Theme: Perseverance (Faithfulness) Mar.

13,2016

Text: Lamentations 3:21-26

Devotion: 1 Cor.1:8-9 (Lam.3:22-24)

Title: Sustained by God’s faithfulness

Introduction:
Good morning to every one of you. Before we begin, let us have a word of prayer…
As we have heard from the previous messages, the Christian life is equal parts
perseverance and endurance. It is not an easy life for we know there will be trouble, hardships,
heartaches, and worse, all kinds of persecution. The bible does not hide these things, in fact, it
instructs all believers to be prepared for all these things. Many of these troubles are ongoing
now, but still there are many more awaiting us in the coming days. While we have certain
responsibilities and actions that we must put into practice in order to be victorious, our
message for today serves as the reminder that we are never alone in the midst of it all. We
persevere and endure not by our own power or by our own will, but by the means of God
working and moving in our lives. Today, let us be reminded about the faithfulness of God: what
it means, and what it brings in our lives. We cannot persevere on our own; that is why the title
of our message for today is Sustained by God’s Faithfulness.

Exegetical Idea: One of the most important attributes of God that we can know is His
faithfulness. God is faithful, He is truth. He does not lie, He does not change His mind. What He
says, He will do, what He has promised will always come to pass.

Proposition: Brothers and sisters in the Lord, let me propose to you that God is faithful in who
He is and in all that He does. Therefore we, as His children, can rely upon Him and trust in Him.
He who called us is faithful to the very end, through which we can endure.

Interrogative: What does the word of God say?

Whenever the topic of God’s faithfulness is brought up, a specific incident in the scriptures
always come to my mind. It is the Babylonian invasion and destruction of Jerusalem. The book
of lamentations was written with this specific backdrop. It is a series of dirges, songs of
mourning about the situation that fell upon Jerusalem. In the midst of the pain and turmoil,
God had his servant to record these events and bring honor to His name.

The writer of the book is believed to be Jeremiah, AKA the weeping prophet. When you read
about His life and his ministry, you would understand why this was his nickname. He received
an unwanted call to become a prophet, he was called to a ministry of preaching nothing but
judgment, he was forbidden to marry as a symbol to the nation, so he was familiar with
loneliness, he was deeply saddened by the sins of the people and wept openly about them. He
endured depression because the people would not listen to his message. He came to the point
of wanting to stop because he had preached for 40 years and not even one person listened to
him.
After enduring a life like this; after being rejected, hated, mocked, imprisoned, ignored;
after seeing his beloved Jerusalem ransacked, desecrated and destroyed; after experiencing the
horror of war, the brutality of the enemy and the pangs of hunger, Jeremiah was still able to
stand forth amid the rubble of the city and the bodies of the dead and lift his voice in praise to
God for His great, unfailing faithfulness to His people. How was this possible? Despite his trials
and his troubles, Jeremiah had gotten a good grasp on the reality of just who God is! Jeremiah
knew that whether things went well, or whether everything fell apart, God would still be God
and that God would be eternally faithful to His people. Jeremiah was still able to find hope in a
hopeless situation because he believed in the faithfulness of His great God.

In the midst of the sadness and mourning found in the book, inside we find one of the most
beautiful passages about the Lord: read Lam.3:19-26

Like Jeremiah, we live in turbulent times. We can see what is happening not just in our
nation, but the whole of the world. Wars and rumors of wars, poverty, injustice, moral decay in
every aspect: these are the times we are living in. It is for this reason we must all the more
persevere and endure. The enemy attacks us and undermines us in every way possible, all the
while we are living to serve God and do His will. What will keep us going however, is trusting in
the faithfulness of our God.

I. We can depend on God for He is faithful

The Hebrew word faithfulness means steadfastness, firmness, fidelity. This is a word
that pictures God as one upon whom we can depend. In a world full of false words and empty
promises, a world that is full of unreliability, we are comforted because of the faithfulness of
God. God’s dependability takes a huge weight off of our shoulders.

A. Faithfulness is an attribute of God – Mal.3:6

Faithfulness is one of the attributes of God. It is who he is. It is his inherent
nature. It is part of His character. We can always rely on Him because He does not
change, and He will never change. Mal.3:6 Because of this, God is trustworthy and
dependable. Faithfulness and truth are always related, for what is true is also
trustworthy. God is truth, He speaks the truth, and only the truth comes from Him and
His words. Psalm89:34TAB In him we can depend always.

B. Faithfulness is an activity of God – Deut.7:9; psalm 33:4

Faithfulness is also seen in the actions of God. It is what he does. God is faithful
in His covenant with His people. Deut.7:9 what He says He will always do. Psalm33:4
God cannot lie nor is he fickle in His thinking and decisions. Num.23:19 it is then no
wonder that Jeremiah can say “great is your faithfulness” even in the midst of chaotic
and troubled circumstances, we can rely on Him and His word.

Application:
 How many people do you know who do exactly what they say? Let me rephrase the
question: How many do you know who do exactly what they say every single time? Let me
rephrase it again. How many people do you know who do exactly what they say every single
time and do it with such thoroughness and perfection that you never have to worry about
anything they say or do? Again, let me ask it one more time: How many people do you know
who, no matter what the circumstances and no matter how they feel, will always do exactly
what they say they will do every single time and do it with the some thoroughness and
perfection that you never have to worry about anything they say or do because you know if
they say it, they will definitely do it without fail, without change and without excuse? When we
think about the question, there are not many people like that. In fact, in all honesty, there is no
person like that. The only one who can qualify for that is God. Only God is fully faithful and
trustworthy. God's faithfulness means that because He is the truth, everything he says and does
is certain. That means He is 100% reliable 100% of the time. He does not fail, forget, falter,
change or disappoint. What a great comfort for the people of God! In a world that is ever
changing, our God is unchanged. James1:17

II. We continue with confidence for He is faithful

Because God is faithful in who He is, and all that He does, this inspires confidence in the
life of the believer. Remember that when we started our Christian journey, when we put our
faith and trust in Jesus, we are not left alone. We are not abandoned in a corner. We have
confidence and courage in this life because God is faithful. The standard to which a Christian is
called is not just difficult, it is actually utterly impossible, but is only made possible because God
is faithful and true to His word, and to us.

A. Because of Christ’s provision

It is because of Jesus’ provision that we are able to have contact and fellowship
with God. It is because of Jesus sacrifice on the cross of Calvary that we are able to enter
into a meaningful relationship with God, and also with other believers. 1Jn.1:7 the
cleansing blood of Jesus was given not to encourage us to sin, but rather it enables us to
be able not to sin, for the blood that was shed on the cross was our reconciliation to
God. But if and when we do stumble, when there are times where we fall and fail and
sin against the Lord, gives this promise: 1Jn.1:9 in response to genuine confession and
repentance, it says that God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us. As children
who have been forgiven and cleansed by God, we can always go boldly into His
presence: Heb.4:16

B. Because of Christ’s protection – 1Cor.10:13; 2Thess.3:3

Anyone who is a real Christian will always acknowledge the difficulty of the
Christian life. In a world full of wrongs, we are commanded to do what is right. Living in
the sinful world means a lot of conflict, constant struggles, and the danger of being
carried away by the flesh. Aside from these, we know that the enemy is ever vigilant:
waiting to devour someone every chance he gets. But because of Christ, we have
protection: 2Thess.3:3 Other people might rise up and aim to bring harm to the
Christian, but we have nothing to fear: Psalm118:5-6 we need to be vigilant, we need to
 be on guard, but we can rest on the fact that the battle is the Lord’s! At the same time,
His faithfulness extends to our life situations: 1Cor.10:13 whatever lands on our plate
we are sure to overcome because God is faithful in our lives. There is never a situation in
which we are cornered or given no choice. If God’s word is true, (and it is) there will
always be a means of escape, and we are sure that we are able to endure it.

C. Because of Christ’s power – 2Cor.12:9; 1Thess.5:23-24

Sometimes Christians make the mistake of thinking that they are being sustained
by their own works or ability. This is so far from the truth. Yes, being believers we are
responsible for our actions, but never forget that everything that we do is only because
of God. It is very important to remember: it is grace that saved us, and it is also grace
that sustains us. It is God who cleanses us, and it is also God who sanctifies us (purifies)
until the day of His appearing.1Thess.5:23-24 so when we think wrongly when we
magnify ourselves, our abilities, or even our ministries, to the point that we begin to rely
on our ourselves, we must take a step back and remember that we have done nothing,
and we can do nothing in of ourselves. Our greatest human achievement is just
foolishness in the eyes of God. So instead of relying on ourselves, we must rely on
something greater, something better: what is better to rely on the power of God?
2Cor.12:9-10

D. Because of Christ’s presence – 1Jn.4:2-4; Eph.3:14-19; Gal.2:20

Beginning with our new birth, we are now in Jesus Christ, and the word of God
says that Christ lives in us. God is not just around us, nor is he just an arm’s length
away. He is alive in us! The life full of sin and shame and wickedness, is now being
inhabited by our Lord and savior. This is the promise that where ever and whenever, the
child of God is NEVER alone.Gal.2:20 how great are the enemies of God in the world,
many of which who deny Jesus. But He is greater: 1Jn.4:2-4 The presence of God in our
lives is more than enough for whatever we may want or need. Eph.3:14-19

Application:
Our confidence is not based on other people. It is not based on what we can do, or what
we have done. It is not rested in our ability. The Christian is confident because of the
faithfulness of God in His life. All our life we have been built up to rely only on ourselves. Some
of us, because of troubled and bitter circumstances, learned not to trust other people, not to
rely on other people. Because other people will always fail them. But the thing is, even if we
rely on ourselves we will also fail ourselves. We can’t escape. But you know who we can rely
on? None other than God. He is faithful, trustworthy, and dependable always.

III. We have everlasting hope for He is faithful

Last, but certainly not the least, because God is faithful, we can always have hope in our
lives. We are able to face whatever situation, whatever tribulation because our hope is in God
alone.

A. We can trust His promises – Joshua23:14; Num.23:19

 As we have read earlier in Num.23:19 God always keeps His promises. He always
fulfills His word. What He says, He will always do. It is not dependent on the situation,
on the emotion, or even on our own merit, God is faithful through and through. Joshua
in his last days, give the charge to the people of Israel:Joshua23:14 God fulfilled His
promises to Israel in the past, He has never failed, not even once. That is good for Israel.
But what about us? There are many promises God has given for the believer: aside from
the verses we have already studied earlier here are some more:
God empowers us concerning whatever He calls us to do (2 Pet. 1:3)
God will meet your needs (Matt. 6:33)
All things work together for good for those who love God (Rom. 8:28)
As believers, we are sealed forever as God’s children (2 Cor. 1:22)
Anyone who believes in Jesus Christ has eternal life (John 3:16)

Remember that God fulfills all of His promises, and not just for those who believe, but
for them who also do not believe and continually reject Him. He will fulfill ALL of His
promises. Rev.22:12-15 All of us can be sure that whatever God has promised, He will
fulfill.

B. We can trust His purposes – Prov.19:21; Phil.1:6

We have hope in our life because we know that it is God who called us into
fellowship with Him, and at the same time, we know that God has a purpose for our life,
and everything in it. Nothing ever happens that is not according to the will of God. we
do not give our own life purpose, because we have already been made for a purpose, a
purpose that God Himself has put in us. There are so many variables in our lives, things
that are constantly changing, things that are really out of our control, but we can trust
God because we know that His purpose will be victorious. Prov.19:21 we can always
have hope because whatever God has started in our lives, we can be sure that He will
bring it to completion. Phil.1:6 Remember that when God plucked you out of darkness,
He has never let you go ever since. Jude 24-25

C. We can trust His care – Heb.13:5-6

Lastly, we can have hope because God is faithful in His care for us. Truly, the
grace of God is one big care package full of blessings and benefits for the child of God.
just when you thought the box was empty, something else pops out. God saves us, God
sustains us, because God cares for us. God is not some unfeeling, detached being that
sees us from afar. Yes, we must accept that God is totally separate from us because He
is holy, and we are sinful. And yet, because of His great love, the infinite became finite,
the spirit became flesh, and the God became man. All because of His love for us. So
when God says “He cares for you” you can be sure that it is true!1Pet.5:7 God cares for
you and for me. Heb.13:5

Application:
 We can have joy in the present because of the hope we have in the future. And with
God, our hope is never diminished, it is ever present, it is always visible, even if we still have not
received it yet.

In his last days on this earth Paul sought to strengthen His son in the faith timothy, who was
facing hardships in the ministry. Although he himself was in prison for the gospel, it did not
move Him at all. In fact, this all the more motivated Paul in His service to Jesus Christ. His words
serve as a reminder to us as well. 2Tim.2:8-13

Conclusion:
For my conclusion, brothers and sisters and friends, we cannot finish in one sitting the
immensity and measure of the faithfulness of God. But even so, today we have heard about the
one thing and the only thing we can rely on in this world, in this life, and in the next: God is
faithful. It gives us comfort, confidence, and hope in our Christian lives. If we ever hope to finish
well in the Christian life, we need to depend on God and God alone. When we do, we will never
be put to shame for God is faithful to Himself, to His word, and to all of us. We can persevere
through it all, for God is faithful. Lam.3:22-23 To God be all the glory.