Lesson 10: GOD Wants Your FAITHFULNESS Please pick up a handout from the table in the back of the auditorium for class this morning.

GOD Wants Your FAITHFULNESS 1. Faithfulness Is Expected a.Faithfulness is enjoined on Christians 1)“Be faithful unto death” – Rev. 2:10 2)“Well done, good and faithful servant” – Matt. 25:21 3)“The fruit of the Spirit is…faithfulness” – Gal. 5:22 b.Christians are to remain steadfast 1)“Be steadfast, immovable” – 1 Cor. 15:58 2)“Continue in the faith, grounded & steadfast” – Col. 1:23 3)“Hold…steadfast to the end” – Heb. 3:14 c.The early church “continued steadfastly” – Acts 2:42

GOD Wants Your FAITHFULNESS 2. UN-Faithfulness Is Possible & Devastating a.Christians are warned about falling 1)“Take heed lest he fall” – 1 Cor. 10:12 2)“Beware…in departing from the living God” – Heb. 3:12 3)“Beware lest…fall from your own steadfastness” – 2 Pet. 3:17 b.Christians are told to maintain vigilance 1)The devil is seeking to devour – 1 Pet. 5:8 2)“Watch & pray, lest you enter into temptation” – Mt. 26:41 3)“Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave…” – 1 Cor. 16:13 c.Christians must evaluate themselves & work their faith 1)“Examine yourselves…” – 2 Cor. 13:5; James 1: )“Work out your own salvation…” – Phil. 2:12-13 (cf. Ep. 2:10)

GOD Wants Your FAITHFULNESS The expectations of God studied in the previous nine lessons must be included (but are not all specifically listed again) in the requirements of faithfulness set forth in the following points.

GOD Wants Your FAITHFULNESS 3. Faithfulness Is Required Toward God a.We must be genuinely committed to God – Matt. 22:37 b.We must put the Lord first in our lives – Col. 1:18; Ex. 20:3 c.We must commit ourselves to His Word – 1 Tim. 4:15-16 d.We must have great respect for His Word – Acts 17:11; Jn. 12:48 e.We must be obedient to the will of God – Matt. 7:21; Acts 5:29 f.We must always abound in the work of the Lord – 1 Cor. 15:58 g.We must glorify the name “Christian” – 1 Pet. 4:16 h.We must follow the example of Jesus – 1 Pet. 2:21 i.We must shape our values by faith in God – 1 Cor. 2:6; Jas. 3:17 j.We must make wise choices based on those values – Heb. 5:14

GOD Wants Your FAITHFULNESS 4. Faithfulness Is Required Toward Others a.We must maintain a godly influence – Matt. 5:13-16; 2 Cor. 3:2 b.We must set an example of godliness – Jas. 2:18; 1 Tim. 4:12 c.We must serve the needs of others – Luke 10:30-37; Mark 9:35 d.We must practice the “Golden Rule” – Matt. 7:12; Matt. 22:39 e.We must have fellowship with God’s people – 1 Pet. 4:9; 3 Jn. 5-8 f.We must grow to become teachers – Heb. 5:12 g.We must teach the gospel to others – Matt. 28:19; Rom. 1:14-16 h.We must teach Christians to observe – Matt. 28:20 i.We must speak the truth – Eph. 4:15 j.We must encourage others to remain faithful – Heb. 3:13; 10:24 k.We must not return evil for evil – Rom. 12:17; 1 Pet. 2:23 l.We must provide things honest in sight of all men – Rom. 12:17

GOD Wants Your FAITHFULNESS 5. Faithfulness Is Required Toward Personal Growth a.We must desire & study the Word to grow – 1 Pet. 2:2; 2 Pet. 3:18 b.We must pray frequently & fervently – 1 Th. 5:17; Phil. 4:6-7 c.We must assemble with the saints to worship – Heb. 10:25 d.We must love righteousness & truth – Matt. 5:6; Psa. 45:7 e.We must oppose evil & error – Eph. 5:10-11; Psa. 119:104 f.We must control our tongues – James 1:26; 3:2-12; Mt. 12:36 g.We must actively work in the church – Eph. 4:16; 1 Cor. 12:12-27 h.We must guard against & overcome Satan’s attacks – Ep. 6:10-18 i.We must continue to live as a new creature – 2 Cor. 5:17-21 j.We must seek first the kingdom of God – Matt. 6:33 k.We must set our minds on things above – Col. 3:1-2; Phil. 3:20 l.We must love life & rejoice always in the Lord – 1 P. 3:10; Phil 4:4 m.We must determine to make it to heaven – Phil. 3:11-14