"Time To Celebrate"
November 21, 2004

The Old Testament Lesson: Psalm 100
The New Testament Lesson: Philippians 4: 4 - 7

By setting and achieving Goals in Stewardship, we have reason to rejoice.

I.   Joy is the greatest key to good stewardship
   A. I heard about a church that had a very joy-filled stewardship program!
        1. In fact, they never had a stewardship campaign.
            a. All they ever had to do was pass the plate.
            b. They always got plenty to run their operations.
            c. People wondered what their secret was.
        2. The only thing unusual about their church was their order of worship.
            a. They never had a sermon.
            b. But every week they had communion.
            c. Had communion early in every service and the offering at the end.
        3. The church went on for years before their secret was discovered.
            a. They put hashish in the communion bread.
            b. People were very joyful and quite compliant during the offering!
        4. What does it take for Christians to celebrate stewardship?
   B. The only thing we celebrate in our stewardship campaign is its end.
        1. We normally dread that time of year when we talk about finances.
        2. We bear it because we must.
        3. We rejoice when we are done.  Friends the time to rejoice has come!
        4. But the time to celebrate has never left us and here’s Why!
   C. Philippians gives us a number of reasons for an endless party!
        1. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say Rejoice.  Let your gentleness be known to everyone.  The Lord is near.
            a. Rejoice because the Lord is near!
            b. We are not isolated and alone.  We don’t stand on our own!
            c. God has promised to be with us always to the end of the age.
            d. That is an incredible reason to celebrate!
        2. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication let your requests be made to God.
            a. We rejoice because we are free from worry.
            b. That anxious wringing of hands should be a thing of the past.
            c. Because we are committed to the Lord, we turn things over to Him.
            d. When we are distressed, we have the great resource of prayer.
        3. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus!
            a. We rejoice because we have peace.
            b. And not just the transient peace that comes from things going well.
            c. a peace that others can’t understand because it thrives in trial!
            d. When we are under fire, we have an especially powerful peace.
            e. We can trust in God, knowing that our future is in God’s hands.
            f. We have placed our faith and trust in Jesus and can breath easily.

II.  These attitudes release us to be God’s good stewards.
   A. We are aware that God is at work within us
        1. We have asked God to come in an renovate our hearts by the Spirit.
        2. We know God’s presence by the changes that are occurring.
            a. We are more loving and kind and gentle.
            b. We live life with a clear purpose of spreading the good news and making disciples.
            c. We know that we are different and one a different path.
        3. By all these signs, we rejoice at God’s good work inside.
   B. We also know that God is at work through us.
        1. We have turned our abilities and our time over to God.
        2. We have pledged ourselves to God’s service first and foremost.
        3. We experience the joy of fulfilling God’s purpose in our lives.
   C. One of my greatest reasons for rejoicing is not that I trust God, but that God has trusted me!
        1. Is it not incredible, with all our failures, that God trusts us?
        2. God has committed Himself to build the kingdom through us!
        3. I remember the trouble I had learning to trust my children.
            a. There are many chores that need to be done.
            b. Always want to take part in those things that are most difficult.
            c. This summer, Robby wanted to take over mowing the lawn.
            d. I was hesitant.  Not worried about the lawn.  I worried he’d cut off his feet!  (not that those gunboats couldn’t use a trim!)
            e. My fear was completely unfounded.  Not only did he do a good job with intact feet.  He kept it trimmed far better than I ever did!
        4. God has far more reason to doubt our abilities as stewards and kingdom builders.
            a. We have struggled in the past.
            b. We struggle in the present.
            c. We’ll struggle in the future, I’m sure.
        5. Yet, God continues to prove his love by trusting us with the job.

Friends, we have ample reason to rejoice and celebrate.  We have been named stewards of the Heavenly King.  God trusts us to care for His creation and to manage His assets for the building of the Kingdom.  What a fantastic opportunity we have!  So it’s time to celebrate.  The stewardship campaign is over…but our office as stewards and our work of stewardship is just beginning!

And as you go from this place, may you walk in the way of Christ Jesus and May God always find you faithful!