Here is a story that shows the great faithfulness of the Lord to answer prayer in an amazing way… (it can be found at this link: https://bible.org The Hitchhiker/Bible.org)
The Hitchhiker
Roger Simms, hitchhiking his way home, would never forget the date—May 7. His heavy suitcase made Roger tired. He was anxious to take off his army uniform once and for all. Flashing the hitchhiking sign to the oncoming car, he lost hope when he saw it was a black, sleek, new Cadillac. To his surprise the car stopped. The passenger door opened. He ran toward the car, tossed his suitcase in the back, and thanked the handsome, well-dressed man as he slid into the front seat. “Going home for keeps?” “Sure am,” Roger responded. “Well, you’re in luck if you’re going to Chicago.” “Not quite that far. Do you live in Chicago?” “I have a business there. My name is Hanover.”
After talking about many things, Roger, a Christian, felt a compulsion to witness to this fiftyish, apparently successful businessman about Christ. But he kept putting it off, till he realized he was just thirty minutes from his home. It was now or never. So, Roger cleared his throat, “Mr. Hanover, I would like to talk to you about something very important.” He then proceeded to explain the way of salvation, ultimately asking Mr. Hanover if he would like to receive Christ as his Savior. To Roger’s astonishment the Cadillac pulled over to the side of the road. Roger thought he was going to be ejected from the car. But the businessman bowed his head and received Christ, then thanked Roger. “This is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me.”
Five years went by, Roger married, had a two-year-old boy, and a business of his own. Packing his suitcase for a business trip to Chicago, he found the small, white business card Hanover had given him five years before. In Chicago he looked up Hanover Enterprises. A receptionist told him it was impossible to see Mr. Hanover, but he could see Mrs. Hanover. A little confused as to what was going on, he was ushered into a lovely office and found himself facing a keen-eyed woman in her fifties. She extended her hand. “You knew my husband?” Roger told how her husband had given him a ride when hitchhiking home after the war. “Can you tell me when that was?” “It was May 7, five years ago, the day I was discharged from the army.” “Anything special about that day?” Roger hesitated. Should he mention giving his witness? Since he had come so far, he might as well take the plunge. “Mrs. Hanover, I explained the gospel. He pulled over to the side of the road and wept against the steering wheel. He gave his life to Christ that day.” Explosive sobs shook her body. Getting a grip on herself, she sobbed, “I had prayed for my husband’s salvation for years. I believed God would save him.” “And,” said Roger, “Where is your husband, Mrs. Hanover?” “He’s dead,” she wept, struggling with words. “He was in a car crash after he let you out of the car. He never got home. You see—I thought God had not kept His promise.” Sobbing uncontrollably, she added, “I stopped living for God five years ago because I thought He had not kept His word!”
(continuation of the “Jesus is the TRUTH” theme – part 2)
Special note: Jesus is not only true – He is FAITHFUL & true – Great is His FAITHFULNESS! It is interesting that His TRUTH is linked to His FAITHFULNESS! He couldn’t be FAITHFUL without being TRUE, or TRUE without being FAITHFUL!
Revelation 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.
Revelation 21:5 – 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.”
Revelation 22:6— And he said unto me, These sayings are FAITHFUL AND TRUE:
Revelation 3:14 – These things says the Amen, the FAITHFUL AND TRUE Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God.HE IS FIRM AND FAITHFUL
HE IS THE GOD WHO NEVER CHANGES (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8; James 1:17).
HE IS THE GOD WHO NEVER FAILS. (I Corinthians 13:8; Zephaniah 3:5).
HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN, AND WILL EVER BE, THE GREAT “I AM”… Jesus said, ‘I AM THE TRUTH!”
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD TO LIE BECAUSE GOD IS A GOD OF TRUTH!!
“FAITHFUL” DEFINED
The word “Faithful” in the New Testament refers to “One who is trustworthy“, it speaks of “one Who keeps all His promises,”…
In the Old Testament, it speaks of “firmness, steadfastness, and steadiness.”
- To be faithful to something is to be devoted to it, dedicated, committed, loyal.
- To be faithful means to be trustworthy and reliable.
JESUS WAS FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH FOR US!! (Mark 14:22-26).
THE LORD IS FAITHFUL
Lamentations 3:22-23 – Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; and GREAT IS YOUR FAITHFULNESS!
Special note: His FAITHFULNESS IS ABUNDANT!
“GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS!”
There is a classic, beloved old hymn of the church –“Great is your Faithfulness!” Following are the lyrics to it:
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be
Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me
Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love
Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside
Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto meGreat is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father
THE LORD IS FAITHFUL (Cont)
Deut. 7:9 – “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the FAITHFUL God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;
Psalm 36:5 – Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; Your FAITHFULNESS reaches to the clouds.
Special note: His faithfulness is unlimited!
Psalm 37:3 – Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His FAITHFULNESS.
Psalm 40:10 – I have declared Your FAITHFULNESS and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth From the great assembly.
Psalm 89:1 – I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever; With my mouth will I make known Your FAITHFULNESS to all generations.
Psalm 89:5,8,33 – 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…. Nevertheless My lovingkindness I will not utterly take from him, Nor allow My FAITHFULNESS to fail.
Special note: His FAITHFULNESS IS UNFAILING!
Psalm 92:2 – To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your FAITHFULNESS every night,
Psalm 119:90 – Your FAITHFULNEESS endures to all generations; You established the earth, and it abides.
Psalm 31:23 – “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the FAITHFUL God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;
Psalm 143:1 – Hear my prayer, O Lord, Give ear to my supplications! In Your FAITHFULNESS answer me, And in Your righteousness.
Isaiah 25:1 – O Lord, You are my God. I will exalt You, I will praise Your name, For You have done wonderful things; Your counsels of old are FAITHFULNESS AND TRUTH.
Galatians 5:22 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, FAITHFULNESS,
I Corinthians 1:9 –God is FAITHFUL, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
I Corinthians 10:13 – No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is FAITHFUL, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
I Thessalonians 5:23-25 – Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is FAITHFUL, who also will do it.
Hebrews 2:17 – Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and FAITHFUL High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
I Peter 4:19 – Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a FAITHFUL Creator.
2 Thessalonians 3:1-3 – … 2 Pray, too, that we will be rescued from wicked and evil people, for not everyone is a believer. 3 But THE LORD IS FAITHFUL, he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.JESUS CANNOT AND WILL NOT LIE!!
GOD WANTS US TO BE FAITHFUL (like Him)…
Psalm 119:86 – All Your commandments are FAITHFUL;…
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.
Psalm 101:6 – My eyes shall be on the FAITHFUL of the land, That they may dwell with me; He who walks in a perfect way, He shall serve me.
Proverbs 13:17 – A wicked messenger falls into trouble, But a FAITHFUL ambassador brings health.
Proverbs 14:5 – A FAITHFUL witness does not lie, But a false witness will utter lies.
Proverbs 28:20 – A FAITHFUL man will abound with blessings, But he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.
Matthew 24:45 – “Who then is a FAITHFUL and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?
Matthew 25:21,23 – His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and FAITHFUL servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
Luke 16:11 – Therefore if you have not been FAITHFUL in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
Luke 19:17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were FAITHFUL in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’
I Corinthians 4:2 – Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found FAITHFUL.
2 Timothy 2:2 – And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to FAITHFUL men who will be able to teach others also.
Rev. 2:10 – Be FAITHFUL until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Rev. 17:14 – These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and FAITHFUL.
MOSES EXAMPLE
Numbers 1:7 – Not so with My servant Moses; He is FAITHFUL in all My house.
Hebrews 3:2, 5 – And Moses indeed was FAITHFUL in all His house.
GOD WANTS US TO BE Faithful…. full of faith in God.
Galatians 5:1 – Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and don’t be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
Are there things in your life that you are loyal to that might take away from your faithfulness to God as opposed to strengthen it? What are those things?
Are there some things that you might be loyal to that are distracting you from being loyal & FAITHFUL to God? God calls us to be faithful, first and foremost, to Him. God wants us to be devoted to Him, loyal to Him, committed to Him.
he Faithfulness of Jesus is All We Need
Our salvation was not based on our faithfulness, but on the faithfulness of our Redeemer Himself – Jesus Christ.
Friends will fail, but God is faithful! Family will fail, but God is faithful! Finances will fail, but God is faithful! Feelings will fail, but God is faithful!
REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS IN LIFE, “God is faithful!
II Timothy 2:11-13 – … If we are faithless, he remains faithful. He can’t deny himself.”
UNFAITHFULNESS
Psalm 5:8-10 – Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; Make Your way straight before my face.9 For there is NO FAITHFULNESS in their mouth; their inward part is destruction, Their throat is an open tomb; They flatter with their tongue. 10 Pronounce them guilty, O God! Let them fall by their own counsels; Cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions, For they have rebelled against You.
Psalm 78:8,37 – And may not be like their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that did not set its heart aright, and whose spirit was not faithful to God. For their heart was not steadfast with Him, Nor were they FAITHFUL in His covenant.
FAITHFUL PROMISES
God’s Promises are true (emphasis on his unfailing promises that are true…!)
Hebrews 10:23,35,36 – Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who PROMISED IS FAITHFUL… Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may RECEIVE THE PROMISE:
2 Corinthians 1:20 – For ALL THE PROMISES OF GOD in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.HE IS ALWAYS FAITHFUL TO HIS PROMISES!
Special note: Because “God is faithful and true,” He can be trusted to do what He says He will do. For all of God’s promises find their “yes” of fulfillment in him. And as his “yes” and our “amen”ascend to God, we bring him glory!
Hebrews 6:13-15 – For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, 14 saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
2 Peter 1:2-4 –… as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
God will stand by His Word!
Psa. 138:2. I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness; for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name.
Special note: He is not like us humans. Sometimes we might make promises and we cannot always stand behind. God is not like us in that way! What He says He will do, because He cannot lie.
Num. 23:19 – “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: has he said, and shall he not do it? or has he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”
What are some promises that you are standing on?… (Can you think of promises that are especially meaningful to you…?)
GOD WILL KEEP EVERY PROMISE HE HAS EVER MADE!
JESUS IS TRUE — CONTRAST JESUS & THE DEVIL
JESUS CANNOT AND WILL NOT LIE
Hebrews 6:17-19 – Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, 18 that by two mmutable things, in which IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD TO LIE, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, …
Titus 1:2 – in hope of eternal life which GOD, WHO CANNOT LIE, PROMISED before time began,…
THE DEVIL IS A LIAR AND THE FATHER OF IT
John 8:44 – You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
JESUS CAME TO DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL
I John 3:8 – He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
THE DEVIL STEALS, KILLS, & DESTROYS – JESUS GIVES ABUNDANT LIFE
John 10:10 – The thief (devil) does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I (Jesus) have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
SATAN’S TEMPTATION OF EVE IN THE GARDEN
He questioned God. “Has God said…”?
Genesis 3:1 – “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”
There’s a lot of people to fall into the devilish trap of questioning God & falling into unbelief & the dreadful consequences of sin.
SATAN’S TEMPTATION OF JESUS
Jesus overcame by using Scripture (God’s Word is the TRUTH) – (Matthew 4:1-11)
We overcome by the Word!
Rev. 12:11 – …they overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
Ephesians 6: 13-17 – Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand…17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the WORD OF GOD;
GOD’S WORD IS THE TRUTH (more verses)
Let’s get back to the Bible, and live according to it! It is the best way of life!
John 1:14 – And THE WORD became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father (JESUS), full of grace and TRUTH.
2 Tim. 2:15 – Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing (interpreting) the WORD OF TRUTH.
2 Cor. 6:2-7 – But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God:… 7 by the WORD OF TRUTH, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
Ephesians 1:13 – In Him you also trusted, after you heard the WORD OF TRUTH, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of PROMISE,
Colossians 1:5 – because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the WORD OF THE TRUTH of the gospel,
I Thess. 2:13 – For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received THE WORD OF GOD which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as IT IS IN TRUTH, THE WORD OF GOD, which also effectively works in you who believe.
Psalm 119:145; 151; 160 – … I will keep your statutes (Word)… You are near, O Lord; and all your commandments are TRUTH…Your WORD IS TRUE from the beginning: …
Psalm 119:105 – Your WORD is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psalm 119:130 – The entrance of YOUR WORDS GIVES LIGHT; it gives understanding unto the simple.
Psalm 33:4 – the WORD OF THE LORD IS RIGHT; and all his works are done in TRUTH.
Psalm 138:2 – I will worship toward Your holy temple, and praise Your name
for Your lovingkindness and Your TRUTH;For You have magnified Your WORD above all Your name.
Proverbs 22:21– That I may make you know the certainty of the WORDS OF TRUTH, that you may answer WORDS OF TRUTH to those who [a]send to you?
Eccl 12:10 – The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright—WORDS OF TRUTH.
James 1:18 – Of His own will He brought us forth by the WORD OF TRUTH, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
I John 3:18 – My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in TRUTH.
Revelation 19;11-13 – 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. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The WORD OF GOD.
Revelation 21:5-7 – Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said [a]to me, “Write, for these words are TRUE AND FAITHFUL.”6 And He said to me, “It[b] is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes [c]shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
Daniel 10:21 – But I will tell you what is noted in the SCRIPTURE OF TRUTH. (No one upholds me against these, except Michael your prince…)
2 Peter 1:21 – for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
GOD SAYS WHAT HE MEANS, AND MEANS WHAT HE SAYS – (no wiggle-room, or squirming around it).
It is a straight and narrow way that leads to life (Matthew 7:14)
When He says He is holy, and we are to be holy like Him, that is what He expects.
When He says we need to be forgiving, we need to forgive – or suffer the consequences.
If we don’t build on the truth, & live accordingly, we will have to suffer the consequences of our foolishness.
Don’t partake of the communion of the cup of the Lord & devils at the same time. (I Corinthians 10:21)
GOD IS A GOD OF LOVE – ALSO A GOD OF WRATH UPON WICKEDNESS AND SIN!
God is a God of judgment (some choose to ignore this fact)!
Hebrews 9:27 –… And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,…
I Peter 4:17 – For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?
Ezekiel 7:7-9 – Doom has come to you, you who dwell in the land; the time has come, a day of trouble is near, and not of rejoicing in the mountains. 8 Now upon you I will soon pour out My fury, and spend My anger upon you; I will judge you according to your ways, and I will repay you for all your abominations.9 ‘My eye will not spare, nor will I have pity; I will repay you according to your ways, and your abominations will be in your midst. Then you shall know that I am the Lord who strikes.
God’s is angry with sinners every day – (Psalm 7:11)
Psalm 96:13 – …before the Lord. For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with His TRUTH.
ALL LIARS ARE DESTINED TO THE LAKE OF FIRE FOREVER
Rev. 21:8 – the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and ALL LIARS shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
2 Thess. 2:12-13 – that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the TRUTH,…
WALKING IN THE TRUTH
3 John 3-4 – For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the TRUTH. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in TRUTH.
2 John 4 – I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in TRUTH, as we received commandment from the Father.
I John 1:5-10 – This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the TRUTH. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and THE TRUTH is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
THE TRUTH WILL PREVAIL!
2 Cor. 13:8 – For we can do nothing against the TRUTH, but for the TRUTH.
Ephesians 4:15 – speaking the TRUTH in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—
Matthew 16:18 – …I will build My church, and the gates of Hell (Hades) shall not prevail against it.
2 Corinthians 2:14 – Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph (always causes us to triumph) in Christ,
OTHER SCRIPTURES (Misc – for personal application)
Joshua 24:14 – (serve Him in sincerity and in TRUTH).
Psalm 51:6; 15:2 – (God wants TRUTH in the inward parts/heart).
Psalm 40:11 – (TRUTH preserves).
John 4:23-24 – (God is looking for TRUE worshipers who are worshiping in TRUTH).
Prov. 3:3-4 – (TRUTH brings favor and good understanding with God and people).
Is. 25:1 – (The counsels of the Lord are FAITHFULNESS AND TRUTH).
Is. 26:2 – (the righteous nation keeps the TRUTH).
I John 4:6 – …discern between the spirit of TRUTH, and the spirit of error.
3 John 8 – (fellow-helpers to the TRUTH).
CONCLUSION
Even in extreme cases, God was faithful. He will be faithful to us! Rest in Him. Trust Him. Serve Him. Believe Him. He is Who He claims to be, and He will do all that He has promised to do. He is The Faithful and True God!
Let’s unitedly work together for the TRUTH, uphold the TRUTH, live by the TRUTH, and help one another promote it… Even as Jesus is ‘FAITHFUL & TRUE’, — let’s be faithful & true to Him and others!
SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Thanks to Evelyn Asuncion for assisting in some of the preparation as well as the sharing of this message at our online service!
