Faithfulness
MATTHEW 24:44-47
44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant (Notice that Jesus puts faithfulness before wisdom – you could have wisdom without being faithful, but your wisdom could not operate in the right way, so you must have faithfulness first. If God wasn’t faithful to us, then his wisdom would not be able to benefit us properly), whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? (meat is the food of the word in the season and day that you are living in)
46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
(Notice - A faithful servant at the time of the coming of the Lord – so faithfulness and the second coming of the Lord are connected together)
47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
Faithfulness
REVELATION 17:12-14
12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
14 ¶ These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
3 things – Called - their name has been called by the word for their age, and the reason that their names were called is that they were chosen in him before the foundation of the world, and so these same ones that were called and chosen were also faithful.
**So their faithfulness to the word for their age is what identifies them in each age that they were called and chosen in that age, and this especially to this end time age at the time of the second coming of the Lord.
GENESIS 5:23-24
23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:
24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
Enoch = Dedicated – he was a man that was dedicated to the purpose that he had been raised up for, and he was also translated which is a type of the bride of this last hour. So we know by this the type of character that the bride will have in the end time – these ones who are called and chosen would also be faithful.
**But we see that in this day that many seem to be becoming less and less dedicated to the revelation and the message of this hour - it’s getting harder and harder to get people to even come to church faithfully, and it’s not that they are not dedicated people, because they are dedicated to many things, but not the word.
***People today are faithful to get to work on time, they are faithful with brushing their teeth and paying their bills, they are faithful in getting the kids to school and many many other things, but when it comes to the things of the Lord they are not so faithful, it’s like an add-on to their lives, an inconvenience, a chore, and this is because of the influence of the world and the people that are around us, because the people of the world are not interested at all in the revelation of this hour, because to them there is just so much more that is available to fill your life up with that is far more important – and some of us have also brought into that lie.
I CORINTHIANS 4:1-2
1 ¶ Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. (We are living in an age where all the mysteries have been revealed to a people. If there were ever a people that this scripture applied to, then it is certainly to us in this age, so we have a great responsibility to care for these mysteries, because we have been given them, we have them in our possession by the message of the hour)
2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
***I do not believe that you can have the mysteries of this hour revealed to you and remain unfaithful, because if you really believe, then that will be expressed in your works and in your dedication to what you believe, and so you will be dedicated to the word and the work of this hour.
CHRIST.IS.THE.MYSTERY.OF.GOD.REVEALED_ JEFF.IN V-3 N-7 SUNDAY_ 63-0728
304 By lack of this revelation is why we have so many different divisions among us, and so much mockery. So much division among us, is because the people lack that revelation. See, they lack that revelation, the teachers.
JAMES 2:14-20
14 ¶ What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
In other words, if you don’t express what you profess to believed, then you are not a real believer yet because your faith is dead, and dead faith means that although you might have it in your mind, yet there is no life of the revelation of it in your heart, and real faith comes from the heart, not the mind.
Living faith produces living works; faith that is dead produces a nominal believer - one who believes it at just a mind level of belief, they have just been talked into it, and that is what the denominations are full of, but that is not what we are to be in this message.
I.HAVE.HEARD.BUT.NOW.I.SEE_ SHREVEPORT.LA V-7 N-3 SATURDAY_ 65-1127E
103 … And if there's... if you pour water on the ground, on the ground, on the ground, and there's no seed in there to strike it, how can it ever bring forth anything? There's nothing there to bring forth. That is, that only the Elected of God will see It.
104 The Elected of God seen It in Noah's time, Moses' time, Jesus' time, the apostles' time, Luther's time, Wesley's time, Pentecostal time, because that was the Seed that was on the earth when this inspiration was poured out. Now while the inspiration's poured out, to gather the Bride together, it's only those who are Elected will see It. Jesus said, "I thank Thee, Father, that Thou hast hid these things from the eyes of the wise and prudent, and revealed It to babes such as learn." Now, inspiration has to strike it.
I.HAVE.HEARD.BUT.NOW.I.SEE_ SHREVEPORT.LA V-7 N-3 SATURDAY_ 65-1127E
107 And just as it was hard for the Catholics to see Luther, and the Luther's to see the Wesley, and the Penteco-... the Wesley's to see the Pentecostal age, so is it hard for the Pentecostals to see this age (that is why some people in the message go on and on about the Asuza Steet Pentecostal revival, because they have never seen the message of this age yet, because it is HARD to see it). It's always been that way, because It's poured out upon an Elected Seed, and that only. That's what the Bible teaches. They can't see It, Jesus even prayed for them, said, "They was blind, they didn't know it."
I.HAVE.HEARD.BUT.NOW.I.SEE_ SHREVEPORT.LA V-7 N-3 SATURDAY_ 65-1127E
193 Now, I don't care how much the people act in these denominations, say they're "looking for Christ," their actions prove they're not. That's right. Your actions speaks louder than your words. All they're thinking about is making denominational members, but there are some people, one here and there, that's looking for the coming of the Lord. They're watching for... though. Only those will He reveal Himself to, only those will understand.
194 Just the Elected understood Who He was. Just think, there's about maybe three million people, Jews, on earth, there wasn't one third of them ever knowed He was there till He had done come and gone. See? But He revealed Himself to those who were waiting: John the Baptist, and--and the apostles that had been called by John, and so forth, and blind Anna in the temple, Simeon the priest that "it was revealed to him by the Holy Ghost that he was going to see the Christ." All those great religious leaders, theologians and things, blind as they could be!
195 Only can the rain raise the seed, if the seed's already there. And as you was a germ first in your father, and he didn't know you, yet you were in your father. But through a bedding ground of your mother, you were made manifest in his likeness, and then he could talk to you. God, the Great God; if you've got Eternal Life, then the germ of Eternal Life was in God at the beginning. And you were there, you were in His thinking, your name and all. And He, by foreknowledge, ordained you to see This. And you that was not ordained, will never see It. But, remember, in the Name of the Lord Jesus, "The hour is here!" Won't you believe Him? Give your lives to Him.
GALATIANS 3:9
9 So then they which be of faith (of the revelation of this hour) are blessed with faithful Abraham.
Abraham’s works followed his faith, it was his revelation that kept him faithful.
Opening scripture:
MATTHEW 24:44-47
44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant (notice again - that faithfulness is placed before wisdom – you can have wisdom, but if you are not faithful then that wisdom cannot be properly put to good use. If brother Branham wasn’t a faithful servant in this age, then the wisdom that God gave to him for us would have not come to us in the way that it did), whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? (meat is the food of the word that we have received because of a faithful servant)
46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
(So we see how that God was faithful to send Malachi 4, and we see how that William Branham was faithful to proclaim that message to a people, and so now, what must follow is that there must be a faithful people raise up in this hour, because Christ’s second coming is connected with a faithful messenger and a faithful people.)
47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
Rulership comes by first showing faithfulness.
MATTHEW 25:23
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Joy and happiness follows faithfulness
**This word “Faithful” = believing – because when a person really believes in something, then they become faithful in the service and dedication of that belief; they become worthy of trust by God and by others in their relationship to that; they become a person that can be relied on in the cause of that purpose because the people that they associate with know that they really believe in that cause.
This word “Faithful” also goes on to say - of persons who show themselves faithful in the transaction of business, the execution of commands, or the discharge of official duties; one who kept his plighted faith, worthy of trust; that can be relied on.
*The reason that people are not reliable in relation to this message is because of a lack of faith in what they profess, and it is this lack of faith that produces their unfaithfulness – and after a while they become dilatory or slack when it comes to the things of the Lord – let this be a warning for us in this hour not to become like that, because that is very dangerous ground.
ADOPTION.4_ JEFF.IN AD.PT.4 SUNDAY_ 60-0522E
117 Ten virgins went out to meet the Lord, all sanctified, all holy, every one of them sanctified. Five were dilatory and let their lights go out (they only had enough revelation to see serpent seed and water baptism in Jesus name, but that was all the oil they had, and it wasn’t enough to last them the whole night, and so they ran out of light to see all the way to the marriage). Five had oil in their lamps. "And, behold the Bridegroom cometh." And the five that had oil in their lamps went into the wedding supper. And the others was left outside , where they were weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth. Be ready, for you don't know what minute the Lord comes. Have... What is the Oil represented in the Bible? Holy Spirit.
Dilatory = slow to act, unhurried, unpunctual, lax, slack, sluggish, sluggardly, snail-like, tortoise-like, lazy, idle, slothful, unfaithful;
PROVERBS 28:19-20
19 ¶ He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread (this is to do with seed and wheat and bread, which is what we are about in this age – this is about a faithful worker at harvest time): but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.
20 ¶ A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.
WHY.LITTLE.BETHLEHEM_ JEFF.IN V-19 N-13 SUNDAY_ 58-1228
69 And we're acquainted with the story as it goes on, that this great Boaz, which was the lord of the harvest, was in harvest at the time, and was a kinsman to Naomi. And when she found Ruth out there in a little mission, gleaning, every little straw that she could pick up, that had some wheat on it, she held to it, for it was life. And Boaz, being the lord of the harvest, he commanded that his reapers would drop a handful now and then for her; and she would pick it up, and with joy. And then she shucked out a great apron-full of it that day. And when Boaz, the lord of the harvest, came out and looked upon Ruth, and seen her faithfulness, he fell in love with her.
Watch Boaz represent Christ. Where was he at? Bethlehem. Where was Ruth come to? Bethlehem. Where was she gleaning at? In Bethlehem. See all those spiritual significance to this here, the background to this great scene that's taking place, God knowing it in the beginning?
THY.HOUSE_ TIFTON.GA TUESDAY_ 61-0808
E-15 And then we find out that along about midnight, Paul and Silas must've talked about the Lord until about midnight. And then they begin to sing hymns, some good old Christian song. Oh, if we'd sing it today, we'd sing "There's Power In The Blood," or "O How I Love Jesus," or something like that.
And when they begin to sing, all of a sudden an earthquake struck the place. And notice how it done. Instead of piling those walls of that big old building right in on top of them and them--and mashing them to death, it shook the walls away from them. And not only that, but it--it--it broke the stocks and bars loose from them. And they were set free.
E-16 Now, think. Over their feet, over their hands and over their neck they were set free, every one of them. Now, instead of that big old heavy Roman prison breaking in on them, it fell away from them, like this. And not only that, but the shackles and things fell off of them. See, that's our God when we hold out faithful. See, we must stay faithful. And as long as we're faithful and--and on, we... Now, we may not be in that kind of a shape. We--none of us may get... I hope we don't get like that. But we can be faithful in what we've got to--what we have to go through with. Maybe it's a persecution. Maybe it's somebody laughs at you. Maybe it's somebody says, "You're old-time, you're a holy-roller," or--or whatever they might want to call you, or make fun of you, or something. Let's be faithful just the same, because God respects our faithfulness to that, just the same as He was--respect their faithfulness to what they were--they had to go through with.
333-3 LAODICEAN.CHURCH.AGE - CHURCH.AGE.BOOK CPT.9
"These things saith the Faithful and True Witness." Now I want to show you what I find in the thought of "faithful". You know we often talk about a great unchanging God, Whose Word does not change. And when we speak of Him after that manner we often get a view of Him that makes Him seem very impersonal. It is as though God made the whole universe and all the laws that pertain to it and then stood back and became a great impersonal God. It is as though God made a way of salvation for lost mankind, that way being the cross, and then when the death of Christ has atoned for our sins, and His resurrection gave us an open door to Him, God just folded His arms and stood back. It is as if we majored in believing in a great Creator, Who having created, lost personal interest in His creation. Now I say that is how too many people are apt to think. But that is wrong thinking, for God is GOVERNING IN THE AFFAIRS OF MEN RIGHT NOW. HE IS BOTH CREATOR AND SUSTAINER.
Colossians 1:16-17.
"For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by Him, and for Him:
And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist."
He is a Sovereign God. By His own counsel He purposed the plan of the salvation of His own elect which He foreknew. The Son died upon the cross to establish the means of Salvation and the Holy Spirit carefully executes the will of the Father. He is working all things at this moment according to the purpose of His own will. He is right in the midst of it all. He is in the midst of His church. This great Creator, Saviour-God is faithfully working amongst His own right now as the great Shepherd of the sheep. His very existence is for His own. He loves them and cares for them. His eye is ever upon them. When the Word says that "your lives are hid with Christ in God" it means exactly what it says. Oh, I am so glad that my God abides faithful. He is true to Himself, He won't lie. He is true to the Word, He will back it up. He is true to us, He will lose none of us, but raise us up in the last day. I am glad that I am resting in His faithfulness.
Philippians 1:6.
"Being confident of this very thing, that He Which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the Day of Jesus Christ."
WORKS.IS.FAITH.EXPRESSED_ SHREVEPORT.LA V-7 N-1 FRIDAY_ 65-1126
212 Notice Jesus has said, "Only believe, for all things are possible to them that believe." Faith and works are husband and wife, they work together. The husband works with the wife, the wife with the husband; they identify one another.
223-3 THYATIREAN.CHURCH.AGE - CHURCH.AGE.BOOK CPT.6
"I know your service." Jesus said, "He that is greatest of all is servant to all." A wise man commented on that saying. Here is what he said, "Only history will prove the truth of that dictum." That man was right. All the truly great men of history have been servants. They who demanded to be served; they who oppressed; they who sought to always be at the head, have gone down in shame. Even the very rich are condemned by God when they have not used their wealth right. But look into history and you will find that the truly great were those who served others. History can never acclaim those for whom much was done, but it will forever praise those who did much for others.
Now let us apply that to ourselves. Even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, so we are to follow that example. See Him as He bows Himself over the feet of the apostles and washes their tired and dirty feet. He said, "You don't know now what I am doing, but you will know hereafter. But what you see me doing, you ought also to do." He became a servant in order that God could elevate Him to the highest heights. And one day in the judgment of the saints we are going to hear Him say, " Well done, good and faithful SERVANT, enter thou into the joy of the Lord." It is hard to be always a servant. But those who spend and are spent for others will one day be seated with Him in His throne. It will be worth it all, then. "Let us labor for the Master, from the dawn till setting sun, Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care, And when all of life is over and our work on earth is done, And the roll is called up yonder I'll be there."
God has sent us the greatest message that has ever come down to the earth – and so there is nothing greater to live for in this hour because the revelation of this hour is one hundred million times greater than anything else that you could think of in comparison, so when we really see it like that, then that seeing and revelation will bring us into a faithfulness to the cause of this hour.
Faithfulness