(This is Part 1 of a 2 part message.)
LOVE SONGS TO OUR PRECIOUS JESUS
SWEET JESUS – SWEET JESUS, WHAT A WONDER YOU ARE, YOU’RE BRIGHTER THAN THE MORNING STAR! YOU’RE FAIRER – MUCH FAIRER, THAN THE LILY THAT GROWS BY THE WAYSIDE, PRECIOUS, MORE PRECIOUS, THAN GOLD!
YOU’RE LIKE THE ROSE OF SHARON, YOU’RE THE FAIREST OF THE FAIR, YOU ARE ALL MY HEART COULD E’ER (ever) DESIRE! SWEET JESUS, SWEET JESUS, WHAT A WONDER YOU ARE, YOU’RE PRECIOUS, MORE PRECIOUS, THAN GOLD!
I LOVE YOU LORD, AND I LIFT MY VOICE – TO WORSHIP YOU, O MY SOUL, REJOICE… TAKE JOY MY KING, IN WHAT YOU HEAR! LET ME BE A SWEET, SWEET SOUND IN YOUR EAR!
JESUS IS A FAITHFUL GOD!
Deuteronomy 7:9 – …the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the FAITHFUL GOD who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obeys his command.
Ps. 36:5 – Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; your FAITHFULNESS reaches to the clouds.
Ps. 89:1,2,5,8,24,33 – I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever; With my mouth will I make known Your FAITHFULNESS to all generations. 2 For I have said, “Mercy shall be built up forever; Your FAITHFULNESS You shall establish in the very heavens.”… And the heavens will praise Your wonders, O Lord; your FAITHFULNESS also in the assembly of the saints. O Lord God of hosts, Who is mighty like You, O Lord? Your FAITHFULNESS also surrounds You. “But My FAITHFULNESS and My mercy shall be with him, And in My name his horn shall be exalted. Nevertheless My lovingkindness I will not utterly take from him, nor allow My FAITHFULNESS to fail.
HE IS CALLED “FAITHFUL AND TRUe”
Rev. 3:7 ‘These things says He who is holy, HE WHO IS TRUE, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”:
Revelation 3:14 – “These are the words of the Amen, the trusted and FAITHFUL & TRUE Witness, the Beginning and Origin of God’s creation:
Rev. 19:11 – Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called FAITHFUL AND TRUE, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.
HIS WORDS ARE FAITHFUL & TRUE
Rev. 21:5,6 – Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are TRUE AND FAITHFUL.” Then he said to me, “These words are FAITHFUL AND TRUE.” And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place.
HIS WORKS ARE FAITHFUL
Psalm 33:4 “For the WORD of the Lord is upright, and all His work is done in FAITHFULNESS”
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE FAITHFUL?
Remaining loyal; constant; showing a strong sense of duty or responsibility; accurate; exact/the faithful – the true believers or loyal followers.
Biblical synonyms: secure; moral fidelity; stability, steady, true, sure, certain, supportive, make provision, build-up, established, trustworthy, believable, right/righteous; stand.
WHY DO THE OCEANS STAY IN THEIR BOUNDARIES? WHY DO THE STARS NOT FALL TO THE EARTH? BECAUSE OUR GOD IS FAITHFUL!
GREAT IS HIS FAITHFULNESS!!
LAMENTATIONS 3:22-24 – THROUGH THE LORD’S MERCIES WE ARE NOT CONSUMED, BECAUSE HIS COMPASSIONS FAIL NOT. 23 THEY ARE NEW EVERY MORNING; GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS. 24 “THE LORD IS MY PORTION,” SAYS MY SOUL, “THEREFORE I HOPE IN HIM!!
WE CAN SAFELY TRUST IN HIM
Psalm 118:8 – It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man,
GOD HAS PROMISED TO BE FAITHFUL TO US
Isaiah 41:10 – Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
HE IS FAITHFUL TO FORGIVE ANYONE WHO REPENTS
I John 1:9 – But if we confess our sins to Him, He is FAITHFUL and JUST to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all wickedness (unrighteousness).
GOD IS FAITHFUL TO HELP US IN OUR TEMPTATIONS
I COR. 10:13 – The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. GOD IS FAITHFUL! He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure.
IT LIMITS THE POWER OF SATAN IN OUR LIVES & gives protection!
2 THESS. 3:3 – But the Lord is FAITHFUL; He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil! one!
GOD’S FAITHFULNESS LASTS FOR ALL GENERATIONS
Psalm 119:90 – Your FAITHFULNESS extends to every generation, as enduring as the earth you created.
WHEN HE CALLS US, HE WILL BE FAITHFUL TO CONTINUE HELPING US UNTIL JESUS COMES!
I Thessalonians 5:24 – …for He who calls you is FAITHFUL!
Hebrews 10:23 – Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise!
Philippians 1:6 – And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ returns.
God will be faithful to protect and comfort us even if we “walk through the valley of the shadow of death”
Psalm 23:4 – Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and staff protect and comfort me.
DANIEL 3:8-30 (The Lord will be with us even in the fiery furnaces of life.)
We may be shaken by the enemy at times, but God will use such experiences to make us stronger and more capable of ministering to others (Luke 22:31-32).
LET’S BE FAITHFUL – LIKE JESUS. GOD IS FAITHFUL TO US – PASS IT ON!
Let’s be willing to deny ourself, take up our cross and follow Jesus (Matthew 20:38; Luke 14:27; Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; 10:21; Luke 9:23).
LET’S BE FAITHFUL IN WORSHIP
Develop our personal relationship with God (Philippians 3:8,9).
Continue to get to know God better, and grow in our knowledge of Him (Colossians 1:9-10).
Psalm 29:2 – Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; WORSHIP the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
John 4:23,24 – But the hour is coming, and now is, when the TRUE WORSHIPERS will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to WORSHIP Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who WORSHIP Him must WORSHIP in spirit and truth.”
FAITHFUL TO READ THE WORD
Jeremiah 15:16 -Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your WORD was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart;
I Peter 2:2 – …as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the WORD, that you may grow thereby…
Psalm 119:89 – Forever, O Lord, Your WORD is settled in heaven.
Ephesians 5:26 – that He might sanctify and cleanse her (the church) with the washing of water by the WORD…
Ephesians 6:17 – And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the WORD OF GOD…
Hebrews 4;12 – For the WORD OF GOD is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Psalm 119:105,130 – YOUR WORD is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.The entrance of YOUR WORDS gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.
FAITHFUL TO PRAY
Psalm 55:17 – Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice.
2 Chronicles 7:14 -… if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and PRAY and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
FAITHFUL TO PRAISE GOD
Psalm 47:6 – Sing praises to God, sing praises!
Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
All creation is to the PRAISE THE LORD! It is interesting to note that in the 14 verses of Psalm 148 there is instruction to praise the Lord 13 times!; 150; REV. 4:11
Psalm 149:1,2,6 PRAISE THE LORD! Sing to the Lord a new song, and HIS PRAISE in the assembly of saints. Let Israel rejoice in their Maker;… Let the HIGH PRAISES of God be in their mouth…
In the 6 verses of Psalm 150 we are instructed to praise the Lord 12 times! Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. PRAISE THE LORD!
Hebrews 13:15 – Therefore by Him let us continually offer the SACRIFICE OF PRAISE to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
Psalm 22:3 – You are holy, enthroned in (dwelling in) the praises of Israel.
FAITHFUL TO OBEY
John 14:15 – “If you love Me, keep My commandments“. (JESUS)
Luke 6:46 – “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?
Isaiah 1:19,20 – If you are willing and OBEDIENT, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel,
you shall be devoured by the sword”;
FAITHFUL IN SHARING THE GOSPEL WITH OTHERS
Mark 16:15 – And He (JESUS) said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
Acts 1:8 – “…you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be WITNESSES to Me” (JESUS)
Romans 1:16 – I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes…
Ephesians 2:10 – For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works..
Isaiah 43:10;44:8 – “You are My WITNESSES,” says the Lord…
FAITHFUL IN RELATIONSHIPs
2 Corinthians 7:2 – …we have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have cheated no one.
FAITHFUL IN WORK
Luke 16:10 – He who is FAITHFUL in what is least is FAITHFUL also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.
1 Corinthians. 10:31 – Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
2 Timothy 2:15 – Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Matthew 5:16 – Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your GOOD WORKS and glorify your Father in heaven.
FAITHFUL IN TOUGH TIMEs
Proverbs 24:10 -If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.
Romans 8:37 – …in all these things (right in the midst of all the trouble, conflict, and stress) we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
FAITHFUL TO KEEP PROMISES
In the story of the 2 sons given instructions to work, Jesus encourages people to follow through with what they say they will do (Matthew 21:28-30).
FAITHFUL IN SPEAKING TRUTH – BE HONEST ALWAYS
Romans 12:7 – Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
Romans 13:13 – Let us walk honestly…
Philippians 4:8 – Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble (honest), whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
I Timothy 4:12 – be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
Proverbs 23:23 – Buy the truth, and do not sell it…
I Timothy 1:12 – I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me FAITHFUL, putting me into the ministry,
FAITHFUL IN STEWARDSHIP AND GIVING
I Corinthians 4:2 – Those who have been given trust must prove themselves FAITHFUL.
2 Chronicles 31:12 – They brought in the offerings and the tithes and dedicated things FAITHFULLY.
Deuteronomy 16:17 – Every man shall give as he is able….
Acts 11:29 – The disciples gave – every man according to his ability.
2 Corinthians 9:7 – Don’t give grudgingly, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Proverbs 11:24 – There is that scatters, and yet increases, there is that withholds more than is meet, but it tends to poverty.
Luke 6:38 – Give and it shall be given…
Exodus 35:5-29 – (The wise and willing and talented gave what they could to God.)
REWARDS FOR THE FAITHFUL
Proverbs 28:20 – The FAITHFUL man abounds with blessings.
Psalm 31:23 – The Lord preserves the FAITHFUL.
Psalm. 101:6 – The Lord’s eyes are on the FAITHFUL of the land.
Matthew 24:45 – The FAITHFUL AND WISE SERVANT made ruler over His household.
Luke 19:17 – The FAITHFUL over a little – given authority over 10 cities.
I TIM. 6:2 – The FAITHFUL – partakers of the benefit.
Revelation. 2:10 – Those who are FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH are given the crown of life.
GOD IS ALWAYS FAITHFUL – WE ARE CREATED TO BE IN HIS IMAGE
Although our faithfulness wavers at times, Scripture affirms that GOD IS FAITHFUL all the time!
2 Timothy 2:13 “If we are faithless, He remains FAITHFL, for He cannot deny Himself.”
Genesis 1:27 – So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Romans 8:29 – whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son…
Colossians 3:10 – and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him..
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory...
