December 12, 2010

Good Stewards of the Manifold Grace of God!
Mike Fritscher

1 Peter 4:8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint. 10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

The Story of Zecharias and Elizabeth! Luke 1:5-25

God Entrusted to Zacharias and Elizabeth All that They Had According their Ability!

Matthew 25:14-30 – Entrusted Stewards!

• 1. God Entrusts to You All that You have According to Your Ability!

• 2. God Has Entrusted to you all that You Have With an Expectation of a Good Return!

Luke 6:37 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned. 38 "Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure — pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return."

• When I Forgive, I am Receiving Forgiveness!

Matthew 6:14 For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

• When I Am Merciful, I am Receiving Mercy!

James 2:13 For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment!

• When I Supply the Needs of Others, God will Richly Supply all of My Needs! Philippians 4:17-20

God Calls Us Stewards of the Manifold Grace of God!

Luke 1:5-25 – Zacharias, Elizabeth! Good Stewards of God’s Gifts!

John 3:27 John answered and said, "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven. NASU

What Zacharias and Elizabeth Possessed!

1. The Gift of Righteousness from Faith!

Romans 4:3 For what does the Scripture say? "ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS." NASU

Romans 4:5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,

2. A Gift of Blamelessness!

The Walk! Ephesians 4:17-5:4

The Requirement of God! Micah 6:6-8

• Do Justice!
• Love Kindness (Grace)
• Walk Humbly with Your God!
  
  3. As a Priest of God they Possessed Gifts for Speaking and Service!

They were Stewards of the Manifold Grace of God!

• A Long Forgotten Prayer Answered! Verse 13

• A Medically Impossible Promise! Verse 13

• A Son of the Kingdom! Verse 14-17  

Matthew 11:11 "Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

And Like John!

1. We are to Steward the Blessings of God!
2. We are to be Great in the Sight of God!
3. We are to Find our Total Dependency on the Spirit! Nothing Else!

Ministries That. . .

• Turn People Back to the Lord their God! (Hearts touched!)
• Turn Hearts of Children and Fathers Toward One another! (Families Touched)

Malachi 4:6 "He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse."

• Turn Disobedient to the Attitude of the Righteous!

(Attitudes Changed!)

• Prepare People for the Lord!

(People Prepared For the Lord!)

Romans 12:1-13 – Stewards of the Manifold Grace of God!