"STEWARDSHIP-AN ADVENTURE OF FAITH"
1 Chronicles 29:11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, And You are exalted as head over all. 12 Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all. 13 "Now therefore, our God, We thank You And praise Your glorious name. 14 But who am I, and who are my people, That we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, And of Your own we have given You. 15 For we are aliens and pilgrims before You, As were all our fathers; Our days on earth are as a shadow, And without hope. 16 "O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build You a house for Your holy name is from Your hand, and is all Your own. 17 "I know also, my God, that You test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things; and now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here to offer willingly to You.
· FAITH IS AN ADVENTURE THAT FOCUSES ON THE GLORY AND
GOODNESS OF GOD
1. Its Foundation is That of God ("Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty;") Faith Doesn't Focus On What It Has Or What It Does. It Focuses On Who God Is.
2. It Focuses Is On The Ownership Of God ("For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours;") With all The Distractions David Reminds Us To Focus On The Ownership of God (Psalms 24:1 The earth is the LORD'S, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.)
3. Its Function Is Obedience To God ("And You are exalted as head over all.") True Faith Functions In Obedience To The Sovereign Will Of God. If Some Wrote Your Biography On The Basis Of Your Check Book Or Your Income-tax Return, What Might It Say About You Your Loyalties, Your Focus, And About Whom You serve.
· FAITH IS AN ADVENTURE THAT IS EQUIPPED BY THE GRACE OF GOD (But who am I, and who are my people, That we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, And of Your own we have given You.)
1. FAITH RECEIVES ITS SUPPLY FROM GOD (But who am I, and who are my people, That we should be able to offer so willingly as this?) (John 15:4 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.)
2. FAITH EXPRESSES ITS RELATIONSHIP TO GOD (JAMES 1: 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.)
3. FAITH RESPONDS TO THE GIFTS OF GOD (And of Your own we have given You.) We Are Stewards/Managers Of His Gifts
· FAITH IS AN ADVENTURE THAT IS VALIDATED BY GIVING TO GOD ("I know also, my God, that You test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things; and now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here to offer willingly to You.)
1. GIVING IS A SIGN OF OUR COVENANT WITH GOD (You test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness.) The Word For Uprightness Is Better Interpreted Integrity. Our Stewardship "Validates" Our Faith In The Lord Jesus Christ
2. GIVING IS A SIGN OF OUR COOPERATION WITH GOD (I have willingly offered all these things;) A Missionary To The Caribbean Heard A Knock At The Door. She Opened It To Find A Native Boy Holding A Large Fish In His hand. "This Is For You," The Boy Said "You Taught Us To Give A Tenth Of Everything To The Lord, So Here It Is," The Missionary Took The Fish And Said, "What A Beautiful Gift! Where Are The Other Nine?" The Boy Responded "They're Still In The Ocean. I Am Going To Catch Them, As Soon As I Leave Here!"
3. Giving Is A Sign Of Our Commitment To God (with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here to offer willingly to You.) (2 Corinthians 9:7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.) (Mathew 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
