stewardship operation global rain stewardship journey

StewardshipStewardshipOperation Global RainOperation Global Rain

STEWARDSHIP JOURNEYSTEWARDSHIP JOURNEY

““Look at the birds of the air; they do Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”valuable than they?” Matt 6:26 (NIV)Matt 6:26 (NIV)

““And why do you worry about clothes? See how And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labour or the lilies of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. If his splendour was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?O you of little faith?” ” Matthew 6:28 - 30 (NIV)Matthew 6:28 - 30 (NIV)

About things that you can’t control (v 34) About things that are in the future (v 34)

So Don’t Worry . . .

“Your kingdom come, your will be done on

earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10 (NIV)

“My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I

drink it, may your will be done.” Matthew 26:42 (NIV)

IT’S CHRIST LIVING IN MEIT’S CHRIST LIVING IN ME

It’s no longer I that livethIt’s no longer I that livethBut Christ that liveth in meBut Christ that liveth in meIt’s no longer I that livethIt’s no longer I that livethBut Christ that liveth in meBut Christ that liveth in me

IT’S CHRIST LIVING IN MEIT’S CHRIST LIVING IN ME

In me, in meIn me, in meJesus is alive in meJesus is alive in meIt’s no longer I that livethIt’s no longer I that livethBut Christ that liveth in meBut Christ that liveth in me

““Just as sin entered the world throughJust as sin entered the world throughone man, and death through sin, …one man, and death through sin, …

death came to all men.” death came to all men.” Rom. 5:12Rom. 5:12

Children of AdamChildren of Adam

• “We are sinful, not only because of what we have done but because of what Adam had done. We are naturally the children of Adam….

We Inherited His Sinful NatureWe Inherited His Sinful Nature

• “When he sinned, his nature became corrupted, fallen, sinful, and we inherited this same nature from him, somewhat in the same way that we inherit traits from our parents.”

We All Face CondemnationWe All Face Condemnation

• ““It’s because of this It’s because of this connection with connection with Adam that we all Adam that we all face the face the condemnation that condemnation that sin brings.”sin brings.”

We All Face DeathWe All Face Death

• So, in our first So, in our first Adam we had no Adam we had no hope, no hope of hope, no hope of the squandered the squandered eternal life.eternal life.

Enter: The Second AdamEnter: The Second Adam

• But, Praise God, the But, Praise God, the Second Adam stepped Second Adam stepped into human history to into human history to win a dynamically win a dynamically different inheritance for different inheritance for us. To restore our us. To restore our original inheritance!original inheritance!

The Last Adam Brought LifeThe Last Adam Brought Life

• ““So it is written: So it is written: ‘The first man ‘The first man Adam became a Adam became a living being’; the living being’; the last Adam, a life-last Adam, a life-giving spirit.” 1 giving spirit.” 1 Cor 15:45 Cor 15:45

““Christ placed Himself in Adam’s positionChrist placed Himself in Adam’s position to gain victory where humanity had failed.”to gain victory where humanity had failed.”

Ed Zinke, The Certainty of the Second Coming, p. 60

““In every possible way Satan sought to prevent JesusIn every possible way Satan sought to prevent Jesusfrom developing a perfect childhood, a faultless manhood,from developing a perfect childhood, a faultless manhood,a holy ministry, and an unblemished sacrifice. a holy ministry, and an unblemished sacrifice. But he was defeated. He could not lead Jesus into sin….But he was defeated. He could not lead Jesus into sin….

He could not discourage Him, or drive Him from the workHe could not discourage Him, or drive Him from the workHe had come to this earth to do. From the desert to CalvaryHe had come to this earth to do. From the desert to Calvarythe storm of Satan’s wrath beat upon Him, but….the storm of Satan’s wrath beat upon Him, but….

the more mercilessly it fell, the more firmly did the the more mercilessly it fell, the more firmly did the Son of God cling to the hand of His Father, and pressSon of God cling to the hand of His Father, and presson the blood-stained path.” EGWon the blood-stained path.” EGW

“If the many died by the trespass of the one man; how much more did God’s grace and the gift that

came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the

many!” Rom. 5:15

The Sting is Gone!The Sting is Gone!

• ““Death is swallowed up in Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where victory. O death, where [is] thy sting? O grave, [is] thy sting? O grave, where [is] thy victory? The where [is] thy victory? The sting of death [is] sin…. sting of death [is] sin…. But thanks [be] to God, But thanks [be] to God, which giveth us the victory which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Cor 15:54b-57 Christ.” 1 Cor 15:54b-57 KJVKJV

A Father & Small SonA Father & Small Son

• A father was driving down the highway with his son one warm day,

A Bee Flew InA Bee Flew In

• When a bee flew into the car through the open window.

Tommy Was Petrified!Tommy Was Petrified!

• Little Tommy, allergic to bee stings, was petrified.

Father Grabbed the Bee!

• His father, thinking quickly, reached out, grabbed the bee, squeezed, and then released his hand.

The Bee Remained…The Bee Remained…

• The bee somehow managed to remain in the vehicle. But now as Tommy screamed, dad showed him his open hand….

The Sting is Gone!The Sting is Gone!

• “See,” he said, “here’s what I have in my hand. The stinger is in Father’s hand!

• The sting is gone!• You don’t need to

fear him any longer!”

““For every beast of the forest is MINE, and For every beast of the forest is MINE, and

the cattle upon a thousand hills.” the cattle upon a thousand hills.” Psalm 50:10

““For every beast of the forest is MINE, and For every beast of the forest is MINE, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.” the cattle upon a thousand hills.” Psalm 50:10

GOD’S GOD’S OWNERSHIPOWNERSHIPGOD’S GOD’S OWNERSHIPOWNERSHIP

World Ownership

1. I am the OWNER

2. I am responsible for MY success

3. I am responsible to NO ONE for what I do with MY property

Christian Stewardship

1. GOD is the OWNER; I am HIS steward

2. GOD is responsible for my success

3. GOD holds me responsible for what I do with HIS property

What is Stewardship?What is Stewardship?

• Stewardship is taking care of someone else or their property as if they and their property were my own.

What is Stewardship?What is Stewardship?

• Recognizing that my life and successes are the result of others who made investments in me.

What is Stewardship?What is Stewardship?

• Acknowledging that I have nothing that is my own. My family, my home, my auto, my bank account, my retirement plan, my skills and talents, yes, and my time: all belong to God.

• I am merely His manager, His servant, His steward.

Forget?Forget?• “Can a mother forget

the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?” Isaiah 49:15

Heaven & Earth LinkedHeaven & Earth Linked

• “The spikes in His hands, in His feet, not only nailed Jesus to the cross but nailed the earth to heaven in ways that nothing could sever. The Cross shows this tiny planet that we are not alone and that our Creator has linked Himself to us through our pain.” --Clifford Goldstein.

God’s Will: The Ultimate God’s Will: The Ultimate Stewardship ExampleStewardship Example

• “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

• John 3:16

God’s Will For UsGod’s Will For Us

• Who I AmWho I Am

• ““For God so For God so loved the loved the world…” world…”

God’s Will for Us--2God’s Will for Us--2

•What I haveWhat I have

•““. . .His only . . .His only begotten begotten Son…”Son…”

God’s Will For Us--3God’s Will For Us--3

• What I want to do What I want to do with what I havewith what I have

• “…“…He gave His Son He gave His Son that whoever that whoever believes in Him believes in Him shall not perish but shall not perish but have eternal life.”have eternal life.”

• John 3:16 NIVJohn 3:16 NIV

PARTNERS WITHPARTNERS WITH

ORORORORCHRISTCHRISTCHRISTCHRIST

IN DISPOSING OF PROPERTYIN DISPOSING OF PROPERTYIN DISPOSING OF PROPERTYIN DISPOSING OF PROPERTY

SATANSATAN

Keep Wealth in Perspective

• “Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases; for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him.” Psalm 49:16, 17 NIV.

Watch Out for Greed

• “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

• Luke 12:14 (see vv 13-21).

"I was shown the

AWFUL FACT

that Satan and his angels have had more to do with the management of the

property of God's professed people than the

Lord had."1T, p. 199

Present the world before them in its most attractive light,

that they may lay up their treasure here,

and fix their affections upon earthly things.

Counsels on Stewardship, p.154

Present the world before them in its most attractive light,

that they may lay up their treasure here,

and fix their affections upon earthly things.

Counsels on Stewardship, p.154

SATAN’S PLANSATAN’S PLAN SATAN’S PLANSATAN’S PLAN

• “I saw that it was God’s plan that these riches should be used properly, and distributed to bless the needy and to advance the work of God.

• I saw that if men love their riches better than their fellow men, better than God, or the truth of His Word, and their hearts are on their riches, they cannot have eternal life.”

SpiritualSpiritual Gifts, Vol. 2 Gifts, Vol. 2 Pg. 242Pg. 242

• “I saw that it was God’s plan that these riches should be used properly, and distributed to bless the needy and to advance the work of God.

• I saw that if men love their riches better than their fellow men, better than God, or the truth of His Word, and their hearts are on their riches, they cannot have eternal life.”

SpiritualSpiritual Gifts, Vol. 2 Gifts, Vol. 2 Pg. 242Pg. 242

GOD’S PLAN GOD’S PLAN

How God Counts Success• “People look on the outward

appearance, while God looks on the heart.

• With God success is not defined by how much you have but how much you give.

• In the world, greatness is measured by how many people work for you,

• but God looks to see how many people you serve.” Doug Batchelor, At Jesus Feet, p. 85.

How Low Do You Stoop?How Low Do You Stoop?• “I used to think that God’s

gifts were on shelves, one above the other, and that the taller we grew in Christian character the easier we could reach them.

• I now find that God’s gifts are on shelves, one beneath the other; that we have to go down, always down, to get His best gifts.” F. B. Meyer

My Shovel and God’sMy Shovel and God’s

““I shovel it out and I shovel it out and God shovels it God shovels it

back—back—

but God has a but God has a bigger shovel!”bigger shovel!”

R. G. LeTourneauR. G. LeTourneau

““What shall I render to the LordWhat shall I render to the Lord

For all His benefits toward me?”For all His benefits toward me?”

Psalm 116:12Psalm 116:12