Forever and Ever

Sermons based on the Letter to the Galatians (VI)

Galatians 5:22-23

Do you remember the fruits of the Spirit we called “Tutti Frutti”? In the fifth chapter of his letter to the Galatians, Paul wrote about the fruits of the Spirit as indications of walking and dwelling in the Spirit of the Lord. He said, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (22-23)

Two weeks ago I focused on the fruits of Joy and Patience. I hope you experienced God’s joy in your life in a specific way. When I gave the example of Michael Phelps, who was looking forward to winning his eighth medal at the time, I mentioned that the happiness caused by the medals would go away. It was interesting when an NBC reporter asked how Phelps felt after winning a record eight medals, he mentioned now that it was over he was looking forward to something new. He is right; joy is an inner experience with God. Only through God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit we can have that joy.

We move on to another fruit: Faithfulness.

If Joy is an apricot, Patience is a pomegranate, then Faithfulness is a Pineapple. Pineapples can stay fresh a long time without refrigeration. Faithfulness is an important fruit which helps us not quit easily.

We live in a society where vows and promises are broken easily. Hallmark has a card supports this. It reads, “I can’t promise you forever, but I can promise you today.”

What does it really mean to be faithful? Here are two definitions:

“Faithful implies long-continued and steadfast fidelity to whatever one is bound to by a pledge, duty, or obligation.” (Webster.com)

“To follow through with a commitment regardless of difficulty.”

When a husband has an affair, and even when he says to his wife, “I love you”, one can say he is liar, he cheats, and most of all, he is UNFAITHFUL to his family.

When someone says, “I love the Lord, I love the church” and he is unfaithful to the Lord and to the Church, what does it mean? How does love survive without being faithful? That is the reason why the fruit of LOVE is in the beginning of “the plate of fruits.” Love and faithfulness are related.

The best way to understand the fruit of faithfulness is to learn from God’s faithfulness towards us. God promised to be with us in all circumstances. This is reality for those who trust the Lord. “For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9). Jesus was the best example in demonstrating God’s faithfulness in keeping his promises. Jesus himself was faithful to his promise when he said he would be arrested and beaten and crucified. Jesus was faithful to the end. (Matthew 16)

The Bible challenges us:

-Ephesians 6:21 “Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything…” (faithful in service)

-Romans 12:12 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (faithful in prayer )

-Colossians 1:7 “You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ.” (faithful in ministry)

-1 Corinthians 4:1-2 “So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” (faithful in stewardship)

-Revelation 13:10 ^“If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.” (faithful in hardship and persecution)

These are just some examples from the Bible that challenge us to stay firmly faithful under all circumstances.

How do we acquire this fruit? Like the others, we need to be on the tree, hooked on to Jesus to be able to get the “juice” of life from him. Walking in the Spirit is essential. The branches should be attached to Jesus. Temptations and hardship will be there, but if we are attached, God will give us the endurance to be faithful in our commitment to our Lord.

George Muller prayed a long time for his 5 friends. He prayed 5 years before the first one was saved; for the next one he prayed 10 years, for the third one 25 years; for the fourth one nearly 50 years. The last one converted after 52 years, at George Muller’s funeral. George Muller was faithful, even unto death.