“But the fruit of the Spirit is…faith” Galatians 5:22 KJV. Today we are again looking at the fruit of the Spirit called faith that is implanted in us by the Holy Spirit Himself. Colossians 2:7 says, “rooted and built up in Him (Christ) and established (stabilized) in the faith, (truth and truthfulness of God) as you have been taught…” (This implies the teaching of the early church leaders and their successors). And as Ephesians 4:14 says, “that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine…” It is a stabilizing faith that makes us firm, steadfast, and immovable, in the ways of God, the things of God, and the family of God! Then we mentioned that there is another Greek word that the king James translators rendered faithful (faithfulness does not appear in the King James New Testament) and that word is Pistos, meaning trustful and trustworthy. First and foremost this tells me that we should learn to fully trust God in all things because He is trustworthy; I see the faithfulness fitting like hand and glove with the fruit of faith. 1Corinthians 1:9; and 10:13 both say “God is faithful”; in 1 Thessalonians 5:24 “He who calls you is faithful…” and 2 Thessalonians 3:3 “the Lord is faithful…” As His children it is expected that we will bear His characteristics; first being faithful to God in all things reciprocating His faithfulness to us, then faithful among and before our fellowmen. In Revelation 2:10 He says “Be faithful until death…” Next be faithful in His service, Matthew 24:44-45 says “Who then is a faithful and wise servant…” It is being faithful in using what we have been given whether much or little; His commendation and rewards are to those to whom He can say “Well done good and faithful servant, you were faithful…” Matthew 25:21-23, without considering how much or how little they had to work with! And we need to make sure our words line up with His in purity, Ephesians 4:29, faith, Romans 10:8, and honesty, Ephesians 4:25; Psalm 15:4.
Faithfulness
By Rose Hill
An acceptable sacrifice was brought by Able,
Because he was righteous and his faith was stable.
Enoch was pleasing to God and with Him he talked,
And by his faith right into heaven he walked.
If we believe God and earnestly draw near,
And have faith in His word and its message we hear.
Then we will be pleasing in His sight,
And of the heavenly kingdom we’ll see its light.
Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version copyright …1982 by Thomas Nelson Co. used by permission.