and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust

to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

2Tim 2:2 

Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 

1Cor. 4:2

2 Timothy 2:1-7; Mat. 24:14-30; Luke 19:11-27

Recurrent Thought

Faithfulness creates capacity that fosters greater performance

The Church Universal, over the last two thousands years, has grown, deepened, expanded and continued to exist through and by the stewardship responsibilities of Faithful Men (& Women). Faithful men have been the custodians of the truth and transmitters of the same to others. The Principle of 2 Tim. 2:2 shows that Faithful People are the key to the development and continued existence of the Church in its various expressions as found in different geographical and cultural dimensions of the World. Faithful People, those willing to do kingdom work, are to a larger extent the reason for the growth of local churches, and by extension Kingdom Expansion.

Paul expresses the truth that stewarding and transmission of the biblical truth depends on Faithful Men. Furthermore, the discipling of other believers depends on Faithful Men. The force of Faithfulness is better expressed in the Parables of the Minas and Talents. The Parable of the Talents (Mat. 24:14-30) in Mathew and the Parables of the Minas (Luke 19:11-27) both show one powerful spiritual lesson that steadfast stewardship over small things leads to greater responsibilities and rewards. Faithfulness brings promotion; one changes levels of performance. In this kingdom economy, a reward is not a life of luxury, but rather an expansion of meaningful work and influence. It is authority to impact others. Faithfulness confers on you the capacity and unction to influence others. In Gods kingdom authority is conferred on one by the virtue of Faithfulness.

In this Message our desire is to interrogate the foundations of faithfulness and by proper deconstruction of its elements and how this virtue undergirds relationships and performance we may also understand the secrete to its importance in the Kingdom of God.

We want to see this from five Elements about Faithfulness

1. Faithfulness is the Character of God

Divine Character of Faithfulness

• Character and His Essence are inseparable.
• His essence (nature) is such that he is always faithful.
• "If we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself 2 Timothy 2:13
• Faithfulness is seen in His Providential Purpose.
• In relationship to the created Order and including human being, Yahweh remains resolute to His providential purpose
• The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lam, 3:22-23
• Psalm 36:5, “Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds
• Faithfulness Anchors His Work for the Church.
• God calls the Church, the Redeemed, to fellowship and learn from His kind of Fellowship
• God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." 1 Cor. 1:9
• Deut.7:9: "Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments
• Faithfulness anchors His Promises for His Children.
• His Faithfulness to us is always fresh
• 2 Thessalonians 3:3: "But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one."
• 1Co 10:13  No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
• His faithfulness is our source for successfully enduring trials, temptations, and tribulations.

2. Definition and Descriptions of Faithfulness.

Faithfulness is a character which develops through time and experiences. It is part of the growth we assume as the Spirit of God inspires and manages us. Faithfulness is part of the Fruit of the Spirit.

Gal 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, Gal 5:23  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Faithfulness is an internal state of trustworthiness, moral integrity, and capacity of keeping your promises.  Faithfulness means to remain the same and continue in the same thing. To be Faithful means to be constant, reliable, secure, and that you can be counted on. Faithful people don’t change their commitments.  Faithfulness is the quality of being loyal, steadfast, and unwavering in one's commitments, beliefs, or relationships.

A faithful person is someone who is consistently loyal, dependable, and true to their promises, beliefs, or relationships. A faithful man is one displays an overall consistency between his words and his works, between what he professes to believe and how he behaves, between what he promises and what he performs.

Here are concise statements that describes Faithfulness

Descriptions of Faithful Person

• A Faithful person demonstrates reliability and dependability of Character. They are not shifting shadows. Their trustworthiness is impeccable, known and usually recognised. Faithful people aim to do the right thing with conviction, commitment and consistency.
• A faithful person demonstrates Loyalty and steadfastness.
• Loyalty is a framework of accountability which, the Church it is directed to the truth, first. Furthermore, loyalty is a steadfast love and commitment to a duty, for a cause and to leadership. Faithful People are the ones who do the Will, Mind and Pleasure of their Sender (Master)
• 1Sa 2:35  And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind. And I will build him a sure house, and he shall go in and out before my anointed forever
• A Faithfull Person accepts Responsibility and is accountable
• Faithfulness is the devotion towards the requirement of Duty
• Dan 6:3  Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom
• A Faithful Person deploys their life resources in life Assignment
• In the kingdom of God, Faithfulness is founded on the faithfulness of God; and therefore they emulate God.

Acts 20:20  how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 

3. Ordinarily, Fewer People Are Faithful

• From time to time, the local expressions of the Kingdom of God, the local churches struggle because of the lack of essential numbers of Faithful People. The Reality is that Faithful People are rare. Here is a text:
• Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find? (Prov. 20:6)
• Save, O LORD, for the godly one is gone; for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man. Psa 12:1 
• Many are not faithful. Indeed, many start well but fewer continue to be faithful and a lot less finish faithful. To build a great Church we must have faithful People. People willing to continue in the same, to remain the same.
• Rarely, People without the link to Yahweh may develop a character of Faithfulness and Loyal to specific virtues, causes, and other people. But it is not that type that is connected in the fruit of the Spirit. First, it is not connected to Yahweh God.

4. Domains where Faithfulness is needed

How are these Areas?

• Have Faithfulness in Your Personal walk with God
• Be faithful in your basic Spiritual Disciplines such as devotion to Prayer and Bible Reading. Be a person who is consistent in these disciplines. Pray without Ceasing.
• Develop Faithfulness towards Discipling Believers
• Be faithful in discipling and guiding new believers. You win Souls and you disciple believers. Be faithful to the welfare of the flock.
• Faithfulness to Personal Development
• Personal Development is an intentional process of improving your self-awareness, skills, and mindset to reach your full potential and achieve a more fulfilling life. Usually the results are not immediately noticed you begin “small small” but determined to improve. Development may include knowledge and practice in self-awareness, skills and mindset shifts
• Luke 16:10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 
• Acts 20:28  Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. 
• Develop Faithfulness in Financial Management
• How do you manage the resources God has placed in your hands? Jesus teaches that how we manage material resources (money and possessions) acts as a test for how we will be entrusted with eternal, spiritual responsibilities. These are true wealth
• Luke 16:11  If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 
• Faithfulness to Spiritual Submission (Covering).
• Loyalty is an outward allegiance or support for a person, group, or a cause. Loyalty is the steadfastness and dedication to a person, idea, group, or country. It is not enslavement. Scripture calls for us to honor those who minister among us.
• Luke 16:12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?
• Heb 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you

5. Requirements for Becoming Faithful

• Pursue Kingdom Values
• Ensure that You have convictions that are rooted in the Biblical values. Be clear about your commitment to God and his values.  Order your daily life around what matters most rather than chasing temporary distractions. calling
• Math. 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
• The Faithfulness of Man attracts the faithfulness of God
• Psa 18:24  So the LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight. 
• Psa 18:25  With the merciful you show yourself merciful; with the blameless man you show yourself blameless
• Jas 4:8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 
• Practice Steadfast Loyalty:
• Stand by your commitments, friends, or partner during hardships and uncomfortable seasons.
• Prov. 3:3-4 "Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.
• Choose one relationship this week where you can intentionally show "steadfast love" through a consistent, supportive action
• Be Consistent and Endure at all Times
• Keeping commitments and standing firm on your values, even when the initial excitement wears off or circumstances become difficult. Have a fighting Spirit
• Gal 6:9  And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
• Maintain the exact same energy and effort even when you do not see immediate results.
• Destines answers to Consistence of positive actions. What you do occasionally does not affect the results of your life
• Practice Integrity in Small Things:
• Proving your reliability in daily, unseen tasks (such as your personal habits or everyday work). Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much. Commit to consistent micro-habits. Practice excellence in small, unseen tasks. Remember that small-scale integrity builds large-scale faithfulness
• Luke16:10  One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.
• Remember Schedule determines Success;  Routine determines Results; and Practice determines Products.
• Learn to Prioritize Others:
• Moving beyond self-centeredness to care for the interests, needs, and welfare of others. This is the Hallmark of a Disciple maker.
• Php 2:3  Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 
• Php 2:4  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 

Conclusion

Are You the one?  The Church is waiting for Your involvement

Altar Time
1.         Pray for the Grace to let this truth become alive in us
2.         Pray that we may grow in the areas needed by the Grace and Power of the Spirit