Participants:
Series Code: SSP
Program Code: SSP180005A
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00:01 The Bible tells us, "In the beginning was the Word,
00:03 and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." 00:07 It says, 00:08 "To receive with meekness the implanted Word, 00:11 which is able to save your souls. 00:13 And to be diligent 00:15 to present yourself approved to God 00:17 rightly dividing the Word of truth." 00:20 Join us now for the 3ABN Sabbath School Panel. 00:25 Our study today 00:26 is Stewardship Motives of the Heart. 00:32 Hello, welcome to 3ABN Sabbath School Panel. 00:37 So good to have more than one person here. 00:39 Good to see Shelley and Jill and Mollie and Kenny, 00:43 always good to be able to sit down 00:45 with all of you to study the Word of God. 00:47 And we thank you for tuning in 00:48 to take this time 00:50 to open your Sabbath School lessons. 00:52 We pray that you have one. 00:54 This quarter, 00:55 we are studying Stewardship Motives of the Heart. 00:59 And every time I hear motives of the heart, 01:00 I think where your treasure is there will your... 01:02 Heart be also. 01:04 And we pray that today 01:05 your heart is in the right place. 01:08 We are going to take this wonderful hour 01:11 and turn our hearts to the study of God's word. 01:13 If you'd like to follow along with us, 01:15 go to the following website 01:17 ABSG.Adventist.org and download the lesson. 01:22 We are studying lesson number five, 01:25 Stewards After Eden 01:28 covering January 27th to February 2nd. 01:31 And we know that if you are near 01:33 or in a city where 01:34 there is an Adventist church not far away, 01:36 or maybe you are a member of the church, 01:37 and don't have a copy of the lesson, 01:39 get one and join a Bible study class. 01:43 Before we go any further, 01:44 we always ask 01:45 for the Lord's leading and guiding. 01:47 And, Shelley, would you pray for us today? 01:49 Would love to. 01:51 Precious Heavenly Father, 01:52 we pause once again today 01:53 to come before You in the name of Jesus. 01:55 Thanking you, Lord, 01:57 that You are the giver of every good and perfect gift. 01:59 Thanking you, Father, 02:01 for all that You have bestowed upon us. 02:03 The spiritual gifts and the material gifts, 02:07 Lord, we are so grateful. 02:09 We want to learn to be good stewards, Father. 02:12 And we ask in the name of Jesus 02:14 that You will send Your Holy Spirit now 02:17 to be our teacher, 02:19 give us ears to hear 02:20 what the Holy Spirit has to say, 02:22 and the power to put it into practice. 02:25 In Jesus' holy name we pray, amen. 02:27 Amen. 02:29 Thank you so much, Shelley. 02:30 You know, this lesson on stewardship, 02:33 I would say Stewards After Eden which means, 02:36 there was a stewardship before Eden. 02:38 And that is clearly delineated when the Lord said to Adam, 02:42 I'm giving you all the garden... 02:44 He was the gardener. 02:45 He was the one to till and to keep the soil. 02:48 And what was so beautiful about that setting 02:50 is that if you go back, 02:53 it's kind of a hard concept to grab 02:56 when you think of being on an earth, 02:57 and there's no one but you, 03:00 and then the Lord gives you a wife and you say, 03:04 "Why are there only two people here?" 03:06 Oh. 03:07 So I'm gonna garden, I'm going to till the soil, 03:10 I'm going to be a steward of what God gave to me. 03:13 And in a perfect setting, 03:14 it's hard to think of a perfect setting 03:16 that God gave Adam everything he would ever need. 03:19 Amen. Every bird. 03:21 And, you know, the Bible makes it clear in Genesis 03:24 that when the Lord asked Adam to name the animals. 03:28 The Lord didn't tell him the name, 03:29 Adam was instantly intelligent, 03:31 he was also a steward of the knowledge 03:33 God have given to him. 03:35 And to whom much is given... 03:37 Much is required. Much is required. 03:39 So I think that the first thing 03:40 I want to point out in stewardship 03:42 is that each one of us 03:43 whether we own something physical or not, 03:46 each one of us is a steward... 03:48 Because every one of us has received something 03:49 from the Lord, 03:51 and to whom the more you received, 03:53 the more you are accountable for. 03:56 And so stewardship has many levels. 03:59 The master has a greater level of stewardship. 04:02 The apprentice 04:03 has a lesser level of stewardship. 04:06 I have a saying that goes this way as a pastor, 04:10 when a person becomes a member of the church, 04:12 I say, if you want to attend there, 04:14 no standards for fellowship. 04:18 There are standards for membership, 04:20 and high standards for leadership. 04:22 This stewardship, and when it comes to a worship, 04:26 now the person who is the worship leader 04:28 is in a greater position of stewardship 04:30 than the ones who are following, 04:32 because if he's blind, 04:33 you're leading other people in and they're blind, 04:34 you're gonna both fall into the pit. 04:37 There is stewardship for preachers. 04:39 You can't say, I'm a preacher and tell a lie. 04:42 You can't say, I did not know 04:43 because you cannot step outside. 04:46 And I learned that beautifully in this lesson, 04:48 a steward can never, 04:50 a steward can never claim ignorance. 04:55 So a person who is preaching can never say, 04:58 "Well, I didn't know." 05:00 If the honesty of a person's heart 05:02 is they were in ignorance, the Lord will overlook that. 05:06 But you cannot say 05:07 after a particular period of time, 05:09 I didn't know so I told only what I knew. 05:13 Stewardship requires us, 05:15 not just to communicate what we know, 05:17 but to know more... 05:19 Yes. Amen. 05:20 Especially in this day and age. 05:21 But let's look at stewardship, its meaning. 05:24 I'm covering Sunday, 05:25 stewardship in the Old Testament. 05:28 And I want to begin with a particular passage. 05:32 Let's read our memory verse together. 05:36 It is taken from 1 Thessalonians 2:4 05:40 and we always like to begin our study 05:42 by reading it together. 05:43 Here we are. 05:45 "On the contrary, 05:46 we speak as those approved by God 05:49 to be entrusted with the gospel. 05:51 We are not trying to please people 05:54 but God, who tests our hearts." 05:57 Amen. Wow! 05:58 That's a... 05:59 Paul talked about not being men pleasers. 06:02 And that's vitally important. 06:05 Stewardship, according to the lesson, 06:06 "The word 'steward' 06:08 itself is translated only a few times 06:10 in the Old Testament. 06:11 In most cases on Sunday's lesson, 06:14 it comes from the phrase regarding the one 06:17 who is 'upon the house,' 06:20 the idea of being in charge 06:22 of the running of a house, that is a 'steward'. 06:27 Stewards had responsibilities, 06:29 and I'm reading the introduction to Sunday, 06:31 to manage household affairs 06:33 and their master's possessions, 06:35 doing whatever was asked of them. 06:39 The definition of a steward in the Old Testament 06:41 can be found by identifying 06:43 the characteristics of a steward. 06:46 Stewards cannot be separated from their stewardship, 06:50 for it reveals their identity." 06:53 So you can't say, well, I'm a steward 06:55 but then I'm not a person, I'm not responsible. 06:58 I've learned, and I think that in a production 07:00 and being here at 3ABN, 07:02 you know, lots of decisions are made. 07:03 And, Jill, they keep increasing your decision making capacity, 07:06 or ability, or responsibility I should say. 07:09 But when you're in the position to make a call 07:12 and things fall apart, 07:15 as the person in the lead position, 07:16 you are in fact a steward. 07:18 You can't say," Well, I don't know what happened," 07:19 because it's our responsibility to what? 07:21 Know. 07:22 To know what's happening. Absolutely. 07:24 In the same sense of the leader of the church, 07:26 the pastor of the church to claim ignorance, 07:28 I didn't know what was going on 07:30 is to reveal the lack of a fiduciary responsibility 07:36 or accountability. 07:37 In the same way in programming, 07:39 if a program happens 07:40 and Shelley doesn't know about it, 07:42 that shows a lack of fortitude on Shelley's part 07:45 because you are a steward of programming. 07:48 And, Mollie, you've been a steward for many years. 07:51 And you continue to be in that capacity 07:53 where people come to you with... 07:56 They want advice from a mother figure, 07:59 or advice from the vice president of 3ABN. 08:02 And what happens after that moment, 08:04 you are responsible. 08:05 Responsible. You're steward. 08:07 And, Pastor Kenny, you know it as a preacher. 08:09 You preach it, you better live it. 08:12 You say it, you better hung up to it. 08:14 Each one of us is a steward. 08:16 A steward cannot be separated from his stewardship. 08:22 Let's go to the covenant, 08:25 and I want to look at something else 08:26 because stewardship is also financial. 08:28 But stewardship comes in four categories. 08:30 Time, what's the first one? 08:33 Time, talent, testimony, and treasure. 08:37 Nice. 08:38 Stewardship is a four part process 08:41 in anyone's life. 08:42 Time, how do you manage your time 08:44 or does your time manage you? 08:46 Talent, do you recognize your talent 08:49 as a spiritual gift or just a great ability? 08:51 Because you see a lot of good singers, 08:53 but ministers of music is something 08:55 all together different, you know. 08:56 Amen. Yeah. 08:58 Time, talent, then testimony. 09:00 The Lord, as Revelation 12:11 says in, 09:04 they overcame him by the blood of the lamb 09:06 and by the word of their testimony. 09:08 It behooves us that God does something for us. 09:10 And the Bible says, 09:11 "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, 09:14 who He has redeemed by His righteous right arm. 09:17 So time, talent, testimony, and then treasure. 09:20 None of us owns what we have. 09:23 None of us can manufacture 09:27 the things that sustain us from day to day. 09:29 The Lord is the one that manufactures that, 09:31 and our treasure also belongs to God. 09:33 A wonderful example, and by the way, 09:36 let me just put this in the proper context. 09:38 Some people say, well, you know, 09:40 there are certain passages in the Bible 09:41 that are not reiterated in the New Testament. 09:43 And then some individuals think that 09:44 because the Sabbath is in the Old Testament, 09:47 then it's not reiterated in the new, 09:49 but it's in both, old and new. 09:51 It's not separated. 09:53 Something else that's in both testaments is tithing. 09:56 Amen. 09:57 And tithing is not based on the Levitical Priesthood, 10:00 but the Melchizedek Priesthood, 10:03 which means since Jesus is a priest 10:06 according to the order of Melchizedek, 10:08 and that never dies 10:09 because Jesus is a priest forever, 10:12 then tithing which was a pledge 10:14 that Abraham made for the goodness of God. 10:16 Let's look at Genesis 28. 10:19 Genesis 28, and this is where tithing 10:22 was most prominently amplified in the scriptures. 10:29 Amazing how finances or tithing is the doctrine 10:32 that all churches agree on. 10:34 No controversy there in the most cases. 10:38 How they handle that, 10:39 that's a different story altogether. 10:41 But Genesis 28:20 to 22. 10:45 Jill, could you read that for us? 10:47 "Then Jacob made a vow, saying, 10:48 'If God will be with me 10:50 and keep me in this way than I'm going, 10:52 and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on. 10:55 So that I come back to my father's house in peace, 10:58 then the Lord shall be my God." 11:00 Verse 22? Yes. 11:02 "And this stone, which I have set as a pillar, 11:04 shall be God's house. 11:05 And of all that you give me 11:07 I will surely give a tenth to you." 11:09 See, so tithing that was established 11:11 for God's goodness, and notice the context. 11:14 The Lord is going to bless us abundantly, 11:17 but then the requirement of acknowledging 11:19 where that blessing comes from is returning a tenth to God. 11:22 And I tell you, stewardship comes not as a test 11:27 of what you're gonna do with your money, 11:29 but a test of what's happening in your heart. 11:32 It's always a test of the heart, 11:34 not just a test of the pocket book. 11:36 Because I never forget that story 11:38 and I've told it many times, and it fits right here, 11:40 where a gentleman was joining a church 11:42 and was being baptized, 11:43 and just before he went on to the tank, 11:45 he realized his wallet was in his back pocket. 11:47 He said, "Wait, wait, let me remove my wallet." 11:49 And the preacher said, 11:50 "No, we want to baptize your money too." 11:53 Because many people bring 11:55 only what they want to in a relationship with God, 11:57 but everything the Lord gives to you 11:59 is a part of our relationship with God, 12:01 and stewardship so much more is a part of that. 12:05 The other thing I want to point out as we go, 12:07 there are various roles of stewardship. 12:10 Stewards are chosen. Let's go to Matthew 20:16. 12:14 Stewards are chosen. 12:18 Stewards are chosen. 12:20 One is Matthew 20:16. 12:23 "So the last will be first, and the first last. 12:28 For many are called," but we know the rest... 12:30 "Few are chosen." "Few are chosen." 12:32 Another one, John 13, 12:37 John 15:16, I believe that's one. 12:39 Let me just double check that because as I copied it, 12:41 I brought both passages. 12:42 John 15:16. 12:44 Let me see if that's the one. 12:45 Is that the one, Shelley, "You did not choose..." 12:47 "You did not choose me..." Could you read that for us? 12:48 "You did not choose me," this is Jesus speaking, 12:51 "but I chose you and appointed you 12:53 that you should go and bear fruit, 12:54 and that your fruit should remain, 12:56 that whatever you ask the Father in My name, 12:59 He may give you." 13:00 That's right. 13:01 And notice the fruit, we are stewards of the fruit. 13:05 The Lord looks for fruit. 13:07 And all stewards must have a productive life. 13:10 Yes. 13:12 A life that is not productive 13:13 is not the life of a faithful steward. 13:16 The life that we have and live to God 13:18 must be a productive life. 13:20 And He chooses us and holds us responsible. 13:22 We must always improve upon the talents 13:24 God has given to us. 13:26 If it's preaching, you have to improve on. 13:27 If it's teaching, improve on that. 13:29 If it's administration, improve on that. 13:31 If it's preaching, improve on that, 13:33 whatever it is, 13:35 if it's being a helper in the kitchen, 13:36 improve on that. 13:37 That's right. 13:39 Every gift that God has given to us... 13:40 The New Testament church 13:41 if I could give it a completely different context 13:43 or a completely different identity, 13:44 we are not just those to proclaim the gospel, 13:47 but we are to live lives of stewardship recognizing 13:50 that everything we have... 13:52 Yeah. Belongs to the Lord. 13:54 Amen. Amen. 13:55 No one lives to himself, 13:57 and no one lives apart from the responsibility 14:01 that God has given to us. 14:03 Another one is the steward always identifies himself 14:07 with the master. 14:08 I'm gonna read Luke 6:46-48. 14:12 The steward always identifies himself 14:14 with the master. 14:15 This passage takes us 14:18 to the place of ultimate responsibility. 14:21 "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' 14:24 and do not do the things which I say? 14:27 Whoever comes to Me, 14:28 and hears My sayings and does them, 14:31 I will show you whom he is like. 14:33 He is like a man building a house, 14:36 who dug deep 14:38 and laid the foundation on the rock. 14:40 And when the flood arose, 14:42 and the stream beat vehemently against that house, 14:45 and could not shake it, 14:46 for it was founded on the rock." 14:49 What's being said here, 14:51 this is the key that I got from it. 14:53 You are founded on the rock 14:55 when you not only call the Lord, "Lord" 14:58 but you do what the Lord says. 15:00 Savior is the savior, 15:01 the word "Lord" is the word of stewardship. 15:04 Like we get the word "landlord". 15:05 I know, Kenny is a landlord. 15:07 If somebody had a property of yours 15:08 and painted it without your permission, 15:11 you'd be kind of perturbed, wouldn't you? 15:13 Or made changes or added on an additional room 15:15 without even consulting the landlord. 15:17 So here's my transitional point. 15:18 When you are a steward, 15:20 you recognize the Lord's ownership over you, 15:23 your time, your talent, your testimony, 15:25 and your treasure. 15:26 Amen and amen. 15:27 Thank you, John. 15:29 Okay, yours was stewards in the Old Testament, 15:30 and then I have Monday's lesson 15:32 which is stewards in the New Testament. 15:36 And, you know, it's interesting the concept of steward both 15:42 in the Old and the New Testament 15:44 are very similar. 15:45 And as you said, essentially, 15:47 a steward is defined by what they do. 15:51 Generally, was a slave in a master's house 15:54 like in the Old Testament we think of. 15:58 Joseph in Potiphar's house 16:00 who was over the whole household, 16:01 he managed everything. 16:04 But there's two terms in the New Testament 16:07 that describes the steward, and it incorporates 16:11 the managerial responsibilities entrusted 16:15 to the steward by the owner. 16:18 The New Testament 16:22 basically expands the idea of stewardship 16:25 beyond household management. 16:27 Please, open to Luke 16. 16:31 What we're thinking of in the New Testament, 16:34 it talks about the accountability 16:36 and the expectations of the steward. 16:39 And both the terms in the Greek 16:43 really emphasize subordination to your master. 16:47 So let me set this up. 16:48 We're gonna be in Luke 16. 16:51 Jesus here expands the definition of a steward, 16:55 and He's telling this parable about a dishonest steward. 16:59 And basically, the master comes 17:01 and realizes, hey, he's wasting my resources, 17:04 he was about ready to relieve him of his position. 17:09 And the steward recognized this, 17:12 and so he dealt very shrewdly with those people 17:17 who owed his master money. 17:19 And what he did was, 17:20 he'd have him come in, and he'd say, 17:22 okay, I'm gonna reduce your debt. 17:23 I'll take off the interest. We'll do this, we'll do that. 17:26 And so the master actually saw him doing these things 17:30 because the man was trying to gain favor with the debtors 17:34 so that he could have a little security 17:36 for the future, I guess you could say. 17:39 But what Jesus does now is He's going to show us 17:44 that if we're not faithful in small things, 17:49 we're not gonna be faithful with the larger things. 17:51 That's good. He can't trust us with more. 17:53 So let's look at Luke 16:11-13. 17:57 Jesus says, 17:58 "Therefore 18:00 if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, 18:05 who will commit to your trust the true riches?" 18:09 In other words, 18:10 if we're not faithful with the small amount of money 18:13 that we actually have here on earth, 18:14 how can God trust us with more? 18:17 That's right. 18:19 You know, and if we are poor stewards of a little, 18:23 guess what? 18:24 We're gonna be poor stewards of more. 18:26 It says, 18:28 "If you have not been faithful in what is another man's, 18:32 who will give you what is your own? 18:34 No servant can serve two masters, 18:38 for either he will hate the one and love the other, 18:41 or else he will be loyal 18:43 to the one and despise the other. 18:46 You cannot serve God and mammon." 18:49 That's right. 18:51 You know, in our materialistic society, 18:55 many people make money their God. 18:58 I mean, they give all of their efforts, 19:00 all of their time, 19:01 all of their interest is wrapped up 19:03 in making money. 19:05 And we know money can be a good thing 19:08 if it's used for good purposes, 19:10 but the love of money is the root of all evil. 19:12 That's right. 19:13 So I'm gonna skip over some of my notes 19:15 because I wanted to get, if we have time, 19:17 I'll come back to that, 19:18 but I wanted to us to look at 1 Peter 4:10. 19:24 Because when we're talking about stewards, 19:27 the New Testament clearly identifies 19:31 all of us as stewards, 19:34 each and every one in a spiritual sins 19:36 we are stewards. 19:38 So 1 Peter 4:10. 19:42 Peter writes, 19:43 "As each one has received a gift," 19:46 now this is a spiritual gift that he is referring to, 19:50 "minister it to one another, 19:52 as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." 19:57 Amen. 19:59 Every person in the church has been given a gift by God. 20:04 Anybody who is in the body of Christ, 20:06 the Holy Spirit has bestowed 20:07 some kind of the spiritual gift upon us. 20:10 And we are given that not for our own pleasure, 20:14 not to be used selfishly, 20:16 but it is for the benefit of the body of Christ. 20:19 That's right. 20:20 So if we are going to be good stewards 20:25 of the manifold grace of God, 20:28 our priority should be living in the light of Christ 20:33 and serving with intensity. 20:36 We should be putting to use demonstrating the gift 20:40 that God has given us, 20:41 putting it to use in the church. 20:46 When we think about... 20:48 Let me see where I want to go here. 20:53 The manifold, he makes us good stewards of God's grace. 20:58 I wanted to read this passage. 21:02 This is from Fundamentals of Christian Education 21:05 by E.G. White. 21:07 And she writes, 21:08 "Shall I open my heart to the Holy Spirit, 21:11 that every faculty and energy may be aroused, 21:14 which God has given me in trust?" 21:18 Everything is basically, 21:21 you know, we talk about setting up a trust, 21:23 God has put everything in trust and He's given it to us. 21:26 "I am Christ's property, 21:28 and am employed in His service. 21:33 I am a steward of His grace." 21:37 So when we think about 21:39 being wise stewards, Jesus says... 21:42 And let's look at Luke 12:45. 21:47 Jesus is using 21:48 the term steward metaphorically here. 21:52 And he talks about a wise steward 21:55 that's ready for the Son of Man's return. 22:00 But again, he talks about an unfaithful steward, 22:03 and here's what he says about the unfaithful steward. 22:07 Luke 12:45. 22:09 This is the one who... 22:15 Instead of looking for the return of Jesus, 22:18 this steward has said, 22:20 "Uh, been saying for years He's coming, 22:24 you know, I don't see it..." 22:26 So they become abusive with the grace, 22:31 the gifts of grace that God has given. 22:34 And they are not using for their own benefit. 22:37 I mean, they are using it for their own benefit. 22:39 And he says, 22:41 "If the servant says in his heart, 22:43 'My master is delaying His coming,' 22:45 and begins to beat the male and female servants, 22:48 and to eat and drink and be drunk." 22:50 Well, Jesus knew this is the era 22:53 that generation could fall into, right? 22:55 They were expecting Christ to come 22:57 during their generation, 22:59 but He didn't, 23:01 so He knew that they could then start thinking, 23:04 well, okay. 23:06 So he's talking about beating the male and female servants, 23:11 being drunken, what is this? 23:14 This is just selfish, undisciplined conduct. 23:18 And this can mark the person's behavior. 23:22 He goes on in Luke 12:46 saying, 23:24 "The master of that servant," of this wicked servant, 23:28 "is gonna come on a day when he is not looking for him, 23:31 and at an hour when he is not aware, 23:34 and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion 23:38 with the unbelievers." 23:40 Now, this is a spiritual metaphor, 23:41 so what is He referring to here? 23:44 He is referring to the Day of Judgment. 23:45 That's right. 23:47 And we know that Christ's second coming 23:51 is absolutely going to happen, 23:55 though it may seem delayed to us, 23:57 it will come to pass as the Lord has promised. 24:00 So we need to faithfully use 24:05 what God has given us for the glory of His name. 24:08 And as you said, 24:10 you know, Jesus talks in one place about those 24:13 who'll be beaten with a few stripes 24:15 or those with many stripes. 24:17 The more opportunities 24:18 that the Lord has opened for us, 24:21 the more He has given to us, 24:24 those who have received much 24:27 are accountable to God for much. 24:29 That's right. That's right. 24:30 He expects more out of us. 24:32 But no matter, 24:34 if you've just been given that one little talent 24:36 and the parable of the talents comes to mind. 24:39 You've been given that one little talent, 24:41 don't go bury it in the ground because Jesus expects you 24:46 to put it into good use to earn interest on it, 24:51 and that interest is in spreading the gospel 24:55 so that others can come to Him. 24:58 Thank you so much, Shelley, that's beautiful, 25:00 you and Pastor John, stewards in the Old Testament 25:02 and the New Testament. 25:04 I have Tuesday 25:05 which is stewards of the mysteries of God. 25:08 And just being honest with you, 25:10 when we first get our assignments, 25:12 we get the assignment, you're getting this day, 25:14 I thought I don't believe 25:16 and this is the honest confession. 25:18 I don't believe I ever have studied 25:21 what are the mysteries of God. 25:22 So I'm so excited, I got this day 25:25 because it enabled me to be able to get in 25:28 and to study that. 25:29 Before we talk about the mysteries of God, 25:31 let's just look at 1 Corinthians 4:1 and 2. 25:37 1 Corinthians 4:1 and 2, 25:41 and then we would talk about there is many of the mysteries. 25:44 Hopefully, we'll get to seven of them. 25:46 But first we want to lay some foundation here. 25:49 1 Corinthians 4:1, "Let a man so consider us, 25:54 as servants of Christ 25:55 and stewards of the mysteries of God." 25:59 There is three words 26:00 I want to look at here as we study this. 26:02 Let a man consider us, the three words are servants, 26:05 stewards, and mysteries. 26:08 Okay. 26:09 So if we look at the word for servants, 26:11 it literally means in the Greek a servant or underlain. 26:15 But it comes from two Greek words, 26:18 one means under, and the other means to row. 26:22 So if you put that together it could be a rower, 26:26 a crewman on a boat, or it could be an under rower, 26:30 or one of the men 26:31 who mans the oars on the lower deck of a boat. 26:35 So when I read that, 26:37 we're supposed to be servants of Christ, 26:39 or in under rower. 26:42 It makes me think of two things that would be, 26:45 we are one who takes orders, right? 26:49 They are to take orders. 26:51 So a servant of Christ has to take orders. 26:54 The second thing 26:55 is it would be woman or a person 26:57 who is part of a team, everyone rowing in unison, 27:00 everyone working together. 27:02 So as servants of Christ we are under orders of Christ, 27:08 the Master Steward. 27:09 And we are to work together, pull together as a team. 27:13 Now Shelley and Pastor John already talked about stewards, 27:16 and what that means, the next word is stewards. 27:19 But one thing I really liked is in the ancient world, 27:23 the steward was usually not always, 27:25 but usually a freedman, meaning, 27:27 he was a slave released from forced legal servitude. 27:31 And I love that because we have been freed, 27:34 bought by the precious blood of Christ. 27:38 And then we are to spend our lives in service for Him. 27:42 Now, if we look at the word mysteries, 27:46 if I were to ask you, 27:48 what is mysteries, usually in English, 27:50 we think a mystery would be something 27:52 we can't understand, 27:53 or something not understandable to us. 27:55 But in the Bible, 27:57 it has a little different meaning. 27:58 It does not mean something that can't be understood. 28:02 Instead it's something that is revealed 28:06 by divine revelation. 28:08 In the Bible, a mystery is not something unknowable 28:12 rather it is what can be known through Revelation 28:15 because God reveals it. 28:17 It is a declaration of spiritual truth 28:20 revealed by God through divine inspiration. 28:25 So you and I as stewards 28:27 are entrusted with the announcement 28:29 of God's revealed word, 28:31 and we find that in the Word of God. 28:33 So let's look at some of those mysteries. 28:36 Hopefully, we'll get to seven here. 28:38 Let's look at 2 Thessalonians 2. 28:43 And, Mollie, I will have you read it 28:44 because I like it in King James 28:45 and I know you have King James Bible. 28:47 2 Thessalonians 2:7. 28:55 2 Thessalonians 2:7. 28:59 "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work, 29:02 only he who now letteth will let, 29:06 until he be taken out of the way." 29:09 So your version says the mystery of iniquity. 29:12 So this is one of the mysteries 29:14 we could say, not literally unknowable, 29:16 but one of the revealed truths 29:18 in the Word of God, the mystery of iniquity. 29:21 My Bible says the mystery of lawlessness 29:23 because I have New King James, 29:24 but that's why I like the mystery of iniquity. 29:28 We are as stewards of the mysteries of God. 29:30 We are entrusted with holding up 29:32 the law of God 29:34 which shows sin, 29:36 so that other people see their need of a savior. 29:40 Now in contrast to this, 29:42 we're not only stewards of the mystery of iniquity, 29:45 but the mystery of godliness. 29:46 Let's look at, 1 Timothy 3:16. 29:51 And, Pastor Kenny, you want to read that for us? 29:54 1 Timothy 3:16. 29:58 "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness. 30:02 God was manifested in the flesh, 30:04 justified in the Spirit, 30:06 seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, 30:11 believed on in the world, received up into glory." 30:14 Yes, without controversy. Yes, that's a lot. 30:17 Without Controversy meaning 30:19 by consent of all or admittedly. 30:22 So by consent of everyone great is the mystery of godliness. 30:26 Now, this is great contrast to the mystery of iniquity. 30:30 As stewards of the grace of Christ, 30:33 we are the mysteries of God, we are called to proclaim. 30:37 This whole list really deals with the life, 30:40 the birth, the life, the ministry, 30:42 the resurrection, 30:44 the ascension of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 30:48 You think it says the first part, 30:49 God was manifested in the flesh, 30:51 it reminds me of the incarnation. 30:53 John 1:1, 30:55 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, 30:57 and the Word was God. 30:58 In verse 14, "The Word was made flesh." 31:01 Jesus Christ, "The Word was made flesh, 31:04 justified in the spirit, seen by angels." 31:08 Remember, immediately after His resurrection, 31:11 He went up, He ascended up to His Father seen by angels, 31:15 preached among the Gentiles. 31:17 This gospel message, 31:18 the message that Jesus is our Savior, 31:22 Jesus is the crucified risen and soon coming Savior, 31:25 we are to proclaim that message with power to the world, 31:29 believed on in the world. 31:32 "He who believes in the Son has eternal life," 31:36 and received up into glory. 31:38 Now let's look at another mystery 31:40 Mark 4:11 31:42 and, Shelley, you want to take that one for us? 31:44 Most certainly. 31:45 Mark 4:11, this is a different mystery. 31:51 I've got so many things in my Bible here, 31:53 it's hard to turn the pages. 31:55 Mark 4:11. 31:56 Mark 4:11 says, 32:00 "And He said to them, 32:02 to you it has been given to know 32:04 the mystery of the kingdom of God, 32:07 but to those who are outside all things come in parables." 32:10 Yes, the mystery of the kingdom of God. 32:13 And the word kingdom in Greek comes from the word king 32:17 or the realm in which a king rules. 32:21 And I believe, I'm sure there's many applications, 32:23 but I believe it especially refers to the rule of Christ 32:27 in the believers hearts. 32:29 Let's look at another mystery, Pastor John, 32:32 you want to take this one. 32:34 Ephesians 3. Okay. 32:36 Verses... 32:38 We won't read all of it. 32:40 Just the first couple of verses. 32:42 Ephesians 3 what? 32:43 Ephesians 3, can you read verse 3 to 6? 32:46 Okay, here it is Ephesians 3:3-6. 32:52 And we are told in the Word of God, 32:55 "How that by revelation 32:57 He made known to me the mystery, 33:01 as I wrote before in a few words 33:03 by which when you read 33:05 you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ. 33:09 Which in other ages 33:10 was not made known to the sons of men, 33:13 as it has now been revealed 33:16 by the Spirit 33:17 to His holy apostles and prophets." 33:19 And then verse 6, 33:21 "That the Gentiles 33:22 should be fellow heirs of the same body, 33:26 and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel." 33:31 The mystery we see here is the mystery, 33:34 there are several parenthetical expressions 33:36 and, you know, with parentheses, 33:37 but if you take all that out. 33:38 We have made known to Him, 33:40 the mystery that the gentiles should be fellow heirs 33:43 of the same body 33:45 and partakers of His promise in Christ with the gospel. 33:48 The mystery of the church, in the Greek, 33:52 if you look at fellow heirs, it literally is joint heirs. 33:56 Then it says, the Gentiles should be joint heirs, 33:58 the Jews and Gentiles together of the same body. 34:02 The word in Greek is joint body, 34:04 meaning they're belonging to the same body, 34:07 and partakers, in the Greek it is joint partakers. 34:11 So each one of them are joined, joined together, 34:14 the Jews and the Gentiles to form the Christian Church. 34:18 We don't have time, 34:20 but 1 Timothy 3:9 talks about the mystery of the faith. 34:24 Colossians 2:1-3 talks about the mystery of God. 34:29 And one of my favorites Colossians 1:27, 34:33 "Christ in you the hope of glory." 34:35 The greatest mystery of all 34:37 is that the Lord Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit 34:42 can dwell in you and I by faith. 34:46 So those mysteries are things 34:48 that are revealed to us by divine revelation. 34:52 Praise God, Jill. 34:53 Well, I have Wednesday, 34:56 and I'm looking at stewards of spiritual truth. 35:00 And a scripture that you used 35:02 I'm going to use also as my foundational scripture 35:06 and it's 1 Peter 14, 35:08 as each one has received a gift, 35:11 now how many of us, Jill, you made this very clear, 35:14 how many of us have received a gift? 35:16 Everyone of us. 35:17 Every single one of us have a gift 35:19 and you may think, no, I don't. 35:21 You pray and you ask God... 35:23 And I have got the best story about that, 35:25 I just don't have time to share it. 35:26 you pray and ask it, 35:28 and He will show you what your gift is. 35:32 For everyone has received a gift, 35:35 minister it to one another. 35:37 Now those gifts 35:39 that we receive are our gifts for ourselves. 35:42 No, therefore one another it's just like fruit. 35:45 We're all to be fruit bearers in the kingdom of God, 35:48 are we not? 35:49 Well, think about this. Do you bear fruit for yourself? 35:54 Think about that apple tree. 35:56 Does that apple tree 35:57 produce apples to consume it upon itself? 36:00 No, we bear fruit to share with others. 36:04 We are given gifts by God to minister to one another 36:09 as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 36:15 Just as God has made us stewards of those things 36:19 He entrust us with our tangible possessions, 36:23 He has also made us stewards of intangible possessions. 36:28 And that's what I'm going to look at, 36:30 intangible possessions. 36:32 God blesses each of us with intangible gifts 36:36 to assist us as we develop. 36:40 Now, what's the one thing 36:41 you can take into heaven with you? 36:43 Character. 36:44 He has given us intangible gifts 36:48 to assist us 36:49 as we develop Christian character 36:53 and become the people that He's called us to be. 36:57 You see, God doesn't just throw us out here 37:02 and tell us just do the best you can, 37:04 you know, be good and do the best you can. 37:07 No, He fully equips us. Amen. 37:11 He instructs us. 37:13 Actually, He's given us the whole book of instructions, 37:18 and in this is our equipping and our instructions. 37:22 He holds our hand, 37:25 He picks us up when we fall down, 37:28 He forgives us when we have our temper fits. 37:31 God is there for us in every situation, 37:35 He takes good care, 37:36 He is a good steward of us, did you know that? 37:39 He has given us tangible and intangibles for us 37:43 to be good stewards over, but in the meantime 37:46 He's taking such good care of us. 37:49 So I want to still look at some of the intangible gifts 37:53 that we are to be good stewards over. 37:55 And I want you to turn to Ephesians 6. 37:58 Now what I'm going to look at is weapons of warfare. 38:03 Now those are intangible gifts, they're vitally important. 38:07 Now what we're going to read is Ephesians 6:13-17, 38:11 but first I want to still look at Ephesians 6:11. 38:15 The scriptures says 38:17 put on how much of the amour of God. 38:19 "Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand 38:24 against the wiles of the devil." 38:27 Now why are we given this armor? 38:29 Is because we're in a battle, and that would be verse 12, 38:32 "For we wrestle not with flesh and blood." 38:36 Now this is Mollie's version, but bless God we wrestle. 38:40 We wrestle not with flesh and blood, 38:42 but that great controversy is real. 38:45 There really is a war going on and it's going on over us. 38:49 There is a fight between light 38:51 and darkness, good and evil, Christ and Satan, 38:54 and we are thrown right in the middle of that. 38:56 Now let's look at these gifts 38:58 that God has given us and that's verse 13-17. 39:03 Pastor Lomacang, are you there 39:04 in Ephesians 6:13-17? 39:07 Yes, I am. 39:08 If you'll read those please? Sure. 39:10 "Therefore take up the whole armor of God 39:14 that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, 39:18 and having done all, to stand. 39:21 Stand therefore, 39:22 having girded your waist with truth, 39:25 having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 39:29 and having shod your feet 39:31 with the preparation of the gospel of peace. 39:34 Above all, taking the shield of faith, 39:37 with which you will be able to quench 39:40 all the fiery darts of the wicked one, 39:42 and take the helmet of salvation, 39:44 and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God." 39:48 Now remember we're in a war, we're in warfare. 39:51 The reason it's so important 39:54 that we're good stewards of these spiritual gifts 39:58 is because they're all for our protection. 40:01 If you look at all of this study out 40:04 each one of these gifts that God has given us, 40:08 if we properly apply them, then we are totally protected. 40:13 There is no chink in our armor. 40:16 We are totally protected, but... 40:18 And I just want to throw this in 40:21 and we need all of these spiritual gifts, 40:23 but the greatest gift that God has given us 40:27 is eternal life in Christ Jesus through no merit of our own 40:33 God gave us a free gift He redeemed us, 40:37 that means, He bought us back. 40:39 Salvation and redemption, those are our greatest gifts. 40:44 You and I as fallen humanity you see when Adam and Eve fail 40:50 in the garden they did what? 40:53 They fail. What did they fall into? 40:55 They fell into sin and degradation. 40:58 They lost their lofty place 41:01 in the presence of almighty God. 41:03 And, you know what happened? 41:05 Everyone, you and I were born in Adam, did you all know that? 41:09 We the fallen race of humanity 41:14 is what we were born into. 41:17 We were without hope, we didn't have a future, 41:22 we had no hope. 41:24 Oh, but thank God, you know, there's a but in there, 41:27 but God by sending His only Son 41:31 to die an agonizing, 41:34 bloody death on a cruel cross 41:38 used His shed blood in exchange for our lives. 41:45 He has shed blood, Pastor Kenny, 41:48 became the currency He used to ransom us back. 41:55 His shed blood became the currency 41:59 that He used to give us a future and a hope. 42:03 There was an exchange by accepting this gift 42:08 that was purchased for us, we have a future and a hope. 42:14 We get to see Adam and Eve had fallen, we can't fail, 42:18 we were born into that fallen condition, 42:21 but you know what happens 42:23 when you make Jesus Christ the Lord of your life, 42:26 you stand back up. 42:27 He stands us up when we make Him our Lord. 42:31 That Jeremiah 29:11, how many of you love this. 42:35 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, 42:39 says the Lord, thoughts of peace, 42:41 and not of evil, 42:42 to give you a future and a hope." 42:44 Thank God. 42:46 This redemption, this gift that God gives us 42:50 is our most valuable position. 42:54 You can your lose your home, you can lose your car, 42:59 you can lose your loved ones, 43:01 but you've got a future and a hope 43:03 in the Lord Jesus Christ. 43:05 Your most valuable possession is your redemption. 43:11 You know, I had someone some time ago 43:14 kind of accused me of something 43:17 that would have jeopardized my salvation. 43:20 If I was guilty of what they were accusing me of, 43:24 then what I would be doing would be... 43:26 "Oh, no, nothing is worth jeopardizing our salvation. 43:33 Nothing and no one is worthy of that. 43:36 Paul tells us in Ephesians 1:7, 43:40 "In Him we have redemption through His blood, 43:43 the forgiveness of sins, 43:45 according to the riches of His grace. 43:48 How crucial that we are good stewards 43:51 of these precious gifts God has given us, 43:55 in order that the enemy of our soul 43:58 doesn't take them away." 43:59 And I just want to share this very quickly 44:02 who is out to steal, kill, and destroy? 44:05 It's the thief. 44:07 Pastor Kenny said that dirty devil. 44:10 This is in Mark 4, 44:14 "And these are they by the wayside, 44:18 where the Word is sown, but when they have heard, 44:22 Satan cometh immediately 44:24 and taketh away the Word that was sown in their heart." 44:27 Satan is a thief, 44:30 he is coming to steal, kill, and destroy. 44:33 We have these precious gifts and the only way 44:37 that we can jeopardize our redemption our salvation 44:41 is we neglect these gifts, but if we apply these gifts 44:45 and use them as God intended, there is no chink in our armor, 44:49 and our salvation, and our future, 44:52 and our hope is secured in Christ. 44:55 That's right. Praise the Lord. 44:56 Oh, yeah, well covered. 44:57 That's giving me hope and encouragement. 44:59 Yes, praise God. Thank you, yeah. 45:00 For each one of you and Thursday's lessons 45:03 more like a Friday kind of to me 45:05 I studied it here is our responsibility 45:08 as steward is really is kind of a round up 45:10 of what each of you have covered. 45:13 And so if we go over same passage 45:15 it's all right to do that, that's what we learn. 45:17 That's right. Yes. 45:19 And our responsibility so Thursday's lesson 45:21 and our first passage of scripture is Luke 12:48. 45:24 Now at least two of you referred to this, 45:26 I'm not sure if anyone read it through or not, 45:29 but the principle was there 45:30 but in order for us to kind of make sense 45:32 and put it in order. 45:33 Let's just read that someone has it 45:35 or like to read it for me, Luke 12:48. 45:38 "But he who did not know yet committed things 45:42 deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. 45:45 For everyone to whom much is given 45:48 from Him much will be required, 45:50 and to whom much has been committed of Him, 45:54 they will ask the more." 45:57 You know, to me that's simple, but it's very clear 46:00 and what's been brought out here 46:02 because I see Acts 17 coming into play here 46:05 was at verse 30 in times of ignorance, 46:08 God wink said 46:09 and that's always been a blessing 46:11 because I think probably I lived 46:12 most of my life in ignorance. 46:13 So I thank God that He has brought us 46:15 out of that situation because of the words 46:17 you are talking about here 46:19 that brings light and life to mankind. 46:21 And so we can't stay in that condition, 46:23 but I praise God that He's a God who cares for you, 46:26 He cares for me, and when we don't know 46:28 something or understand it, He has mercy... 46:31 Kenny, I just want to say one thing 46:33 because we didn't read verse 47 and you may have said that 46:36 because what He says in verse 47, 46:38 "Is if we know the master's will 46:40 and did not prepare himself or do according to His will, 46:43 will get beaten with many stripes." 46:46 So and then if you didn't know you get beaten with few, so. 46:49 Yes, absolutely. 46:50 And that corresponds with Luke 13:34. 46:55 Again, to me it says, "For where your treasure is, 46:59 there will your heart be also." 47:03 I mean, that's a very familiar passage of scripture, 47:05 but it still stands for everything 47:06 we've said here, and every one of our lessons so far, 47:09 it's where our treasure is. 47:10 And somehow in my mind just came back 47:12 and said where your love is. 47:14 I hope I'm not trying to change scripture, 47:16 but where our love is 47:18 that's where our heart is going to be 47:20 which still it's talking about certainly our mind. 47:23 Simple passage but it comes with alive. 47:24 So stewards, we do have a personal responsibility. 47:29 And a personal responsibility is not something 47:31 that we push off on someone else. 47:34 I've seen it in time, 47:35 I've seen it in church over the years, 47:37 a lot of folks come to the end of the road in their life, 47:41 and they have things of this world. 47:44 And what they want to do... 47:46 Probably get letters in different things, 47:48 but we need to look at the Word of God, 47:49 that's what's important. Yes. 47:51 As that we are steward, God has given this to us, 47:55 therefore, I'm accountable, 47:57 you are accountable as everyone has been applying. 47:59 What they do many times is they give it 48:02 what the God has give them to unbelieving 48:04 or even unbelieving children 48:06 who are not in need, they pass it on. 48:10 See, and when you pass it on to unbelievers 48:12 and people who don't know Jesus Christ, 48:13 that's been in the wrong direction. 48:15 And there will be a day of accountability 48:17 because God did not give it 48:19 to the children to squander away 48:20 or spend it in an ungodly way. 48:23 He gave it to us and I have to make sure 48:26 that my life is in order 48:28 and I've made arrangements 48:30 by the grace of God, you know, before we pass away. 48:32 And one of the things Sister White says 48:34 is we get rid of those things before, 48:36 while we still have that opportunity, 48:38 so it's a challenge, it's a test. 48:40 But, you know, stewards had been talked about here 48:43 many times steward one who acts what? 48:46 What did they do? 48:47 Instead of someone else they're acting in behalf of, 48:50 and some of you've mentioned here 48:51 how important it is 48:53 that you are a good steward of thing. 48:56 I think of banking, really, 49:00 they are a steward of your money 49:02 when you put it in there, investing company, 49:04 I'm an investor. 49:06 You know, you want somebody 49:07 that's good investing your money 49:08 so there's good returns so you're very careful about 49:11 someone who's going to take care of your property 49:13 or you want somebody who is trustworthy. 49:16 And if we accept that position, 49:19 and if we accept that responsibility, 49:21 as I look through here, there's two parts to it. 49:23 First of all, is that the choice, 49:26 I made a choice to be a responsible steward, 49:30 and then number two I have to act on it, 49:33 it's an action word. 49:34 So you can't just say, well, yeah, I agree. 49:36 It's an action word. 49:38 So a good steward always does brought out here. 49:41 He acts in the best he can 49:43 for that person he is representing. 49:46 We are representing Christ, and so we want to make sure 49:49 that we do the right thing 49:51 because He's going to hold us accountable for our actions 49:54 or something, I thought how interesting. 49:56 He holds in every area. 49:57 Pastor, I think you brought it, doesn't matter what it is, 49:59 everything belongs to God. 50:01 And all you have do is take the Bible 50:02 and read it in Psalms 50, 50:04 you know, he talks about the cattle, was it verse 10? 50:07 The cattle and everything is mine. 50:09 You know, the hill, he talks about everything there, 50:10 the cattle on the hill, every beast is mine, 50:13 and so everything belongs to Him. 50:15 And then if I... 50:16 Me, I'm slow so I didn't get that quite straight, 50:18 so I just read a couple of verses down in verse 12, 50:21 and he said, the world is mine. 50:23 So He just brought it clear, 50:24 Kenny, if you didn't get the other, 50:26 the world is mine is God saying. 50:28 So, you know, His ownership, 50:30 and we need to give back to Him. 50:32 1 Corinthians 4:12, another passage 50:35 that has been alluded to, maybe even read. 50:37 It says, more over, notice this is required of stewards 50:40 that a man be found, what? 50:42 Faithful. Faithful. 50:43 We must be found faithful 'cause we all are stewards. 50:47 We all have something that we need to give an account for, 50:49 and you want someone that's sure, 50:51 you want someone that's true. 50:52 Responsibility, 50:54 simple obligation, I think about it... 50:56 I've heard someone say, you ever heard somebody say, 50:58 "Are they responsible?" 51:00 Somebody is going to borrow my lawnmower, 51:02 I wanted him to be responsible. 51:03 Somebody's gonna borrow my car, better be responsible, right? 51:07 And you would not loan it to someone 51:08 who wasn't responsible 51:10 because a responsibility to me would be then 51:13 and it's throughout the scripture, Old Testament. 51:16 If you needed to plow your field, 51:18 and you just go and borrow your neighbor's ox, 51:20 something happened to that ox, you better replace it. 51:23 And so and always in my case mostly has always been 51:26 is if I borrow something for somebody, I break it. 51:31 I've been better off to go buy one... 51:32 Buy me not to loan you anything. 51:34 When I try to do to someone, 51:36 if they say I want to borrow your lawnmower 51:37 and it's older one, I'll say, you know what, 51:38 it could go down at any moment. 51:40 Don't feel responsibility if it goes out. 51:42 If it's a new one I'm loaning, 51:43 I expect him to bring it back the way, 51:46 you know, plus, maybe go ahead and wash it for me. 51:49 That's the plus the Lord is looking for, right, 51:51 as stewards here. 51:52 So with that meaning, 51:54 as we just expect accountability, 51:56 God expects accountability to us. 51:58 Counsels on Steward, page 111 makes this statement. 52:02 "In faithfully discharging his stewardship," 52:05 that's what we're doing, faithfully doing it, 52:07 "He has but done his duty." 52:11 Amen. "Oh, I've done... 52:12 You've only done your duty to faithfully, 52:16 you know, to discharging your duty. 52:18 So why is it important to have our own responsibility, 52:22 bear our own responsibility as steward? 52:23 Why is it? 52:25 First of all, because we just mentioned 52:26 Romans 2:6 tells us 52:29 who will render to every man what, 52:32 according to his deeds, these are passages, 52:34 you know, we've read but they're still, 52:36 there are good ones. 52:37 We're going to have to give what? 52:39 An account to God for the things 52:40 that we have done. 52:42 Seven Testimonies 176 says, each person, 52:45 same thing what the Bible says, I'm always a believer, 52:47 I can find the truth in the Word of God. 52:50 And I thank God for the Spirit of Prophecy, 52:51 I can go back and it says the same thing 52:53 as what the Word says. Yes. 52:55 You know, so I don't try to put one above, 52:56 I put the Bible up there. Yes. 52:58 But here's what the Spirit of Prophecy says, 53:00 "Each person must give an account 53:03 of his stewardship to God." 53:05 That's the same thing as scripture, isn't it? 53:07 Everyone is accountable for that. 53:09 2 Corinthians 5:10, we know this, why? 53:12 Because we must all appear 53:13 before the judgment seat of Christ. 53:15 Right? Why? 53:17 Because we're going to have to give an account 53:18 for those things that are done in our body 53:20 and whether it's good or whether it's bad, 53:23 we still have to do what? 53:24 We have to give an account to God. 53:25 So this is all I think this whole lesson is bringing 53:27 that everything belongs to God. 53:29 We're His stewards and we need to give an account 53:31 and we will have to give an account. 53:33 Our personal responsibility to God 53:36 will be in everything that we do success quickly, 53:39 I hear the word success. 53:41 Oh, somebody's successful, somebody had success. 53:43 Heaven looks at success different, 53:45 I'm thankful than we do. 53:47 You know, well, how many baptisms you have, 53:48 how many do you there, blah-blah. 53:51 All that may be well and good and so, 53:53 but I think God looks at success, 53:56 and for heaven looks at success in the eyes of our faith 54:00 and our holiness or our purity in Him, 54:03 and it's not our intelligence, 54:06 and it's not on our talent, 54:08 it's not how much money we have, 54:10 it's how is our relationship with Him. 54:14 Genesis 3, we're almost out of time 39:9 says, 54:17 "And Joseph stand on principle here," 54:20 he was tempted by who? 54:21 Potiphar's wife. What did he do? 54:24 How can I do this thing and sin against God. 54:26 You're right, quickly he stood on principle said 54:28 I can't do this. 54:29 On this passage Three Spiritual Gifts 145 says, 54:32 and if like Joseph they suffered, 54:34 notice this, slander or false statement, 54:36 you were talking about, that will hurt one's character 54:39 under a false accusation, 54:40 providence will overrule 54:42 all the enemies devices for good, 54:44 and God will in his own time exalt him higher place 54:48 while he has been debased by wicked revenge. 54:52 So sometimes if you feel like you have been, 54:54 you know, somebody said something, 54:55 done something, it's not good and your character is gonna, 54:57 in time God will exalt you in the position, 55:00 and I praise him for that. 55:02 Amen, and amen. You guys on a roll today. 55:05 I think that as stewards I had a chance to sit here 55:08 and loop up some words, 55:10 and I have been flabbergasted 55:12 to see the exhaustive list of 481 synonyms 55:17 and seven antonyms for the word steward. 55:20 Just to think about it, a butler, an agent, 55:22 a care taker, custodian, a keeper, 55:23 a waiter, a flight attendant, a warden, a gamekeeper, 55:27 a manager, a curator, a guardian 55:29 all of these are aspects today 55:31 in the modern setting up our world today 55:33 of what a steward is. 55:36 Shelley, 10 seconds or more or less I should say. 55:40 As you grow older and you've got things 55:43 and you start thinking what you're gonna do 55:46 to get rid of those things, 55:49 it becomes really apparent that things aren't important 55:53 'cause a lot of times people don't want your things. 55:55 You know, what I'm saying. That's right. 55:57 But I loved what you said, we are stewards, 56:00 everything is given to us in trust. 56:02 We need to be very careful how we pass that on, 56:06 and make sure it goes for the glory of God. 56:11 Stewards of the mysteries of God, 56:13 we often think people the pastor, 56:15 the teacher, or the one who are entrusted with that, 56:17 but each one of us know the gospel. 56:19 Each one of us can share that with someone else. 56:22 Amen. Mollie? 56:23 And just a word of encouragement, 56:24 just don't be negligent of the gifts 56:27 that God has bestowed upon us. 56:29 Be good stewards of these blessings 56:32 that God has given us, that's our protection. 56:35 Amen, Matthew 25:31, I want to hear these words, 56:38 "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." 56:41 It gives me goose bumps now, I praise God for that passage. 56:44 That's right, and, Kenny, you just took my passage, 56:46 but that's okay, we could share it again. 56:49 The only desire that each one of us has as stewards, 56:51 and servants, and people that have been 56:53 given responsibilities by the king who owns it all, 56:57 we all want to hear it together, 56:59 "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." 57:02 May God bless you. |
Revised 2018-01-31