To be faithful
In today’s world of spiritual chaos it is becoming a real challenge to be faithful to our God. To be faithful is to stand firm on the rock of God’s word, believing and following Him, in the midst of the testings of the world and its god Satan. All of hell will come against the true believer but his ability to stand firm, to not be moved when the testing comes, will produce endurance enabling faithfulness to God.
James makes this point in this familiar passage:
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:2–4; NASB95).
James is saying that testing will definitely come against our faith and encourages a faithful response from us. The testing can either cause us to back away from God or allow it to produce endurance in us. We then must let that endurance work in our lives to mature us toward a place of spiritual completeness. We must stand firm in our endurance because that will cause our faith to be strengthened resulting in maturity. The writer of Hebrews makes this point: “It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?” (Heb 12:7). Endurance comes from the Lord’s discipline often in the midst of testing from the enemy.
Paul warns us that the challenges to our faith will come. He bluntly says, “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim 3:12). In the same passage Paul had earlier alerted Timothy that “in the last days difficult times will come” and follows that warning with the long list of horrifying conditions that will develop. As each day passes we get closer and closer to that time of extreme difficulty. We are now living in days leading toward those last days of trouble caused by the outpouring of satanic wrath aimed at destroying our faith by enticing us to reject what God says and believe what Satan and his world system are saying.
Unfortunately, many are giving in to the pressures of the testing and rejecting God and His word. At every turn I am hearing the cry, “If God is the omniscient, loving God we say He is, why does He allow all of this evil?” The clear answer is God does not allow evil nor does He tempt us with it. James makes this case in this passage in verses 13 and 14. The originator of all evil is Satan working through our fallen human flesh. He created the havoc of sin and then entices people to blame God for its results and thus abandon their faith.
So many people today are examples of Paul’s warning to Timothy where He says people will be “. . . holding to a form of godliness, but having denied its power” (2 Tim 3:5). Perhaps many are going to church, and putting on a front of godliness, but actually denying the power of God to save and bring them to that place of spiritual completeness in Christ. They have a form of godliness but deny God’s provision for true godliness.
Paul describes the sons of God as those who are “. .. being led by the Spirit of God” (Rom 8:14). To grow toward faithfulness a believer must become familiar with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the member of the Godhead who has been given to this age to lead His people into all truth (John 16:13). It is He who guides you into the reality of God and empowers you to live faithfully toward God. It is He who empowers you to live this life so that you will not be one of those who “has a form of godliness” but denies its power (2 Tim 3:5). Get to know the Holy Spirit. Walk with Him daily and let Him gently lead you in faithfulness to God.
One last thing must be said here. Faithfulness will be difficult for you if not impossible if you are not spiritually and physically connected to the body of Christ in a real, ongoing way. I am not talking about finding a church on the corner, joining it and going regularly. Rather, I am referring to finding a group of people who also desire to be faithful to God and help others do the same.
There is a reason why Jesus said “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst” (Matt 18:20). We have bought into the “bigger is better” idea and forgotten that small groups lend themselves to genuine scripture- centered fellowship and genuine expression of God’s love in a family environment. Many of our mega churches have become places where shallow living and hypocrisy are easy and genuine accountability is difficult. The early church met for centuries in family meetings in homes around the God’s word and a family meal (Acts 2:42–47).
The point is that as a child of God you are part of a family that loves and cares for one another. God created us to be corporate beings, not isolated individualists. The world is elevating the individual in contrast to connection with others. You need others to remain faithful. He is not after religious businesses but desires to live in us as His organic body on earth ( Eph 1:23; 4:11–16; 1 Cor 12:12–31). We are the living temple of the Holy Spirit and live to function as priests and kings together (Rev 1:6; 5:10; 1 Pet 2:5–10).
Fellowship in the Greek is the word koinonia which means sharing. Luke says the believers in the beginning were “. . . continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers” (Acts 2:42). What better place to share than around a family meal where the word of God and prayers are the main activities. How unlike the stilted, programmed, services of most churches today!
Sharing involves opening your heart to others in order to encourage and comfort. It may involve apologies and repentance,asking and answering questions, praying for needs, thanksgiving for life in Christ, and exhortations from scripture. This open, sharing atmosphere encourages steps toward faithfulness and spiritual growth.
I am not saying that the traditional church service is of no value but am trying to emphasize the things we are missing by insisting on our traditions while abandoning these essentials to spiritual growth that encourage faithfulness. Perhaps we need to re-evaluate how we gather as the body of Christ. This may bring up more questions than answers but I believe the answers will come as we genuinely seek the Lord.
