Are you in need of Spiritual CPR?

Who is control of your life?

The CPR Principle

life is made up of more than material things.[1]

C.t Studd

“only one life to live that will soon be passed, only what is done for Christ will last”

Intro:

Our Lord’s disciples may not have realized it, but they were in great danger. For one thing, they were surrounded by immense crowds of people whose major concern was not to hear spiritual truth but to see Jesus do a miracle or meet some personal need. At the same time, the scribes and Pharisees were plotting against Jesus and trying to get Him out of the way. The snare of popularity and the fear of man has brought ruin to more than one servant of God[2]

review:

Beware of Hypocrisy

The issue here is one of being and actor. People trying to impress others.

The issue for the Christian is trying to act like a spiritual person. Trying to play like you are walking with God. However, you are just and hypocrite a phony.

The problem for the Christian God knows it.

Jesus answers the hypocrite:

Luke 12:2 NASB95

2 “But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.

Point: You are either a light shining. Or you are a light trying fitting.

There are no secrets from God.

The fix for all Hypoctisy is to stop trying to impress people or God.

Stop worrying about what people think about your spiritual service to God.

Only think about being a servant of God first.

The big point here you either are a Good steward for God or you are a bad one.

Jesus gives us a lesson in “Being a Good steward”.

What is a steward?

Someone who manages the things that they don’t own.

What is Godly stewardship?

Managing God given resources to accomplish God ordained results

Issue:

We must answer this question.

Who is in control of all that we have?

Who is the owner of all we have?

Who is the owner of all that I have?

Is a question that we must all answer here today?

The answer will make the different in how you would handle the question in

The store house is everything about you.

Let’s pick up the conversation between Jesus and a person in the crowd

Most of us are in need of CPR where our stewardship is concerned

C-P-R

The three levels of stewardship

Gritty steward (control issues)

Trader steward (possession issues)

Grace steward (right prospective)

Three levels of Stewardship

The control issue?

I. The good Steward knows who is in Control Gritty giver

,

Luke 12:13 NASB95

13 Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.”

Luke 12:14 NASB95

14 But He said to him, “Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?”

(the lordship issue)

a. Who is in control of my life

b. Me, Myself, and I or possessions, or God

1. The I problem, is found 11 times in these verses

2. Take care of number one first

3. This person was only thinking about himself

Luke 12:13 NASB95

13 Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.”

The person in the crowd asked Jesus a question:

Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” [4]

He had the me problem

I had a little tea party

This afternoon at three.

’Twas very small—

Three guests in all

Just I, Myself, and Me.

Myself ate all the sandwiches,

While I drank up the tea.

’Twas also I who ate the pie

And passed the cake to Me.[5]

Sounds like a conversation between two brothers fighting over their father’s stuff at the dinner table.

There are some conversations better left alone. it is better to stay out of.

The answer to the question for this person

Point: this person was only thinking about himself.

“The person must have felt he was being cheated out of his share of the inheritance”.[6]

Example

, the younger son story, inheritance issues

To be sure, regulations concerning the division of an inheritance could be found in ; see also [7]

To be a good steward one must settle the control issue.

Luke 12:14–15 NASB95

14 But He said to him, “Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.”

Jesus’ answers: To the person

I’m I the judge between you guys?

While Yes, he is, but not about these issues

Why did Jesus response this way?

(a) he did not wish to ignore the authorities who were supposed to take care of such matters; and

(b) he himself had been appointed to shoulder a task far more important and sublime, namely, to seek and to save the lost (19:10).[8]

Jesus knew this was a case of cupidity.

That is a case of me, myself, and I.

Example: the dad and the boy and the fries

II. The good steward has the right perspective about Possessions trader giver

Verses the wrong perspective of our Possessions

Luke 12:15 NASB95

15 Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.”

Jesus gives a firm warning to the person and those in the crowd.

a. Be on guard- be aware against ALL kinds of selfishness

Against all Covetousness- don’t COVET your neighbors WIFE

What is covetousness

A strong desire after the possession of worldly things (; ; ; , ; ). [9]

Inordinate desire to possess what belongs to another, usually tangible things.

While the Hebrew word for “covet” can also be translated “to desire,” in the tenth commandment it means an ungoverned and selfish desire that threatens the basic rights of others. Coveting was sinful because it focused greedily on the property of a neighbor that was his share in the land God had promised His people.[10]

Example: Dog and the bone

the dog seeing his reflection in the river seeing another dog he drops his bone in hopes to get the other dogs bone. Only to drop his bone in the river while trying to get the bone from his reflection in the river.

b. Life does not consist in the abundance of possession

St. Francis of Assisi once said, “Men have confessed to me every known sin except the sin of covetousness.”[11]

The New paper from London on Americans

“You shock us by your belief that the almighty dollar and armed might alone can save the world.” I am wondering if America is not in this position today: overcome by covetousness[12]

“Life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions”

Our stuff can become our Master and lord.

The story of the foolish richman

Jesus’ story about the “Rich Fool

16-17

Rich man-

He was a Dirt farmer- remember God put a “curse on the ground” in()

The rich fool had a Great harvest- ()

He was talking to himself about his issue ()

He answered himself?? ()

What shall I do, if you find that you are telling yourself about your stuff there could be an issue?

I have no room (my barns are to small) for my great harvest

Problem: the rich man had the I problem and the possession problem.

His stuff controlled him. And possessions C by P

III. The good steward lives on the Right level as a giver grace

Luke 12:21

Luke 12:21

Luke 12:21–34 NASB95

21 “So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” 22 And He said to His disciples, “For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. 23 “For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24 “Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds! 25 “And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life’s span? 26 “If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters? 27 “Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 28 “But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith! 29 “And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. 30 “For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. 31 “But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. 32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. 33 “Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. 34 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

a. The worrywart vs the peaceful mind issue- grit level

b. The store house vs. river issue- trader level

c. Owner vs. Manager issue—Grace level

Con:

Where are you at today as a steward of Gods stuff?

Who is in control? You or God, the (Grit giver) CONTROL

Look at how much you use me, myself, and I, if I have too

Do you have the right attitude towards your possessions? (The trader) POSSESSIONS

Are you a store house or a river with your stuff? (the grace giver) the RIGHT Level

It will take and attitude adjustment towards God first

Don’t be like the farmer sitting on his front porch talking to a traveling salesman. He said, to the farmer God has given you a great liking farm. The farmer replied, while you should have seen it when God owned it>

Question:

Who is in control of you and your stuff today?

Will you let God have your stuff?

God gives you his stuff to manage, for you to use the stuff to bless others.

Here is how God works, the farmer in the story today did not understand this principle.

[1] John A. Martin, “Luke,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 238.

[2] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 219.

[3] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), .

[4] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

[5] J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary, electronic ed., vol. 4 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997), 302.

[6] Hendriksen, William, and Simon J. Kistemaker. Exposition of the Gospel According to Luke. Vol. 11. New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001.

[7] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Gospel According to Luke, vol. 11, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 661.

[8] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Gospel According to Luke, vol. 11, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 662.

[9] M. G. Easton, Easton’s Bible Dictionary (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1893).

[10] William J. Fallis, “Covet, Covetous,” ed. Chad Brand et al., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 360.

[11] J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary, electronic ed., vol. 4 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997), 301.

[12] J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary, electronic ed., vol. 4 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997), 301.