A. INTRODUCTION
The theme for this year’s Stewardship Campaign is - -Stewardship: From Victory To Victory. Last year our church had a financial victory, this year we will have another one. This lesson is designed to help you go from one financial victory this year, to a greater one next year. The theme is built upon progress from one triumph to another. Notice the progress:
1. From last year’s successful campaign to this year’s success.
2. From your spiritual victory to your financial victory.
3. From church member’s victory to the church’s victory.
4. From inner victory to outer victory.
5. From victory over sinful attitudes to victory of sinful actions.
6. From your proper management of money to your financial victory.
Definition of Stewardship: "Stewardship is the proper management of time, talent and treasures for the glory of God." When you properly manage these areas of your life, you will have victory in all areas of your life.
B. FIVE IMPORTANT INGREDIENTS ABOUT ANY VICTORY
1. If victory, I must know THE CAUSE I’m fighting for. Young David was appalled that no one would fight Goliath. He asked, "Is there not a cause?" (I Sam. 17:29).
a. Our cause: TO SURRENDER all I have. "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me" (Luke 9:23).
Surrender daily
Follow daily
Take up cross daily
b. Our cause: TO LOVE GOD with all I have. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind" (Matt. 22:37).
c. Our cause: TO SERVE GOD with all I have. "Whatever ye do, do it heartily as to the Lord, and not unto men" (Col. 3:23).
2. If victory, I must know my enemy.
a. SATAN. "Be vigilant, because your adversary the Devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.
Whom resist steadfast in the faith" (I Peter 5:8,9). If the Devil can destroy you financially, he has the victory. If you can manage your money properly for God, you have the victory.
b. SELF. "Love not the word . . . all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but of the world" (I Jn. 2:15, 16). Biblical stewardship is properly managing your physical wants, your emotional desires and your ego. When you do this, you get victory.
3. If victory, I must know how to fight.
a. NOT PHYSICAL. "The weapons we fight with are not physical, but we struggle in our mind against desires and thoughts that would hold us in bondage. We win a victory by bringing our thoughts into the captivity of Christ" (II Cor. 10:4,5 Expanded Translation).
b. WE FIGHT IN CHRIST. "Thanks be unto God, which causeth us to triumph in Christ" (II Cor. 2:14).
c. BEING SMART AND WISE. The person who invests his money wisely will get ahead. The woman who knows how to shop wisely will get the best bargains for her family and they will have more. What does it take to be wise with money in the grocery store or the shopping center?
(1) MAKE A PROPER LIST that takes every part of your life into consideration.
(2) DISTINGUISH BETWEEN NEEDS AND DESIRES. The ability to see the differences between what you want and what is necessary is basis for financial stability and maturity.
(3) MEET SHORT TERM NEEDS, and plan for long term needs. This is the ability to determine priorities.
(4) DISCIPLINE. You must know what is on your list, how to save for what you want and how to say "no" to impulses and "bargains."
(5) SEE THE BIG PICTURE. Money is life, and the way your spend your money is a reflection of how you live your life.
(6) CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDE. If you are in debt or have money problems, more money will not solve your problem. More money will eventually give you a bigger problem. You get out of money problems by changing your thinking about money.
4. If victory, I must have a strategy.
a OUR STEWARDSHIP. "We are to manage our time, talent and treasures for the glory of God."
b. OUR ABILITY. "Unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to every man, according to his several ability" (Matt. 25:15). We are responsible to manage our money, not the riches of another, nor someone else’s welfare check. Everyone is responsible for his own money.
c. OUR ACCOUNTABILITY. "The Lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them" (Matt 25:19). "When the time of the fruit drew near, he (the owner), sent his servants . . . to receive the fruits of it"
(Matt. 21:34). We manage our money for God, therefore He has the right to ask,
(1) How are you doing?
(2) Where is my share?
What God Has Given You. What Have You Done?
Time _______________________
Ability _______________________
Money _______________________
d. OUR LOSS. "Some will not manage their resources for God. "I was afraid, and went and hid my talent in the earth" (Matt. 25:25). "Thou wicked and slothful (lazy) servant, . . . take therefore the talent from him and give unto him that hath the ten talents" (Matt. 25:26,28).
What are you not using for God? What would its lost mean?
__________________________ ________________________
__________________________ ________________________
5. If victory, I must see the triumph.
a. SEE A WIN. Many are not victorious over sin because they do not know what is victory. "Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world, and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith" (I Jn. 5:4).
b. SEE GOD GLORIFIED. Remember, you manage your money for God’s glory, not just to keep out of debt, and not to just become financially prosperous. David fought Goliath for spiritual purposes, not physical purposes. "Thou comest to me with a sword . . . but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel . . . this day will the Lord deliver thee into my hand . . . that the whole earth may know that there is a God in Israel" (I Sam. 17:45,46).
c. Know what financial victory is not:
(1) It’s not just giving a tenth, it’s managing all for God.
(2) It’s not just an amount, it’s an attitude.
(3) It’s not just doing away with bills, it’s knowing how to pay bills.
(4) It’s not just about retirement, it’s about living now.
(5) It’s not just about getting, it’s about giving.
d. Know what I want to do WITH MY MONEY. God doesn’t want just your tithe, He wants you to use all of your money to accomplish His purpose and for His glory. Therefore,
(1) Surrender your checkbook to God.
(2) Pray for guidance and wise spending
(3) If you control your money for God, you will control all your life for God.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God. Please contact me at eltowns@liberty.edu and tell us about your salvation experience so that we can rejoice with you.
