part I - Financial Freedom (October 6th, 2002)

part II - Transcending Time (October 13th, 2002)

part III - Acknowledging Abilities (October 20th, 2002)

part IV - Fear Factor (October 27th, 2002)

Success

of

Stewardship

Generally, each sermon is a part of a series, that deals with applying the Bible to real-life issues.  Don't worry if you've missed part of a series.  Each Sunday will work together with the other sermons, or can stand alone to help you deal with the things life brings each day.

where nobody stands alone

Success of Stewardship Success of Stewardship will be a four week series: 1. Financial Freedom 2. Transcending Time 3. Acknowledging Abilities 4. Fear Factor Title:  Financial Freedom Godfrey Davis, who wrote a biography about the Duke of Willington, said, "I found an old account ledger that showed how the Duke spent his money. It was a far better clue to what he thought was really important than the reading of his letters or speeches." How we handle money reveals much about the depth of our commitment to Christ. That's why Jesus often talked about money. One-sixth of the gospels, including one out of every three parables, touches on stewardship. Jesus wasn't a fundraiser. He dealt with money matters because money matters. For some of us, though, it matters too much. Our Daily Bread, August 26, 1993 stew•ard One who manages another's property, finances, or other affairs. 1. One who is in charge of the household affairs of a large estate, club, hotel, or resort. 2. A ship's officer who is in charge of provisions and dining arrangements. 3. An attendant on a ship or airplane. 4. An official who supervises or helps to manage an event. 5. A shop steward. 6. A wine steward Financial freedom can be found through the obedient act of tithing? How?  Because by being obedient to God with your finances, He will take away the financial burden. ** Pray Matthew 19:16-22 16 And someone came to Him and said, "Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?" 17 And He said to him, "Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is {only} One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments." 18 {Then} he *said to Him, "Which ones?" And Jesus said, "You shall not commit murder; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; 19 honor you father and mother; and you shall love your neighbor as yourself." 20 The young man *said to Him, "All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?" 21 Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be complete, go {and} sell your possessions and give to {the} poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." 22 But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property. The Rich Young Ruler states that “I have it all in materials, but yet I am still lacking.  I feel like I have not obtained eternal life.  How do I do that? What does Jesus say? It ain’t your money that can give you eternal freedom nor financial freedom. PPT slide:  How Can We Have Freedom from debt and Burden? I. Sell all a. Sell everything. i. When you don’t have any money then how can it be a burden? ii. Sell all things that have priority in your life over your relationship with Jesus. b. Does this mean sell everything you have and give the money to the church? i. NO ii. It means that the essence of what you own ought to have the essence of glorifying God. iii. Everything that you have ought to be used to glorify God. c. Sell your priorities and focus on the priority of reality. i. The Reality of God and the reality that He will be the one that solves your problems. d. If you want financial freedom then you need to give to the world what is the world’s and give to God what is God’s. i. Matthew 22: 21 1. “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's." ii. 1 Corinthians 3:21,23 1. So then let no one boast in men.  For all things belong to you, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, and you belongs to Christ; and Christ belongs to God. iii. If you give God your priorities, then He will take care of what is the most important in your life. 1. That will produce financial freedom. 2. If you need help in your finances, then give to God a tithe of it and He will take the priority and bless you with it back. What is tithing? - What is it? o Giving 10% of what we own or obtain.  Leviticus 27: 30 • And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s.  It is holy to the Lord. o We practice tithing for the support of Christ’s Body, the church, as God commands.  We recognize that giving 10% of our income, talents, and time is the Biblical standard of giving.  This is the duty or responsibility of the believer because God commands it. o The word tithe comes (or is derived from) a Hebrew word that means tenth.  Genesis 14: 20 • Abraham first tithed  Leviticus 27: 30 – 33 - Why should we do it? (Malachi 3: 10 – 11)  It is an act of obedience  It shows that God is priority in your life.  It shows you, God, and the world that you trust God with the handling of your finances.  To financially support your local church in ministry.  It is a good investment REMEMBER!!! e. How can selling your possessions bring you financial freedom? i. What is selling your possessions? 1. Giving the essence of what they are to someone else 2. For example a. I will not sell my clothes. b. I have to wear clothes or I will be naked c. I wear clothes to glorify God. d. I don’t have to sell them to glorify Him. e. I sell their essence to glorify Him. f. Their essence is the purpose in which they are worn. i. Their purpose is not to make me look sexy or cool it is to glorify God…..period. f. When I sell all my things and make God the priority in my life He will take care of me. i. Romans 8:32 1. He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? II. Give all a. Minister to the poor of heart. b. January 30, 2001 – Gallup Poll Analyses - Though Very Religious, Americans Most Likely to Say Government is Responsible for the Poor</B< td> POLL ANALYSES January 30, 2001 Though Very Religious, Americans Most Likely to Say Government is Responsible for the Poor Nonetheless, Americans have significantly more confidence in organized religion than in federal government by Wendy W. Simmons GALLUP NEWS SERVICE. PRINCETON, NJ - The Bush administration announced c. Who is the poor? i. Dictionary.com defines it as: 1. Lacking in a specified resource or quality: an area poor in timber and coal; a diet poor in calcium. 2. Not adequate in quality; inferior: a poor performance. a. Lacking in value; insufficient: poor wages. b. Lacking in quantity: poor attendance. d. So Jesus is telling us that we ought to be giving to those who are lacking. i. Lacking in what? 1. Food? 2. clothes? 3. house? ii. Deuteronomy 15: 4 defines the poor 1. However, there will be no poor among you, since the LORD will surely bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess, iii. Those that are rich are the ones that have the Lord’s blessings. iv. Those that are poor are those that do not have the Lord’s blessings. v. So what are the poor lacking in? 1. Answers 2. Spiritual life. e. Whoever gives sparingly will get sparingly and whoever gives generously will get generously. (reference to 2 Corinthians 9: 6) III. Focus all a. Follow Christ in all matters. b. Carol Mann, The 19th Hole, (Longmeadow), quoted in Readers’ Digest. i. Golf immortal Arnold Palmer recalls a lesson about overconfidence: It was the final hole of the 1961 Masters tournament, and I had a one-stroke lead and had just hit a very satisfying tee shot. I felt I was in pretty good shape. As I approached my ball, I saw an old friend standing at the edge of the gallery. He motioned me over, stuck out his hand and said, "Congratulations." I took his hand and shook it, but as soon as I did, I knew I had lost my focus. ii. On my next two shots, I hit the ball into a sand trop, then put it over the edge of the green. I missed a putt and lost the Masters. You don't forget a mistake like that; you just learn from it and become determined that you will never do that again. I haven't in the 30 years since. c. Deuteronomy 4: 29 – 31 i. 29 "But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find {Him} if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul. 30 "When you are in distress and all these things have come upon you, in the latter days you will return to the LORD your God and listen to His voice. 31 "For the LORD your God is a compassionate God; He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them. d. Proverbs 3: 5 – 6 i. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. e. I Chronicles 29:14 i. "But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from You, and from Your hand we have given You. IV. Invitation a. If you desire to have freedom from the burdens of life, to have financial freedom and eternal life i. Then you must: 1. Sell all you have 2. Love everyone, by giving to the poor 3. Focus on Jesus all the way. b. For the Rich Young Ruler selling his possessions was i. necessary to salvation ii. an absolute duty to him iii. The young man went away 1. Not being willing to have salvation at so high a price.

Success of Stewardship Week 1 – Financial Freedom Week 2 – Transcending Time Week 3 – Acknowledging Abilities Week 4 – Fear Factor Our time is very important to us • Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for it is the stuff life is made of. - Benjamin Franklin • I have so much to do today that I shall spend the first 3 hours in prayer. - Martin Luther • Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you. - Carl Sandburg When we speak about being good stewards of our time what are we speaking about? - Making the most out of life - Making everything count - Doing something morally notable - How can we make our life worth more than these few years that we have on this planet? - How can we make our life transcend time? Title:  Part II, Transcending Time I. What does it mean to transcend time? a. transcend means i. exceeding usual limits :  b : extending or lying beyond the limits of ordinary experience c in Kantian philosophy : being beyond the limits of all possible experience and knowledge b. Transcending time is doing something that goes beyond the time in which you exist. i. An Action that will echo throughout time. c. You can invest in something that will not be temporal but eternal. i. We live in a time where immediate gratification rules our judgment. 1. Premarital sex, crime, drugs, etc are things that give us an immediate thrill but not a lasting joy. d. How can you make your life transcend time? i. You need to know who you can make your best friends Play  Scooby Doo - best friends clip – Chapter 10 (66:39 – 67: 46) Who needs to be our best friends? The apostle Luke writes about how one can make a life changing experience, by showing us who needs to be our best friend in Luke 10: 26 – 29 Luke 10:25 – 29 25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 And He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How doe it read to you?” 27 And he answered and said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”  28 And He said to him, you have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”  29 But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” II. Make best friends with the one that transcends time a. How can you become best friends with God? b. How can you love God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind? c. By getting to know God. i. Have you ever wanted to know about this creator? d. By making Him priority in your daily life. i. How do you do that? ii. By giving Him a portion of it iii. By starting a quiet time 1. A Quiet Time Makes Him Priority in your life. I. THE IMPORTANCE OF DAILY QUIET TIME Your time alone with God should be the top priority in your schedule for five reasons: 1. We were created to have fellowship with God. “So God created man in His own image …” Genesis 1: 27, 2: 7, 3: 8 “Look!  I’ve been standing at the door and constantly knocking.  If anyone … opens the door.  I will come in and fellowship with him and he with me.” Revelation 3: 20 2. Jesus died to make a relationship to God possible. “God … has invited you into this wonderful friendship with his son, Christ our Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1: 9 3. Personal time alone with God was Jesus’ source of strength. Mark 1: 35, Luke 22: 39, Luke 5: 16 Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. 4. Every person who has been effective in service for God developed this habit. Abraham, Moses, David, Daniel, Paul, etc. 5. You cannot be a healthy Christian without it! “Man cannot live on bread alone, but on every word that God speaks.” Matthew 4: 4 “… I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.” Job 23: 12 “How can a young man cleanse his way?  By keeping to your Word.” Psalms 119: 9 2 Things To Do In a Quiet Time Consider your way:  “Ponder the path of your feet and let all your ways be established.” Proverbs 4: 26 “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will direct your paths.” Proverbs 3: 6 Commit your day:  “Commit everything you do to the Lord.  Trust him to help you do it and he will.” Psalms 37: 5 How do you do a quiet time? “FIFTEEN MINUTES WITH GOD” (A Plan To Get You Started) 1. Relax. (1 Minute) Be still and quiet! Slow down! Prepare your heart.  Take a few deep breaths and wait on God. 2. Read. (4 Minutes) See the section on “How to Read God’s Word.” Begin reading where you left off the day before.  Read until you feel God has told you something.  Then stop and think about it. 3. Reflect. (4 Minutes) See the section on “How to Meditate on God’s Word.” You may use the S.P.A.C.E.P.E.T.S or any of the 6 methods of meditation.  Think about what the passage means to your life.  Write down your thoughts.  Part of reflecting is memorizing verses that speak to you in a special way. See the section on:  “How to Memorize God’s Word.” 4. Record. (2 Minutes) See the section on “How to Apply God’s Word.” Write out a personal application statement that is practical, passable, and measurable. Thoughts disentangle themselves when they pass through the lips and the fingertips. 5. Request. (4 Minutes) See the section on “The Habit of Prayer”.  Conclude our Quiet Time by talking to God about what He has shown you and making your requests from our prayer list. Illustration: A while back I was reading about an expert on the subject of time management. One day this expert was speaking to a group of business students and to drive home a point, used an illustration I’m sure those students will never forget. After I share it with you, you’ll never forget it either. As this man stood in front of the group of high-powered overachievers, he said, “Okay, time for a quiz.” Then he pulled out a one-gallon, wide mouthed Mason jar and set it on a table in front of him. Then he produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar. When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, “Is this jar full?” Everyone in the class said, “Yes.” Then he said, “Really?” He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. Then he dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the spaces between the big rocks. Then he smiled and asked the group once more, “Is the jar full?” By this time the class was on to him. “Probably not,” one of them said. “Good!” he replied. And he reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in and it went into all the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked the question, “Is this jar full?” “No!” the class shouted. Once again he said, “Good!” Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim. Then he looked up at the class and asked, “What is the point of this illustration?” One eager beaver raised his hand and said, “The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard, you can always fit some more things into it!” “No,” the speaker replied, “that’s not the point. The truth this illustration teaches us is: If you don’t put the big rocks in first, you’ll never get them in at all.” What are the big rocks of your life? To commune with the Father when you awake. To spend time reading His Word that we may observe to do all that is written in it. To give and surrender ourselves daily to the Lord as our reasonable service. Acknowledging Him in all of our ways and refusing to lean to our own strength and understanding, this guarantees is that He will make plain our paths. Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first or you’ll never get them in at all. Source Unknown e. Fifteen minutes is a great time to begin a quiet time, but the more time that you do invest then the more quality of time in life you will receive III. Make best friends with your neighbor a. Invest time in others. b. The gift that keeps on giving c. Luke records here that you should love your neighbor as yourself. i. How are you to do that? ii. Who is our neighbor and how are we to treat him as our self? d. Jesus tells us how we can invest time into other people i. Luke 10: 30 – 37 e. If you truly love life and you truly want your life to mean something on this earth even after you are gone, then you have got to invest your life into other people. i. It is the gift that keeps on giving. ii. 1 Peter 3: 10 – 13 1. For, “let him who means to love life and see good days refrain from his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile.  And let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.  For th eyes of the lord are upon the righteous, and his ears attend to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”  And who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? iii. If you are truly seeking to do the right moral thing, then who is there to harm you? 1. If someone does something against you, then you show them mercy and love them. 2. For it should not be you they are hurting but Christ which is in you. a. John 3: 30 iv. An evil does not repay an evil. 1. It has got to stop. 2. If you truly love life then refrain from the tongue of gossip. a. Seek peace 3. If you truly desire to do good f. How do we invest time into other people? i. V. 37 By showing them mercy 1. When we like them and when we do not. Illustration During the Jewish Holocaust there was a family that was run out of their home by the Germans because they were Jewish.  The Germans with their daily practice made all the Jewish families stand in front of a large open grave, so that when they were shot they would fall in and the Germans would not need to waste their energy by burying the families.  This little boy and his family were stood in line with the other Jewish families as the German military open fired on them all.  All the families were shot and fell into the grave, with the exception of a little boy.  His family was shot and he fell in the grave with them, but he was not shot.  He was covered in the blood of the murdered Jews and was so in shock that he just laid there in the grave with the others.  The Germans threw a little dirt in the grave just to cover up the bodies.  That night the little boy had enough energy to sit up and climb out of the grave.  He was muddy and covered in blood and was in need of help.  He then started to roam the streets for refuge, he would knock on one door and when the greeter saw that he was Jewish they would slam the door.  He go to another door and another, just to have the door slammed in his face over and over.  These so called Christian people did not want to risk their own life to help a Jew.  This little boy finally reached one door and knocked.  A Christian lady opened the door and before she could slam it the little boy said the most peculiar thing.  “I am the Jesus you claim you love.”  The woman was so convicted that she could not shut the door but welcome the little boy in and help him. 1 John 3: 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 1 John 4: 20 – 21 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his borhter, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.  And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also. IV. Invitation a. Jesus tells this certain lawyer that that he was correct in when he said to love God and then love your neighbor. b. Jesus says that if he did this then he will Live. c. Jesus says that to us today as well. d. If you place your life into something that is worthwhile then you will Live.

Opening Illustration Title: the happy little pansy Topics: Spiritual Gifts; Individualism; God/Creativity of Texts Exodus 31: 1 – 11; 1 Corinthians 12: 1 – 11 An ancient legend tells of a king who walked into his garden one day to find almost everything withered and dying. Speaking to an oak near the gate, he learned that it was sick of life because it was not tall and beautiful like the pine. The pine was upset, for it could not bear delicious fruit like the pear tree, while the pear tree complained that it did not have the lovely odor of the spruce, and so it went throughout the entire garden. Coming to a pansy, however, the king saw its bright face full of cheerfulness. "Well, little flower," said the monarch, "I'm glad to find at least one that is happy in this discouraging scene." "Your majesty, I know I'm of small account, but I decided you wanted a pansy when you planted me. If you had desired an oak or a pear tree, you would have put one in my place. Therefore I've determined to be the best little flower I can be!" You know that you are the only person on earth who can use your ability. If we get in touch with our abilities and talents then we will be able to maximize our efforts and purpose in life. The Musketeer, 2001 Universal Pictures, starring Catherine Deneuve, Mena Suvari, and Tim Roth.  Play clip of the Musketeer showcasing his talents (Chapter 2 – 00:07:55 – 00:10:56) - When we are in touch with our abilities and talents, then a mighty warrior we can be. Henry Van Dyke (Bits and Pieces, March 31, 1994, p. 16) is quoted in saying: “Use what talents you possess: The woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best. You know that Paul says these same words in 1 Corinthians 12: 4 – 7; 12? Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all {persons.} 7But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For even as the body is one and {yet} has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. Something that we can note today is that the CHURCH IS A _BODY_. (I Corinthians 12: 27; Ephesians 5: 23; Ephesians 1: 22 – 23; Colossians 1: 18, 2: 19) Around here we are a Body - not a business!  We are an organism - and not an organization! THEREFORE, WE FUNCTION ON THE BASIS OF _GIFTS_ NOT _ELECTED POSITIONS_. ( A partial listing of these gifts is found in Romans 12: 4 – 8) AT EPIPHANY WE HAVE A SIMPLE STRUCTURE SO WE CAN MAXIMIZE _MINISTRY_ AND MINIMIZE _MAINTENANCE_. Title:  Acknowledging Gifts ** Pray Two types of gifts A spiritual gift A talent I. Accessing Abilities a. Ephesians 4: 11 – 12 i. And He gave some {as} apostles, and some {as} prophets, and some {as} evangelists, and some {as} pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; Michelangelo was pushing a block of granite down the street. A curious neighbor sitting lazily on the porch of his house called him and inquired why he labored so over an old piece of stone. Michelangelo is reported to have answered, "Because there is an angel in that rock that wants to come out." We may compare God's fashioning of our spiritual gifts to sculpturing. The Spirit may choose to release our "angels" as it were, by taking the raw material we possess (our God-given potential), and transfiguring it to achieve His own pleasure and design. God has prepared us for ministry, so how are we to access the abilities that He gave to us? STEP 1: DEDICATE My Body “I urge you … to offer yourselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – which is your spiritual worship.” Romans 12: 1 STEP 2: ELIMINATE Competing Distractions “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12: 2 STEP 3: EVALUATE My Strengths “Don’t cherish exaggerated ideas of yourself or your importance, but try to have a sane estimate of your capabilities by the light of the faith God has given to you.” Romans 12: 3 STEP 4: COOPERATE With Other Believers “Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one Body and each member belongs to all the others.” Romans 12: 4, 5 Implications from Paul’s Anatomy Lesson: (See also 1 Corinthians 12: 1 – 31) • Every member is a minister in Christ’s body. • Every member has a different function. • Every member’s ministry is important. • Every member belongs to the others. “Each of us is a part of the one Body of Christ … the eye can never say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you.’  The head cannot say to the feet. ‘ I don’t need you.’ And some of the parts that seem weakest and least important are really the most necessary! … So God put the body together in such a way that extra honor and care are given to those parts that might otherwise seem less important.” 1 Corinthians 12: 13, 21 – 22, 24b STEP 5:  ACTIVATE My gifts “We have different gifts, according to the grace God has given us ... prophesy … serving … teaching … encouraging … contributing … leadership … showing mercy…” Romans 12: 6 – 8 II. Appreciating Abilities a. 1 Corinthians 12: 13, 21 – 22, 24b “Each of us is a part of the one Body of Christ … the eye can never say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you.’  The head cannot say to the feet. ‘ I don’t need you.’ And some of the parts that seem weakest and least important are really the most necessary! … So God put the body together in such a way that extra honor and care are given to those parts that might otherwise seem less important.” i. Eye can’t say to the foot that it doesn’t need ti. ii. Every task is important. Title:  The Ratel and the Honey Guide Topics:  Spiritual Gifts; Ministry; One Another; Cooperation Texts:  1 Corinthians 12:12-31; Romans 12:3-8 Source:  Pulpit Helps, February 2001, p. 8. The ratel, a badger-like animal with tough skin and powerful claws, lives in Africa. It wanders around the bush country, living on snakes, beetles, and small mammals. But its favorite food is wild honey. A small brown bird that lives in that area also has a passion for honey. The wild bees that produce this delicacy build their nests in tree trunks and crevices. The bird has no trouble finding these nests, but it can't get inside them. On the other hand, the ratel has difficulty finding the nests, but with its strong claws it can easily rip them open to get at the syrup. So the bird and the ratel join forces. When the bird discovers a wild bees' nest, it searches out a ratel and chatters loudly and persistently. The ratel answers by moving toward the bird, replying with chuckling and hissing sounds. And the bird, also known as the honey guide, leads the ratel directly to the nest. After the animal breaks it open and eats its fill, the honey guide joins the feast. How sweet when God's creatures pool their talents for the sake of the common good. III. Applying Abilities a. Parable of Talents i. Matthew 25:14-30 1. 14 "For {it is} just like a man {about} to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. 15 "To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. 16 "Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. 17 "In the same manner the one who {had received} the two {talents} gained two more. 18 "But he who received the one {talent} went away, and dug {a hole} in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 "Now after a long time the master of those slaves *came and *settled accounts with them. 20 "The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, 'Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.' 21 "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' 22 "Also the one who {had received} the two talents came up and said, 'Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.' 23 "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' 24 "And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no {seed.} 25 'And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.' 26 "But his master answered and said to him, 'You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no {seed.} 27 'Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my {money} back with interest. 28 'Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.' 29 "For to everyone who has, {more} shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 30 "Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Isn’t it strange that princes and kings And clowns that caper in sawdust rings And common people like you and me Are builders for eternity? Each is given a bag of tools, A shapeless mass, a book of rules; And each must make ‘ere life is flown, A stumbling block or a stepping stone. (#465) What are we doing with the tools God has given us?... b. 1 Peter 4: 10 i. As each one has received a {special} gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Invitation In a seminary missions class, Herbert Jackson told how, as a new missionary, he was assigned a car that would not start without a push. After pondering his problem, he devised a plan. He went to the school near his home, got permission to take some children out of class, and had them push his car off. As he made his rounds, he would either park on a hill or leave the engine running. He used this ingenious procedure for two years. Ill health forced the Jackson family to leave, and a new missionary came to that station. When Jackson proudly began to explain his arrangement for getting the car started, the new man began looking under the hood. Before the explanation was complete, the new missionary interrupted, "Why, Dr. Jackson, I believe the only trouble is this loose cable." He gave the cable a twist, stepped into the car, pushed the switch, and to Jackson’s astonishment, the engine roared to life. For two years needless trouble had become routine. The power was there all the time. Only a loose connection kept Jackson from putting that power to work.

Illustration One summer night during a severe thunderstorm a mother was tucking her small son into bed. She was about to turn the light off when he asked in a trembling voice, "Mommy, will you stay with me all night?" Smiling, the mother gave him a warm, reassuring hug and said tenderly, "I can't dear. I have to sleep in Daddy's room." A long silence followed. At last it was broken by a shaky voice saying, "The big sissy!" Statistics of Modern day fear problem George Gallup Poll – October 22, 2002 - About one-quarter of Americans, 26%, are "very" or "somewhat" worried about becoming victims of a sniper. More than seven in 10, 73%, are not overly concerned. By comparison, nearly four in 10 Americans in a recent poll said they were "very" or "somewhat" worried about becoming victims of terrorism. - Forty-four percent of Americans have a gun in their home or on their property. The average gun owner has four guns, while one-quarter have five or more. We can see that fear is experienced today.  Luke, the physician, wrote about this same modern issue in his gospel, but he speaks of fear as a reverence and respect for God in Luke 12: 4 – 7 Luke 12: 4 – 7 4“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. 6Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Title:  Part 4 of the Success of Stewardship series: Causes of a Fear Factor What is the most fearful aspect in light of Christianity? Those that claim to know God but in reality know nothing about Him. - How do we go about knowing God? o Respecting and reverently fearing Him. o How do we disrespect or not reverently fear God? - There are three ways in which we can disrespect or not reverently fear God I. Rejection of Scriptural authority a. Those that deny Scriptural authority b. Why should we submit to Scriptural Authority i. 2 Timothy 3: 16 – 17 1. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 2. Because it is inerrant,  inspired and infallible c. Heretics i. What are heretics? Main Entry: her•e•tic Pronunciation: 'her-&-"tik Function: noun Date: 14th century 1 : a dissenter from established church dogma; especially : a baptized member of the Roman Catholic Church who disavows a revealed truth 2 : one who dissents from an accepted belief or doctrine : 1. a heretic is one that preaches something else besides the word. d. Preach the Word not dreams/feelings i. 2 Timothy 4: 2 – 4 1. Preach the word; be ready in season {and} out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but {wanting} to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 2. People will not put up with sound doctrine but will gather round them people that will agree with their own point of view to tickle their ear. ii. Our testimony is powerful iii. Our testimony is not how God made me feel about a certain situation iv. Feelings are incoherent v. Our testimony is the word of God vi. Our feelings and emotions do not build who God is only the word of God. vii. How do you testify God with your love when it disappears and is replaced with hate. 1. You testify God through the Word of God in your life. II. Rejection of action a. Hearers but not doers, these people know Scripture is authority they just don’t live it. b. James 1: 22 i. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. c. What causes us not to do God’s word? i. Having a paralyzing fear or a respectful fear for something rather than God. ii. A fear can paralyze us to such an extent that we do not even move. 1. The fears that we have can cause us not to move in ministry. 2. We must deal with our fears head on and give the to God. Peladophobia: fear of baldness and bald people. Aerophobia: fear of drafts. Porphyrophobia: fear of the color purple. Chaetophobia: fear of hairy people. Levophobia: fear of objects on the left side of the body. Dextrophobia: fear of objects on the right side of the body. Auroraphobia: fear of the northern lights. Calyprophobia: fear of obscure meanings. Thalassophobia: fear of being seated. Stabisbasiphobia: fear of standing and walking. Odontophobia: fear of teeth. Graphophobia: fear of writing in public. Phobophobia: fear of being afraid.  Fraser Kent, Nothing to Fear, Doubleday & Company, 1977. Devotionphobia – a fear of commitment. People can fear many things. Play clip of Emperor’s New Groove – Chapter 14.  The Emperor Llama does not fear the waterfall.  He knows where to put his respect and it is not in the waterfall. There are many types of fear. Rest assured that if you do nothing at all then you can still be a victim to fear. Sometimes the Lord calms the storm. Sometimes he lets the storm rage and calms his child. Unknown. It is a poor thing to fear that which is inevitable. Tertullian, third-century church father, speaking of death. Statistics Researchers at Johns Hopkins University reported that 30 years ago, the greatest fears of grade school children were: 1) Animals, 2) Being in a dark room, 3) High places, 4) Strangers, 5) Loud noises. Today, kids are afraid of the following: 1) Divorce, 2) Nuclear war, 3) Cancer, 4) Pollution, 5) Being mugged. Back to the Bible Today, Summer, 1990, p. 5. Fear can come through no action at all. Black Bart was a professional thief whose very name struck fear as he terrorized the Wells Fargo stage line. From San Francisco to New York, his name became synonymous with the danger of the frontier. Between 1875 and 1883 he robbed 29 different stagecoach crews. Amazingly, Bart did it all without firing a shot. Because a hood hid his face, no victim ever saw his face. He never took a hostage and was never trailed by a sheriff. Instead, Black Bart used fear to paralyze his victims. His sinister presence was enough to overwhelm the toughest stagecoach guard. Today in the Word, August 8, 1992. Bart never used a gun or force. - He did nothing and still struck fear in the hearts of people - If you are not doing anything for God you are still able to be struck by fear. - We must rid ourself of fears so we will no longer reject action. III. Rejection of commitment a. Those that just never commit their entirety to Him. b. How do you commit yourself to him completely? i. Matthew 22: 37 – 40 (NIV) 1. Jesus replied: “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” ii. Love God with your heart 1. your desires are God desires iii. Love God with your soul 1. your very essence is God’s essence iv. Love God with your mind 1. have an intelligible faith a. Proverbs 8 i. Wisdom is more precious than rubies b. 1 Corinthians 2: 10b i. we ought to search out the deep things of God ii. intelligible faith c. What happens to those that do not commit all? i. Matthew 7: 21 – 23 1. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven {will enter.} Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; Depart from Me, You who practice Lawlessness.” d. Who are true believers? i. Those that acknowledge God and Jesus as Lord and Savior in every area of their life. IV. Invitation a. Title:  Separation Rapids Topics:  Fellowship; Spiritual Gifts; Community; Church; Grand Canyon Texts:  Matthew 19:26; 2 Corinthians 12:9 Source:   Separation Rapids, a brief stretch of turbulent water on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, was named by John Wesley Powell, the one-armed explorer who pioneered the Grand Canyon. It was there that three men left Powell's party and attempted to walk out of the Grand Canyon by themselves. Their decision was precipitated by the fact that the party had lost one of their boats and half their food in an earlier set of cataracts. When they faced Separation Rapid they found whitewater more menacing than anything they had yet faced. Normally the party would carry their boats around the whitewater. Here it was impossible. Their only two choices were to abandon the exploration and walk out of the Canyon through hostile and uncharted territory or face their fears and plunge ahead. Three chose to leave; seven chose to tackle the rapids. Surprisingly they discovered that the rapids were short and far less menacing than they at first appeared. Within a few minutes they cleared the rapids and found smooth sailing in calm water. They had made it through Separation Rapid unscathed, with all their gear in tact. The three who had left were never heard from again. Those who remain together in the face of trial will soon discover that God provides the grace to endure and survive the trial. Those who bail out on the rest of the group will soon perish because they have forfeited the fellowship of the saints and ministry of the spiritual gifts to see them through.