Faithful to the Finish
1 Corinthians 12:6-7 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.
Galatians 5:7–8 You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth.
A Faithful Life Begins with the Right Foundation (Acts 6:5)
Ephesians 3:19-22 Now, therefore, you no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
1. You cannot function in the Body if you are not part of the Body.
2. You must become part of the Body to function in the Body.
1 John 5:11-13 And this is the testimony; that God has given us eternal life and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son, has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
3. You cannot function properly in the Body if you are spiritually empty.
Romans 14:8 If we live, we live to the Lord, or if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.
Ephesians 1: 13-14 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
1 John 4:13 By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us His Spirit.
Key Truth:
- Faithfulness in public starts with fullness in private.
- Your public effectiveness is directly tied to your private walk with God.
2 Corinthians 5:20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us; we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
You must surrender the Body to His will
Do you really think Stephen desired to share the message to the Sanhedrin council?
Do you really think He desired to be stoned to death?
You must exercise the Body toward godliness
1 Timothy 4:8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.
Spiritual Disciplines
Reading God’s Word
Prayer
Giving
Sharing your testimony
Fellowship
Serving
Key Truths
- Know the Word so you can stand on the Word.
- Don’t compromise truth to gain approval
You must embrace your role in the Body (v.58)
Final Challenge:
- Stay active in the Body.
- Use your gift in the Body.
- Remain faithful to the end.
- Be part of the Body.