| THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT - FAITH T. David Sustar HIS GLORY REIGNS B. Childress March 14, 2008 FAITH The seventh fruit of the Spirit should have been translated "faithfulness" rather than "faith." Since we are dealing with divine characteristics, it is easy for us to understand the reason. The idea is God's absolute trustworthiness of character. The New King James Version, as well as the New American Standard Bible and Revised Standard Version, render this fruit "faithfulness." Phillips renders it "fidelity," and Barclay calls this "the virtue of reliability." There is also some evidence that the English word faith was originally linked to the thought of personal dependability, for our word probably comes from the Anglo-Saxon feyth, which has the root meaning "to fasten oneself to." We are to fasten ourselves to Christ. This begins with a simple step of faith and continues with a lifelong attitude of faithfulness towards Him. As R. Hollis Gause reminds us in Living in the Spirit, "It is the grace by which the believer's life comes to its fulfillment." The fruit of faith is not to be confused with the Gift of faith. A study of the gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12 reveals that not all receive this special faith, "To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;" 1 Corinthians 12:9. However, this quality of character known as faithfulness is for everyone. A man or woman without the gifts of the Spirit may be faithful! God is Reliable Our blessed hope lies in the reliability of God. Our father has modeled faithfulness for us so that we may understand it and in turn model it for others. In this He chose to declare Himself through covenants with His children: "Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love and keep His commandments to a thousand generations..." Deuteronomy 7:9. "Blessed be the Lord, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant." I Kings 4:19. For the Christians, all fear of the present and future is erased by this thought, "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord." 1 Corinthians 1:9. "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 Peter 4:19. Paul L. Walker points out three areas of God's faithfulness in The Ministry of Worship:
6, "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:"
31, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" Jesus is Also Faithful The characteristics of the Father rest also upon the Son, "But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil." 2 Thessalonians 3:3. "If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself." 2 Timothy 2:13. Christ came in the flesh so that He might encounter the temptations we face and understand our burdens and pains by giving His life at Calvary. It was a necessary move in order for Him to properly represent us before the Father: "Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people." Hebrews 2:17. He proved His faithfulness by not sinning and by doing the will of the Father. He now intercedes for us, helping us to be faithful! A serious look at His sterling example as revealed in Hebrews 12:1-4 provides an adequate incentive for faithful service to God. The dynamic of our faithfulness is revealed, "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith..." Hebrews 12:2. We Must Be Faithful All of our actions as Christians are based upon faith in God. This faith came by hearing the Word of God and by believing in the body of truth it presented. Our walk with God finds its heights and depths in our believing or failing to believe His Word. We all attempt to establish a pattern of consistent living with which He would be pleased. We constantly remind ourselves of Hebrews 11:6, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." That same chapter challenges us with the lifestyle of faithfulness of the great men of God. The question Jesus asked is even more important today, "I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" Luke 18:8. Faith is the basis of our faithfulness. We must still believe that He is and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him. We should believe that "He is," not like Hollywood, which uses Him only when it is convenient or to blaspheme His name and character. Our foundational beliefs should include but not be limited to Him being our Creator. We should believe that He is our Sustainer; our heavenly Father watches over us. We should believe He is our Savior; He died for our sins at Calvary. We should believe He is our soon-coming King and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him. Faithfulness to His Word Receives Blessings "Faith must look beyond circumstance, must probe beyond the immediate, must anchor in something more permanent than human feelings or human sight. Faith must grip the eternal promises of God and cling to them no matter the storm or the clouds, the hurt or the pain." (Hoyt E. Stone, Living Right). Christians, and especially Pentecostals, have often been accused of making up their beliefs. Our style of worship has been maligned, and our literal interpretation of the Word has been attacked. Yet we know the truth - we have not made up our beliefs, but our beliefs have made us what we are. As long as we are faithful to the Word of God, we will have divine visitations from above, the Holy Spirit will fill our lives and churches, the fruit and gifts of the Spirit will be in evidence, and sinners will fall down and say, "God is in the place." Faithfulness Produces Christian Giants We can all become "giants" in the Lord, not by some magic formula or a quick leap into maturity. Six things are being listed here which will enhance your spiritual development and move you in the direction of becoming a spiritual giant for the Lord:
His coming approaches.
Spirit noting carefully where your treasures are. The Word says, "I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive."
it.
Constant attention to these six items will produce a life that is stalwart and true. Failure in either of the six areas will cause a person to stumble and fall. The church and God will be able to depend upon those who commit themselves to the Word, prayer, attending God's house, good stewardship, the keeping of vows, and those who yield to the Holy Spirit. Dependability is the one ability without which all the other abilities are useless. The Holy Spirit grants faithfulness to those who give themselves to the cause of Christ. The Blessings of Faith The middle verse in God's Word says, "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man." Psalm 118:9. Take either direction from there. Walk backwards to Genesis 1:1 or forward to Revelation 22:21 and on every page you will find the faithful God of the covenant. You will find heroes of the faith, many of whom are listed in Hebrews 11. They embraced and lived by "the faith," the body of truth held and propounded by the church as the Word of God. They learned the truth of James 1:25, "But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." Many of them also found the reality of "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him." James 1:12. Though at times they walked through dark valleys and the burdens of life weighed heavy on their souls, they never lost sight of the faithfulness of God. Like the apostle Paul, whose vessel was often rocked on the storms of life, they had an overwhelming assurance of the Spirit: "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." 2 Timothy 4:6-8. This aged saint of God had no regrets about his years of ministry. The reward was greater than the suffering. His expectations of future blessings outweighed all the cares of life. The Final Reward of Faithfulness The promise of the risen Lord, made to the church at Smyrna, has been echoed from pulpits around the world. Ministers of the gospel have found in it a rallying point. It has been a source of comfort to many dying saints. "Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." Revelation 2:10. Let us remain faithful till death...to know the ultimate experience in life, "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." 1 John 5:4. Source: A Layman's Guide to the Fruit of the Spirit, by T. David Sustar, Copyright 1990, Pathway Press. |
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