Latest / Meadows Baptist Church Podcast / The Standard of Stewardship: Faithfulness - 1/4/26 - Pastor Charlie Branch

Transcript

The Standard of Stewardship: Faithfulness - 1/4/26 - Pastor Charlie Branch · Meadows Baptist Church Podcast

• 0:02
  Welcome to the podcast of Meadows
• 0:05
  Baptist Church of Walnut Cove, North
• 0:07
  Carolina. We're so glad you joined us
• 0:10
  today. If you enjoy today's message, be
• 0:12
  sure to subscribe, follow, and share
• 0:15
  with your friends. Now, let's join
• 0:17
  Pastor Charlie Branch with a word from
• 0:20
  God
• 0:26
  in 1 Corinthians chapter 4. I want to
• 0:28
  read two verses. Stand with me in honor
• 0:30
  of reference to the reading of God's
• 0:31
  word. 1 Corinthians chapter 4.
• 0:39
  I remember several years ago, I guess
• 0:42
  it's been exactly six years ago now
• 0:45
  when the turn of the 2020s came around.
• 0:48
  I remember everybody preached that
• 0:50
  Sunday on 2020 vision. And uh I was
• 0:54
  thinking about this year and we're still
• 0:57
  in the 2020s. Amen.
• 1:00
  >> And uh we're six of them down. Ain't
• 1:01
  that hard to believe?
• 1:03
  >> And uh but I was thinking praying this
• 1:05
  past year coming to the close what the
• 1:07
  Lord would have us be the vision for
• 1:10
  this coming year. And uh he placed text
• 1:14
  on my heart and I'm going to preach from
• 1:15
  it this morning. You probably seen it on
• 1:17
  the screen here. But I'm going to look
• 1:19
  here. 1 Corinthians chapter 4 verse
• 1:21
  number one.
• 1:24
  The Bible says here 1 Corinthians 4
• 1:26
  verse number one, let a man so account
• 1:28
  of us as of the ministers of Christ and
• 1:32
  stewards of the mysteries of God.
• 1:35
  Moreover, it's required in stewards that
• 1:37
  a man be found
• 1:40
  >> faithful.
• 1:42
  >> And I want to preach this morning with
• 1:44
  the help of the Lord for just a little
• 1:45
  while on the standard of stewardship.
• 1:49
  The standard of stewardship.
• 1:52
  This is going to be our vision for this
• 1:53
  year at the church. That thought of
• 1:56
  faithfulness.
• 1:57
  And uh I was praying Lord give me this
• 2:00
  and I'll just give it to you on the
• 2:02
  onset of the message. You understand the
• 2:05
  Bible teaches that faith is something
• 2:07
  that's not seen.
• 2:09
  >> The Bible says in Hebrews chap 11 verse
• 2:11
  number one that faith is faith is the
• 2:13
  substance of things hoped for the
• 2:15
  evidence of things not seen. I'll tell
• 2:18
  you this. Your faith is not visible to
• 2:20
  the eye, but your faithfulness is.
• 2:23
  >> And I can tell you how much faith you
• 2:25
  have by how faithful you are. Amen.
• 2:27
  >> I want to preach on that thought. Let's
• 2:29
  pray today and ask the Lord to help us.
• 2:31
  Father, thank you for this good day.
• 2:33
  Thank you, Lord, for your many
• 2:34
  blessings. And God, thank you for the
• 2:36
  fact, God, that you didn't leave us
• 2:38
  where you found us. God, you didn't
• 2:41
  overlook us. You didn't leave us behind.
• 2:44
  And Lord, you saved us, brought us out
• 2:46
  of darkness into your marvelous light.
• 2:48
  And Lord, here we are all these years
• 2:49
  later. 2025 has ended. Lord, you brought
• 2:53
  us through another year,
• 2:55
  >> safe and sound, still on my way to
• 2:57
  heaven. I bless your name for that.
• 2:59
  >> Oh God, I thank you.
• 3:02
  >> But Lord, I realize, Father, this year
• 3:05
  going to bring new challenges,
• 3:07
  Lord, new troubles, God. But I also know
• 3:10
  it's going to bring new blessings.
• 3:12
  >> Yes. But God, I pray this morning, Lord,
• 3:14
  that we would make our mind up in this
• 3:16
  service today. Lord, the way that we're
• 3:19
  going to view this coming year, Lord, is
• 3:21
  through the eyes of the word of God.
• 3:23
  >> And Lord, I pray you'd speak to every
• 3:25
  heart, save that one that's nearest hell
• 3:27
  today and reclaim the backslid. We'll be
• 3:29
  sure to give you thanks for what you do
• 3:31
  because we ask it in Jesus name. And
• 3:33
  God's children said,
• 3:35
  >> "Thank you for standing. You can be
• 3:36
  seated this morning."
• 3:39
  Now, I dealt with chapter number three
• 3:42
  in Sunday school this morning a little
• 3:44
  bit. We talked about the judgment seat
• 3:46
  of Christ. And I want to deal here in
• 3:48
  this text here, chapter 4:es 1 and two,
• 3:51
  concerning this matter of stewardship
• 3:53
  and the standard of stewardship. Now,
• 3:56
  the Bible has much to say about
• 3:58
  stewardship and this truth. You look at
• 4:00
  the Old Testament, stewardship is a very
• 4:03
  prevalent doctrine all throughout the
• 4:05
  word of God. And uh I was thinking about
• 4:07
  this text and considering where the Lord
• 4:10
  would have us to go with this message
• 4:12
  this morning, this thought. And I I
• 4:14
  really just want to walk through the
• 4:15
  verses with you if I may. I want to
• 4:17
  consider chapter 3 here. Look there in
• 4:19
  chapter 3 and verse number 21.
• 4:23
  Chapter 3 21. The Apostle Paul says,
• 4:25
  "Therefore, let no man glory in men."
• 4:27
  And notice this statement. For all
• 4:30
  things are yours.
• 4:33
  >> I don't know about you, but that makes
• 4:34
  me happy. Amen.
• 4:36
  >> Amen. I'll tell you why in just a
• 4:38
  minute. Whether Paul or Apollos or Cphus
• 4:41
  or the world or life or death or things
• 4:44
  present or things to come, notice it
• 4:46
  again. All are yours. Verse 23.
• 4:52
  And ye are Christ and Christ is God's.
• 4:58
  And isn't it interesting that these are
• 4:59
  the verses that lead up to our text in
• 5:02
  verses 1 and two. Now you say,
• 5:04
  "Preacher, but they're divided. There's
• 5:06
  a break." Well, I want to remind you
• 5:07
  something. Not the chapter divisions and
• 5:10
  verse divisions are not inspired. We
• 5:13
  look at this text, and you need to link
• 5:14
  the whole thing together. You see, the
• 5:17
  stewardship issue in verses 1 and two of
• 5:20
  chapter 4 goes back to verses 21 through
• 5:24
  23 of chapter number three. And I want
• 5:27
  to give you three things by way of
• 5:28
  introduction concerning this. Now, in
• 5:31
  Sunday school, I said this this morning.
• 5:33
  And the cont the Corinthian church was
• 5:35
  drawing distinctive lines of who they
• 5:38
  were saved under in chapter 3 and verse
• 5:40
  number four. And it was causing some of
• 5:42
  them to walk carnally. And that what it
• 5:45
  was doing is they were glorying in men.
• 5:47
  And Paul rebukes this throughout this
• 5:49
  chapter. He rebukes it for many
• 5:52
  different reasons. For the defilement
• 5:54
  that was a part of them, for the the
• 5:56
  wisdom of worldliness in verse number n
• 5:58
  18, 19, and 20. And he ends with this
• 6:01
  statement in verse 21. He says,
• 6:03
  "Therefore, let no man glory in men."
• 6:07
  You understand this morning when it
• 6:09
  comes to your life and mine, we are no
• 6:11
  different at all this morning. You
• 6:13
  realize that if you are saved and I am
• 6:16
  saved this morning, we are simply
• 6:18
  servants of Jesus Christ.
• 6:21
  >> But we there's no totem pole in
• 6:23
  Christianity. Amen. There's no
• 6:25
  hierarchy. Amen. There is no
• 6:26
  governmental leadership. You understand?
• 6:29
  We are operating under the authority of
• 6:32
  Jesus Christ. And Paul says this, he
• 6:35
  speaks first of all of this glory that
• 6:38
  we are to reject. Notice that.
• 6:39
  Therefore, let no man glory in men. And
• 6:42
  so, we should not revel in who we know
• 6:45
  or who we are acquainted with. We should
• 6:47
  not use people in our life to get us
• 6:50
  places. Amen. And Paul directly here is
• 6:53
  speaking of people in the church. Now,
• 6:55
  I've heard preachers do this. Preachers
• 6:57
  are bad for this. Amen. They'll get in a
• 6:59
  contest of name calling. Amen. They'll
• 7:01
  get around one another and they'll see
• 7:03
  how many names of famous preachers that
• 7:05
  they can call to make themselves feel
• 7:07
  better about their acquaintances. Amen.
• 7:10
  But you know what the truth is? Amen.
• 7:11
  Really what it comes down to at the end
• 7:13
  of the day. If I had never known any
• 7:15
  preacher, never been to any church, if I
• 7:17
  know Jesus Christ, hey, that puts me at
• 7:19
  the top. Somebody say amen. We're not to
• 7:22
  glory in men because why? Well, Paul
• 7:24
  says here in the text that men here in
• 7:27
  this text, they only have a figure of
• 7:28
  wisdom. In verse number 18, he said, "If
• 7:31
  any man among you, notice this, seemth
• 7:33
  to be wise in this world." You see,
• 7:36
  wisdom in this world is only seeming
• 7:38
  wisdom. Amen. It's not real wisdom.
• 7:40
  Amen. Real wisdom, the Bible says, is
• 7:43
  from heaven. Amen. It's not sensual or
• 7:45
  devilish. Amen. But it is from heaven
• 7:48
  and it's from God Almighty. And so
• 7:50
  worldly wisdom is just a form. It's just
• 7:53
  a figure of wisdom and then worldly
• 7:55
  wisdom fails. In verse number 19, the
• 7:58
  wisdom of this world is foolishness with
• 8:00
  God. For it is written, he taketh the
• 8:02
  wise in their own craftiness. If you are
• 8:05
  walking in carnal, worldly selfish
• 8:08
  wisdom, you ultimately will fail and
• 8:10
  fall every single time. Hey, it's not
• 8:13
  about you turning over a new leaf. 2026
• 8:16
  is not the time to turn over a new leaf.
• 8:18
  If you're lost, you need to be saved.
• 8:20
  Amen. And if you're saved, you need to
• 8:22
  get right with God. Somebody say amen
• 8:24
  right there. That worldly wisdom will
• 8:27
  fail you every single time. He tells
• 8:30
  them not to glory in men because they
• 8:33
  only have a form of wisdom. They only
• 8:35
  have failing wisdom. But he also says
• 8:37
  that their wisdom is fruitless. In verse
• 8:39
  20 again, the Lord knoweth the thoughts
• 8:42
  of the wise. Notice this. That they are
• 8:45
  what? Vain. They're empty. They produce
• 8:48
  nothing. I'll say this. I don't know
• 8:50
  about you, but I want for this church to
• 8:52
  be fruitful in 2026. Amen. I want God to
• 8:55
  bless. And so Paul tells us here of the
• 8:58
  glory that we are to reject. In verse
• 9:00
  21, we're not to exalt men. We're not to
• 9:02
  exalt one another. We're to exhort one
• 9:04
  another. Amen. Encourage one another in
• 9:06
  the Lord. To walk together, amen, in
• 9:09
  faith and truth together. Notice what
• 9:11
  your Bible says. Not only the glory that
• 9:13
  we ought to reject, but notice the gift
• 9:15
  that we have received in verse 21 and
• 9:17
  22. For all things are yours. All
• 9:22
  things. Now, I want to say this to you
• 9:24
  this morning. What we're going to read
• 9:26
  in verse 22 does not mean, amen, that we
• 9:28
  believe, name it, claim it, religion.
• 9:30
  Somebody say, "Amen." We don't believe
• 9:32
  word, faith, doctrine. We don't believe
• 9:34
  if you just speak Jesus, amen, you can
• 9:36
  get saved. All right? When you trust
• 9:38
  Christ by faith, that's salvation. But
• 9:40
  you can't just say his name. Amen. Hey,
• 9:43
  the world calls him by name. The devils
• 9:45
  call him by name. But I'll say this,
• 9:47
  until you adhere to him in obedience,
• 9:50
  there will be no faith in your life. And
• 9:52
  so what he is saying here in this text
• 9:54
  is for the church and the church alone.
• 9:57
  Look what he says. For all things are
• 10:00
  yours.
• 10:02
  Now you might not understand the
• 10:04
  blessing of this, okay? But let me just
• 10:06
  give you this. All right? You know what
• 10:07
  the Bible says? Romans chapter 8 verse
• 10:09
  28.
• 10:11
  For all things work together for good
• 10:14
  >> to them that love God, to them who are
• 10:16
  the called according to his purpose. And
• 10:20
  Paul describes in verse 22 their
• 10:23
  differences. You remember they were
• 10:24
  divided in verse number four and five
• 10:27
  over Paul and Cphus which is Peter and
• 10:30
  Apollos. And Paul tells them he says all
• 10:32
  things are yours whether Paul or Apollos
• 10:35
  or Cphus. What is he saying? He's saying
• 10:37
  all these preachers, he says, "These
• 10:39
  guys are here to help you."
• 10:41
  >> Amen. You can't just claim one of them
• 10:44
  and say that he belongs to me and nobody
• 10:46
  else can have him. You understand? God
• 10:48
  called men to preach. Amen. And you
• 10:50
  can't take that out of a man's life. You
• 10:52
  can't take away a man from his ministry
• 10:55
  if God has put him in that ministry.
• 10:57
  Amen. And they were desirous to lift up
• 10:59
  one above another. But the truth is in
• 11:01
  this text the he is telling them hey God
• 11:04
  has given you these men to help you. You
• 11:08
  say preacher what do you mean? Well to
• 11:11
  put it in simple terms this morning God
• 11:13
  has given you the people around you.
• 11:15
  >> Yes
• 11:15
  >> for your benefit. You're
• 11:17
  >> right.
• 11:18
  >> Amen.
• 11:18
  >> You say preacher what about the lost
• 11:20
  people at my workplace? Well they're
• 11:22
  souls for you to win for Jesus Christ.
• 11:24
  Amen. The people in church are are
• 11:27
  saints that you can fellowship with.
• 11:29
  When a Christian realizes, hear what I'm
• 11:31
  fixing to say this morning. When a
• 11:33
  Christian realizes that everything and
• 11:36
  everybody in his life is for his
• 11:38
  benefit, it'll change your tune a little
• 11:39
  bit. You're
• 11:40
  >> right.
• 11:40
  >> Notice this what he says. He mentions
• 11:42
  the people. Not only the people, but the
• 11:44
  places. Look what he says in verse 22.
• 11:46
  Whether Paul or Apollos or Cphus, notice
• 11:49
  this, or the what? World. That's all
• 11:53
  places. And all places include what? All
• 11:56
  people. You know what? For a child of
• 11:58
  God, there is nowhere that a child God
• 12:00
  can go where he cannot be fruitful.
• 12:02
  >> You're right.
• 12:03
  >> Amen. Boy, that's helping me this
• 12:05
  morning.
• 12:06
  >> You know what? Hey, friend, every
• 12:08
  preacher, Amen. Every teacher, every
• 12:10
  Christian, Amen. God has a place for
• 12:13
  them. But the truth is, if that place
• 12:15
  turns their back on that preacher or on
• 12:17
  that teacher or on you as a Christian,
• 12:20
  God has a whole world that we can
• 12:22
  witness to. And you know what? It's all
• 12:24
  for our benefit. Yes, you're right.
• 12:27
  >> I'm saying we have been blessed with the
• 12:30
  benefit of the entire world. You say,
• 12:32
  "Preacher, what are you saying?" I'm
• 12:33
  saying that a Christian, hey, there's
• 12:35
  people that talk about that, you know,
• 12:37
  Elon Musk and those guys have the world
• 12:39
  at their fingertips. Well, let me say
• 12:41
  this to you this morning. As a
• 12:43
  Christian, you've got more of the world
• 12:45
  at your fingertips than anybody else.
• 12:48
  >> Right?
• 12:49
  >> You have the opportunity. You have the
• 12:51
  ability through the POWER OF GOD TO
• 12:54
  REACH any soul. and every soul that you
• 12:56
  COME ACROSS WITH THE GOSPEL. AMEN.
• 13:01
  >> Y'all not hooking up with this this
• 13:02
  morning. Amen. Notice this in the text.
• 13:05
  We'll get somewhere in a minute. Okay.
• 13:07
  The people, the places, not the
• 13:09
  provision in verse 22. Or the world or
• 13:12
  what? Life.
• 13:15
  God has given us breath
• 13:17
  >> to live.
• 13:18
  >> I'm saying a Christian's the only one
• 13:20
  THAT CAN REALLY ENJOY BREATHING.
• 13:22
  >> You're right.
• 13:22
  >> Amen. Hey, when a lost person breathes,
• 13:25
  they're just thankful they're breathing.
• 13:26
  They don't know where it comes from.
• 13:27
  Amen. But I'll say this. When a child of
• 13:30
  God inhales and exhales,
• 13:34
  you know what THAT IS? THAT'S GOD.
• 13:37
  >> AMEN.
• 13:38
  >> THAT'S LIFE.
• 13:39
  >> AMEN. Jesus said, "The thief cometh not,
• 13:42
  but for to steal and to kill and
• 13:44
  destroy, shall I come that they might
• 13:46
  have life and they might HAVE IT MORE
• 13:48
  ABUNDANTLY." WHAT DID HE SAY? ALL THINGS
• 13:50
  ARE YOURS. THAT'S RIGHT.
• 13:53
  >> I'm telling you, this is greatest the
• 13:54
  greatest positional truth you'll ever
• 13:56
  hear in your life. I'm saying
• 13:58
  everything. You say, "Preacher, I OWN IT
• 13:59
  ALL. I don't own it all." Oh, BUT THE
• 14:02
  TRUTH IS YOUR FATHER DOES. AMEN. And
• 14:04
  because he does, you do. Amen. Hey, I'm
• 14:07
  saying, friend, there's no place.
• 14:09
  THERE'S NO POSITION. THERE'S NO PERSON
• 14:12
  THAT GOD WILL WITHHOLD FROM YOU BECAUSE
• 14:15
  ALL THINGS ARE YOURS. AMEN.
• 14:18
  >> AMEN.
• 14:18
  >> I'm not preaching prosperity this
• 14:20
  morning. And I'm just telling you what
• 14:21
  the Bible says. Amen.
• 14:23
  >> Notice this. Whether Paul or Apollos or
• 14:26
  Cphus or the world or life, that
• 14:29
  provision. Notice this. Or death. You
• 14:31
  say, "Preacher, death." Death. How did
• 14:32
  that get in this list? Well, you know
• 14:35
  what life is? That provision. It's that
• 14:37
  power that we're given to live. But you
• 14:39
  know what death is? It's just
• 14:41
  deliverance
• 14:43
  >> for the child of God. Death is just
• 14:46
  deliverance.
• 14:47
  >> Amen. Death is just stepping out of this
• 14:50
  life and stepping into that life. Amen.
• 14:53
  I'm saying all things are yours. Hey, I
• 14:55
  don't got to worry about dying cuz the
• 14:57
  moment that I die, I live in a way that
• 14:59
  I'VE NEVER LIVED BEFORE. SOMEBODY SAY,
• 15:00
  "AMEN." DEATH IS JUST A DOORWAY INTO THE
• 15:04
  HEAVENLY. WHY? ALL THINGS ARE YOURS. I'M
• 15:07
  SAYING THIS WORLD AND EVERYTHING IN IT
• 15:10
  IS FOR THE CHILD OF GOD. AMEN.
• 15:16
  >> Or death.
• 15:17
  The power of death is for us. Man,
• 15:22
  there's so much I want to preach right
• 15:23
  here, but I got to move on.
• 15:25
  The people, the places, the provision of
• 15:27
  life, the power of death. Notice the
• 15:29
  present time in verse number 22. Or
• 15:32
  things present, everything that now is.
• 15:35
  If if all of that, if all the people and
• 15:38
  all the places and just life itself, if
• 15:40
  that doesn't cover it all, he says
• 15:42
  things present. Everything that now is
• 15:45
  >> right
• 15:46
  >> is yours. You're
• 15:47
  >> right.
• 15:48
  >> Amen. Is yours. You say, "Preacher,
• 15:52
  where are you going?" Just hang on. All
• 15:53
  right. I'm going somewhere. Look what he
• 15:55
  says. Or things to come. Oh, man.
• 16:01
  >> We talking about death is just a
• 16:02
  doorway. But you understand on the other
• 16:04
  side of that doorway is life.
• 16:06
  >> Amen.
• 16:07
  >> That will never ever
• 16:11
  end.
• 16:11
  >> You're right.
• 16:13
  things present or things to come. You
• 16:16
  understand? God has prepared a place for
• 16:19
  HIS PREPARED PEOPLE AND ALL THINGS
• 16:22
  PRESENT RIGHT NOW IN THIS MOMENT. I'm
• 16:25
  thankful. Amen. The past is a promise,
• 16:27
  but we can't GO BACK THERE. EVERYTHING
• 16:29
  THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW AND EVERYTHING
• 16:31
  WE'LL EVER HAVE IN THE FUTURE, IT'S ALL
• 16:34
  OURS BECAUSE GOD HAS GIVEN it to us.
• 16:37
  >> Right?
• 16:38
  >> Notice that little phrase in verse 22.
• 16:41
  or things to come. Notice it again. All
• 16:44
  hour are yours. You say, "Preacher, what
• 16:47
  does this mean?" What does this mean?
• 16:48
  You say, "Preacher, I can't have
• 16:50
  everything." No, you're not going to
• 16:51
  have everything,
• 16:53
  but you can have everything God wants
• 16:54
  you to have.
• 16:55
  >> Amen.
• 16:58
  >> Well, ain't that good, Brother Leon?
• 17:01
  >> I don't want nothing else than what God
• 17:04
  wants me to have.
• 17:06
  >> Amen. He says, "All things are yours."
• 17:08
  And that all things is everything
• 17:10
  >> that God wants me to have.
• 17:12
  >> You know these young people, right? I
• 17:14
  may not even get to the message. Amen. I
• 17:15
  may not even get there.
• 17:17
  >> Everything that God has for your life,
• 17:20
  you can have it.
• 17:21
  >> Amen.
• 17:22
  >> That's right.
• 17:24
  >> You can have the ble I'm not talking
• 17:26
  about money. I'm not talking about jobs.
• 17:28
  I'm not talking about an education. I'm
• 17:31
  talking about the blessedness of knowing
• 17:33
  God, the ministry of serving Jesus. And
• 17:36
  I'm going to butcher this outline. Amen.
• 17:38
  But the Bible tells us right there in
• 17:40
  the verse. Look what HE SAYS. ALL ARE
• 17:43
  YOURS. WHAT IS IT FOR? WHY do we have
• 17:45
  all of this?
• 17:47
  Because he has given us the provision
• 17:50
  >> to live for him.
• 17:52
  >> Yes. Amen.
• 17:53
  >> He wants you to choose him. He wants you
• 17:56
  to serve him. And therefore, he says all
• 17:58
  is yours. Amen.
• 18:00
  >> You're right.
• 18:01
  >> It's all yours.
• 18:02
  >> Amen.
• 18:04
  >> I'm telling you.
• 18:06
  >> And if that's not good enough, all
• 18:07
  right, if that's not good enough, notice
• 18:10
  verse 23. The glory we are to reject the
• 18:13
  gift that we have received. But notice
• 18:14
  the grace that we have realized. Verse
• 18:17
  23. And ye are Christ.
• 18:22
  >> Amen.
• 18:24
  >> You know, it's not so much about the
• 18:25
  possessions that you have.
• 18:27
  >> Come on. as it is about the possession
• 18:29
  that you are.
• 18:30
  >> Yes. Amen.
• 18:31
  >> Amen.
• 18:33
  >> Who you are, Amen. matters more than
• 18:35
  what you have.
• 18:36
  >> You're right.
• 18:37
  >> But oh friend, because of who you are,
• 18:41
  >> is why you have what you have this
• 18:43
  morning.
• 18:43
  >> Amen.
• 18:45
  >> As a child of God, I am heir and joint
• 18:48
  heir with Jesus Christ to everything,
• 18:52
  ALL OF IT, FOR ALL ETERNITY. IT BELONGS
• 18:54
  TO ME. WHY IS THAT? BECAUSE HE OWNS IT.
• 18:57
  AND BECAUSE HE OWNS IT, HE OWNS ME AND I
• 19:00
  OWN IT ALL. AMEN. IN HIM.
• 19:02
  >> AMEN.
• 19:04
  >> And ye are Christ. Grace that we have
• 19:06
  realized we have, we possess all things,
• 19:09
  but we are a possession
• 19:11
  >> of Jesus Christ.
• 19:12
  >> And you are Christ and Christ is God's.
• 19:15
  We are secure in the person of Jesus
• 19:18
  Christ. Two things this morning. And
• 19:20
  we're five minutes till 12, but that's
• 19:22
  all right.
• 19:23
  Notice first of all in our text verse
• 19:26
  number one, notice the measure of their
• 19:28
  standing in our text. You said,
• 19:30
  "Preacher, what does this have to do
• 19:31
  with stewardship?"
• 19:33
  Well, to be a steward, you've got to
• 19:36
  have put something put in your trust.
• 19:38
  >> You're right.
• 19:39
  >> This is what I love about stewardship.
• 19:41
  All right, I'm going to get on my
• 19:42
  outline here just a little bit, but it'd
• 19:43
  be all right. You know what the thing
• 19:45
  about a steward is?
• 19:47
  He can be given the wealth of the world.
• 19:50
  I mean, of all the world. And it doesn't
• 19:53
  really belong to him.
• 19:54
  >> You're right.
• 19:55
  >> But it's in his power to do with it what
• 19:57
  he wants to.
• 19:58
  >> Yeah.
• 20:00
  >> Listen to me, young people. You have
• 20:02
  been given the wealth of all eternity.
• 20:04
  >> Right.
• 20:06
  >> And it doesn't belong to you. You said,
• 20:09
  "Preacher, well, you just said it's all
• 20:10
  yours." Here's the truth about it. All
• 20:13
  right. It doesn't belong to you, but God
• 20:15
  has entrusted it to you and says it's
• 20:17
  yours.
• 20:18
  >> You're right. That's good. Come on.
• 20:21
  >> And so here's the here's the thing about
• 20:23
  that. Okay, I've not got time to preach
• 20:25
  this this morning. Y'all pray for me.
• 20:27
  All right. The measure of our standing
• 20:29
  is what we do with what God has given
• 20:32
  >> right
• 20:33
  >> to us. Notice what your Bible says.
• 20:35
  First of all, the measure of their
• 20:37
  standing is found number one in their
• 20:38
  ministry. Verse number one, let a man so
• 20:42
  account of us as of what? The ministers
• 20:46
  of Christ. You see the ministry that the
• 20:48
  child of God possesses is the ministry
• 20:51
  of Jesus Christ. What is that ministry?
• 20:54
  It is declaring the gospel. It is
• 20:56
  dispelling the enemy. Amen. It is
• 20:59
  declaring the gospel. It is dispelling
• 21:02
  the doctrine of the enemy and drawing
• 21:05
  near to God. He says we are ministers of
• 21:07
  Christ. What are we doing? We are
• 21:09
  serving Jesus.
• 21:11
  >> Amen.
• 21:11
  >> We are servants. Notice that word
• 21:14
  ministers. That literally means a
• 21:15
  servant. That means number one, I would
• 21:17
  say this ministry has been delegated to
• 21:19
  us. Amen. We're service. Okay, I'm going
• 21:24
  to get somewhere with this. All right,
• 21:25
  stay with me. We've been delegate. We've
• 21:28
  had the ministry delegated to us. We've
• 21:30
  been given direction in this ministry.
• 21:32
  God has delegated us the ministry, but
• 21:34
  he has given us direction in the
• 21:36
  ministry. And what is that direction in
• 21:38
  the ministry? It is defined in that one
• 21:41
  word in verse number one, Christ. Amen.
• 21:44
  >> Remember what Paul said? He said, "For
• 21:46
  me to live is what?"
• 21:49
  >> Christ.
• 21:50
  >> And to die is gain.
• 21:53
  >> Right?
• 21:53
  >> You see, our life is summed up in one
• 21:55
  word, Christ.
• 21:57
  >> Amen.
• 21:58
  >> He has delegated us authority. He has
• 22:02
  given us direction. And he has defined
• 22:04
  our ministry in Christ.
• 22:07
  >> Right?
• 22:08
  >> What did Paul say in the book of
• 22:09
  Philippians? He said let this mind which
• 22:12
  let this mind be in you which was also
• 22:14
  in Christ Jesus. So our purpose is found
• 22:17
  in Jesus. You see their ministry. You
• 22:19
  see their management in verse number
• 22:20
  one. Look what the Bible says. Let a man
• 22:23
  so account of us or the measure that
• 22:25
  accounting is the measure. And so he
• 22:27
  says we're as the ministers. Our
• 22:29
  ministry is of Christ. And then our
• 22:32
  management. Notice what he says and
• 22:33
  stewards. And stewards of the mysteries
• 22:37
  of God. Now what does that mean? Well,
• 22:39
  this management here shows that there's
• 22:41
  been a revelation. Something has been
• 22:43
  placed in their trusts. And so, because
• 22:45
  of that revelation, they have a
• 22:47
  responsibility. Something they have, it
• 22:49
  belongs to them. And then out of that
• 22:51
  responsibility, there is a rendering
• 22:53
  that they are to share that. And what is
• 22:55
  it? Notice the mystery in verse number
• 22:57
  one. He said, "We're stewards of the
• 23:00
  mysteries of God." What are these
• 23:01
  mysteries? Well, Paul here reveals in
• 23:04
  these chapters of the word of God
• 23:06
  through his epistles. He reveals the
• 23:08
  mystery of the cross in 2 Corinthians
• 23:10
  chapter 5 verse number 15 and verse
• 23:13
  number 19. He said there in the text, he
• 23:15
  said, "If one died for all, then we're
• 23:17
  all dead." Amen. And it was the cross
• 23:19
  was the mystery of salvation of those
• 23:22
  that would believe. That's what he said
• 23:23
  in Romans 1 and verse 16. For I am not
• 23:26
  ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for
• 23:28
  it's the power of God and the salvation
• 23:30
  to everyone that believeth to the Jew
• 23:32
  first and also to the Greek. He says
• 23:34
  again in Galatians chapter 3 and verse
• 23:37
  number 13. I'm going to turn there and
• 23:39
  read these verses. Amen. I hope y'all
• 23:41
  ain't in no hurry. Amen. Galatians
• 23:42
  chapter 3 verse 13, Christ hath redeemed
• 23:45
  us from the curse of the law, being made
• 23:47
  a curse for us. For it is written,
• 23:50
  cursed is everyone that hangeth on a
• 23:52
  tree. And he says in verse number 19,
• 23:54
  wherefore then serveth the law, it was
• 23:56
  added because of the transgressions till
• 23:59
  the seed should come to whom the promise
• 24:01
  was made. And it was ordained by angels
• 24:03
  in the hand of a mediator. I'm saying
• 24:05
  God has promised us the cross. Ephesians
• 24:09
  chapter number two verse number 16.
• 24:11
  Listen to what he says. And that he
• 24:13
  might reconcile both unto God in one
• 24:16
  body by the cross, having slain the
• 24:19
  enmity thereby, and came and preached
• 24:21
  peace to you which were far off and to
• 24:23
  them that were nigh. For through him we
• 24:25
  both have access by one spirit unto the
• 24:28
  father. You see, the Jews didn't
• 24:29
  understand the cross. They thought they
• 24:31
  were killing a false teacher. But Paul
• 24:33
  looked back and said it was a mystery.
• 24:35
  God was bringing deliverance and
• 24:37
  bringing salvation to the world of lost
• 24:39
  people so that they could be saved. It
• 24:42
  was the mystery of the cross. He brought
• 24:44
  not only the mystery of the cross, but
• 24:46
  he brought the mystery of the church.
• 24:47
  Notice that in Ephesians chapter number
• 24:50
  three, Ephesians chapter number three.
• 24:52
  Listen to what he says concerning the
• 24:54
  church. He gives this mystery in three
• 24:56
  different places. Notice chapter number
• 24:58
  three and verse number nine. Listen to
• 25:00
  what he says. And to make all men see
• 25:03
  what is the fellowship of the mystery
• 25:05
  which from the beginning of the world
• 25:07
  hath been hid in God who created all
• 25:10
  things by Jesus Christ to the intent
• 25:12
  that now under the principalities and
• 25:14
  powers in heavenly places might be known
• 25:16
  by the church the manifold wisdom of God
• 25:19
  according to the eternal purpose which
• 25:22
  he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
• 25:25
  That is the church. Listen to what he
• 25:27
  says in chapter five and verse number
• 25:29
  verse number 30. Listen to what he says.
• 25:31
  For we are members of his body and of
• 25:33
  his flesh and of his bones. For this
• 25:35
  cause shall a man leave his father and
• 25:37
  mother and shall be joined unto his wife
• 25:39
  and they two shall be one flesh. This is
• 25:42
  a great mystery. But I speak concerning
• 25:44
  Christ and the church.
• 25:46
  >> Right?
• 25:47
  >> Paul revealed the cross. Paul revealed
• 25:51
  the church.
• 25:52
  >> Right? He revealed the church in
• 25:54
  Colossians chapter 1 and verse number
• 25:56
  18. But I'll say this, he also revealed
• 25:59
  the coming of the Lord in the rapture.
• 26:02
  >> 1 Corinthians 15:51-53.
• 26:05
  You know the verses. 1 Thessalonians
• 26:06
  4:13-18.
• 26:08
  Paul revealed these mysteries. You say,
• 26:11
  "Preacher, what does this have to do
• 26:12
  with us?" Well, the ministry that we've
• 26:15
  been given is a ministry of management.
• 26:17
  >> You're right. Amen.
• 26:18
  >> What is that management of? It's a
• 26:20
  management of the mysteries.
• 26:23
  the mysteries. You say, "Preacher, but
• 26:25
  they're not mysteries now." That's
• 26:26
  exactly right.
• 26:27
  >> Yes.
• 26:28
  >> We've been given them.
• 26:29
  >> Amen.
• 26:30
  >> We know about the cross. It's the
• 26:32
  gospel.
• 26:33
  >> Jesus died. He was buried. And he rose
• 26:36
  again the third day. We know about the
• 26:37
  church that it was the promise that God
• 26:39
  would send the church of the living God
• 26:42
  so that he his people could know his
• 26:44
  word. And then the promise of the fact
• 26:46
  that he would come again. We have been
• 26:48
  given, we've been entrusted. The measure
• 26:51
  of their standing is what they do with
• 26:53
  these mysteries. Now, isn't this
• 26:55
  interesting? Notice our verse this
• 26:57
  morning. I'm going I'll be done here in
• 26:58
  just a minute. You see, the measure of
• 27:01
  their standing. It's seen in the
• 27:03
  ministry. It's seen in their management.
• 27:05
  It's seen in the mysteries. But it's
• 27:07
  notice also here the mandate of their
• 27:09
  stewardship in verse two. Moreover, it
• 27:12
  is required in stewards that a man be
• 27:14
  found faithful. That word moreover there
• 27:17
  in verse number two means furthermore or
• 27:19
  to add to. And he says here in this
• 27:21
  verse, if they are servants of the
• 27:23
  father, that they're ministers of Christ
• 27:25
  and stewards of the faith of the
• 27:27
  mysteries of God, it stands that they
• 27:29
  must be faithful. You're
• 27:31
  >> right.
• 27:33
  >> Let me ask you something this morning.
• 27:35
  If you were given the trust to take care
• 27:39
  of an a account or a estate that was
• 27:45
  worth millions and billions of dollars,
• 27:49
  don't you think that that person that
• 27:50
  would give that to you would make sure
• 27:52
  that you were trustworthy
• 27:54
  >> to handle it?
• 27:56
  >> Far greater than the estate of the
• 27:58
  richest millionaire and billionaire in
• 28:00
  the world.
• 28:01
  >> Come on. The gospel that we've been
• 28:03
  entrusted holds the key to eternity.
• 28:05
  You're
• 28:06
  >> right.
• 28:06
  >> For a lost and dying world.
• 28:08
  >> And he says, "Moreover, furthermore, it
• 28:12
  is required in stewards that a man be
• 28:14
  found faith." Now, I want you to notice
• 28:16
  this. All right? And I'll be done. I
• 28:19
  would say first of all, you see that
• 28:20
  there's a standard that's upheld. Verse
• 28:22
  two. Moreover, it is required. Now, we
• 28:27
  don't like that word, but I'll say this.
• 28:30
  Your salvation did reccome with a
• 28:32
  requirement.
• 28:32
  >> You're right.
• 28:34
  >> You say, "Preacher, I thought it was by
• 28:36
  grace through faith, not of works."
• 28:37
  Said, "Man, you're right. It's not." But
• 28:39
  you know what? After you get saved,
• 28:41
  there's a requirement.
• 28:42
  >> That's right.
• 28:44
  >> You see, you've been made a steward. And
• 28:47
  with that stewardship comes a standard
• 28:49
  that you can't remove from. You say,
• 28:52
  "Preacher, what if I don't follow it?"
• 28:53
  Well, if you was here for Sunday school
• 28:54
  this morning, you would know that you
• 28:56
  would have no rewards.
• 28:57
  >> You're right.
• 28:59
  You would have no opportunity to have
• 29:01
  anything. The estate would be taken from
• 29:05
  you. You say, "Preacher, has heaven be
• 29:07
  taken away?" No, but the works, the
• 29:09
  glory of the works of living for God in
• 29:11
  this life would be removed. You would
• 29:13
  have nothing to offer Jesus. You're
• 29:15
  >> right.
• 29:16
  >> And so, the standard is upheld. You say,
• 29:20
  you say, "Preacher, what is that
• 29:21
  standard?" Well, I think about there
• 29:23
  Philippians chapter 2:es 5-8. You know,
• 29:25
  the the ministry of Christ. Peter said
• 29:28
  it this way. He said, "For even here
• 29:29
  unto were you called." See, there's a
• 29:32
  there's a requirement. And who who's the
• 29:34
  standard? You say, "Preacher, well, if
• 29:35
  there's a standard, who sets the
• 29:36
  standard?" Jesus.
• 29:37
  >> Amen.
• 29:39
  >> You see, the Bible says that we are
• 29:41
  called to follow in his steps. And he
• 29:44
  was a steward of God's will and God's
• 29:46
  word and God's work. And you know what?
• 29:47
  He did it all perfectly. You're
• 29:49
  >> right.
• 29:49
  >> And so, you know what he is? He's the
• 29:50
  standard.
• 29:51
  >> You're right.
• 29:52
  >> The requirement is that we be like him.
• 29:54
  >> Yes. Then there's not only here the
• 29:56
  standard that's upheld, but then there's
• 29:58
  the search that's undergone in verse
• 30:00
  two. Moreover, it's required in stewards
• 30:03
  that a man be found.
• 30:06
  Found faithful. You see, the standard is
• 30:10
  seen, but there's going to be somebody
• 30:12
  that comes around looking to see if the
• 30:15
  standard is upheld in your life. You
• 30:18
  see, this search that's undergone in the
• 30:20
  text. And I I love the way the Apostle
• 30:22
  Paul, he says this in one place. He
• 30:23
  says, "If we would judge ourselves, we
• 30:25
  wouldn't be judged."
• 30:26
  >> You're right.
• 30:27
  >> Problem is, in this day and time, we we
• 30:29
  Christians say, "Well, I'm going to let
• 30:31
  Jesus do my judging. I'm going to let
• 30:33
  Jesus judge me. You can't judge me. You
• 30:35
  can't say I'm wrong. You can't say I'm
• 30:37
  not doing right or I should do this or I
• 30:39
  should do that." The truth is, you're
• 30:41
  going to stand before him one of these
• 30:43
  days. You're going to wish you'd
• 30:44
  listened.
• 30:45
  >> You're right.
• 30:46
  >> Because he's going to speak from that
• 30:47
  book right there.
• 30:48
  >> You're right. And when it comes down to
• 30:50
  the truth of this text here, there is a
• 30:53
  search that is undergone. You see, for a
• 30:55
  child of God, this will not just be a
• 30:57
  requirement, but it will be a request.
• 31:01
  You say, "How is it? How why would I
• 31:02
  request someone to search me?" Listen to
• 31:06
  what David said. Psalm 139.
• 31:10
  Listen to what David said. Psalm 139:23
• 31:13
  and 24. Search me, oh God, and know my
• 31:17
  heart. Yeah.
• 31:18
  >> Try me and know my thoughts
• 31:20
  >> and see if there be any wicked way in
• 31:23
  me.
• 31:23
  >> Right.
• 31:24
  >> And lead me in the way everlasting.
• 31:26
  >> You see, the heart of a true child of
• 31:28
  God is not going to wait until they get
• 31:30
  to the judgment to ask Christ, "WELL,
• 31:32
  DID I DO RIGHT, LORD? DID I DO RIGHT?"
• 31:34
  NO. EVERY DAY, EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY
• 31:37
  IN OUR HEART, there's a desire. There's
• 31:39
  a burning. THERE'S A YEARNING INSIDE
• 31:41
  GOD. AM I DOING WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO BE
• 31:44
  DOING? THERE'S A CONSTANT SEARCH THAT IS
• 31:46
  BEING UNDERTAKEN IN OUR LIFE TO MAKE
• 31:49
  SURE THAT GOD IS PLEASED with how we're
• 31:51
  handling the estate that we've been
• 31:53
  dealing.
• 31:53
  >> Right?
• 31:55
  >> You see, this is the request of a true
• 31:57
  servant. But most or many children of
• 32:00
  God will never be what God intended them
• 32:02
  to be because they're unwilling to be
• 32:04
  searched.
• 32:05
  >> You're right.
• 32:07
  If you are unwilling to let God open
• 32:09
  your heart and and and do open HEART
• 32:12
  SURGERY AND TAKE OUT WHAT NEEDS TO BE
• 32:14
  REMOVED AND PUT IN WHAT NEEDS TO BE PUT
• 32:16
  IN, YOU WILL NEVER KNOW THE BLESSING.
• 32:19
  >> You're right.
• 32:20
  >> Of knowing what it is to be a true
• 32:23
  steward.
• 32:25
  >> You see here in this text there is the
• 32:28
  standard that's up pay the service that
• 32:30
  is un undergone. But notice the
• 32:32
  sincerity that's unveiled in verse two.
• 32:35
  It's required in stewards that a man be
• 32:37
  found faithful.
• 32:41
  >> You see, the standard of stewardship is
• 32:43
  summed up in one word,
• 32:46
  >> faithfulness.
• 32:48
  And I want to ask you one question this
• 32:50
  morning.
• 32:53
  If we were to stand at the judgment seat
• 32:55
  today
• 32:57
  in 2025, would your stewardship been
• 33:00
  pleasing
• 33:03
  and fit the bill of that right there?
• 33:06
  You see, if you've been saved, God has
• 33:08
  entrusted you the riches of the grace of
• 33:12
  God for all eternity.
• 33:14
  >> Right?
• 33:15
  And if you can look back over the last
• 33:17
  year and you just see nothing but a
• 33:19
  bunch of unfaithfulness,
• 33:22
  what would it be if you stood before him
• 33:24
  tomorrow?
• 33:25
  >> Good.
• 33:27
  >> You see, the truth is about our life,
• 33:28
  and I said this at the beginning of the
• 33:30
  message, and I'm going to say it again.
• 33:32
  The truth of scripture is that faith is
• 33:34
  never seen. I can't show you how much I
• 33:37
  believe God literally,
• 33:39
  >> right? But I hope that you know that I
• 33:41
  believe God
• 33:43
  >> by the sermons that I preach and the
• 33:45
  life that I TRY TO LIVE. HEY, I BELIEVE
• 33:48
  GOD. I BELIEVE GOD AND IT'S SEEN NOT IN
• 33:50
  MY FAITH. IT'S NOT VISIBLE BUT MY
• 33:53
  faithfulness
• 33:54
  >> to him.
• 33:55
  >> Right?
• 33:56
  >> Let me ask you who look who can look at
• 33:58
  your life say that person believes God.
• 34:02
  >> That's good.
• 34:03
  >> You see there's a difference. Notice
• 34:05
  notice that in verse two. Moreover, it's
• 34:07
  required in stewards that a man be found
• 34:09
  faithful. It's a requirement. And why is
• 34:11
  it that so many of us live as if it does
• 34:14
  not even matter,
• 34:16
  that we will never have to answer for
• 34:17
  our decisions, that we will never have
• 34:19
  to respond to judgment being passed upon
• 34:22
  us. Hey, I'm telling you this morning,
• 34:24
  if you do not pattern your life after
• 34:27
  that Bible right there, you will stand
• 34:29
  one of these DAYS AND YOU WILL SUFFER
• 34:31
  LOSS.
• 34:32
  >> YOU'RE RIGHT.
• 34:33
  >> You will. You say, "Preacher, well, my
• 34:35
  family's all right. We're doing okay.
• 34:37
  We're getting by. We're trying to serve
• 34:39
  the Lord the best that we can. And you
• 34:41
  know what? You might make it through
• 34:42
  this life bouncing and beating along the
• 34:45
  way. And by the skin of your teeth, you
• 34:46
  might make it by. But you know what? One
• 34:49
  of these days, you get to the judgment,
• 34:50
  you're not going to have nothing to
• 34:51
  give."
• 34:52
  >> You're right.
• 34:54
  >> And I told him this this morning. I'm
• 34:55
  going to tell you the same thing as the
• 34:57
  pianist comes this morning. She's
• 34:58
  probably Well, I don't know. She's gone.
• 35:00
  All right. So, she's on the way. Amen.
• 35:03
  I told him this this morning. You know
• 35:05
  what? I'd be ashamed
• 35:07
  to live my life and do what God called
• 35:11
  me to do my entire life and get to the
• 35:13
  judgment seat and walk through that fire
• 35:16
  and it all burn up.
• 35:18
  >> Right.
• 35:20
  >> You see, because it's not just about
• 35:23
  what we do.
• 35:26
  >> You're right.
• 35:26
  >> I knew I was going to come back to this.
• 35:28
  >> Come on.
• 35:28
  >> It's not just about what we do. It's not
• 35:31
  just about how we do it, but it's about
• 35:34
  why.
• 35:36
  >> Why? Why are you at church this morning?
• 35:38
  >> Come on.
• 35:39
  >> Are you trying to make yourself feel
• 35:40
  better?
• 35:43
  Let's be honest.
• 35:48
  Let me tell you how you can feel better
• 35:49
  is get saved.
• 35:51
  >> Amen.
• 35:53
  >> Turning over a new leaf ain't going to
• 35:54
  fix it.
• 35:55
  >> Right.
• 35:56
  >> You say, "Preacher, well, this time I'm
• 35:57
  going to do it right." Well, the last 25
• 35:59
  times didn't fix it.
• 36:01
  >> You're right.
• 36:04
  >> Moreover, it's required. Furthermore,
• 36:06
  it's required. IT'S A STANDARD. IT IS
• 36:09
  SET IN STONE that stewards
• 36:12
  must be
• 36:14
  must be not an option.
• 36:17
  Must be found faithful.
• 36:23
  And I want to ask you this this morning
• 36:25
  as every heads bowed and every eyes
• 36:26
  closed.
• 36:28
  You say, "Preacher, what am I a steward
• 36:30
  of?" Well, you remember what we said
• 36:32
  there a little while ago? All things are
• 36:34
  yours.
• 36:38
  Every person,
• 36:40
  every place,
• 36:42
  every provision that God has given you,
• 36:44
  you are a steward of that.
• 36:50
  And you can allow it to do one of two
• 36:51
  things. It can either benefit you
• 36:54
  or it can hinder you.
• 36:58
  And you could never do anything for God
• 37:00
  because you choose to allow what belongs
• 37:03
  to you rightfully
• 37:06
  to hinder you from knowing the one that
• 37:07
  gave it to you.
• 37:10
  There is nothing more important in this
• 37:12
  life
• 37:14
  than doing the will of God.
• 37:21
  It might cost you everything.
• 37:25
  Let me tell you this. I can promise you
• 37:27
  it'll cost you even more if you don't.
• 37:32
  If you refuse to do the will of God, if
• 37:35
  you refuse to do what God asks you to
• 37:37
  do, I'm saying you are a steward this
• 37:39
  morning. And the standard of stewardship
• 37:42
  is faithfulness.
• 37:45
  If you're a member of this church, you
• 37:48
  are responsible
• 37:52
  to be faithful to this church.
• 37:57
  You are responsible to serve. You are
• 37:59
  responsible to stand
• 38:03
  and stay.
• 38:08
  God has given you a ministry. God has
• 38:10
  allowed you to serve him and you are a
• 38:12
  steward of that ministry.
• 38:15
  If you manage it improperly, it will
• 38:18
  show
• 38:21
  the mysteries that we've been given.
• 38:24
  The wonder of knowing is the cross
• 38:28
  that we can go there. We went there in
• 38:31
  salvation and we go there continually in
• 38:33
  prayer.
• 38:36
  We have the opportunity to come to
• 38:38
  church.
• 38:48
  And if we do not attend
• 38:51
  the cross to the church and we are not
• 38:55
  attendant to the fact that he's coming
• 38:56
  again, he'll come and we'll be unaware.
• 39:00
  Let me ask you this morning. All right.
• 39:02
  You say, "Preacher, I don't
• 39:06
  preacher, I I don't know what you're
• 39:08
  talking about. Stewardship. I don't
• 39:11
  understand that, preacher. I really just
• 39:13
  don't even know where all this starts."
• 39:16
  Let me tell you where it starts. It
• 39:17
  starts at Calvary.
• 39:18
  >> Amen.
• 39:19
  >> That mystery that's been revealed. You
• 39:22
  see, that's the place where you can know
• 39:26
  Jesus for the first time. It's the
• 39:30
  cross. It's where he died. It's where
• 39:32
  salvation was purchased. His blood was
• 39:34
  shed for your sin. And your sin
• 39:37
  separates from you you from God unless
• 39:39
  you have his blood.
• 39:43
  The Bible says if we confess our sins,
• 39:45
  God is faithful and just to forgive us
• 39:47
  our sins and to cleanse us from all
• 39:50
  unrighteousness.
• 39:52
  He'll forgive you today. Let me ask you,
• 39:54
  nobody's looking around but me. Say,
• 39:56
  "Preacher, I'm not saved. Preacher, I
• 39:58
  don't know the Lord."
• 40:02
  Slip your hand up. I want to pray for
• 40:04
  you. Preacher, I'm not saved.
• 40:08
  Anybody be honest between you and God?
• 40:10
  Preacher, I'm not saved. Let me ask you
• 40:13
  this. You said, "Preacher, I am saved.
• 40:17
  But preacher, if I live the way that I
• 40:19
  lived last year, I don't know that God
• 40:21
  will let me live the rest of this year,
• 40:25
  preacher, my sin." Yes. God sees that.
• 40:29
  God sees that.
• 40:31
  God sees that. Church, are you praying?
• 40:36
  Let me ask you today. Let me ask you,
• 40:38
  hey, he's not obligated to deal with you
• 40:41
  forever.
• 40:42
  But let me say this. While he is dealing
• 40:44
  with you right now, you you can make
• 40:46
  that thing right.
• 40:48
  Maybe you didn't raise your hand this
• 40:49
  morning. You're here living in sin. Hey,
• 40:51
  get that thing straightened out.
• 40:54
  Get right with God, child of God. Time's
• 40:56
  too short. Life's too short. Hey, you
• 40:58
  don't know. Tomorrow may never come for
• 41:01
  you. Tomorrow may never come for any of
• 41:03
  us.
• 41:04
  >> Jesus may come. And I'll tell you this,
• 41:07
  if you're saved BY THE GRACE OF GOD,
• 41:09
  YOU'LL BE WITH HIM. But that judgment
• 41:11
  seat,
• 41:16
  man, I'm telling you, I'd hate to stand
• 41:17
  before him
• 41:20
  knowing I'd done nothing.
• 41:25
  >> Knowing I had nothing to offer him,
• 41:28
  >> thinking that I'd done something in
• 41:30
  myself. Hey friend, if I have anything
• 41:32
  to give to him, IT'LL BE WHAT HE'S GIVEN
• 41:34
  TO ME.
• 41:39
  >> Cuz in salvation, in service,
• 41:43
  in all of that, it's all him.
• 41:48
  But he says,
• 41:50
  "All things are yours."
• 41:53
  Let me ask you, what are you going to do
• 41:55
  with all things?
• 41:57
  It's all yours for your benefit this
• 41:59
  morning.
• 42:01
  Father, I pray in Jesus name.
• 42:04
  Lord, these that are not right with you
• 42:06
  this morning, I pray they'd get right
• 42:07
  with you.
• 42:11
  Lord, they've lived in sin long enough.
• 42:12
  Why don't they come get right today?
• 42:14
  Lord, please help them get out of their
• 42:15
  seat.
• 42:19
  Lord, they've not been faithful steward
• 42:21
  of what you've given to them.
• 42:29
  And Lord, I pray for all of us, God.
• 42:31
  That we would do more this year for your
• 42:34
  glory and honor. That we would go
• 42:35
  further.
• 42:38
  That we would go higher for you
• 42:42
  than we've ever been before.
• 42:46
  Lord, that there'd be a work that's seen
• 42:48
  in our lives because of our
• 42:50
  faithfulness.
• 42:54
  Lord, I ask that you would help us.
• 42:56
  Please, Father, I pray in Jesus name.
• 42:59
  Amen.
• 43:02
  >> Thank you for joining our service today.
• 43:04
  We'd love it if you'd join us in person
• 43:06
  the next time you are able at Meadows
• 43:09
  Baptist Church. Our physical address is
• 43:12
  2988 Stewart Road in Walnut Cove, North
• 43:16
  Carolina. Our service times are Sunday
• 43:19
  school at 10:00 a.m., Sunday morning
• 43:21
  worship at 11:00 a.m., Sunday evening
• 43:23
  worship at 6:00 p.m., and Wednesday
• 43:26
  evening Bible study at 700 p.m. For more
• 43:29
  information, visit us at
• 43:30
  meadowsbaptisturch.com.
• 43:33
  Thanks again for tuning in.