Serving Others With Faithfulness Embry Hills December 31

Serving Others With Faithfulness Embry Hills December 31, 2017

Serving Others Like the Savior • Serving Others with Friendship • Serving Others with Compassion • Serving Others with Faithfulness • Serving Others with Boldness

LAMENTATIONS 3: 22 -23 SAY, ''THROUGH THE LORD'S MERCIES WE ARE NOT CONSUMED, BECAUSE HIS COMPASSIONS FAIL NOT. THEY ARE NEW EVERY MORNING; GREAT IS YOUR FAITHFULNESS. ''

• • Great is Thy Faithfulness Psa. 119: 90 "Thy faithfulness is unto all generations. . . " Jer 29. 11 -13 – if you seek me, you will find me 2 Tim 2. 13 – if we are faithless, He is still faithful, for He cannot deny Himself 1 Pet. 4: 19 "Therefore, let those also who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right. " • Gal. 5: 22, 23"But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" • Psalms 15: 4 -5 – who swears to his own hurt, and does not change • Luke 16: 10 -12 – Faithful in a little, is also faithful in much (Luke 19. 17) • Proverbs 25: 13 – a faithful messenger to those that here him, he refreshes the soul of his master • Matthew 25: 21 – Well done, thou good and faithful servant. • Mark 9. 33 -35 – if anyone would be fist, he must be last of all and servant of all

Faithfulness… • Faithfulness OF God (Dt 7. 9 – the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love) • Psalms 25. 10 All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. • Lam 3. 22 -23 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. • 2 Thess 3. 3 – the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. • Faithfulness TO God • Psalms 50. 5 – gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me • Remnant – Micah 2. 12, Zephaniah, Hosea, Amos • Faithfulness FOR God • Prov 27. 6 – Faithful are the wounds of a friend, profuse are the kisses of an enemy. • Daniel 6. 4 – but they could find no fault or complaint, for Daniel was faithful • Ruth 1: 15 -18 – For where you go, I will go. Where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people will be my people, … Nothing but death parts me from you.

• Faithful (3 John 5 -6) • • • A Faithful Servant True to One’s Word or Promises Synonyms for Dependability: • Certain, constant, faithful, loyal, Consistent in the Truth secure, stable, trustworthy, Loyal, Reliable, Trustworthy, Believable reliable. To Be Full of Faith • To Support, Build Up, to Foster, to Not Cheat or Have Affections for Another Parent, to Nurse Steady in Allegiance Worthy of trust and belief, Being a good investment. Consistent and reliable • Servant Antonyms for Dependability: dishonest, irresponsible, uncertain, unreliable • Devoted and Helpful. A Supporter • Humble to Themselves > Submit to God > Meet the Needs of Others

Serving with Faithfulness • I don’t have the time • I don’t know what I should do • I don’t have any special skills to contribute • They don’t need me

Our Greatest Ability • The first ability is Dependability • “Be so dependable that if you say you will be somewhere and don’t show up, they’ll send flowers. ” • The second ability is Reliability • Complete confidence that person can be trusted • The third ability is Availability.

Timothy Phil 2: 19 -24 • 19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know Timothy's proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. 23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, 24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.

TIMOTHY ( Phil 2: 19 -24) “You know his proven worth” • He Had a Servants Mind (19 -21) • No one like him, Genuinely concerned for your welfare. • He Naturally Cared for People • Others seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. • He Had a Servants Training (22) • You know his proven worth. (Acts 16: 2 – well spoken of by the brethers) • His past example and hard work are well known • He Had a Servants Reward (23 -24) • Paul chose Timothy to represent him • A Submissive Mind Grows in Us as we Yield

EPHAPHRODITUS (Phil 2: 25 -30) • 25 I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, 26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, 30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.

EPHAPHRODITUSPhil(Phil 2: 32: 25 -30) Do nothing from • He was a Balanced Christian (25) selfish ambition or conceit, • My Brother = Fellowship (1: 5) but in humility count others • My Fellow Worker = Further Gospel (1: 12) more significant than • My Fellow Solider = Faith in the Gospel (1: 27) yourselves. 4 Let each of you • Your Messenger = My Remembrance (1: 3) look not only to his own • My Minister = Servants of Jesus (1: 1) interests, but also to the • He was a Burdened Christian (26 -27, 30) interests of others • He was Concerned about Paul – Nearly died for the work of Christ. • He was Distressed about the Philippians • He was a Blessed Christian (28 -30) • He was a Blessing to Paul and the Philippians – “you may rejoice at seeing him again”

Epaphras Colossians 1: 7– 8 - just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf [8] and has made known to us your love in the Spirit. Colossians 4: 11– 12 - and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. [12] Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. Philemon 23 - Philemon -Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you,

Epaphras – A Faithful Servant (Col 1. 314; 4. 12) • Beloved Fellow Servant of Jesus • Be Filled with the Knowledge of Christ • Faithful Servant (Minister) • Bearer of Good News - Made • • Known Their Love in the Spirit • • • Always Struggling on Your Behalf • in His Prayers • Worked Hard for You His Will • With All Spiritual Knowledge and Understanding Walk in a Manner Worthy of the Lord Be Fully Pleasing to Him Bear Fruit in Every Good Work Increase in the Knowledge of God Be: • Strengthened with All Power – For All Endurance and Patience with Joy • Giving Thanks • Share in the Inheritance

One Another • • • We are to love one another CHARACTERISTICS OF DEPENDABILITY 1. Lives in Harmony with the Heart and Mind of Build up one another God. (Isa 55: 8 -9; Psalms 37: 4) Encourage one another 2. Has a Great Reverence for God (Neh 7: 2) Honor one another 3. Is Faithful in the Little Things (Lk 16: 10) Admonish one another 4. Keeps Confidential Information Private (Prov 11. 13 Serve one another 5. Is Truthful in all that he says (Prov 14. 5) 6. Encourages and Refreshes (Prov 25. 13) Show Forbearance 7. Is Faultless in his work (Dan 6. 4) Be Kind to one another 8. Is Wise with Resources and Relationships (Lk Comfort one another 16)

A Faithful Servant • • Do you possess the right values? Do you care for the interests of others? Do you live with integrity before an unbelieving world? Do you keep your promises? Do you develop your God-given gifts? Do you obey God’s commands? Do you pass on what you learn?

The “I Wills” of Dependability • • • I will keep my word I will be careful what I promise I will correct my mistakes I will pull my share of the load I will not have a bad attitude