You Can't Have Faith Without Faithfulness

You Can't Have Faith Without Faithfulness

There are a lot of Scriptures about “Faith”.

If I were to list them in an order I

would put Hebrews 11:6 at the very top.

Three very important things are found in this verse

1.     Without faith it is impossible to please God

2.     Anyone who comes to God must believe He exists

3.     And God is a rewarder of those who earnestly seek Him

This is the starting place, ground zero for the believer.

In this text we are given an example of someone who not

only started at ground zero but went all the way to the top.

By faith Enoch was commended

as one who pleased God.

By faith he became faithful to walk with God in

such a way God took him to heaven without dying.

Enoch realized…

“You can't have faith without faithfulness.”

It is true, “Faith comes by hearing.”

To have faith in God we must believe not

only that He exist, but in everything He says.

 

What God says is called the Gospel; Good News.

This Good News reveals how to live right.

Something Paul said he was not ashamed of.

Mistakes in life can be very painful and even deadly.

The Gospel from the beginning to end is all about how to

do the right things so we can live a full and abundant life.

People who live according to the Gospel are called Righteous.

 “The Righteous shall live by faith.”

This is why…

You can't have faith without faithfulness.

Our faithfulness is not determined by any court system.

 Our faithfulness is not determined by our conscience.

The faith we have been given is very

valuable and becomes a responsibility.

1 Corinthians 4:2 says…

 “Now it is required that those who have

been given a trust must prove faithful.”

It is important we realize faithfulness will be judged by God.

His light will expose our motives

and God will praise faithfulness.

This is why…

“You can't have faith without faithfulness”

How would you like to hear God say these words to you…

“I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance,

and that you are now doing more than you did at first.” Revelation 2:19

These are the words to the church in Thyatira…

I think there are many of us who go to church, listen

to Christian music and are growing in our faith.

But like the church in Thyatira, there are some

things we are loose on and God would also say…

 “Nevertheless, I have this against you”  

The people in Thyatira allowed themselves to be misled.

 Yes, God recognized their faithfulness but He did

not allow unfaithfulness to become unchecked.

They walked in faithfulness and sexual immorality.

You and I need to be like Enoch,

He walked with God in everything.

Are you faithfully walking with God in everything?

Faith is more than believing…

“Even the demons believe and tremble.”

  

Remember…

“You can't have faith without faithfulness”

Scripture Reading NIV

Hebrews 11:5-6

5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Romans 1:16-17

16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

1 Corinthians 4:2-5

Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

Revelation 2:19-21

19 I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.

20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.