Men of Faith

Men of Faith By Michael Thomas

Table of Contents Introduction: What Is a Man of Faith? 01

Paulʼs Teaching on Faithfulness 02 Faithfulness and Oneness with God 03 Faithfulness Amid Spiritual Community 04 Steadfastness and Self-Evaluation 05 How to Become Faithful 06

Introduction:

What Is a Man of Faith?

What is a man of faith, and what does it mean to be a man of faith? At first thought, the man who comes to mind is Joshua. Remember Joshua? In the twenty-fourth chapter of Joshua, the fourteenth verse, he gives us the famous quote:

Joshua 24:14

“But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Here we see a man of faith taking a stand without consulting flesh and blood, making a decision for his entire household— that he and his house would serve the Lord. My brother, this is a man of faith. Joshua was well respected among the children of Israel, not without reason but because of the standard of his holiness, righteousness, and faithfulness toward God.

Can you say the same? Can your community look at you and see a man who stands on his morals and principles, who is not shaken or easily moved, even in the face of adversity? Will you stand for God even if it means standing alone, as it oen does?

Paulʼs Teaching on Faithfulness Many men sacrice their relationship and fellowship with God when it threatens their relationship and fellowship with others.

1 Corinthians 4:1

Let a man so account of us as the ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

Moreover, it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you or of manʼs judgment. Yes, I judge not my own self, for I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justied. But He who judges me is the Lord.

• • • • • a strength in our families, a strength in our local churches, a strength in our jobs, a strength in our schools, a strength in every relationship.

Paul gives us a beautiful breakdown of faithfulness when he says that it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful. Why is this so essential? “Moreover” means more importantly; it implies that being faithful is not always the easiest thing to do.

The third verse shows us where we should prioritize judgment—the judgment of man versus the judgment of God. Some people prioritize the judgment of man higher than the judgment of God, causing them to be unfaithful to God yet faithful to man, which ultimately leads to error. According to Paul, it is a small thing to be judged by man because Paul knew that Godʼs judgment is the only judgment that truly matters.

When we live with this same sentiment, it causes us to live lives faithful to God and, in doing so, become Another tremendous benefit of being faithful to God is that He will also be faithful to you; wherever you are, you will have the backing and support of God.

Faithfulness and Oneness with God

Let us look back to Joshua. In the twenty-fourth chapter of Joshua, the first verse says:

“ Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem and called for the elders of Israel, for their heads, for their judges, and for their oicers; and they presented themselves before God.” Joshua 24:1 Wait a minute—what just happened? Joshua called for all the heads and judges of Israel, yet the Bible says they presented themselves before God. This shows that as they interacted with Joshua, they were also interacting with God. Faithfulness to God produces oneness with God.

We see the same dynamic in the interaction between Peter and Ananias and Sapphira. Peter did not say, “Ananias, why have you lied to me?” He said, “Why have you lied to the Holy Ghost?” Peter was faithful to God, and because of this faithfulness, God was faithful to Peter. When Peter spoke, he spoke as an oracle of God.

Many Christian men have never experienced the joy of this oneness with God simply because they lack faithfulness. When given an opportunity to choose themselves over the will of God, they choose themselves—or the desires and respect of others—thereby sacrificing their relationship and fellowship with the only true and living God.

The Demanding Nature of

Faithfulness to God is not without cost.

We see this clearly illustrated in Exodus 17:8-13:

Exodus 17:8-13

Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, ght with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua discomted Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

In this passage, Moses' faithfulness required physical endurance. His arms grew weary, yet the battle's outcome depended on his continued faithfulness in holding up his hands. This teaches us that faithfulness oen demands perseverance beyond our natural strength.

The Sacricial Nature of

Moreover, faithfulness may require signicant sacrice, as demonstrated in 2 Chronicles 11:13-16:

2 Chronicles 11:13-16:

And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts. For the Levites le their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them o from executing the priest's oce unto the LORD: And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made. And aer them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrice unto the LORD God of their fathers.

These Levites demonstrated remarkable faithfulness by leaving their homes and possessions rather than compromise their service to the Lord. They chose faithfulness to God over material comfort and security, exemplifying the sacrificial nature of true faithfulness.

The Rewards of Faithfulness While faithfulness can be demanding and require sacrice, the Lord promises to reward those who remain faithful. As Psalm 84:10-11 declares:

For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

This passage reminds us of God's promise to Abraham in Genesis 17:1: “And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.” The Lord's expectation of blamelessness is tied to His promise of blessing. When we walk faithfully before Him, He withholds no good thing from us.

The Consequences of Disloyalty

In contrast to the rewards of faithfulness, the Scripture is clear about the consequences of disloyalty. Obadiah 1:4, 11 provides a sobering warning:

Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD... In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them.

Edom's betrayal of Israel in their time of need resulted in God's judgment. This demonstrates that disloyalty to God's people is viewed by the Lord as disloyalty to Himself.

Faithfulness in Actions, Not Merely Words

True faithfulness is demonstrated through actions rather than mere declarations. Peter's relationship with Jesus before his conversion powerfully illustrates this principle. In Matthew 26:33-35, we read:

Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be oended because of thee, yet will I never be oended. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

Yet despite Peter's bold declaration, when tested, his actions revealed the true state of his heart:

Matthew 26:69-

Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. And aer a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

and Unity in the Body of Christ The faithfulness that produces oneness with God also creates unity among believers. As Paul writes in Ephesians 4:1-6:

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

This unity is not merely organizational but spiritual—it stems from shared faithfulness to the Lord and His word. When believers individually maintain faithfulness to God, corporate unity naturally follows.

The Call to Steadfast

As followers of Christ, we are called to a faithfulness that transcends convenience or personal gain. Like Joab, who ultimately revealed his unfaithfulness despite appearances of loyalty to King David, our true allegiance will eventually be revealed in our actions. Will we be found faithful to the Lord's commands even when they conflict with our personal desires or the expectations of others? The path to experiencing oneness with God requires unwavering faithfulness in all circumstances—through demands, sacrifices, and tests. Yet this faithfulness leads to the most profound joy possible: intimate fellowship with the living God, where our words become His words and our actions manifest His presence to the world around us.

Faithfulness Amid Spiritual Community

Another jewel from Joshua 24 is that Joshua was speaking to people familiar to him—people who knew the same God and the same struggles, people who once worshiped in the same way. This teaches us that even within spiritual circles— churches, Bible studies, or any institution of learning about God—we may have to remain faithful and alone regarding the standards and morals we uphold. Yes, we should all walk in the Spirit and operate in the unity of the faith, but sadly this has not yet come to fruition, according to Ephesians 4:11, “till we all come into the unity of the faith.”

Many men would be faithful to God if it never meant going against the grain. But what if the grain is going in the wrong direction? Are we to accommodate wrong? Are we to conform to what we know is not of God simply for the sake of peace or normality?

Joshua called all the elders, heads, judges, and oicers—men of influence, definite leaders—yet they had veered from the path God set and begun to worship other gods. Sometimes even leadership must be corrected, but only by someone who is himself faithful to the Lord, who holds Godʼs judgment above all others, and who has an uncompromising dedication to the Word of God.

Steadfastness and Self-

Evaluation • • • • Does God consider you a good and faithful servant?

Are these His thoughts when He thinks of you?

Do you have a reputation of obedience in heaven?

Do you have a good name among the brethren?

Do you live from the perspective, “Not my will but Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”?

One requirement of being faithful to God is remaining steadfast to His Word. No matter how much time has passed since you first heard it, do you still believe it as if it were the first day? This is what Noah did: he heard the Lord say it would rain and believed that one word for 120 years. That, my friend, is faithfulness—being unwavering when you hear the Word of God and letting His Word become law in your life.

Letʼs perform a quick self-evaluation:

How to Become Faithful

Some of you may now be asking, “How do I become faithful?” Jesus answers in Matthew 22:37:

“ Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”

Matthew 22:37

We become faithful to God when we fall in love with righteousness, holiness— indeed, with the attributes of God—loving Him with all our heart, all our mind, and all our soul.

Understanding True

Faithfulness to God is not merely about following rules or maintaining religious practices. Rather, it springs from a transformed heart that genuinely loves what God loves. The Lord revealed this profound truth when He first mentioned the mind in His teachings, emphasizing that our entire being—heart, soul, and mind— must be consumed with love for the Father.

This complete devotion includes the “hidden man of the heart” (our spirit or conscience), the soul (which is the spirit of the mind), and the fleshy mind itself. All must be yielded in love to God. When we achieve this state of complete surrender, we enter into a relationship of faithfulness that transforms everything about our lives.

The Character of

The Apostle Peter provides insight into developing faithfulness through character formation:

2 Peter 1:5-10

“ And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar o, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.” According to this passage, we must diligently add to our faith: virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity. These qualities must abound in us, revealing that faithfulness is not a passive state but an active pursuit of godly character.

God has purified our hearts through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and given us the Holy Spirit who sanctifies us. However, it is now our responsibility to build upon this foundation. All these qualities that Peter mentions can be summarized in one word: character. Faithful character emerges as we purposefully add these virtues to our faith.

Walking in Holiness

Becoming faithful requires walking in holiness. When we walk in holiness—or “walk in the Spirit” as Paul describes it—we enter into a relationship where we can trust that:

1. The Father hears our prayers
2. The Father responds to our petitions
3. “As He is, so are we now, in this world” (1 John 4:17)

In this state of holiness, our thoughts become aligned with God's thoughts, and our emotions reflect His emotions. The Lord speaks to us through this Spirit of oneness, placing His desires in our hearts. His guidance becomes the unction that directs our steps, and His words flow through our speech.

As Jesus taught, “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:30). This means submitting to His will for the temple of God—our bodies. We are not the masters but the stewards of our flesh, charged with reckoning ourselves dead to sin and self-will. When we deny ourselves, everything done in the body— whether words or deeds—is accomplished by the will of God.

Trusting the Spirit of Oneness

To become faithful, we must learn to trust the Spirit of Oneness within us. As Paul writes, “For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son” (Romans 1:9). It is through our spirit that the Lord speaks, and by listening and obeying, we grow in faithfulness.

When we purify our hearts, sanctify our flesh, and walk before the Lord and others in love, we position ourselves to hear God clearly, and He hears us. In this state of holiness, there is no division between “my mind” and “His mind.” The thoughts that seem to come out of nowhere are actually the Father conversing with us.

The Power of Holiness in Faithfulness “You can trust holiness,” says the Lord. When we walk in holiness, we allow Christ to live His life through us, and our faithfulness becomes an extension of His own faithfulness toward the Father. The Spirit of Oneness empowers us to remain steadfast even through adversity.

By embracing holiness, we access the power of God given to every son and daughter.

As Psalm 82:6 reminds us, I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High."

We live in the Spirit, and it is the Spirit who knows the will of God. He comforts us by ensuring we do not walk in blindness or ignorance. The knowledge He imparts gives us the strength to endure all manner of suering we might encounter in this world.

Conclusion

Becoming faithful begins with loving God completely—with our entire heart, soul, and mind. It develops through building godly character, walking in holiness, making sacrifices when necessary, trusting the Spirit of Oneness, demonstrating faithfulness through actions, and embracing the power of holiness. When we pursue faithfulness in this manner, we enter into that blessed state of oneness with God where we experience the joy of His presence, the clarity of His guidance, and the power of His Spirit working through us. In this relationship of faithfulness, we find our true purpose and fulfillment as children of God.

Men of Faith Apostle Michael Thomas