09-02-12 AM - The Trust Test, Pt. 1

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“Stewardship it’s a Matter of Trust”
THE TRUST TEST
Proverbs 3:1-10 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, 2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. 3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. 9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
Future – Health – Possessions – Relationships – Family – Job.
Trust is the single most important ingredient in any relationship.                
Take personal responsibility. Do “I” really trust God?                                            
Recognize God as our source. Everything comes from Him.                                
Understand God’s principles. Biblical Principles vs. Worldly.                        
 Surrender everything to God. Act of humility and surrender.                                        
Test God’s promises. He is always faithful and our faith is built.                
I. TAKE PERSONAL INVENTORY
Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.                                                                        
1. Only God knows everything about us.
2. Only God could lead him correctly.                                                                                             3. Taking inventory and trusting God, starts with me.
Prov. 3:5-10 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. 9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
“Lord am I doing my part”?
II. RECOGNIZE GOD AS YOUR SOURCE
Deut. 8:18 But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.                                                                        
Col.1:15-20 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

III. UNDERSTAND GOD’S PRINCIPLES
First they don’t think they can give and still meet their needs.                  
Second- They don’t know how to give.                                                        
If your holding tightly to your money it may be that it has taken Gods place in your heart.
Thirdly- They lack planning.
Too many believers are in “emergency mode”.

Five Principles that make a difference:
 1.The who’s in charge principle-
Ps. 24:1 The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;
2. The give and grow principle-
Practicing Stewardship Principles enables us to:
- Find our spiritual gifts. 1Cor. 12
- Increase our faith. Malachi 3:10-11
- Become spiritually sensitive. Malachi 3:8-10
- Be fruitful in God’s Kingdom. Matthew 25:14-30
- Receive blessings from God. Malachi 3:10-12
- Be a blessing to others. Acts 6:30 Gal. 6:10
- Make an eternal contribution to the Kingdom of God. Matt. 6:20  
Stewardship training is about raising strong and healthy believers.
3.The do it now principle
  Sitting in the pew Sunday after Sunday will not get you a purple heart in God’s army.                                                                                                      
4.The I’m in debt principle-                                                                                
Romans 1:14 MSG For I have a great sense of obligation to people in both the civilized world and the rest of the world, to the educated and uneducated alike.
First to God;
Second to that great cloud of witnesses that has gone before us.
5.The Fountain of Youth Principle-