Be Thou Faithful

“Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Rev. 2:10

God is calling for us to be Faithful If Faithful, we will receive a crown of life What is involved in being Faithful?

Believe God God is speaking to us through His Word. The question is, are we listening? The only way to believe, or have faith in God, is to read His Word and weigh the evidence.

Believe God “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17 After weighing the evidence we either believe what God says or we do not. Do we believe statements like:

Believe God “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 3:23; 6:23

Believe God “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

Believe God “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” II Cor. 5:10

Believe God “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:1 When we study God’s Word, and believe what it says, it will lead us to...

Trust God Saying we trust in God is one thing but actually putting our complete trust and faith in God is a different matter completely. If we truly trust God we will depend on Him in all aspects of our life.

Trust God We will trust God to provide... Food, clothing, shelter

Trust God “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:31-33

Trust God We will trust God to provide... Food, clothing, shelter Help when persecuted

Trust God “Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.” I Peter 4:19 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:10

Trust God We will trust God to provide... Food, clothing, shelter Help when persecuted Salvation

Trust God “In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:11-14

Trust God If We Truly Believe God and Fully Trust Him Then We Will Completely....

Obey God A lot of people say they believe in God but few will put their complete trust in God and do exactly as He says. But this is exactly what we must do if we want to be pleasing to God.

Obey God “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” John 14:15 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21

Obey God The first thing we must do if we want to receive a “Crown of Life” is to do as God asks and become a child of His. As children of God (sons of God) we receive the benefits of His mercy and grace.

Obey God “Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.” Matthew 5:9 “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:26

Obey God “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” I John 3:1-2

Obey God “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.” Ephesians 1:1-5

Obey God If God has called us to become His children and by becoming sons of God we receive all spiritual blessings, the question then is, “How do we become children of God?”

Obey God Believe “And He said to them, “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” John 8:23-24

Obey God Repent “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” II Peter 3:9

Obey God Confess “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:9-10.

Obey God Baptized “Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38.

Obey God Baptized “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Acts 22:16

Obey God Live Faithfully “Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.” I Corinthians 4:2

Obey God Live Faithfully “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Revelation 2:10

Obey God “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” Hebrews 9:27-28

Am I Faithfully Obeying and Following God’s Word?

By Bob Gard – Hollister, Missouri church of Christ August 16, 2009www.hollisterchurchofchrist.org