Faithfulness satisfies the statement, “You can count on me.”
Sermon Title: A CALL TO FAITHFULNESS
Scripture Text: GALATIANS 5:22-23; MATTHEW 25:14-19
Sermon Notes:
GALATIANS 5:22-23 NIV
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self- control. Against such things there is no law.
MATTHEW 25:24-28 NIV
24 Then the man who had received the one talent came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.
25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
26 His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?
27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28 ‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.
PROVERBS 20:6 NIV
6 Many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find?
LAMENTATIONS 3:22-23 NIV
22 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.
- faithfulness | Greek: pistis
- “faithful, to be trusted, reliable”
“Faithfulness satisfies the statement, “You can count on me.”
ABILITY. OPPORTUNITY. ACCOUNTABILITY.
I. KEEP ACCOUNT OF YOUR GOD-GIVEN ABILITY
MATTHEW 25:14-15 NIV
14 Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.
15 To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.
1 CORINTHIANS 12:7 NLT
7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.
MATTHEW 25:14-15 NIV
15 To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.
“A Talent is a God-given ability to be used for God’s glory.”
“It’s not how much gifts you have that matters to God; it’s what you do with your gifts that matters to him.”
“Your opportunity will never exceed your ability but your ability will always be equal to your opportunity.”
REFLECT.
What God-given abilities do you have? How are you using those abilities for the honor of God and the good of others?
II. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR GOD-GIVEN OPPORTUNITY.
“Every ability that you have comes with the expectation that that ability will be used when the opportunity presents itself.”
MATTHEW 25:16-18 NIV
16 The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more.
17 So also, the one with the two talents gained two more.
18 But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
“God never compares you with anybody else. God compares you with you.”
“Your big opportunity is right where you are.”
REFLECT.
Could you honestly say that you’re more faithful or would you say you’re more foolish?
III. BE AWARE OF YOUR ACCOUNTABILITY TO GOT
MATTHEW 25:19-23 NIV
19 After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.
20 The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’
21 His master replied, ‘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!’
22 The man with the two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’
23 His master replied, ‘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!’
24 Then the man who had received the one talent came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.
25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
“There is simply no excuse for not doing what you can with what you have.”
MATTHEW 25:26-27 NIV
26 His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?
27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
“You fail all the time, but you aren’t a failure until you start blaming someone else.” — Bum Philips, American Football Coach
“We can either make an effort or find an excuse.”
MATTHEW 25:21 NIV
21 His master replied, ‘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!’
“Most people would succeed in small things if they weren’t troubled with great ambition.” — Henry Longfellow, Poet
REFLECT.
Would you say that Jesus Christ made a good investment when he saved you?
“The bigger picture is: Our God is a faithful God.”
I. ABILITY
II. OPPORTUNITY
III. ACCOUNTABILITY
“Faithfulness says, “You can count on me.”