Dakota Community Church
Ephesians 56, Grace at Work 26
June 23, 2013
Preferring Others in Giving
We are given six behaviors we are to discontinue - because they destroy unity.
We are given six replacement behaviors which will foster and protect unity.
Instead of lying; speak truth
...having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. (Ephesians 4:25)
Instead of outbursts of wrath; righteous anger
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. (Ephesians 4:26-27)
Instead of stealing; working and contributing
Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. (Ephesians 4:28)
A.) The Eighth Commandment - Let the thief no longer steal
It is wrong to TAKE the fruit of someone else’s labour without paying for it.
B.) An Honest Days Work
- but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands
What is the doctrine of vocation?
1. The doctrine of vocation is the belief that God is active in everyday human labor, family responsibilities, and social interactions.
2. The doctrine of vocation is the belief that since every area of life in Christ is a calling - as we do it unto Him, God accepts it as good and glorifying to Him.
3. The doctrine of vocation redefines our motivation for work; to love God and to love & serve our neighbor.
The Christian can and should love his work. We don’t just do it for the money!
Work for the Christian actually becomes an act of worship, a God glorifying service to Him and to our fellow man.
Making a living, going shopping, being a good citizen, and spending time with one's family-that is, the "ordinary routine" - are all spheres in which God is at work, through us.
God is concerned with your vocation but even more so with how you carry it out.
One Final Thought from Last Week on the doctrine of vocation:
The command to stay in the condition you are called in is not absolute.
1 Corinthians 7:21
Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) (Prostitute) (Career change is an option)
Instead of stealing; working and contributing 3
C.) Preferring Others in Giving - that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
One activity is to be stopped; the sinful act of stealing. One new activity is to take its place; the God honoring act of giving.
“None but Christ can transform a burglar into a benefactor!” - John R.W. Stott
The new birth results in revolutionary change.
The modern church has preached to change the unchurched into churched when we are supposed to preach the new birth - from enemy of God to child of God.
Faith alone saves, but saving faith is never alone. - Martin Luther
Matthew 7:17-20
17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
Last week we talked about how our bad fruit becomes healthy fruit.
Christ’s righteousness imparted transforms works that are filthy rags into works acceptable and reward worthy in heaven.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
(I) The sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit is to be seen in our financial lives.
1 Timothy 6:1-21
Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. 2 Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved.
Teach and urge these things. 3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
20 O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” 21 for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.
Grace be with you.
Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession:
John 18:36
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”
The Christian does not view money the same way the non-Christian views it.
The Christian does not define success the same way the non-Christian defines.
The Christian does not define treasure in the same way as the world defines it.
Our knowledge of eternal values transforms how we live in this world.
(II) The Christian is to have something to share.
Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. (Ephesians 4:28)
What does this mean?
The Christian cannot live paycheck to paycheck.
This goes against everything our fallen nature tells us. I deserve more, better, equal... I don’t have enough right now.
Let me remind you of:
1 Timothy 6:7-8
for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.
Whatever station you occupy in life, from slave to rich man, if you are unable to share, if you are unable to contribute the problem is not that you do not make enough money, the problem is that you spend too much on yourself.
Repent and sin no more!
Cut back on your lifestyle, make necessary changes - start sharing and start carrying your part of the load.
(III) Let the thief no longer steal!
There are three primary ways we steal in the church:
First: Stealing from God
The truth about tithing, being free from the curse of the law does not mean free to go on sinning.
Keeping all of your money is a sin!
Second: Stealing from our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Who is paying for the services you benefit from?
Third: Stealing from the world we are called to reach.
What is not being done ministry wise so that you can live just a little bit better?
PowerPoint available (Free of charge) on request dcormie@mts.net
Follow Dan on twitter: @DanCormie
