Can You Be Trusted?
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· 8 viewsCan you be trusted with that which God has given you?
Notes
Transcript
Thank everyone who came/served at revival, last count I heard was 59 people had gotten saved.
1 Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2 In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.
Can You Be Trusted?
Can You Be Trusted?
Pray
Recap Journey to the Spiritual Gifts
Context:
Ch. 1 - Appeal to Unity
Ch. 2 & 3 - Builds a Foundation (I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him Crucified; According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation… No man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ…)
Ch. 3 - Last week, we talked about learning to chew… (I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it.)
This week: Ch. 4
1 Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2 In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.
There is a parable Jesus told that has a great illustration about what happens when a son is found untrustworthy...
11 And He said, “A man had two sons.
12 “The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them.
13 “And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living.
14 “Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished.
15 “So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 “And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him.
17 “But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger!
18 ‘I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight;
19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.” ’
20 “So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
21 “And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet;
23 and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate;
24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.
25 “Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 “And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be.
27 “And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’
28 “But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him.
29 “But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends;
30 but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’
31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours.
32 ‘But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’ ”
3 Violations of trust: (and the Father has a response to each one)
Violation of Trust with the Mouth
11 And He said, “A man had two sons.
12 “The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them.
Explain why this was dishonoring
Modern violations with the mouth:
- Gossip/2 Face
- About other churches
- About other people
- Behind others backs
- Backbiting/Slander
- “Blowing off steam”
- “Just saying how I feel”
- Sharp tongue/quick response
These are violations because people are looking at you as an example of what Christ is like, yet you violate the trust of God by doing a disservice to His image in the sight of others.
Not only did the son violate the trust of the Father with his words, he violated the trust of the Father with that which the Father gave him…
2. Trust with Money
13 “And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living.
14 “Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished.
15 “So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 “And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him.
The Father had given him everything he had! He was out living life on money that wasn’t his, time that he couldn’t get back, and an inheritance he could never replace.
Everything we have is given by God… Can he trust you with it?
Rich young ruler
It’s not about the money… It’s about your heart… Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also…
We don’t say much about giving because I believe it’s between you and God, but I do know this, your giving is a direct reflection of your trust in God.
If you don’t give, it’s because you don’t think God is faithful to His promises…
We have a giving church because we have a family of believers that have seen time and time again God come through.
When the son finally comes back and repents, the Father brings him in and celebrates, but it is during the celebration where we find yet another violation of trust in this story…
3. A Violation of Trust with Attitude…
25 “Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 “And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be.
27 “And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’
28 “But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him.
29 “But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends;
30 but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’
31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours.
32 ‘But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’ ”
All that is mine is yours… Remember v. 12 he divides the wealth between THEM…
This is a violation of trust with attitude because the brother that stayed would rather see the brother who left punished rather than restored…
This story is found right in the center of a series of stories Jesus is telling about the Joy of God at those who come to repentance…
He is telling these stories because the Pharisees and scribes were grumbling saying “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
So Jesus’ response is to remind them of the joy all of heaven experiences when even one lost person comes to repentance.
See this story is as much about the attitude of the pharisees who would rather see the sinners punished than restored because they view themselves as deserving because they worked for it…
When you would rather see someone have to grind before they get to your position in life, you have an attitude problem…
When you look down on others who aren’t as far along spiritually as you… You have an attitude problem…
If someone looks rough and you doubt their sincerity because they have tattoos, or long hair, or a man bun, or wears pants, or wears shorts, or wears a hat, you have an attitude problem…
If you would rather see punishment and vengeance than repentance and compassion, you have an attitude problem…
We didn’t work for this salvation, we can’t earn it, and we shouldn’t expect that of anyone else.
The son that stayed violated the trust of the father because of an attitude problem…
But for every violation, the Father had a significant response:
The Father’s Response:
He was waiting…
20 “So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
WHILE HE WAS A LONG WAY OFF…
The son that left dishonored him and broke his trust, but the father still waited for the time when the son would come back home…
You may have violated his trust, but he is still waiting on you to come back home… He is waiting on your repentance…
His compassion was urgent…
20 “So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
HE RAN…
The father could have made the son walk all the way back with his head hung in shame, but HE RAN to meet him…
You may have violated His trust, but He is waiting on you, and He is urgent with compassion… He will not greet you with wrath and condemnation, but with grace and love and embrace…
His correction was conviction…
31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours.
32 ‘But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’ ”
His correction was conviction…
Conviction is not condemnation… It is a reminder…
Can You Be Trusted?
Can You Be Trusted?
Altar Call
Have you violated His trust?
He’s waiting on you to come to him with repentance.
Do you need restoration?
His compassion is urgent toward you, just come and be restored…
Do you feel condemned?
His correction is conviction, not condemnation. Come to Him and find real forgiveness and compassion.