Stand Firm in Your Freedom

The Fruit of the Spirit of FAITHFULNESS

Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV) – [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…

Galatians 5:22-23 (AMP) – [22] But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness…

Galatians 5:22-23 (MSG) – [22] But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments…

1. The Meaning of Faithfulness

a. Faithfulness (pistis) means fidelity, trustworthiness, reliability, dependability, loyalty, and stability.

1) It is that character quality whereby one is punctual in performing one’s promises, conscientious in fulfilling one’s commitments, and careful in preserving what is entrusted to one’s care.

2) It denotes the firmness, constancy, and unchangeableness of God in His relations with men, especially with His people.

b. Faithfulness comes from the word for faith, which means a belief or conviction of the truth or in the reliability of someone.

1) We have faith in God because He is the truth, and He is trustworthy and reliable.

2) In other words, we have faith in God because God is faithful, or full of faith.

2. The Source of Faithfulness

a. Faithfulness is an attribute of God. (Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 33:4; 86:15; 1 Corinthians 1:9)

Deuteronomy 32:4 (NIV) – [4] 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.

Psalms 33:4 (NIV) – [4] For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.

Psalms 86:15 (NIV) – [15] But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

1 Corinthians 1:9 (NIV) – [9] God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

b. God is faithful to keep His promises. (Deuteronomy 7:9; Hebrews 10:23)

Deuteronomy 7:9 (NIV) – [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.

Hebrews 10:23 (NIV) – [23] Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

c. His faithfulness never ends. (Psalm 100:5; 117:2)

Psalms 100:5 (NIV) – [5] For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalms 117:2 (NIV) – [2] For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD.

d. He is faithful to forgive confessed sin. (1 John 1:9)

1 John 1:9 (NIV) – [9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

e. God is faithful even in our temptations. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV) – [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.

f. The Lord is faithful to strengthen and protect us. (Psalm 91:4; 2 Thessalonians 3:3)

Psalms 91:4 (NIV) – [4] He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

2 Thessalonians 3:3 (NIV) – [3] But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

g. Even if we are faithless, God remains faithful because He cannot deny His own nature. (2 Timothy 2:13)

2 Timothy 2:13 (NIV) – [13] …if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

2 Timothy 2:13 (AMP) – [13] If we are faithless [do not believe and are untrue to Him], He remains true (faithful to His Word and His righteous character), for He cannot deny Himself.

2 Timothy 2:13 (NLT) – [13] If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.

h. However, to the faithful, God shows Himself faithful. (2 Samuel 22:26; Psalm 25:10)

2 Samuel 22:26 (NIV) – [26] “To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless…

Psalms 25:10 (NIV) – [10] All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant.

3. The Practice of Faithfulness

a. We are to be faithful in serving the Lord only. (Joshua 24:14-15)

Joshua 24:14-15 (NIV) – [14] “Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. [15] But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

b. Heaven is for those servants who exhibit goodness and faithfulness. (Matthew 25:21)

Matthew 25:21 (NIV) – [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!’”

c. The Lord rewards faithfulness. (1 Samuel 26:23; Proverbs 28:20)

1 Samuel 26:23 (NIV) – [23] The LORD rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness. The LORD delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the LORD's anointed.

Proverbs 28:20 (NIV) – [20] A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.

d. He protects those who are faithful. (Psalm 97:10; Proverbs 2:8)

Psalms 97:10 (NIV) – [10] 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.

Proverbs 2:8 (NLT) – [8] He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him.

e. We are to be faithful in prayer. (Romans 12:12)

Romans 12:12 (NIV) – [12] Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

f. We must prove ourselves faithful. (1 Corinthians 4:2)

1 Corinthians 4:2 (NIV) – [2] Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

g. We are to be faithful even to the point of death. (Revelation 2:10; 13:9-10)

Revelation 2:10 (NIV) – [10] 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.

Revelation 13:9-10 (NIV) – [9] He who has an ear, let him hear. [10] If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.