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Conviction #9: STEWARDSHIP IS NOT JUST ABOUT GIVING… IT IS ABOUT UTLIZING WHAT GOD HAS ALREADY GIVEN US FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS

2 Corinthians 9:6-11 Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; as it is written, “HE SCATTERED ABROAD, HE GAVE TO THE POOR, HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURES FOREVER.” Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God.

Matthew 25: Parable of the Talents: His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

Luke 21:1-4 And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury. And He saw a poor widow putting in two small copper coins. And He said, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them; for they all out of their surplus put into the offering; but she out of her poverty put in all that she had to live on.”

The people of OPBC are incredibly generous, especially to the work of taking the Gospel to the ends of the earth. I am thankful for the selflessness and heartfelt giving that happens each week at OPBC. I believe that over the past 10 years we have grown in our faithful stewardship of most of what God has blessed us with…

246 years ago a congregation was formed on our property that is now called Old Powhatan Baptist Church. In their prayers, in their planning, and in their convictions they prepared the way for future generations to worship and to work for the glory of Jesus Christ.

47 years ago the church building burned to the ground. A new generation of believers gave of themselves… their money, time, and hard work… for future generations to hear, know, and believe Jesus and to worship Him.

Will you pray with me about how God would call us to faithful stewardship of the blessing He has given us… so that others… future generations as well… may know Christ?

Conviction #10: WE ARE MEANT TO MOVE FORWARD…

Luke 9:23-27 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”

Luke 9:62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

THE ANCIENT AND ETERNAL MUST BE OUR RUDDER AND THE WIND IN OUR SAILS… The Word of God must direct us the Spirit of God must energize us if we will move forward with perseverance and endurance.

John 8:31-32So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

TRADITION MUST NEVER BECOME TRADITIONAL OR IT ANCHORS US WHERE WE WERE NEVER MEANT TO STAY.

Mark 7:6-10 “‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’

You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.” And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition!

NEW IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER, BUT NOT ALWAYS BAD… IT IS NOT MEANT TO BE THE POWER TO MOVE US… IT WILL ALWAYS RUN OUT OF GAS.

1 John 2:24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father.

John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.