We Are Faithful

We Are Faithful 

Exodus 36:8-38:31 (for reference only)

The people set out to build the tabernacle, making the temple curtains according to the word of the Lord, making the veil  and the tabernacle door according to the word of the Lord. Bezalel made the ark of the covenant according to the word of the Lord, then he made the table for the showbread, the golden lampstands, the altar of incense, the holy anointing oil and the incense according to the detailed instructions of the Lord. He then made the altar of burnt offering, the bronze laver and the bronze mirrors according to the detailed word of the Lord. He made the court of the tabernacle, with its hangings, hooks of silver and sockets of bronze according to the detailed word of the Lord.

Read Exodus 38:21-31

The people stayed faithful to God’s assignment until the work was completed. They were faithful with all God commanded them.

Last week, Ps Matt brought to us the definitive characteristics of FVC- this is who we are. We are passionate. What a great sermon! We want to define our culture, but also we can pass on our culture to future generations until the return of Christ. We are passionate.

Our next characteristic is “WE are faithful!” God requires a people in every generation that our faithful. Here at FVC, we are faithful. This word describes not just what we do, or the way in which we do it, but who we are. These are the words that we long to hear at the end of our life,

Matthew 25:21  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.’

 Well done good and faithful servant. Not good and faithful pastor or church planter, NOT good and faithful deacon. Not good and faithful worship leader, kid’s minister, usher, missionary. Good and faithful servant.

The servant is praised, not for success, but for 2 things- being “good,” translated as you used the resources, talents given you for the benefit of the Lord’s kingdom, you were beneficial and fruitful with His resources; and “faithful,” true to the master’s interests, not idle or inactive, but keeping one object always before you, steadily aiming at fidelity and loyalty to the Lord.

What does God require of you – and what does He require of me? It appears to revolve around one thing of great importance to the Lord: faithfulness. God does not require great things. He requires faithfulness. God does not require big ministries. He requires faithfulness. God does not require important works. He requires faithfulness. God does not demand spectacular feats or impossible tasks. He requires faithful servants

The older I get, the less I care about your anointing, or gifting or title, or intelligence. If you are all these things, good. But I cannot think of one person I admire who is not faithful.

Faithful in the Greek means trustworthy, it’s root word means to assent, to yield to evidence or authority, to obey, trust and yield. This is the only word used for faithful, and it is used to describe God and His servants. How God is toward us, how we are towards God and one another. Same word.

AND it takes zero talent to be faithful.

Faithfulness is not one big moment- it is hundreds of small obediences. As the Tabernacle did not just appear- it was built brick by brick, nail by nail. So is faithfulness in your life.

We are faithful to the blueprint (Exodus 36:8-37)

God gave exact instructions for the Tabernacle and the people built it exactly according to the pattern- no creative freestyling, it was to be built according to God’s blueprint

Faithfulness means obeying God’s Scriptural Word, laws and design, not inventing our own shortcuts and set of rules. FVC is faithful to the Lord and His Word!

Deuteronomy 28:1-2  “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. 2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God:

The muslim lady at Target, muslims at the production of Scrooge- laid down their mats at noon

Why are Muslims, who are in a false religion, more faithful to the Koran than Christians are dedicated to the Word of the Lord?

Now adays it is popular to have “my truth”. There is no “my truth or your truth” only THE truth! The Word of God is under attack like never before, but here at FVC we are faithful to God’s Word. Ps Kevin is faithful to preach the Word. Angie and Andy are faithful to teach the junior high kids on Monday nights. Gaalya, Debbie, and Jeane are faithful to teach God’s Word on Tuesday night bible study. Amber and all the FVC academy teachers are faithful to teach our kid’s God’s Word. FVC is faithful to God’s holy Word.

We obey His commands. We preach and teach the whole counsel of God, even when its not popular. This area is a dark area, the Word is a lamp unto our feet.

1 John 2:3  Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

We cannot say we know Him, if we are not faithful to His commands. FVC is faithful to obey and teach His Word. Like king David, we will love and cling to it tightly.

Psalm 119:9-16  How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. 10 With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! 11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.
12 Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes. 13 With my lips I have declared All the judgments of Your mouth. 14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. 15 I will meditate on Your precepts, And [a]contemplate Your ways. 16 I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.

We build the church according to God’s blueprint. We do not rewrite God’s design, but build brick by brick. We raise up faithful deacons like the Brackets and the Burgans, who are faithful to serve you. We have anointed and faithful pastors like the Sommers, the Mugi’s and the Alexanders, who shepherd you and care for you.  We have faithful people that have stuck with us for years, people like the O’Neil’s, young and old, faithful servants who tithe, serve and give according to God’s blueprint. Faith has started an evangelism fire in our youth and they are faithful to go out and preach the gospel to their peers, in the schools and colleges, according to God’s Word.

We are faithful to baptize and make disciples. We are faithful to keep our Lord’s command to take communion, to worship Him in Spirit and in truth- Amanda makes sure we stay faithful to His Word in our worship, according to His blueprint. 

WE are faithful to extend grace and forgive quickly, according to His blueprint. WE do not take offense- offense is a choice. We build up, we are patient and longsuffering. We are gentle, kind and restorative. We are faithful to rebuke and encourage each other for another’s best interest.  Many here have gone through horrible things and have chosen the path of grace and forgiveness because we are faithful to God’s blueprint for unity 

We are faithful in our actions (Exodus 37:1-29)

Bezalel builds the Ark, the Table, the Lampstand, Altar of Incense- intricate details inside the inner sanctuary that nobody would ever see except the priests.

They followed His details exactly and made it beautiful, even though it was hidden because faithfulness is about obeying God when no one is watching.

Faithfulness is proven most when unseen. Ex: my step dad building a house, picking out the wood carefully, took his time. The homeowners would never see the framework- but don’t you want a house with a solid frame?

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.

Whether or not anyone sees, God sees. We have an audience of One. It matters how you clean this church and whether or not you wipe down the nursery toys, even though no one is watching. EX: Amanda Shields shared her testimony about her voice

People at this church help others get jobs, we go and help others with their kids- Jenna needed help the other day and Daneysha stepped up. We help people with their marriages and help others when they fall on hard times. And you will never know who does these things, but we are faithful to do them when no one sees. You will never see those who have sacrificed their time and money day in and day out. Our church is where it is at 22 years now because of good and faithful, hidden servants. I do not want to even mention some poles names because it would rob them of a blessing!

One of my favorite sermons was one I preached on Silas- not because I preached it but because I had to investigate and study his life.

Not a syllable that Silas ever said is recorded in Scripture. He had been a chief man among the brethren when he was in Jerusalem, but, like some other big fish in a little pond, he came to be anything but a big fish when he got alongside of Paul. He did not say: ‘I’m the chief here and I am not going to be second!” By no means! He could not do Paul’s work, but he could endure stripes along with him in the prison at Philippi, and he took them. He could not write as Peter could; it was not his work to do that. But he could carry one of Peter’s letters. Hidden work was what God had called Silas to do, and so he found joy in it and did it faithfully.

What was recorded in Scripture of Silas? That he was a genius, a wise philosopher, an eloquent preacher, a statesman, a warrior, poet, painter? No! ‘A faithful brother.’ He may have been a commonplace one. We do not know anything about his intellectual capacity. He may have had very narrow limitations and very few powers, or he may have been a man of large faculty and acquirements. But these things drop out of sight; and this remains–that he was faithful. 

It is meant in both senses of the word.  The one of these is the root of the other; for a man that is full of faith is a man who may be trusted, is reliable, and will be sure to fulfil all the obligations of his position, and to do all the duties that are laid upon him. 

It will be recorded in heaven that FVC was faithful.

We are counting on you to show up when you volunteer, and not just show up but do a good job. You should treat God’s house better than your own house. You count on myself and pastor Matt to show up- why are you any different? Your gifts and faithfulness are just as much needed here as ours. Bryan Strong is faithful to show up and clean every third Saturday. There are other faithful people who make lessons, practice instruments, meet with your children faithfully. We are faithful win our actions

WE are faithful in our words- we commit and see it through. Bezalel must have worked years on the temple, but he was faithful to the work that he committed to. We do what we say we will do to the best of our ability. Talk about Ps Shelly- I can always count on her to do what she commits to. She lets me know what she is doing, when she is doing it and how she is getting it done. If she cannot do something, she lets me know that as well. I trust her word and her commitment. She has been faithful for 22 years and I expect she will be faithful for 22 more. 

Matthew 5:37  But let [a]your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

It used to be that our word was binding, but not so anymore. I think the word of  a Christian should mean something, not just giving someone lip service. Trust is tricky. It can take a lifetime to build and a moment to erase.

Proverbs 20:6  Most men will proclaim each his own [a]goodness, But who can find a faithful man?

We are faithful with the materials God provides (Exodus 38:1-31)

They built the altar of burnt offering, the basin, the courtyard- using the materials the people had provided. They kept a careful inventory of all the gold, silver, and bronze collected and used. They gave a full public accounting and didn’t cut corners to save time or money. 

Faithfulness includes being honest and trustworthy with God’s resources. We are wise stewards- we do not waste, or hoard the gifts, talents and resources given us, but use faithfully what has been entrusted to us. 

1 Corinthians 4:2  Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

WE steward well our gifts from the Lord. Whatever you have been given- whether it is physical blessings, or spiritual gifts; we are to use these things for His benefit. Remember “Well done GOOD and faithful servant”, the servant uses God’s resources for His benefit. 

Psalm 24:1 The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.

1 Corinthians 4:7  For who [a]makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

God owns it all- when you do things from this perspective, it will help you to remain faithful. We give financially back to Him what He has given us. Our homes belong to Him- Larson’s do this very well. Our spiritual gifts and talents are all for Him and His kingdom for His benefit. You and I own nothing. WE have faithful people who gave sacrificially to buy this church building! God is smiling on the faithful of FVC

We also steward well the brethren. Do not be like Cain, “am I my brother’s keeper?” YES

Philippians 2:4  Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Jesus tells us that others will know we are His disciples by how well we love one another. We take care of each other. We give when others need it. We pray together. We laugh together and we weep together and we endure 6th grade graduations together. (pause)

We are the living bricks being built into a spiritual house- how we are cut and placed matters. Like bricks, we depend on and support one another. 

Engrafted Word- the bricks fell because they were not secured properly to the foundation

1 Peter 2:5  you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

We are planted and faithful to one another and our church. We support, defend, and love her. Yes, we love the global church; but we should have a special love for those we are planted with. We are faithful to FVC. People ask us why we have membership, what is its purpose? I suppose it is the same reason that you have a marriage ceremony and say vows to one another. Faithful people make a vow and keep it. 

Ecc 5:5 Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.

I heard a pastor say that if you get married in front of people, you should invite all those same people to your divorce and tell them why you cannot fulfill your vow. When people leave here right, we bring them up tp the front and send them off. We are faithful to our covenant vows to this church and one another.

When Ps Matt casts a vision- we get on board with it, we don’t grumble and complain. 

In 1 Samuel 14, Jonathan tells his armor bearer, “let us go up to the philistines” and what does he reply?

1 Sam 14:7 7 So his armorbearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart. Go then; here I am with you, according to your heart.”

This is the heart of the faithful church. We do not have to understand why. We do not need to say, “I would not do it that way”. Grumblers and complainers cause division (2 visions).  . We are committed and faithful to the vision. We champion and defend pastor’s vision and give up our own right to understand. Jonathan and his armor bearer slew 20 of the philistines. It caused a great trembling in the camp and gave courage to the rest of the Israelite army. God only needs a few faithful to accomplish much

I love FVC! One of the things the Lord spoke to me through the covid years was that this was my post. The light overtakes the darkness- imagine what it looks like in the spiritual when we come together in spirit and in truth to worship a wonderful God.

This world is not my home, but I am planted here until I hear His audible voice or Jesus returns. And so I am faithful to God my Savior, faithful to obey His Word, faithful to you all and I am faithful to my church. 

Faithfulness is a a rare trait, but not here at FVC

FVC you have been faithful servants. We are faithful, we are going to raise faithful kids who love and serve the Lord and we are going to teach them to be faithful to all His ways and to one another. We will pass faithfulness on to the next generation. This is who we are and what we do