LEARNING TO PLEASE GOD
LESSON TWELVE – "BE FAITHFUL TILL DEATH"
As we learn to please God, faithfulness is a much needed lesson. Faithfulness to God is our maintaining continual allegiance to our great Creator. Those who are faithful are loyal to God. A sense of duty or responsibility to God is shown by those who are faithful. "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14) Those who are faithful are the true children of God.
As we learn to stay faithful we will lean to pray. The prayers of a faithful Christian are answered. The Bible says "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." (Matthew 7:7) Prayer is a part of the daily life of those who are faithful to God. (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18) God will give good things to those who ask. (Matthew 7:11) He may say "no" in answer to our prayers because the thing we are asking for may not be in our best interest. Parents say no to their children when they ask for something that would hurt them. James says our prayers must not be selfish. "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts." (James 4:3) Those who stay faithful to God pray daily.
As we learn to stay faithful we will lean to attend the church services faithfully. God commands Christians not to forsake the assembly. (Hebrews 10:25) Missing worship indicates that we are letting our salvation slip away. "Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip." (Hebrews 2:1) I need to assemble steadfastly for worship for my own spiritual strength. Worship does not bring sadness, weakness and emptiness. It brings joy, strength and fulness. "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord." (Psalms 122:1) Those who stay faithful attend all the services of the church.
As we learn to stay faithful we will study the Bible regularly. Only from the Bible can I learn the certainty of my soul's eternal salvation. The urgency and necessity of Bible study should be ever before us. We are commanded to study and rightly divide the word of truth so as to be approved unto God as acceptable workmen. (2 Timothy 2:15) Jesus did not write the Bible Himself. The Holy Spirit of God inspired the prophets, apostles and other men to write the Scripture. To reject the apostle's writings, is to reject the commandment of God. "If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord." (1 Corinthians 14:37) The Bible is God's only source of authority in religion. Therefore, we must search the Scriptures to see if what we hear is so. (Acts 17:11) Those who stay faithful study the Bible regularly.
As we learn to stay faithful, we will share the gospel with others. The “Gospel” is the good news of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. "Good News" must be shared. Jesus commanded the gospel be preached to every creature in every place. (Mark 16:15-16) Based on the suffering of Jesus, let us preach repentance and remission of sins throughout the world. "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." (Luke 24:46- 47) Those who have learned the gospel must share it with others. "Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!" (1 Corinthians 9:16.) We must become aware of other's need for the gospel and realize that we owe it to them to share the gospel with them. Let us lay aside all hindrances and start now on the task of taking salvation to the lost. Those who stay faithful share their faith with others.
To become a Christian, you must hear the gospel (Romans 10:17), believe in Jesus (Hebrews 11:6), repent of sins (Luke 13:3), confess Christ as Lord (Romans 10:9-10) and be baptized to wash away sins. (Acts 22:16) After baptism, you must stay faithful to God. (Revelation 2:10)
True or False:
1. _________ The faithful Christian prays to God daily. (Matthew 7:11)
2. _________ The faithful Christian attends all the church services. (Acts 2:42)
3. _________ The faithful Christian studies God’s word often. (Acts 17:11)
4. _________ The faithful must share God’s word with others. (Mark 16:16)
5. _________ After baptism you must stay faithful to God. (Revelation 2:10)