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Saint Kitts and Nevis
114 Posts |
 Posted - 27 Feb 2002 : 15:09:29
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We Christians are stewards of Jesus Christ, appointed in His place to minister the gifts He has given us. This is not our choice, but His; and it is our duty to perform according to His will.
Jesus Christ has authority from the Father:
John 5:
26* For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
27* And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
and, through the Great Commission, has entrusted both His authority and power in our hands, appointing us in His stead, to accomplish the work of the kingdom:
Matthew 28:18-20:
18* And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19* Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20* Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
God has given each Christian varying manners of gifts or abilities.
Romans 11:29* For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
Romans 12:6* Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
1 Corinthians 7:7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.
Ephesians 4:8* Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
The gifts God gives us are good for us.
Matthew 7:11* If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
Luke 11:13* If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
James 1:17* Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Christians are entrusted with ministering with these gifts for ministry and upon the body of Christ.
1 Peter 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Ephesians 4:11-12 11* And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12* For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
1 Corinthians 16:3* And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.
2 Corinthians 10:8* For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:
We are accountable for how we minister these gifts, as is seen in the parable of the unjust steward, and we will be measured by our stewardship.
Luke 16:1 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.
2 And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.
* * *
11* If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?
1 Timothy 4:14* Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
2 Timothy 1:6* Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
Hebrews 11:4* By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
Phillipians 4:17* Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
We are to minister the gifts given us, not as the unsaved do and as we ourselves once did, knowing we shall be called upon to give account of our stewardship, but with charity and hospitality among fellow Christians and with wisdom and correctness of speech, to glorify God.
1 Peter 4:1-11
1 ¶ Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
3* For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
4 ¶ Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:
5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
7 ¶ But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles<3051> of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
2 Corinthians 8:19 And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:
...CONTINUED
The entire article, written by Walter Kenaston, can be seen at
http://home.digital.net/~kenaston/Xian/Stewards.html
Because Walter adds content to all his work continually, check back with the link above every so often to see what may have been added.
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