THIS IS GOD’S PROPERTY
Preached on Sunday, 20 July 2008
At Shiloh Baptist Church
Waukegan, Illinois 10:30 Service
Before I go any further, I think it important to point out that I do not expect to get a whole lot of Amen(s) this morning. Why ... you may ask? Well ... as you know today is stewardship Sunday, and folks get real quite when a preacher starts to talk about GIVING. Therefore, if you do not say Amen ... I want to go on record and let you know that I will not be offended.
Illustration
In fact, ... this reminds me of a story of an old Baptist preacher who stood up to encourage his congregation on Sunday morning by asking them to consider the great potential of their church. He told them
• With GOD’s help, we can see the day when this church will go from crawling to walking. The people responded ... let the church walk preacher, let the church walk.
• The preacher continued and said with GOD’s help ... once we begin to walk -- this church can then begin to run.
• The people responded let the church run preacher let the church run.
• The preacher ... began to get happy, excited by the call and response, so he decided to push the envelope a little further, and said, with GOD’s help once the church begin to walk, once the church begins to run, then this church can begin to fly. Oh yes -- this church can fly I tell you ... but if we are going to fly, it is going to take a lot of money from each and every one of you to make that happen.
• The church got quite ... then with a faint voice from the back of the church, someone mumbled ... let the church walk preacher, let the church walk.
The moral of the story ... I do not expect to get a lot of Amen (s), but I going to preach anyhow.
So let us consider our text this morning...but before we do, let us review two supporting scriptures
Supporting Scriptures
Isaiah 56:7
Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called a house of prayer for all people.
Matthew 21:12-13
(v.12) And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,
(v.13) And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
And out Text for this Morning
III John 3
(v.9) I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
(v.10) Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.
Subject: This is GOD’s Property
Well, the first thing we need to understand on this stewardship Sunday is ...
I. REALIZED THAT YOUR STUFF REALLY IS NOT YOUR STUFF.
a. Everything already belongs to GOD
b. Turn to Psalms 50:9-12
(v.9) I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.
(v.10) For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.
(v.11) I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.
(v.12) If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fullness thereof. Which means that your stuff is not your stuff.
So I need to let somebody know ... that your stuff ready is not your stuff.
Let me help you ... the question as it relates to Psalms 50 is ... What can you give GOD who already owns everything?
You see ... the Children of Israel had starting thinking that GOD owed them instead of the other way around. So GOD shows them the contrary. In essence, GOD is saying you are offering me stuff that I ready own.
• That house - I made the trees
• That car - I made the minerals
• Those Kids - I made the seed. I made the X and Y chromosome
• Wife - I made the rib
• Food - I made the cow ... and the sheep
• Clothes - I made the sheep
• Your life - I even provide the air you breath
I am a firm believer that we need to stop that my stuff ... the only person who has the right to say “my” or “mine” is GOD ... WHY -- because the cattle on a thousand hills belong to HIM. EVERYTHING BELONGS TO GOD!
So on this Stewardship Sunday ... we need to realize (#1) that your stuff really is not your stuff
The 2nd thing we need to understand...
II. Realize that stewardship is about more than managing money.
a. Oh yes ... stewardship is more that a credit score.
In an effort to ensure that we are on the same page; singing from the same sheet of music; dancing to the same beat; and marching to the same cadence ... I think it fitting that we pause to look at the word STEWARD.
b. Steward: Greek epitropos (ep-it-rop-os) which means
(1) one to who has care or honor has been entrusted. (2) a curator, as in the keeper of a precious piece of fine art (3) guardian, as in entrusted to care for kids as if they were your own.
However, in the New Testament, there are two words translated steward.
1. O-i-ko-no-mos: Which means manager or superintendent and it comes from the root work oikos (house)
a. I Corinthians 4:1-2 (v.1) Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. (v.2) Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
2. Nemo: This means to dispense or to manage. This word is used to describe the function of delegated responsibility, as in the parable of the laborers and the unjust steward found in Matthew 20.
Yes ... steward is more than managing your money. In fact, the writer of Hebrew reminds us ... that the Pastor is a steward of our souls.
Hebrews 13:17 - Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
I want to go on record and say ... when it comes to my soul Pastor .. I want to remind you of the words of the Apostle Paul in I Corinthians 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
So the question is ... How do you manage the things that GOD has entrusted to you ... you know THINGS like your responsibilities here at the Church. How do you manage GOD’s property?
In our supporting scriptures we discovered that God said “my house shall be (not should be, not could be) but shall be a house of prayer.
In our text, we are going to take a look at a man whose stewardship teaches us everything we need to know about what not to do when it come to managing God property (HIS Church)
John in his Third Epistle tells us the story of a man who suffered from a severe case of ego-i-tious.
Turn back to the Third Epistle of John ...
Watch this ... III John 3 (v.9)
John says I wrote unto the church (GOD’s house of prayer) but ... Diotrephes
• No need to read any further. I already see a problem
• Note: that whenever you read the scriptures and you discover that there is another word following the word but -- other than the word GOD ... chances are there is a problem or that punishment or judgment is on the way.
Lets Listen to a few examples:
• Judges 17:6 “In those days there was no King in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes”
• Jacob, Rachael, and his stepfather Leban in Genesis 31:7: And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.
• Joseph and his brothers who sold him into slavery in Genesis 50:20: But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
• Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 5:8: But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
• Philippians 4:19: But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
So in our text ... we see ... John wrote to the Church (GOD’s house of prayer) and a man named Diotrephes taught it not robbery to make himself first instead of God -- and did that which was right in his own eyes ... which amounted to sIn.
Let’s recap ... we already discovered through our supporting scriptures in Isaiah and Matthew that (1) the church is GOD’s House of Prayer (2) and in keeping with the definition of steward, we also understand that stewardship is more that managing money.
Now that we have this foundation ... let us examine our text more critically. You see, Diotrephes was entrusted to be a steward, a superintendent, a guardian, a manager of God’s property.
But somewhere along the line Diotrephes his status, his position, and his titles got in the way and resulted in him not properly discharging his duties as steward of GOD’s house (the Church).
So as we look at the example of Diotrephes this morning ... the questions still remains “How do you properly manage GOD’s property” ... you know the things that HE has entrusted to you.
Unfortunately, the New testament church is filled with men like Diotrephes ... ask me how I know -- because I use to be one. I do not stand this morning to tell you what I heard but what I know firsthand.
EGOS ... if allowed to go unchecked can be detrimental to GODs plan for your life.
Let us look at some of the characteristics ... but before we do I think it impotant that you listen while I read this ...
Dr. A. T. Robertson once wrote an article for a Southern Baptist state magazine. In the article, he described the conduct of the biblical character Diotrephes. Because of the article, 23 deacons from various Baptist churches wrote the editor and cancelled their subscription. They contended that Robertson was writing about them.
I say all of that to say this ... I am not talking about anybody in particular, but if the shoe fits (wear it), if I step on your toes (say ouch), if you are bored or falling asleep (waive your hand, every now and again) ... cus I got to preach it just like HE gave it to me.
Walk with me ...
(v.9) John says I wrote to the house of prayer but Diotrephes would not receive us ... WHY
1. John tells us that it is because of his desire to be first (He desired preeminence)
2. Preeminence: Greek philoproteuo (fil-op-rote-yoo-o). Which means to be fond of being fist; ambitious of distinction; love to have preeminence ... in other words this man was title hungry
3. It was Diotrephes love of being first (a sin in itself) that lead to other sins that he committed. Unfortunately, Diotrephes failed to understand that sin is spelled with a capital “I”
4. Don’t believe me watch this ... turn in your Bible to Isaiah 14:12
(v.12) How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
(v.13) For thou hast said in thine heart, I (CAPITAL “I”) will ascend into heaven, I (CAPITAL “I”) will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I w(CAPITAL “I”) ill sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
(v.14) I (CAPITAL “I”) will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I (CAPITAL “I”) will be like the most High.
I tell you ... if S-(CAPITAL “I”)-N is allowed to go unchecked ... it is dangerous for the church. Watch hoe GOD dealt with this sIn issue in heaven
(v.15) Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
(v.16) They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;
(v.17) That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?
As you can see this sin of preeminence was dealt with pretty severely.
Unfortunately, the spirit of Diotrephes appears to reign unchecked in many churches today, who allow certain individuals to put their own personal interest in front of GOD
So, how to properly manage GOD’s property,
1. Realize that your stuff really is not your stuff
2. Realize that stewardship is about more than managing money.
III. Realize that as Stewards we are responsible for one another
Turn back to the Third Epistle of John
Walk with me ... (v. 10)
Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.
This scripture tells us ... that this lack of brother love even has the potential to stunt church growth.
Genesis 4:9 says “And the LORD said to Cain, where is Abel thy brother? And he said I know not: am I my brother’s keeper?”
Well, I am a firm believer that brotherly love is a form of stewardship. We already discovered that Pastor is a steward of our souls and this scripture (Genesis 4:9) helps us to understand that we are stewards of one another.
As I got to thinking ... this sentiment of brotherly love as it relates to stewardship is even echoed in our church covenant where it says:
“We further engage to watch over one another in brother love; to remember one another in prayer; to aid one another in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christians sympathy in feeling and Christian courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation and mindful of the rules of our Savior to secure it without delay.”
To sum it all up ... As stewards we are responsible for one another.
To help prove this point ... turn in your Bible to Acts 2:42-47
You want to know why churches don’t grow ... the answer and be found right here.
(v.42) And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
• You see Diotrephes rejected the Apostles authority and would not allow his fellow brothers and sisters in the church
(v.43) And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
• WHY: because of Stewardship. You see Jesus delegated this authority to HIS Apostles
(v.44) And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
(v.45) And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
(v.46) And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
(v.47) Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. (repeat)
The problem today is ... people like Diotrephes stand in the way and try to keep GOD from working.
In fact the last time I checked ... the scriptures John 3:16 said
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
In fact, the last time I checked the scriptures Romans 10:9 said “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
The last time I checked Matthew 19:14 said ... suffer the little children that come unto me, and forbid them not, for such is the Kingdom of Heaven ... it did not say make sure a 10 year can explain the doctrine of the Trinity before they get s baptized.
Yet ... too many folk like Diotrephes say LORD ... I got this. No need in added daily. Ain’t nobody getting up in here
• until I say so
• I’ll decide who
• I’ll decide when
• I’ll decided the qualification
• It is no wonder that the pews of the church are empty and we are losing ground to the Muslims and the prosperity preachers ... it is because too many Diotrephes standing at the door checking pedigrees, qualifications, and attire. Requiring people to take literacy and cognitive skills test ... before being allowed to join GOD’s House of Prayer (The CHURCH)
I stop by to tell ya that ... if there are any Diotrephes in the house this morning -- REPENT and get out of the way and allow GOD to bless this Church, add to this church; use this church; for HIS Glory
Can I preach it like he told me... I stopped by to tell you that ...
• This is GOD House;
• this is GOD Property;
• and GOD’s House shall be called a house of prayer;
• HE adds and HE takes away as HE sees fit
Now, I am not talking about nobody in particular ... but if the shoe fit, (wear it); if I step on your toes say (ouch) and if you are bored and falling asleep (wave your hand every now and again)
Walk with me ... (v.10)
Watch this ... John relates that Diotrephes was guilty of prating against them with malicious words.
• Prating: Greek philurareo (floo-ar-eh-o) which means to be a babbler (talking smack) or trifler (of no substance/value)
• Malicious: Greek poneous (pon-ay-ros) which means hatred and evil. You see Diotrephes gave little concern about how he spoke to the brothers.
In other words - Diotrephes is saying
• I don’t care what the Bible has to say
• I don’t care about a Church Covenant
• I don’t care how folk feel
• We ain’t changing the order of the service
• I don’t care if it is five people in the choir ; I said we still goanna march in
• I do not care how the youth feel ... the senior are going to sing every Sunday -- why because my name is Diotrephes and I said so.
Well, I say to you Diotrephes
• Go sit down somewhere and
• Get out of GOD’s way and allow HIM to bless this church
• Use this Church for HIS Glory
• Move ... get out of HIS way
• This is GOD’s house and GOD’s house shall be a House of Prayer
So stop trying to ...
• Forbidden folks from trying to come in
• Stop using your authority, your influence, and your years of tenure as a weapon to get your way
• Stop trying to use your status to dominate meetings .. you ain’t always got to get the last word
• You don’t own nothing ... this is GOD’s property ... and by the way
o That tile
o That position
o That responsibility
o Does not belong to you ...
o it all belongs to GOD
o all HE ask of you ... is to be found FAITHFUL
• Truth of the matter ... HE can take you out of that position just as fast as HE allowed you to go in.
I stop by to let somebody know that ... this is GOD’s House; GOD’s Property and you and I are only stewards ... responsible for fulfilling GOD’s plan and that is to go out and tell somebody ... that our Savior lives
He lives I tell you, the fact that He LIVES is more important
• than your title
• than your title Chairman
• than your title Superintendent
• than your title Reverend
• than your title Pastor
• more important than your title Deacon
• More than your title President
• Senator
• Alderman
• City Councilman
• Business Owner
Truth of the matter ... the fact that JESUS LIVES is the reason why you have that title ... so do not think of yourself as Diotrephes, and get all high-minded, and forget from where God has brought you.
In fact ... the only tile that matters anyway ... are the Titles bestowed on our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS. You know titles like
• Alpha and Omega ... the beginning and the end
• Balm in Gilead
• Rose of Sharon
• Lilly of the Valley
• Somebody say JESUS
• My Comforter
• Wonderful Counselor
• Prince of Peace
• My Provider
• My Way maker
• Friend to the friendless
• Mother to the motherless
• Father to the fatherless
• Help in the Time of Trouble
• My way out and
• May way in
• Lawyer in Courtroom
• Doctor in a sick room
• Somebody say JESUS
• Jesus ... HE is my all and all
• KING of KING
• LORD of LORDS
• And when you run out of things to say ... just say JESUS
• JESUS (repeat)
• The only name ... by which every knee shall bow ... and every tongue shall confess...JESUS CHRIST as LORD
• JESUS
• My rock in a weary land
• Which means that He is water when you thirst
• The Children of Israel will tell yeah ... that HE is food when you hungry
• Jesus
• My Savior
• My Redeemer
• Jesus my all and all
Brother and Sisters ... I’m a firm believer that GOD is about to do a mighty work here at Shiloh
• And we cannot allow fear of change
• And the fear of complacency and cowardice to thwart GOD’s plan for this Church
I stopped by to tell somebody that GODs plan is bigger than
• Your desire to be number one
• your individual programs you manage
• Besides ... everything that you do, everything that you manage, belongs to GOD ... you are a steward and the only thing that is required of you is to be found faithful
Shiloh Baptist Church ... this is GOD’s Property. So let us get out of His way and allow HIM to bless this church and use this Church for HIS Glory
BENEDICTION
Jude 1:24-25
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
