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Galatians 5:22-23

“I will grow in faithfulness as I allow the Spirit to strengthen my character.”

INTRODUCTION: Our message series is on the fruit of the Spirit and growing more like Jesus. So far, we have looked at the first six fruit that are listed: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness and goodness. Today we come to the seventh fruit in the list – the fruit of faithfulness. (Read Galatians 5:22-23 and pray.)

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Has anyone important in your life ever let you down? Did someone tell you they would do something, and then they either forgot or just changed their mind? Has anyone ever made a promise to you and then broke that promise? And then the biggest question of all. Have you ever done any of these things to someone else?

Today we come to the fruit of faithfulness. The word “faithfulness” is related to the word “faith.” When a person is faithful, you can trust them. You can put your faith in them, and they won’t let you down. It’s the same way with God. When we say God is faithful, we mean he is dependable; he is reliable; he can be trusted.

Faithfulness is such an important quality for us to develop as believers. All relationships are built on trust. When you grow in faithfulness, people will learn they can depend on you, and you will enjoy stronger, healthier relationships with the people in your life. Another reason faithfulness is so important is because God rewards faithfulness. God is looking for people who will be faithful to him and his kingdom so that we may bring great glory and honor to him.

There are so many areas where we need to be faithful in life. We need to be faithful at home, faithful at work, faithful in marriage, faithful to our commitments, faithful to our word, faithful with our money, faithful to family and friends, faithful to the church, faithful to the Lord. As you can see, faithfulness is a big deal.

Faithfulness has to do with your character. “I will grow in faithfulness as I allow the Spirit to strengthen my character.” As you grow in character, you will become a stronger, more trustworthy, dependable person in all areas of your life. So, let’s look at the fruit of faithfulness together this morning.

I. Faithfulness and God

First, we want to see what the Bible tells us about faithfulness and God. Remember, we can trace all the fruit of the Spirit back to God because all the fruit of the Spirit are rooted in his character. God is the root, and we bear the fruit! We have seen this with each of the fruit of the Spirit so far, and it is the same with faithfulness.

   A. God is faithful in all his ways
      – Psalm 25:10, 100:5

The Bible tells us that God is faithful in all his ways. Psalm 25:10 says: “All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant.” (Psalm 25:10) Psalm 100:5 says: “For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” (Psalm 100:5)

Our God is a faithful God. He is absolutely trustworthy and dependable. He is faithful to his creation. He is faithful to his people. He was faithful in sending Jesus. He is faithful to judge sin, and he is faithful to save sinners who put their trust in him. How wonderful to know that God is faithful and that you can always depend on him!

   B. God’s word is trustworthy and true
      – Numbers 23:19; Psalm 19:7

Not only is God faithful in all his ways, but his word faithful. God’s word is trustworthy and true. We read in 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?” (Numbers 23:19) God is faithful in all his ways, and therefore God is faithful in all his words. The two go together, don’t they? We even have a saying: you’re only as good as your word. When a person is faithful, you can trust their word as well.

God has given us his word in the Bible, and his word as revealed in the Scriptures is absolutely trustworthy and true. Psalm 19:7 says: “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.” (Psalm 19:7)

You’ve probably heard the saying, “God said it. I believe it. That settles it!” It’s a good saying, but you can actually leave out the middle part. It doesn’t really matter whether you believe it or not. If God said it, that settles it! God’s word is trustworthy and true.

   C. Jesus displayed the fruit of faithfulness in his life
      – John 17:4; Hebrews 3:5-6; Revelation 1:5

When we think about God and faithfulness, we also want to look at Jesus and his life. And when we do, we see that Jesus as God’s Son also displayed this fruit of faithfulness in his life.

At the end of his life here on earth, Jesus was able to say to the Father in John 17:4: “I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.” (John 17:4) Hebrews 3 tells us: “Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, testifying to what would be said in the future. 6 But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house.” (Hebrews 3:5-6) Revelation 1:5 speaks of “… Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness.” (Revelation 1:5) The word “witness” in this verse is the same as our English word “martyr” meaning someone who is faithful to death in their witness to the truth.

And so, Jesus certainly displayed the fruit of faithfulness in his life. He was faithful to finish the work the Father gave him to do. He was faithful as a Son over all God’s house. He is the faithful witness who was faithful to the truth even unto death. When you look at faithfulness and God, you can see that faithfulness is at the very root of God’s character and fully displayed in the life of Jesus as God’s Son.

II. Faithfulness and character

So, we have looked at faithfulness and God. Next, we want to see what the Bible says about faithfulness and character. Remember, faithfulness has to do with character. “I will grow in faithfulness as I allow the Spirit to strengthen my character.”

   A. Faithfulness is a matter of integrity
      – Proverbs 11:3; Daniel 6:4

Faithfulness is first of all a matter of integrity. Proverbs 11:3 says: “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.” (Proverbs 11:3) Here those who are unfaithful are contrasted with those who have integrity.

Integrity has to do with wholeness as a person. The faithful person is the same person inside as they are out. They are the same person in private as they are in public. Their heart and their actions match up and align.

Daniel in the Old Testament is good example of faithfulness and integrity. We read in Daniel 6:4: “The administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.” (Daniel 6:4)

When the Babylonian administrators went looking for some way to accuse Daniel, they found nothing. How would you fare if a group of journalists were assigned to dig up dirt in your life? Daniel did just fine, because he was a man of integrity, who was faithful and trustworthy in all that he did.

   B. Faithfulness is a matter of right priorities
      – Matthew 6:33; Ephesians 5:15-17

Faithfulness is also a matter of having the right priorities in your life. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33) Ephesians 5 tells us: “Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” (Ephesians 5:15-17) The faithful person seeks God’s kingdom first and seeks to live their life wisely, making the most of each and every opportunity.

   C. Faithfulness is a matter of following through
      – Colossians 4:17; 2 Timothy 4:7

Faithfulness is a matter of integrity. Faith is a matter of right priorities. And then faithfulness is also a matter of following through. In Colossians 4:17 Paul told one of his fellow workers: “See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord.” (Colossians 4:17) In 2 Timothy 4:7 Paul was able to say of himself: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)

The faithful person works hard at their tasks, finishing the work God has given them to do, even as Jesus completed all the work that the Father gave him to do. At the end of their life, they are able to say with Paul, “I have fought the good fight. I finished the race. I have kept the faith.”

Faithfulness has to do with your character. The faithful person is a person of integrity. They set right priorities in their life. And they follow through on things, keeping their word and working hard to complete the tasks set before them. Faithfulness has to do with your character.

III. Growing in faithfulness

We have looked at faithfulness and God. We have looked at faithfulness and character. Finally, we want to see what the Bible says about growing in faithfulness. We need more faithful people in this world. And we need more faithful Christians in the church. So, here are a number of things you can do to grow in the spiritual fruit of faithfulness in your life.

   A. Remember God’s faithfulness to you
      – seven ways God is faithful to you

First of all, remember God’s faithfulness to you. God is faithful to you in so many ways. If you look on the back of your outline this morning, you will find a list of seven ways God is faithful to you. (This could be a whole other message in itself, so you are getting two messages for the price of one this morning!) How is God faithful to you?

1) First, God is faithful to keep his promises. We read in Joshua 21:45: “Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.” (Joshua 21:45)

2) Secondly, he is faithful in his love and compassion for you. Lamentation 3 says: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentation 3:22-23)

3) Thirdly, God is faithful in times of trial or temptation. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says that: “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)

4) Fourthly, he is faithful to prepare you for heaven. We read in 1 Thessalonians 5: “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)

5) Fifthly, God is faithful to protect you from the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 says: “But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.” (2 Thessalonians 3:3)

6) Sixthly, God is faithful even when you are not. We read in 2 Timothy 2:13: “If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.” (2 Timothy 2:13)

7) Finally, he is faithful to forgive your sins. 1 John 1:9 says: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

So that’s the first way to grow in faithfulness. Remember God’s faithfulness to you. God is faithful to you in so many ways, and when you remember his faithfulness to you, that will encourage you to be faithful in your own life.

   B. Be a good steward of God’s gifts to you
      – 1 Corinthians 4:2

And then a second way to grow in faithfulness is to be a good steward of God’s gifts to you. The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 4:2: “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:2)

Everything you have comes from God and belongs to God. We don’t really own anything in life. We are only stewards of the things that God has entrusted to us. You have been given a trust from God, and it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. That’s a second way you can grow in faithfulness. Be a good steward of God’s gifts to you

   C. Examine your commitments in light of God’s word
      – Ecclesiastes 5:4-5; Malachi 2:14

Another way you can grow in faithfulness is to examine your commitments in light of God’s word. Ecclesiastes 5 says: “When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. 5 It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.” (Ecclesiastes 5:4-5) Never make vows lightly. As Christians we need to keep the commitments and vows we make to the Lord and each other.

This especially applies to your marriage vows. In the book of Malachi in the Old Testament the people were wondering why God was no longer paying attention to their offerings or prayers. Malachi told them: “The Lord is acting as the witness between you and the wife of your youth, because you have broken faith with her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant.” (Malachi 2:14) As Christians we need to be faithful to our spouses and the vows we have made to each other.

   D. Be faithful in the small things
      – Matthew 25:21; Luke 16:10

Another way to grow in faithfulness is to be faithful in the small things. In the parable of the talents in Matthew 25, the servant who was given five talents put his money to work and gained five more. When the master returned, he told the servant: “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:21) Jesus said in Luke 16:10: “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” (Luke 16:10) Do you want to grow in faithfulness? Be faithful in the small things, and God will trust you with more.

   E. Keep your word even when it hurts
      – Psalm 15:4

Another way to grow in faithfulness is to keep your word even when it hurts. This goes along with what we said earlier about keeping the vows and commitments you make to God and others. Psalm 15 in the Old Testament answers the question: “Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on your holy hill?” (Psalm 15:1) The psalm describes the person of integrity whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from the heart and “who keeps his oath even when it hurts.” (Psalm 15:4)

Did you make a promise that is no longer easy or convenient for you to keep? God says keep it anyways. Another way to grow in faithfulness is to keep your word even when it hurts.

   F. Ask God to develop the fruit of faithfulness in your life

And then finally as with all the fruit of the Spirit ask God to help you with this. Ask God to develop the fruit of faithfulness in your life, and he will. And so, these are six ways you can grow in faithfulness as a Christian: 1) Remember God’s faithfulness to you. 2) Be a good steward of God’s gifts to you. 3) Examine your commitments in light of God’s word. 4) Be faithful in the small things. 5) Keep your word even when it hurts. 6) Ask God to develop the fruit of faithfulness in your life.

CONCLUSION: Proverbs 20:6 says: “Many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find?” (Proverbs 20:6) Solomon had trouble finding a faithful person in his day, and things are no different today. As Christians we need to be faithful men and women who show through our daily lives and actions that we can be trusted. “I will grow in faithfulness as I allow the Spirit to strengthen my character.”

I pray as a result of this message today that you will seek to become a more trustworthy person whom God and others can depend on to fulfill your obligations, to complete your tasks and to keep your word even when it hurts. May we become a people who are completely trustworthy, reliable, and loyal. And when you come to the end of your life, may you hear those beautiful words from our Lord Jesus: “Well done, good and faithful servant!…. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:21)

© Ray Fowler

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Click here for more messages from the Fruit of the Spirit sermon series.
Click here for more messages from the book of Galatians.
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