Sermon Intro/Tension

• I want to talk to you today about a very important facet to life, blessing, and favor... LOYALTY
• In our day and age loyalty is scarce:
  •  Proverbs 20:6 (NLT) — 6 Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable?
  • The funniest example is the relationship between customer and corporation - Me and Cox Cable
    • Think of the things that you are completely not loyal in - Amex, Southwest, Hilton
    • They have to win my loyalty constantly! They call it loyalty programs, but it really should be called incentive programs, because there is no true loyalty! 
• Here’s a two-fold question for you:
  • If you lost EVERYTHING right now, who would still be there?
  • Who in your life could lose EVERYTHING, and you will still be there? 

Passage

• Proverbs 3:3–4 (NLT) — 3 Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. 4 Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation.

The Faces of Disloyalty

• Here’s the truth about disloyalty
  • Words and smiles don’t mean much - Proverbs 26:24–26 (NLT) — 24 People may cover their hatred with pleasant words, but they’re deceiving you. 25 They pretend to be kind, but don’t believe them. Their hearts are full of many evils. 26 While their hatred may be concealed by trickery, their wrongdoing will be exposed in public. 
    • (ABSALOM) 
    • This doesn’t mean you go around with eternal suspicion, but it does mean that you need the Holy Spirit’s discernment to know who is really for you
  • Favor brings fake loyalty - Proverbs 19:4 (NLT) Wealth makes many “friends”; poverty drives them all away. 
    • (FRIENDS OF PRODIGAL SON)
    • Word to the wise, as the Lord elevates you, more people will feel drawn to who you are becoming. 
    • Decide beforehand that you will be sincere in your loyalty, not giving to successful people only for what you can get out of it. 
  • Crisis reveals loyalty- 2 Timothy 4:16 (NLT) — 16 The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them. 
    • (PAUL) 
    • Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane
  • Disloyalty is painful - Proverbs 25:19 (NLT) — 19 Putting confidence in an unreliable person in times of trouble is like chewing with a broken tooth or walking on a lame foot. 
    • (JUDAS)
    • Both of these examples show PRESSURE.. When you get under pressure, disloyal people will always bail. You don’t know they’re disloyal until the pressure mounts. 
    • Focus on the “when you get into a crisis” angle. If you are surrounded by disloyal people and you get into a crisis.. You are in BIG trouble.
• This is both a warning and a reflection:
  • Understand the difference between humans you get along with and people who truly have your back. You’ll know through actions, not words. 
  • Are you building on friendships that are truly loyal? How are you evaluating that?
  • Are you intentional about your loyalty?

Five Traits of Loyalty

1. 1 Samuel 18:1–4 (NLT) — 1 After David had finished talking with Saul, he met Jonathan, the king’s son. There was an immediate bond between them, for Jonathan loved David. 2 From that day on Saul kept David with him and wouldn’t let him return home. 3 And Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, because he loved him as he loved himself. 4 Jonathan sealed the pact by taking off his robe and giving it to David, together with his tunic, sword, bow, and belt.
2. Five Laws of Loyalty
   1. Loyalty should be given on PURPOSE
      1. You are CHOOSING who to give it to, not accidentally doing it. 
         1. Courage in battle
         2. Faith in God
         3. Excellence in life
         4. Anointing for purpose
      2. There is an exchange that happens
         1. Jonathan was willing to trade places, let David have his things. 
         2. David was a shepherd, Jonathan a prince, yet they traded things.
         3. There is a complete openness between us. 
      3. What Godly person inspires you? Their courage, faith, excellence, and anointing? 
   2. Loyalty DEFENDS a friend in their absence
      1. 1 Samuel 19:5–6 (NLT) — 5 Have you forgotten about the time he risked his life to kill the Philistine giant and how the LORD brought a great victory to all Israel as a result? You were certainly happy about it then. Why should you murder an innocent man like David? There is no reason for it at all!” 6 So Saul listened to Jonathan and vowed, “As surely as the LORD lives, David will not be killed.”
      2. Our Words are the quickest way to tell the loyalty between two people. If you will not protect someone with your words, you will never protect them with your life. 
      3. I see this two ways
         1. Don’t speak evil of your loyal friend behind their back
         2. Defend your friend when they aren't in the room
   3. Loyalty WARNS a friend of danger
      1. Proverbs 27:6 (NLT) — 6 Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.
      2. David was warned by Jonathan about His dad’s plans to kill him. 
      3. A disloyal friend will let you make the mistakes you intend to make without interference, but a true friend will show up on your doorstep. 
   4. Loyalty is for LEGACY
      1. 1 Samuel 20:14–15 (NLT) — 14 And may you treat me with the faithful love of the LORD as long as I live. But if I die, 15 treat my family with this faithful love, even when the LORD destroys all your enemies from the face of the earth.”
      2. When you give your love give it for generations
         1. Look out for the people’s parents and children. 
         2. Find someone who will be loyal to you in that kind of way. 
      3. David found Mephibosheth, not because he was Mephibosheth, but because he was the son of Jonathan. 
      4. Proverbs 27:10 (NLT) — 10 Never abandon a friend— either yours or your father’s. When disaster strikes, you won’t have to ask your brother for assistance. It’s better to go to a neighbor than to a brother who lives far away.
      5. Where to give loyalty? 
         1. Your father and mother
         2. Your spouse and children
         3. Your blood kin
         4. Your friends
   5. Loyalty is SACRIFICE
      1. 1 Samuel 23:16–18 (NLT) — 16 Jonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God. 17 “Don’t be afraid,” Jonathan reassured him. “My father will never find you! You are going to be the king of Israel, and I will be next to you, as my father, Saul, is well aware.” 18 So the two of them renewed their solemn pact before the LORD. Then Jonathan returned home, while David stayed at Horesh.
      2. Here Jonathan is giving up his birthright in acknowledging David’s anointing to be King. 
      3. Loyalty doesn’t cling to rights, it gives up rights. 
   6. Here is a few questions for you
      1. Who has your loyalty on PURPOSE?
      2. How are you showing that loyalty to them? 

The Source of Loyalty

1. Hesed of God - The Loyal Love of God, based in His covenant. 
   1. For this point focus on Covenant love seen in families, nations, groups. 
   2. Covenant to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
   3. Covenant to the people of Israel
   4. Covenant to the those in Christ
2. The loyalty of Jesus
   1. John 13:1 (NLT) — 1 Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end.
   2. Came back and found Peter
3. Stepping into covenant loyalty with Christ
   1. You know that he will never leave you, but have you given him your covenant? 
   2. There was an exchange of possessions. Jonathan gave everything to David as a symbol of his loyalty. Have you surrendered it all to Christ? 
   3. They reaffirmed their loyalty many times. Maybe you are here and you need to reaffirm your covenant with Christ