Re-Calibrate
Faithfulness
Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
*Illustration: Old Faithful (Image or video)
Faithfulness described:
- Reliable or constant.
- You can count it.
- Respected or marveled at for continued trustworthiness.
Unfaithful described:
- Didn’t fulfill expectations.
- Violation of relational vows.
- No longer trusted, broken relationship, not sought out.
- (Galatians 5:22) good faith, honesty, integrity, walking the walk, not wavering.
aman or emunah (Hebrew)- trustworthy, constant, reliable.
God is the standard of constant reliability and trustworthiness.
Psalms 26:3 for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.
- We know God for nothing less than he is unchanging and worthy of trust.
- Our emotional and spiritual stability is reliant upon God’s faithfulness.
Psalm 36:5 Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.
- The love and faithfulness of God is beyond our comprehension.
- There is nothing beyond the reach of God’s love and faithfulness.
Psalm 40:10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help. I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness from the great assembly.
- God’s love and faithfulness are newsworthy of being shared with our oikos.
If not for God’s love and faithfulness the cross never happens.
Proverbs 16:6 Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the Lord evil is avoided.
- The cross was not a duty but love on display.
Our level of faithfulness does not determine God’s faithfulness.
Romans 3:3 What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness?
- Our unfaithfulness will distort some people’s view of God’s faithfulness.
Being faithful is a reliance on God for the outcomes of life.
1 Samuel 26:23 The Lord rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness. The Lord delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed.
- By faithfully relying on God’s faithfulness we have confidence in his coverage for the outcomes.
We experience God when we live out love and faithfulness.
Proverbs 3:3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
- Embrace God’s character for yourself.
Proverbs 14:22 Do not those who plot evil go astray? But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness.
- We will experience God’s love and faithfulness as we pursue and live out his goodness.
Proverbs 20:28 Love and faithfulness keep a king safe; through love his throne is made secure.
- People follow leaders who lead with pure motives and reliable actions.
Benediction:
3 John 3 It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it.
Discussion Guide:
- How have you seen someone’s unfaithfulness in a marriage damage not only the spouse but others? Explain.
- Give an example of a marriage where you have seen faithfulness give strength and encouragement to others? Why is it that a faithful marriage strengthens others?
- Read 1 Samuel 26. How does David show trust in God’s faithfulness in his challenging situation? How is David rewarded for his faithfulness in trusting God’s faithfulness?
- What does it look like to aspire to having 3 John 3 said about you?
Series Information
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Unless you are the maker of something, it is difficult to truly fix something that is calibrated incorrectly. The Spirit of God is assigned the role of re-calibrating those who are redeemed by Christ so that we can experience the amazing life we were intended for. This is a journey of learning to live life by the Spirit and experiencing his transformative work. The Spirit will re-calibrate us in a manner that will lead to outcomes and “fruit” that will please God and impact others