1. Revelation 2:10 (NKJV)
10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

3. Faithfulness Today we announce our new theme for 2017
We certainly do not want to forget about our theme from last year or any of the previous years
We seek to build on the foundation that has already been laid

4. Faithfulness The theme we have chosen for 2017 is “Faithfulness”
Our theme verse comes from the admonition Christ gave the church at Smyrna in Revelation 2:10
“Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life”

5. Faithfulness
Becoming a Christian can be one of the most exciting and encouraging decisions we ever make
If that was all there was to it, perhaps we could say it was a piece of cake
Then the rest of our life happens...

6. Faithfulness
The Bible speaks in many places about the idea of faithfulness and apostasy
It tells us over and over that it is possible to fall away
It also teaches us that faithfulness to God is vital to eternal life

7. Faithfulness
We also know that Satan does not give up on us…he continues to seek us like a roaring lion (I Pet. 5:8)
He doesn’t just want to tempt us or cause us to stumble
He wants to DEVOUR us!!

8. Faithfulness
So once you become a Christian you have a target on your back
Satan will do all that he can to keep you from remaining faithful to God
We see it all the time, people who make a commitment to God, only to go back on that commitment

9. Faithfulness So we need faithfulness
We need to encourage faithfulness, to preach faithfulness, to promote faithfulness
Our theme centers on helping us make it through the temptations and struggles that seek to pull us away

10. Faithfulness Defined
The word faithful in Revelation 2:10 certainly carries with it the idea of loyalty
However, the main thrust of this word’s meaning is to trust, rely on or depend on
That is something that is reciprocal

11. Faithfulness Defined
Certainly God is faithful, in that we can trust in Him, rely and depend on Him
We are to be faithful so that God can depend on us
Abraham was a man that certainly fit that description

12. Faithfulness Demonstrated
Hebrews 11:17-19
Account is found in Genesis 22
Abraham had already received the promise from God that would come through Isaac
Abraham trusted God; could God trust him?

13. Faithfulness Demonstrated
Abraham proved that God was faithful by putting his trust in God and doing what He was told
Abraham didn’t know the how, but he knew the Who
Abraham showed his own faithfulness by being a man who God could trust

14. Faithfulness Demonstrated
Abraham was faithful to God in that not only was he loyal, but He had complete trust in Him
It takes that complete trust in God in order to not only be faithful now, but to remain faithful until death
Do you trust God?