Signs of a Sensible Steward

LORDSHIP Settles: The POSITION Issue The PERMISSION Issue The PROFESSION Issue The POSSESION Issue

LORDSHIP Lordship Lordship Lordship LORDSHIP

HOW? If I make the decision to let Jesus be Aren’t these just words? Lord of My Life Lord of My Time Lord of My Money Lord of My ALL Aren’t these just words?

How do we apply Lordship? John 12:26 26 "If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

A ……. WORD STEWARDSHP

Signs of a Sensible Steward Stewardship Jesus Teaches Four Signs of a Sensible Steward RESPONSIBLE RELAXED READY REWARDED

Responsible Steward Luke 12

Luke 12 Luke 12:13 Then one from the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."

Jesus’ Answer 14 But He said to him, "Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?" 15 And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses."

Stewardship Parable 16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: "The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17 "And he thought within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?'

Luke 12:18 "So he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods.

Foolish Thinking 19 'And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry." ' 20 "But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?'

Need for Responsibility The Farmer did not realize: Responsible to Himself Responsible to Others Responsible to God He thought that life only consisted of possessions He did not realize that blessings meant he should help other people, with his God given benefits. He did not understand the uncertainty of life, the certainty of judgment or the certainty of accountability to God

God’s Answer to Farmer 20 "But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?' 21 "So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

Not Rich Toward God? Wealthy Man had a dream In that dream, he is taken to heaven where he will finally get to see the mansions that are built for all those who will be going to heaven…. As he an the Angel are walking by he sees a huge mansion…..

The wealthy man asks “Who’s mansion? The Angel Answers, “Your Gardner’s”

The wealthy man asks “Who’s mansion? The Angel Answers, “A Missionary’s”

Can you imagine what he thinks his will be like?

“We did the Best With What You Sent Us.” The wealthy man asks “Who’s is this? “We did the Best With What You Sent Us.” The Angel Answers, “It’s Yours!”

Treasures for Heaven Responsible Stewards THANK God for their Blessings Responsible Stewards RECOGNIZE and that an over abundance of blessings is given for others. Responsible Stewards REACT by sharing that over abundance with others.

Relaxed Steward Luke 12

Don’t Worry! Luke 12:22 Then He said to His disciples, "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on.

Worry? Who Worries? What are some things that we worry about?

"Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Luke 12:23 "Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.

Luke 12:24 "Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds?

Luke 12:25-26 25 "And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 26 "If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?

Luke 12:27 "Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Luke 12:28 "If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?

Luke 12:29 "And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind.

Luke 12:30 "For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things.

Luke 12:31 "But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.

Luke 12:32 "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Ready Steward Luke 12

Luke 12:33-34 33 "Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. 34 "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Luke 12:35-36 " Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; 36 "and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately.

Luke 12:37-38 37 "Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. 38 "And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

Luke 12:39-40 39 "But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 40 "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

Being Ready ≠ Hoarding Dwight L. Moody Tells Story Walking down street Person – Blessing Gives Him $5 Moody notices need He gives $5 away.

“I have never had anyone come up to me like that again.” Continues Walking Down Street Stopped by another Person Gives Him Another $5 Moody Kept It “I have never had anyone come up to me like that again.”

“When You Store, You Get No More” John Maxwell “When You Store, You Get No More”

Rewarded Steward Luke 12

Loving Company… Luke 12:41 Then Peter said to Him, "Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all people?"

Luke 12:42-44 And the Lord said, "Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? 43 "Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44 "Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has.

If You Are Christ’s  If you have renounced self and given yourself to Christ you are a member of the family of God, and everything in the Father's house is for you. All the treasures of God are opened to you, both the world that now is and that which is to come.

The ministry of angels, the gift of His Spirit, the labors of His servants--all are for you. The world, with everything in it, is yours so far as it can do you good.  Thoughts From the Mount of Blessings. Pg. 110 – Ellen White

Stewardship Summary Weigh your responsibilities in light of your blessings. Wait on God to meet your needs, because you have put him first Watch for the Lord’s return, because your values are based on eternity. Work until the Lord returns, because you are faithful to his commission.

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