BALANCING THE BOOKS
2 Corinthians 5:9-10
Discovering and being the unique person God made me to be in every area!
1. ME
How do I struggle with this?
When I was in high school, I worked at Walgreens in the largest mall in Albuquerque. I was a bookkeeper and stock manager. I remember when a group of people came in from the company. They came to take inventory. They spent a week counting everything in the store. When it was over, they compared their count to what our records showed should be there. The result? We were $10,000 short! Not good! The cause was shoplifting! Over the space of a year, people had stolen a massive amount of inventory from our store. This led to a total makeover of our security and monitoring processes. This led to an 80% reduction in loss the next year.
2. WE
How do we all struggle with this?
John said that “the enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy, but He came to give us life, and that more abundantly”! The devil has been stealing from us. We need to do an inventory of our lives and see where the losses are. Then we can refit our lives around the principles of God’s Word to eliminate the loss.
That is the purposes of this series. We call it “TOTAL MAKEOVER”. We want to help you become all you can be in every area of your life and stop the devil from stealing the blessings God has for you!
3. GOD
What does the Bible say about this?
All of us have times when we have to balance our books. We reconcile our bank accounts; we settle bills and debts; we deal with college loans. This is a fact of life. It is also a spiritual fact of life. One day all of us will settle accounts with God.
2 Corinthians 5:9-10 NKJV Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
We all have a job to do...
1 Corinthians 9:16-17 NKJV For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. We have all been entrusted with a stewardship.
What is stewardship?
Often we think of stewardship in terms of finances. It is more than that. I want us to think about “total life stewardship”.
The word stewardship comes from the Greek word "oikenomous", which means somebody who manages a household. We are not the owners, but managers. We manage all the areas of our lives for the glory of God! Our personal life, our family, our church, our work, our money, and our world.
SCRIPTURE
1 Peter 4:10 NKJV As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Parable of the Talents, Part 1
Matthew 25:14-19 NKJV For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
Insights
1. All get talents.
2. All are different.
3. God expects us to use them.
4. God will check on us.
Parable of the Talents, Part 2
Matthew 25:20-23 NKJV So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.
Insights
1. The reward was the same.
2. Based on faithfulness.
Illustration
Me and Charles Nieman…
Parable of the Talents, Part 3
Matthew 25:24-30 NKJV Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Insights
Use it or lose it!
4. YOU
What should you do about this?
Luke 12:42-44 NKJV And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has.
1 Corinthians 4:1-2 NKJV Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
5. WE
How can we all live this out together?
We are going to learn together how to steward all the areas of our lives! Over the next five weeks we are having a “TOTAL MAKEOVER”!
• “Getting Into SHAPE!” Stewarding My Life
• “All in the Family” Stewarding My Family
• “Who’s Your Daddy?” Stewarding My Church
• “The Outhouse or the Storehouse?” Stewarding My Finances
• “Who’s My Neighbor?” Stewarding My World
Saturday, June 30, 2018
Saturday, June 16, 2018
ABBA FATHER
ABBA FATHER
Isaiah 9:6
We have an “Abba Father” relationship with God!
1. ME
How do I struggle with this?
I had a good relationship with my dad growing up. I often broke his heart with my rebellion, but he would deal with me fairly and compassionately.
As I got older, dad became a more of a counselor and friend. I still drove him crazy at times, but he was there for me.
I realized later in life that dad felt he was to blame for many of my struggles. I still remember the night that devil’s lie was exposed and dad and I entered a new era of relationship.
2. WE
How do we all struggle with this?
You may not have had my experience. Your dad may have been absent, or abusive, or both, or worse.
Father’s Day brings up memories of hurt and pain. My heart breaks for you. God’s heart breaks for you and He is there for you. .
Psalms 68:5 NKJV A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation.*
3. GOD
What does the Bible say about this?
Regardless of your history and relationship with your dad, our Heavenly Father is perfect and He will be a perfect father to us.
TEXT Isaiah 9:6 NKJV For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.*
Father of all by Creation
Malachi 2:10 NKJV Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously with one another By profaning the covenant of the fathers?
Father of spiritual children by faith.
John 1:12 NKJV But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
Galatians 3:26 NKJV For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 4:6 NKJV one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
Ephesians 1:3 NKJV Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
Jesus knew the Father intimately.
Mark 14:36 NKJV And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.
Abba: Aramaic Word for ’Father’. Most of the time, even here, Jesus used the Greek word for ’Father’: pater. Why ’Abba’ here? Garden of Gethsemane. He was about to suffer and die. He tapped into not only intimacy with God, but authority with God. ’Abba’ was the term used by adults to show honor and respect for for their earthly Fathers. It signified a mature relationship with mutual authority.
Jesus provided us with the same relationship.
Romans 8:14-17 NKJV For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
Galatians 4:6-7 NKJV And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.*
4. YOU
What does this relationship mean to us?
Matthew 5:48 NKJV Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Matthew 6:1-34…
Let’s mark down the times the passage says, “Your Heavenly Father will…”
1 Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
8 Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.c
14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
16 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;
20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.
23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
28 So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;
29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
5. WE
How can we all live this out together?
When I pray ’Abba Father’, I am praying with faith and authority!
Matthew 7:7-11 NKJV Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
Let’s go to the throne room!
Hebrews 4:16 NKJV Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 10:19-22 NKJV Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Isaiah 9:6
We have an “Abba Father” relationship with God!
1. ME
How do I struggle with this?
I had a good relationship with my dad growing up. I often broke his heart with my rebellion, but he would deal with me fairly and compassionately.
As I got older, dad became a more of a counselor and friend. I still drove him crazy at times, but he was there for me.
I realized later in life that dad felt he was to blame for many of my struggles. I still remember the night that devil’s lie was exposed and dad and I entered a new era of relationship.
2. WE
How do we all struggle with this?
You may not have had my experience. Your dad may have been absent, or abusive, or both, or worse.
Father’s Day brings up memories of hurt and pain. My heart breaks for you. God’s heart breaks for you and He is there for you. .
Psalms 68:5 NKJV A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation.*
3. GOD
What does the Bible say about this?
Regardless of your history and relationship with your dad, our Heavenly Father is perfect and He will be a perfect father to us.
TEXT Isaiah 9:6 NKJV For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.*
Father of all by Creation
Malachi 2:10 NKJV Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously with one another By profaning the covenant of the fathers?
Father of spiritual children by faith.
John 1:12 NKJV But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
Galatians 3:26 NKJV For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 4:6 NKJV one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
Ephesians 1:3 NKJV Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
Jesus knew the Father intimately.
Mark 14:36 NKJV And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.
Abba: Aramaic Word for ’Father’. Most of the time, even here, Jesus used the Greek word for ’Father’: pater. Why ’Abba’ here? Garden of Gethsemane. He was about to suffer and die. He tapped into not only intimacy with God, but authority with God. ’Abba’ was the term used by adults to show honor and respect for for their earthly Fathers. It signified a mature relationship with mutual authority.
Jesus provided us with the same relationship.
Romans 8:14-17 NKJV For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
Galatians 4:6-7 NKJV And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.*
4. YOU
What does this relationship mean to us?
Matthew 5:48 NKJV Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Matthew 6:1-34…
Let’s mark down the times the passage says, “Your Heavenly Father will…”
1 Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
8 Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.c
14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
16 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;
20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.
23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
28 So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;
29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
5. WE
How can we all live this out together?
When I pray ’Abba Father’, I am praying with faith and authority!
Matthew 7:7-11 NKJV Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
Let’s go to the throne room!
Hebrews 4:16 NKJV Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 10:19-22 NKJV Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
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