THE ACTIVITY OF STEWARDSHIP
Hebrews 6:9-12 (NIV) 9 Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are confident of better things in your case--things that accompany salvation.
10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.
11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure.
12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
Psalm 20:7-8 (NIV) 7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
8 They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.
Introduction:
OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS, WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING INTO THE WORLD OF GOD FOR INSIGHTS REGARDING THE DOCTRINE OF STEWARDSHIP. DURING THAT TIME, WE HAVE SEEN WHAT THE SCRIPTURE SAYS ABOUT OUR GRATITUDE FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING A STEWARD, WHAT THE LEVEL OF OUR STEWARDSHIP SHOULD BE, HOW STEWARDSHIP NEEDS TO BE DEVELOPED INTO A HABIT AS PART OF OUR WALK AS A BELIEVER, AND THAT THE COMPELLING LOVE OF CHRIST IS OUR MOTIVATION TO ACT AS RESPONSIBLE STEWARDS. NOW TODAY, WE FINISH UP THIS SERIES WITH THE CHALLENGE OF ACTIVE STEWARDSHIP.
NOW I NEED TO LET THOSE OF YOU KNOW WHO ARE VISITING WITH US TODAY, THAT AT THE END OF THIS SERVICE, I WILL BE ASKING ALL OF THOSE WHO CONSIDER CALVARY THEIR HOME CHURCH TO PARTICIPATE IN A WHOLE CHURCH DEMONSTRATION. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE YOU, AND BY NO MEANS DO I WANT YOU TO FEEL OBLIGATED IN ANY WAY.
WE WILL BE RECEIVING OUR OFFERING AT THE END OF THE SERVICE, AND AT THAT TIME, I WILL BE ASKING EVERYONE WHO CONSIDERS CALVARY TO BE THEIR HOME CHURCH TO RISE, AND MOVE TO THE PERIMETER OF THE SANCTUARY, AND THEN TO WALK IN A CIRCLE BY THE FRONT OF THE SANCTUARY AND EVENTUALLY BACK TO YOUR SEAT. DURING THIS TIME, EACH INDIVIDUAL OR FAMILY WILL BE PASSING BY THE OFFERING PLATE. AT THAT TIME, EACH FAMILY/INDIVIDUAL WILL BE PLACING THEIR OFFERING AND STEWARDSHIP GIFT IN THE OFFERING PLATE.
WHY ARE WE DOING THIS? FOR SEVERAL REASONS: FIRST, AS A VISIBLE RESPONSE TO THE TEACHING IN GOD’S WORD AS TO OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS STEWARDS. SECOND, TO BE A VISUAL ILLUSTRATION THAT WE ARE ALL STEWARDS HERE, IT IS NOT THE MINISTRY OF A FEW, BUT THE MINISTRY OF ALL. AND THIRD, TO BE A TESTIMONY TO EACH OTHER OF OUR RESPONSE TO WHAT GOD HAS PLACED UPON OUR HEARTS AS WE HAVE SOUGHT HIM IN PRAYER REGARDING THIS DAY.
AS I SHARED BEFORE, STEWARDSHIP IS NOT JUST MONEY. WE NEED TO BE STEWARDS IN OUR PRAYER LIFE, IN OUR ACTIVITY, AND IN OUR SERVICE. YOUR STEWARDSHIP GIFT CAN BE ONE OF THESE, OR A COMBINATION. A SIMPLE PLEDGE BEFORE GOD TO LIFT A MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH UP IN PRAYER OR A DESIRE TO ASSIST IN A MINISTRY IS JUST AS VALUABLE AS ANY OTHER ACT. DROP A NOTE IN THE PLATE AS YOU PASS BY, A NOTE THAT SAYS, ”I WILL BEGIN TO PRAY FOR THIS AREA OF THE CHURCH.” OR “I WILL MAKE MYSELF AVAILABLE TO SERVE IN THIS MINISTRY OR SERVICE”. DON’T SIGN IT, JUST DROP IT IN. STEWARDSHIP IS BETWEEN YOU AND GOD. GOD KNOWS YOUR HEART IN THIS MATTER.
NOW, ENOUGH OF INTRODUCTION LETS LOOK AT THE WORD OF GOD!
I. WE ARE MORE THAN OUR SALVATION
A. NO ONE CANNOT DENY THE IMPACT OF SALVATION ON OUR LIVES
1. REDEEMED FROM THE PENALTY OF SIN
2. REDEEMED FROM THE PUNISHMENT FOR SIN
3. THE TOTALITY OF OUR SINS COVERED BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST
4. FELLOWSHIP WITH THE GOD OF ALL CREATION
5. AN ETERNAL DESTINY ROOTED IN HEAVEN AND UPROOTED FROM HELL
B. THE WRITER OF HEBREWS SAYS THAT THERE ARE BETTER THINGS THAT ACCOMPANY SALVATION
1. THE WRITER THEN GOES ON TO DEVELOP THE “BETTER THINGS”
2. SO, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THINGS ARE EXPECTED OF THE BELIEVER AFTER THEIR SALVATION
3. SALVATION DOES NOT COMPLETE OUR ACTIVITY REGARDING CHRIST, IT BEGINS IT.
4. FROM THE MOMENT OF OUR SALVATION, THE SPIRIT OF GOD BEGINS WORKING IN OUR LIFE
a. HE GAVE US GIFTS
b. HE CONVICTS US IN ORDER TO MATURE OUR WALK
c. EVEN JESUS TOLD HIS DISCIPLES THAT THEY/WE WOULD DO GREATER THINGS THAN HE DID
John 14:12 (NIV) I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
d. WE HAVE THE CONFIDENCE OF GOD, THE CAPACITY, AND THE INSTRUCTION TO LIVE AND ACT BEYOND OUR SALVATION. THE QUESTION IS – WILL WE LIVE BEYOND OUR SALVATION.
SALVATION SHOULD CHANGE OUR LIVES SO THAT WE WILL NATURALLY SERVE GOD IN ORDER TO ADVANCE HIS KINGDOM.
II. GOD REMEMBERS OUR BETTER THINGS
A. WHAT OTHERS DO NOT SEE – GOD REMEMBERS
1. MANY ACTS OF LEGITIMATE STEWARDSHIP GO UNNOTICED BY THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE.
2. NO ACT OF STEWARDSHIP GOES UNNOTICED BY GOD
3. ULTIMATELY WHO ARE WE A STEWARD FOR – GOD
4. TRYING TO GO AROUND AND BE NOTICED BY MEN ULTIMATELY DISTRACTS US FROM ACCEPTABILITY WITH GOD.
Proverbs 29:26 (NIV) Many seek an audience with a ruler, but it is from the Lord that man gets justice.
Galatians 1:10 (NIV) Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
B. GOD IS NOT UNFAITHFUL
1. GOD FOCUSES ON THE LOVE WE SHOW THROUGH THE WORK WE DO
2. THE BEST THAT WE DO BEARS NO PROPORTION TO THAT IS LEFT UNDONE
a. GOD DOES NOT GRADE ON A CURVE
b. GOD DOES NOT DENY US HIS STRENGTH TO ACCOMPLISH HIS PURPOSES
c. GOD DOES DESIRE OUR DILIGENCE
C. GOD SEEKS OUR DILIGENCE
1. LITERALLY TO HAVE AN ACTIVE FAITH
2. THE CONFIDENCE OR SURENESS OF OUR HOPE IS SEEN IN OUR STEWARDSHIP!
a. ASSURANCE DRIVES STEWARDSHIP
b. LACK OF ASSURANCE DEFLATES STEWARDSHIP
III. IMITATION IS THE CURE FOR LAZY STEWARDSHIP
A. WE ARE ENCOURAGED TO LOOK TO THE FAITHFUL AND PATIENT
1. CHAPTER TEN – WE LOOK AT JESUS
2. CHAPTER 11 – WE LOOK AT THOSE FAITHFUL BEFORE US
3. CHAPTER 12 – WE ARE ENCOURAGED TO LAY ASIDE SINS AND STUFF THAT WOULD KEEP US FROM RUNNING THE RACE
B. WHAT ARE WE LOOKING TO IN ORDER TO INHERIT WHAT HAS BEEN PROMISED?
Psalm 20:7-8 (NIV) 7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. 8 They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.
1. DO WE TRUST IN THINGS AND STUFF TO MAKE?
2. DO WE TRUST IN GOD TO MAKE IT?
3. THE CHOICE IS SIGNIFICANT
a. DEFEAT IN OUR CHRISTIAN LIFE
b. VICTORY IN OUR CHRISTIAN LIFE
John 2:1-9 (NIV) 1 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine." 4 "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied. "My time has not yet come." 5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." 6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet." They did so,9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside
LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION? WHEN DID THE WATER TURN TO WINE?
IT DID NOT HAPPEN AT THE FILLING OF THE JARS.
IT TOOK FAITH TO BRING THE “WATER” TO THE MASTER OF THE BANQUET
I WANT YOU TO NOTICE SOMETHING OFTEN MISSED:
THE AMOUNT OF WINE PRODUCED
120 TO 180 GALLONS OF WINE!
"NO WEDDING PARTY ON EARTH COULD DRINK ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY GALLONS OF WINE."
JESUS INTENTIONALLY PRODUCED THE WINE IN ABUNDANCE.
THE MASTER OF THE BANQUET WAS IGNORANT OF THE SOURCE OF THE WINE. YOU ARE NOT IGNORANT OF THE SOURCE. YOU KNOW THE SOURCE OF ALL YOUR BLESSINGS!
GOD SAVES HIS BEST FOR US TILL LAST, BUT THE WORLD OFFERS YOU IT’S BEST FIRST!
NOW AS WE PREPARE TO HAVE OUR STEWARDSHIP WALK, I ASK YOU – KNOWING THAT YOU HAVE AN ABUNDANT GOD WHO DOES NOT FORGET YOUR ACTIONS, AND WHO ENCOURAGES YOU TO FAITHFUL DILIGENCE, WILL YOU TRUST IN HIS ABUNDANCE AND IMITATE THE FAITHFUL STEWARDSHIP SO EVIDENT IN THE SCRIPTURES, ….
