POWER MOVES PART 3

TRUST & STEWARDSHIP

WELCOME

We are in the middle of a series entitled: POWER MOVES: we have been talking about the difference between the WORLD’S WAY & the KINGDOM OF GOD’S WAY regarding the area of our finances.

And something we have tried to make very clear, is this tension that we all experience when these two kingdom’s at war. (everyday war)

Tension: We are citizens of Heaven (the kingdom living in us) all the while still live in this broken world. So as maturing believer we must come to understanding that our walk with Jesus is going to look a lot like navigating through what the world teaches vs. what the kingdom of God teaches us, especially in the area of our money.

Our prayer is that at the end of these 4 weeks, we as a church would look at the relationship we have with our money differently. RECAP

WEEK 1: Selfishness vs. Giving The world feeds into our selfishness while the kingdom of God works selfishness out of us through the practice of giving.

WEEK 2: The Power Of Choice & Position (that we have to make daily) James 4 (MSG) “Don’t you know that flirting with the world’s values places you at odds with God… Move your heart closer to God and he will move closer to you”

This scriptures, leads me to what I want to talk about today:

What about a flirt, that we don’t like? They Can’t Be Trusted.

So if you’re taking notes i want to title today’s message: A TRUSTED STEWARD

SCRIPTURE Genesis 1:27–31 “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.”

Genesis 2:4–6 “This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, when the Lord God made the earth and the heavens. Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground…

Genesis 2:15–16 “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;”

Genesis 2:25 “Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.”

MESSAGE

IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD, WE ARE ENTRUSTED STEWARDS

Steward: one entrusted to manage their master’s household So let’s ask: who’s that master? who’s the steward? what is being managed?

We see this in what we just read: Genesis 2:4 “when the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.”

establishes for us who is the master… GOD

Genesis 2:15 “God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.”

establishes for us what’s been entrusted… GOD’S CREATION establishes who’s the steward… US

This is important because if we really want to talk about POWER MOVES… GOD MOVES THROUGH ENTRUSTED STEWARDS

***nugget: In Gen 2:5 “no shrub or plant had yet sprung up”, that’s because God doesn’t bring increase where there is no one who can steward it.

And we don’t just see this truth in Genesis but Jesus continues to echo the same thing while on earth:

Matthew 25:14 ““Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them.” Luke 19:13 ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’”

establishing for us: Master = JESUS, Servant = US, Entrusted with = HIS WEALTH

Both in the garden and in Jesus teaching we see: We As Creation Are Entrusted Stewards In God’s Kingdom

4 Observations To Unpack Stewardship: 1.) STEWARDS ARE NOT OWNERS

What do you mean? All that we have, all that we possess, all that we have obtained, and all we will give… is the Lord’s. And all of it has been entrusted to us.

Ex.) The money in your account is entrusted The skill of hands used for work is entrusted The vision you have for your family, marriage, company is entrusted The gifts you provide is entrusted Psalm 24:1–2 “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.”

YET, we as humans have this tendency to want to put ourselves as owners instead of stewards.

We like believe that the quality of what we have been entrusted with or amount of time that we have been stewarding what’s been entrusted to us, gives us this permission to call ourselves owners.

Ex.) Leah playing with Gigi’s toys. She plays long enough to believe those toys are now hers.

And just like my 4 year old daughter, I too, find myself thinking… “this is mine. I did this. I got me to this place. I own this.”

2.) STEWARDS ARE FOCUSED ON PLEASING THE MASTER

This is where we see the way of the world vs. the kingdom differ.

In the Kingdom, living as stewards, the steward is focused on honoring, blessing, adding to what the master has entrusted them with. And in that work of stewarding there is joy, peace, rest, and grace experienced.

But in the World, living as owners, the owner has no time to focus on anything other than keeping, hoarding and if possible adding to. And in that work of owning, there is no time for rest, because the IDENTITY of an OWNER hangs in the balance of what they think they possess.

How would you define success? -accomplishing your life goal -making a certain amount of money -finally getting the top position Matthew 25:21 Scripture definition of a Stewards Success ““His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’”

-To hear, “well done good and faithful servant -To receive increase in responsibility -To experience “sharing in the master’s happiness”

This looks a lot like Genesis 2, God walking with Adam in the garden. Creator with servant in partnership.

-God saying, “you are free to eat and rule” -God increasing responsibility to Adam -Adam stewards with now shame, abiding in what God called good.

There Is A Freedom, A Joy, A Peace And Grace That Only Stewards Know. And I believe that’s what he’s calling us back to.

TRANSITION Here in lies our tension -Why am I not experiencing that?

Now don’t worry, because i can imagine this is where many people start think, “Oh i see, he’s going to tell me i’m not experiencing joy and peace because i don’t tithe and give” And honestly if i did it would be truth, because one thing i’ve learned: Owners Don’t Give, Entrusted Stewards Do.

But here is the deeper observations that I need us to see:

3.) Stewards Can Be Trusted - Can I Be Trusted? This may hit home for a lot because if we’re honest we don’t trust ourselves. 4.) Stewards Trust Their Master - Do I Trust The One Who Has Entrusted Me With All I Have?

Following The Ways Of The World Will Not Form Me Into A Trust Worthy Steward. James 4 “flirting with the values of this world” does not form me into a trustworthy steward. Following The Ways Of The World Will Not Lead Me Into Trusting God.

Because here is what happens. After a message like this we all leave here thinking, “i’m going to be a good steward, i find joy in pleasing the father.” Then Monday comes around and bills are due. Fridge looks a little low in stock A/C goes out. Oil change light turns on. Which leads our mind racing not on how we can steward well, but how we can survive. And if that’s not enough, social media’s algorithm, Netflix’s latest series, and your companies staff meeting are not pointing you toward living your life in a trust worthy manner and reminding you to trust in God.

And that internal dialogue you hear more often than you’d like to admit, is the same one we see in Genesis 3. In the middle of Adam and Eve stewarding God’s Garden the deceiver shows up… Genesis 3:1–5 “… “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” … “You will not certainly die,” … For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.””

It’s the same dialogue we hear: “You’re not meant to be a steward, how could you possibly take care of your family when you’re over here focused on what “The Master” gave you.” “You can’t believe this! If you don’t take care of you, who will?” “This whole stewardship things sounds a little limiting and burdening… i think “this Master” is keeping something from you.”

The Enemy Doesn’t Need To Convince You God Isn’t Real, He Just Needs To Convince You That He Can’t Be Trusted. Because If God Can’t Be Trusted Then That Means We Have To Take Ownership Of What’s In Our Hands.

And that’s exactly what Adam did. Not out of spite or revenge, but out of pure lack of trust… Adam Chose To Be An Owner. And how easily we too do the same.

CLOSING

So what now? What do we do?

From Genesis to Matthew, thousands of years later…The Master (Jesus) steps into his creation. (John 1) And we know he would go on to die for our sins, giving us a hope and a future. But he also came to be an example of what it looks like to live as a steward again.

We Learn To Live By Following His Example

Because when the Word became flesh, what we read in the four Gospels, is the Master becoming Steward.

John 17:4–5 “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” And Jesus offers new life and a new way of living…

Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG) “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

What Adam couldn’t do. Jesus did.

Jesus is our example of a blessed work, breaking the chains of the cursed work That’s the promise church: Jesus Offers Not Just A Home In Heaven With Him For Eternity, But Also A Way To Live In The Garden While Still On Earth.