The Standard of Stewardship: Faithfulness - 1/4/26 - Pastor Charlie Branch

Welcome to the podcast of Meadows

Baptist Church of Walnut Cove, North

Carolina. We're so glad you joined us

today. If you enjoy today's message, be

sure to subscribe, follow, and share

with your friends. Now, let's join

Pastor Charlie Branch with a word from

God

in 1 Corinthians chapter 4. I want to

1 Corinthians 4 · chapter mention

read two verses. Stand with me in honor

of reference to the reading of God's

word. 1 Corinthians chapter 4.

1 Corinthians 4 · chapter mention

I remember several years ago, I guess

it's been exactly six years ago now

when the turn of the 2020s came around.

I remember everybody preached that

Sunday on 2020 vision. And uh I was

thinking about this year and we're still

in the 2020s. Amen.

>> And uh we're six of them down. Ain't

that hard to believe?

>> And uh but I was thinking praying this

past year coming to the close what the

Lord would have us be the vision for

this coming year. And uh he placed text

on my heart and I'm going to preach from

it this morning. You probably seen it on

the screen here. But I'm going to look

here. 1 Corinthians chapter 4 verse

1 Corinthians 4 · chapter mention

number one.

The Bible says here 1 Corinthians 4

verse number one, let a man so account

of us as of the ministers of Christ and

stewards of the mysteries of God.

Moreover, it's required in stewards that

a man be found

>> faithful.

>> And I want to preach this morning with

the help of the Lord for just a little

while on the standard of stewardship.

The standard of stewardship.

This is going to be our vision for this

year at the church. That thought of

faithfulness.

And uh I was praying Lord give me this

and I'll just give it to you on the

onset of the message. You understand the

Bible teaches that faith is something

that's not seen.

>> The Bible says in Hebrews chap 11 verse

number one that faith is faith is the

substance of things hoped for the

evidence of things not seen. I'll tell

you this. Your faith is not visible to

the eye, but your faithfulness is.

>> And I can tell you how much faith you

have by how faithful you are. Amen.

>> I want to preach on that thought. Let's

pray today and ask the Lord to help us.

Father, thank you for this good day.

Thank you, Lord, for your many

blessings. And God, thank you for the

fact, God, that you didn't leave us

where you found us. God, you didn't

overlook us. You didn't leave us behind.

And Lord, you saved us, brought us out

of darkness into your marvelous light.

And Lord, here we are all these years

later. 2025 has ended. Lord, you brought

us through another year,

>> safe and sound, still on my way to

heaven. I bless your name for that.

>> Oh God, I thank you.

>> But Lord, I realize, Father, this year

going to bring new challenges,

Lord, new troubles, God. But I also know

it's going to bring new blessings.

>> Yes. But God, I pray this morning, Lord,

that we would make our mind up in this

service today. Lord, the way that we're

going to view this coming year, Lord, is

through the eyes of the word of God.

>> And Lord, I pray you'd speak to every

heart, save that one that's nearest hell

today and reclaim the backslid. We'll be

sure to give you thanks for what you do

because we ask it in Jesus name. And

God's children said,

>> "Thank you for standing. You can be

seated this morning."

Now, I dealt with chapter number three

in Sunday school this morning a little

bit. We talked about the judgment seat

of Christ. And I want to deal here in

this text here, chapter 4:es 1 and two,

concerning this matter of stewardship

and the standard of stewardship. Now,

the Bible has much to say about

stewardship and this truth. You look at

the Old Testament, stewardship is a very

prevalent doctrine all throughout the

word of God. And uh I was thinking about

this text and considering where the Lord

would have us to go with this message

this morning, this thought. And I I

really just want to walk through the

verses with you if I may. I want to

consider chapter 3 here. Look there in

chapter 3 and verse number 21.

Chapter 3 21. The Apostle Paul says,

"Therefore, let no man glory in men."

And notice this statement. For all

things are yours.

>> I don't know about you, but that makes

me happy. Amen.

>> Amen. I'll tell you why in just a

minute. Whether Paul or Apollos or Cphus

or the world or life or death or things

present or things to come, notice it

again. All are yours. Verse 23.

And ye are Christ and Christ is God's.

And isn't it interesting that these are

the verses that lead up to our text in

verses 1 and two. Now you say,

"Preacher, but they're divided. There's

a break." Well, I want to remind you

something. Not the chapter divisions and

verse divisions are not inspired. We

look at this text, and you need to link

the whole thing together. You see, the

stewardship issue in verses 1 and two of

chapter 4 goes back to verses 21 through

23 of chapter number three. And I want

to give you three things by way of

introduction concerning this. Now, in

Sunday school, I said this this morning.

And the cont the Corinthian church was

drawing distinctive lines of who they

were saved under in chapter 3 and verse

number four. And it was causing some of

them to walk carnally. And that what it

was doing is they were glorying in men.

And Paul rebukes this throughout this

chapter. He rebukes it for many

different reasons. For the defilement

that was a part of them, for the the

wisdom of worldliness in verse number n

18, 19, and 20. And he ends with this

statement in verse 21. He says,

"Therefore, let no man glory in men."

You understand this morning when it

comes to your life and mine, we are no

different at all this morning. You

realize that if you are saved and I am

saved this morning, we are simply

servants of Jesus Christ.

>> But we there's no totem pole in

Christianity. Amen. There's no

hierarchy. Amen. There is no

governmental leadership. You understand?

We are operating under the authority of

Jesus Christ. And Paul says this, he

speaks first of all of this glory that

we are to reject. Notice that.

Therefore, let no man glory in men. And

so, we should not revel in who we know

or who we are acquainted with. We should

not use people in our life to get us

places. Amen. And Paul directly here is

speaking of people in the church. Now,

I've heard preachers do this. Preachers

are bad for this. Amen. They'll get in a

contest of name calling. Amen. They'll

get around one another and they'll see

how many names of famous preachers that

they can call to make themselves feel

better about their acquaintances. Amen.

But you know what the truth is? Amen.

Really what it comes down to at the end

of the day. If I had never known any

preacher, never been to any church, if I

know Jesus Christ, hey, that puts me at

the top. Somebody say amen. We're not to

glory in men because why? Well, Paul

says here in the text that men here in

this text, they only have a figure of

wisdom. In verse number 18, he said, "If

any man among you, notice this, seemth

to be wise in this world." You see,

wisdom in this world is only seeming

wisdom. Amen. It's not real wisdom.

Amen. Real wisdom, the Bible says, is

from heaven. Amen. It's not sensual or

devilish. Amen. But it is from heaven

and it's from God Almighty. And so

worldly wisdom is just a form. It's just

a figure of wisdom and then worldly

wisdom fails. In verse number 19, the

wisdom of this world is foolishness with

God. For it is written, he taketh the

wise in their own craftiness. If you are

walking in carnal, worldly selfish

wisdom, you ultimately will fail and

fall every single time. Hey, it's not

about you turning over a new leaf. 2026

is not the time to turn over a new leaf.

If you're lost, you need to be saved.

Amen. And if you're saved, you need to

get right with God. Somebody say amen

right there. That worldly wisdom will

fail you every single time. He tells

them not to glory in men because they

only have a form of wisdom. They only

have failing wisdom. But he also says

that their wisdom is fruitless. In verse

20 again, the Lord knoweth the thoughts

of the wise. Notice this. That they are

what? Vain. They're empty. They produce

nothing. I'll say this. I don't know

about you, but I want for this church to

be fruitful in 2026. Amen. I want God to

bless. And so Paul tells us here of the

glory that we are to reject. In verse

21, we're not to exalt men. We're not to

exalt one another. We're to exhort one

another. Amen. Encourage one another in

the Lord. To walk together, amen, in

faith and truth together. Notice what

your Bible says. Not only the glory that

we ought to reject, but notice the gift

that we have received in verse 21 and

22. For all things are yours. All

things. Now, I want to say this to you

this morning. What we're going to read

in verse 22 does not mean, amen, that we

believe, name it, claim it, religion.

Somebody say, "Amen." We don't believe

word, faith, doctrine. We don't believe

if you just speak Jesus, amen, you can

get saved. All right? When you trust

Christ by faith, that's salvation. But

you can't just say his name. Amen. Hey,

the world calls him by name. The devils

call him by name. But I'll say this,

until you adhere to him in obedience,

there will be no faith in your life. And

so what he is saying here in this text

is for the church and the church alone.

Look what he says. For all things are

yours.

Now you might not understand the

blessing of this, okay? But let me just

give you this. All right? You know what

the Bible says? Romans chapter 8 verse

Romans 8:28

28.

For all things work together for good

>> to them that love God, to them who are

the called according to his purpose. And

Paul describes in verse 22 their

differences. You remember they were

divided in verse number four and five

over Paul and Cphus which is Peter and

Apollos. And Paul tells them he says all

things are yours whether Paul or Apollos

or Cphus. What is he saying? He's saying

all these preachers, he says, "These

guys are here to help you."

>> Amen. You can't just claim one of them

and say that he belongs to me and nobody

else can have him. You understand? God

called men to preach. Amen. And you

can't take that out of a man's life. You

can't take away a man from his ministry

if God has put him in that ministry.

Amen. And they were desirous to lift up

one above another. But the truth is in

this text the he is telling them hey God

has given you these men to help you. You

say preacher what do you mean? Well to

put it in simple terms this morning God

has given you the people around you.

>> Yes

>> for your benefit. You're

>> right.

>> Amen.

>> You say preacher what about the lost

people at my workplace? Well they're

souls for you to win for Jesus Christ.

Amen. The people in church are are

saints that you can fellowship with.

When a Christian realizes, hear what I'm

fixing to say this morning. When a

Christian realizes that everything and

everybody in his life is for his

benefit, it'll change your tune a little

bit. You're

>> right.

>> Notice this what he says. He mentions

the people. Not only the people, but the

places. Look what he says in verse 22.

Whether Paul or Apollos or Cphus, notice

this, or the what? World. That's all

places. And all places include what? All

people. You know what? For a child of

God, there is nowhere that a child God

can go where he cannot be fruitful.

>> You're right.

>> Amen. Boy, that's helping me this

morning.

>> You know what? Hey, friend, every

preacher, Amen. Every teacher, every

Christian, Amen. God has a place for

them. But the truth is, if that place

turns their back on that preacher or on

that teacher or on you as a Christian,

God has a whole world that we can

witness to. And you know what? It's all

for our benefit. Yes, you're right.

>> I'm saying we have been blessed with the

benefit of the entire world. You say,

"Preacher, what are you saying?" I'm

saying that a Christian, hey, there's

people that talk about that, you know,

Elon Musk and those guys have the world

at their fingertips. Well, let me say

this to you this morning. As a

Christian, you've got more of the world

at your fingertips than anybody else.

>> Right?

>> You have the opportunity. You have the

ability through the POWER OF GOD TO

REACH any soul. and every soul that you

COME ACROSS WITH THE GOSPEL. AMEN.

>> Y'all not hooking up with this this

morning. Amen. Notice this in the text.

We'll get somewhere in a minute. Okay.

The people, the places, not the

provision in verse 22. Or the world or

what? Life.

God has given us breath

>> to live.

>> I'm saying a Christian's the only one

THAT CAN REALLY ENJOY BREATHING.

>> You're right.

>> Amen. Hey, when a lost person breathes,

they're just thankful they're breathing.

They don't know where it comes from.

Amen. But I'll say this. When a child of

God inhales and exhales,

you know what THAT IS? THAT'S GOD.

>> AMEN.

>> THAT'S LIFE.

>> AMEN. Jesus said, "The thief cometh not,

but for to steal and to kill and

destroy, shall I come that they might

have life and they might HAVE IT MORE

ABUNDANTLY." WHAT DID HE SAY? ALL THINGS

ARE YOURS. THAT'S RIGHT.

>> I'm telling you, this is greatest the

greatest positional truth you'll ever

hear in your life. I'm saying

everything. You say, "Preacher, I OWN IT

ALL. I don't own it all." Oh, BUT THE

TRUTH IS YOUR FATHER DOES. AMEN. And

because he does, you do. Amen. Hey, I'm

saying, friend, there's no place.

THERE'S NO POSITION. THERE'S NO PERSON

THAT GOD WILL WITHHOLD FROM YOU BECAUSE

ALL THINGS ARE YOURS. AMEN.

>> AMEN.

>> I'm not preaching prosperity this

morning. And I'm just telling you what

the Bible says. Amen.

>> Notice this. Whether Paul or Apollos or

Cphus or the world or life, that

provision. Notice this. Or death. You

say, "Preacher, death." Death. How did

that get in this list? Well, you know

what life is? That provision. It's that

power that we're given to live. But you

know what death is? It's just

deliverance

>> for the child of God. Death is just

deliverance.

>> Amen. Death is just stepping out of this

life and stepping into that life. Amen.

I'm saying all things are yours. Hey, I

don't got to worry about dying cuz the

moment that I die, I live in a way that

I'VE NEVER LIVED BEFORE. SOMEBODY SAY,

"AMEN." DEATH IS JUST A DOORWAY INTO THE

HEAVENLY. WHY? ALL THINGS ARE YOURS. I'M

SAYING THIS WORLD AND EVERYTHING IN IT

IS FOR THE CHILD OF GOD. AMEN.

>> Or death.

The power of death is for us. Man,

there's so much I want to preach right

here, but I got to move on.

The people, the places, the provision of

life, the power of death. Notice the

present time in verse number 22. Or

things present, everything that now is.

If if all of that, if all the people and

all the places and just life itself, if

that doesn't cover it all, he says

things present. Everything that now is

>> right

>> is yours. You're

>> right.

>> Amen. Is yours. You say, "Preacher,

where are you going?" Just hang on. All

right. I'm going somewhere. Look what he

says. Or things to come. Oh, man.

>> We talking about death is just a

doorway. But you understand on the other

side of that doorway is life.

>> Amen.

>> That will never ever

end.

>> You're right.

things present or things to come. You

understand? God has prepared a place for

HIS PREPARED PEOPLE AND ALL THINGS

PRESENT RIGHT NOW IN THIS MOMENT. I'm

thankful. Amen. The past is a promise,

but we can't GO BACK THERE. EVERYTHING

THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW AND EVERYTHING

WE'LL EVER HAVE IN THE FUTURE, IT'S ALL

OURS BECAUSE GOD HAS GIVEN it to us.

>> Right?

>> Notice that little phrase in verse 22.

or things to come. Notice it again. All

hour are yours. You say, "Preacher, what

does this mean?" What does this mean?

You say, "Preacher, I can't have

everything." No, you're not going to

have everything,

but you can have everything God wants

you to have.

>> Amen.

>> Well, ain't that good, Brother Leon?

>> I don't want nothing else than what God

wants me to have.

>> Amen. He says, "All things are yours."

And that all things is everything

>> that God wants me to have.

>> You know these young people, right? I

may not even get to the message. Amen. I

may not even get there.

>> Everything that God has for your life,

you can have it.

>> Amen.

>> That's right.

>> You can have the ble I'm not talking

about money. I'm not talking about jobs.

I'm not talking about an education. I'm

talking about the blessedness of knowing

God, the ministry of serving Jesus. And

I'm going to butcher this outline. Amen.

But the Bible tells us right there in

the verse. Look what HE SAYS. ALL ARE

YOURS. WHAT IS IT FOR? WHY do we have

all of this?

Because he has given us the provision

>> to live for him.

>> Yes. Amen.

>> He wants you to choose him. He wants you

to serve him. And therefore, he says all

is yours. Amen.

>> You're right.

>> It's all yours.

>> Amen.

>> I'm telling you.

>> And if that's not good enough, all

right, if that's not good enough, notice

verse 23. The glory we are to reject the

gift that we have received. But notice

the grace that we have realized. Verse

23. And ye are Christ.

>> Amen.

>> You know, it's not so much about the

possessions that you have.

>> Come on. as it is about the possession

that you are.

>> Yes. Amen.

>> Amen.

>> Who you are, Amen. matters more than

what you have.

>> You're right.

>> But oh friend, because of who you are,

>> is why you have what you have this

morning.

>> Amen.

>> As a child of God, I am heir and joint

heir with Jesus Christ to everything,

ALL OF IT, FOR ALL ETERNITY. IT BELONGS

TO ME. WHY IS THAT? BECAUSE HE OWNS IT.

AND BECAUSE HE OWNS IT, HE OWNS ME AND I

OWN IT ALL. AMEN. IN HIM.

>> AMEN.

>> And ye are Christ. Grace that we have

realized we have, we possess all things,

but we are a possession

>> of Jesus Christ.

>> And you are Christ and Christ is God's.

We are secure in the person of Jesus

Christ. Two things this morning. And

we're five minutes till 12, but that's

all right.

Notice first of all in our text verse

number one, notice the measure of their

standing in our text. You said,

"Preacher, what does this have to do

with stewardship?"

Well, to be a steward, you've got to

have put something put in your trust.

>> You're right.

>> This is what I love about stewardship.

All right, I'm going to get on my

outline here just a little bit, but it'd

be all right. You know what the thing

about a steward is?

He can be given the wealth of the world.

I mean, of all the world. And it doesn't

really belong to him.

>> You're right.

>> But it's in his power to do with it what

he wants to.

>> Yeah.

>> Listen to me, young people. You have

been given the wealth of all eternity.

>> Right.

>> And it doesn't belong to you. You said,

"Preacher, well, you just said it's all

yours." Here's the truth about it. All

right. It doesn't belong to you, but God

has entrusted it to you and says it's

yours.

>> You're right. That's good. Come on.

>> And so here's the here's the thing about

that. Okay, I've not got time to preach

this this morning. Y'all pray for me.

All right. The measure of our standing

is what we do with what God has given

>> right

>> to us. Notice what your Bible says.

First of all, the measure of their

standing is found number one in their

ministry. Verse number one, let a man so

account of us as of what? The ministers

of Christ. You see the ministry that the

child of God possesses is the ministry

of Jesus Christ. What is that ministry?

It is declaring the gospel. It is

dispelling the enemy. Amen. It is

declaring the gospel. It is dispelling

the doctrine of the enemy and drawing

near to God. He says we are ministers of

Christ. What are we doing? We are

serving Jesus.

>> Amen.

>> We are servants. Notice that word

ministers. That literally means a

servant. That means number one, I would

say this ministry has been delegated to

us. Amen. We're service. Okay, I'm going

to get somewhere with this. All right,

stay with me. We've been delegate. We've

had the ministry delegated to us. We've

been given direction in this ministry.

God has delegated us the ministry, but

he has given us direction in the

ministry. And what is that direction in

the ministry? It is defined in that one

word in verse number one, Christ. Amen.

>> Remember what Paul said? He said, "For

me to live is what?"

>> Christ.

>> And to die is gain.

>> Right?

>> You see, our life is summed up in one

word, Christ.

>> Amen.

>> He has delegated us authority. He has

given us direction. And he has defined

our ministry in Christ.

>> Right?

>> What did Paul say in the book of

Philippians? He said let this mind which

let this mind be in you which was also

in Christ Jesus. So our purpose is found

in Jesus. You see their ministry. You

see their management in verse number

one. Look what the Bible says. Let a man

so account of us or the measure that

accounting is the measure. And so he

says we're as the ministers. Our

ministry is of Christ. And then our

management. Notice what he says and

stewards. And stewards of the mysteries

of God. Now what does that mean? Well,

this management here shows that there's

been a revelation. Something has been

placed in their trusts. And so, because

of that revelation, they have a

responsibility. Something they have, it

belongs to them. And then out of that

responsibility, there is a rendering

that they are to share that. And what is

it? Notice the mystery in verse number

one. He said, "We're stewards of the

mysteries of God." What are these

mysteries? Well, Paul here reveals in

these chapters of the word of God

through his epistles. He reveals the

mystery of the cross in 2 Corinthians

2 Corinthians 5 · chapter mention

chapter 5 verse number 15 and verse

number 19. He said there in the text, he

said, "If one died for all, then we're

all dead." Amen. And it was the cross

was the mystery of salvation of those

that would believe. That's what he said

in Romans 1 and verse 16. For I am not

ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for

it's the power of God and the salvation

to everyone that believeth to the Jew

first and also to the Greek. He says

again in Galatians chapter 3 and verse

Galatians 3 · chapter mention

number 13. I'm going to turn there and

read these verses. Amen. I hope y'all

ain't in no hurry. Amen. Galatians

Galatians 3:13

chapter 3 verse 13, Christ hath redeemed

us from the curse of the law, being made

a curse for us. For it is written,

cursed is everyone that hangeth on a

tree. And he says in verse number 19,

wherefore then serveth the law, it was

added because of the transgressions till

the seed should come to whom the promise

was made. And it was ordained by angels

in the hand of a mediator. I'm saying

God has promised us the cross. Ephesians

chapter number two verse number 16.

Listen to what he says. And that he

might reconcile both unto God in one

body by the cross, having slain the

enmity thereby, and came and preached

peace to you which were far off and to

them that were nigh. For through him we

both have access by one spirit unto the

father. You see, the Jews didn't

understand the cross. They thought they

were killing a false teacher. But Paul

looked back and said it was a mystery.

God was bringing deliverance and

bringing salvation to the world of lost

people so that they could be saved. It

was the mystery of the cross. He brought

not only the mystery of the cross, but

he brought the mystery of the church.

Notice that in Ephesians chapter number

three, Ephesians chapter number three.

Listen to what he says concerning the

church. He gives this mystery in three

different places. Notice chapter number

three and verse number nine. Listen to

what he says. And to make all men see

what is the fellowship of the mystery

which from the beginning of the world

hath been hid in God who created all

things by Jesus Christ to the intent

that now under the principalities and

powers in heavenly places might be known

by the church the manifold wisdom of God

according to the eternal purpose which

he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

That is the church. Listen to what he

says in chapter five and verse number

verse number 30. Listen to what he says.

For we are members of his body and of

his flesh and of his bones. For this

cause shall a man leave his father and

mother and shall be joined unto his wife

and they two shall be one flesh. This is

a great mystery. But I speak concerning

Christ and the church.

>> Right?

>> Paul revealed the cross. Paul revealed

the church.

>> Right? He revealed the church in

Colossians chapter 1 and verse number

Colossians 1 · chapter mention

18. But I'll say this, he also revealed

the coming of the Lord in the rapture.

>> 1 Corinthians 15:51-53.

1 Corinthians 15:51–53

You know the verses. 1 Thessalonians

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18

4:13-18.

Paul revealed these mysteries. You say,

"Preacher, what does this have to do

with us?" Well, the ministry that we've

been given is a ministry of management.

>> You're right. Amen.

>> What is that management of? It's a

management of the mysteries.

the mysteries. You say, "Preacher, but

they're not mysteries now." That's

exactly right.

>> Yes.

>> We've been given them.

>> Amen.

>> We know about the cross. It's the

gospel.

>> Jesus died. He was buried. And he rose

again the third day. We know about the

church that it was the promise that God

would send the church of the living God

so that he his people could know his

word. And then the promise of the fact

that he would come again. We have been

given, we've been entrusted. The measure

of their standing is what they do with

these mysteries. Now, isn't this

interesting? Notice our verse this

morning. I'm going I'll be done here in

just a minute. You see, the measure of

their standing. It's seen in the

ministry. It's seen in their management.

It's seen in the mysteries. But it's

notice also here the mandate of their

stewardship in verse two. Moreover, it

is required in stewards that a man be

found faithful. That word moreover there

in verse number two means furthermore or

to add to. And he says here in this

verse, if they are servants of the

father, that they're ministers of Christ

and stewards of the faith of the

mysteries of God, it stands that they

must be faithful. You're

>> right.

>> Let me ask you something this morning.

If you were given the trust to take care

of an a account or a estate that was

worth millions and billions of dollars,

don't you think that that person that

would give that to you would make sure

that you were trustworthy

>> to handle it?

>> Far greater than the estate of the

richest millionaire and billionaire in

the world.

>> Come on. The gospel that we've been

entrusted holds the key to eternity.

You're

>> right.

>> For a lost and dying world.

>> And he says, "Moreover, furthermore, it

is required in stewards that a man be

found faith." Now, I want you to notice

this. All right? And I'll be done. I

would say first of all, you see that

there's a standard that's upheld. Verse

two. Moreover, it is required. Now, we

don't like that word, but I'll say this.

Your salvation did reccome with a

requirement.

>> You're right.

>> You say, "Preacher, I thought it was by

grace through faith, not of works."

Said, "Man, you're right. It's not." But

you know what? After you get saved,

there's a requirement.

>> That's right.

>> You see, you've been made a steward. And

with that stewardship comes a standard

that you can't remove from. You say,

"Preacher, what if I don't follow it?"

Well, if you was here for Sunday school

this morning, you would know that you

would have no rewards.

>> You're right.

You would have no opportunity to have

anything. The estate would be taken from

you. You say, "Preacher, has heaven be

taken away?" No, but the works, the

glory of the works of living for God in

this life would be removed. You would

have nothing to offer Jesus. You're

>> right.

>> And so, the standard is upheld. You say,

you say, "Preacher, what is that

standard?" Well, I think about there

Philippians chapter 2:es 5-8. You know,

the the ministry of Christ. Peter said

it this way. He said, "For even here

unto were you called." See, there's a

there's a requirement. And who who's the

standard? You say, "Preacher, well, if

there's a standard, who sets the

standard?" Jesus.

>> Amen.

>> You see, the Bible says that we are

called to follow in his steps. And he

was a steward of God's will and God's

word and God's work. And you know what?

He did it all perfectly. You're

>> right.

>> And so, you know what he is? He's the

standard.

>> You're right.

>> The requirement is that we be like him.

>> Yes. Then there's not only here the

standard that's upheld, but then there's

the search that's undergone in verse

two. Moreover, it's required in stewards

that a man be found.

Found faithful. You see, the standard is

seen, but there's going to be somebody

that comes around looking to see if the

standard is upheld in your life. You

see, this search that's undergone in the

text. And I I love the way the Apostle

Paul, he says this in one place. He

says, "If we would judge ourselves, we

wouldn't be judged."

>> You're right.

>> Problem is, in this day and time, we we

Christians say, "Well, I'm going to let

Jesus do my judging. I'm going to let

Jesus judge me. You can't judge me. You

can't say I'm wrong. You can't say I'm

not doing right or I should do this or I

should do that." The truth is, you're

going to stand before him one of these

days. You're going to wish you'd

listened.

>> You're right.

>> Because he's going to speak from that

book right there.

>> You're right. And when it comes down to

the truth of this text here, there is a

search that is undergone. You see, for a

child of God, this will not just be a

requirement, but it will be a request.

You say, "How is it? How why would I

request someone to search me?" Listen to

what David said. Psalm 139.

Listen to what David said. Psalm 139:23

Psalms 139:23

and 24. Search me, oh God, and know my

heart. Yeah.

>> Try me and know my thoughts

>> and see if there be any wicked way in

me.

>> Right.

>> And lead me in the way everlasting.

>> You see, the heart of a true child of

God is not going to wait until they get

to the judgment to ask Christ, "WELL,

DID I DO RIGHT, LORD? DID I DO RIGHT?"

NO. EVERY DAY, EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY

IN OUR HEART, there's a desire. There's

a burning. THERE'S A YEARNING INSIDE

GOD. AM I DOING WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO BE

DOING? THERE'S A CONSTANT SEARCH THAT IS

BEING UNDERTAKEN IN OUR LIFE TO MAKE

SURE THAT GOD IS PLEASED with how we're

handling the estate that we've been

dealing.

>> Right?

>> You see, this is the request of a true

servant. But most or many children of

God will never be what God intended them

to be because they're unwilling to be

searched.

>> You're right.

If you are unwilling to let God open

your heart and and and do open HEART

SURGERY AND TAKE OUT WHAT NEEDS TO BE

REMOVED AND PUT IN WHAT NEEDS TO BE PUT

IN, YOU WILL NEVER KNOW THE BLESSING.

>> You're right.

>> Of knowing what it is to be a true

steward.

>> You see here in this text there is the

standard that's up pay the service that

is un undergone. But notice the

sincerity that's unveiled in verse two.

It's required in stewards that a man be

found faithful.

>> You see, the standard of stewardship is

summed up in one word,

>> faithfulness.

And I want to ask you one question this

morning.

If we were to stand at the judgment seat

today

in 2025, would your stewardship been

pleasing

and fit the bill of that right there?

You see, if you've been saved, God has

entrusted you the riches of the grace of

God for all eternity.

>> Right?

And if you can look back over the last

year and you just see nothing but a

bunch of unfaithfulness,

what would it be if you stood before him

tomorrow?

>> Good.

>> You see, the truth is about our life,

and I said this at the beginning of the

message, and I'm going to say it again.

The truth of scripture is that faith is

never seen. I can't show you how much I

believe God literally,

>> right? But I hope that you know that I

believe God

>> by the sermons that I preach and the

life that I TRY TO LIVE. HEY, I BELIEVE

GOD. I BELIEVE GOD AND IT'S SEEN NOT IN

MY FAITH. IT'S NOT VISIBLE BUT MY

faithfulness

>> to him.

>> Right?

>> Let me ask you who look who can look at

your life say that person believes God.

>> That's good.

>> You see there's a difference. Notice

notice that in verse two. Moreover, it's

required in stewards that a man be found

faithful. It's a requirement. And why is

it that so many of us live as if it does

not even matter,

that we will never have to answer for

our decisions, that we will never have

to respond to judgment being passed upon

us. Hey, I'm telling you this morning,

if you do not pattern your life after

that Bible right there, you will stand

one of these DAYS AND YOU WILL SUFFER

LOSS.

>> YOU'RE RIGHT.

>> You will. You say, "Preacher, well, my

family's all right. We're doing okay.

We're getting by. We're trying to serve

the Lord the best that we can. And you

know what? You might make it through

this life bouncing and beating along the

way. And by the skin of your teeth, you

might make it by. But you know what? One

of these days, you get to the judgment,

you're not going to have nothing to

give."

>> You're right.

>> And I told him this this morning. I'm

going to tell you the same thing as the

pianist comes this morning. She's

probably Well, I don't know. She's gone.

All right. So, she's on the way. Amen.

I told him this this morning. You know

what? I'd be ashamed

to live my life and do what God called

me to do my entire life and get to the

judgment seat and walk through that fire

and it all burn up.

>> Right.

>> You see, because it's not just about

what we do.

>> You're right.

>> I knew I was going to come back to this.

>> Come on.

>> It's not just about what we do. It's not

just about how we do it, but it's about

why.

>> Why? Why are you at church this morning?

>> Come on.

>> Are you trying to make yourself feel

better?

Let's be honest.

Let me tell you how you can feel better

is get saved.

>> Amen.

>> Turning over a new leaf ain't going to

fix it.

>> Right.

>> You say, "Preacher, well, this time I'm

going to do it right." Well, the last 25

times didn't fix it.

>> You're right.

>> Moreover, it's required. Furthermore,

it's required. IT'S A STANDARD. IT IS

SET IN STONE that stewards

must be

must be not an option.

Must be found faithful.

And I want to ask you this this morning

as every heads bowed and every eyes

closed.

You say, "Preacher, what am I a steward

of?" Well, you remember what we said

there a little while ago? All things are

yours.

Every person,

every place,

every provision that God has given you,

you are a steward of that.

And you can allow it to do one of two

things. It can either benefit you

or it can hinder you.

And you could never do anything for God

because you choose to allow what belongs

to you rightfully

to hinder you from knowing the one that

gave it to you.

There is nothing more important in this

life

than doing the will of God.

It might cost you everything.

Let me tell you this. I can promise you

it'll cost you even more if you don't.

If you refuse to do the will of God, if

you refuse to do what God asks you to

do, I'm saying you are a steward this

morning. And the standard of stewardship

is faithfulness.

If you're a member of this church, you

are responsible

to be faithful to this church.

You are responsible to serve. You are

responsible to stand

and stay.

God has given you a ministry. God has

allowed you to serve him and you are a

steward of that ministry.

If you manage it improperly, it will

show

the mysteries that we've been given.

The wonder of knowing is the cross

that we can go there. We went there in

salvation and we go there continually in

prayer.

We have the opportunity to come to

church.

And if we do not attend

the cross to the church and we are not

attendant to the fact that he's coming

again, he'll come and we'll be unaware.

Let me ask you this morning. All right.

You say, "Preacher, I don't

preacher, I I don't know what you're

talking about. Stewardship. I don't

understand that, preacher. I really just

don't even know where all this starts."

Let me tell you where it starts. It

starts at Calvary.

>> Amen.

>> That mystery that's been revealed. You

see, that's the place where you can know

Jesus for the first time. It's the

cross. It's where he died. It's where

salvation was purchased. His blood was

shed for your sin. And your sin

separates from you you from God unless

you have his blood.

The Bible says if we confess our sins,

God is faithful and just to forgive us

our sins and to cleanse us from all

unrighteousness.

He'll forgive you today. Let me ask you,

nobody's looking around but me. Say,

"Preacher, I'm not saved. Preacher, I

don't know the Lord."

Slip your hand up. I want to pray for

you. Preacher, I'm not saved.

Anybody be honest between you and God?

Preacher, I'm not saved. Let me ask you

this. You said, "Preacher, I am saved.

But preacher, if I live the way that I

lived last year, I don't know that God

will let me live the rest of this year,

preacher, my sin." Yes. God sees that.

God sees that.

God sees that. Church, are you praying?

Let me ask you today. Let me ask you,

hey, he's not obligated to deal with you

forever.

But let me say this. While he is dealing

with you right now, you you can make

that thing right.

Maybe you didn't raise your hand this

morning. You're here living in sin. Hey,

get that thing straightened out.

Get right with God, child of God. Time's

too short. Life's too short. Hey, you

don't know. Tomorrow may never come for

you. Tomorrow may never come for any of

us.

>> Jesus may come. And I'll tell you this,

if you're saved BY THE GRACE OF GOD,

YOU'LL BE WITH HIM. But that judgment

seat,

man, I'm telling you, I'd hate to stand

before him

knowing I'd done nothing.

>> Knowing I had nothing to offer him,

>> thinking that I'd done something in

myself. Hey friend, if I have anything

to give to him, IT'LL BE WHAT HE'S GIVEN

TO ME.

>> Cuz in salvation, in service,

in all of that, it's all him.

But he says,

"All things are yours."

Let me ask you, what are you going to do

with all things?

It's all yours for your benefit this

morning.

Father, I pray in Jesus name.

Lord, these that are not right with you

this morning, I pray they'd get right

with you.

Lord, they've lived in sin long enough.

Why don't they come get right today?

Lord, please help them get out of their

seat.

Lord, they've not been faithful steward

of what you've given to them.

And Lord, I pray for all of us, God.

That we would do more this year for your

glory and honor. That we would go

further.

That we would go higher for you

than we've ever been before.

Lord, that there'd be a work that's seen

in our lives because of our

faithfulness.

Lord, I ask that you would help us.

Please, Father, I pray in Jesus name.

Amen.

>> Thank you for joining our service today.

We'd love it if you'd join us in person

the next time you are able at Meadows

Baptist Church. Our physical address is

2988 Stewart Road in Walnut Cove, North

Carolina. Our service times are Sunday

school at 10:00 a.m., Sunday morning

worship at 11:00 a.m., Sunday evening

worship at 6:00 p.m., and Wednesday

evening Bible study at 700 p.m. For more

information, visit us at

meadowsbaptisturch.com.

Thanks again for tuning in.