"WORTHY OF OUR PRAISE--THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD"

                                               1st PETER 4:12-19

 INTRODUCTION:

           IN RETROSPECT, WE CAN LOOK BACK THROUGH THE YEARS, THE TRIALS, THE TRIBULATIONS, THE DISAPPOINTMENTS, AND THE HEARTACHES -- GOD HAS ALWAYS GRACIOUSLY PROVEN HIMSELF TO BE A "FAITHFUL CREATOR".

           I HAVE OFTEN SAID THAT GOD MUST AND WILL PROVE HIMSELF TO HIS CHILDREN.         YOU CAN NOT TRUST A GUN THAT WILL NOT SHOOT, A CAR THAT WILL NOT START, OR A PLANE THAT WILL NOT FLY!

         BUT GOD, TELLS HIS CHILDREN TO TRUST HIM AND THEN PROVES HIMSELF TO THEM!  IN MALACHI 3, OUR GOD SAID TO "PROVE ME HEREWITH"!     YOU STEP FORTH AND WATCH HIM UNDER-GIRD YOUR STEP.

     A. BASED UPON GOD'S PAST PROVING OF HIS GREAT FAITHFULNESS.

           WE NOW CAN TRUST OUR FUTURE INTO HIS LOVING HANDS.

 LAMEMTATIONS 3:22-26, (22) IT IS OF THE LORD'S MERCIES THAT WE ARE NOT CONSUMED, BECAUSE HIS COMPASSIONS FAIL NOT." (23) "THEY ARE NEW EVERY MORNING: GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS."
 (24)  "THE LORD IS MY PORTION, SAITH MY SOUL; THEREFORE WILL I HOPE IN HIM."   (25)  "THE LORD IS GOOD UNTO THEM THAT WAIT FOR HIM, TO THE SOUL THAT SEEKETH HIM."

 (26) "IT IS GOOD THAT A MAN SHOULD BOTH HOPE AND QUIETLY WAIT FOR THE SALVATION OF THE LORD."

          NOTE: WHEN I FALL, HE LIFTS ME UP.
                     WHEN I FAIL, HE FORGIVES.
                     WHEN I AM WEAK, HE IS STRONG.

                          WHEN I AM LOST, HE IS THE WAY.

                          WHEN I AM AFRAID, HE IS MY COURAGE.

                          WHEN I STUMBLE, HE STEADIES ME.

                          WHEN I AM HURT, HE HEALS ME.

                          WHEN I AM BROKEN, HE MENDS ME.

                          WHEN I AM BLIND, HE LEADS ME.

                          WHEN I AM HUNGRY, HE FEEDS ME.

                          WHEN I FACE TRIALS, HE IS WITH ME.

                          WHEN I FACE PERSECUTION, HE SHIELDS ME.

                          WHEN I FACE PROBLEMS, HE COMFORTS ME.

                          WHEN I FACE LOSS, HE PROVIDES FOR ME.

                          WHEN I FACE DEATH, HE WILL CARRY ME HOME!

      B. JUST HOW MUCH CAN GOD BE DEPENDED UPON?

            HE IS EVERYTHING, FOR EVERYBODY, IN EVERY PLACE, IN EVERY SITUATION, IN EVERY TIME FRAME.

           HE IS GOD AND HE IS FAITHFUL.     I AM HIS AND HE IS MINE.

      C. NO ONE CAN DENY GOD'S FAITHFULNESS TO HIS CHOSEN NATION, ISRAEL

           THROUGH THE CENTURIES, IN BOTH OBEDIENCE AND DISOBEDIENCE, THE LORD HAS KEPT HIS PROMISES TO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL.

           IT IS AMAZING THAT WE COULD DOUBT HIS FAITHFULNESS TO US AS HIS CHOSEN BODY.

      D. ONE OF THE GREAT BLESSINGS OF KNOWING THE GOD OF YOUR SALVATION IS KNOWING HIS FAITHFULNESS.

           MANY GOOD MEN OF GOD HAVE TAKEN THE PATH OF DOUBT IN TRYING TIMES, YET, THE LORD RECORDED FOR US HIS CONTINUAL FAITHFULNESS TO THEM.

           THESE THINGS ARE FOR OUR ENSAMPLE UPON WHOM THE END OF THE WORLD IS COME.

           IT IS GOOD TO KNOW THAT THE LORD WILL NEVER FAIL HIS CHILDREN.

          1. THERE NEEDS TO BE A REMEMBRANCE OF HIS FAITHFULNESS.

 PSALM 36:5 "THY MERCY, O LORD, IS IN THE HEAVENS; AND THY FAITHFULNESS REACHETH UNTO THE CLOUDS."

           GOD'S MERCY, OR RATHER HIS LOVING KINDNESS, HIS STEADFAST LOVE IS LIKE A CANOPY OVER ALL CREATURES OF THE EARTH.

 PSALM 89:33 "NEVERTHELESS MY LOVINGKINDNESS WILL I NOT UTTERLY TAKE FROM HIM, NOR SUFFER MY FAITHFULNESS TO FAIL."

           AFFLICTIONS ARE NOT ONLY CONSISTENT WITH COVENANT-LOVE, BUT TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD THEY FLOW FROM IT.

           2. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RESPONSE TO HIS FAITHFULNESS.

 PSALM 89:1 "I WILL SING OF THE MERCIES OF THE LORD FOR EVER: WITH MY MOUTH WILL I MAKE KNOWN THY FAITHFULNESS TO ALL GENERATIONS."

           GOD IS TRUE TO EVERY WORD THAT HE HAS SPOKEN.

           THE BELIEVER CAN LEARN TO PUT THEIR TRUST IN GOD, THEN TEACH THE GENERATION TO FOLLOW GOD.

      A. HE IS FAITHFUL IN HIS WORD

 PSALM 119:86 "ALL THY COMMANDMENTS ARE FAITHFUL: THEY PERSECUTE ME WRONGFULLY; HELP THOU ME."

           1. HIS PROPHECIES WILL NOT FAIL.

            2. HIS PROMISES WILL NOT FAIL.

           3. HIS PRESERVATIONS WILL NOT FAIL.

      B. HE IS FAITHFUL IN HIS PURPOSES

 ISAIAH 25:1 "O LORD, THOU ART MY GOD; I WILL EXALT THEE, I WILL PRAISE THY NAME: FOR THOU HAST DONE WONDERFUL THINGS; THY COUNSELS OF OLD ARE FAITHFULNESS AND TRUTH.

           1. HIS PLAN HAS NOT CHANGED - SALVATION BY GRACE.

           2. HIS PERSON HAS NOT CHANGED - HOLINESS.

           3. HIS PURPOSE HAS NOT CHANGED - CONFORMS US TO HIS IMAGE.

      C. HE IS FAITHFUL IN HIS SALVATION

           1. IN HIS CONFIRMATION.

 1ST CORINTHIANS 1:8 "WHO SHALL ALSO CONFIRM YOU UNTO THE END, THAT YE MAY BE BLAMELESS IN THE DAY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

           GOD IS FAITHFUL, BY WHOM YOU WERE CALLED UNTO THE FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SON JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.

           2. IN HIS SANCTIFICATION.

 1ST THESSALONIANS 5:23-24, (23) "AND THE VERY GOD OF PEACE SANCTIFY YOU WHOLLY; AND I PRAY GOD YOUR WHOLE SPIRIT AND SOUL AND BODY BE PRESERVED BLAMELESS UNTO THE COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST,"

 (24) "FAITHFUL IS HE THAT CALLETH YOU, WHO ALSO WILL DO IT."

           THE WORD "SANCTIFY" IS RELATED TO THE WORD "HOLINESS" AND IMPLIES THAT GOD HIMSELF IS THE ULTIMATE INFLUENCE IN CHANGING A MAN OR WOMAN'S LIFE.

           HOLINESS IS MORE THAN A SET OF RULES WHICH CAN BE LEGALLY IMPOSED.

           HOLINESS OR SANCTIFICATION IS THE WORK OF GOD'S HOLY SPIRIT WHO INDWELLS THE BELIEVER.

      D. HE IS FAITHFUL IN PROTECTION

 1ST PETER 4:19 "WHEREFORE LET THEM THAT SUFFER ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD COMMIT THE KEEPING OF THEIR SOULS TO HIM IN WELL DOING, AS UNTO A FAITHFUL CREATOR."         

           (1) ALL THE SUFFERINGS THAT BEFALL GOOD PEOPLE COME UPON THEM ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD.

           (2) IT IS THE DUTY OF CHRISTIANS, IN ALL THEIR DISTRESSES, TO LOOK MORE TO THE KEEPING OF THEIR SOULS THAN TO THE PRESERVING OF THEIR BODIES.

           THE SOUL IS OF GREATEST VALUE AND YET IN THE MOST DANGER.

           (3) THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP THE SOUL WELL IS TO COMMIT IT TO GOD.

           COMMIT YOUR SOULS TO GOD BY SOLEMN DEDICATION, PRAYER, AND PATIENT PERSEVERANCE IN WELL-DOING, ROMANS 2:7.

      E. HE IS FAITHFUL IN ANSWERED PRAYER

 LAMENTATIONS 3:21-22, (21) "THIS I RECALL TO MY MIND, THEREFORE HAVE I HOPE."

 (22) "IT IS OF THE LORD'S MERCIES THAT WE ARE NOT CONSUMED, BECAUSE HIS COMPASSIONS FAIL NOT."

           WHEN WE ARE IN DISTRESS WE SHOULD, FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF OUR FAITH AND HOPE, OBSERVE WHAT MAKES FOR US AS WELL AS WHAT MAKES AGAINST US.

           WE ALL OWE IT TO THE SPARING MERCIES OF GOD THAT WE ARE NOT CONSUMED.     OTHERS HAVE BEEN CONSUMED ROUND ABOUT US, AND WE OURSELVES HAVE BEEN TRIED, BUT WE ARE OUT OF THE GRAVE AND WE ARE OUT OF HELL.

           WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONSUMED LONG AGO BUT WE HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH ACCORDING TO GOD'S MERCIES, AND WE SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE IT WITH PRAISE TO HIM.

 PSALM 103:10 "HE HATH NOT DEALTH WITH US AFTER OUR SINS; NOT REWARDED US ACCORDING TO OUR INIQUITIES."

           THE SCRIPTURE SAYS A GREAT DEAL OF THE MERCY OF GOD.     IF HE HAD NOT BEEN A GOD OF PATIENCE AND MERCY, WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN HELL LONG AGO.

      G. HE IS FAITHFUL IN HIS CHASTISEMENT

 PSALM 119:75 "I KNOW O LORD, THAT THY JUDGMENTS ARE RIGHT, AND THAT THOU IN FAITHFULNESS HAST AFFLICTED ME."

           WE KNOW THAT GOD IS HOLY IN HIS NATURE AND WISE AND JUST IN ALL HIS ACTS AND THEREFORE WE CANNOT BUT KNOW THAT HIS JUDGMENTS ARE RIGHT, EVEN THOUGH IN SOME PARTICULAR INSTANCES, THERE MAY BE DIFFICULTIES WHICH WE CANNOT EASILY RESOLVE.

         1. FAITH TO WARN     A. SIGN OF ETERNAL LIFE.

 2ND PETER 3:9 "THE LORD IS NOT SLACK CONCERNING HIS PROMISE, AS SOME MEN COUNT SLACKNESS BUT IS LONGSUFFERING TO US-WARD, NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH, BUT THAT ALL SHOULD COME TO REPENTANCE."

           "LONGSUFFERING": THIS IS THE REGULAR WORD FOR "PATIENCE" AND HAS THE IDEA OF DEEP FEELING AND CONCERN FOR SOMEONE OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.

           GOD DOES NOT WANT MEN AND WOMEN TO BE LOST (HE DOES NOT ELECT THEM TO DAMNATION BUT TO SALVATION).

          2. FAITHFUL TO CORRECT

      A. SIGN OF ETERNAL LIFE.

1ST CORINTHIANS 11:32 "BUT WHEN WE ARE JUDGED, WE ARE CHASTENED OF THE LORD, THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE CONDEMNED WITH THE WORLD."

      B. SIGN OF ETERNAL LOVE

PROVERBS 13:24 "HE THAT SPARETH HIS ROD HATETH HIS SON: BUT HE THAT LOVETH HIM CHASTENETH HIM BETIMES."

           THE SCRIPTURES DECLARE WITHOUT HESITATION THAT HE WHO LOVES HIS CHILDREN WILL CORRECT THEM.     THIS APPLIES ESPECIALLY TO THE CHILDREN OF GOD.

     C. SIGN OF ETERNAL SONSHIP

 HEBREWS12:6-7, (6) "FOR WHOM THE LORD LOVETH HE CHASTENETH, AND SCOURGETH EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVETH."

 (7) "IF YE ENDURE CHASTENING, GOD DEALETH WITH YOU AS WITH SONS, FOR WHAT SON IS HE WHOM THE FATHER CHASTENETH NOT?" 

           THE BEST OF GOD'S CHILDREN NEED CHASTISEMENT.     THEY HAVE THEIR FAULTS AND FOLLIES, WHICH NEED TO BE CORRECTED.

           THOUGH GOD MAY LET OTHERS ALONE IN THEIR SINS, HE WILL CORRECT SIN IN HIS OWN CHILDREN, THEY ARE HIS FAMILY.

      H. HE IS FAITHFUL IN FORGIVENESS.

 1ST JOHN 1:9 "IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS, AND TO CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.

          THE CORRECT WAY OF DEALING WITH SIN IS NOT TO DENY IT, BUT TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT AND ALLOW GOD TO CLEANSE IT.

           THE APOSTLE JOHN IN THIS VERSE INSTRUCTS THE BELIEVER IN THE WAY TO THE CONTINUED PARDON OF THEIR SIN.

           "IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS": PENITENT CONFESSION AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF SIN ARE THE BELIEVER'S BUSINESS AND THE MEANS OF THEIR DELIVERANCE FROM THEIR GUILT OF SIN.

           GOD IS FAITHFUL TO HIS COVENANT AND WORD, WHEREIN HE HAS PROMISED FORGIVENESS TO PENITENT BELIEVING CONFESSORS.

           THE LORD IS JUST TO HIMSELF AND HIS GLORY WHO HAS PROVIDED SUCH A SACRIFICE, BY WHICH HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS IS DECLARED IN THE JUSTIFICATION OF SINNERS.

           HE IS CLEMENT AND GRACIOUS ALSO, AND SO WILL FORGIVE, TO THE CONTRITE CONFESSOR, ALL THEIR SINS, CLEANSE THEN FROM THE GUILT OF ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS, AND IN DUE TIME DELIVER FROM THE POWER AND PRACTICE OF IT.

          AMEN!