PROPER VIEW OF TRUE STEWARDSHIP

Matthew 6:19-24; Deut. 10:12-13; Mic.6:6-8

There is a lot of professed believers who are not fully taught on what it means to serve the Lord. Many of these claim to serve the Lord though they are still in control of their own lives. They are not living in the reality of the New Testament. Peace and contentment can only come from unreserved obedience in serving the Lord. In fact the Lord demands unreserved obedience and submission. The Gospel demands such submission. What is the Gospel demand on Christians? It is all spelt out by the Lord and His apostles in the New Testament. When people do not live in the reality of the New Testament demands, they will soon fall away when persecution comes. What we are about to learn today has the potential of leading us into exponential success both in ministry and in our personal lives.

1.  Appropriate Use Of Acquired Treasures

Mat.5:1-8; 6:19-2; 19:16-23; Deut.8:10-18;

First the negative command: “Lay not up treasures upon earth”, then a positive one: “lay up treasures in heaven”. What does this mean? What is treasure in this teaching? In the olden days, treasure meant precious metals and clothes. That has not really changed much. You may add other things like houses and lands and other forms of property. These two articles of wealth are perishable, susceptible to environmental decay, destruction by insects, political and economic forces, terrorism and theft.

Therefore storing these items of wealth on earth here is not safe. You do not have control over them. Even if you are able to preserve them you are not going to live here forever. Jesus tells us where to store them – in Heaven.

First we know that the labourer must have his wages. So if you have worked hard and earned your wages, God allows you to enjoy it in a legitimate way – provide food for you and members of your family, pay your tax, pay your rent or mortgage, buy clothes for you and your family, Support the cause of the Kingdom of God, do other acts of charity that may be necessary.

Consider the example of the rich young ruler. This man treasured his riches more than the love and service to the Master. He misunderstood the purpose of riches. He missed his chance of entering into eternal life. He coveted his wealth so much that he now lacked commitment to the Lord. He forgot God who gave the wealth (Deut.8:10-18)

Surely to enjoy the vanity and folly of the world as others do, to be like them in the main chief tempers of our lives, in self-love and indulgence, in sensual pleasures and diversions, in the vanity of dress, the love of show and greatness, or any other gaudy distinctions of fortune, is a sign of worldliness. If you live like this you cannot call yourself a true Christian.

True and faithful disciples of Jesus Christ have renounced the life of vanity or frivolity. They no longer mind unimportant things, inconsequential things, and superficial things. They are heavenly minded. They are not competing with the rich of this world. Any wealth God gives to them is used to lay up treasure in Heaven for themselves! Read what the apostle Paul says about such people (Gal.5:24).

2.  Pure and Applied Loyalty To Christ The Lord

Mat.6:22-24; 1 Tim.6:6-12; Luke 12:42-46

Single-mindedness is a prerequisite, a precondition, a requirement, a must for anyone seeking to serve Christ.  No one can serve two masters. Mammon or wealth personified is a master and demands to be served. Any one serving Christ cannot serve mammon.

 If we want our prayers to be answered, if we want the work God has committed to us to progress, if we want our vision to be realised, if we want to see the power of God in action, then we must have undivided heart in serving the Lord.

I have to ask those who spend most of their time working, and the work is taking them away from God and from the work of God, why are you doing that? You should only spend time on providing food and raiment. The love of money is the root of all evil. If God has given you the power to make wealth, it is a gift for the service of your Lord and Master. Your portion is food and raiment, the rest is to be spent in the service of the Lord! There is a line drawn by Christ between the Kingdom of God and kingdom of mammon. You can’t serve in both Kingdoms. Heaven knows when you serve the Kingdom of heaven and if you serve the kingdom of mammon (Mal.3:18). You can’t serve both at the same time.

Christians are stewards of Christ and in these perilous times we should not chess after perishing things. We should not be signing up for shift work after shift work. I don’t see why a true Christian, less so a worker, should be accepting to work on Sundays when we should all be together to worship God and enjoy the fellowship of other believers.

 

Servants of Christ should never worry about their welfare! God will always take care of His servants (Isaiah 54:17; 65:13-15). God is their provider, even in extreme situations (Luke 12:6-7).

 Christ is all in all for the believer. That is written all over the New Testament. The believer is not living for himself any longer but for Christ, serving and waiting for His return (Luke 12:35-38). That should be the state of your heart and your mind.

3.  Putting the Kingdom First And Above All

Mat.6:31-33; Luke 16:1-2, 9-13; Titus 2:11-14

Are you living for the Kingdom of heaven or for yourself and family? Are you putting all your resources to work in the Kingdom of God or are you amassing wealth for yourself? Are you seeking for the prosperity of the Kingdom of God or are you attempting to build mansions on earth? God has committed the prosperity of the Kingdom to us. A steward is not the owner of the estate he is managing. He eventually will give account to the owner (1Cor.4:1-2).

To seek the Kingdom of God first – seek God’s righteousness first, seek personal conformity to God’s standard of righteousness, seek that reign of God in your heart and in others first, seek the salvation of other people by making all the effort to bring them into the Kingdom of God. Seek how to promote the Kingdom of God. Spend and be spent doing this, and all the other things you need will be added. The focus of every believer is heaven!

Let us close with the summary of the whole Gospel demand on believers by a man of God.

The Gospel calls us to renounce the world, and differ in every temper and way of life, from the spirit and the way of the world: to renounce all its goods, to fear none of its evils, to reject its joys, and have no value for its happiness: to be as new-born babes(1Pet.2:2), that are born into a new state of things: to live as pilgrims in spiritual watching, in holy fear, and heavenly aspiring after another life: to take up our daily cross, to deny ourselves(Mat.16:24), to profess the blessedness of mourning, to seek the blessedness of poverty of spirit: to forsake the pride and vanity of riches, to take no thought for the morrow, to live in the profoundest state of humility, to rejoice in worldly sufferings: to reject the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life(1John 2:15-17): to bear injuries, to forgive and bless our enemies, and to love mankind as God loveth them: to give up our whole hearts and affections to God, and strive to enter through the strait gate into a life of eternal glory. This is the pursuit of every true believer, every faithful steward of Christ. Is this your pursuit?

  

 

 

 

 

 

ALL THINGS ARE READY. ARE YOU?

Readiness For The Great Wedding Banquet

Mat.22:1-13; Luke 14:16-24; Rev.19:7-9

The message of the Kingdom of Heaven was prominent in the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ. On many occasions He used parables to describe it. The Kingdom of heaven is like a farmer who sowed good seeds; the Kingdom of Heaven is like vineyard first given to the Jews but they did not bear the desired fruit, so the vineyard was taken away and given to the gentiles. The Kingdom of Heaven is like a marriage invitation open to all and sundry but many will reject the invitation. This message is therefore meant to challenge us to readiness for the coming of Jesus for his faithful people. There is going to be a great Wedding Banquet. It is the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. All are invited. Blessed are those who will make it to that banquet.

INVIVTATION TO THE BANQUET EXTENDED

Mat.22:1-6; Luke 14:16-24; John 3:16-18

What is the meaning of this parable?

God is the King, and the wedding of His Son is the feast of the Messiah’s kingdom. The invited…are the Jews… who rejected the gospel

The city burnt is Jerusalem.

The second sending of the servants is the mission of the Apostles.

The highways are the heathen world. Good and bad are the whole body of heathen, receiving a… proclamation of the gospel…,

The wedding garment is Christ Himself: we regard it as the moral excellence of the Christian character.

But the man without the wedding garment represents the collective Antinomian belief (belief that moral law is of no use in the dispensation of grace) in the New Testament economy.^[1] Today this invitation is extended to the whole world. The gospel message is being sent out by disciples of Jesus.

All things are ready:

Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ is coming again. The price for sin has been paid (1Cor.15:1-4; Acts 1:11). The human race can be free from the tyranny of sin and Satan. Fellowship with God has been restored. Mansions are prepared in heaven for overcomers. Rewards are waiting for faithful disciples.

What is the purpose of the Gospel Message? Let’s explore the scriptures. (Rom.3:10; 3:23; 5:12; 6:23; 5:8; 10:9-13). To be qualified to attend and partake in the Marriage banquet of the Lamb, you must be born again! Your wedding garment must be the righteousness of the saints! Have you got this garment (Rev.19:7-9)?

INVITATION TO THE BANQUET EVADED

Mat.22:1-6; Luke 14:16-24; Mat.21:18-20; Mark 12:1-9; Luke 13:34-35; Mat.24:2; 2Pet.2:18-29; John 3:18

A wedding banquet in ancient Israel was a joyous occasion and lasted for 7 days and sometimes longer. Those invited must remain till the end. Here it is the King inviting citizens to the banquet. For these invitees to say “no”, is a sign of rebellion.

God through Christ brought the message of Salvation to His chosen people and they said no! Jewish leaders rejected Christ’s message and His invitation to repent and believe the Gospel. The Pharisees and the Scribes instead opposed Him, trying to trip him up at every turn. They were the invitees who made light of the banquet. They went their own ways. In Luke 14:16-20, they said, “I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me”. Another said, “I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I am on my way to try them. Please excuse me.” Still another said, I just got married, so I cannot come.”

They were the unfaithful vineyard husbandmen of Mark 12:1-9; they were like the fig tree that had only green leaves but no fruit and were in danger of drying up (Mat.21:18-20). Jesus gave eventually chilling warning over Jerusalem, after which He left the Temple and never returned till He was crucified (Mat.23:37-39; 24:1-2). The Apostle Paul grieved for them in Romans 9.

“I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.” (Romans 9:2–5, NIV84)

The consequences of the rejection of Christ is still haunting the Jewish people till this day. Jerusalem was destroyed in 70AD, 35 years after the death of Christ. The Temple was destroyed as Jesus prophesied. All sacrifices ceased till this day. Israel ceased to be a nation till 1948. Even then tribulation has beset them until Jesus comes to deliver them.

Rejecting the gospel of Christ is rebellion against God. People give excuses for not accepting invitation to come to Christ today. Like the days of Noah, they are marrying, giving in marriage, eating, drinking, having parties, doing business, looking after their families, working, studying, trying to make wealth and endless other activities.

People may give excuses why they would not come to Christ. All those excuses would not hold when death comes! You may be too busy to come to Christ, but no one is ever too busy to die! There is no business that has the power of necessity when the gospel invitation calls us! So be wise today and come to Jesus.

If there was severe judgement for the Jews for rejecting Christ and His message at that time, how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation (2Pet.2:4-9)? There is a mark of condemnation upon every soul who has not believed in Jesus (John 3:18; Rom.2:9). There is danger for those who make light of God’s righteousness, who have itching ears (2Tim.4:3).

INVITATION TO THE BANQUET EXPANDED

Luke 22:8-10; Luke 14:24-26; Mark 16:15-16; Mat.28:18-20; 25:1-13

The King in the parable wanted his house to be full (Luke 14:23). This shows the generosity of God. Salvation is not only for the Jews but also for the whole world. God has charged every believer with the preaching of the gospel and extending the invitation to all the world. We are charged with preaching the Gospel (Mat.28:18-20). Our implicit obedience is critical at this moment. The world is passing through birth pains. We must not fail God.

Everyone who hears the invitation and responds is welcome to the banquet. The Jews first then the Gentiles. The rich, the poor, blind and the lame are given equal opportunity to enjoy the blessings of the Gospel.

The gospel invitation is a privilege, but privilege brings with it responsibility! When you are called you must respond. Blessed are you if you respond. Your response however has consequences. You must wear the wedding garment – the righteousness of the saints. If you do not have the garment of righteousness you will be cast out into outer darkness. Admission to the Church is not everything. There will be inspection and scrutiny made of all invitees. Those who make it to the banquet are called the Bride of Christ, the Church. They have the righteousness of Christ within (Mat.5:20; Eph.5:25-27). They are washed in the blood of the Lamb. No defilement will be permitted.

When you become a Christian you must watch for the Trumpet, announcing the coming of the Bridegroom and the commencement of the Banquet. The Lord may delay His coming. If you sleep (spiritually) you may lose your privilege. Remember the parable of the ten virgins. The wise were ready. The foolish were not. Don’t say it does not matter to be holy. That would be foolish. Don’t say, it does not matter to be righteous. That would be unwise. The grace of God leads to salvation, godliness and righteousness (Titus 2:11-14). Remember Lot’s wife (Luke 17:32)! Remember apostle Peter’s warning (2Pet.2:18-29). And for those believers who think that once saved always saved, go and meditate on (Ezekiel 18:24).

 

BLESSINGS!

---

^[1] Lange, J. P., & Schaff, P. (2008). A commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Matthew (pp. 391–392).

DANGER IN DISOBEYING GOD’S EXPRESS WORD OF POWER.

Numbers 20:1-13; 27:12-23; Deut. 1:37; 3:23-26; 4:21; 32:51-52; Isaiah 55:8-11; Mat.24:35 (Mark 13:31; Luke 21:33).

Many Christians are in the habit of only talking about the Love of God, the Forgiveness of God, the Forbearance of God, the Longsuffering of God and the Mercy of God. Very little is usually said about the burning anger of the Lord or the severity of His judgement. While all of these attributes are available to all as we are witnesses, God can also burn with hot anger, hot displeasure. He can be severe when His express word is disobeyed! Our God is also a Consuming Fire! But all His judgements are righteous.

The story we are reading today must bring us to sober reflection. Far be it from me that I should speak against the man of God Moses. Rather what we will learn from this story is to take every word of God very seriously, never adding nor removing from it. We learn that obeying the Word of God brings great blessings!

THE CV OF MOSES

It will take many books to study the life of Moses. Moses was a man chosen by God from his mother’s womb. He was supernaturally preserved from the murderous intentions of Pharaoh King of Egypt. God ensured that he was brought up in the palace of Pharaoh. He would have remained there till the time of his ministry but was banished when it was discovered that he was protecting Hebrew slaves (Exod.2:11-15). Moses spent the next forty years in Midian till God’s time of deliverance of Israel came. He went back to Egypt on God’s command to demand that Pharaoh should free the children of Israel. God started by appearing to him in the burning bush. He spoke to him regularly till he brought the children of Israel out of Egypt. He would go away to the presence of God and spend forty days and forty nights on the mountain with God, receiving His Laws.

Moses was described as faithful in all his house (Heb.3:2). He was also known as a very meek man (Num.12: 3). Moses was a man who did God’s will, who sought the glory of God in all he did (Exod.32:9-14, 31-35). These virtues are similar to the ones Christians are commanded to have today. When God spoke to Moses, He did not do it by visions or dreams as He did with prophets. He spoke to Moses face to face (Num.12:6-8).  Anyone who spoke against Moses was judged by God. Korah Dathan and Abiram were judged (Num.16:1-3, 28-31). Miriam the prophetess was judged (Num.12:1-3, 9-10).

What lessons can we learn from the life of Moses?

§  Personal Relationship with God.

§  Fear of God. Boldness for God.

§  Refusing friendship of the world and all its allurements (1John 2:15-17).

§  A great leader seeking for God’s glory and not his own (Exod. 32:9-14; Heb.11:24-27).

§  Defending God’s people.

§  Advocating for and protecting God’s people. Preserving God’s Word and His Commandments.

§  Never seeking to revenge perceived wrongs done to him.

§  Letting God fight for us.

§  Faithfulness in God’s service (1Cor.4:2).

The meekness of Moses was well known (Num.12:3; Mat.5:5; 1Tim.6:11).

THE ERROR OF MOSES.

Numbers 20:1-13; Isaiah 55:8-11; Num. 27:12–14; Deut. 1:37; 3:22–26; 4:21; 32:51.

God is sovereign and all His ministers must do His bidding including the most important of them. There is no level of closeness to God that allows us to disobey his word. God’s means of communication is His word. God’s word is supreme. His word must be obeyed.

This incident happened towards the end of their Wilderness wondering, probably in the 39^th year, because in the 40^th year of their wondering, Aaron Died at Mount Hur (Num.33:39).

In this command God told Moses to speak to the rock so that water would come forth for Israel. He was to speak to the Rock, not to the people of Israel. The error of Moses was three fold:

(i)                He spoke evil of God’s people in his anger. He was angry because they were always murmuring, never acknowledging the miracles of God. He was also mourning the death of Miriam

(ii)              He presumed to share in the provision of water for the people. “Must WE fetch you water out of this rock?”

(iii)            He struck the Rock in his anger when God’s command was to speak to it.

God would not share His glory, not even with Moses. It was God who supplied the needs of His people. He does not need the help of man. Water came forth. He saw the action of Moses and Aaron unbelief in His word. They failed to honour His name before all the people of Israel.

This incident changed the cause of Moses’ life. God still supplied the need of the people, but Moses and Aaron suffered the same consequence of disobedience as the rest of the people over 20 years of age when they left Egypt. The consequences were severe (Deut.34:1-5). Moses and Aaron died in the Wilderness. We have no right to ponder the severity of the punishment. The punishment may be severe in human understanding but God is the Righteous Judge.

Regardless of all the trouble taken by Moses while obeying God and leading Israel out of Egypt, the incessant murmuring of the people against a man who has done so much for them, his utter obedience in building the Tabernacle, obtaining the Ten Commandments, he was barred from entering the Promised Land.

In this punishment of Moses we see both the severity and the compassion of the Lord. Moses had served the Lord well and God appreciated it. He allowed him to climb up to Mount Pisgah in Moab and view the Promised Land and died on the Mountain and God buried him.

That was not the last we would hear of Moses. He appeared dramatically during the Transfiguration of Jesus (Mat.17:1-3).

Jesus used him in symbolizing what would happen to Him on the Cross (John 3:14)

Jesus also declared that Moses wrote of Him in the Law (Luke 24:44).

Hebrews describes him as a man of faith (Heb.11:24-29).

Redeemed people of all ages will sing the song of Moses and of the Lamb in Heaven (Rev.15:3).

Moses was a man of Faith and obedience. He served the Lord faithfully. We learn from this incident that leaders and all believers should be careful as we persevere to serve the Lord. The Lord is Holy and will not condone sin. We should never allow ourselves to be overcome by the sin of disobedience or any other form of sin. If sin comes into our lives the only safe thing to do is to repent and confess it immediately to God asking for His forgiveness.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

Deut.34:1-5; Isaiah 55:8-11; Lev.26:3-12; Mat.24:35 (Mark 13:31; Luke 21:33). Deut.28:1-14.

Moses died without fulfilling his passionate desire as a result of that singular incident of disobedience.

This should furnish a great lesson to people of this age including some believers who take the word of God lightly.

(i)                In many passages of the Bible God is pictured as a Rock. In (1Cor.10:4) it tells us that the Rock that followed them was a picture of Christ. Jesus is the supplier of the Water of Life (John 4:13-14; 7:37-39). God’s word is pictured as water in (John 15:3; Eph.5:26). Though Moses was instructed many years earlier to strike the Rock (Exo.17:1-7), in this command he was instructed to speak not to strike. Christ was once crucified for us. He will not be struck a second time. God is inviting all men to come and drink this water of life which is Christ the Lord. We send out this invitation to all the world.

(ii)              God’s word is precious. He watches over His word to perform it (Jer.1:12). Disobedience carries severe consequences. Jesus declares that though heaven and earth pass away, his word would not, Mat.24:35 (Mark 13:31; Luke 21:33). The Word of God is going to be the judge of the world (John 12:48). It is wise not to disobey it, but to receive and obey it.

When we obey the Word of God, great blessings await us. The blessing of obedience will pervade all areas of our lives. God is merciful and gracious, but He also cannot condone sin.

There is the danger of eternal loss of the soul in hell if we disobey the Word of salvation brought to us by Jesus Christ (John 3:1-3). All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. All must heed the words of Jesus, repent and be saved. Anyone who disobeys this word is in danger of hell fire!

 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

                                                                   ROCK OF AGES CLEFT FOR ME

 Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save me from its guilt and power.

 

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All could never sin erase,
Thou must save, and save by grace.

 

Nothing in my hands I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress,
Helpless, look to Thee for grace:
Foul, I to the fountain fly,
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

 

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

 

THY WORD IS A LAMP UNTO MY FEET

 

Thy Word is a lamp to my feet,
A light to my path alway,
To guide and to save me from sin,
And show me the heav’nly way.

 

Thy Word have I hid in my heart,
That I might not sin against Thee;
That I might not sin, that I might not sin,
Thy Word have I hid in my heart.

 

Forever, O Lord, is Thy Word
Established and fixed on high;
Thy faithfulness unto all men
Abideth forever nigh.

 

At morning, at noon, and at night
I ever will give Thee praise;
For Thou art my portion, O Lord,
And shall be through all my days!

 

Thro’ Him whom Thy Word hath foretold,
The Savior and Morning Star,
Salvation and peace have been brought
To those who have strayed afar.

    …………………………………………………………………………………………………