I am thankful for faithful saints in the church. This article is dealing with seven categories of faithfulness. There are seven categories of faithfulness: God, Jesus, ministry, man, children, saints, and martyr.
God:
I am thankful that we have a God that is faithful. We can always depend on him when we call. He is never too busy to hear our plea. As we learn more about him and his ways, we will find out more and more how great and faithful he is. Like the song, “How Great Thou Art.”
De 7:9 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;
After the fall in the garden God could have given up on humanity and destroyed them. God could have started all over with a new creation but he chose to be a faithful creator. He began working with humanity and sent his son to redeem us. Oh how faithful our creator is.
1Pe 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
Jesus:
Jesus came to earth to redeem that which he took not away. He came as our high priest. All of the shame, ridicule, persecution and rejection he received at the hands of the ones he came to save, he remained faithful to his calling. It is amazing how man rejects the very thing that is sent to save us. Jesus was faithful to the end. As he prayed in the garden, Father not my will but thine be done.
Heb 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Ministry:
God is looking for faithful ministers who will do his will. There have been patterns laid down for us to follow. There are landmarks that have been established for us to follow. Any one can change things when they get the opportunity and think they are right when they do it. We are not paving the way, we are restoring that which has been lost. The reason it was lost is because man began to change things as time went on. Thank God for faithful ministers.
Eph 6:21 But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:
1Co 4:17 ¶ For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.
Timothy didn’t teach what he thought needed to be taught but he taught the things that Paul taught him to teach. Timothy was faithful to Paul.
Man:
Thank God for good, dedicated, faithful men in the assembly. Not to minimize the sisters, but the men represent the strength of the assembly. They are to be leaders at home, at work, and at church. Faithful men will stand with the ministry of the church.
2Ti 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
Col 4:9 With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.
Col 1:2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Children:
It is a beautiful site to see the children and young people in a church working for the Lord, knowing that they are receiving the proper teaching and training at home. To see the children participating in the services and enjoying themselves in the work of the lord is very rewarding. Giving the children and young people a place to work and an opportunity to be a part of the church is very important. Teaching them the principles of serving the Lord and honoring their parents will plant them in the church. Faithfulness is like a seed. It has to be planted, watered and nurtured to bring forth fruit.
Tit 1:6 ¶ If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
Saints:
As we receive the message of the Body of Christ, we are to begin to live the Gospel. As we live the Gospel then we are to begin to exemplify it in our lives to influence others. We are to create a hunger to cause others to want what we have. We have been chosen to bare the responsibility of being a light for this world to see. We are to be faithful to our calling of being saints.
Pr 13:17 ¶ A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.
Pr 25:13 ¶ As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.
As we prove faithful in these areas that God calls us to, this will cause us to be faithful in the last area. If we haven’t been faithful to God in our callings then we will never be faithful till death.
Martyr:
Re 2:13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
I pray that as we endeavor to follow Christ that we will always keep in mind that as we die daily to self, God knows whether or not we will be a faithful martyr.