although reluctant obedience is still obedience. Willing obedience is more pleasant for us and for God. Ephesians 6:6-8 ▼ If you want to show God you love him in return for all he has done for you, obey him and faithfully follow his will. If you think of our faith in God like a relationship, and it is, then you can think of his laws and commandments like personal boundaries. God has set personal boundaries for us and him in our relationship. Looking at it this way, you can see his love in all his “Thou shalt nots”. John 14:15 ▼ ❤️Psalms 40:8❤️ I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. Resources ▼ Jesus is my permanent anchor!   |
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