the faithfulness of God. Now in this world, unfaithfulness
is all around us. It's all around us. It used to
be that a man's word was his bond, but now we live in an age
where that's not always true. But it used to be that way. It
used to be that way. People now disregard commitments
which they made, whether it be in marriage or in social life,
as if it were nothing. Nothing at all. And it just proves
that they're unfaithful. They're unfaithful. And even
we who are believers are sometimes unfaithful to our Savior, aren't
we? Sometimes we are. We're sinners. We're sinners.
No one is immune to this sin. No one is immune to the sin of
unfaithfulness in some part of our lives. And we need to lift
our eyes, though, from this sin-cursed world, which it is. to our blessed
savior who's above and who is faithful. Our God is a faithful
God. He's faithful to that which he's
promised. And so today we're gonna fix
our eyes upon our God. We're gonna fix our eyes during
this time of study, I hope, away from this world and away from
the things of this world and keep our eyes fixed upon the
faithful one, faithful one, the just one, the Lord Jesus Christ,
our great God, who is faithful, beloved, at all times, at all
times, at all times. Look at Deuteronomy chapter seven,
verse nine. Know therefore that the Lord,
he is God, the faithful God. Know therefore that the Lord
thy God, he is God, the faithful God. which keepeth covenant and
mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to
a thousand generations. Now note the word faithful here
in our text. Know therefore that the Lord
thy God, he is God, the faithful God. Now the word faithful in
the verse here in the Hebrew means to be firm, to be firm,
to build up, to build up, to support. to nurture, and I like
this, to establish. To establish. The primary meaning
of this word is that of providing stability. Stability. We live in an unstable world,
don't we? And we ourselves can be unstable
at times. But our God is ever faithful. He provides stable confidence. It also is the underlying meaning
of this word, and also like a baby would find in the arms of a parent. So how a baby finds stability
and comfort and support in the arms of the parent, that's what
this word means. That's what the word faithful
means in our text. He's a faithful, the, notice
too, it's singular. The faithful God. He's the one
true God. There is no other gods. He is
the faithful God. Again, it's used to signify support
of a pillar, nature, nourishment, or a house firmly founded. One
commentator bought forth a secure nail that finds a solid place
to grip. Turn, if you would, to Isaiah
22, 23. A secure nail that finds a place
to grip. I remember when we were doing,
just working in the construction field, sometimes we would go
to a house before they had dry-walled it and you'd see nails in sure
places. You'd see nails that were in
sure places. These men had nailed these boards together to hold
up that frame of that house and those nails were in sure places.
And for me, it was a constant reminder of this scripture. Look
at this. Speaking of Christ, Isaiah 22, 23. And I will fasten
him as a nail in the sure place. This is speaking of Christ, Isaiah
22, 23. And I will fasten him as a nail
in the sure place. He shall be for a glorious throne
to his father's house. So faithful there has the same
meaning as a nail in the sure place. It's firm. It's supporting. It's sure. Metaphorically, the
word faithful there in our text conveys the notion of faithfulness
and trustworthiness, such that one could fully depend upon.
And we see that in our text in Deuteronomy 7, verse 9. Know therefore that the Lord
thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant in
mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to
a thousand generations. So our God is faithful and He's
trustworthy, beloved. He's trustworthy. Our God is
faithful to His people. And faithfulness is essential
to His being. It's essential to who He is.
Without it, He would not be God. For God to be unfaithful would
be an act contrary to His nature. Totally contrary to His nature.
Turn, if you would, to 2 Timothy 2, verse 13. This is impossible for God to
be like that. Because look at this, in 2 Timothy
2.13. Look at this. I love this verse. 2 Timothy 2.13. If we believe
not, if we believe not, look at this. Yet he abideth what? Faithful. Even in our times of doubt, In
our times of unbelief, God remains faithful, beloved. He cannot,
look at that, he cannot deny himself. So for God to be unfaithful
would be an act Contrary to his nature, contrary to who he is. I love that, though, if we believe
not yet, he abided faithful. See, his love and his faithfulness
towards us, towards his covenant people, towards the blood bought
people of God will never, ever change. He's ever faithful to
us. He's ever faithful, despite even
our unbelief sometimes. And the faithfulness of God is
one of the glorious perfections of his being. Turn, if you would,
to Psalm 89, verse 8. We'll look at a couple little
verses here. Psalm 89, verse 8. The faithfulness of God is
one of the glorious perfections of his being. The scriptures
declare that our God is ever faithful, ever faithful. Psalm
89, verse 8, O Lord God of hosts, who is a strong Lord like unto
Thee, or to Thy faithfulness round about Thee? Beloved, there
is no one as faithful as the Lord, no one as faithful as our
God, no one to be trusted as He. Whether it be angels or man,
our great God, and our great God has proven His faithfulness.
He's proven His faithfulness time and time again. The blood-washed,
born-again saint of God can say, My God is so faithful, even when
I'm not. He's ever faithful. Has He ever
failed us? Never has He. Never. And He never will. He's ever
faithful. He's ever faithful. The believer
in Christ sees the faithfulness of God all around us. We have
the sun shine on us every day. Every day the sun shines on the
just and on the unjust, doesn't it? Every day when rain falls,
it falls on the just and on the unjust. We have food on our table. We sit down and we enjoy a meal.
Beloved, that comes from the faithfulness of God. He provides
for his people. Never take a meal for granted
because it comes from the hand of our great God, of our great
God. We have clothes on our back.
We have different clothes we can wear. All comes from our
great God. And then think of this. Think
of the faithfulness of God keeping us from wandering off. He keeps us. He holds us ever
close. And look to his purposes from
eternity. Look to his covenant and promises. Our great God is
ever faithful, just as the scriptures declare. Turn if you would to
Isaiah chapter 11. Isaiah chapter 11, just as the
scriptures declare. And the believer sees God's faithfulness
in constant displays of his providence. We see his faithfulness in constant
displays of his providence in our lives and in the world. Look at this, Isaiah 11, verse
5. In righteousness shall be the
girdle of his loins, in faithfulness the girdle of his reins. This speaks of our precious Savior,
the Lord Jesus Christ. This speaks of our Savior, and
we see that He is adorned with righteousness, which we know
He is. He's the perfect, sinless, spotless
Lamb of God. As one commentator brings forth,
by His active and passive obedience, He wrought out an everlasting
righteousness for His people, and that's what He did for us.
He wrought out a righteousness for us to be accepted by God.
And our Savior and our King reigns in righteousness. Righteousness
is the scepter of His kingdom. All His administrations of government
are righteous. Just and true are all His ways. But note here in this verse,
not only is our Lord righteous, but beloved, He is faithful,
and faithfulness is the girdle of His reigns. Faithfulness,
the girdle of His reigns. Think of this, our great Savior,
Our great Lord, our great Redeemer, He was sent of God. What was
He sent of God to do? To redeem His people from their
sins. The Father appointed Him to do
this. And He was sent of God. He was sent of God to be the
King and Head of the Church, and He is. He was sent to save
His people from their sins, and He did it. He's ever faithful,
beloved. He's ever faithful. He's the
faithful prophet. And our Lord declared God's mind
and will, The Lord Jesus Christ, think of this, is the one faithful
high priest of God's people. He's the one faithful high priest.
He is the faithful one. He's full of mercy and grace.
Full. And note the word faithfulness
in this text. It means truth, faithfulness. Truth and faithfulness. It's used to describe God's character. Turn, if you would, to Deuteronomy
chapter 34. Deuteronomy chapter 34. Deuteronomy chapter 34, verse
4. I'm sorry, Deuteronomy 32. I'm
sorry, I got to 34 and that was the wrong verse. 32, verse 4. He is the rock. His work is perfect. For all his ways are judgment.
A God of truth, and without iniquity, just and right is He. Now let's turn to the book of
Psalms, the book of Psalms. Now there where it said truth
is the same word, this is the same Hebrew word for faithfulness
in Isaiah 11. Now we see in Psalms 34, The word faithfulness that was
in Isaiah 11, again, is translated truth. Psalm 33, I'm sorry, I'm all
over the board today. Psalm 33, verse four. For the word of the Lord is right,
and all his works are done in truth. Same Hebrew word for faithfulness
in Isaiah 11, verse five. is translated truth. Then let's
go to Psalm 100, verse 5. So think of this, too, in light
as we read these. It says truth, but it's also
speaking of God's faithfulness. He's faithful to his people.
He's ever faithful. Psalm 100, verse 5. For the Lord
is good, his mercy is everlasting, and his truth endureth to all
generations. Why does His truth endure to
all generations? Because God's faithful. Same
Hebrew word that was translated faithfulness in Hebrews 11 is
there translated truth. And then now go to Psalm 119
verses 90 and 91. And we see here, we see as we
look at all these things, there we saw His truth endureth for
all generations, so we see again the faithfulness of God at work.
And we know this is true for God's people, because even in
our generation, His truth endureth right now, doesn't it? Right
now. Look at Psalm 119, verses 90 and 91. Thy faithfulness is to all generations. Thou hast established the earth,
and it abideth. They continue this day to thine
ordinance, for all are thy servants. Now, I want us to look there
at verse 19. It says, For all are thy servants. Ponder then
the unchanging faithfulness of God, and marvel how that everything
about our God is great, vast, and incomparable. He is ever
faithful. ever faithful. Look at there.
It says in 19 verse 90, thy faithfulness is unto all generations. Now
think we in our generation are a chosen generation, right? Each
one of us has been chosen out of our generation. Think of how
true that verse just comes alive right there. Thy faithfulness
is unto all generations. God has a people in every generation,
doesn't he? He does. He does. And beloved,
when that last sheep is saved, it's all over. It's all over. It's all over. Oh, my faithfulness
is unto all generations. And the believer in our generation
right now says, praise God that he's faithful. Praise God that
he's faithful to all generations. Praise God that he has a people,
that he has a people. Oh my, that he chose us because
we surely wouldn't have chosen him. And our great God never
fails, beloved. He never fails. Turn if you would
to Numbers 23. Numbers 23. He never fails. He never falters.
All that He has promised shall come to pass. All that He has
promised shall come to pass. And then put your finger in Lamentations
3. We'll go over there after this. Numbers. Numbers chapter
23. Numbers 23. And then Lamentations. Numbers 23, verse 19. And then we go to Lamentations, chapter
3. Our God never fails. He never
falters. He has promised what He has promised
shall come to pass, beloved. Look at this in Numbers 23, verse
19. God is not a man that He should
lie, neither the Son of Man that He should repent. Hath He said,
and shall He not do it? Shall God not do what He said
He'll do? Absolutely, He will, won't He?
He will. Or hath He spoken, and shall
He not make it good? God'll do what He said He's gonna
do. He sent the Lord Jesus Christ
into this world to do what? To save the people from their
sins, right? And the Lord Jesus Christ did it. Did it. Our God
is ever faithful. Now turn to Lamentations. With
that in our minds, turn to Lamentations chapter three. Lamentations chapter
three. And we'll read verses 22 to 24. This is such a precious portion
of Scripture here. Look at this. It is of the Lord's mercy that
we are not consumed. If we got what we deserved, we'd
be consumed. If we got what we deserved, the
wrath of God would fall upon us. And that's true for every
human being on this earth. Because we're all sinners, right?
Look at this though. It is the Lord's mercy that we
are not consumed. God has had mercy. What are we called in
scripture in the New Testament? What are believers called? Vessels
of mercy, right? Vessels of mercy, right? It is the Lord's mercy
that we are not consumed because his what? Compassions fail not.
They are new every morning. Look at this. Great is thy faithfulness. God's faithfulness is great,
beloved. It's so great. It's so great. And then look,
it says, they are new every morning. The Lord is my portion, saith
my soul, therefore will I hope in Him. We hope in our great
God, who is ever, ever faithful. And His faithfulness is great. It's great, beloved. The same
Hebrew word is used here. As was used in 11.5 there, where
it says, Great is thy faithfulness, which again means truth and faithfulness. Same Hebrew word. Same Hebrew
word. And note the attribute of God's
faithfulness that's brought forth here before us. Which is another
reason why God's people are not consumed. Because He's faithful
to His promise, isn't He? He said he'd save the people
from their sins, and he's done. He chose us in Christ before
the foundation of the world. And he is ever faithful. He will
bring every single one of his sheep to Christ. Everyone will
come. Not one will be lost. Not one
will be lost. We're going to look at this morning
and in Sunday morning that our Lord is the master overall. He's
a master of the universe. He's master overall. Therefore,
no one can thwart him. Because He's ever faithful to
His people. And God is ever faithful to His people in Christ. In Christ. Let us always remember that.
Let us always remember that. So it's due to... We're not consumed
because of God's faithfulness. Think upon this. God is faithful
to Himself. He cannot deny Himself. He's
faithful to His counsels and His purposes, which surely will
be accomplished. All that He's promised shall
come to pass. Shall be fulfilled. The son is the surety and savior
of his people. Mercy and grace of God comes
to we who are his people through in and through the Lord Jesus
Christ. Why? Because God is faithful to his word. Because God is faithful
to his word. He said this in Jeremiah. Think
of this. Think of the faithfulness of
God in light of this. And they said they shall be my
people. And I will be their God. Think of that. The reason we
believe. Is because God said they shall
be my people. and I'll be their God. It's all due to Him. It's all due to His faithfulness.
It's all due to Him. We give Him all the glory, and
the scriptures are full of illustrations of the faithfulness of God. Turn,
if you would, to Genesis chapter 8. They're full of illustrations. We'll just look at a couple of
our God. Over 4,000 years ago, this was
said in Genesis chapter 8. While the earth remaineth seedtime
and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day
and night shall not cease. Genesis chapter 8 verse 22. Look at this. While the earth
remaineth seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, and summer and
winter, and day and night shall not cease. Look at that. In every year Every
year that comes we have a fresh witness to God's faithfulness,
don't we? Every year that comes, we have a fresh witness to God's
faithfulness concerning this promise right here. Will the
earth remain at seed time? Harvest, cold, heat, summer and
winter, day and night shall not cease. Isn't that amazing, beloved?
We live in this world and we don't even realize that every
year we see the faithfulness of God with this verse come to
light every single year. every single year below him.
Harker says this, he brings forth that when he comments on this
verse, how hath time through a period of near 4,000 years
stamped the truth of this over all the earth? It's true. It's been stamped, isn't it?
The faithfulness of God. Now turn to Genesis 15. And Jehovah
declares unto Abraham in this verse, look at this, and he said
unto Abraham, know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger
in the land that is not theirs. Genesis 15, 13. And shall serve
them, and they shall afflict them four hundred years. And
also that nation whom they shall serve will I judge, and afterward
shall they come out with great substance. Thou shalt go to thy
fathers in peace, thou shalt be buried in a good old age,
But in the fourth generation, they shall come hither again,
for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full." Now turn to
Exodus chapter 12. Now think of this. Time ran its
course. Abraham's descendants groaned amid the brick kilns
of Egypt, as one commentator said. Now I ask you this. Had
God forgotten his promise that he made to Abraham while they
were in Egypt? No. No, beloved God. He's ever faithful to his promise.
Look at this in Exodus chapter 12. We'll read verses 40 and
41. Now the sojourn of the children
of Israel who dwelt in Egypt was 430 years. And it came to
pass at the end of 430 years, even the selfsame day, it came
to pass that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land
of Egypt, just as God promised. He's ever faithful. He's ever
faithful to his people. Turn, if you would, to Galatians
chapter four. Now we know God is always faithful to what he's
promised centuries past, beloved of God, centuries past. There was a promise of a Messiah.
In centuries past. And look what it says in Galatians
chapter four verses five about this. But when the fullness of
time was come. God sent forth his son. His son made of a woman made
under the law to what to redeem them that were under the law,
that's us. That's us that we might receive the adoption of
sons, but think of God's faithfulness in light of this. But when the
faithfulness of time was come. But when the fullness of time
was come, so when that time had come, which God had ordained
because he's a faithful God, when the fullness of time come.
The Lord Jesus Christ entered into this. All according to the
faithfulness of God. Hebrews 10, 23, turn there, if
you would, quick, we're just read the latter part of this
verse, Hebrews chapter 10, verse 23. Hebrews chapter 10 verse 23. Let us hold fast the profession
of our faith without wavering. Look at this. For he is faithful
that promised. Those are words right there to
write to your heart, beloved. For he is faithful that promised. For he is faithful, that promise.
Let these ring forth, beloved, in our souls. And think of what
we've looked at. And then think of even in our
own lives. Think of even in our own lives
as believers, as God's blood bought people. Has this not been
proved out to us? That he is faithful, that promise. Our God is faithful, God the
Father is faithful, God the Son is faithful, and God the Spirit
is faithful. God the Father and promising,
is a promising God and is known to be so by his people. We have
tasted that the Lord is gracious, haven't we, in our lives. We've
seen his faithfulness at work in our lives, we who are his
people. And let us never forget that the precious promises of
God are exceedingly great and precious. And they flow from
the free grace of our great God. They flow from his mercy. And
they are unconditional. They're not based upon anything
we do. They are unconditional. They're
irrevocable. They're irrevocable. They're
immutable. And they are suited to the cause
of his people. They're suited to the cause of
his people. And every one of them are fulfilled in Christ. Because he's the yea and the
amen of all the promises of God. He's the yea and the amen. Our
God will support his people through all our troubles. Has he not
done so for that in our lives? As we look back, has he not done
that already for us? He will continue to do it. Why?
Because he's faithful. Because he's faithful. All the
trials that have come our way, He's carried us through them.
It's not by our own strength, no matter what we think. He's
the one who's carried us through them all. Why? Because He loves us with an everlasting
love, and He is faithful to those He loves. He's ever faithful. The promise of eternal life was
purposed and planned of God in eternity. And it was put into
Christ's hands before the world began, and it's declared in the
Gospel. And our great God is faithful to all of His promises,
beloved. He cannot fail. He cannot fail. We fail all the time. He cannot
fail. He cannot fail. He's the all-wise
and foreknowing One. He knows everything that's going
to come to pass, and He never changes His mind, beloved. He
never forgets His Word. He never forgets his promises
to his people. And he has the power to perform
all that he says that he will do. Again, we sometimes want
to do things, but we don't have the power or the ability to do
things. That's not so with God. Oh, my. He is faithful that promised. He is faithful that promised.
Turn if you would to Matthew chapter 1. He alone then may
be safely relied upon. Let it be known that no one has
ever trusted God in vain. No one has ever trusted God in
vain. He is ever faithful to his people. And think of how
the faithfulness of God was on display in the salvation of God's
people in and through the Lord Jesus Christ. Think of that.
Think of how the faithfulness of God was on display in our
redemption. First, God sent his son just
as he promised. Look at this in Matthew chapter
1, verses 21 and 23. He promised the Messiah and he
sent him. And she shall bring forth a son
and thou shall call his name Jesus, for he shall save his
people from their sins. Now, all this was done that it
might be fulfilled, which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet
saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child and shall bring
forth a son and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which is being
interpreted is God with us. So God promises. And it comes
to pass because he's faithful. And then think of this. Our salvation
is through Christ and Christ alone that we have everlasting
life. Turn to John chapter 3. John chapter 3. And then put
your finger in. 1 Thessalonians. We'll go there
next. Oh, our God is ever faithful
in our salvation. And the faithfulness of God is
displayed in our salvation which we have in Christ. Because it's
through Christ alone that we have everlasting life. Look at
John chapter 3 verses 14 to 17. And as Moses lifted up the serpent
in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal
life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but
have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into
the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him
might be saved. Again, we see the faithfulness of God on display
when Christ died to make atonement for our sins. Turn if you were
the first Thessalonians chapter five. We see the faithfulness
of God on display when Christ died to make atonement for the
sins of his people, those whom God gave to Christ in eternity. First Thessalonians, chapter
five, verses nine to 11. For God hath not appointed us
to wrath. That's a wonderful portion of
Scripture there. Praise be to God. But to obtain
salvation, how? By our Lord Jesus Christ. Note
it doesn't say by our works. It says by the Lord Jesus Christ.
Salvation is only in and through Christ and Christ alone. We are
just receivers of this grace. We are receivers of this mercy
who died for us, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together
with him. Wherefore, comfort yourselves together and edify
one another, even as as you do, as you do. So God's faithfulness
was displayed in Christ, making atonement for the sins of his
people. Turn, if you would, to Micah,
chapter seven, God promised to remove the sins of his people. To remove the sins of His people.
To subdue the iniquities of His people. And to cast all our sins
into the depths of the sea. Which means to remember them
no more. That's what it means. To remember them no more. Micah
chapter 7 verses 18 and 19. And then put your finger in Romans
chapter 11. And oh, what God has promised
we'll see comes to pass. Why? Because God's faithful.
He's faithful to his people. He's ever faithful. Micah, chapter
7, verses 18 and 19. Who is a God like unto thee that
pardoneth iniquity and passes by the transgression of the remnant
of his heritage? Oh, what a great God. He pardons
the iniquity of his people. Who is a God like him? There's
no God like our God. that pardoneth iniquity and passeth
by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage. He retaineth
not his anger forever, because he delighteth in mercy. Notice
there he doesn't retain his anger. Why? Because it's been appeased
in Christ. It's been poured out upon Christ
as the substitute of his people. And he delighteth in mercy. He
will turn again. He will have compassion upon
us. He will subdue our iniquities. And that will cast all their
sins into the depths of the sea. Now turn to Romans chapter 11.
Romans chapter 11 if you would. Romans chapter 11. We're reading verses 25 to 27. For I would not, brethren, that
ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise
in your own conceit, that blindness in part has happened to Israel,
until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel
shall be saved. That's all they elect. That's
not national Israel. That's all they elect. That's
all God's chosen people. They're called the Israel of
God. And they'll all be saved. There won't be one missing. Not
one, not one. There shall come out of Zion
the deliverer, that's Christ, and shall turn away ungodliness
from Jacob. For this is my covenant unto
them when I shall take away their sins. Remember, Micah, I won't
remember them anymore. There it is. God's faithful,
beloved. He's faithful. He's ever, ever
faithful. Our great God ordained that the
Lord Jesus Christ would be the author of eternal salvation for
his people. And it came to pass, in Hebrews
chapter 5 it says this, So Christ also glorified not himself to
be made an high priest, but he said unto them, Thou art my son,
today have I begotten thee. But he said unto him, Today have
I begotten thee. As he saith also in another place,
Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek, who
in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and
supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able
to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared, though
he were a son, yet learned he obedience by the things which
he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal
salvation unto all them that obey him. And why did he do that?
Because God had promised it to be so. God had promised to deliver,
hadn't He? And Christ is the great deliverer.
He's the author and the finisher of our salvation. Now the faithfulness
of God is all through the Scriptures, beloved. All through the Scriptures.
I'm out of time. All through the Scriptures. What
He's promised shall come to pass. What He's promised shall come
to pass. Let we who believe, let we who believe, rest in the
faithfulness of our great God and King. He's wonderful. There
was more, but it'll be for another time. Just take home that He's
ever, ever faithful. He always fulfills that which
He's promised to do, and it's wonderful. It's wonderful. Heavenly
Father, we thank Thee for Your goodness and mercy and grace
and Your faithfulness to Your people. Lord, sometimes we confess
we can be unfaithful, but you are ever, ever faithful or ever
faithful. Oh, we love thee. We praise thee.
We thank thee for thy goodness, thy mercy and thy grace, which
is continuously poured out upon us. We see your mercy every day. Oh, Lord, it's new, new every
morning, new every morning. Great is thy faithfulness. We
love you because you first loved us and we pray in Jesus name.