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The Courage of Loyalty
4.27.2008
This morning I am talking about being loyal.
--- preface everything-
Nothing is wrong.
This is not a “YOU NEED TO BE MORE LOYAL TO YOUR CHURCH AND
PASTOR” sermon
All of God’s speeches are
about the future.
This is something to consider
for your future.
Proverbs 21:21
He who
pursues
righteousness and loyalty
Finds life ,
righteousness and honor. -nas
Movie quote “ You were the most powerful
man in
England. You could have been more powerful still. But you had not
the courage to be loyal. Only the conviction of
your own vanity.”
Sometimes to be loyal it takes courage. It’s not
always the easiest thing to do.
Loyalty – goodness, kindness, faithfulness.
Not just in things like the attendance, but the principles
that govern our actions in the relationship.
---- it’s being dependable,
consistent, not just with presence, but in
principles.
1.
Loyalty passes favor on to your children.
1 Samuel 20 David and Jonathan.
They were loyal to each other.
In the face of danger Jonathan was loyal to David.
Then the story seemingly ends here with David
departing.
Later after Saul is out of the picture…
2 Samuel 9 – Mephibosheth
– son of Jonathan
This boy had done nothing to have a place
at the kings table
This is a picture of sheer grace.
This crippled boy never longed for food or
company again.
He was given enormous favor because of the loyalty his father
had with David, and now it was continuing to his
children.
Put yourself in a position
where you get to hire people….
1. If you knew someone’s father and they were not a good
worker …. If their son came in to get a job,
don’t they naturally have a strike against them
already.
2. if their father was a great worker …. Doesn’t that
naturally give you a little more confidence in
the son? A little more favor?
Being a person who is loyal and faithful gives your children
unmerited favor and a better chance starting
off.
You might say that SETX is small and you are
planning on moving off.
This is not a regional thing, it’s a spiritual
thing.
It doesn’t matter where you are, a man or woman who is
faithful will cause favor to be passed on to
their children.
Loyalty rewards itself with favor.
2.
Loyalty eliminates problems
Proverbs 16:28 “A perverse man stirs up
dissension, and a gossip separates close
friends.”
This is just one proverb about gossips, there are several
about strife and how to avoid them.
The summary – be a person who is faithful and loyal and
things will go well with you.
Being a gossip is the opposite of being faithful.
There are issues that begin simply by us being
unfaithful:
If we talk about people, people will talk
about us.
If you are committed to being loyal you keep
problems away before they happen.
If you show yourself loyal to your family
-
in the way you talk to them, and about them.
-
In how you pray for them
-
In the way you listen to them
-
Way you are truly concerned for them
You will notice that the strife you see others going through,
that won’t be the story of your family’s life.
Show self loyal at work ----
Show self loyal in life----
Show self loyal with spouse-----
This doesn’t mean that there won’t be hard
times, or even stress….. but it does keep strife
from being a word that defines your life.
Being loyal to our employers, church, spouse,
our family…..
This eliminates problems before they start.
Loyalty rewards itself with strife free living
3.
The depth of your loyalty will determine the
increase in that area of life.
What do you want increased in your life?
Be faithful in the portion that you have and there will be an
increase of it.
Loyalty rewards itself with increase.
More time for family, church, money, authority,
climbing the ladder…..
Must have the courage to be loyal.
It might be costly at times….. have
courage.
Want friends –
Be loyal to the ones you have…. Not
codependent or manipulating…
Greater family life…. Be loyal to your family
now.
--- in prayer, putting their needs above your
own, in principle, not
just attendance.
Money…..
Authority ….. the authority you have is in part
based on your loyalty to your authorities.
Spiritual, work, governing.
Throughout your life there will be defining
moments.
What you do in those moments will set the course
for who you are going to be and what you are
going to have.
--- if you are loyal to the priorities of your life (and all
that entails) you will find your life ever
increasing.
Those defining moments aren’t really the big
choices….
It’s constantly making the choice to be loyal to
the priorities and principles
That will ultimately give you want you want and
put you where you want to be.
Loyalty requires courage sometimes, it
rewards itself with:
favor
strife free
living –
not stress free
rewards itself
with increase.
Cvvjcdbhy r
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