1 00:00:01,710 --> 00:00:10,432 I would like you to turn to Ephesians 1:1. 2 00:00:10,432 --> 00:00:12,643 For a number of years, 3 00:00:12,643 --> 00:00:16,890 I have been working on memorizing 4 00:00:16,890 --> 00:00:19,675 the entire book of Ephesians. 5 00:00:19,675 --> 00:00:27,633 And when I go out and I walk and I pray, 6 00:00:27,633 --> 00:00:36,243 often times, I will just rehearse 7 00:00:36,243 --> 00:00:50,453 chunks of Ephesians. 8 00:00:50,453 --> 00:00:56,752 And as I was walking the paths 9 00:00:56,752 --> 00:01:04,663 of Brackenridge Park on Monday, 10 00:01:04,663 --> 00:01:10,758 I began in Ephesians 1:1. 11 00:01:10,758 --> 00:01:18,798 And I thought I might just go through the first chapter. 12 00:01:18,798 --> 00:01:23,578 What's interesting is when you memorize Scripture like that 13 00:01:23,578 --> 00:01:27,337 and you go back and you rehearse, 14 00:01:27,337 --> 00:01:31,523 it's amazing how the Lord can make 15 00:01:31,523 --> 00:01:35,487 different portions of that come alive. 16 00:01:35,487 --> 00:01:38,162 And that's what happened. 17 00:01:38,162 --> 00:01:41,558 I actually started, 18 00:01:41,558 --> 00:01:44,713 "Paul an Apostle of Christ Jesus 19 00:01:44,713 --> 00:01:46,920 by the will of God 20 00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:50,301 to the saints who are in Ephesus 21 00:01:50,301 --> 00:01:52,854 and are faithful in Christ Jesus." 22 00:01:52,854 --> 00:01:57,755 And I was stopped in my tracks. 23 00:01:57,755 --> 00:02:03,081 I was stopped by the word "faithful." 24 00:02:03,081 --> 00:02:04,304 And I just thought 25 00:02:04,304 --> 00:02:07,439 out of all the things that an inspired apostle 26 00:02:07,439 --> 00:02:10,492 could have said, 27 00:02:10,492 --> 00:02:13,969 undoubtedly, when you have faithful Christians, 28 00:02:13,969 --> 00:02:15,771 there's a lot of different things 29 00:02:15,771 --> 00:02:18,880 that could be said about them. 30 00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:20,207 Of all the terms, 31 00:02:20,207 --> 00:02:21,842 of all the descriptions 32 00:02:21,842 --> 00:02:24,117 Paul might have chosen 33 00:02:24,117 --> 00:02:26,066 to describe these people at Ephesus, 34 00:02:26,066 --> 00:02:31,759 he chose that word: faithful. 35 00:02:31,759 --> 00:02:34,996 Faithful. 36 00:02:34,996 --> 00:02:37,012 I couldn't get past that. 37 00:02:37,012 --> 00:02:40,662 What a thing to have said of you! 38 00:02:40,662 --> 00:02:42,191 You know what? 39 00:02:42,191 --> 00:02:46,912 That is something to have that said of you 40 00:02:46,912 --> 00:02:49,662 by a parent, 41 00:02:49,662 --> 00:02:53,567 by an employer, 42 00:02:53,567 --> 00:03:03,959 by somebody who is an officer over you, 43 00:03:03,959 --> 00:03:07,320 the leadership in the church says that about you. 44 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:11,327 That's something to have said about you. 45 00:03:11,327 --> 00:03:13,598 But what a thing to have said about you 46 00:03:13,598 --> 00:03:17,522 by an apostle of God under the divine inspiration of God. 47 00:03:17,522 --> 00:03:21,345 And what a thing to have said about you 48 00:03:21,345 --> 00:03:23,626 in light of the fact that many other things 49 00:03:23,626 --> 00:03:25,647 could have been said about you. 50 00:03:25,647 --> 00:03:27,326 To have this quality stand out 51 00:03:27,326 --> 00:03:30,443 more than all other qualities. 52 00:03:30,443 --> 00:03:32,187 And you understand, 53 00:03:32,187 --> 00:03:35,651 Ephesus has been forever labeled 54 00:03:35,651 --> 00:03:37,070 as faithful. 55 00:03:37,070 --> 00:03:40,161 As long as the Bible stands. 56 00:03:40,161 --> 00:03:41,737 There it is, preserved for us 57 00:03:41,737 --> 00:03:44,439 in holy Scripture. 58 00:03:44,439 --> 00:03:46,989 And I got to thinking, 59 00:03:46,989 --> 00:03:56,093 oh, brethren, this is not detached from us. 60 00:03:56,093 --> 00:04:01,217 How you will long - 61 00:04:01,217 --> 00:04:04,531 how all men will long 62 00:04:04,531 --> 00:04:10,883 to bear that label in the final day. 63 00:04:10,883 --> 00:04:14,201 Because you remember what Jesus says. 64 00:04:14,201 --> 00:04:16,684 Jesus paints us this picture 65 00:04:16,684 --> 00:04:19,219 of Judgment Day 66 00:04:19,219 --> 00:04:22,258 where the Master comes to his servants 67 00:04:22,258 --> 00:04:25,234 and to some he says, 68 00:04:25,234 --> 00:04:29,466 "Well done, good and faithful..." 69 00:04:29,466 --> 00:04:33,517 Faithful servant. 70 00:04:33,517 --> 00:04:35,352 Oh, what sweetness. 71 00:04:35,352 --> 00:04:39,070 I'll tell you, you want to hear that said about you. 72 00:04:39,070 --> 00:04:42,388 You want that, but brethren, let me tell you this. 73 00:04:42,388 --> 00:04:45,022 Jesus doesn't invent that word 74 00:04:45,022 --> 00:04:48,660 for anybody just because. 75 00:04:48,660 --> 00:04:51,686 Paul doesn't attach that title 76 00:04:51,686 --> 00:04:54,597 to the Ephesians just because. 77 00:04:54,597 --> 00:04:56,523 There's truth behind it. 78 00:04:56,523 --> 00:04:58,123 You understand? There's truth 79 00:04:58,123 --> 00:04:59,503 behind the title. 80 00:04:59,503 --> 00:05:01,058 Jesus doesn't come along 81 00:05:01,058 --> 00:05:02,928 and indiscriminately call people, 82 00:05:02,928 --> 00:05:04,999 "Well done, good and faithful servant," 83 00:05:04,999 --> 00:05:09,475 on the final day, unless indeed, they were faithful. 84 00:05:09,475 --> 00:05:11,689 You have to be faithful to be called faithful 85 00:05:11,689 --> 00:05:13,716 by Him who is the true Witness. 86 00:05:13,716 --> 00:05:15,514 He bears witness to the truth. 87 00:05:15,514 --> 00:05:17,251 Have you ever read on Judgment Day, 88 00:05:17,251 --> 00:05:18,506 the books are open. 89 00:05:18,506 --> 00:05:20,410 What's there? Our works. 90 00:05:20,410 --> 00:05:22,582 Jesus is not going to come to the conclusion 91 00:05:22,582 --> 00:05:23,681 that you were faithful, 92 00:05:23,681 --> 00:05:26,824 unless when those books were opened, you were faithful. 93 00:05:26,824 --> 00:05:28,723 Paul doesn't make this up and just say, 94 00:05:28,723 --> 00:05:30,562 well, just because they're Christians, 95 00:05:30,562 --> 00:05:32,165 I'm going to give them this title 96 00:05:32,165 --> 00:05:33,810 whether it applies to them or not. 97 00:05:33,810 --> 00:05:35,037 It does apply to them. 98 00:05:35,037 --> 00:05:36,500 It does describe them. 99 00:05:36,500 --> 00:05:38,255 It is not an artificial title. 100 00:05:38,255 --> 00:05:40,689 It has reality. It has truth behind it. 101 00:05:40,689 --> 00:05:42,858 Brethren, I'll tell you this, 102 00:05:42,858 --> 00:05:45,118 every one of you in this room right now - 103 00:05:45,118 --> 00:05:52,186 every one of you - 104 00:05:52,186 --> 00:05:57,122 there is a reality about your faithfulness. 105 00:05:57,122 --> 00:05:59,238 I want you to think about that this morning. 106 00:05:59,238 --> 00:06:00,682 Faithfulness. 107 00:06:00,682 --> 00:06:02,132 Faithful. 108 00:06:02,132 --> 00:06:05,211 I desire to flood our minds right now 109 00:06:05,211 --> 00:06:08,717 with the beauty of this virtue 110 00:06:08,717 --> 00:06:10,778 and the ways in which faithfulness 111 00:06:10,778 --> 00:06:13,147 is demonstrated. 112 00:06:13,147 --> 00:06:14,935 The title of my sermon: 113 00:06:14,935 --> 00:06:21,082 "Faithfulness: A True Virtue." 114 00:06:21,082 --> 00:06:22,882 So, let's think about this. 115 00:06:22,882 --> 00:06:24,099 Faithful. 116 00:06:24,099 --> 00:06:30,827 Okay, the word faithful in the Greek 117 00:06:30,827 --> 00:06:33,866 is the word pistos. 118 00:06:33,866 --> 00:06:37,916 It can have one of two meanings 119 00:06:37,916 --> 00:06:42,089 in Ephesians 1:1. 120 00:06:42,089 --> 00:06:47,181 This word is used in our New Testament - 121 00:06:47,181 --> 00:06:49,221 I'll give you an example. 122 00:06:49,221 --> 00:06:52,434 You remember when Thomas, 123 00:06:52,434 --> 00:06:55,718 he said, "I won't believe unless..." 124 00:06:55,718 --> 00:06:58,182 Right? "Unless I'm able to put my fingers in there, 125 00:06:58,182 --> 00:07:00,454 I'm not going to believe." 126 00:07:00,454 --> 00:07:02,401 And then when Jesus shows up 127 00:07:02,401 --> 00:07:04,406 and he does put his fingers in there, 128 00:07:04,406 --> 00:07:06,246 he calls Him, "My Lord and My God," 129 00:07:06,246 --> 00:07:08,268 and he does believe. 130 00:07:08,268 --> 00:07:14,611 And Jesus responds by saying to Thomas, 131 00:07:14,611 --> 00:07:16,130 "Put your fingers here. 132 00:07:16,130 --> 00:07:19,236 See My hands. See My side." 133 00:07:19,236 --> 00:07:23,414 He says to Thomas, 134 00:07:23,414 --> 00:07:26,848 "Don't be unbelieving, but be believing." 135 00:07:26,848 --> 00:07:29,946 Right there is our word pistos. 136 00:07:29,946 --> 00:07:36,352 It's a word that can mean 137 00:07:36,352 --> 00:07:40,997 not just faithful like we understand it, 138 00:07:40,997 --> 00:07:43,307 but full of faith. 139 00:07:43,307 --> 00:07:45,532 It can mean a believing one. 140 00:07:45,532 --> 00:07:49,746 It can mean somebody who is 141 00:07:49,746 --> 00:07:52,202 full of faith - they're believing. 142 00:07:52,202 --> 00:07:55,413 But, on the other hand, 143 00:07:55,413 --> 00:07:56,618 like when Jesus says, 144 00:07:56,618 --> 00:07:59,596 "Well done, good and faithful servant. 145 00:07:59,596 --> 00:08:04,871 You have been faithful over a little..." 146 00:08:04,871 --> 00:08:09,359 There it does mean what we typically think 147 00:08:09,359 --> 00:08:15,548 of it having that meaning of loyalty. 148 00:08:15,548 --> 00:08:17,984 Trustworthiness. 149 00:08:17,984 --> 00:08:20,174 That idea that you stand 150 00:08:20,174 --> 00:08:22,400 for something worth standing for. 151 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:26,760 That idea of being loyal to somebody 152 00:08:26,760 --> 00:08:30,662 to whom you owe loyalty. 153 00:08:30,662 --> 00:08:32,410 That's the idea. 154 00:08:32,410 --> 00:08:36,491 Now the word here can mean either one of those. 155 00:08:36,491 --> 00:08:41,994 Or perhaps, Paul doesn't mean for us 156 00:08:41,994 --> 00:08:44,658 to just choose one or the other. 157 00:08:44,658 --> 00:08:48,528 It may be that he very much has both in mind, 158 00:08:48,528 --> 00:08:50,097 because I can tell you this, 159 00:08:50,097 --> 00:08:51,925 if you're loyal to Christ, 160 00:08:51,925 --> 00:08:53,492 you're going to trust Him; 161 00:08:53,492 --> 00:08:55,730 you're going to believe what He said. 162 00:08:55,730 --> 00:08:58,162 And I don't think we want to separate these. 163 00:08:58,162 --> 00:09:01,061 But brethren, today, 164 00:09:01,061 --> 00:09:03,993 I am not so interested in talking 165 00:09:03,993 --> 00:09:07,189 about the Christian as a believer. 166 00:09:07,189 --> 00:09:09,862 What I want to talk about today 167 00:09:09,862 --> 00:09:12,331 is our loyalty to Christ 168 00:09:12,331 --> 00:09:18,009 and just what a true virtue that is. 169 00:09:18,009 --> 00:09:20,499 Faithfulness to Christ. 170 00:09:20,499 --> 00:09:24,477 Loyalty to Christ is a massive virtue 171 00:09:24,477 --> 00:09:27,244 in the Christian life. 172 00:09:27,244 --> 00:09:29,831 Brethren, I'll tell you this, 173 00:09:29,831 --> 00:09:31,654 don't discount this. 174 00:09:31,654 --> 00:09:33,365 Don't treat this lightly. 175 00:09:33,365 --> 00:09:35,311 The Lord is watching you, 176 00:09:35,311 --> 00:09:36,829 and this is something 177 00:09:36,829 --> 00:09:40,431 that is very desirable and very precious 178 00:09:40,431 --> 00:09:42,143 in the sight of the Lord. 179 00:09:42,143 --> 00:09:45,799 Listen to Scripture. 180 00:09:45,799 --> 00:09:48,588 Proverbs 12:22 181 00:09:48,588 --> 00:09:51,568 "Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, 182 00:09:51,568 --> 00:09:57,267 but those who act faithfully are His delight." 183 00:09:57,267 --> 00:09:59,414 When you are loyal to Him - 184 00:09:59,414 --> 00:10:01,334 brethren, this is life! 185 00:10:01,334 --> 00:10:03,354 This is where the rubber meets the road. 186 00:10:03,354 --> 00:10:04,937 What He's talking about is this: 187 00:10:04,937 --> 00:10:07,150 when you walk out these doors, 188 00:10:07,150 --> 00:10:09,241 and you go off into this world, 189 00:10:09,241 --> 00:10:10,985 and you're living your life 190 00:10:10,985 --> 00:10:13,075 before your family, 191 00:10:13,075 --> 00:10:14,581 before the watching world, 192 00:10:14,581 --> 00:10:16,866 in your workplace, in your school, 193 00:10:16,866 --> 00:10:21,937 wherever life takes you, 194 00:10:21,937 --> 00:10:23,911 are you living in a way 195 00:10:23,911 --> 00:10:27,437 that reflects loyalty to Christ? 196 00:10:27,437 --> 00:10:32,504 Because He finds it very desirable. 197 00:10:32,504 --> 00:10:35,344 Very precious. 198 00:10:35,344 --> 00:10:38,471 That is not a small matter to Him. 199 00:10:38,471 --> 00:10:40,570 Judgment Day bears that out: 200 00:10:40,570 --> 00:10:42,089 "Well done." 201 00:10:42,089 --> 00:10:47,126 What is it to live a life well? 202 00:10:47,126 --> 00:10:49,855 It is to live a life faithful. 203 00:10:49,855 --> 00:10:51,093 That's what He says: 204 00:10:51,093 --> 00:10:54,009 "Well done, good and faithful servant." 205 00:10:54,009 --> 00:10:55,696 You want to live a life well? 206 00:10:55,696 --> 00:10:57,506 Not well in the sight of the world; 207 00:10:57,506 --> 00:10:59,287 not well in the sight of the news, 208 00:10:59,287 --> 00:11:00,658 the media, the politicians. 209 00:11:00,658 --> 00:11:02,373 You want to live a life really well 210 00:11:02,373 --> 00:11:04,542 in the sight of God? 211 00:11:04,542 --> 00:11:06,439 Be faithful. 212 00:11:06,439 --> 00:11:07,981 Faithful. 213 00:11:07,981 --> 00:11:10,178 Faithful to Christ. 214 00:11:10,178 --> 00:11:12,550 Faithful to Him. 215 00:11:12,550 --> 00:11:13,903 That's the idea. 216 00:11:13,903 --> 00:11:17,176 The Ephesians - 217 00:11:17,176 --> 00:11:21,021 they were faithful in Christ Jesus. 218 00:11:21,021 --> 00:11:22,600 Faithful. 219 00:11:22,600 --> 00:11:27,814 Brethren, let me tell you something else about this. 220 00:11:27,814 --> 00:11:32,482 Faithfulness is a rarity. 221 00:11:32,482 --> 00:11:35,313 It is not common. 222 00:11:35,313 --> 00:11:39,868 Unfaithfulness is common. 223 00:11:39,868 --> 00:11:43,727 In marriage, in the work place, 224 00:11:43,727 --> 00:11:46,183 in the military, 225 00:11:46,183 --> 00:11:49,612 among professing Christians - 226 00:11:49,612 --> 00:11:55,629 unfaithfulness is the norm. 227 00:11:55,629 --> 00:11:57,843 You know what? We could all go around 228 00:11:57,843 --> 00:12:00,438 and we could take from our experiences 229 00:12:00,438 --> 00:12:02,089 and prove that. 230 00:12:02,089 --> 00:12:04,824 But Scripture itself bears witness. 231 00:12:04,824 --> 00:12:06,397 Proverbs 20:6 232 00:12:06,397 --> 00:12:12,066 "Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, 233 00:12:12,066 --> 00:12:17,610 but a faithful man who can find?" 234 00:12:17,610 --> 00:12:20,792 Did you hear what was said there? 235 00:12:20,792 --> 00:12:24,782 It's common to find people who will boast 236 00:12:24,782 --> 00:12:28,142 about themselves. 237 00:12:28,142 --> 00:12:33,801 It's very uncommon to find someone faithful. 238 00:12:33,801 --> 00:12:36,584 Who can find? 239 00:12:36,584 --> 00:12:39,961 The author of the Proverbs is saying, 240 00:12:39,961 --> 00:12:41,917 "who can find it?" 241 00:12:41,917 --> 00:12:43,909 It doesn't mean it's impossible to find, 242 00:12:43,909 --> 00:12:46,848 but it means it's a scarce thing. 243 00:12:46,848 --> 00:12:50,444 And did you catch the flavor of that? 244 00:12:50,444 --> 00:12:52,799 What's true about a man who wants to 245 00:12:52,799 --> 00:12:54,185 tell you about himself? 246 00:12:54,185 --> 00:12:56,722 Oh, you get around people, they talk about themselves, 247 00:12:56,722 --> 00:12:57,919 talk about themselves. 248 00:12:57,919 --> 00:13:00,081 They'll boast. 249 00:13:00,081 --> 00:13:03,046 They're not faithful to somebody else. 250 00:13:03,046 --> 00:13:08,235 They're faithful to their own reputation. 251 00:13:08,235 --> 00:13:12,373 You know, we're all faithful to something. 252 00:13:12,373 --> 00:13:14,404 What we're talking about right now 253 00:13:14,404 --> 00:13:19,470 is faithfulness and loyalty to Christ. 254 00:13:19,470 --> 00:13:21,901 So, what I want to do is I want to consider 255 00:13:21,901 --> 00:13:24,913 various examples of faithfulness 256 00:13:24,913 --> 00:13:26,853 just because I want to flood our minds 257 00:13:26,853 --> 00:13:28,875 with this idea here. 258 00:13:28,875 --> 00:13:30,662 The first one is this: 259 00:13:30,662 --> 00:13:35,506 A faithful wife. 260 00:13:35,506 --> 00:13:38,985 Think of a woman who enters into marriage. 261 00:13:38,985 --> 00:13:45,367 Now, brethren, here's the thing. 262 00:13:45,367 --> 00:13:52,749 The church is the true wife. 263 00:13:52,749 --> 00:13:55,088 We've got a lot of husbands and wives here, 264 00:13:55,088 --> 00:13:56,446 but that's the shadow. 265 00:13:56,446 --> 00:13:57,977 That's not the reality. 266 00:13:57,980 --> 00:14:02,849 The reality of the faithful wife is the church. 267 00:14:02,849 --> 00:14:06,174 Think about a woman who enters into marriage. 268 00:14:06,174 --> 00:14:10,096 Think about what characterizes 269 00:14:10,096 --> 00:14:13,405 a really faithful wife. 270 00:14:13,405 --> 00:14:15,191 You know what the proverb says? 271 00:14:15,191 --> 00:14:16,895 Think about an excellent wife, 272 00:14:16,895 --> 00:14:18,014 a faithful wife. 273 00:14:18,014 --> 00:14:19,695 The proverb says 274 00:14:19,695 --> 00:14:27,276 that the heart of her husband trusts her. 275 00:14:27,276 --> 00:14:28,800 Why? 276 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:30,657 What is it that happens in a marriage 277 00:14:30,657 --> 00:14:35,136 that causes the husband to trust her? 278 00:14:35,136 --> 00:14:39,176 She does him good and not harm 279 00:14:39,176 --> 00:14:44,211 all the days of her life. 280 00:14:44,211 --> 00:14:48,779 That's what characterizes a trustworthy wife. 281 00:14:48,779 --> 00:14:50,876 Why does her husband trust her? 282 00:14:50,876 --> 00:14:56,175 Well, because, he's the kind of husband 283 00:14:56,175 --> 00:14:59,744 that can come home early from work 284 00:14:59,744 --> 00:15:02,509 when his wife doesn't expect him; 285 00:15:02,509 --> 00:15:05,947 he can come back early from a trip 286 00:15:05,947 --> 00:15:11,793 when he's supposed to be gone longer, 287 00:15:11,793 --> 00:15:16,135 and he can walk in 288 00:15:16,135 --> 00:15:19,401 and he doesn't find his wife 289 00:15:19,401 --> 00:15:21,779 doing something she wouldn't do 290 00:15:21,779 --> 00:15:25,614 if she knew he was watching. 291 00:15:25,614 --> 00:15:28,741 He finds her faithful. 292 00:15:28,741 --> 00:15:33,007 He finds her doing him good 293 00:15:33,007 --> 00:15:35,311 and not evil. 294 00:15:35,311 --> 00:15:37,692 That's the sign of faithfulness. 295 00:15:37,692 --> 00:15:40,688 Brethren, we're talking not about the shadow here, 296 00:15:40,688 --> 00:15:42,635 we're talking about our faithfulness 297 00:15:42,635 --> 00:15:44,573 to Christ. 298 00:15:44,573 --> 00:15:46,927 That's what we're talking about. 299 00:15:46,927 --> 00:15:47,906 You know what? 300 00:15:47,906 --> 00:15:50,477 A husband that can trust his wife; 301 00:15:50,477 --> 00:15:53,427 a husband whose heart is confident 302 00:15:53,427 --> 00:15:54,583 in her faithfulness - 303 00:15:54,583 --> 00:15:55,484 you know what? 304 00:15:55,484 --> 00:15:57,942 He's the kind of husband - 305 00:15:57,942 --> 00:16:00,416 he can go outside and walk in the yard 306 00:16:00,416 --> 00:16:01,891 and he can come up to a window 307 00:16:01,891 --> 00:16:03,040 and he can look in there 308 00:16:03,040 --> 00:16:06,158 when his wife doesn't know that he's watching, 309 00:16:06,158 --> 00:16:10,458 and he can see her doing the things 310 00:16:10,458 --> 00:16:13,766 that please him. 311 00:16:13,766 --> 00:16:18,012 Or he can overhear a phone call 312 00:16:18,012 --> 00:16:22,419 when she does not know he's listening, 313 00:16:22,419 --> 00:16:26,320 and he can hear her talk about him 314 00:16:26,320 --> 00:16:28,715 and he recognizes right away, 315 00:16:28,715 --> 00:16:30,613 she honors me. 316 00:16:30,613 --> 00:16:33,975 In fact, she just was talking to somebody 317 00:16:33,975 --> 00:16:39,496 about something that if the truth were known, 318 00:16:39,496 --> 00:16:41,778 I'm not the greatest example of, 319 00:16:41,778 --> 00:16:46,026 and yet, my wife protected me right there 320 00:16:46,026 --> 00:16:48,498 rather than gossiping about me, 321 00:16:48,498 --> 00:16:50,501 complaining about me, 322 00:16:50,501 --> 00:16:53,470 tearing me down in front of whoever she was talking to, 323 00:16:53,470 --> 00:16:56,426 she protected my reputation. 324 00:16:56,426 --> 00:17:03,099 And she didn't even know I was listening. 325 00:17:03,099 --> 00:17:06,828 Listen, if you come home and find out - 326 00:17:06,828 --> 00:17:10,985 you've got certain standards for the children - 327 00:17:10,985 --> 00:17:13,422 and you find out when you're not at home, 328 00:17:13,422 --> 00:17:16,373 your wife does not uphold that standard. 329 00:17:16,373 --> 00:17:18,817 She only does it when she knows you're watching, 330 00:17:18,817 --> 00:17:20,213 but when you're not watching, 331 00:17:20,213 --> 00:17:22,402 she tells the kids, oh yeah, you can do that, 332 00:17:22,402 --> 00:17:24,281 even though dad says you can't do that. 333 00:17:24,281 --> 00:17:27,536 You see, the heart of a husband 334 00:17:27,536 --> 00:17:29,565 who trusts a faithful wife - 335 00:17:29,565 --> 00:17:34,005 he's one that he sees his wife 336 00:17:34,005 --> 00:17:37,797 is seeking to honor him. 337 00:17:37,797 --> 00:17:40,016 He can suddenly come around the corner. 338 00:17:40,016 --> 00:17:41,806 He can suddenly show up at home. 339 00:17:41,806 --> 00:17:45,622 He can suddenly walk in, 340 00:17:45,622 --> 00:17:49,104 and his wife is not a hypocrite 341 00:17:49,104 --> 00:17:50,972 who does one thing at one time 342 00:17:50,972 --> 00:17:52,088 and another at another. 343 00:17:52,088 --> 00:17:55,760 Says one thing and does another thing. 344 00:17:55,760 --> 00:17:57,499 She's not that. 345 00:17:57,499 --> 00:18:02,549 He can come home early from work or that trip, 346 00:18:02,549 --> 00:18:04,239 and you know what? 347 00:18:04,239 --> 00:18:09,654 He finds his beloved about his business. 348 00:18:09,654 --> 00:18:12,807 We're talking about the church. 349 00:18:12,807 --> 00:18:15,320 We're talking about Christians 350 00:18:15,320 --> 00:18:18,195 in their faithfulness to Christ. 351 00:18:18,195 --> 00:18:22,546 Here's the second thing, 352 00:18:22,546 --> 00:18:24,543 not just that she's trustworthy - 353 00:18:24,543 --> 00:18:26,815 we're talking about a wife here - 354 00:18:26,815 --> 00:18:29,335 but, she's always doing him good. 355 00:18:29,335 --> 00:18:31,264 You see, it's one thing to walk in 356 00:18:31,264 --> 00:18:33,168 unexpectedly upon your wife 357 00:18:33,168 --> 00:18:36,414 and find her neutral. 358 00:18:36,414 --> 00:18:38,534 It's a whole other thing when you walk in 359 00:18:38,534 --> 00:18:41,062 and you find she is specifically 360 00:18:41,062 --> 00:18:43,036 seeking to be your help. 361 00:18:43,036 --> 00:18:46,945 She is specifically seeking 362 00:18:46,945 --> 00:18:50,666 to do you good and not harm. 363 00:18:50,666 --> 00:18:55,069 She is doing the very things she is doing 364 00:18:55,069 --> 00:18:58,385 because they please you and honor you. 365 00:18:58,385 --> 00:18:59,516 You know what? 366 00:18:59,516 --> 00:19:03,557 I've come home from a long trip away, 367 00:19:03,557 --> 00:19:05,944 and I've found my wife 368 00:19:05,944 --> 00:19:08,730 had remodeled the bathroom. 369 00:19:08,730 --> 00:19:10,235 And you know while I was gone, 370 00:19:10,235 --> 00:19:11,651 I heard the stories later 371 00:19:11,651 --> 00:19:13,727 about how she was working in that bathroom 372 00:19:13,727 --> 00:19:15,368 and had all the children in there, 373 00:19:15,368 --> 00:19:17,747 and they were talking about when daddy gets home, 374 00:19:17,747 --> 00:19:19,046 when daddy gets home. 375 00:19:19,046 --> 00:19:20,765 You know, they're doing this for me; 376 00:19:20,765 --> 00:19:21,688 to surprise me. 377 00:19:21,688 --> 00:19:24,892 Here I am far away. 378 00:19:24,892 --> 00:19:27,331 She's not just sitting at Starbucks 379 00:19:27,331 --> 00:19:28,799 talking to another man. 380 00:19:28,799 --> 00:19:31,465 She's at home. 381 00:19:31,465 --> 00:19:33,335 And she's doing the very thing 382 00:19:33,335 --> 00:19:36,664 that she anticipates is going to please me 383 00:19:36,664 --> 00:19:40,065 when I walk through the door. 384 00:19:40,065 --> 00:19:43,195 That's faithful. 385 00:19:43,195 --> 00:19:47,252 It's not just the wife who doesn't do the evil, 386 00:19:47,252 --> 00:19:50,899 it's the wife who does the good. 387 00:19:50,899 --> 00:19:52,578 That's what the proverb says 388 00:19:52,578 --> 00:19:53,761 about this wife. 389 00:19:53,761 --> 00:19:57,826 But we're talking about saints 390 00:19:57,826 --> 00:20:01,669 who are being faithful to Christ Jesus. 391 00:20:01,669 --> 00:20:05,673 Brethren, let us never forget that we 392 00:20:05,673 --> 00:20:09,065 are in the truest sense the wife. 393 00:20:09,065 --> 00:20:12,251 We're talking about the beauty of faithfulness 394 00:20:12,251 --> 00:20:14,335 in my life and your life. 395 00:20:14,335 --> 00:20:17,266 Faithfulness to Christ. 396 00:20:17,266 --> 00:20:19,493 We sang, "When it's all been said and done..." 397 00:20:19,493 --> 00:20:21,717 Do you ever stop and think about that song? 398 00:20:21,717 --> 00:20:25,222 When it's all been said and done... 399 00:20:25,222 --> 00:20:26,825 what? 400 00:20:26,825 --> 00:20:28,632 When everything you're going to say 401 00:20:28,632 --> 00:20:31,100 in this lifetime has been said. 402 00:20:31,100 --> 00:20:33,495 When all the things you're going to do, 403 00:20:33,495 --> 00:20:37,101 the final period has been put there. 404 00:20:37,101 --> 00:20:39,247 When you scan all of it, 405 00:20:39,247 --> 00:20:43,251 does it speak of faithfulness to Christ? 406 00:20:43,251 --> 00:20:45,410 I'll tell you something else we think about 407 00:20:45,410 --> 00:20:47,212 when we think about a faithful woman. 408 00:20:47,212 --> 00:20:51,381 We think about purity. 409 00:20:51,381 --> 00:20:54,651 She is true to her marriage vows. 410 00:20:54,651 --> 00:20:57,452 Her heart is for one man and one man only. 411 00:20:57,452 --> 00:21:01,393 Her intimacies are reserved for one. 412 00:21:01,393 --> 00:21:02,848 She doesn't share herself. 413 00:21:02,848 --> 00:21:07,711 She guards herself; guards her heart 414 00:21:07,711 --> 00:21:11,585 from other lovers. 415 00:21:11,585 --> 00:21:12,864 Brethren, hear me. 416 00:21:12,864 --> 00:21:16,814 Those who are faithful in Christ Jesus 417 00:21:16,814 --> 00:21:21,350 are faithful to Christ Jesus. 418 00:21:21,350 --> 00:21:24,788 That is faithfulness. 419 00:21:24,788 --> 00:21:27,484 Faithful, brethren. Faithful. 420 00:21:27,484 --> 00:21:29,847 Shunning the advance of other lovers. 421 00:21:29,847 --> 00:21:31,379 But this is speaking about us. 422 00:21:31,379 --> 00:21:35,243 And this world is full of many other lovers 423 00:21:35,243 --> 00:21:38,611 who would seek to take our affections away. 424 00:21:38,611 --> 00:21:40,309 Are you faithful, brethren, 425 00:21:40,309 --> 00:21:43,206 to shun the advances 426 00:21:43,206 --> 00:21:46,058 of those other lovers? 427 00:21:46,058 --> 00:21:48,160 A faithful wife. 428 00:21:48,160 --> 00:21:49,494 Faithful. 429 00:21:49,494 --> 00:21:55,193 She is a wife who is pure. 430 00:21:55,193 --> 00:21:57,359 Brethren, I remember back 431 00:21:57,359 --> 00:21:59,358 when we were going through Hebrews, 432 00:21:59,358 --> 00:22:01,511 that drift that was warned about. 433 00:22:01,511 --> 00:22:02,931 The drifting. 434 00:22:02,931 --> 00:22:05,381 That which causes us to drift from Christ. 435 00:22:05,381 --> 00:22:07,207 Why do people drift from Christ? 436 00:22:07,207 --> 00:22:09,814 Other lovers. Always. 437 00:22:09,814 --> 00:22:15,207 The faithfulness, the loyalty 438 00:22:15,207 --> 00:22:20,812 begins to break down and the drift... 439 00:22:20,812 --> 00:22:22,681 Brethren, let me tell you something. 440 00:22:22,681 --> 00:22:25,157 Have you ever read about 441 00:22:25,157 --> 00:22:27,038 how the high priest - 442 00:22:27,038 --> 00:22:31,121 God said to Aaron and to all the high priests 443 00:22:31,121 --> 00:22:34,108 who would come from his lineage after him, 444 00:22:34,108 --> 00:22:36,928 this was said, 445 00:22:36,928 --> 00:22:41,938 "He shall take a wife in her virginity." 446 00:22:41,938 --> 00:22:44,091 You know what a high priest could never do? 447 00:22:44,091 --> 00:22:47,791 He could never marry a divorced woman, 448 00:22:47,791 --> 00:22:51,979 or a woman who had been defiled - 449 00:22:51,979 --> 00:22:55,952 raped, abused, anything like that. 450 00:22:55,952 --> 00:22:57,427 Never. 451 00:22:57,427 --> 00:23:00,358 He could never take a prostitute. 452 00:23:00,358 --> 00:23:02,874 "These he shall not marry, 453 00:23:02,874 --> 00:23:05,875 but he shall take as his wife a virgin 454 00:23:05,875 --> 00:23:07,807 of his own people." 455 00:23:07,807 --> 00:23:10,814 I want you to remember, 456 00:23:10,814 --> 00:23:13,308 we are talking about Christ. 457 00:23:13,308 --> 00:23:16,312 Christ is the high priest. 458 00:23:16,312 --> 00:23:20,315 We are the bride. 459 00:23:20,315 --> 00:23:23,146 Brethren, do you hear Paul? 460 00:23:23,146 --> 00:23:25,081 Do you hear Paul when he comes along 461 00:23:25,081 --> 00:23:26,909 to the Corinthians and he says, 462 00:23:26,909 --> 00:23:30,501 "Look, I have a divine jealousy, 463 00:23:30,501 --> 00:23:33,972 since I have betrothed you to one Husband." 464 00:23:33,972 --> 00:23:41,499 I have betrothed you to one Husband. 465 00:23:41,499 --> 00:23:49,215 "...That you would be a pure virgin for Christ." 466 00:23:49,215 --> 00:23:51,587 Pure devotion to Christ. 467 00:23:51,587 --> 00:23:53,363 Pure allegiance to Christ. 468 00:23:53,363 --> 00:23:58,324 Pure faithfulness to Christ. 469 00:23:58,324 --> 00:24:02,216 Brethren, the psalmist says, 470 00:24:02,216 --> 00:24:07,883 "The king will desire your beauty." 471 00:24:07,883 --> 00:24:09,943 Do you know what the beauty is 472 00:24:09,943 --> 00:24:12,562 that the King desires in you? 473 00:24:12,562 --> 00:24:15,104 Listen to this - that's part of the verse 474 00:24:15,104 --> 00:24:16,549 in Psalm 45. 475 00:24:16,549 --> 00:24:18,287 But right before it it says this: 476 00:24:18,287 --> 00:24:20,191 "Hear, O daughter, and consider 477 00:24:20,191 --> 00:24:21,647 and incline your ear. 478 00:24:21,647 --> 00:24:24,544 Forget your people. 479 00:24:24,544 --> 00:24:27,083 Forget your father's house 480 00:24:27,083 --> 00:24:29,513 and the king will desire your beauty." 481 00:24:29,513 --> 00:24:32,801 Do you see what it says? 482 00:24:32,801 --> 00:24:35,938 Where is the beauty? 483 00:24:35,938 --> 00:24:39,365 Where is the position you need to be in 484 00:24:39,365 --> 00:24:42,333 that Christ would desire you? 485 00:24:42,333 --> 00:24:45,755 It's forsaking your other allegiances. 486 00:24:45,755 --> 00:24:47,734 Let them go. 487 00:24:47,734 --> 00:24:51,757 The beauty He desires in you is not a physical beauty. 488 00:24:51,757 --> 00:24:54,280 It is a beauty of devotion. 489 00:24:54,280 --> 00:24:56,893 It is a beauty of faithfulness. 490 00:24:56,893 --> 00:24:58,567 You want to be attractive 491 00:24:58,567 --> 00:25:00,565 in the greatest sense possible? 492 00:25:00,565 --> 00:25:02,764 Faithfulness. 493 00:25:02,764 --> 00:25:04,768 Faithful. 494 00:25:04,768 --> 00:25:06,181 That is the attraction. 495 00:25:06,181 --> 00:25:08,150 That is the beauty. 496 00:25:08,150 --> 00:25:10,735 It is the beauty of forsaking all else 497 00:25:10,735 --> 00:25:14,018 and bowing to Him. 498 00:25:14,018 --> 00:25:20,551 Brethren, do you know in 1973, 499 00:25:20,551 --> 00:25:25,434 many of the prisoners of war 500 00:25:25,434 --> 00:25:30,410 who had been held in North Vietnamese prison camps, 501 00:25:30,410 --> 00:25:34,818 came home. 502 00:25:34,818 --> 00:25:37,997 The Vietnam War was long. 503 00:25:37,997 --> 00:25:40,900 Some of those men who came out 504 00:25:40,900 --> 00:25:45,382 of what they called the Hanoi Hilton, 505 00:25:45,382 --> 00:25:49,422 some of them that came home in 1973, 506 00:25:49,422 --> 00:25:52,969 they'd been there since 1965. 507 00:25:52,969 --> 00:25:58,471 They'd been 8 years in a North Vietnamese prison. 508 00:25:58,471 --> 00:26:00,235 Starved. 509 00:26:00,235 --> 00:26:01,701 Tortured. 510 00:26:01,701 --> 00:26:05,584 Beaten. 511 00:26:05,584 --> 00:26:10,163 And they came home in 1973. 512 00:26:10,163 --> 00:26:15,884 Do you know sadly, numbers of them, 513 00:26:15,884 --> 00:26:21,482 their wives did not wait for them? 514 00:26:21,482 --> 00:26:25,334 Some of those men got off those airplanes 515 00:26:25,334 --> 00:26:28,186 and their wives were not there to meet them. 516 00:26:28,186 --> 00:26:31,561 Their wives had divorced them. 517 00:26:31,561 --> 00:26:35,756 Some of those wives had been unfaithful. 518 00:26:35,756 --> 00:26:39,715 But there were others who had stood by their man 519 00:26:39,715 --> 00:26:41,168 for all 8 years. 520 00:26:41,168 --> 00:26:43,125 Can you imagine a woman - 521 00:26:43,125 --> 00:26:44,914 she would not let the children 522 00:26:44,914 --> 00:26:47,141 move the things on the bedstand. 523 00:26:47,141 --> 00:26:49,126 She wanted them left exactly 524 00:26:49,126 --> 00:26:51,561 as dad had left them the last time 525 00:26:51,561 --> 00:26:53,573 he was there in that room. 526 00:26:53,573 --> 00:26:55,218 Can you imagine that wife 527 00:26:55,218 --> 00:26:59,462 who she did not wash the pillow case 528 00:26:59,462 --> 00:27:01,865 on her husband's pillow for 8 years 529 00:27:01,865 --> 00:27:03,977 because each night she leaned over 530 00:27:03,977 --> 00:27:08,686 and she tried to smell what he smelled like 531 00:27:08,686 --> 00:27:12,847 if there was anything left there. 532 00:27:12,847 --> 00:27:14,961 And when he got off that airplane, 533 00:27:14,961 --> 00:27:16,742 he looked a lot older; 534 00:27:16,742 --> 00:27:18,052 he was broken; 535 00:27:18,052 --> 00:27:19,731 he had been tortured; 536 00:27:19,731 --> 00:27:21,918 he limped; 537 00:27:21,918 --> 00:27:25,014 but her heart lit up because that was her man. 538 00:27:25,014 --> 00:27:27,683 She had stayed faithful. 539 00:27:27,683 --> 00:27:31,259 Brethren, we're talking about faithfulness here. 540 00:27:31,259 --> 00:27:33,942 Faithfulness. I would ask you this. 541 00:27:33,942 --> 00:27:35,924 When you can't see the face 542 00:27:35,924 --> 00:27:37,173 of your Beloved, 543 00:27:37,173 --> 00:27:38,475 when He's hidden from you, 544 00:27:38,475 --> 00:27:41,110 you can't smell His aroma anymore, 545 00:27:41,110 --> 00:27:43,370 He's withdrawn, He's distant, 546 00:27:43,370 --> 00:27:45,326 things are hard, things are dark, 547 00:27:45,326 --> 00:27:47,561 do you chase after other lovers 548 00:27:47,561 --> 00:27:49,475 and give yourselves to those affections? 549 00:27:49,475 --> 00:27:52,198 You know what is so easy for the Christian to do? 550 00:27:52,198 --> 00:27:53,674 It is easy for the Christian 551 00:27:53,674 --> 00:27:55,734 to get in a place where suddenly, 552 00:27:55,734 --> 00:27:57,362 they can't find the Lord anymore, 553 00:27:57,362 --> 00:27:59,936 he doesn't know the Lord's blessings like he used to, 554 00:27:59,936 --> 00:28:01,693 or she doesn't - things seem dark, 555 00:28:01,693 --> 00:28:03,915 you start thinking things are unfair. 556 00:28:03,915 --> 00:28:06,278 How come I don't have what other people have? 557 00:28:06,278 --> 00:28:08,374 Well, if God is going to treat me like this, 558 00:28:08,374 --> 00:28:10,418 and I can't find Him, I can't be blessed, 559 00:28:10,418 --> 00:28:12,135 I can't enjoy what I used to enjoy, 560 00:28:12,135 --> 00:28:13,685 and have the fullness of this, 561 00:28:13,685 --> 00:28:15,516 well, then I guess I'm just going to 562 00:28:15,516 --> 00:28:16,692 chase after television, 563 00:28:16,692 --> 00:28:17,944 or chase after sports, 564 00:28:17,944 --> 00:28:19,210 or chase after money, 565 00:28:19,210 --> 00:28:21,192 or chase after this, or chase after that, 566 00:28:21,192 --> 00:28:23,872 and I feel justified. 567 00:28:23,872 --> 00:28:27,153 That is not being faithful. 568 00:28:27,153 --> 00:28:32,421 Being faithful is when it's hard, 569 00:28:32,421 --> 00:28:34,323 you say, "the Lord is my Beloved. 570 00:28:34,323 --> 00:28:35,897 He is my Husband. 571 00:28:35,897 --> 00:28:39,632 And I'm committed, no matter what may come. 572 00:28:39,632 --> 00:28:43,150 I'm committed." 573 00:28:43,150 --> 00:28:48,305 Brethren, let's think of this. 574 00:28:48,305 --> 00:28:50,817 A faithful servant. 575 00:28:50,817 --> 00:28:57,548 Let's think about a faithful servant. 576 00:28:57,548 --> 00:28:59,114 What would be one of the things 577 00:28:59,114 --> 00:29:01,061 that would jump right out at you 578 00:29:01,061 --> 00:29:02,933 as far as a faithful servant? 579 00:29:02,933 --> 00:29:04,464 I would say undoubtedly, 580 00:29:04,464 --> 00:29:06,856 the mark of a faithful servant 581 00:29:06,856 --> 00:29:11,906 is obedience to the master's will. 582 00:29:11,906 --> 00:29:13,582 Scripture's clear on this. 583 00:29:13,582 --> 00:29:15,529 Listen to just a few verses. 584 00:29:15,529 --> 00:29:17,154 Deuteronomy 28:1 585 00:29:17,154 --> 00:29:21,562 "If you faithfully obey 586 00:29:21,562 --> 00:29:23,955 the voice of the Lord your God, 587 00:29:23,955 --> 00:29:27,357 being careful to do all His commandments 588 00:29:27,357 --> 00:29:28,855 that I command you today, 589 00:29:28,855 --> 00:29:31,411 the Lord your God will set you high above 590 00:29:31,411 --> 00:29:33,486 all the nations of the earth." 591 00:29:33,486 --> 00:29:36,634 Carefulness in obedience 592 00:29:36,634 --> 00:29:40,371 is the mark of faithfulness. 593 00:29:40,371 --> 00:29:42,644 That's what that text says. 594 00:29:42,644 --> 00:29:46,702 Faithful to obey, to do. 595 00:29:46,702 --> 00:29:52,045 Careful to do all that He has said. 596 00:29:52,045 --> 00:29:54,409 Or how about this? 1 Samuel 2:35 597 00:29:54,409 --> 00:29:58,593 "I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest." 598 00:29:58,593 --> 00:30:00,345 What does that look like? 599 00:30:00,345 --> 00:30:02,921 "...Who will do according to what 600 00:30:02,921 --> 00:30:06,977 is in My heart and in My mind." 601 00:30:06,977 --> 00:30:09,532 Brethren, this is what I want to ask you. 602 00:30:09,532 --> 00:30:12,121 Does that mark your life? 603 00:30:12,121 --> 00:30:17,285 Are you faithful? 604 00:30:17,285 --> 00:30:20,705 Are you getting on the computer and doing things you ought not to do? 605 00:30:20,705 --> 00:30:25,867 That is not being faithful. 606 00:30:25,867 --> 00:30:28,951 Are you using your money in ways that honor Christ? 607 00:30:28,951 --> 00:30:31,139 And are being faithful to Him? 608 00:30:31,139 --> 00:30:33,136 Are you using your time, 609 00:30:33,136 --> 00:30:35,705 your home, your vehicle, 610 00:30:35,705 --> 00:30:39,132 your mind, your hands, your feet 611 00:30:39,132 --> 00:30:45,594 in ways that speak of faithfulness to Christ? 612 00:30:45,594 --> 00:30:48,031 Or are you being faithful to you? 613 00:30:48,031 --> 00:30:51,981 Faithful to another beloved? 614 00:30:51,981 --> 00:30:53,733 How about this? Psalm 101:6, 615 00:30:53,733 --> 00:30:56,486 "I will look with favor on the faithful in the land." 616 00:30:56,486 --> 00:30:57,777 Who are they? 617 00:30:57,777 --> 00:30:59,281 "That they may dwell with Me; 618 00:30:59,281 --> 00:31:03,163 he who walks in the way that is blameless." 619 00:31:03,163 --> 00:31:04,444 That's the one. 620 00:31:04,444 --> 00:31:06,032 That's what it is to be faithful. 621 00:31:06,032 --> 00:31:07,367 And here's the thing, 622 00:31:07,367 --> 00:31:10,702 it's not momentary or sporadic. 623 00:31:10,702 --> 00:31:12,576 We've got lots of people who will 624 00:31:12,576 --> 00:31:14,845 for a little season seek to do what's right, 625 00:31:14,845 --> 00:31:19,018 but the faithfulness is not just a momentary faithfulness. 626 00:31:19,018 --> 00:31:20,670 You know what the Lord says? 627 00:31:20,670 --> 00:31:21,942 The Lord said, 628 00:31:21,942 --> 00:31:27,135 "Who then is the faithful and wise manager?" 629 00:31:27,135 --> 00:31:28,780 Let me ask you this. 630 00:31:28,780 --> 00:31:33,950 Who is the faithful and wise manager? 631 00:31:33,950 --> 00:31:38,979 Do you know what Jesus' answer is? 632 00:31:38,979 --> 00:31:42,985 The one who when I return 633 00:31:42,985 --> 00:31:49,148 I find doing what I told him to do. 634 00:31:49,148 --> 00:31:52,655 Guess what? 635 00:31:52,655 --> 00:31:54,562 You know what the only way 636 00:31:54,562 --> 00:31:58,320 to be ready? 637 00:31:58,320 --> 00:32:01,094 To be faithful when the Master 638 00:32:01,094 --> 00:32:05,844 may arrive unexpectedly at any time? 639 00:32:05,844 --> 00:32:08,346 Brethren, I'll tell you this, 640 00:32:08,346 --> 00:32:11,274 the person who is not faithful 641 00:32:11,274 --> 00:32:12,415 but has an idea: 642 00:32:12,415 --> 00:32:14,704 "well, I'm going to be faithful when He comes," 643 00:32:14,704 --> 00:32:16,830 they will never be faithful when He comes. 644 00:32:16,830 --> 00:32:19,246 The only one who will be faithful when He comes - 645 00:32:19,246 --> 00:32:21,711 because He's coming at an hour we don't think; 646 00:32:21,711 --> 00:32:22,976 He's coming unexpectedly; 647 00:32:22,976 --> 00:32:24,241 He's coming like a thief - 648 00:32:24,241 --> 00:32:25,335 you know what? 649 00:32:25,335 --> 00:32:27,262 You know who is going to be the only one 650 00:32:27,262 --> 00:32:30,029 who is going to be faithful 651 00:32:30,029 --> 00:32:32,142 when He comes unexpectedly? 652 00:32:32,142 --> 00:32:35,832 It's the one who's faithful all the time. 653 00:32:35,832 --> 00:32:36,984 That's it. 654 00:32:36,984 --> 00:32:40,236 He's not looking for sporadic faithfulness. 655 00:32:40,236 --> 00:32:48,005 He's looking for a constancy. 656 00:32:48,005 --> 00:32:50,019 Brethren, let me ask you something. 657 00:32:50,019 --> 00:32:54,697 Imagine you're entering a company. 658 00:32:54,697 --> 00:32:56,011 Tomorrow, Monday, you drive 659 00:32:56,011 --> 00:32:57,333 to some company somewhere. 660 00:32:57,333 --> 00:32:59,097 You walk through the front doors. 661 00:32:59,097 --> 00:33:01,063 And there's the offices, 662 00:33:01,063 --> 00:33:03,518 you know, full of a bunch of cubicles. 663 00:33:03,518 --> 00:33:05,864 And you were to walk in and you were to look over 664 00:33:05,864 --> 00:33:08,489 and you see like 5 of the employees 665 00:33:08,489 --> 00:33:10,616 of that company, and they're all over there, 666 00:33:10,616 --> 00:33:12,525 and you see them standing at the opening 667 00:33:12,525 --> 00:33:13,716 of one of the cubicles, 668 00:33:13,716 --> 00:33:15,340 and you can see they're laughing 669 00:33:15,340 --> 00:33:16,994 and they're hooting it up. 670 00:33:16,994 --> 00:33:19,944 They're frittering the time away 671 00:33:19,944 --> 00:33:22,621 with a bunch of useless gossip. 672 00:33:22,621 --> 00:33:24,659 And suddenly, you're standing there 673 00:33:24,659 --> 00:33:25,920 and you're watching this, 674 00:33:25,920 --> 00:33:28,152 and suddenly, some guy walks through the doors 675 00:33:28,152 --> 00:33:29,620 and he walks right past you, 676 00:33:29,620 --> 00:33:31,895 and you just see the people scatter. 677 00:33:31,895 --> 00:33:34,948 Who do you think that was that just walked by you? 678 00:33:34,948 --> 00:33:38,488 The boss. 679 00:33:38,488 --> 00:33:40,455 Have you ever seen that? 680 00:33:40,455 --> 00:33:42,241 I've seen that happen. 681 00:33:42,241 --> 00:33:45,479 Have you ever been one of the people in the group? 682 00:33:45,479 --> 00:33:47,656 You know what that speaks of? 683 00:33:47,656 --> 00:33:50,273 You're not being faithful. 684 00:33:50,273 --> 00:33:51,728 Because you're doing something 685 00:33:51,728 --> 00:33:53,061 you would not do if you knew 686 00:33:53,061 --> 00:33:55,693 the boss was watching. 687 00:33:55,693 --> 00:33:59,159 And the thing is the Boss is watching. 688 00:33:59,159 --> 00:34:00,343 When we get negligent, 689 00:34:00,343 --> 00:34:01,693 we start to think He's not, 690 00:34:01,693 --> 00:34:04,953 and we get careless. 691 00:34:04,953 --> 00:34:08,420 Brethren, you know who you want to be? 692 00:34:08,420 --> 00:34:11,956 You want to be the one that says 693 00:34:11,956 --> 00:34:13,153 I'm loyal. 694 00:34:13,153 --> 00:34:16,507 I'm loyal to this company. 695 00:34:16,507 --> 00:34:19,034 I want to be trustworthy. I want to be honest. 696 00:34:19,034 --> 00:34:21,212 While I'm on the clock, 697 00:34:21,212 --> 00:34:24,060 I'm going to give my employer 110%. 698 00:34:24,060 --> 00:34:25,072 And you know what? 699 00:34:25,072 --> 00:34:27,774 That's a faithful employee. 700 00:34:27,774 --> 00:34:30,195 That's faithful. 701 00:34:30,195 --> 00:34:34,949 Let me tell you, the idea of a faithful servant... 702 00:34:34,949 --> 00:34:38,294 do you know the term deacon? 703 00:34:38,294 --> 00:34:42,345 It's basically a fancy expression 704 00:34:42,345 --> 00:34:46,244 for the term servant. 705 00:34:46,244 --> 00:34:48,225 In one sense, we're all to be deacons. 706 00:34:48,225 --> 00:34:49,723 We understand the distinction 707 00:34:49,723 --> 00:34:51,491 when somebody holds the office. 708 00:34:51,491 --> 00:34:53,344 Brethren, let me tell you something. 709 00:34:53,344 --> 00:34:58,209 I know a deacon in this church 710 00:34:58,209 --> 00:35:03,347 who made some kind of banking mistake. 711 00:35:03,347 --> 00:35:05,910 Maybe he didn't make deposits 712 00:35:05,910 --> 00:35:07,874 as soon as they should have been made 713 00:35:07,874 --> 00:35:09,340 or something happened, 714 00:35:09,340 --> 00:35:12,255 and fees were incurred, 715 00:35:12,255 --> 00:35:13,625 that would not have happened 716 00:35:13,625 --> 00:35:17,543 if he would have done what he should have done timely. 717 00:35:17,543 --> 00:35:20,103 And he knew it was his fault. 718 00:35:20,103 --> 00:35:24,628 And he didn't lay that burden on you. 719 00:35:24,628 --> 00:35:28,232 He paid for it out of his own pocket. 720 00:35:28,232 --> 00:35:31,896 That's a faithful servant. 721 00:35:31,896 --> 00:35:34,308 I know a deacon of this church - 722 00:35:34,308 --> 00:35:37,457 (incomplete thought). 723 00:35:37,457 --> 00:35:42,891 I saw today when I put mail that comes in 724 00:35:42,891 --> 00:35:44,656 in there first thing in the morning, 725 00:35:44,656 --> 00:35:46,339 and I looked in there and somebody 726 00:35:46,339 --> 00:35:49,705 had just emptied their pocket full of change in there. 727 00:35:49,705 --> 00:35:52,194 And I can remember back in the early days, 728 00:35:52,194 --> 00:35:54,331 sometimes some of the kids would go up 729 00:35:54,331 --> 00:35:56,800 and they would stick two pennies in. 730 00:35:56,800 --> 00:35:58,676 And you know, when you're dealing with 731 00:35:58,676 --> 00:36:00,558 bills and checks, 732 00:36:00,558 --> 00:36:07,527 and then you have to keep track of these two pennies... 733 00:36:07,527 --> 00:36:10,513 but I know that our deacons 734 00:36:10,513 --> 00:36:14,405 have been sensitive in their consciences 735 00:36:14,405 --> 00:36:16,920 to not just throw those in the garbage 736 00:36:16,920 --> 00:36:18,492 or put them in their pocket 737 00:36:18,492 --> 00:36:21,543 or hand them to a child going by. 738 00:36:21,543 --> 00:36:23,822 They have made certain they got all the way 739 00:36:23,822 --> 00:36:26,408 to being deposited in the bank. 740 00:36:26,408 --> 00:36:28,438 Why? Brethren, I'll tell you this. 741 00:36:28,438 --> 00:36:31,000 If you're faithful in little, 742 00:36:31,000 --> 00:36:32,430 you'll be faithful in much. 743 00:36:32,430 --> 00:36:35,125 That is the kind of man you want 744 00:36:35,125 --> 00:36:38,202 to handle your finances. 745 00:36:38,202 --> 00:36:41,135 Because that's somebody who is faithful. 746 00:36:41,135 --> 00:36:43,579 That's what we're talking about, brethren. 747 00:36:43,579 --> 00:36:46,948 You have been given even little things. 748 00:36:46,948 --> 00:36:49,207 The little things in life are not trivial. 749 00:36:49,207 --> 00:36:50,487 Because how you deal 750 00:36:50,487 --> 00:36:53,692 faithfully or not faithfully 751 00:36:53,692 --> 00:36:56,190 with the little things God has given to you 752 00:36:56,190 --> 00:36:59,914 will show what you will do if He gives you more. 753 00:36:59,914 --> 00:37:01,128 Bank on it. 754 00:37:01,128 --> 00:37:02,879 That is a spiritual principle. 755 00:37:02,879 --> 00:37:05,063 Faith in little - faithful in much. 756 00:37:05,063 --> 00:37:08,485 If you are faithful 757 00:37:08,485 --> 00:37:10,237 with what God has given to you, 758 00:37:10,237 --> 00:37:12,023 you will be faithful if He gives you 759 00:37:12,023 --> 00:37:13,254 ten times as much. 760 00:37:13,254 --> 00:37:14,602 Brethren, are you faithful? 761 00:37:14,602 --> 00:37:16,126 Because everybody in this room 762 00:37:16,126 --> 00:37:17,759 has been entrusted with something. 763 00:37:17,759 --> 00:37:21,561 Are you faithful in Christ Jesus? 764 00:37:21,561 --> 00:37:25,231 Are you faithful with your time? 765 00:37:25,231 --> 00:37:27,636 Brethren, there is something said in Scripture; 766 00:37:27,636 --> 00:37:31,833 there is something said about the person 767 00:37:31,833 --> 00:37:34,189 who does not give, 768 00:37:34,189 --> 00:37:39,489 and it only ends up to his own poverty. 769 00:37:39,489 --> 00:37:42,249 He withholds what he should give. 770 00:37:42,249 --> 00:37:45,716 What do you with your money? 771 00:37:45,716 --> 00:37:47,608 Do you just use it for yourself? 772 00:37:47,608 --> 00:37:49,676 Again, are you faithful to you? 773 00:37:49,676 --> 00:37:53,445 Or are you faithful to Christ? 774 00:37:53,445 --> 00:37:54,528 Think about that. 775 00:37:54,528 --> 00:37:56,001 Jesus comes along and He says, 776 00:37:56,001 --> 00:37:58,632 "Sell your possessions and give to the poor." 777 00:37:58,632 --> 00:38:02,078 Jesus says, "Don't store up treasure here." 778 00:38:02,078 --> 00:38:05,250 Jesus says, "Give..." 779 00:38:05,250 --> 00:38:08,590 Jesus would have us to be aware 780 00:38:08,590 --> 00:38:10,868 of the needs of others. 781 00:38:10,868 --> 00:38:12,227 Let me ask you something. 782 00:38:12,227 --> 00:38:14,828 If we took your money 783 00:38:14,828 --> 00:38:16,806 and we looked at how you used it 784 00:38:16,806 --> 00:38:18,991 just from January 1st to right now, 785 00:38:18,991 --> 00:38:22,830 would it declare that you're faithful to Christ? 786 00:38:22,830 --> 00:38:26,894 Or faithful to your own pleasures? 787 00:38:26,894 --> 00:38:30,401 To your own self? 788 00:38:30,401 --> 00:38:32,007 To your own agenda 789 00:38:32,007 --> 00:38:34,865 and to your own desires? 790 00:38:34,865 --> 00:38:39,601 Brethren, you are not going to hear, 791 00:38:39,601 --> 00:38:41,918 "Well done, good and faithful servant," 792 00:38:41,918 --> 00:38:50,697 unless you've been good and faithful to Christ. 793 00:38:50,697 --> 00:38:52,428 How about a faithful son? 794 00:38:52,428 --> 00:38:54,361 Let's think about that for a second. 795 00:38:54,361 --> 00:38:55,659 A faithful son. 796 00:38:55,659 --> 00:38:57,178 Three things jumped out at me 797 00:38:57,178 --> 00:38:58,808 as I thought about a faithful son. 798 00:38:58,808 --> 00:39:02,105 Brethren, you know why I'm hitting on all these? 799 00:39:02,105 --> 00:39:04,905 Because what God did so beautifully 800 00:39:04,905 --> 00:39:07,772 is He created a wife, 801 00:39:07,772 --> 00:39:10,006 and He created servants, 802 00:39:10,006 --> 00:39:13,249 and He created sons, 803 00:39:13,249 --> 00:39:16,763 all as a shadow. 804 00:39:16,763 --> 00:39:18,670 We are the wife. 805 00:39:18,670 --> 00:39:21,239 We are the servant. 806 00:39:21,239 --> 00:39:23,756 We are the sons. 807 00:39:23,756 --> 00:39:26,397 And do you know what is the hallmark 808 00:39:26,397 --> 00:39:30,741 of beauty among all of these? 809 00:39:30,741 --> 00:39:33,228 Faithfulness. 810 00:39:33,228 --> 00:39:36,239 And we are the truest expression of these things. 811 00:39:36,239 --> 00:39:38,560 Think of a son. 812 00:39:38,560 --> 00:39:41,012 You know the thing that jumps out at me 813 00:39:41,012 --> 00:39:45,712 concerning a son is this: 814 00:39:45,712 --> 00:39:49,541 He honors the family name. 815 00:39:49,541 --> 00:39:51,464 You think of this - Revelation 2:13, 816 00:39:51,464 --> 00:39:55,796 "I know where you dwell..." 817 00:39:55,796 --> 00:39:58,277 This is said to Pergamum, the church, 818 00:39:58,277 --> 00:39:59,643 by Jesus Christ. 819 00:39:59,643 --> 00:40:00,892 "I know where you dwell, 820 00:40:00,892 --> 00:40:02,478 where Satan's throne is, 821 00:40:02,478 --> 00:40:07,762 yet you hold fast My name." 822 00:40:07,762 --> 00:40:09,962 You hold fast My name. 823 00:40:09,962 --> 00:40:12,811 He said this in Revelation 3:8 824 00:40:12,811 --> 00:40:14,528 to the church at Philadelphia. 825 00:40:14,528 --> 00:40:17,439 He says, "I know you have but little power, 826 00:40:17,439 --> 00:40:18,993 yet you have kept My Word 827 00:40:18,993 --> 00:40:22,163 and have not denied My name." 828 00:40:22,163 --> 00:40:25,655 Brothers and sisters, are you faithful to the family name? 829 00:40:25,655 --> 00:40:28,071 I would ask you this. 830 00:40:28,071 --> 00:40:30,776 When you go out these doors 831 00:40:30,776 --> 00:40:34,616 in the sight of this world, 832 00:40:34,616 --> 00:40:37,898 do you compose yourself 833 00:40:37,898 --> 00:40:42,775 and carry yourselves 834 00:40:42,775 --> 00:40:46,590 as sons of the King? 835 00:40:46,590 --> 00:40:49,001 Because here's what Jesus said, 836 00:40:49,001 --> 00:40:51,590 when you go out these doors, 837 00:40:51,590 --> 00:40:56,171 the world is going to know you 838 00:40:56,171 --> 00:40:58,296 and the family you belong to 839 00:40:58,296 --> 00:41:00,202 by the way you live. 840 00:41:00,202 --> 00:41:02,435 That's what He said. 841 00:41:02,435 --> 00:41:04,990 He said if that world out there looks at you 842 00:41:04,990 --> 00:41:09,569 and sees you loving one another, 843 00:41:09,569 --> 00:41:12,604 by that they're going to know you belong to Him. 844 00:41:12,604 --> 00:41:14,492 There's a way to live to be known 845 00:41:14,492 --> 00:41:19,648 that you're attached to Christ. 846 00:41:19,648 --> 00:41:22,173 Brethren, for you to call yourselves a Christian 847 00:41:22,173 --> 00:41:24,535 and to go out here and live like mere men - 848 00:41:24,535 --> 00:41:26,850 do you remember the message we heard from Ryan 849 00:41:26,850 --> 00:41:28,232 at the conference this year? 850 00:41:28,232 --> 00:41:29,299 Living like mere men? 851 00:41:29,299 --> 00:41:31,740 This is what Paul told the Corinthians. 852 00:41:31,740 --> 00:41:33,700 He said, "you're living like mere men." 853 00:41:33,700 --> 00:41:37,254 And you know what? That was not a compliment. 854 00:41:37,254 --> 00:41:39,585 When you who call yourselves Christians 855 00:41:39,585 --> 00:41:41,132 live like mere men; 856 00:41:41,132 --> 00:41:43,316 when you live like the people in this world, 857 00:41:43,316 --> 00:41:44,539 that is no compliment. 858 00:41:44,539 --> 00:41:47,581 When you live a life that does not rise above 859 00:41:47,581 --> 00:41:49,083 what you used to be; 860 00:41:49,083 --> 00:41:53,464 when you live a life that does not distinguish itself 861 00:41:53,464 --> 00:41:55,758 from the life of everybody else out here, 862 00:41:55,758 --> 00:41:57,254 you are living like mere men 863 00:41:57,254 --> 00:41:59,871 and that is not a compliment for the Christian. 864 00:41:59,871 --> 00:42:01,600 That is not a compliment. 865 00:42:01,600 --> 00:42:04,151 That is a rebuke. 866 00:42:04,151 --> 00:42:09,478 Do you carry yourselves in the way you speak 867 00:42:09,478 --> 00:42:13,644 that proves you faithful? 868 00:42:13,644 --> 00:42:16,020 The world may not like what you are, 869 00:42:16,020 --> 00:42:18,481 but they cannot deny it 870 00:42:18,481 --> 00:42:21,287 that you look like Christ. 871 00:42:21,287 --> 00:42:23,538 They may hate you because you look like Him, 872 00:42:23,538 --> 00:42:24,633 and they will hate you, 873 00:42:24,633 --> 00:42:29,083 and you have the promise that they will hate you, 874 00:42:29,083 --> 00:42:32,401 but do you bear the family name well? 875 00:42:32,401 --> 00:42:34,420 Do you hold fast to that name? 876 00:42:34,420 --> 00:42:36,734 Do you honor that name? 877 00:42:36,734 --> 00:42:38,571 Do you not deny that name? 878 00:42:38,571 --> 00:42:40,776 Do you know what He said to Philadelphia? 879 00:42:40,776 --> 00:42:42,679 "You have little power." 880 00:42:42,679 --> 00:42:44,921 You may be weak; you may be insignificant, 881 00:42:44,921 --> 00:42:46,169 but you know what? 882 00:42:46,169 --> 00:42:48,941 That doesn't mean you can't honor His name. 883 00:42:48,941 --> 00:42:50,249 You most definitely can. 884 00:42:50,249 --> 00:42:51,607 Are you being faithful? 885 00:42:51,607 --> 00:42:53,721 Here's another thing about a faithful son. 886 00:42:53,721 --> 00:42:57,438 He honors his father's friends. 887 00:42:57,438 --> 00:42:59,479 Proverbs 27:10 says, 888 00:42:59,479 --> 00:43:02,237 "Do not forsake your friend or your father's friend." 889 00:43:02,237 --> 00:43:04,275 Now let me just tell you something here. 890 00:43:04,275 --> 00:43:06,253 Do you know when you go into the Proverbs 891 00:43:06,253 --> 00:43:08,337 and you find sons being talked about? 892 00:43:08,337 --> 00:43:12,606 Again, I'm telling you, it's a shadow. 893 00:43:12,606 --> 00:43:15,663 The author of Hebrews says when you find 894 00:43:15,663 --> 00:43:17,900 sons being written about in Proverbs, 895 00:43:17,900 --> 00:43:21,687 guess who that is? 896 00:43:21,687 --> 00:43:29,650 He says, "Don't despise the discipline of God." 897 00:43:29,650 --> 00:43:34,227 Doesn't the Proverb say concerning sons - 898 00:43:34,227 --> 00:43:36,722 doesn't it say, "you've forgotten the exhortation 899 00:43:36,722 --> 00:43:38,277 that addresses you as sons"? 900 00:43:38,277 --> 00:43:40,992 Really? That's addressing me as a son of God? 901 00:43:40,992 --> 00:43:44,041 It sounds like it's addressing the son of a man. 902 00:43:44,041 --> 00:43:46,261 When you go back and you read in the Proverbs, 903 00:43:46,261 --> 00:43:48,327 and it's speaking about a father and a son, 904 00:43:48,327 --> 00:43:50,015 it sounds like a physical father 905 00:43:50,015 --> 00:43:52,058 and a physical son in this world. 906 00:43:52,058 --> 00:43:54,460 And undoubtedly, it did mean that. 907 00:43:54,460 --> 00:43:56,314 But what the author of Hebrews says 908 00:43:56,314 --> 00:43:58,078 is you've got to look beyond that. 909 00:43:58,078 --> 00:44:00,211 There's a spiritual reality beyond that. 910 00:44:00,211 --> 00:44:02,581 You are the sons. 911 00:44:02,581 --> 00:44:05,035 And you know when it talks about sons - 912 00:44:05,035 --> 00:44:08,700 honor, they respect, they don't forsake 913 00:44:08,700 --> 00:44:11,157 the friends of their father. 914 00:44:11,157 --> 00:44:12,867 I'll just ask you this. 915 00:44:12,867 --> 00:44:14,418 When you come across somebody 916 00:44:14,418 --> 00:44:20,119 that is a friend of your Father in Heaven, 917 00:44:20,119 --> 00:44:24,212 will you embrace that person 918 00:44:24,212 --> 00:44:26,811 even though it would cause you to be despised 919 00:44:26,811 --> 00:44:30,830 by some of the highest in this world in rank? 920 00:44:30,830 --> 00:44:32,259 in authority? 921 00:44:32,259 --> 00:44:33,283 I mean this, 922 00:44:33,283 --> 00:44:34,657 you're in a situation 923 00:44:34,657 --> 00:44:37,060 where the wealthy, the famous, 924 00:44:37,060 --> 00:44:39,427 the important people in this world, 925 00:44:39,427 --> 00:44:41,477 where they're watching you, 926 00:44:41,477 --> 00:44:45,784 will you defend one of Christ's little ones? 927 00:44:45,784 --> 00:44:47,251 Even though it will cause you 928 00:44:47,251 --> 00:44:49,790 to be despised by them? 929 00:44:49,790 --> 00:44:52,679 Would you stand up in defense of a Christian 930 00:44:52,679 --> 00:44:55,279 in the sight of the important people 931 00:44:55,279 --> 00:44:57,751 in this world? 932 00:44:57,751 --> 00:44:59,347 In front of your boss? 933 00:44:59,347 --> 00:45:01,646 In front of your family? 934 00:45:01,646 --> 00:45:04,195 (Incomplete thought) 935 00:45:04,195 --> 00:45:07,476 I've said this before. 936 00:45:07,476 --> 00:45:09,851 You think of the cartoon 937 00:45:09,851 --> 00:45:11,842 the Voice of the Martyrs created 938 00:45:11,842 --> 00:45:14,867 concerning Perpetua when her father 939 00:45:14,867 --> 00:45:19,632 is ready to strike the slave girl. 940 00:45:19,632 --> 00:45:21,675 And Perpetua stands in the way 941 00:45:21,675 --> 00:45:24,368 and says to her father - he says, 942 00:45:24,368 --> 00:45:26,616 "What are you doing? She's a slave!" 943 00:45:26,616 --> 00:45:30,196 She says, "She is my sister." 944 00:45:30,196 --> 00:45:33,513 Will you stand up for your Father's friends? 945 00:45:33,513 --> 00:45:36,056 That is to be faithful. 946 00:45:36,056 --> 00:45:37,131 Faithful. 947 00:45:37,131 --> 00:45:40,856 To be a faithful son is to be faithful 948 00:45:40,856 --> 00:45:42,530 to my Father's friends. 949 00:45:42,530 --> 00:45:44,577 Or a faithful son here - 950 00:45:44,577 --> 00:45:47,140 he honors his Father's instruction. 951 00:45:47,140 --> 00:45:50,261 Proverbs 1:8, "Hear, my son, your father's instruction." 952 00:45:50,261 --> 00:45:52,108 You know what a faithful son does? 953 00:45:52,108 --> 00:45:56,124 He's got the voice of his father 954 00:45:56,124 --> 00:45:57,462 ringing in his ears. 955 00:45:57,462 --> 00:45:59,880 Brethren, are you hearing Scripture 956 00:45:59,880 --> 00:46:01,570 when you live your life? 957 00:46:01,570 --> 00:46:03,108 Are you constantly thinking 958 00:46:03,108 --> 00:46:04,400 about the things you do, 959 00:46:04,400 --> 00:46:07,167 the things you do with your money, the things you do with your life, 960 00:46:07,167 --> 00:46:09,681 the things you do with your time, the things you do with your home, 961 00:46:09,681 --> 00:46:11,192 the things you do with your vehicles, 962 00:46:11,192 --> 00:46:13,605 the things that you do with what God has given to you, 963 00:46:13,605 --> 00:46:16,254 the things you do with your giftedness, your abilities? 964 00:46:16,254 --> 00:46:17,866 Are you constantly thinking 965 00:46:17,866 --> 00:46:19,588 what does God's Word say? 966 00:46:19,588 --> 00:46:21,070 How should I be living my life? 967 00:46:21,070 --> 00:46:22,997 Is this squaring up with Scripture? 968 00:46:22,997 --> 00:46:25,345 Brethren, I'm asking myself that all the time. 969 00:46:25,345 --> 00:46:26,206 You know what? 970 00:46:26,206 --> 00:46:31,123 A faithful son has the instruction of his father 971 00:46:31,123 --> 00:46:34,622 ringing in his ears all the time. 972 00:46:34,622 --> 00:46:37,002 That is to be faithful. 973 00:46:37,002 --> 00:46:38,987 That doesn't mean we live a perfect life. 974 00:46:38,987 --> 00:46:41,416 Listen, I can tell you this. 975 00:46:41,416 --> 00:46:43,926 I think of Carlos sometimes 976 00:46:43,926 --> 00:46:45,325 when he addresses his sons. 977 00:46:45,325 --> 00:46:46,860 He says, "my boy." 978 00:46:46,860 --> 00:46:49,394 Can you imagine him saying to his youngest son, 979 00:46:49,394 --> 00:46:52,569 "my boy, bring me a glass of ice water." 980 00:46:52,569 --> 00:46:54,777 And he watches Nathan and he goes over 981 00:46:54,777 --> 00:46:57,279 and I don't know if he's got an ice maker, 982 00:46:57,279 --> 00:46:59,265 but I watch James sometimes - 983 00:46:59,265 --> 00:47:01,176 he goes over and he pushes the ice maker 984 00:47:01,176 --> 00:47:03,013 and that thing just blasts out ice 985 00:47:03,013 --> 00:47:04,901 and it overflows and goes on the floor. 986 00:47:04,901 --> 00:47:06,551 You can imagine Nathan doing that. 987 00:47:06,551 --> 00:47:08,294 Boom! And the ice goes on the floor 988 00:47:08,294 --> 00:47:09,471 and then he fills it up 989 00:47:09,471 --> 00:47:10,634 and he's walking over. 990 00:47:10,634 --> 00:47:14,025 He's small and he's bringing that to his dad 991 00:47:14,025 --> 00:47:18,199 and he sloshes water on the floor. 992 00:47:18,199 --> 00:47:21,741 And you know, what does a daddy think 993 00:47:21,741 --> 00:47:23,896 when he's got a small son? 994 00:47:23,896 --> 00:47:29,309 The daddy can look at his son and knows 995 00:47:29,309 --> 00:47:31,883 that son is trying to please me. 996 00:47:31,883 --> 00:47:33,750 Yes, he got ice all over the floor. 997 00:47:33,750 --> 00:47:36,475 Yes, he sloshed water all over the floor. 998 00:47:36,475 --> 00:47:38,843 But you can see in the son, 999 00:47:38,843 --> 00:47:42,331 there's a delight in doing his father's will. 1000 00:47:42,331 --> 00:47:44,528 Brethren, is that not how our Father is? 1001 00:47:44,528 --> 00:47:47,324 It's not a matter of whether we live our life perfectly, 1002 00:47:47,324 --> 00:47:48,788 but it's looking to see 1003 00:47:48,788 --> 00:47:51,477 are we faithful to Him 1004 00:47:51,477 --> 00:47:53,989 because we want to do what pleases Him? 1005 00:47:53,989 --> 00:47:55,341 You know what? 1006 00:47:55,341 --> 00:47:56,803 There's no father on earth 1007 00:47:56,803 --> 00:47:58,538 that's going to look at that son 1008 00:47:58,538 --> 00:48:00,776 and say, "you were unfaithful! 1009 00:48:00,776 --> 00:48:04,153 You little wretch!" 1010 00:48:04,153 --> 00:48:07,485 The father's going to smile upon that. 1011 00:48:07,485 --> 00:48:09,370 Why? Because that is faithfulness. 1012 00:48:09,370 --> 00:48:13,556 Why? Because you know the son is trying 1013 00:48:13,556 --> 00:48:17,320 to do what he believes will please his father. 1014 00:48:17,320 --> 00:48:18,677 That is faithfulness. 1015 00:48:18,677 --> 00:48:21,326 Brethren, that is faithfulness. 1016 00:48:21,326 --> 00:48:22,413 You know what? 1017 00:48:22,413 --> 00:48:23,571 We don't always remember 1018 00:48:23,571 --> 00:48:24,973 everything God has said, 1019 00:48:24,973 --> 00:48:26,440 but when we're living our life 1020 00:48:26,440 --> 00:48:28,791 and we're thinking about what we can remember 1021 00:48:28,791 --> 00:48:29,940 that God has said, 1022 00:48:29,940 --> 00:48:31,560 and we think I'm doing this 1023 00:48:31,560 --> 00:48:33,443 because I know my God has said this - 1024 00:48:33,443 --> 00:48:35,420 now somebody that's wiser may come along 1025 00:48:35,420 --> 00:48:36,487 and say but you know, 1026 00:48:36,487 --> 00:48:37,868 God also says this over here. 1027 00:48:37,868 --> 00:48:39,950 And we look at this and we say, well, yes. 1028 00:48:39,950 --> 00:48:41,121 But I'll tell you this, 1029 00:48:41,121 --> 00:48:43,118 if you do the wrong thing in this life, 1030 00:48:43,118 --> 00:48:45,532 but you're doing it because you're thinking about 1031 00:48:45,532 --> 00:48:47,417 something that God has said, 1032 00:48:47,417 --> 00:48:49,271 and you're wanting to please Him, 1033 00:48:49,271 --> 00:48:51,389 and as best as you know 1034 00:48:51,389 --> 00:48:53,270 this is what's going to please Him, 1035 00:48:53,270 --> 00:48:59,805 brethren, is that not the spirit of Romans 14? 1036 00:48:59,805 --> 00:49:04,544 Whatever you do, you do unto the Lord. 1037 00:49:04,544 --> 00:49:07,333 And that pleases the Lord. 1038 00:49:07,333 --> 00:49:10,056 That doesn't mean we can't do wrong things sometimes. 1039 00:49:10,056 --> 00:49:12,915 But brethren, you know what I'm talking about. 1040 00:49:12,915 --> 00:49:14,555 Or think about this. 1041 00:49:14,555 --> 00:49:16,615 Think about a faithful soldier. 1042 00:49:16,615 --> 00:49:20,793 A faithful soldier doesn't vacate in the battle. 1043 00:49:20,793 --> 00:49:22,669 Or think about a faithful ambassador. 1044 00:49:22,669 --> 00:49:23,812 I can remember times 1045 00:49:23,812 --> 00:49:26,719 when I'm using interpreters in other countries, 1046 00:49:26,719 --> 00:49:29,767 and they don't say what I say. 1047 00:49:29,767 --> 00:49:31,862 That is not a faithful interpreter. 1048 00:49:31,862 --> 00:49:33,629 We are to be ambassadors of Christ, 1049 00:49:33,629 --> 00:49:35,920 which means we are to take the message to them 1050 00:49:35,920 --> 00:49:38,239 and speak to them what God says in His Word. 1051 00:49:38,239 --> 00:49:39,484 That is being faithful. 1052 00:49:39,484 --> 00:49:41,806 And again, I just want to remind you all, 1053 00:49:41,806 --> 00:49:44,313 brethren, all these things - 1054 00:49:44,313 --> 00:49:46,216 we are ambassadors. 1055 00:49:46,216 --> 00:49:48,381 We are soldiers. We are sons. 1056 00:49:48,381 --> 00:49:50,839 We are servants. We are wives. 1057 00:49:50,839 --> 00:49:57,312 And all of these, a good one 1058 00:49:57,312 --> 00:49:58,952 in every one of these categories 1059 00:49:58,952 --> 00:50:02,250 is characterized by faithfulness. 1060 00:50:02,250 --> 00:50:06,586 Those Ephesians - faithful in Christ Jesus. 1061 00:50:06,586 --> 00:50:09,453 Brethren, I just want you to think, 1062 00:50:09,453 --> 00:50:15,779 does that represent your life? 1063 00:50:15,779 --> 00:50:18,077 Are you faithful? 1064 00:50:18,077 --> 00:50:20,852 Are you faithful? 1065 00:50:20,852 --> 00:50:22,659 You know what? 1066 00:50:22,659 --> 00:50:24,097 Let me ask you something. 1067 00:50:24,097 --> 00:50:26,499 A faithful servant, a faithful ambassador, 1068 00:50:26,499 --> 00:50:28,066 you can depend on them. 1069 00:50:28,066 --> 00:50:30,181 Faithful son? I can depend on him. 1070 00:50:30,181 --> 00:50:32,049 Why? Because he's going to go 1071 00:50:32,049 --> 00:50:34,378 and he's going to represent me well. 1072 00:50:34,378 --> 00:50:36,180 He's going to do what I've asked him. 1073 00:50:36,180 --> 00:50:38,272 He's going to be concerned about my honor. 1074 00:50:38,272 --> 00:50:40,027 I want to ask you this. 1075 00:50:40,027 --> 00:50:43,687 Can the Lord depend on you? 1076 00:50:43,687 --> 00:50:46,091 Don't say yes or no just because 1077 00:50:46,091 --> 00:50:47,767 you want yes to be the answer. 1078 00:50:47,767 --> 00:50:49,914 But I mean by your life. 1079 00:50:49,914 --> 00:50:53,351 Does your life speak of one 1080 00:50:53,351 --> 00:50:57,301 who the Lord can depend upon? 1081 00:50:57,301 --> 00:51:00,050 Can He trust you to protect His reputation? 1082 00:51:00,050 --> 00:51:02,265 Are you reliable? 1083 00:51:02,265 --> 00:51:04,527 Are you faithful to one Husband? 1084 00:51:04,527 --> 00:51:05,983 Devoted? 1085 00:51:05,983 --> 00:51:08,026 Can you be depended on to stand firm 1086 00:51:08,026 --> 00:51:10,107 and not waver, not flinch, 1087 00:51:10,107 --> 00:51:13,029 in your devotion to Christ? 1088 00:51:13,029 --> 00:51:15,603 Does your life exude faithfulness? 1089 00:51:15,603 --> 00:51:17,683 That's the question, brethren, that I ask. 1090 00:51:17,683 --> 00:51:23,598 This is a virtue highly to be sought. 1091 00:51:23,598 --> 00:51:28,532 A faithful man who can find? 1092 00:51:28,532 --> 00:51:31,059 This is rare. 1093 00:51:31,059 --> 00:51:35,267 But I hope that it will not be rare 1094 00:51:35,267 --> 00:51:39,649 among those who meet within these walls. 1095 00:51:39,649 --> 00:51:45,028 Father, we pray for the reality of this. 1096 00:51:45,028 --> 00:51:46,976 I pray for it in Christ's name. 1097 00:51:46,976 --> 00:51:48,814 Amen.