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Living Word Windhoek
The Test of Faithfulness
Sunday 25 October 2020
Locations & Times
Living Word Windhoek
12 Acacia Street, Windhoek, Namibia
Sunday 9:00 AM
TITHES & OFFERINGS
THE TEST OF FAITHFULNESS
2 weeks ago we spoke about the Bride of Christ and our Bridegroom's faithfulness to us. Today we're talking about our faithfulness to the Bridegroom, Jesus.
Definition of faithfulness:
- True to one’s word, promises, and vows, fidelity.
- Steady in allegiance, affection, loyal, constant, consistent, truthful, reliable, dependable, trustworthy, diligent in the performance of duty.
- Sticking to something even if we don’t feel like it anymore or when the excitement has worn off… when it doesn’t seem like it’s working.
- Greek word used in Gal 5:22 which speaks of the fruit of the Spirit, faithfulness = “pistis”, at its root means to hold fast or steady.
2 weeks ago we spoke about the Bride of Christ and our Bridegroom's faithfulness to us. Today we're talking about our faithfulness to the Bridegroom, Jesus.
Definition of faithfulness:
- True to one’s word, promises, and vows, fidelity.
- Steady in allegiance, affection, loyal, constant, consistent, truthful, reliable, dependable, trustworthy, diligent in the performance of duty.
- Sticking to something even if we don’t feel like it anymore or when the excitement has worn off… when it doesn’t seem like it’s working.
- Greek word used in Gal 5:22 which speaks of the fruit of the Spirit, faithfulness = “pistis”, at its root means to hold fast or steady.
Faithfulness will be tested:
- In this season of trial faithfulness will be tested. When we get tired of doing the right things without seeing results or breakthrough.
- We cannot be promoted without a test of faithfulness.
- It is hard to see God's favour unless we pass the test of faithfulness.
Faithfulness will be rewarded:
- Faithfulness is about stewardship.
- God has entrusted us with everything on earth, and He requires faithful stewardship of it all.
- What we do today, matters in this life and in the life to come (eternity).
- Every believer will be judged on their works on earth at the judgement seat of Christ (where everything we did for the Lord on earth will be examined and rewarded if we were found faithful).
- In this season of trial faithfulness will be tested. When we get tired of doing the right things without seeing results or breakthrough.
- We cannot be promoted without a test of faithfulness.
- It is hard to see God's favour unless we pass the test of faithfulness.
Faithfulness will be rewarded:
- Faithfulness is about stewardship.
- God has entrusted us with everything on earth, and He requires faithful stewardship of it all.
- What we do today, matters in this life and in the life to come (eternity).
- Every believer will be judged on their works on earth at the judgement seat of Christ (where everything we did for the Lord on earth will be examined and rewarded if we were found faithful).
Parable of the talents:
- Jesus warns us that He is coming back soon and we need to stay awake.
- We need to remain faithful while we wait for the Bridegroom on earth.
- 4 Parables to explain His return.
- Talent in Old Testament referred to a unit of weight representing a large sum of money, New Testament times equaled wages of one laborer for 20 years.
- The Master expected the servants to MULTIPLY their talents and they were rewarded based on the multiplication.
- Everything we receive from God comes in seed form (not trees as some of us expect). God expects us to grow the seed (fruit from the tree then produces more seed).
What are you doing with your talents / gifts / seed?
- Jesus warns us that He is coming back soon and we need to stay awake.
- We need to remain faithful while we wait for the Bridegroom on earth.
- 4 Parables to explain His return.
- Talent in Old Testament referred to a unit of weight representing a large sum of money, New Testament times equaled wages of one laborer for 20 years.
- The Master expected the servants to MULTIPLY their talents and they were rewarded based on the multiplication.
- Everything we receive from God comes in seed form (not trees as some of us expect). God expects us to grow the seed (fruit from the tree then produces more seed).
What are you doing with your talents / gifts / seed?
3 LESSONS ON THE TEST OF FAITHFULNESS
1. We must be faithful stewards of what God entrusted to us and multiply it:
- This includes our natural gifts, talents, resources, and time.
- We were all born with redemptive gifts, the way our personalities are wired.
- Redemptive gifts = given by Father God, we were born with it (Romans 12:6-8)
- Spiritual gifts = given by Holy Spirit, we receive as the Spirit wills when we become born again (1 Corinthians 12:4-11)
- 5-Fold gifts = given by Jesus Christ to the Church (Ephesians 4:11-13)
- Are we using these to extend the Kingdom or is fear holding us back like the servant who buried the 1 talent?
1. We must be faithful stewards of what God entrusted to us and multiply it:
- This includes our natural gifts, talents, resources, and time.
- We were all born with redemptive gifts, the way our personalities are wired.
- Redemptive gifts = given by Father God, we were born with it (Romans 12:6-8)
- Spiritual gifts = given by Holy Spirit, we receive as the Spirit wills when we become born again (1 Corinthians 12:4-11)
- 5-Fold gifts = given by Jesus Christ to the Church (Ephesians 4:11-13)
- Are we using these to extend the Kingdom or is fear holding us back like the servant who buried the 1 talent?
2. Faithfulness is tested with the little first:
- God may provide an opportunity for us to prove our faithfulness, sometimes He uses jobs or positions that seem "unimportant" or "unseen" and He watches how we handle it.
- Will we do the right thing when no one is watching, applauding us, seeing it?
- How happy are we to serve "behind the scenes" until the Lord entrusts us with something bigger, more people, more resources?
- Our attitude and character will be tested during these times.
- Don't despise the days of small beginnings.
- God may provide an opportunity for us to prove our faithfulness, sometimes He uses jobs or positions that seem "unimportant" or "unseen" and He watches how we handle it.
- Will we do the right thing when no one is watching, applauding us, seeing it?
- How happy are we to serve "behind the scenes" until the Lord entrusts us with something bigger, more people, more resources?
- Our attitude and character will be tested during these times.
- Don't despise the days of small beginnings.
3. Faithfulness will always be rewarded:
- God is attracted to faithfulness and He gives favour back.
- The servants in the parable who were found faithful, were made rulers over more. They were given promotion, increase, blessing and favour.
- Sometimes we are rewarded on earth but definitely, we'll be rewarded in eternity.
- The choices we make today, will determine how we will spend eternity.
Examples of faithful servants in the Bible:
a) Joseph: He was faithful during 13 years of trial as a slave and went from sweeping the palace to ruling the palace.
b) Ruth: She was faithful to Naomi and received favour with Boaz, got married to him and featured in the lineage of Jesus.
c) Matthias: He was a faithful disciple, always present where Jesus and other apostles were, and was chosen as the 12th apostle.
Are we present, are we faithful, day in and day out? Whether we see the fruit / breakthrough / result or not?
Some of us want to quit but God is saying "I'm testing your faithfulness"...
What are we doing with the seed He entrusted us with?
Let's aim to live our lives to hear the words from Jesus when He returns: "Well done good and faithful servants".
- God is attracted to faithfulness and He gives favour back.
- The servants in the parable who were found faithful, were made rulers over more. They were given promotion, increase, blessing and favour.
- Sometimes we are rewarded on earth but definitely, we'll be rewarded in eternity.
- The choices we make today, will determine how we will spend eternity.
Examples of faithful servants in the Bible:
a) Joseph: He was faithful during 13 years of trial as a slave and went from sweeping the palace to ruling the palace.
b) Ruth: She was faithful to Naomi and received favour with Boaz, got married to him and featured in the lineage of Jesus.
c) Matthias: He was a faithful disciple, always present where Jesus and other apostles were, and was chosen as the 12th apostle.
Are we present, are we faithful, day in and day out? Whether we see the fruit / breakthrough / result or not?
Some of us want to quit but God is saying "I'm testing your faithfulness"...
What are we doing with the seed He entrusted us with?
Let's aim to live our lives to hear the words from Jesus when He returns: "Well done good and faithful servants".
Banking details:
Living Word Namibia
Account name: Living Word Namibia Trust
Bank: First National Bank Namibia
Branch code: 280172
Account number: 622 689 73 916
Living Word Namibia
Account name: Living Word Namibia Trust
Bank: First National Bank Namibia
Branch code: 280172
Account number: 622 689 73 916
Prayer or pastoral counseling requests:
If you have any prayer or pastoral counseling requests, call the church office on 081 693 7055 or email us at info@livingword.com.na. Our church office hours are Tuesdays - Thursdays 9-5pm, Fridays 9-2 pm.
To stay updated with church news, join our WHATSAPP NEWS GROUP, send your first & last name to 081 693 7055.
We would love to connect and pray with you. All prayer requests will be handled confidentially at all times.
If you have any prayer or pastoral counseling requests, call the church office on 081 693 7055 or email us at info@livingword.com.na. Our church office hours are Tuesdays - Thursdays 9-5pm, Fridays 9-2 pm.
To stay updated with church news, join our WHATSAPP NEWS GROUP, send your first & last name to 081 693 7055.
We would love to connect and pray with you. All prayer requests will be handled confidentially at all times.
Missed a Sunday service?
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Listen to podcasts or subscribe on iTunes: anchor.fm/living-word-namibia
Watch videos on Youtube (click 'subscribe'): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1AmaTP57bA1gG8-vRMn97A