Holy Fire

 Gtcotr/ws073025 

Allow me to reiterate what we talked about last Wednesday evening concerning the ministry and the manifestation of the Holy Spirit. We do not want to raise a generation who never experience the Holy Fire of God. 

1 Thessalonians 5 NKJV 

27  I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren. 

28  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. 

So let’s begin to read this epistle from the Apostle Paul. 

1 Thessalonians 1 NKJV 

1 ¶  Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

• · Paul, Silas, and Timothy visited Thessalonica after Paul and Silas had been stripped naked in public, beaten with rods, and imprisoned in a dark dungeon in stocks and chains in the town Philippi, (Acts 16). 
  
• · Thessalonica was the capital city of the second district of Macedonia. 
  
• · The message of the Gospel was well received by some important Greek men and women (Acts 17). 
  
• · The religious Jews took issue with the Apostle Paul and his team and violently assaulted some who believed and turned the local authorities against them.  
  
• · The new converts were able to help Paul and Silas and Timothy get out of town in the cover of night. 
  
• · Now, about 12 to 18 months later, AD52, these three men were in Corinth and agree to write this second letter to the Believers in the Church at Thessalonica saying: 
  

2 ¶  We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 

3  remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, 

4  knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. 

5  For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. 

6 ¶  And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, 

7  so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. 

8  For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. 

9  For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 

10  and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. 

These 3 amazing men, filled with the passion of Christ, committed to the spreading of the Gospel, and bearing the marks of the Lord Jesus in their bodies, gave great instruction to this faithful congregation in Thessalonica. 

Tonight I want to mention one of their closing points which is found in chapter 5. Now remember, Paul and these men with him knew the price being paid by the Believers in Thessalonica for trusting in Jesus. Yet we hear the clear admonition written by the inspiration of God … 

1 Thessalonians 5 NKJV 

19  Do not quench the Spirit. 

• · The concept of quench is used in connection to putting out a fire. 
  
• · There are three basic ways of extinguishing a fire: 
  
• o By throwing water on it. 
  
• o By covering it with a non-combustible material. 
  
• o By neglecting to resupply the needed fuel. 
  
• · This is no doubt in reference to the Holy Fire which was to burn continuously in the House of God. 
  
• · This admonition to not extinguish the fire of the Holy Spirit is in direct connection with the ministry of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. 
  
• o Specifically

20  Do not despise prophecies. 

• · In direct contrast to extinguishing the Holy Fire, 2 Timothy 1:6 in the ESV and the NLT instruct us to  
  

2 Timothy 1:6 “Fan into flames” the spiritual gift God has given you … 

21  Test all things; hold fast what is good. 

• · The last word from Paul to the Believers at Thessalonica was to make sure the gifts were valid by testing the prophecies for example. 
  
• · How does a person test the Holy Spirit and specifically prophecies? 
  

Prophecies must first agree with the Word of God. Plus the level of prophetic authority given to the general members of the Body of Christ for congregational ministry, as it intended in 2 Thessalonians, as well as in Corinthians and in Timothy, is relegated and limited to: 

1 Corinthians 14:3  But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 

• 1. Edification – Building up; Strengthen 
  
• 2. Exhortation - Encouragement  
  
• 3. Comfort – Consolation 
  

It is being testified everywhere that we are in a season of the stirring up of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist prophesied that Jesus would baptize His followers in the Holy Spirit and Fire. Let’s not quench the Holy Fire of God in our lives or in our Church.  

We don’t have to be weird or spooky to simply say what you feel Jesus would say to the people around you if He were in your shoes … because He is! Fan into flames the spiritual gifts God has given you and especially prophecy. Make it a point to strengthen, encourage and consol others under the anointing of God. Don’t let the fire of God go out in the house of God, Whose house we are!

People Need the Lord

Gtcotr/ss072725 

Recently I was asked a question about our child sponsorship program. The man, we’ll call him Mr. Jones, was wondering how long they needed to commit to helping the child they had chosen to sponsor. That’s a very reasonable and often asked question. Before telling you what I told him, allow me to share what I hope and what I pray happens to each sponsor.  

It is my prayer that one day, years from now, a knock will be heard at this man’s door. When he opens the door it’s the 22/23 year old version of the little girl he chose to sponsor years ago standing there with a smile and he will hear her say something like this:  

“Mr. Jones! … it’s Lyla. You look just like the pictures you sent.

It has been my life-long dream to meet you in person to say thank you. Because of you, I have always known Jesus loves me. I was hungry, and you fed me; I was thirsty, and you gave me water; I was poor and had no clothes, you sent me a dress and shoes; I was sick, you paid for a doctor to make me well; I was alone and lonely,and you wrote me that everything would be ok. I just want to say thank you for caring, thank you for giving, thank you for loving me.”

This is going to happen to many of you. How do I know, because it has already happened to me. And I pray it happens to each and every one of you, and I know it will … if not here on this earth, then it will happen when you meet the Lord face to face in heaven.  

So, when the man asked me how long, I answered – for as long as it takes. Over the past 45 years, my experience has been that when we help people, they in turn grow up to help others. Your investment in a young life through our sponsorship program, whether you choose a 6-yr old, or a 16-yr old, is making a difference for generations to come.  

This is the reason I have been an active sponsor since 1980. And why I’ve maintained an ongoing relationship with the children I have chosen through the years, and with their growing families. This past week I have 

talked with 5 of the children I helped raise around the world just so we can keep up with what’s going on in each other’s lives. Of course they’re no longer children. And I’m still choosing children to sponsor. I have another fine young man who has no father or mother, Able is his name, he’s 6 years old and lives in a boys home in Ingabor. Man can he dance. I just visited him two weeks ago as I have done each year since I chose him.  

I’d like to say a personal thanks to each one of you for making it possible to leave people and places better than we found them in the name of Jesus. Together we are changing the world, one child at a time. Now, let’s turn our attention to our text for this morning which we will be reading from the Book of Acts, chapter 10. 

One of the things Jesus teaches us through the accounts recorded in the Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, is the fact that God is not afraid of sinners. Every person God chose to work with in the Bible and indeed for the past 2000 years were at one time dreadful sinners. Every one of us was a sinner until we heard about Jesus and decided to follow Him.  

The religious people of Jesus’ day were quite upset and often complained that Jesus spent time with notorious sinners. Jesus loves sinners. Men and women like Jairus, Zacchaeus, Mary Magdalene, Simon Peter, Saul of Tarsus, the young rich ruler, and the woman caught in adultery … Jesus knew them for who they were and loved them anyway. He saw something in them others could not see. 

Still today Jesus loves every sinner. He knows them for who they have been, who they presently are, and who they will one day become after they decide to follow Him. Both good people and bad people need Jesus. We all must be born again. This was God’s hope for a good Gentile man named Cornelius whom we read about in Acts 10.  

Acts 10 NKJV 
1 ¶  There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, 

• · This man was an enemy of Israel. The commander of 100 Roman soldiers who had conquered the land and was occupying Israel. 
  In just a few short years this enemy army would destroy Jerusalem, kill thousands of Jews, and enslave the remaining Israelites. 

• · Yet … Corneilus was: 
  

2  a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. 

• · Most often a man would volunteer for the Roman army, be posted to his duty station, rise in rank through service and after 20 years retire back to his home country and be granted Roman citizenship as a reward. 
  
• · Seeing Cornelius was a commander of 100 men, it is reasonable to assume he is near the end of his military career and soon to return to Italy. 
  
• · Perhaps this meant he had been exposed to the Jews and their love for God and their lawful habits of giving to the poor. Something had happened to this Gentile soldier during his time in Israel … seeing: 
  
• o He feared Jehovah with all his household 
  
• o He gave generously to the poor 
  
• o And the fact that he was also a praying man. 
  
• · All of these are things he must have seen others doing and was influenced by their compassion and commitment.  
  

3  About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!” 

4  And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?” So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. 

• · Wait Luke! Are you telling me God took notice of this Gentile enemy soldier of Rome? 
  
• · Yes! 
  
• · If God didn’t take notice of Gentile sinners, where would we all be? 
  

5  “Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. 

6  “He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.” 

The continuing account … 

34 ¶  Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 

35  “But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. 

• · What a revelation … first to Peter, then to his companions, then to the Apostles and Elders at Jerusalem, and perhaps even now to you! 
  
• · God is not afraid of sinners! 
  
• · Jesus loves sinners! 
  
• · Sinners are the only people who have a chance of getting saved. 
  
• · People need the Lord. 
  

There are good people all around us who just need to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ from a person who cares and is not afraid to share Jesus with them. Don’t say no to Jesus for anyone. Good people need to hear the Gospel every bit as much as bad people. 

44 ¶  While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 

Two thoughts in conclusion: 

• 1. Who in the world needs to hear the Gospel? 
  
• 2. You may be influencing your enemies more than you realize. 

ENTRUSTED PART II - ENTRUSTED WITH INFLUENCE

Recap from the intro of this series: 

• - Entrust = To assign the responsibility of something valuable to someone in confidence 
  
• - God has entrusted us things that which He considers valuable 
  
• - We looked at the parable of the Talents learned a few things about stewardship. 
  
• - God owns everything (The master owned the entire property in the parable). The first step in stewardship is understanding that everything belongs to God. 
  
• - We are stewards of what God has given us (the talents of gold the servants had were given to them by the master). What God has given us God considers valuable.  
  
• - God expects a return (the master received a report from each servant when he returned). God expects for us to be faithful with what He has given us and not do nothing out of fear. 
  
• - What we do with what we have been given matters.  
  
• - Last week we talked about how we have been given the greatest message in history to steward. 
  
• - The gospel is one that God has given us to steward.  
  
• - We steward the gospel by preaching it… 
  
• - By living it… 
  
• - And by preserving it (passing it down)… 
  

Part II - Entrusted to Influence 

Actors 

musicians 

CEOs,  

the president of the United States,  

content creators,  

athletes,  

celebrities 

etc.  

What do all of these people have in common? Influence… 

However, people imagine that you have to be a celebrity, have a large platform, or thousands of followers on social media to be considered an influencer. Culture has hijacked the meaning of the word influencer. They define it as someone who impacts the behavior of others due to the amount of followers they have in their audience. 

However, where I grew up, a teacher was an influencer, parents were influencers, coaches, business owners, mentors, grandparents, etc. 

The truth is that everyone has influence. No matter who you are or where you are from, you have influence. My hope is that when we leave here today, every person will see themselves as an influencer. You have no idea how God can use one moment in your life to change the course of someone else. 

Influence begins and ends with people. It’s all about relationships. 

Everyone of us have people around us. You have someone in your life that you impact everyday. In fact, you have people in your life who have impacted your life. Someone in your life influenced you to come to Christ, to choose the career you are in, to become the person you are today. Someone influenced you! Just as someone influenced you, you are influencing others. 

Everyday, people are watching how you live, how you treat others, how you respond to pressure, and how you carry yourself in conversations, at work, and even online. 

Whether you know it or not, you are making an impact. 

The question isn’t “do you have influence?” The question is: what am I doing with the influence I have been given? 

Today, we are going to talk about that that means and how you can shone wherever you are. 

Influence = The ability to impact the thoughts, actions, or direction of others. It is the impact you make around you. No matter who you are, you have the ability to impact somebody in your life. Why? Because everyone has influence whether they realize it or not. 

Influence is not about being famous, it’s about being faithful where God has placed you. 

Influence is using who you are, where you are, and what you have to help move others closer to God. 

Influence is important to God because He uses people to reach people. 
God has given you influence for the purpose of you leading people to Him for His glory. That is His goal! However, influence has to be stewarded because what you do with it matters. 

Jesus has something to say about influence as well… 

Matthew 5:13-16 — “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden… let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” 

• 1. God has given you influence
  “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world.” (v13—14)
  
• • Who is Jesus speaking to? He was not speaking to kings and leaders, he was speaking to ordinary people. 
  
• • You have influence (everyone does) 
  
• • You have influence because God has given it to you 
  
• • Everything belongs to God, even our very breath 
  
• • You may not feel influential, but God has placed you in positions, on purpose for His purpose. 
  
• • Think about your circle—your family, coworkers, classmates, teammates, social media. You’re influencing someone, whether you know it or not. 

• 
  
• 2. Your influence is meant to be used
  “A city on a hill cannot be hidden… neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.” (v14-15)
  
• • You have no idea how one conversation and one moment of encouragement can change someone’s life. 
  
• • God might use one word, He might use one sentence, all it takes is one moment to change someone’s life 
  
• • However, we have to be willing to see ourselves the way that God sees us 
  
  
• 3. Influence is meant to point people to Jesus
  “Let your light shine before other , that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (v16)
  
• • The purpose of influence is to point people to the One who made it 
  
• • You can be a bridge or barrier to Christ 
  
  
• 4. What we do with it matters greatly to God

The Coming of the Lord

Gtcotr/ss072025 

1 Thessalonians 5:2 (NKJV)  For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 

2 Peter 3:10 (NKJV)  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 

The scriptures consistently encourage us to put our hope in the coming of the Lord to deliver, rescue and save us during the night times of this life. In both the Old Testament times of the Patriarchs and the New Testament accounts of the disciples, help from the hand of God comes when we need it most and often when we least expect it.  

One day while sitting on the Mount of Olives with Jesus, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked Jesus a direct question about the last days and what would be the sign of His coming. Jesus gave His memorable discourse as recorded in Mark 13 saying you shall hear of: 

• · Wars and rumors of wars 
  
• · Nation will rise against nation 
  
• · Earthquakes in various places 
  
• · Famines 
  
• · Troubles 
  
• · Persecutions 
  
• · Brother against brother 
  
• · Father against son 
  
• · Children against parents 
  
• · Worldwide hatred of Christianity 
  

But none of these things mark the end Jesus said. Rather these are only the beginning of sorrows for an ungodly world driven by lust, greed, power and prominence. Truly, the love of money is the root of all evil.  

What else can we expect from a world without God. 

Mark 13:20 (NKJV)  And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days. 

We live in extreme times. The prophecies of the Bible are unfolding right before our eyes … literally! 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, we have a front row seat to what is happening around the world via the world wide web. Our phones, our watches, our workstations, and even our eyeglasses have all become giant screen televisions keeping us constantly informed on the latest news, sports, entertainment, and the financial markets of the world.  

Artificial intelligence gives us access to research, writes proposals, teaches university courses, pilots commercial jets, manages financial portfolios, prescribes medicine, and gives advice on everything from religion to raising vegetables. The next world war will be more like a video game than an armed conflict between human combatants.  

On the one hand the future of the world is as bright as it has ever been and on the other hand things have never been darker. Just in the last 100 years, men and women have moved the world within one decision of total destruction. Today man possesses the ability to destroy all life as we know it. We have also moved ourselves into a deep spiritual darkness. We cannot continue on this path. Our only hope is in Christ. 

Mark 13:35 Watch therefore: for you know not when the master of the house comes, at evening, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: 

Jesus has made it very clear that we do not know and cannot predict the end, but we do know He will come to save us in a time of darkness, when perhaps we least expect. This verse, Mark 13:35, speaks of the 4 Roman Night Watches.  

• · 1st Night Watch = The Evening – 6pm until 9pm 
  
• · 2nd Night Watch = Midnight – 9pm until 12am Midnight 
  
• · 3rd Night Watch = Cockcrowing – 12am until 3am 
  
• · 4th Night Watch = Morning – 3am until 6am 

Turn with me to the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 14, where we can see a life parallel, an overlay if you will, of the coming of the Lord. 

Matthew 14 – The setting: 

• · Jesus and His disciples had just finished feeding more than 5000 people with only 3 fishes and 5 barley loaves. 12 baskets full of fish and bread were left over after the miracle Jesus performed that day.  
  
• · Jesus was tired and burdened by the death of John the Baptist and He really wanted to be alone. (vs. 10 - 13) 
  
• · But when He saw the multitudes, He had compassion on them and gave them His attention. He healed and fed them all. 
  
• · After Jesus met their immediate needs, (which were only temporary needs), He wanted to spend time with His Father and talk to Him. So, Jesus sent His disciples and the multitudes away.  
  

Matthew 14 NKJV 

22  Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 

23  And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. 

• · The 1st Nightwatch = Evening – 6pm until 9pm 
  

24  But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. 

• · By 6pm Jesus was already alone in prayer and the disciples were in the middle of their journey and caught in a storm. 
  

25  Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 

• · The 4th Watch of the Night = The Morning Watch – 3am until 6am 
  

Bless these boys’ heart … the disciples, having obeyed Jesus, they were doing exactly what He said, right in the middle of God’s will, and they had been rowing hard, but they were stuck in a storm for at least 9 hours while Jesus was praying on a mountain top spending time with His Father.  

The distance across the Sea of Galilee at that point is only about 4 miles and it could have been sailed or rowed easily in an hour. Yet, they were 

only about halfway. Don’t you know they were all tired, troubled, and afraid. 

Right when they least expected it, in their nighttime, perhaps the darkest part of their journey, Jesus came walking on the water. It seemed too good to be true.  

Here comes Jesus … but … the storm was not over yet! 

Matthew 14 NKJV 

26  And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. 

27  But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” 

28  And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” 

29  So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 

The storm was still raging but they saw Jesus! 

Perhaps your storm is raging or maybe you have experienced some dark times of life. You can be right in the middle of God’s will, doing exactly what God wants, and yet the storms rage against you.  

This passage is a picture showing us what we can do when storms arise in our lives and we grow tired, troubled or afraid.  

• 1. Open your ears to the voice of God.  
  
• a. They heard His voice. 
  
• b. Jesus is always saying, “Take courage. Do not be afraid.” 
  
• c. He will never say “I don’t know what you can do …” 
  
• d. The Word of God will always bring us comfort and direction. 
  
• 2. Ask Him for a miracle. 
  
• a. If this is really You Lord, show me something impossible … 
  
• b. Ask me to do something I cannot possibly do without you … 
  
• c. Give me the miracle I am asking for. 
  
• 3. Take a step of faith. 

• a. Get out of the boat … 
  
• b. Take a bold and courageous step … 
  
• c. Remember, the storm is still raging … you are however no longer limited by tiredness, trouble or fear … 
  
• d. You have the promise and the presence of the Son of God. 
  
• 4. Keep your eyes on Jesus! 
  
• a. Which is something Peter failed to do … 
  
• b. Peter got distracted by the storm and became afraid again. 
  
• c. Fear wants to get in the way of your miracle. 
  

Matthew 14 NKJV 

30  But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” 

31  And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 

• · Doubt = Distazo (Gk) – Think twice; have second thoughts. 
  
• · Get your eyes off of Jesus and entertain second thoughts and you will begin to sink. 
  
• · But he cried out to Jesus … “save me!”  
  
• · Immediately Jesus lifted him up! 
  

32  And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 

33  Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.” 

This is a picture of Jesus coming again to put and end to the storms of this world and save His followers. One day the wind will cease and those in the boat will worship Jesus forever declaring “Truly You are the Son of God!” 

What would you ask God for if you believed He would do it? We are in a year of miracles. Most likely you are already walking on water. Realistically, we are already in the biggest miracle of our lives. We have been saved and are on our way to eternal life … what shall we fear?  

Open your ears to the Word of God; Ask God for a miracle; Take a step of faith; and Keep your eyes on Jesus. Jesus is coming!

ENTRUSTED PART I - ENTRUSTED WITH THE GOSPEL

Recap from the intro of this series: 

• - Entrust = To assign the responsibility of something valuable to someone in confidence 
  
• - God has entrusted us things that which He considers valuable 
  
• - We looked at the parable of the Talents learned a few things about stewardship. 
  
• - God owns everything (The master owned the entire property in the parable). The first step in stewardship is understanding that everything belongs to God. 
  
• - We are stewards of what God has given us (the talents of gold the servants had were given to them by the master). What God has given us God considers valuable.  
  
• - God expects a return (the master received a report from each servant when he returned). God expects for us to be faithful with what He has given us and not do nothing out of fear. 
  
• - What we do with what we have been given matters.  
  

Part I - The Most Valuable Message Ever Entrusted 

When someone gives you something valuable, they do so because they trust you. Think about it—babysitting someone’s child, holding someone’s wallet or purse, driving someone else’s car—all of these require trust. 

Now imagine this: God has entrusted you with the most powerful message in the world—that is the gospel. 

1 Corinthians 4:1-2 — “This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.” 

That means the gospel isn’t just something we believe. It’s something we are called to steward. It’s not just something we hear. It’s something we pass on.

We aren’t the owners of the gospel—we’re the managers of it. God has placed it in our hands with purpose and expectation. 

And what we do with it—how we handle it, live it, and share it—matters deeply to God. 

We are called to “steward” the gospel. Paul the apostle considered himself a steward of the gospel. So the question is, what is a steward? 

Steward = Someone entrusted with managing what belongs to someone else

Paul saw himself as a steward of the gospel. He expected other people to see him that way as well. He believed he was called to manage the good news about Christ. He held himself accountable and held himself to a higher standard because of the gospel of Christ. He regarded it as the most valuable thing that he possessed in His life. In fact, he regarded it as the most important thing in his life as well. There was nothing more important to Paul, than the gospel. That is saying a lot! 

What is the gospel? 

So, what is the gospel? 

Gospel = Good News 

Good News = Through Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, God offers forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and restored relationship with Him to all who believe. 

Why is the Gospel Important?

• - Because it is the only message that can save.  
  
• - The gospel is the power of God to salvation that brings forgiveness, freedom, and eternal life through Jesus Christ.  
  
• - Without it, people are lost. 

Who is it Important To?

• - It is important to everyone! 
  
• - The gospel is not limited by age, background, race, or status.  

• - Every person needs it because every soul matters to God. 
  

Why Are We Called to Steward It? 

• - Because God chose us to carry the message.  
  
• - We are His messengers. We are called to be the beautiful feet who bring the message of salvation to all. 
  
• - He has entrusted it to us—not to keep it to ourselves, but to share it with the world. 

How do we steward the gospel? 

As stewards we are called to… 

• 1. Preach the Gospel 
  Romans 1:16 — “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes”
  
  The gospel isn’t just something we believe—it is a message. And we as stewards have the responsibility to deliver the message that we have been entrusted with. 
  
  Paul says he is not ashamed of the gospel. That tells us something: there’s a real temptation to hide it. To shrink back. To go silent in a culture that does not make room for Jesus. It is easy to allow the message of the cross to be something that fades into the background. 
  
  But when we preach the gospel—boldly and clearly—we’re giving people access to the power of God for salvation. The same power that transformed our lives! 
  
  You don’t have to be a preacher or stand on stage to preach the gospel. You can share it: 
  
• • With a friend over coffee 
  
• • When you are spending time with a family member 
  
• • In a text, a post, or a testimony 
  
  You don’t have to be perfect to preach the Gospel—you just have to be faithful with it.

• 
  
• 2. Live the Gospel 
  Philippians 1:27 — “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel”
  
  My youth pastor used to tell me, “your life is often the first “sermon” people hear. 
  
  Paul tells the Philippians that our manner of life should match the message we carry. In other words, if we say we’ve been transformed by the gospel, our lives should show it. 
  
  Living out the gospel means: 
  
• • Walking in humility and grace 
  
• • To forgive as we’ve been forgiven 
  
• • To love people, even when it’s hard 
  
• • That our words and our actions line up with God’s Word 
  
• • It will be seen in our fruit 
  
  The way we live validates the message we preach.
  
• • When our lives reflect Christ, people are more likely to receive our words about Him. 
  
  
  
• 3. Preserve the Gospel 
  2 Timothy 2:2 — “What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” 
  
  The gospel must be preached, it must be lived, and it must be passed on. 
  
  Timothy taught passed on the message of the gospel, who then passed it on to others. We are part of a long line of faithful Christians who stewarded this message before us. Paul tells Timothy to entrust it to faithful people—which means this message is meant to outlive us. 

• 
  Preserving the gospel doesn’t mean changing it or modernizing it to fit culture (which some have done).  
  
  It means:
  
• • Keeping it centered on Christ 
  
• • Guarding it from distortion 
  
• • Sharing it with clarity and conviction 
  
• • Discipling the next generation to carry it further 
  
  We as stewards to be “bridge-builders” between our generation and the next. Let us make sure the gospel doesn’t stop with us.
  

Takeaways 

• 1. We have been entrusted with the most powerful message on earth 
  
  
• 2. Do not be ashamed of the gospel 
  
  
• 3. Let your life reflect the Good News of Christ 
  
  
• 4. Pass it on to others as it was passed on to you

Entrusted Intro: What You Do Matters

We are beginning a new sermon series here in the first service entitled, “Entrusted.” We are going to be looking at how we can be faithful with what God has placed in our hands. More specifically, we will be looking at 4 areas of our life that God has entrusted to us to be faithful with. 

Word Study 

What does the word “entrusted” mean? 

Entrusted = To assign the responsibility of something valuable to someone in confidence 

• • The word entrusted implies ownership by someone else, but a delegation of responsibility to another. 
  
  
• • It also implies relationship: someone trusts you enough to place something important in your care. 
  

Oikonomos = Steward, manager, one entrusted with the care of a household 

1 Corinthians 4:1-2 

“This is how one should regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards (οἰκονόμοι) of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” 

One day, we all want to hear those famous seven words, “Well done My good and faithful servant.” In order to hear those words, we have to be found faithful on this side of heaven. 

Parable of the Talents 

Matthew 25:14-19 

“14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded 

with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.” 

Summary of Matthew 25:20-30… 

What we learn from this text: 

• 1. The Master owns everything
  
  v14 — “It will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.”
  
  The talents that were given to them didn’t belong to them—they belonged to the master. 
  The Master in this story is God. The servants are us. The talents represent the things that God has entrusted to us.  
  
  The first step in stewardship is understanding that everything belongs to God. He owns everything. That means the things we have do not belong to us. Nothing belongs to us, it all belongs to God. If we want to be faithful stewards, then this is the place we have to begin. 
  
  
  
• 2. We are stewards of what God has entrusted to us
  
  v15 — “To one he gave five…to another two…to another one…each according to his ability.”
  
  The master gave each of the servants talents. That means that they did not own them. The talents didn’t belong to them. Instead, they were given to them by their master. 
  
  In the same way, God has entrusted to us that which He considers valuable. Some may have more than others. However, it is less about how much you have and more about what you do with what you’ve been given. 
  
  Steward = Someone entrusted with managing what belongs to someone else

• 
  We are called to faithfully manage that which God has entrusted us with. 
  
  
  
• 3. God expects a return
  
  v19 — “Now after a long time the master came and settled accounts…”
  
  When the master returned, he received a report from each servant on what they did with what they were given. Each of them gave a report as to what they did with what they master gave them. The master was expecting a return. 
  
  One day, Jesus will return. We will all give an account to what we have done with what we have been given. God has entrusted you with what He considers valuable. However, He expects a return on what He has given you. Why? Because God is building His kingdom. The return that He is looking for is not carnal, but eternal. 
  
  
  
• 4. What you do with what you have been given matters to God
  
  After hearing the report of each servant of what they did with what was entrusted to them, he responds accordingly. He rejoices with the first two servants and rewards them for their diligence and faithfulness. However, he was disappointed with the last servant for doing nothing with what he had been given. It is clear that the master cared about what was done with what he had given. 
  
  Similarly, God cares about what we do with what we have been given. It matters to Him what we do with what He has entrusted to us. What you do with what you have been given matters to God. 
  
  Why? Because stewardship is more than just about responsibility—it’s more about relationship. It reveals how we see God. The first two servants clearly trusted their master. What they had was not about themselves or about what they could get back. Instead, it was about their master. They wanted to give something back to him because the master was deserving. 
  
  

What we do with what we have been given shows what we believe. It shows whether we truly trust God or not. If we love God, we will want to honor Him by being faithful with what He has given us. 

Question: What are you doing with what God has given you? 

God is not asking you to do what someone else can do. He is asking you to be faithful with what He gave you. 

Four areas God has entrusted us with: 

• • Influence 
  
• • The Gospel 
  
• • Resources 
  
• • Relationships 

Takeaways 

• I. Everything Belongs to God 
  
  
• II. We are called to be stewards 
  
  
• III. What you do with what you have been given matters