THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD

1 Thess. 5:24

Morning Meditation 4/12/2014

"Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it."

This is a promise that God has authorized Paul to give through the inspiration of Scripture. We have a God who makes promises and keeps them. Imagine, if you will, the frustration of one who bows to an idol. This dumb idol can't hear your request much less answer. I think of Elijah in 1 Kings 18. He challenged the prophets of Baal. They took the challenge but they failed miserably. The false gods are really no gods at all. They cannot see, smell, or respond to a prayer.

After the prophets of Baal had prayed, and could not arouse him to manifest himself by working a miracle, Elijah built an altar and poured water on the sacrifice. 1 King 18:37-38 records Elijah's prayer, "Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.. Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench."

Elijah counted on the faithfulness of God and was not disappointed. God came through and He always will. Let's notice some promises that depend on the faithfulness of God.

GOD IS FAITHFUL THAT CALLED US UNTO THE FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SON

1 Corinthians 1:9 says, "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord."

If you will notice the context of this verse it will help to understand what Paul means when he says, "God is faithful." 1 Corinthians 1:6-8, "Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ." Paul reminded them that the "testimony of the Lord was confirmed in you." This suggests that God confirmed the message of the gospel to them with some miracle. God did this through His messengers in that day. Hebrews 2:3-4, "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?"

God is faithful that called us "unto the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." Salvation is not just escaping hell. It is a fellowship. When one is saved, he becomes a part of a fellowship. John speaks of this in 1 John 1:3-4, "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full." Do we have a relationship with the Lord that can be described as a fellowship?

The word "fellowship" translates "koinonia" and means, "fellowship, or participation." It comes from the root word "koinos." Kittel says, "This word means 'common' in the sense of common ownership, property, ideas." With this definition it is not hard to see that believers share something in common with Jesus that makes us have joy."

Prayer is not a letter that may get lost in the mail. Prayer is communion with the Lord. We enter the holiest when we pray. God has given us the capacity to fellowship with Him and the Lord Jesus Christ. One cannot do this and be the same afterward as we were before. Next,

HE IS FAITHFUL WHEN WE ARE TRIED

1 Corinthians 10:13, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

What is the meaning of this word "temptation?" The word temptation translates, "peirasmos" and it is used of "the trial of man's fidelity, integrity, virtue, constancy; an enticement to sin, temptation, whether arising from the desires or from the outward circumstances."

Paul says that the trials they face are, "such as is common to man." This verse and this particular clause has been a great help to me. Sometimes when we are tempted we think that we are the only ones who have this problem. That will cause us to throw a giant pity-party and that we do not need.

Paul tells the Church at Corinth, God will not suffer you to be tempted above that we are able. God will allow no temptation that will over power us. It is good to know that God is faithful. We can count on it. John Gill says, "The sentiment in the verse is a very important one, since the general principle here stated is as applicable to Christians now as it was to the Corinthians." The words, "Taken you" mean to seize upon you, or assailed you. As when an enemy grasps us, and attempts to hold us fast.

HE IS FAITHFUL TO SANCTIFY US WHOLLY

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it."

The "sanctifying wholly" is what God wants of us, and what He wants, He will do. Paul says, "Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it."

The Pulpit Commentary says, "And the very God of peace ; the God who communicates peace; an expression frequently employed by Paul at the close of his Epistles (2 Thessalonians 3:16). Sanctify you wholly; that is, perfectly, without anything wanting, referring to the entireness of the sanctification, which is presently expressed in detail. And I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body; the adjective "whole" applies to all the three substantives. The apostle here divides human nature into three parts -- spirit, soul, and body; and this threefold division is not a mere rhetorical statement: "The apostle pouring forth from the fullness of his heart a prayer for his converts" (Jowett); but a distinct statement of the three component parts of human nature. The "spirit" is the highest part of man, that which assimilates him to God; renders him capable of religion, and susceptible of being acted upon by the Spirit of God. The "soul" is the inferior part of his mental nature, the seat of the passions and desires, of the natural propensities. The "body" is the corporeal frame." "Faithful is He that calleth you, who will also do it." Next,

HE IS FAITHFUL TO STABLISH AND KEEP US ON TRACT

2 Thessalonians 3:3, "But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil." The word "Stablish" means, "to make stable, place firmly, set fast, fix." The Lord is faithful. This means words "shall stablish you" are a promise. It is not a command to be obeyed but a promise that depends upon God for it to happen..

The words "keep you from evil" The word "evil" may be either masculine or neuter: if masculine, then it denotes "the evil one;" if neuter, then "evil" in general. There is nothing in the word itself to determine its meaning; this must be learned from the context."

The Lord had committed to us that He will protect us and He is faithful to keep His promises.

May the Lord help us in these days of severe trial. Lets pray more for unity of purpose and a commitment that in unwavering.

In Christ

Bro. White