VISION 20/20
Kingdom Living Part 2 (January 19, 2020)
Series Big Idea: "One day we will all give an account of how we managed our lives on earth"
Sermon Big Idea: "Christians are guaranteed spiritual riches depending upon their generosity in this life"
Key Scripture (Luke 16:10-12)
Last week I asked you a question. "Can God count on you?" I asked that because people are always asking if God can be trusted. Remember that Jesus teaches us in this passage that we must be wise with the life He has given us, and we are to use our wealth to lead others into the Kingdom of God. And by the way, this is not wealth that is gained dishonestly but that is gained by godly and trustworthy tactics. We can’t be considered trustworthy if we have gained wealth dishonestly.
Today let’s look at verses 10 – 12. Although Jesus is still talking about money and earthly wealth, there is a sense that this teaching can apply to all areas of our lives. Yes, it does apply to us as individuals but can also to us as a local community of believers.
Luke 16:10-12 (HCSB)
10 Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and whoever is unrighteous in very little is also unrighteous in much. 11 So if you have not been faithful with the unrighteous money, who will trust you with what is genuine? 12 And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to someone else, who will give you what is your own?
If we are thinking in terms of quantity, then this is a very important principle in God’s economy. We go from few things to many. We start out with little and wind up with much. The principle is that whoever in the Kingdom of God can be trusted with little can probably be trusted with much.
Have you ever wondered why God has not given you more than He has given you? Have you ever wondered why God doesn’t start you out at the top level of a company or job? This is the way God works. He begins with giving you and I a few things and if we prove faithful, we are given more.
Jesus is saying if we can’t be proved faithful in things that are temporary like money then why should we expect God to trust us with eternal things.
Pastor Billy will speak during the live service about how God is using and will use the temporary things here at our church to make lasting impact for eternity. He will speak about the vision of where God is taking us in 2020.
Conclusion:
I truly believe that one of the greatest joys that we experience as Christians is coming to worship service every week and gathering with people who are like minded and love the Lord. We are reminded as we give (money or time) that what we do with temporary things like money determines partly what our reward will be in eternity. We want to hear “well done.”
Most of all, when it comes to the Gospel, our life is stewardship. God has placed in you a heart to chose to serve Him or not. To follow Him or not. To obey Him or not. To trust Him or not. My friends we only get one chance in this life. The Bible says that it is appointed for man once to die and after this is accountability. This is why Christ died. To give us a chance.
Pastor Beaver's thoughts and ideals for this message, are inspired by:
Holman Christian Standard Bible
English Standard Version Bible
King James Version Bible
Christian Standard Bible
The Bible Knowledge Commentary by John F. Walvoord/Roy B. Zuck
The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge by Jerome H. Smith
Water, Mark, ed. Encyclopedia of Bible Facts. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2004. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
Barry, John D. et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016. Print.
NIV, Archaeological Study Bible, eBook: An Illustrated Walk Through Biblical History and Culture
Walter C. Kaiser Jr., Duane Garrett, and Walter C. Kaiser Jr.
NIV, First-Century Study Bible, eBook: Explore Scripture in Its Jewish and Early Christian Context
Zondervan, Kent Dobson, and Ed Dobson
Barry, John D. et al., eds. The Lexham Bible Dictionary 2016 : n. pag. Print.
Marshall, I. Howard. The Gospel of Luke: A Commentary on the Greek Text. Exeter: Paternoster Press, 1978. Print. New International Greek Testament Commentary.
Corts, Mark; Calvary Baptist Church, Winston Salem, Can God count on you? Mark Corts Podcast
Butler, Trent. Luke. Edited by Max Anders. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 2000. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
Bock, Darrel. Luke: From biblical text...to contemporary life. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1996. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
Stein, Robert H. Volume 24: Luke. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 1992. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
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