November 27-28, 2004

YOUR MONEY'$ WORTH!
Learning the Secret
Contentment as the Key to Stewardship

If there were one thing that characterizes the culture we live in today, it would be the desire for MORE - and to have it RIGHT NOW.

Philippians 4:11-13
Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. [12] I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. [13] I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Acts 9:3-16
And it came about that as he journeyed, he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; [4] and he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" [5] And he said, "Who art Thou, Lord?" And He said, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, [6] but rise, and enter the city, and it shall be told you what you must do." [7] And the men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice, but seeing no one. [8] And Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus. [9] And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
[10] Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Behold, here am I, Lord." [11] And the Lord said to him, "Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, [12] and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight." [13] But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Thy saints at Jerusalem; [14] and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call upon Thy name." [15] But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; [16] for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name's sake."

Assumption: Contentment means that life will be relatively painless.

Secret #1-Content people REALIZE who they are!
A. Knowing involves the FACTS.

Romans 6:4
Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

Romans 6:6
knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin;

Philippians 3:20
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;

The facts are: I am a current CITIZEN OF HEAVEN who is ALIVE to God and dead to SIN. In Christ, I have a new IDENTITY.
Principle of Identity: We live out of who we know ourselves to be.

B. While knowing involves the facts, believing involves FAITH.

Romans 6:11
Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Secret #2-Content people PRESENT THEMSELVES before God as they really are.

While knowing involves facts, believing involves faith, presenting ourselves before God involves ACTION.

Romans 6:12-14
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lusts, [13] and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. [14] For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law, but under grace.

Romans 12:1
I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.