Great Is Thy Faithfulness Lamentations

3:22-25
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Sermon 10 of 16 from the Our Awesome God series

March 1997 - How many people do you know who do exactly what they say? Before you
answer, let me rephrase the question? How many do you know who do exactly what they say
every single time? Now before you answer, let me rephrase it again. How many people do you
know who do exactly what they say every single time and do it with such thoroughness and
perfection that you never have to worry about anything they say or do? Again, before you
answer, let me ask it one more time: How many people do you know who, no matter what the
circumstances and no matter how they feel, will always do exactly what they say they will do
every single time and do it with the some thoroughness and perfection that you never have to
worry about anything they say or do because you know if they say it, they will definitely do it
without fail, without change and without excuse?
OK, how many people like that do you know?

The answer to any question depends on how you ask it. Most of us probably think we know
some people who do exactly what they say. That is, we all know some reliable people who seem
very dependable to us. But in the end, the question is not about reliable or very dependable
people. Its really not about people at all because no person could meet all the qualifications of
the last question, which is really about God. The only person you know who can meet every
qualification is God himself. He alone is 100% faithful 100% of the time.

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A World of Broken Promises
To say it that way is not an insult but simply a statement of fact. We live in a world of broken
promises. Thats why President Clinton and President Yeltsin are meeting in Helsinki this week.
World leaders have to meet to stave off total nuclear destruction. Thats why bombs go off in Tel
Aviv restaurants. Men pledge peace but then make plans for war.
Recently I happened to catch a few minutes of a national radio talk show hosted by a man whose
name I did not catch. Judging from some of his comments, he happens to come from the liberal
side of the political spectrum. He began by discussing the O. J. Simpson trial and remarking that
despite his natural likeability, O. J. Simpson is not what he appeared to be. Then he commented
on the revelation that Bill Cosby had an extramarital affair some years ago. This in spite of his
image as a loyal family man. Is there anyone out there who is what he claims to be? he asked.

Defining the Key Terms

What a question for Palm Sunday. Is there anyone out there who is what he claims to be? Id
like to suggest one name you can trust-Jesus Christ. In John 14:6 he said, I am the truth. In
John 18:37 he told Pilate, I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of
truth listens to me.
The Bible contains several words for truth, the most important one being the Hebrew word emet,
which means stability, firmness, or certainty. We get the English word amen from the Hebrew
emet. Every time we say amen we are really saying, It is certain or Yes, it is absolutely true.
Therefore, to say God is true is the same as saying God is faithful.

Heres a simple definition. Gods faithfulness means that because he is the truth, everything he
says and does is certain. That means he is 100% reliable 100% of the time. He does not fail,
forget, falter, change or disappoint. In the words of Lewis Sperry Chafer: He not only advances
and confirms that which is true, but in faithfulness abides by his promises, and executes every
threat or warning he has made. He says what he means and means what he says and therefore
does everything he says he will do.

Looking at the Central Passages

Lets look for a moment at some of the key verses regarding Gods faithfulness:
Exodus 34:6 He is abounding in love and faithfulness.
Deuteronomy 32:4 He is a a faithful God.
Psalm 89:2 You established your faithfulness in heaven itself.
Psalm 89:8 Your faithfulness surrounds you.
Psalm 89:33 Nor will I ever betray my faithfulness.
(Gods faithfulness is a major theme of Psalm 89. It tells us that Gods faithfulness flows from
his character, that heaven is the ultimate display of Gods faithfulness, and that he will never
betray his Word under any circumstances.)
Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change
his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?
John 17:3 The only true God
1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful.
1 Corinthians 10:13 And God is faithful.
1 John 1:9 He is faithful.
1 John 5:20 Him who is true.
These verses when taken together establish that Gods faithfulness is not some minor or
secondary part of Gods character. To say that God is faithful goes to the core of who God really
is. He keeps his word because if he didnt, he wouldnt be God!
Seven Facts About Gods Faithfulness
Consider the following facts:

1. His word is eternal. Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens (Psalm
119:89).
2. God is as faithful today as he was yesterday. Your faithfulness continues through all
generations (Psalm 119:90).
3. He is reliable in all his works. The works of his hands are faithful and just (Psalm 111:7).
4. He is faithful even when we are not. If we are faithless, he will remain faithful (2 Timothy
2:13).
5. Our salvation depends on Gods faithfulness. Being confident of this, that he who began a
good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6).
6. Our sanctification depends on his faithfulness. The one who calls you is faithful and he will
do it (1 Thessalonians 5:24).
7. Our future resurrection depends on Gods faithfulness. We believe that Jesus died and rose
again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him (1
Thessalonians 4:14).
These verses could be multiplied in every direction because all that God does rests on his
faithfulness and every blessing we receive comes because he is faithful to keep his promises to
us. If God were not faithful, we could not be saved, would not dare to pray, would have no sure
hope for the future, and would go down to death in desperate fear wondering if God will keep his
promises. But we live in faith and die in hope precisely because our God is faithful.

Applying the Truth to Life

Since this is a vast topic, lets focus on five specific areas of application.
A. When you are discouraged, remember Gods faithfulness.
Do you remember the story of David and Goliath? When Saul asked David why he thought he
could slay the giant, the young boy replied with a story about Gods faithfulness. He recalled
Gods faithfulness during his days as a shepherd and that faithfulness gave him courage to
believe God would deliver once again. The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and
the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine (1 Samuel 17:37). David
simply extrapolated from the past to the future on the basis of Gods unchanging character. He
knew God could deliver him in this situation because he had done it so many times in the past.
When you are discouraged, remember Gods faithfulness. Quote the great promises. Remember
how God has answered your prayers. Reflect on his mighty deeds. Consider who it is who fights
for you. Then pick up five smooth stones and get ready to defeat the giant.
B. When you doubt your salvation, remember Gods faithfulness.

Many Christians secretly doubt their salvation because they do not feel like they are good
enough Christians to get into heaven. But getting to heaven has nothing to do with being good
enough since none of us ever qualifies. In John 10:28 Jesus said of his followers, I give them
eternal life. And in 1 John 5:13 we are told that you may know that you have eternal life. God
wants you to know that you are saved. The Bible doesnt say that you may hope you have
eternal life or that you may wish you have eternal life. No! The Bible says you can know you
are going to heaven.
This week I ran across this encouraging statement: God not only keeps his promises, he also
keeps his people. Thats why my friend Jack Wyrtzen could say, Im as sure of heaven as if Id
already been there 10,000 years. To the unsaved that sounds like presumption and many
Christians would agree. But its true. If you know Jesus Christ, you are certain of going to
heaven.
SCRIPTURES REFERENCED

Lamentations 3
Faithful to the Defeated
Psalms 89
Death Defeated
1 Corinthians 10
Living in the Light of God's Glory
Anatomy of a Backslider

Asymmetric Spiritual Warfare

John 18
Before The Rooster Crows
Before the Rooster Crows

The Easter Conspiracy

When you are tempted to doubt your salvation, remember Gods faithfulness. Consider his
promises. Contemplate the Cross. Gaze upon the dying form of the Son of God. Think of all he
did for you. Then recall the moment that you trusted Christ as Savior. Let the facts of the gospel
be your strength and then rest your weary soul upon the Rock of Ages.
C. When you are tempted to sin, remember Gods faithfulness.
Here are two wonderful verses to remember in the moment of temptation:
But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one (2
Thessalonians 3:3).

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not
let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a
way out so that you can stand up under it (1 Corinthians 10:13).
In both cases Gods faithfulness is tied directly into the temptations of life that trouble you.
Notice also that it is not Gods purpose to deliver you from temptation, but it is his purpose to
give you the strength you need to stand up against satanic attack. Just as Jesus had to endure
temptation, so will we. But just as he resisted and triumphed, so may we. God will give you
whatever you need in the moment of fierce attack.
Recently I ate lunch with a friend who told me how he has been experiencing the power of the
Holy Spirit in his life in a powerful way. As we talked, the discussion turned to the Holy Spirits
promptings that lead us away from sin and toward the power of God. Both of us know a certain
pastor in the east who had to resign his church several years ago because of moral indiscretions.
His name came up and we talked about what we might learn from his sad experience. My friend
commented on how important it is to remain open to the Holy Spirit so that we might see the
way of escape in the midst of the battle. But what if its not there? When we get to heaven,
well discover that there were more than enough warning signs if only we had heeded them, he
replied. That strikes me as a very good application of these two verses.
No one ever needs to sin-not even once, not even a little bit. There are always more than enough
warnings and more than enough ways of escape if only we will take them.
D. When you have made a mess of your life, remember Gods faithfulness.
How many times have we heard the blessed words of 1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, he is
faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. He is
faithful. Those three words guarantee Gods forgiveness to his erring children.