Big Thought: It is never too late to be faithful. God uses His faithful and humble servant to bring salvation to His people.
1. Faithfulness sacrifices for the that brings .
a. We’re to value God’s more than our .
b. We’re to value God’s more than our .
c. This faithfulness requires .
The enemy of humility is .
1 Peter 5:5-6 (ESV) – Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility towards one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you.
C.S. Lewis on pride – There is no fault which makes a man more unpopular, and no fault which we are more unconscious of in ourselves. And the more we have it ourselves, the more we dislike it in others.
Joseph Epstein – So many people hate snobs, but you can only hate snobs if you feel superior to them. And that is simply another form of snobbery.
Timothy Keller – By definition, the more proud you are, the less proud you think you are.
2. Faithfulness receives the from God to do what God commands.
John 14:13 (ESV) – Whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
John 15:16 (ESV) – You did not choose Me but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He may give it to you.
John 16:23b (ESV) – Truly, truly I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He will give it to you.
Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV) – And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
2 Peter 1:3 (ESV) – His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence.
3. Faithfulness persistently for the of others.
Psalms 45:6 (ESV) – Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of Your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness.
Hebrews 1:8 (ESV) – But of the Son He says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom.”
4. Faithfulness enjoys , gladness, , and honor.
Esther 3:13 (ESV) – Letters were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces with instruction to destroy, kill, and to annihilate all Jews, young and old, women and children, in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods.