Sermons
August 8th, 2022 by Pastor Solley072422AM Faithful Stewards #3
Sub. Stewardship
Theme: Faithful stewards in service.
Text: 1 Cor 4:1-5
“Faithful Stewards” #3 1 Cor 4:1-5
Introduction
We continue this morning with the subject of stewardship and faithful stewards. A steward is one who is put in charge of something or someone who belongs to another. A steward is a servant. Pharaoh made Joseph steward over all that was his in Genesis forty one. Joseph then proved himself to be a faithful steward. King Darius made Daniel steward over all that was his in Daniel six. Daniel then proved himself to be a faithful steward. The pastor is made steward over the local church according to 1 Peter five and other passages of Scripture. How faithful a steward he has been will be revealed at the judgment seat of Christ one day. Stewards and stewardship is addressed many times in the Bible. Many of the parables of Jesus dealt with stewardship.
I. Stewardship is a serious because of what God requires of stewards: 1 Cor 4:1-5 God requires faithfulness. – 1 Cor 4:2 – We all are stewards of God because we all are subordinate to God. – 1 Cor 4:1 – The word ministers here means one who must answer to another, one who is subordinate to another. We must all answer to God. 2 Cor 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; … That makes every one of us accountable to God, stewards in one way or another to God.
A. We have looked thus far at two areas of stewardship: Both concern life. We receive when we are born our physical life from God. All life begins with God and is a gift from God. Job 33:4 The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. We also get our spiritual life from God through Jesus Christ. Eph 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; All life, both physical and spiritual comes from God and we are made stewards of the life God has given us.
1. God requires us to do something with Jesus Christ in relation to salvation during our life: That requirement is clearly stated in John chapter three, “Ye must be born again.” That is the first requirement. Other things will be required to answer for if one is never born again, but that is the first requirement.
a. The one who is not faithful in meeting this requirement will appear before the Great White Throne Judgment seat of Christ and be cast into the Lake of Fire after they give account of what they did with Jesus and the freee pardon of sin he offered them.
b. That makes stewardship a very serious thing. Ye must be born again.
2. God also requires those who are born again, who receive spiritual life from Jesus Christ, to do something with Christ in their lives: We then are to make Jesus Christ the Lord and master of our lives, not just our savior. We are to become new creatures in action as well as spirit and turn every area of our lives over to Christ.
a. Faithfulness in this area opens floodgates of blessing from the Lord in our lives.
b. Unfaithfulness leaves those blessings lying at the door of heaven.
B. God requires faithfulness in the lives of stewards: That includes all of us.
II. This morning I want to speak to you about stewardship in relation to service for the Lord: 1 Cor 4:1 One of the mysteries of God is who God wants to serve, who God has chosen to serve Him. Service is for stewards and we all are stewards. – 1 Cor 4:1 – This follows in that Christ does own my physical life and when one is born again Christ owns our spiritual life. Remember that we are not our own but have been bought with a price, the precious blood of Jesus Christ. We then are stewards of service for the Lord.
A. This is something that Paul and the other apostles certainly understood: They referred to themselves time and again as servants of the Lord. The word they most often used means a bondman or a slave. – Rom 1:1 , 9 – Two different Greek words are used in these verses. The first means a slave or bondman. – Rom 1:1 – The second points to the same thing except one that serves and is rewarded for that service. – Rom 1:9 – God requires and will reward those stewards who are faithful in service. Paul certainly understood this.
B. But this is an area of stewardship that seems to be lost on many professing Christians today: I believe at times that is because of a lack of Bible teaching in the area of service for the Lord. Altars calls are given often for decisions of service for the Lord, lives given to Christ, and people respond. But there is at times a lack of Bible teaching on service for the Lord.
1. Most people equate service with what man calls full time service for the Lord: Pastors, missionaries, evangelist and the like. But the Bible says he gave some that calling, not all. In truth those positions make up a very small number among Christians.
2. So then many questions abound about service for the Lord: Who is called to serve, what qualifications are needed to serve, what is a large enough area to serve in, what gifts are necessary to serve, who receives such gifts? There are many questions about service.
3. The Bible has the answers to those questions and more: I want to speak to you this morning about stewardship in service.
PROP: If we are going to be faithful stewards in service for the Lord. TS. We must understand who can serve and how.
Body
-2-
I. Who are the stewards that are called to service? Before one can be faithful in something they need to know that they are part of those who will be required to answer for that stewardship before God. All are required to be born again and according to Romans chapter one as well as John 12:32 God will make that known to all. All who are born again are requires to surrender their lives to the Lord because we are His purchased possession according to 1 Cor 6:20 ; 7:23 and 1 Pet 1:19. Those things are clearly seen.
A. We then are stewards of service to the Lord: Rom 12:1-2 These verses speak of service to the Lord. The word living in verse one speaks of something ongoing, an ongoing sacrifice. The word prove in verse two points to experience. We are to live, be alive in sacrifice and service to the Lord Jesus Christ for a lifetime that begins when we are born again.
1. The book of Romans can be looked at as a book of our lives beginning when we were lost, leading to salvation, and then to service for the one who saved us: This book not only presents a Romans road to salvation but to service for the Lord as well.
a. Romans begins with man in a lost condition. – Rom 1:18, 28 ; 2:5 ; 3:10-23 We all are born sinners apart from God.
b. Romans then takes us to a Savior. – Rom 5:6-9 ; 6:23 ; 8:1
c. Romans then opens the pathway to salvation. – Rom 10:9-13
2. Romans then moves on to service for the Lord: Rom 12:1-2 The rest of this chapter along with the rest of the book of Romans deals with service for the Lord, serving the one who bought us, serving the one who saved us.
B. Evry born again child of God has then been called to present themselves as servants to the Lord, living sacrifices: Rom 12:1-2 This goes against the self serving view of the world today. – Rom 12:2 – I am not to conform to the me first, look out for number one, do my own thing, live my own life, make my own decisions thinking of the world. I am not to conform to the world.
1. I am to be transformed into a servant and so are you: Rom 12:2 The word transformed means to be changed. It is the word used of Jesus when He was transfigured before Peter, James and John.
2. I am to be, you are to be changed into servants of Jesus Christ because we have been born again:
C. Who are the stewards that are called to service? Every born again child of God.
II. What are the qualifications for stewards in service God looks for? We have been called to serve, but are we qualified to serve? What are the qualifications for service that God looks for in us?
A. The things that men attach great importance to are not the things that God is looking for in stewards: 1 Cor 1:24-29 For the most part man looks for one who has great intellect, has great strength and great power. For one who has a presence so to speak. Man looks for degrees of education and so on. God is not looking for those things in stewards to faithfully serve Him. – 1 Cor 1:26 – In the Bible those that fit well into this verse did not do well for God.
1. The wisest man this world has ever known, the richest man this world has ever know, one of the most powerful men this world has ever know was a child of God: But Solomon did not do well for God.
2. The strongest man this world has ever know was a child of God: But Samson did not do well for God.
3. Those of nobility did not do well for God: Look at the royal line that followed Solomon to the throne.
4. God is not looking for those with the most education or diplomas or honors: And there is nothing wrong with education, or diplomas or honors. But they are not what God is looking for and do not make a servant.
a. Very few here have ever seem my diploma, or ordination certificate, or awards or PHD because they do not matter.
b. Those things are not bad but they do make a steward.
5. God is not looking for the strongest: There is nothing wrong with being strong and being fit, that is good. But that is not what God is looking for in a servant.
6. There is nothing wrong with nobility: But that is not what God is looking for in a servant.
B. God often looks for the opposite of those things because those of us who are opposite know just how much we need God:
1 Cor 1:27-29 We may get an education, we may grow wise spiritually, we may gain spiritual strength and all those things are good, very good. But we do not need to start out that way. God chooses the weak and foolish vessels first. – 1 Cor 1:27-29
1. Are you then qualified to serve? That answer comes back yes.
2. We all meet the qualifications of servants of the Lord:
C. What are the qualifications for stewards in service God looks for? We are qualified to serve.
III. What of the areas of service for the least of the stewards of God? Most people again have a wrong view of service and what can be done for the Lord. We often think with the same mind set as we do with qualification in that a great work, a noticeable, a powerful work needs be done. But is that what God is looking for? Not necessarily.
-3-
A. God gives an illustration of service using a physical body: 1 Cor 12:7-24 The illustration here is of our physical body likened to the church body. In this illustration there are some great works named and then some less honorable works. The great works are in the eyes of men and the less honorable in the eyes of men as well. But let us use the illustration that is set before us and determine what is the most important part of a body.
1. What is the most important part of our body? There is only one part that cannot be replaced, our head. So many of us would say that our head is the most important part of our body.
a. What is the second most important part? Would it be our heart?
b. What then of the third most important part? Eyes, ears, mouth?
2. But our body has many members: 1 Cor 12:12 And it seems to me, using again this illustration, that God gives us more of the least important parts than the most important parts.
a. I have ten toes, ten fingers, but only one head and one heart. Why not give more of the important parts?
b. God is using this illustration to show us the least in our reckoning is just as important as the most. – 1 Cor 12:22-24
3. Most people look at the pastor as the most important part of the body of Christ: That because he is the responsible part, is the most visible part, is the most noticeable and known part. But most of the time he is one of the least important parts.
a. I know what would happen to this church if I disappeared tomorrow. It would get better.
b. There are others much more vital to the well being of this church than I am.
B. The smallest thing we do in the name of Christ is going to be rewarded: Mark 9:41 Even if I just give one a drink of water in the name of the Lord? Even that will be rewarded? Yes. David said he would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of God.
1. There are so many things to do in the body of Christ: Some noticeable, some not, but all important.
a. The church needs cleaned. (Only two or three doing it right now.)
b. Grass needs mowed. (Only two or three doing that right now.)
c. Food needs to be brought in for camp and snack shack. (Sign the list.)
d. We are going out knocking on doors. (Four of us right now.)
2. You may not be called to great things in the eyes of men: But anything we do for the Lord and in the name of the Lord is great in His eyes. – Heb 6:10
3. And God wants us to be found doing even the littlest things for the right reason: Heb 6:10-11
4. I believe God will put us to the test from time to time: Heb 13:1-2
ILL. Some years ago during our week of camp here a man showed up driving a beat up pickup truck and it was loaded down. He said he was traveling through the area and came past our church and turned in. There was no reason for him to be on this road, but here he was. It was supper time and he was hungry. We brought him in, fed him supper and invited him to stay for the night. He said he couldn’t and we gathered some money and gave to him because it was evident he needed it and he went on his way…I have often thought of this and wonder if God sent an angel to see how we would treat him…
5. What can you do? Even the smallest of things for Christ will be rewarded by Christ. – Heb 6:10
C. What of the areas of service for the least of the stewards of God? Little is great when God is in it.
IV. Will we be able stewards in service for the Lord? What if we can’t do what we believe we should do in service for the Lord? Will we be able stewards in service for the Lord?
A. What God calls you to do He has already gifted you to do: We do have spiritual gifts, all of us. – 1 Cor 12:1-7 – Please notice how many are given spiritual gifts to be used in service for the Lord. – 1 Cor 12:7 – We all have spiritual gifts to be used in service.
1. Some within the body of Christ may never discover what those spiritual gifts are: The reason being they never present themselves to the Lord for service.
a. They may not consider themselves called to serve, but they have been. Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
b. They may not consider themselves qualified to serve, but they are. 1 Cor 1:27-29 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
c. They may think they can never do great things, but they do not have to. Mark 9:41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.
2. Brothers and sisters, all of us have been gifted to serve:
-4-
B. Many of our present day spiritual gifts are listed in Romans twelve: Rom 12:4-18 These are gifts for our present day and every child of God has at least one of these gifts and most likely more than one. How do we determine what gifts we have?
1. Do not try and discover what spiritual gifts you have and then present yourself a servant in that area: Many get the order reversed.
2. Present yourself a servant to the Lord and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you into areas of service and then those gifts will be known to you as well as to others around you: Don’t reverse the order. Present yourself that living sacrifice and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you into areas of service and you will then discover your spiritual gifts.
ILL. I was asked one time why I wanted to be a pastor and how I knew I could be…I never wanted to be a pastor and am still not sure I can be…I never liked to study, never liked to write things out…I never liked to speak in front of people…But after I surrendered to preach I learned that I did like to study and I did like to speak about the Lord to many or few…Those gifts are found in the listing in Romans twelve. – Rom 12:6-7 – Prophecy here is proclaiming the Word of truth, teaching is study and preparation…Two places I hardly ever feel out of place, in my study and behind the pulpit…
3. Present yourself for service and God will show you your spiritual gifts as you begin to serve:
C. Will we be able stewards in service for the Lord?
V. You have been elected as a steward, embrace that office, don’t turn away from it: 1 Thess 1:1-4 ; 1 Peter 1:1-2 ; 2 Peter 1:10 The Calvinist wrongly apply the doctrine of election to salvation but that is heresy. God has elected all to be saved, Christ died for all and draws all to Him. The reason why not all are saved is because God gave us free will to receive or reject Christ.
A. Election in the Bible has to do with service: If you apply election to salvation then you must conclude that God is a liar and does not love all and Christ did not die for all. Election has to do with service.
1. For some in the Bible what God elected them to do was revealed before they were ever born: Samson, Jeremiah, John the Baptist.
2. But for most it is not known until we surrender ourselves to the Lord: Acts 9:1-6 God already knew what He had elected Paul to do, but Paul didn’t. – Acts 9:6 , Acts 9:15-16 – Had Paul never presented himself to the Lord what God elected him to do would never have been known to the apostle.
3. If you say you have no idea what you could do for Christ there may be a very simple reason: Present yourself to the Lord.
B. You have been elected as a steward, embrace that office, don’t turn away from it:
Conclusion
Service, stewardship in service, is often seems to be missing today and that in part because of a lack of Bible teaching.
I. Who are the stewards that are called to service? Before one can be faithful in something they need to know that they are part of those who will be required to answer for that stewardship before God. All are required to be born again and according to Romans chapter one as well as John 12:32 God will make that known to all. All who are born again are requires to surrender their lives to the Lord because we are His purchased possession according to 1 Cor 6:20 ; 7:23 and 1 Pet 1:19. Those things are clearly seen.
II. What are the qualifications for stewards in service God looks for? We have been called to serve, but are we qualified to serve? What are the qualifications for service that God looks for in us?
III. What of the areas of service for the least of the stewards of God? Most people again have a wrong view of service and what can be done for the Lord. We often think with the same mind set as we do with qualification in that a great work, a noticeable, a powerful work needs be done. But is that what God is looking for? Not necessarily.
IV. Will we be able stewards in service for the Lord? What if we can’t do what we believe we should do in service for the Lord? Will we be able stewards in service for the Lord?
V. You have been elected as a steward, embrace that office, don’t turn away from it: 1 Thess 1:1-4 ; 1 Peter 1:1-2 ; 2 Peter 1:10 The Calvinist wrongly apply the doctrine of election to salvation but that is heresy. God has elected all to be saved, Christ died for all and draws all to Him. The reason why not all are saved is because God gave us free will to receive or reject Christ.