A Clear Pathway to Christlikeness
By Pastor Matt Black
17
February 2007
Leadership Paradigms
Romans 8:28-29
Introduction: Open your Bibles to Romans 8:28-29. Last time we met we talked about How to Resist Temptation. In other words, how do we put off the old man, put on the new man? We said we had to Identify our sin and Identify our Savior. Today we are going to talk about Identifying our stewardship. We need to obey and please God with everything He has given to us. So the title of this morning’s message is “A Pathway to Obedience”.
Romans 8:28-29, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 ¶ For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son….”
Outline:
I. God’s Stewardship of you.
Romans 8:28-29, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 ¶ For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son….”
Everything that comes your way is a gift from God. Everything!! Genesis 50:20
"Operate on what we know--not on how we
feel."
Quoting C. S. Lewis: "Pain is God's megaphone."
"Everything bad is of benefit to the true child of God." [see Romans
8:28-29]
Randy Patten, teaching Trials and Suffering:
"God uses suffering to loosen our tent pegs."
II. We need to see the stewardship of all that God has given us.
2 Corinthians 5:9-10, “Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”
A. Definition
B. Submission
C. Spiritual Non-Negotiables
When great pressures enter our lives, there is an enormous temptation to direct our lives according to our own game plan. This would be fine if God were not sovereign, or if God did not have a plan for our lives. The fact is God owns everything, including us, God has our best in mind, and therefore God has the right to tell us what is best for us. This is called the Principle of Stewardship. Because we are God’s stewards, we are to care for God’s property (ourselves, our family, etc.) the way God intends. This is called the Principle of Submission. Finally with stewardship and submission in mind, we are going to look at the spiritual areas that are non-negotiable in the life of a child of God.
A. The Definition of Stewardship
A steward is a manager. In America, we live in an ownership society. We pride ourselves in doing what we want to do. Frank Sinatra sang, “I did it my way”. In God’s world, we cannot do it “our way” without devastating consequences to our lives and spiritual health. God owns us and every thing we have. We are not to treat anything we have as if it is ours. It is all God’s. A steward is a manager, and we must manage all things faithfully the way that God has prescribed in His Word.
1. Read 1 Corinthians 4:7-14. Would you treat your things differently if they belonged to someone else? What if you acted as if God owned everything you have: your home, your clothes, your furniture, your money, your time?
2. Read Job 31:24-28. According to these verses, where should our security be?
3.Think of a time recently when everything was going wrong. Did you obey God in the following areas: prayer and Bible reading, family, time, finances, church? According to Proverbs 3:5-6, should life’s problems affect our obedience? If not, why not?
4. According to I Corinthians 4:2, what is the trait that is most important in a steward?
B. The Principle of Submission
Since God owns me, I never have a right to tell Him no.
2 Corinthians 5:9-10, “Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”
1. In Matthew 16:24, Jesus says, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” How many rights does a crucified person have?
2. Have you ever argued with God when bad things have come into your life? Read Job 1. What should your response be to God to every circumstance? We should W_________ God.
3. What is it that is keeping you from worshipping God in every circumstance in life?
4. What are the top 5 areas where you struggle with submitting to God?
5. According to Romans 12:1-2, what does submission to God accomplish?
6. Is there any one at this moment in your life that you want to please other than the Lord? If so, what must you do to make God first in your priorities?
C. The Spiritual Non-Negotiables
Since God owns us, He has the right to tell us what to do. Since He has our best in mind, we will always bring hurt by not doing God’s clearly revealed will. We will cover two areas in our study today.
God saved you to use you and that you would stop worshipping yourself and worship Him.
What does 2 Peter 3:18 mean when it says to “grow in grace and in the knowledge of…Christ”? What are some practical ways you can do that?
According to Romans 10:17 and James 5:16, what are two of the ways that God gives us grace (the Puritans called them the “means of grace”? Can you think of other ways God gives us His grace?
The Scriptures tell us that Christ gave His life for His church. He died so that He could redeem a bride that “he might present it to himself a glorious church”.
1. What does Hebrews 10:25 mean when it says we should not forsake “the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching”?
2. Read Acts 2:41-47. What were the activities of the early believers”?
3. Read Ephesians 5:27. What is God’s purpose in keeping us in the fellowship of the church? What will happen if we are not in fellowship with God’s people?
Matthew 6:21 tells us, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Jesus here tells us the most important lesson about money. Our heart, our desire and hope, is tied closely to our treasure. Our money and our heart go together. We all know that, of course, to some extent. But when Jesus calls our attention to this part of our character, he confronts us. He alerts us to the powerful tug that material wealth possesses, an allure that makes us do and act and believe contrary to our Christian confession. We say that we live for heaven. Our pocketbook shows us what we really live for. He calls us to examine where we place our money and our heart: earthly pleasures that fade away or eternal kingdom investments that last forever.
1. Where is most of your treasure? Is that where your heart is?
2. When you give, does that frighten you or excite you? Why?
Read Deuteronomy 8:17-18: “And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. 18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.”
3. Read Psalm 50:7-15 in conjunction with the verse above. Do you act like God "owes" you something? Why?
3. 2 Corinthians 9:7 gives the principle of cheerful giving. Of course Malachi 3:8 tells us if we do not give God His tithes and offerings, we are robbing God. Of course God owns everything, not just the tithe. As you study 2 Corinthinas 9:7 and Malachi 3:8-11, what are some things that God will do if you withhold what is His?
4. In the same thought, what will God do if you give you live under His Lordship with His resources?
Romans 8:28-29, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 ¶ For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son….”
How do you deal with…
Anger
Being wronged? Do good!
Conclusion: There are many other non-negotiables in the Christian life that we have not named.