How to Grow in Faithfulness – Life Is a Journey, part 25
Are you moving forward or looking back? The journey of spiritual growth in faithfulness is not always an easy journey, but it is a spiritually rewarding journey. This message shows us how to grow in faith to a faithful God. When you move forward in faith, God makes a way for the victory.
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Spiritual Growth in Faithfulness
Like the Israelites, we need to learn faithfulness.
“To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, 26 to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the devious you show yourself shrewd” (Psalm 18:25-26, NIV).
Most recently we have considered life’s journey regarding spiritual growth as we considered hope of God’s grace. We then considered spiritual growth in worship, and today we’ll consider spiritual growth in faithfulness.
I want to touch on two aspects of faithfulness:
God’s faithfulness.
Israel’s faithfulness and Israel’s lack of faithfulness.
I would like you to remember as we consider Israel’s faithfulness, or lack of faithfulness, that we need to consider our own faithfulness, or lack of faithfulness.
Let me set the stage.
Pharaoh’s daughter finds Moses in some reeds along the Nile River and takes him to be her own son. Moses is redeemed from death. Moses is schooled in the ways of the Egyptians, but he never turns his back upon his own people, the Israelites. God has a plan and Moses will one day lead the Israelite people out of Egypt and to the promised land (Exodus 2).
Moses is later sent by God to lead the people of God out of 430 years of bondage in Egypt (Exodus 3).
The people of God begin to leave Egypt. The Israelites witnessed how God brought upon Egypt the different plagues, and now the Israelites are leaving Egypt and headed into a wilderness (Exodus 13).
God is faithful to his word regarding the promised land. The promise, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is being fulfilled.
God allowed the Israelites to experience the bondage of Egypt as well as witness the plagues that he brought upon the Egyptians. God used this time to test and prepare the Israelites for what they would face later.
The Israelites need to learn the faithfulness of God in Egypt, to remember God’s act of faithfulness along the journey towards the promised land, and to recall God’s faithfulness as they begin to enter and possess the promised land.
The Israelites needed to remember the faithfulness of God and not waver due to fear or doubt. They needed to learn to rest in the promises of God. They needed to learn to trust in the promises of God and remain faithful, no matter how difficult things may look.
‘Then Moses said to the people, “Commemorate this day, the day you came out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery, because the Lord brought you out of it with a mighty hand. Eat nothing containing yeast”’ (Exodus 13:3).
The Israelites were to never to forget how God led them out of Egypt with a mighty hand. But they did forget, time and again, and the people were unfaithful.
God reassures Moses that the Lord was going to deliver the people from the bondage of Egypt, and that Pharaoh and all the Egyptians would know that the Lord is God (Exodus 6-7).
As God led his people out of Egypt, we can read how God went before the Israelites in a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night (Exodus 13:21). God’s presence was seen by all the people.
Remain faithful, stand firm, move forward.
Do you know, that even if you recognize the presence of God in a situation, fear and doubt can still take place in your heart?
In the midst of God moving in the lives of the Israelites, we find the Israelites will question Moses and doubt God. The Israelites were somewhat comfortable in their bondage and suffering that they underwent in Egypt. Each time things got tough, or they were faced with a humanly impossible situation, the Israelites conveniently forgot that God was faithful. They forgot God was all powerful, all knowing and ever present. They forgot his promises and presence and looked spiritually backwards in fear towards the enemy rather than looking forward to God in faith.
Many people are comfortable in their bondage of sin. They accept or live with the suffering. It’s how they have become accustomed to live.
The desire to be free from the bondage of Egypt was what the Israelites desired. The Israelites cried out to God for deliverance. A problem occurred when God delivered the Israelites according to his plan; his way, rather than how the Israelites thought they should be delivered. The Israelites murmured and complained. They wanted to return to a lifestyle of bondage and suffering that they had become accustomed to in Egypt, rather than living spiritually free and walk faithfully with God. It was quite a learning experience.
The journey of spiritual growth in faithfulness is not always an easy journey, but it is a spiritually rewarding journey.
The Israelites experienced a different type of suffering, a different type of testing in the wilderness with God rather than what they were used to in Egypt, and they did not like it, making them want to return to the old bondage and suffering they had once known in Egypt. The people of God did not realize the old bondage under Egypt lead to physical and spiritual death, whereas the suffering in the wilderness that was before them would lead to spiritual life and freedom with God.
They were about to witness the faithfulness of God, up close and personal.
Let me be perfectly clear, you’ll learn more about the faithfulness of God in times of testing or suffering than any other time. When life is good, we often lose sight of God’s faithfulness. We may not recognize or acknowledge God’s faithfulness in a carefree situation.
The Israelites were in a difficult situation. The Red Sea was ahead of them. Pharaoh and all Egypt were coming up behind them. Mountains stood on either side. The Israelites had nowhere to run to save themselves. The people quickly murmured and complained. They accused Moses of leading them out into the wilderness to die. They complained and wished that they had stayed in Egypt. At least then their stomachs would be full, and they would not starve, they would not die of thirst or die at the hands of the Egyptian army alongside the Red Sea.
God was faithful to the people of God even when they murmured against Moses and doubted God at times (Exodus 14-19).
All the Israelites need to do was:
Not be afraid.
Stand still, stand firm in faith.
Continue moving forward and they would see the deliverance of God.
You will see deliverance by the Lord as you do the same.
Remain faithful and do not be afraid
Stand still, stand firm in faith
Continue moving forward spiritually, trusting in Christ with all your heart and you will see the deliverance of God.
‘Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” 15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on”’ (Exodus 14:13-15).
I want to jump a bit ahead and show you the faithfulness of God in Exodus chapters 14-20:
God was faithful to deliver the Israelites from Egypt’s bondage and Pharaoh.
God was faithful and parted the Red Sea and the people crossed over on dry ground.
God was faithful and healed the water and made it drinkable at Marah.
God provided water from a rock for the people to drink at Horeb.
God was faithful and provided quail and manna for the people to eat.
God made a covenant with the people of God and the people accepted.
The Israelites were sanctified and set apart unto God and God gave the Israelites 10 commandments.
In each of these cases God is faithful to the Israelites even as they complained and murmured against Moses. In murmuring against Moses, they were actually complaining, murmuring and doubting God almighty.
God’s faithfulness is seen all throughout scripture. God is faithful regarding his promise of a savior in Genesis 3 as well as Jesus’ soon return.
God allows Israel to experience the bondage of other nations at times because of their disobedience and unfaithfulness; and yet when the people of God cry out to God, God is seen extending his grace and mercy and he delivers them from oppression.
The 40 years the Israelites wandered in the wilderness was because of their disobedience and lack of faith. All of those years they would murmur and complain. Their spiritual minds and spiritual eyes were not focused God, but on what they wanted. The Israelites are seen as a rebellious people, and at other times they were seen to be faithful and committed to God. They vacillated between two points: either that of being faithful or of being rebellious and unfaithful.
There’s no middle ground. A person is faithful or unfaithful.
When we try to live our lives according to our plans and our desires, we might just find ourselves complaining, murmuring, and doubting God. So often we want God to do what we want and when we want it.
We, like the Israelites, should take note of exodus 14:13 “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today.”
We need to trust the Lord and know he is always faithful.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 is a verse we should put to memory:
“Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
Trust, give thanks, stand firm.
Whatever the situation we should try to remember not to worry. We need to remember the love and faithfulness of God. We should remember to trust God and remain faithful.
Think about the following verses.
Trust in the Lord:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Give thanks:
“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).
“Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever” (Psalm 106:1).
“But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?” (2 Corinthians 2:14-16).
Stand firm:
“You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you” (2 Chronicles 20:17).
“Now then, stand still and see this great thing the Lord is about to do before your eyes!” (1 Samuel 12:16).
“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love” (1 Corinthians 16:13-14).
As we trust the Lord, and give thanks we need to learn to stand still.
All too often we react to a situation rather than trust the Lord. We should learn to fix “our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:2-3).
The Israelites acted foolishly at times rather than looking to God. The Israelites worried and quickly thought the worst rather than trusting God. The Israelites needed to wait upon the Lord.
We are told that those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength (Isaiah 40:31).
That’s what we need to do at times. We need to wait and trust the Lord. As we learn to trust the Lord and not run after our own understanding, we will gain a new spiritual perspective. A perspective of God’s faithfulness. As we learn to trust the Lord and acknowledge his faithfulness we need to remember to move forward in faith if we are to accomplish what God desires for us to accomplish.
We cannot stand still forever. We will need to move forward and, as we do, God will part the waters; he will deliver us from evil; he will show himself strong and faithful.
God was faithful to the Israelites at the Red Sea, again at the Jordan River, and again at Jericho when the walls fell; the Israelites went in to take possession of the city and promised land. They witnessed and experienced God’s faithfulness.
Move forward in faith and God will create a victory.
The parting of the waters in your situation may not happen until you, like the Israelites, begin to move forward in faith and victory.
Remember:
The Jordan River did not part until the priests carrying the ark stepped forward into the water.
Israel possessing the promised land did not occur until they crossed over the river.
The walls of Jericho did not fall until they circled the city and shouted for the Lord as they were told.
David didn’t know how things would turn out in the lion’s den, but he trusted God and saw God’s faithfulness.
The three Hebrews trusted God when facing the fiery furnace.
Peter trusted Jesus as he stepped out of the boat and onto the water.
Isaiah trusted God and God provided an army of angels in chariots of fire.
Trust God’s faithfulness.
We, like the Israelites, need to learn to trust God’s faithfulness.
Time and again Israel lost sight of God and worshiped other gods. Yet when they cried out to God in faith, he delivered them. God is faithful all the time.
Not one of us are perfect. We will fail at times. But when you fail, when you are facing a difficult situation, when you begin to doubt the Lord, remember the faithfulness of God. Call out to him. Do not be afraid. Seek the Lord with all your heart. Confess sin and know without a doubt he is faithful and just to forgive you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness.
Choose today to:
Not be afraid in times of suffering or in times the enemy is closing in. Do not fear sickness, trust in the Lord. He is faithful.
Stand firm in faith on the promises of God.
Step forward in faith and victory in Christ and see God’s deliverance, provision, salvation, healing, and faithfulness in crisis.
You may not be aware or see it now, but God is faithful in the moment every time. I have seen God’s faithfulness in my life as I look back. Growing up, God was faithful. While in the military, God was faithful. Providing our needs, he was faithful. Opening and closing doors in my life, God was faithful.
I have seen him faithful in other people’s lives and because of that I know he will be faithful again.
What about you?
Looking back, I can see times where I forgot God’s faithfulness. I can see where I have much to learn and grow regarding faithfulness. My desire is to be found faithful because I know God is faithful.
What about you? Can you point to times in your life of God’s faithfulness? Can you see where you might need improvement regarding your faithfulness to God?
I believe we all need improvement in this area. Remember, life is a journey, and that journey includes learning to grow in faithfulness to the Lord. It is a journey of learning the faithfulness of God in every circumstance.
Let’s grow in faithfulness together. As a church; as individuals; as a community of believers. Let’s learn to encourage one another in faith. Let’s learn to proclaim God’s faithfulness at times so others will see the faithfulness of God. So, they might believe in Christ and be saved.
Let us live our faith out loud for all the world to see. Let the faithfulness of God be known.
Suggested Praise and Worship
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