Free to be Faithful

Written by Christian author, Pola Muzyka.
http://strongholdsmashers.com/bible/free-faithful/

Faithfulness is a rare virtue these days. Few people realize that much of the hardship we face has its roots in unfaithfulness. In this life we will have trouble. When trouble comes we can either trust in God, or abandon him and his promises, and instead trust in our own feelings.

If we trust in our own feelings we can easily be deceived. When we are faithful we have an assurance from God that we will abound in blessings. God is faithful to us no matter what we see around us. He expects the same loyalty from us to him and his word. Since God has an advantage over us in that he knows our hearts and our very thoughts, he knows whether we are sincerely faithful or not.

We must trust his word and past evidence to know of his faithfulness to us. God can’t lie or go against his own word. Faithfulness to God might not come easy until we believe God’s Word, which assures us of his promise. Psalm 33:4 For the word of the Lord is right; and all His work is done in faithfulness.

Faithfulness is a part of the fruit of the spirit. It is a gift from God to us. After we receive Christ, ask for, and cultivate these spiritual fruits, we can be sure of a return on our investment [in submitting ourselves to God] that no human, no time, no season, and no enemy can snatch from us.

5 Biblical tips on cultivating faithfulness:

1. Ask God to give you the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is evident in the life of a faithful believer by their fruits.

Luke 11:13 If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good gifts [gifts that are to their advantage] to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask and continue to ask Him!

2. Number faithful Christians among your friends.

Proverbs 13:20 He who walks [as a companion] with wise men is wise, but he who associates with [self-confident] fools is [a fool himself and] shall smart for it.

Proverbs 28:7 Whoever keeps the law [of God and man] is a wise son, but he who is a companion of gluttons and the carousing, self-indulgent, and extravagant shames his father.

Proverbs 22:24 Make no friendships with a man given to anger, and with a wrathful man do not associate,

3. Get to know the fruit of the spirit. Be aware of spiritual fruits in others.

Matthew 7:20 Therefore, you will fully know them by their fruits.

Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you dressed as sheep, but inside they are devouring wolves. ¹⁶You will fully recognize them by their fruits. Do people pick grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?

4. Examine yourself. It is possible to think you are in Christ when you are not. Jesus is the Word and is one with His Word. If you are in Christ, the Word lives in you and is evident in your life.

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine and test and evaluate your own selves to see whether you are holding to your faith and showing the proper fruits of it. Test and prove yourselves [ not Christ]. Do you not yourselves realize and know [thoroughly by an ever-increasing experience] that Jesus Christ is in you–unless you are [counterfeits] disapproved on trial and rejected?

5. Cultivate the fruit of the Spirit. Faithfulness is a Holy Spirit fruit. Everyone makes mistakes. But the evidence that a person is a follower of Christ will be in their fruit. A true Christian won’t go by feelings, but by the word of God. They will recover, repent, and forgive others because the Holy Spirit is present.

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness,  ²³Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge].