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*HOW TO BECOME BETTER STEWARDS OF THE GOSPEL*

(Matt 28:16-20)

*Jesus not only has given the church power, but also a great responsibility.

*The word “steward” carries a great meaning: One who watches over the affairs of another.

(I Cor 4:1,2  Read)

*The Apostle Paul was clear in these verses that the saints have a great responsibility, that is to be faithful in the handling of the things of God.

*In (Luke 12) Jesus gives a parable concerning a wise and faithful steward and their reward (vs 48). Some of you have talents and are not using them.

*Unknown writer once wrote “A Christian is a mind thru which Christ thinks, a heart thru which Christ loves, a voice thru which Christ speaks, and a hand thru which Christ helps”.

With this said, “How can we become better steward of the gospel?”:

(1)    Know the gospel

(II Tim 2:15  Read)

*In these last days that are filled with false doctrines, I believe it is of utmost importance for Christians to know why they believe as they do.

* I cannot stress enough the need for us to read and study the bible daily.

*There are two main cults with false doctrines in the US.  In a survey taken from these two, they admitted that most of their growth comes from people in mainstream churches.  Who are they: Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses.

Question:

1)      What do you know about Jesus’ life?

2)      What do you know about why He came?

3)      What do you know about His death, His burial, His resurrection?

(Acts 17:10,11 Read)

(2)    Live the gospel

(Matt 5:13-16  Read)

*What good is it to say we believe the gospel if it does not bring a change in our lives, how we live, why we do or don’t do certain things?

(I Cor  4:9   & Col2:6   Read)

*People, families are watching how we live, how we handle things: some will mock us, but some will take notice we are true to living for Christ.  (I Pet 3:16  Read)

(3) Love the gospel

(Psalms 119:97,103,105  Read)

*I know I’ve talked about reading the bible, but do we love God’s word, do we see its work in our lives, do we see the necessity of it?

*Job who experienced such troubles as losing his children, his possessions said this : (Job 23:12 Read) .

1) Do we love it enough to think on it daily? (Psl 119:11 Read)

2) Do we love it enough to let it direct our life’s decisions?  (Psl 37) The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.

3) Do we love it enough to attend preaching?  (Rom 10:17  Read)

(4) Give the gospel

(Matt 28:20  Read)

(Psl 107:2  Read)

*Isn’t it amazing the many things we tell people about that comes into our lives?

1) Announce our engagements in getting married

2) Announce the birth of a baby

3) Buying a new car or house

*But yet we struggle with telling others of Christ.  (I Pet 3:15  Read)

Have you asked God to help you be a good steward of the gospel?

*BUT SATAN HINDERED US*

(I Thess 2:18)

America has faced many enemies in our short history: Germany in WWI, Japan in WWII, Vietnam, Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, the heartless terrorist of this generation.  But there is an enemy craftier, more hateful, and more destructive than any this world has ever faced.  He is the enemy called Satan, the devil whose ultimate goal is to bring God and any associated with Him down.

*In spite of the persecution and affliction the church at Thessalonica was doing quite well.  But in the text, we read how Satan successfully hindered the men of God at they attempted to reach more people for Christ.

Today I want us to notice how Satan hinders the unbelievers from coming to Christ.

(1)    He hinders by afflicting Christians

(Vs 14,15  Read)

*There is no doubt in my mind that Satan is behind the persecution and afflictions of the Church.  Both physically and spiritually.

*We also need to realize the Lord allows a certain amount of liberty in this.

*The best example of this is in the life of Job.

*Probably no one suffered more in such a short period of time than Job.

(Job 1:13-19)  Reveals two losses to Job:

1)      Property and servants: Job lost 7000 sheep, 3000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 she-donkeys plus servants.  In one day Job was completely bankrupt.

2)      Sons and daughters

(Job 2:7  Read)

*We cannot begin to understand the agony he must have been in.  Surely there was one who could offer a world of comfort, one he had know for many years, one who had seen him live for the Lord and encourage him to trust God.  But look at the word of his compassionate wife  (Job 2:9)

*The wealth and health preachers today say if you are sick you have no faith, but let them say that to:

Paul who said to Timothy “Take a little wine for his stomach sake”  (I Tim 5:23  & II Tim 4:20)

Paul who left Trophimus sick in Miletus

Paul who said Epaphrodutus fell ill and almost died  (Phil 2:25-30)

(2)    Satan hinders us from doing the work of God which would benefit us

(Matt 26)  Peter, James and John go with Jesus to the Garden of Gethsemane.  Our Lord is in great distress in (vs 38) He tells them “watch with Me” after praying He returns to where they are and finds them sleeping (vs 40) “What could ye not watch with Me one hour” but notice what else He says (vs 41  Read)

*The Lord wants you to witness, read His Word, pray each day, attend church and do His good works and you would like to do those things.  You’ve mad promises to yourselves to serve God more faithfully.

1) You intend to talk to someone you know about Christ but something hinders you.

2) You want to come to more church services but something keeps coming up.

3) You want to tithe your income but your car broke down, or plumbing went bad.

4) You want to read your Bible daily but get busy and the day ends without you doing it.

*Satan will do his best to make you sleep when you should be watching, praying or working.

(3) Satan hinders us by keeping us from spreading God’s Word

(I Thes 2:16  Read)

*Satan will go to great lengths to keep you and I from sharing Christ with others.

*The ACLU and others will go to great lengths to keep the Gospel confined in the four walls of the local church.

*Several years back, a dean at Stanford University began to pressure Christian groups on campus to stop the practice of witnessing to other students.  He was angered not by the content of the message but the practice of telling others.  His opinion “You are implying that a person’s beliefs are inferior to your own.  It is self-righteous, biased and intolerant”.  Is it self-righteous and intolerant to want to see others know the joy of Christ and escape Hell?

(4) Satan hinders by sowing tares among the wheat

(Matt 13:25,39  Read)

Two questions:

1)      What is a tare?  It is a poisonous weed that looks very similar to the wheat.  At the beginning you can’t tell them apart and by the time they have grown together it would endanger the wheat if you try to separate it.

2)      What is a tare in the church?

*It is unsaved church members and unfortunately we may have some in this church.  They come regularly, they speak words which insinuate they are Christians.  But outside of these walls, their words, their deeds prove otherwise.

* How sad that the Holy Church of Christ is made to look hypocritical, a fake because  those professing to be Christians are seen staggering down a street in drunkenness .

*I cannot always see the difference between the tares and wheat but God can.

(5) Satan hinders the unsaved by stealing the seed or Word of God

(Luke 8:11,12  Read)

1)      He will try to keep your heart unprepared to receive God’s Word.  Got along with spouse all week till Sunday and argued all the way to church.

2)      He will try to keep you from hearing the Truth when it is offered.

Keep you daydreaming or occupied with something else in church.

Story is told of a minister that was preaching a church that had a wall pipe organ and he said “ I don’t know how many pipes are in the organ”.  A man hollered out “53”.

*THE MEASURE OF A STRONG CHURCH*

(Heb 10:24,25)

*Someone once said “If absence makes the heart grow fonder, some people ought to love their church greatly” because they’re absent more than present.

*The practice of assembling with a church is important (Psl 122). Naturally we hope the congregation we assemble with is a strong one, but it may not always be the case.  In NT times there were many good congregations but some were not what they should have been.

(Rev 2) Church of Ephesus had left their first love

(Rev 3) Church of Laodiceans  had  become lukewarm

(Rev 3) Church of Philadelphia “thou has not denied my name”

*Question: What is the measure of a strong church?

*Some would say the building, some think the number of programs: Sunday School, choir, children’s church.

*Others think a smoothly run organizations without problems, but you can have all these things and still be dead.

*But I suggest a better measure is to be found when we think of the church in terms used in the Bible.

(1) A strong church functions like a body

1) The church is the body of Christ

(I Cor 12:27  Read)

*The church is an organism (it is living) not simply an organization.

2) The body of Christ has many members

(Rom 12:4,5  Read)

3) The body must have members who fulfill their function

(Eph 4:15,16  Read)

*We understand that a chain is as strong as its weakest link.  So is the body of Christ in the church.  We must all seek to do our part, if we are half-hearted then those who are doing all they can must also do your part.

(2) A strong church functions like a family

*The Apostle Paul told the church in Thessalonica they were good examples

(I Thes 4:9,10)

*A strong family is where there are certain things:

1) There is concern and care for each other.  Do we pray and lift up one another to God?

2) There is a genuine love that builds up each other.

3) There is a desire to spend time with each other.

(I Thess :12  Read)

(3) A strong church functions like a temple

*Temples were built to glorify and offer up praise to our Creator (I Cor 6:19,20)

(Psl 150:1) “Praise ye the Lord, praise God in His sanctuary.”

(Psl 145:3) “Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable.”

*Beloved:  When was the last time you just praised God? When was the last time you clapped in honor to Him?  When was the last time you just let go and let God take over?

(4) A strong church functions like a pure bride betrothed to Christ

Note two things:

1)      Christ offered Himself to enable His bride to be pure and holy

(Eph5:25-27  Read)

(II Cor 11:2  Read)

*He did this out of His great love for her.

2)  The bride makes herself ready

(Rev 19:7-9  Read)

*Are you ready for the marriage?

*Only thru the shed blood of Christ can you be made ready.

Does this church show;  The Measure of a Strong Church.

*COMMANDMENTS FOR CHRISTIANS*

(I Thes 5:16-23)

Webster defines the word commandment as a law or order, especially in the Bible, any of the Ten Laws God gave to Moses.

*Yet I find in the scriptures that there are certain commands the Apostle Paul gives which will produce maturity and growth toward perfection in our Christian walk.   (vs 23  Read)

*I believe all Christians should desire at least two things in their personal lives:

1) To grow spiritually and have a deeper sense of God in their lives daily.

2) To have a deep yearning in their heart for the Lord’s return.

(*In fulfilling (vs 23) Paul gives us seven commandments:)

(1) Rejoice evermore (vs 16)

*For what are we to rejoice?

1) Rejoice for all the good things the Lord has done for you

(Deut 26:11)  “And thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the Lord thy God hath given unto thee.”

*Folks are we not better off right now than we were years ago?

2) Rejoice in a good church home

(Ps 122:1) “I was glad when they said unto me let us go into the house of the Lord.”

*Listen:  I know the grass looks greener somewhere else but I love it here.

3) Rejoice if your children are saved

(Prov 23:24) “The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice”

4) Rejoice when folks get saved

(Luke 15) Gives us two parables in which something was lost but found:

(vs 6) “rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost”

(vs 9) “rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost”

5) Rejoice because you are saved

(Luke 10:20) “rejoice because your names are written in heaven”

(2) “ Pray without ceasing”  (vs 17)

*In (I Thes) Paul mentions at least three times praying (1:2    3:10   5:25)

*We are to be in a constant attitude of prayer, ready to pray effectively in a minutes notice.

(3) (vs 18  Read)

*Notice what Paul says in (Rom 8:28  Read)

*I realize not everything is perfect, not everything goes right.

*Why are we to give thanks in everything?

“For this is the will of God”

Question: Can you trust the Lord enough to thank Him for everything that comes into your life?

(4) “Quench not the spirit” (vs 19)

*The Holy Spirit is not an it, but a person, the third head of the Trinity of God.  As such He can be quenched.

1) The Holy Spirit convicts you of sin, you quench Him by not acknowledging it in your life

2) The Holy Spirit can be quenched when we disrupt His work in public worship

3) Quenched when we refuse to obey His leading

(Eph 4:30) “And grieve not the Holy Spirit where by ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”

(5) “Despise not prophesying”  (vs 20)

*Prophesy is not foretelling but forth telling.

*Prophesy is telling what is going to happen.  Paul’s meaning here is telling known truth.  We call it preaching.  The preacher reveals God’s word to us.

*Your attitude toward preaching determines whether you despise it.

*Do you enjoy singing but endure preaching?  How sad when people follow singers but not the hunger for preaching God’s word.

(6) “Prove all things”  (vs 21)

1) Points of doctrine

*What do you believe about the virgin birth, blood atonement, the second coming of Christ?

2) Prove doubtful things

*Some doubt their salvation

Question: How are we to prove things?

*By the Word of God.  I don’t care what your experiences are, if the Bible does not back it up, it’s false.

(7) “Abstain from all appearances of evil”  (vs 22)

*It is not enough to abstain from evil but to abstain from the very appearance of it.

*Unless absolutely necessary I don’t meet alone with a woman who is not my wife.

*Remember this: If there is any question in your mind whether something is right or wrong, then it’s wrong for you.

*THE PRECIOUS STONE*
(I Pet 2:4-12)

*Is anyone here wearing jewelry? Any diamonds, rubies, pearls?  Many of us have probably heard the words “precious stones”.
*Three times in the scripture Peter uses the word “precious” (vs 4,6,7) to describe our Lord Jesus.
*The apostle Peter portrays the Lord Jesus as “The Precious Cornerstone”
Cornerstone means:  A stone laid that marks the beginning of a building.  The most important part of a foundation.
(Four thoughts on the Precious Stone:)
(1)    When we come to Christ , He becomes our cornerstone.  (vs 6  Read)
*In (vs 4) Peter says “to whom coming”
*The word “come” is a word of obedience.  This in one of the first words taught in dog obedience school.
*This word appears over 1700 time in the scriptures.  It is not only an invitation but a command.
*The Lord Jesus has been saying “come” to people of every generation and He calls to this generation to “come”.
*You and I have two choices when He says “come”
1) We can come to Him and trust Him as our Savior
2) We can turn away from Him and go our own sinful ways
*Minister John David Michaels tells a story of a temple being built.  The workers used no hammers but instead the workers went to a rock quarry and shaped stones and each fit together perfectly.  The stones were sent to the building site but as they began to put the stones together there was a huge stone that didn’t seem to fit anywhere so they pushed it to the side.  Finally after they had laid a foundation it came time to place the cornerstone.  They contacted the quarry and said they were ready for the cornerstone.  The quarry workers told them it had already been delivered.  It was the stone they had rejected.  They went and got it and it slid perfectly in place.
(Eccl 3:11  Read)
*You can try to build your life on good works on good deeds but there is that place in your heart that only Christ will fit and fill up.  You will not be complete without Jesus.
(2)  If He is our cornerstone, we are His construction project    (vs 4,5   Read)
*Song we all know “He’s Still Working on Me”.  We are under construction.
*The Lord is building “a spiritual house”.  As a child of God we are the molding into His workmanship: living stones, a holy priesthood, a chosen people, a holy nation, a people that belong to God.
*There is a museum in Florence Italy which  houses Michelangelo’s famous statue of King David.
It is an enormous work of art carved from a block of marble 18 feet high.  But maybe you didn’t know he was not the first one to attempt to carve this statue.  A man named Du-c-cio first began working on this piece of marble.  But it was so difficult, so thin in places and misshaped he quit.  In 1501 Michelangelo undertook the work and for over 500 years the world has been thrilled by it’s beauty.
*You and I are difficult, misshaped blocks of marble but Jesus Christ is a master sculptor  who  is chipping away, polishing and making us into His own image.
(3) If we are His construction project, we have a divine purpose.
*We are not an accident, a mistake but what does God intend for us?  (vs 9  Read)
*Are you praising Him or are you proclaiming Him?  Notice three people who knew their diving purpose:
1)  The woman at the well  (John 4)
2)  Man who was possessed (Mark 5)
3)  Philippian jailer  (Act 16)
(4)  If we have divine purpose we should live accordingly  (vs 11,12  Read)
*The word “abstain” means to refrain from doing certain thing, going certain place, indulging in certain habits.
*If you are a Christian, you are God’s representative  on Earth.  Should we not be careful what we do, what we say and where we go?
(I Cor 4-9)  “we are made a spectacle (on open arena) unto the world”
Is Jesus your precious stone?

Dividing the Word of Truth

II Timothy 2:15

For the most part, most of us realize the Church is more than a brick building made by man. It is the people, the body of Christ on earth. But it is also an institution established by God and because of this He has set up those who He has called to be responsible for its well-being.

Acts 20:28

Ephesians 4:11

Acts 6:1-7

I believe there are Three Responsible Positions He has established for these days:          (1) Pastors/Evangelists

(2) Deacons

(3) Teachers

Today is Deacon/Teacher Appreciation Sunday and I realize that I & II Timothy are Pastoral Letters of Apostle Paul to the young preacher Timothy. I also believe we can certainly use these books to exhort Teachers and Deacons in their responsibilities.

* Every church should be a Bible School, where the Word of God is taught accurately.

Four Thoughts On II Timothy 2:151.         Vs 15 “Study”

Study means: The act of reading, thinking in order to learn something; a careful and serious examination.

In school, those who apply themselves, using every tool available to them, make the best grades and grow in wisdom.

Proverbs 4:7

Joshua 1:8

* If the Word of God is not in our hearts, we cannot expect it to be in those we teach.

2.            Vs 15 “Approved”

Just who are we trying to impress, to get approval from, to hear “well done” from?

Acts 5:29

II Timothy 2:24-26

Remember, what we compromise to gain, we will lose. If we compromise God’s Word, we will lose His Divine Approval.

3.            Vs 15 “Workman”

We have a work top do and must take it seriously and take efforts to do it.

Workman insinuates laboring. Workmen that are unskillful, unfaithful, and lazy have need to be shamed.

Hebrews 5:12-14

I Corinthians 3:9

Hebrews 13:7,17

4.            Vs 15 “Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth”

This phrase carries the meaning of cutting through, to handle carefully.

We have 66 books of Truth.

3:16,17

Why must we labor to establish Biblical Truth?

2:16-18

3:13

4:3,4

Ephesians 4:14

Deacons

I Timothy 3:8-13

Acts 6:1-7

Two responsibilities of Deacons

(1) Welfare of the Church

(2) Welfare of their Pastor

I Corinthians 9:1-14

Sins That Can Cripple a Church

Matthew 24:12,13

I see some things which trouble me:

(1) Ministers not serious in the calling upon their lives.

(2) Teachers not burdened enough to feed their class the Truth.

(3) Members with very little commitment.

* Even though we are saved, there are sins which can creep into our lives that can cripple and weaken our church.1.                Absenteeism

Hebrews 10:24,25

Sunday mornings are great, but Sunday night and Wednesday nights are a blow out.

2.            Indifference

Revelation 3:15

How’s your prayer life?

How’s your Bible study?

How’s your Testimony?

* Apathy is a deadly disease only God can heal.

3.            Worldliness

I John 2:15

Do you have anything of value? Would you be willing to lose it? Until you can, you love this world too much.

(Mark 10) – Rich Young Ruler

4.            Unfaithfulness

Revelation 2:4

Do you remember that first fire that burned is your heart? How much you loved Jesus and hated sin.

Jeremiah 2:2

5.            Contention

I Corinthians 1:10,11 and 3:3

* When God’s blessing, Satan will start messing!