Faithful Stewards 2
February 16, 2024
Romans 12:1–2 (NIV) 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
1 Corinthians 4:1–2 (ESV) 1 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards (NIV: those entrusted with) of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards
(NIV: those who have been given a trust) that they be found faithful.
God calls all believers to be Good Stewards.
As good stewards we must be obedient to the Call of God.
Victory Outreach is Called:
To Proclaim the Good News of Jesus to a Hurting World.
To Reach Hurting People.
What is a Steward?
A Manager, an Administrator,
Someone who is trusted with the responsibility to manage and care for something that belongs to someone else.
In the biblical sense, Stewardship is:
Taking care of the blessings, talents, and resources,
(Time, Talents, Treasures, Testimony) that God has given us.
Being faithful, diligent, and wise in handling these gifts,
Recognizing that they belong to God.
and are to be used for His glory and purpose.
Stewardship extends to all areas of life.
This includes our bodies:
Romans 12:1–2 (NIV) 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Verse 1 shows us that making an impact in the world starts with us.
Offer your Body as a Living Sacrifice:
Do this out of Gratitude. “In View of God’s Mercy”
Not because, “You Have To” or “You Better”.
This is to Give God all your Life, not just 99%.
It has been said,
Verse 1 is our Mission Statement.
offer your bodies as a living sacrifice
Romans 12:1 (NIV) Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,
holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Verse 2 is how we Complete the Mission.
by the renewing of your mind
Romans 12:2 (NIV) Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Look what the bible says about our Natural Minds:
Romans 8:6–7 (NIV) 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.
7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.
“Hostile” means, Enemy, Hatred,
1 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV) The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
“Folly” means, Foolish, Silly, Absurd, Senseless.
To Renew You Mind is:
To Have a New Way of Thinking.
To No longer Think the same as we used too.
To Renew You Mind is:
Not being Brain Washed, It is having a New Heart.
Ezekiel 36:26–27 (NIV) 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
How to Renew Your Mind:
Romans 12:2 (NIV) Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
1. Do not Conform to the pattern of this world.
“Conform” means,
To be Fashioned like,
To shape one thing like another.
To be similar or identical.
Example:
An Actor conforms to the character he/she is portraying.
Jesus condemned the religious leader (Pharisees) because they:
Looked Real.
People thought they Genuine.
Matthew 23:25–26 (NIV) 25 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
Believers need to be different in their hearts and minds.
Not just be Against the World but Rise Above the world.
1 John 2:15–17 (NIV) 15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
Believers are Called:
To Resist following the world and it’s ways.
To Resist following the values of the world.
To be distinct, different, set apart.
The world pressures Christians:
To be like the world.
To be squeezed in their worldly box.
We must resist the temptation to be like the world.
Acts 2:40 (NIV) With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”
Galatians 1:3–4 (NIV) 3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
The world is:
-Evil
-Under Satan’s rule
-Hostile to God and His people.
-Build on Human wisdom and values.
Our Conduct and Choices are to be different.
How to Renew Your Mind:
Romans 12:2 (NIV) Do not conform to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
1. Do not Conform to the pattern of this world.
2. Be Transformed
“Transform” means, to change the appearance and character.
The Greek word is where we get the English word “metamorphosis”.
Example: -Caterpillar changes to a Butterfly.
-Bruce Banner transforms to the Incredible Hulk.
When a person gets saved, they are Born Again.
John 3:3 (NIV) Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you,
no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
Being Born Again is a Process of:
being Transform or Regenerated.
Titus 3:3–6 (NIV) 3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior,
Be Transformed:
- Is a Continuous Action. Not a One Time Action.
The Process is called: Sanctification (To be made holy)
We are Holy when you get saved.
Also, as we grow and mature in Christ, we are Becoming Holy.
- Means to Let Yourself Be Transformed.
You cannot Transform yourself.
2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV) And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Transformation is the work of the Holy Spirit.
- It is not a suggestion.
It is Vital to be Transformed.
You cannot be transformed by your own good works.
Being Righteous is a gift from God.
Romans 5:17 (NLT) For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many.
But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.
You are Transformed by placing yourself in the right environment.
Example: A farmer can’t make seeds grow.
All he can do is place the seed in the right environment:
Place the seed in the ground on good soil.
Water the seed in the ground.
Then God makes the seed Grow.
Are you placing yourself in the right environment?
Are you letting the Holy Spirit Transform you?
Romans 12:2 (NIV) Do not conform to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
The Right Environment to Place yourself:
-Spend time reading and meditating on his Word.
Pondering over and over what it means.
Learning how to apply God’s Word to our lives;
Psalm 119:11 (NIV) I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Psalm 119:148 (NIV) My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises.
John 8:31–32 (NIV) 31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 15:7 (NIV) If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
-Have a Prayer Closet, Secret Place for Prayer.
-Be faithful to Church
-Use your Spiritual Gifts for the Lord.
-Be a Faithful Steward of your Time, Talents, Treasures, Testimony.
Then Your Vision, values, behaviors and plans
Will then be directed by The Holy Spirit in us.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.