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Who is Steward? - Sermon Series - Sermon Five: Spiritual Things
by Chris Cumming
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In part one of this five-part sermon series, I opened with the parable
of the Unjust Steward. The key verse I quoted was Luke 16 and verse
two:
Luke 16:2
And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of
thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer
steward.
The lord here is asking for an accounting… “Give an account.” Give a
statement of your expenses and of your conduct while you have been
steward.
The purpose of Part One was threefold:
1. Define what a steward is.
2. To encourage you to give an account before your Lord.
3. To instruct you in being a good steward.
In Parts 2-5 we are going to continue in our instructions in being a
good steward. We will, in turn, discuss Physical, Mental, Emotional and
Spiritual stewardship. Today is Part 5 of the series and discusses our
Spiritual Stewardship.
Let us begin with a few more scriptures on general stewardship.
2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every
one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath
done, whether it be good or bad.
1 Peter 4:5
Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the
dead.
This verse is confirmed and clarified in 2 Timothy 4:1
2 Timothy 4:1
I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall
judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
Spiritual Stewardship
There are many subject areas we could discuss under the heading of
Spiritual Stewardship. We will address three:
1. Hope 2. Obedience 3. The return of Christ
1. Hope
There is a quote I found that reads:
“When you have lost hope, you have lost everything. And when you think
all is lost, when all is dire and bleak, there is always hope.” For
hope to be there when we need it, we must invoke it and then be good
stewards of it. You are instructed in the stewardship by understand
what hope is and what God says about it.
We know from Galatians 5:22-23 that Hope is a Godly Principle or what
the Bible calls a "fruit of the Spirit" or something that is produced in
us by the power of the Holy Spirit when we invoke it or call the
principle into action.
How long does Hope last?
1 Corinthians 13:13
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of
these is charity.
The word "abideth" here means "permanency" as in speaking in tongues and
prophecy are not permanent elements but
hope is forever. Our hopes are a set of dreams; the kind we have in the
physical and those we have in the spiritual. We must be steward of
these dreams and work them into the other elements of the Salvation
Process
Are we to rejoice in hope?
Romans 12:12-13
12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in
prayer;
13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
How does Hope work when we are caught up in life's tribulations?
Romans 5:2-5
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand,
and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that
tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in
our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Does God have Hope for us?
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD,
thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
The Barnes Notes commentary says: "Rather, a future and a hope. The
nation shall not come to an end; the exile shall be followed by a
restoration." We know that this world will not be utterly destroyed but
there will be a Kingdom. This is why I encourage in all of us to have a
10,000-year Kingdom perspective. This perspective of being in the
Kingdom and looking back is an element of hope.
As the verse states, God has an expected end for us.
Does hope bring gladness?
Proverbs 10:28
The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the
wicked shall perish.
Notice that spiritual hope is something invoked by righteous.
Does our stewardship of hope involve believing?
Mark 9:23
Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to
him that believeth.
When should we be invoking hope?
Psalm 71:14
But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.
Is the Lord our hope?
Jeremiah 17:7
Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD
is.
Is our hope to include knowing there is an end to all this current
world followed by eternal life?
Proverbs 23:18
For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.
Commentaries show the meaning here is hope of another life, "and thy
expectation" of the enjoyment of a blessed immortality.
Is part of our Hope to have hope in the mercy of God? If so, what
does God do?
Psalm 33:18
Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that
hope in his mercy;
Now I want to take a brief look at where the scripture identifies the
troubles we get into and how hope is the answer.
Verses for Hopelessness:
Is your hope that God will deliver you from afflictions?
Psalm 34:17-20
17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of
all their troubles.
18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth
such as be of a contrite spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth
him out of them all.
20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
Should we hope for peace?
Philippians 4:6-7
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your
hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Do you have hope in Godly strength?
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
What are we to do when afflicted, according to the book of James?
James 5:13
Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing
psalms.
Clearly waiting upon God is part of our hope. What happens when we
wait?
Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall
mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and
they shall walk, and not faint.
"Waiting" here means waiting with a sense of expecting or putting our
hope or confidence in Him. ~Barnes Notes
Is our Hope to include knowing not only the promises of God but that
they will come to me?
John 6:37
All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to
me I will in no wise cast out.
Is part of your hope to be cleansed from all unrighteousness?
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Who here has ever felt cast down? Who here has not felt disquited
[worried, uneasy, full of anxiety,
distress] inside? Then where should our Hope be?
Psalm 43:5
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within
me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my
countenance, and my God.
Ultimately, where does Hope come from?
Matthew 4:4
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread
alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Let us look at some closing quotes on Hope:
"We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope."
"I find hope in the darkest of days, and focus in the brightest."
“Hold fast to dreams. For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird,
That cannot fly.”
“This is where it all begins. Everything starts here, today.”
“What seems to us as bitter trials are often blessings in disguise”
“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.”
“In all things it is better to hope than to despair”
“Hope is faith holding out its hand in the dark.”
2. Obedience
When we talk about our Godly Calling and our obedience to God, we have
to talk about total commitment and the fact that God now owns us
totally. I found a famous quote that demonstrates this:
"He has right to interrupt your life. He is Lord. When you accepted Him
as Lord, you gave Him, the right to help Himself to your life anytime He
wants."
Talk about stewardship. We have to be spiritual stewards of our entire
life in commitment to Him. Every situation, every action and every
thought comes into management.
Complete this sentence [God speaking],
"If you love me _____ _____ _____.
John 14:15
If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Did Moses obey God?
2 Kings 18:6
For he clave to the LORD, and departed not from following him, but kept
his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses.
What way did David choose? How did he obey God?
Psalm 119:30
I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.
In Godly Calling you are a new person fashioning yourselves after
Christ. In this building of new character, what are we to avoid?
1 Peter 1:14
As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former
lusts in your ignorance:
David thought on his ways. Then, according to Psalm 119, what did he
do? Was any urgency involved?
Psalm 119:59-60
59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.
60 I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.
Still in Psalm 119, how long did David plan to obey God?
Psalm 119:112
I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the
end.
Is obeying God a hard thing to do?
1 John 5:3
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his
commandments are not grievous.
In obeying God, what is our attitude to be?
Psalm 112:1
Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that
delighteth greatly in his commandments.
Ezra obeyed God. How did he do it?
Ezra 7:10
For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do
it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.
As firstfruits, we naturally have enemies, whether talking about the
evils in the world or adversaries in human and spiritual form. What
will God do in this regard if we obey Him?
Exodus 23:22
But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I
will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine
adversaries.
How can we dwell in God and how can He dwell in us?
1 John 3:24
And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And
hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given
us.
Is our obeying God something that He ordained for us?
Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works,
which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Let us finish this segment with some quotes on obedience:
“Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God.”
~Thomas Jefferson
“The purpose of problems is to push you toward obedience to God's
laws, which are exact and cannot be changed. We have the free will to
obey them or disobey them. Obedience will bring harmony, disobedience
will bring you more problems.”
"The true follower of Christ will not ask, 'If I embrace this truth,
what will it cost me?' Rather he will say, 'This is truth. God help me
to walk in it, let come what may!' "
"It is a great deal easier to do that which God gives us to do, no
matter how hard it is, than to face the responsibilities of not doing
it."
"So many times we say that we can't serve God because we aren't whatever
is needed. We're not talented enough or smart enough or whatever. But if
you are in covenant with Jesus Christ, He is responsible for covering
your weaknesses, for being your strength. He will give you His abilities
for your disabilities!"
"If Christ does not reign over the mundane events in our lives, He does
not reign at all."
3. The return of Christ
This might, at first, seem an unlikely choice or element for
stewardship. However, this foremost utterance of prophecy is often
confused and demands our stewardship of the facts.
When did Christ say He is coming back?
Revelation 22:12
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man
according as his work shall be.
Notice the commentary on the phrase, "behold, I come quickly."
And behold, I come quickly - See the
notes on Revelation 1:1and 1:3. These are undoubtedly the words of the
Redeemer; and the meaning is, that the period when the unchanging
sentence would be passed on each individual - on the unjust, the filthy,
the righteous, and the holy - would not be remote. The design of this
seems to be to impress on the mind the solemnity of the truth that the
condition hereafter will soon be fixed, and to lead people to prepare
for it. In reference to each individual, the period is near when it is
to be determined whether he will be holy or sinful to all eternity. What
thought could there be more adapted to impress on the mind the
importance of giving immediate attention to the concerns of the soul?
~Barnes Notes
Quoted verses:
Revelation 1:1
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto
his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and
signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
Revelation 1:3
Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this
prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time
is at hand.
Notice the commentary for the phrase, "for the time is at hand."
For the time is at hand - See Revelation
1:1. The word used here - engus - has the same signification
substantially as the word “shortly” in Revelation 1:1. It would apply to
any event whose beginning was soon to occur, though the end might be
remote, for the series of events might stretch far into the future. It
cannot be doubted, however, that the writer meant to press upon them the
importance of attending to these things, from the fact that either
entirely or in part these things were soon to happen. It may be inferred
from this verse, that it is possible so to “understand” this book, as
that it may convey useful instruction. This is the only book in the
Bible of which a special blessing is pronounced on him who reads it; but
assuredly a blessing would not be pronounced on the perusal of a book
which is entirely unintelligible. While, therefore, there may be many
obscurities in this book, it is also to be assumed that it may be so far
understood as to be useful to Christians, in supporting their faith, and
giving them elevated views of the final triumph of religion, and of the
glory of the world to come. Anything is a blessing which enables us with
well-founded hope and joy to look forward to the heavenly world.
~Barnes Notes
Let us look at more facts for your stewardship:
How is the day of the return coming?
1 Thessalonians 5:2
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a
thief in the night.
Notice the commentary on the phrase, "As a thief in the night"
As a thief in the night - Suddenly and
unexpectedly, as a robber breaks into a dwelling. A thief comes without
giving any warning, or any indications of his approach. He not only
gives none, but he is careful that none shall be given. It is a point
with him that, if possible, the man whose house he is about to rob shall
have no means of ascertaining his approach until he comes suddenly upon
him; compare Matthew 24:37-43 notes; Luke 12:39-40 notes. In this way
the Lord Jesus will return to judgment; and this proves that all the
attempts to determine the day, the year, or the century when he will
come, must be fallacious. He intends that his coming to this world shall
be sudden and unexpected, “like that of a thief in the night;” that
there shall be no such indications of his approach that it shall not be
sudden and unexpected; and that no warning of it shall be given so that
people may know the time of his appearing.
~ Barnes Notes
Quoted verses:
Matthew 24:37-43
37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of
man be.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and
drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe
entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall
also the coming of the Son of man be.
40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other
left.
41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and
the other left.
42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what
watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have
suffered his house to be broken up.
Notice the commentary on the word, "Watch" in verse 42
Watch - Be looking for his coming. Be
expecting it as near; as a great event; as coming in an unexpected
manner. Watch the signs of his coming, and be ready.
~Barnes Notes
Luke 12:39-40
39 And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour
the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his
house to be broken through.
40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when
ye think not.
The John Gill commentary on "be ready" says:
Be ye therefore ready - Not habitually,
but actually, in the exercise of grace, and the discharge of duty, with
loins girt, and lights burning. ~John
Gill
What is all this talking about here? Urgency. This all-important
element of prophecy and an all-important factor in stewardship is saying
that in all stewardship we are to invoke fervency, diligence, zeal and
perseverance. Jesus is constantly teaching us stewardship in the
physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. We are discussing just three
elements in each of these classifications but this is the one that ties
them all together. Jesus purposely withheld the day of His return so
that we would all conduct our stewardship with all urgency.
So with all urgency, get to your
stewardship of all these things. Remember Luke 16:2 and the fact that
Jesus is calling us now to give an account.
Who is Steward? You are.
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