The Importance of Loyalty

We're all familiar with the recent firing of a U.S. general serving in the war in Afghanistan. It was fired because of remarks he made in a magazine interview. He made remarks that were disloyal to the president and other top leaders in the U.S. Army. Are there lessons that we, as God's people, can learn? Yes, there are. What did the Scriptures say about loyalty and disloyalty? Today we're going to study some examples and some scriptures that indicate the vital importance of faithfulness and loyalty. I want to begin with one of the greatest examples in the Bible of loyalty, and it is that of King David. Before, in fact, he was king. Of course, he was faithful and loyal also after he became king as well.

We don't have time to go back and read all of the verses, but I'll read some of them. You know, David, we first have him, of course, being anointed the next king of Israel by Samuel, and yet he was not ordained to that office for some time.

For too long, he was called upon when Saul began to have a distressing spirit. David was called upon to come and play music. David was a very skillful musician. He wrote many of the Psalms. So David came and played music for Saul, and that distressing spirit left Saul.

Well, then in 1 Samuel chapter 17, we read the story of David and the giant Goliath, and how David came to bring some things for his brothers in the army. And he saw this giant defying the armies of Israel. So he went out, as we know, and took a slingshot and some rocks, and he killed the giant.

And Saul began to really take note of David at that point. And so he drafted David into the army. He would not let him go back home. He said, we can use this man in our army. He was drafted into the army and given responsibility over a certain number of soldiers. And David began with these soldiers in military battles with the Philistines to make a name for himself.

In fact, he made such a name for himself that the women began to sing as the victorious Israelite armies came back from battle. They began to sing a song. David has killed his ten thousands and Saul has killed his thousands. Well, that enraged King Saul. And he began to take note of David and a jealousy set in that very day that he first heard the ladies singing that way.

A jealousy enraged Saul. And this distressing spirit came upon him and David played music and Saul tried to pin David to the wall. He tried to kill him. But David was able to escape out of his hand when Saul tried to kill him. Well, when Saul saw that this wasn't working, then he said, well, why should I kill David? I'll let the Philistines do it. He brought David in and let him know that he wanted to give his daughter, Mashall, to him as a wife. All he had to do was to go out and to bring back 104 skins of Philistines. Well, David at first held back on becoming the king's son-in-law. Who am I to be the king's son-in-law?

But eventually he did go out and he didn't bring back just 100, but he brought back 204 skins of the Philistines. And so Saul gave his daughter Mashall to wife, to David. Well, David continued, though, to have problems with Saul trying to kill him when this distressing spirit would come upon him. And David would have to flee. And Jonathan, though, the son of Saul, loved David. And there was a real kindred spirit that developed between David and Jonathan. Ultimately, though, it came to the point that David had no choice but to flee for his life and not come back.

And he began to dwell in the wilderness for several years. From time to time Saul would go looking for him to kill him. And God, in a couple of instances, gave David instead the opportunity to kill Saul. I want you to notice, let's read in 1 Samuel 24, that David had an opportunity to kill Saul, but he refused to do so. His loyalty. He just could not rise up to kill King Saul. The Lord's anointed. 1 Samuel 24. And verse 1, it happened when Saul had returned from following the Philistines.

It was told him saying, take note, David is in the wilderness of Ingeadah. Then Saul took 3,000 chosen men, 3,000 of his top soldiers from all Israel, and went to seek David and his men on the rocks of the wild goats. So he came to the sheepfolds by the road where there was a cave, and Saul went in to attend to his needs. We believe those needs were comfort needs, bathroom needs. David and his men were staying in the recesses of that very cave.

Saul came in to take care of his needs, and David was a little bit further back in the cave, and some of his men. Then the men of David said to him, This is the day of which the Lord said to you, Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you. And David arose, and he had a sword in his hand, and he secretly, with that sword, cut off the corner of Saul's road.

Now it happened after that, David's heart troubled him because he had cut Saul's road. Even his conscience bothered him for taking that act. He said to his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord's anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord. Brethren, what an attitude of loyalty and faithfulness this is, and trust toward God.

Already David had been anointed king of Israel by Samuel. He knew he was to be king, but he would not try to make it happen. He would trust God to make it happen instead. So David restrained his servants with these words and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul got up from the cave and went on his way. When he went outside, David arose afterward and went out of the cave and called out to him saying, My Lord the King!

And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the ground and bowed down. And David said to Saul, Why do you listen to the words of man who say, indeed, David seeks your harm? Look, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord delivered you into my hand.

And someone urged me to kill you, but my eyes spared you. And I said, I will not stretch out my hand against my Lord, for he is the Lord's anointed. Moreover, my father see, yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand. And Saul must have looked down about that point and saw that it had been cut off of his robe and did not kill you and know and see that there is neither evil nor rebellion in my hand. And I have not sinned against you, yet you hunt my life to take it. Let the Lord judge between you and me, and let the Lord avenge me on you.

But my hand shall not be against you. And so verse 16, when David finished, well, he did say in verse 14, after whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog, a flea? David didn't have some big exalted opinion of himself. Therefore let the Lord be judged and judge between you and me, and see and plead my case and deliver me out of your hand.

And so it was when David had finished speaking these words to Saul that Saul said, Is this your voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice and wept, broke out into crying what he was trying to do. He said to David, You are more righteous than I, for you have indeed rewarded rewarded me with good, whereas I have I have rewarded you with evil.

So Saul went his way and David went his way. They went their separate ways. Well, you know, a second time, let's turn a couple of chapters over, chapter 26, another time, David spared Saul's life. Chapter 26 in verse 1. Now the Zephites came to Saul at Gibeon, saying, Is David not hiding in the hill of Hachola, which is opposite Jesheman? Then Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Zeph, having 3,000 chosen men of Israel with him to seek David in the wilderness of Zeph. And Saul encamped in the hill of Hachola, which is opposite Jesheman, by the road.

But David stayed in the wilderness and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness. David therefore sent out spies and understood that Saul had indeed come. So David arose and came to the place where Saul had encamped. David saw the place where Saul lay in Abner, the son of Nur, the commander of his army.

Now Saul lay within the camp with the people encamped all around him. Here's Saul in the middle, 3,000 choice soldiers all around. David answered and said to Ahimelech the Hittite and Abasha the son of Zeruah, brother of Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?

And Abasha said, I will go with you. So David and Abasha came to the people by night and there Saul lay sleeping within the camp with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. And Abner and the people lay all around him. Then Abasha said to David, God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day.

Now therefore, please let me strike him. He saw that David wouldn't strike him back in the cave. Let me strike him at once with the spear right to the earth and I will not have to strike him a second time. One time would be the end of Saul. David said to Abasha, Do not destroy him, for who can stretch out his hand against the Lord's anointed indeed guiltless. David said, Furthermore, as the Lord lives, the Lord shall strike him, or his day will come to die, or he shall go out to battle and perish.

The Lord forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the Lord's anointed. But please now take the spear and the jug of water that are by his head and let us go. So David took the spear and the jug of water by Saul's head and they got away. And no man saw it or knew it or awoke, for they were all asleep because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen on them.

God was fighting David's battles for him. David went over to the other side and stood on the top of the hill afar off a great distance and called out to the people in Abner, saying, Do you not answer Abner? And Abner said, Who are you calling out to the king? So David said to Abner, Are you not a man? And who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not guarded your Lord the King?

For one of the people came in to destroy your Lord the King. The thing that you have done is not good. As the Lord lived, you are worthy to die because you've not guarded your master. The Lord's anointed. Now see where the king's spear is and the jug of water that was by his head.

Then Saul knew David's voice and said, Is that your voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my Lord, O King. Look what an attitude of loyalty to work one that was out to kill him. And he said, What is my Lord, pursue his servant? For what have I done, or what evil is in my hand? Now therefore, please let my Lord the King hear the words of his servant. If the Lord stirred you up against me, let him accept an offering. But if it is the children of men, may they be cursed before the Lord, for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the Lord, saying, Go serve other gods.

Now therefore, do not let my blood fall to the earth before the face of the Lord, for the King of Israel has come out to seek a flea as when one hunts a partridge in the mountains. Saul said, I have sinned. Return my son David. I will harm you no more, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. He saw his spear over in David's hand. Your life was precious in your eyes this day. Therefore, I have played the fool and erred exceedingly. David answered and said, Here is the king's spear. Let one of the young men come over and get it.

May the Lord repay every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness. And God certainly will do that. For the Lord delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against the Lord's anointed. In Saul, verse 25, said to David, May you be blessed my son David. You shall both do great things and also still prevail.

So David went on his way and Saul returned to his place. You know what tremendous examples of loyalty this was to one that was seeking his life. Well, you'll find Saul didn't seek David anymore. He had battles with the Philistines. And in the last chapter of 1 Samuel, chapter 31, Saul and his sons, including Jonathan, were killed. But you can read about David's faithfulness and loyalty to Saul even after Saul's death. In 2 Samuel chapter 1, David wrote a psalm that he taught the the Jews, the children of Judah, to sing concerning Saul and what Saul had done.

He wrote a psalm dedicated to Saul. Think about that. He mourned over the death of Saul and Jonathan. You can read about it in 2 Samuel chapter 1. There's more to the story of David's faithfulness. Years later, when he was king of Israel and Judah, the consolidated kingdom, he said, is there any descendant of Saul still around?

He found one. A ship of Seth in 2 Samuel chapter 9, and David showed kindness to a descendant of Saul many years later. You can read about this beginning around the middle of 1 Samuel and the latter half of this book and into 1 Samuel. What a great example of loyalty. He would not lift up his hand against the Lord's anointed. Lesson for us today, let us not lift up a hand or let's say a murmuring attitude against the Lord's anointed today.

Let's remember David's example. One of the greatest examples of disloyalty in all of the Bible and rebellion, outright rebellion, is found in Cora's rebellion. Let's go to Numbers 16. Just an outstanding example in the Bible. We do not want to go the way of disloyalty. We don't want to go the way of rebellion as Cora and many of the people did. Even the leaders in the nation did here in Numbers 16. In Numbers 16 in verse 1, Cora the son of Ishar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi. So Cora was a Levite. Along with Abarim, Dathan, and Abarim the sons of Eliab, and they were Reubenites. Verse 2, they rose up before Moses with some of the children of Israel, 250 leaders.

Brother, what if we had a large number of leaders to rise up? Would we follow them if they were rising up against the one the human leadership that God has established? Well, they rose up before Moses, 250 leaders of the congregation, representatives of the congregation, men of renown. These were people that were known in the house of Israel. They gathered together against Moses and Aaron and said to them, you take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them.

Why then do you exalt yourselves above the congregation of the Lord? Brother, they failed to realize who put Moses in his responsibility. Moses didn't really want that responsibility, did he? He tried to get out of it. God insisted upon him being the one. Who put Aaron there? They didn't put themselves there. That's how these people envisioned it somehow happening. Why could they fail to see that it was under Moses and Aaron that they were led out of slavery? They were led through the Red Sea by Moses and Aaron. They came down to Mount Sinai. They had received manna. Water had been provided miraculously.

All kinds of signs and wonders have been done. Why could they not see God in the picture? All they could see was Moses and Aaron exalting themselves and putting them in that position. It was God who put them there. We can see some important lessons for us today. God is the one who chooses human leadership. It's not anyone who exalts himself.

The leaders in God's church did not put themselves there. They didn't volunteer to be there. It is God's doing and choosing. Why do you exalt yourself above the congregation of the Lord? Verse 4, then Moses heard it and he fell on his face. He saw the attitude. He saw the rebellion that was there in their hearts. He spoke to Cora and all his company saying, tomorrow morning the Lord will show who is His and who is holy and will cause Him to come near to Him, the one whom He chooses He will cause to come near to Him.

For then we have to see God's choosing in human leadership. There's a vital lesson here in Numbers 16. The one whom God chooses, God will make that known. They were to take sensors and put fire. God would let it be known which one He was choosing. Verse 7, it shall middle of verse 7, it shall be that the man whom the Lord chooses shall be the Holy One.

You take too much upon yourselves, you sons of Levi. Then Moses said to Cora, here now you sons of Levi. Is it a small thing to you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation to bring you near to Himself to do the work, holy work of the tabernacle and stand before the congregation to serve them? And that He has brought you near to Himself, you and all your brethren, the sons of Levi, with you?

And are you seeking the priesthood also? Seeking office? Position? Therefore you and all your company are gathered together against the Lord. That's what those who rebel against God's leadership fail to see. They actually are rebelling against God. You are gathered against the Lord. And what is Aaron that you murmur against him? Moses sent to call Dathan an abiram to the ringleaders from the tribe of Reuben. But they said, we will not come up. Moses asked them to come up.

He was going to talk with them. We will not come up. And they continued to say, is it a small thing that you have brought us out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness? That you should keep acting like a prince over us? Who do you think you are, Moses? Moreover, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards.

Will you put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up. What a defiant and rebellious attitude they had. Moses was very angry. They did take their censors together together. Then God appeared to them. Moses warned the people to get away from the... verse 24, get away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Verse 26, Depart now from the tents of these wicked men. Touch nothing of theirs. For then we want to touch nothing of anyone that gets into a rebellious frame of mind.

Touch nothing of theirs, lest you be consumed in all their sins. So, we're just going to have to skip on down. In verse 31, it came to pass as he finished speaking all these words that the ground split apart under them. And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up with their households and all the men of Korah with all their goods.

So they and all those with them went down alive into the pit. The earth closed over them and they perished from among the congregation. In verse 35, a fire came down from the Lord and consumed the 250 men who were offering incense. So, you know, that's how God dealt with someone that rebelled against the leadership that he had chosen in ancient Israel. You know, the lesson for us is that we want to beware that we don't get into a rebellious type spirit like Korah and many of the leaders back in ancient Israel at that time.

Another example of unfaithfulness and disloyalty was on the part of Miriam and Aaron. Let's turn to Numbers 12. We're going to read quite a number of examples today, both of loyalty and disloyalty, and how the results of both in Numbers 12 and verse 1.

Moses didn't have some big, high, exalted opinion of himself. He didn't say, look how great I am. He didn't feel that way about himself. God did hear this complaint by Miriam and Aaron. Suddenly the Lord said to Moses, Aaron and Miriam, come out, you three, to the tabernacle of meeting that came out. And the Lord came down in the pillar of a cloud, stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called forth Aaron and Miriam. And they both went forward. And he said, hear now my words. If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, make myself known to him in a vision. And I speak to him in a dream. Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house. For there may that be said of us too, that we are faithful in God's house, in his church. I speak with him face to face, even plainly, and not in dark sayings. And he sees the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? Why weren't you afraid? Why did you get into that frame of mind? Criticizing and condemning him. So the anger of the Lord was aroused against them. And he departed. And when the cloud departed from the tabernacle, suddenly Miriam became leprous. It's what it's known. Apparently Miriam must have been the ringleader of this. In verse 1, she is listed first. And she was, I believe, the eldest sister to Aaron. But Aaron was drawn into it. He had to see his sister become a leper. She was a leper for going down and read for seven days, I believe, before she was allowed back into the camp of Israel. Apparently healed at that time of the leper. So Miriam and Aaron had to learn some bitter lessons about God's leadership in ancient Israel. Let's get back to David. You know, David was very faithful and very loyal, as we read.

In the way he dealt with Saul. He was just a very loyal and faithful person. You could depend upon David. He would not betray you. He would not stab you in the back. He would be a true friend. But guess what? In David's life, he faced so much disloyalty. Think of his own children, even, Absalom. His son came into or began to win the hearts of the people over to himself. So that there was such a conspiracy that all of Israel began to look to Absalom to the point that David had to flee from his own son. And then there began to be the building up toward a warfare between David's army and the army of Absalom. David's own son. Can you imagine that? A battle that begins to develop between David and his own son. And of course we know the story and how Absalom was caught up in the limbs of a tree. Joab comes along and puts an end to him. But his own son, disloyal to him. In 2 Samuel 20, we read of another rebellion that developed against David. You can read about it.

In 2 Samuel, during David's time as king, there was one disloyalty after another that came at David from family and from the nation of Israel. Even to David's dying moments, he had to face some of that. He had said that the next king of Israel would be Solomon. But Adonijah, the older brother of Solomon, proclaimed himself king. And David had to stand up in his last days of his life and say, no, Solomon will be king. And so Solomon was coronated king of Israel. But David told Solomon before his death to a couple of missions that he would have to take care of. One would be to work Joab. Who was Joab? Joab was the son of David's sister, Zeruah. It was David's nephew. And Joab was a ruthless man. He was a leader of the army.

And he actually had a couple of men put to death. Amesa, who was, I believe, his cousin, Joab's cousin. And also Joab put to death another military leader. And David didn't like that at all. It was kind of a... it was not even in wartime. And so when David was giving some last instructions to Solomon, it was, you'll need to deal with Joab. Don't let him go down to the grave in peace. You can read about that in 1 Kings chapters 1 and 2. So David had disloyalty on every side. Even though he was a very faithful and loyal man himself, he faced men that were not faithful and true to him. You can read about that in the letter, well, in 2 Samuel and moving on over to 1 Kings. Let's read some other examples in the Bible of loyalty and faithfulness and disloyalty. First of all, let's go to Daniel chapter 6. What kind of man was Daniel? Well, he faithfully served kings in the Babylonian empire. And then in the Persian empire, when it defeated the Babylonian empire, then Daniel was raised up to high positions. And he was... what kind of manner did he conduct himself? Let's read about it in Daniel chapter 6 and verse 1. It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps to be over the whole kingdom. And over these three, there were three governors of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them so that the king would suffer no loss.

Daniel was among the three top leaders under the king.

And verse 3, this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps. He was so skillful and so faithful in the way he administered government because an excellent spirit was in him. That was, of course, the spirit of God. And the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. He would be the next one under the king. Verse 4, the governors, the other governors and satraps didn't like that. So they sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom.

But they could find no charge or fault because he was faithful.

He was dependable. He was loyal. He was true blue all the way through.

He was faithful, nor was there any error or fault found in him.

He can go on down that they then somehow got the king to sign this decree that anybody that bowed down to any other god except him for, what, 30 days would be thrown to the lion's den.

And this happened to Daniel.

And then the very evil men that plotted all of this were themselves thrown in when God delivered Daniel from the lion's den.

But Daniel himself was 100% faithful and loyal. What kind of people are we? Are we 100% faithful and loyal like David, like Daniel?

Well, let's read about one that was not that way. Mark 14, coming to the New Testament. Mark 14.

And what a disloyalty this was!

To the savior of mankind.

To the one that actually did the creating of Jesus Christ.

We read about it in Mark 14, verse 43.

On that night that Jesus had just instituted the New Testament Passover.

And was been out in the garden praying.

In verse 43, immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priest and describes in the elders.

Now his betrayer had given them a signal saying, Whomever I kiss, he is the one. Take him and lead him away safely.

And as soon as he had come, immediately he went up to him and said to him, Rabbi, Rabbi, that's master teacher.

Rabbi, Rabbi. And kissed him.

You know, the Judas kiss of betrayal is, everybody is aware of. It's used as far as disloyalty and betrayal.

It's the prime example of betrayal.

They laid hands on him and took him.

Here was one that had seen the miracles of Christ. Here's one that had been taught by Jesus Christ three and a half years, had walked around with him. They sat around the campfire. They journeyed together.

Three and a half years. Here's the one that handled the money for the group.

He was a betrayer. He was unfaithful, disloyal to Jesus Christ.

And we have many faithful examples in the early church. Let's read about some of them. Faithful ministers and brethren are referred to. 1 Corinthians 4, verse 17.

This thing of faithfulness and loyalty is important. It's required, in fact.

You know, God is refining.

He is testing.

He's making way.

He's finding out if we are loyal through and through.

Loyal to God and His laws and commandments.

Loyal to Jesus Christ, the head of the church.

Faithful and loyal to the human leadership that God appoints and establishes in the church.

Will we raise a hand against the Lord's anointed?

Will we raise a tongue and murmur and not be afraid to speak out and criticize?

We have examples we've read today that we don't want to do that.

In 1 Corinthians 4, verse 17. For this reason I have sent Timothy to you.

Who is my beloved and faithful Son in the Lord?

Who will remind you of my ways in the Lord as I teach everywhere in every church?

So, Timothy was a faithful and dependable servant that Paul could depend upon.

Ephesians 6, verse 21.

But that you also may know my affairs and how I am doing, ticketh us a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will make all things known to you.

So, here was another faithful servant of God and minister. Colossians chapter 1 and verse 2.

Colossians chapter 1 and verse 2. To the saints and faithful brethren.

We have a whole congregation here that Paul is addressing as being faithful and loyal.

Loyal to God and to his ways. Loyal to Jesus Christ.

Loyal to Paul and the apostles as they offered the human leadership to the church at that time.

To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colossae.

Colossians chapter 1 and verse 7.

As you also learn from Epiphrus, our dear fellow servant who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf.

We have a lot of faithful brethren and ministers referred to.

Colossians chapter 4 and verse 7.

Ticacus again, who is a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord. And verse 9, Onesimus, who appears not to be a minister, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you.

So, faithful brethren, faithful ministers.

Second Timothy chapter 2 and verse 2. One of the very qualities that someone that is to be able to teach others is that of faithfulness.

In Second Timothy chapter 2 and verse 2. The things that you have heard from me among many witnesses.

Commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Brethren, the quality of loyalty and faithfulness is necessary in the church.

And as we have those who might be teaching others, faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Quality of loyalty and faithfulness.

So many examples, then. And we could read more that we won't take time to read right now. But guess what? The early church had its challenges. Just as we've had... I've been in the church for over 50 years now.

And we've had our challenges all along the way. God has been trying and testing hearts and minds. He continues to do so today.

Let's read a few verses that warn us then that, hey, we need to be on guard. That no one take our crown. That no one ever calls us to follow them in some attitude of rebellion or disloyalty. Acts chapter 20 and verse 28.

Paul to the Ephesian elders said, Take heat to yourselves and to the flock among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to shepherd the church of God that he's purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departure, savage wolves will come to me. And I know this, that after my departure, savage wolves will come to me. After my departure, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. That would be people then from outside trying to come in and destroy the church.

But verse 30 also from among yourselves.

Men will rise up. He was speaking to elders.

There would be even people then in elders who would rise up speaking for verse things to draw away disciples after themselves.

True minister of God is not trying to get people to follow him.

They're trying to get people to follow God, our Father, Jesus Christ, our Lord, and the head of the church, and to follow the human leadership that Christ has appointed and set up in the church.

That's what a true minister is driving to do, not to get people to follow himself. You know, people from within would rise up speaking for verse things.

In 2 Peter 2 and verse 1, let's read several verses warning about disloyalty and unfaithfulness to the members of the early church and therefore us today. 2 Peter 2 and verse 1.

But there were also false prophets among the people, like in the Old Testament, even as there will be false teachers among you who will secretly bring in destructive heiresses.

Those who disagree do it rather secretly. They try to get a little bit of disagreement over to someone. You accept it? Then a little bit more disagreement.

A little bit more disagreement.

And so that's how seduction works.

Secretly bring in destructive heiresses, even denying the Lord who bought them and bring on themselves swift destruction. You know, many have a problem with government.

I hate authority. But look at verse 10. Especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority.

They are presumptuous, self-willed.

They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries. They're not afraid to speak evil of someone that is in a position of rulership or leadership in the church.

When somebody begins to speak evil of authority, then we should be careful. You know, the Scriptures say don't even speak evil of the civil leaders. It says to pray for kings, honor the king. We're not supposed to speak evil of authorities in the world. How much less are we to speak evil of any of the human leadership that Christ has appointed in the church?

We must be careful.

Rather than we live in an age where people are not afraid to speak evil of authority. They're not afraid to malign authority.

I mean, in the world, our government, whether the president, governors, or whoever, they're not afraid to speak evil.

And they certainly do not have an attitude of submission to civil government, even.

We don't want that to rub off on us and the church of God to word our human leadership.

Second John, verse 7.

Many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ is coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and antichrist.

Verse 10 goes on to say, If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house, nor greet him. He who greets him shares in his evil deeds.

If somebody begins to bring some other doctrine or begins to disagree, then recognize it.

Don't receive it.

Maybe even rebuke such a person for making a comment that is actually disloyalty and rebellion.

In 3 John, verse 9.

I wrote to the church.

Here's John late in his life. He was the recognized leader of the church late in the first century.

I wrote to the church but diatrophies, who loves to have the preeminence among them.

Here's someone seeking position.

Wanted to put himself on top of others.

He loves to have the preeminence among them. Does not receive us. This man would not receive John, one of the very apostles of the Lord.

Would not receive John or those that worked with John.

Verse 10. Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds, which he does. Is this a bit of authority here?

Yes, it is. There is an authority to deal with one's late diatrophies.

I will call to mind his deeds, which he does, predding against us with malicious words.

And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.

This man was a real problem in the church at that time. Diatrophies. He rejected the leadership of John. He desired position for himself. Jude, verse 3.

So many verses have been warned about ones that would be unfaithful men, ungodly men.

Jude, verse 3. Beloved, when I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you, exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain men have crept in unnoticed.

Many times that's the way it works.

Certain men creep in unnoticed. Who long ago were marked out for this condemnation. Ungodly men who turned the grace of our God into licentiousness and denied the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Skipping on down to verse 16, these are murmurers.

They do not agree. They murmur. They disagree with one thing or another. Complainers walking according to their own lust. And they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage. They try to woo people in behind themselves. But you beloved, remember the words spoken by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.

How they told you there would be mockers in the last time. Who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. These are sensual persons who caused divisions, not having the Spirit.

So yes, many, many examples of disloyalty.

Warnings about ones that would be unfaithful and disloyal to God and to His truth.

What is God going to require of us? If we are to be in His kingdom, we must have this quality of loyalty and faithfulness like King David had, like Daniel had.

Like the faithful ministers and brethren in the New Testament had. Let's go to 1 Corinthians 4. Some very good scriptures here. It's required of us if we are to reign with Christ. We must be faithful.

We must be dependable.

We must be loyal.

Loyal to God, our Father. Loyal to Jesus Christ, the head of the church.

Loyal to the appointed human leadership that He establishes.

Now, that's where sometimes the problem comes in. The human leadership is never perfect.

Never has been.

Moses wasn't perfect. Abraham wasn't perfect. David wasn't perfect.

Daniel wasn't perfect.

You know, the leadership today, nobody is perfect. In the family, God has put government. The husband is the head of the family. He's not perfect.

The wife is under him.

She's over the children, the household. She's not perfect. So at every level of human government, nobody's perfect.

You know, our human leadership in the church has never been perfect.

There's never been a claim that it has been perfect.

And yet we do have today a council of elders and a president who are striving to do God's will and God's work to the very best of their human ability and to help God's work to be done in a much greater manner than ever before in our history.

Well, in 1 Corinthians 4 and verse 1, let a man so consider us, how, as servants of Christ, Paul's appealing to the church in Corinth, how they should consider Paul as servants of Christ, a servant of Jesus Christ. Put there by Jesus Christ. Did Paul put himself where he was?

No, God knocked him down.

God did the choosing.

God is the one that appoints and puts ones in positions of responsibility. It gives them a job to do.

Let a man consider us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

God's ministry has a stewardship of the kingdom of God.

Preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God.

But let us in verse 2, moreover, very important. That's verse 2 is the verse I wanted us to really focus on.

Moreover, it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

What we're talking about today is required in stewards that he be found faithful. Isn't that true? If you had a steward, you got somebody working for you.

You know, the word steward in the Greek goes back to two Greek roots, meaning a house and to arrange.

The word steward means a house.

You know what you live in? A house and to arrange. To arrange than a house. In other words, to manage a house. To look over the affairs of a house.

It's one that manages a household and watches over it.

That's what it means.

It is required in a steward then that one that manages is in a managerial position.

A steward then is in a managerial position. It's required of someone in a managerial position to be loyal, to be faithful.

It doesn't say that it'd be nice if he were faithful.

It is required.

Brethren, it's going to be required of us.

Think about your own heart and mind. Then are you 100% loyal and faithful?

I'm not saying, you know, to things that if somebody forsakes the truth and turns against the doctrines of God has happened, but to God's people that are striving to do his work and do his will, and to God our Father and to Jesus Christ, the head of the church and his chosen leadership that are doing his will.

We then absolutely faithful and loyal.

It is required in the stewards that we be found faithful.

But we live in an age where people are not faithful. 2 Timothy chapter 3. But don't let it rub off on you.

Learn to be submissive to government in the world. As long as there is no conflict with God's laws, we are to be subject to government in the world. And we certainly are to be subject to government in the church.

2 Timothy chapter 3.

And verse 1.

But know this, that in the last days, perilous times will come. We're living more and more in that time. We see it getting worse all the time. Men will be lovers of themselves.

Oh, they are. Lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanders.

Verse 4. Traders, not loyal, then not faithful, but traitors, headstrong, haughty, and so forth.

And God wants us then to learn this quality of loyalty and faithfulness. If we are faithful over a little, we will be faithful over much. Let's turn to just a few verses. We've got to wind down pretty soon. But we'll read several passages of Scripture real quickly. Let's turn to Luke chapter 16 and verse 10.

Luke chapter 16 and verse 10.

If we will be faithful over the little bit that's been given to us now, we'll be given responsibility over much.

Luke chapter 16 and verse 10. He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much.

And he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.

If we will be faithful in what God has given to us to do, you know what your job, you know what, both in, let's say, your family and the world at large, here in the church, you know what your responsibilities are. If you will be a faithful, loyal person over all that God has given to you, a good steward, a good manager of your life and your responsibilities, the few things that God has given to you today, you'll be faithful in that. God will give you responsibility over much.

Luke chapter 19 and verse 17.

Luke chapter 19 and verse 17.

He said to him, well done, good and good servant, because you were faithful in a very little, because you were loyal, you were faithful, dependable, have authority over 10 cities.

God will give us much responsibility if we are faithful in what we have been given to do.

But don't ever let disloyalty come in.

Even if things are not always perfect to be loyal, wife has to submit to her husband, her husband's imperfect leadership.

So we do submit to imperfect human leadership.

As long as there's not something contrary to God's law that is required to do.

And even there, we would handle ourselves very, very carefully as King David did.

You know, those who are with Christ in His Second Coming in Revelation 17, there are three words that are used. They are called, they are chosen, and last of all, they are faithful. They have been through this refining, this purging, they have been made white. They are faithful. So faithfulness, loyalty to God and Jesus Christ, to our human leadership, just faithful in our responsibilities and obedience to God, that's required of us.

Okay, just a couple of verses in Matthew 24-25. Let's go to Matthew 24, first of all. Matthew 24 and verse 45.

Matthew 24 and verse 45.

And God will just know, and He is going to try and test us until He knows that we are loyal to the very core of our being. We don't know what kind of refining yet remains for us. I don't know for myself. You don't know for you. A guy that's going to refine you and me, He's going to purge you and me, He's going to make white you and me, until He will know through and through that He can turn over five cities to us, or ten cities. And we will teach those people God's way, absolutely faithful and loyal.

God will not turn that over until He knows that, for sure. Matthew chapter 25.

And let's skip right on down to the servants that had grown, the one with the five talents. Verse 20 had gained five additional talents. Verse 21, the Lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful over a few things. I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of the Lord. And the one that had two talents increased two. And the very same words, verse 23, well done, good and faithful servant. You've been faithful over a few things. I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord. So, you know, we're really talking about a very beautiful thing today. We're talking about loyalty. That's a wonderful quality to have. Loyalty, faithfulness, just true blue, through and through, just what you see is what you get. There's faithfulness, there's loyalty, dependability. So, brethren, the title of the sermon today is The Importance of Loyalty. Let us be faithful over the few things that God has given to us. Let's learn the godly qualities of faithfulness and loyalty.