It's the Lord's--Not Yours!

Larry Dickens

August 17, 2014 PM

 

It is the Lord's--Not Yours

 

Introduction

A.   Concept of Ownership has a Biblical basis - Eccl 5:13: Isa 1:3; Mk 14:14

B.   Concept is basis of sins of theft and covetousness - Eph 4:28; Deut 5:21

C.   However, our concepts of ownership, possession, and what is mine or yours become confused.

D.   Hence, the title: It's the Lord's; Not Yours... as we survey some things which really belong to the Lord.

 

I.   The Earth, the nations, material blessings and even the People.

A.   Ps 24:1 "The earth is the Lord's..."

1.   Holding the deed does not make it mine.

B.   Even "our" food - 1 Cor 10:25‑26

C.   Not Civil Governments - Ps 22:28; 1 Pet 2:13; Rom 13:1

 

II.  God's Word, Will, way, message

A.   The Bible is not my will or yours; it is God's will for you. - 1 Thess 5:18

B.   The precepts of men do not equal the doctrine of Christ - Matt 15:8-9  

C.   The things written are the Lord's commandment - 1 Cor 14:37‑38

D.   The word of God's message must be accepted Anot as the word of men, but for what it is, the word of God - 1 Thess 2:13

 

III. The Church

A.   Jesus Christ built "My church" - Matt 16:18

B.   It is "over His house whose house we are."- Heb 3:6

C.   He has the church just a man has his wife. - Eph 5:25‑28

D.   You are of "God's household," a dwelling of God. - Eph 2:19‑22

E.   The Church is God's building.  - 1 Cor 3:9

F.   We are the people of God's possession. - 1 Pet 2:9-10

1.   It is not my church, your Church, our church, etc.

2.   "We" are not having another congregation.

a.   The Lord has another congregation.

b.   And all saints should rejoice.

 

IV.  The Individual Christian.

A.   "We are the Lord's" - Rom 14:7‑8

1.   We are not the masters of our lives or fate.

2.   Those trying to run their own lives ultimately fail - Jer 10:23

B.   Even with respect to your own body, "you are not your own" - 1 Cor 6:19‑20

C.   As Christians we are bond-servants to the Lord Jesus.

1.   Epaphras - Col 1:7

2.   Tychicus - Col 4:7

3.   Timothy - 1 Tim 4:6

4.   The servant follows his Master - John 12:26

 

V. The Lord's Work

A.   Timothy was doing "the Lord's work" - 1 Cor 16:10

 

B.   We are God's fellow workers - 1 Cor 3:6‑9

C.   The laborers will be rewarded, but the landowner is still the owner of the vineyard. - Matt 20:1ff

 

VI.  The Lord's Day

A.   Rev 1:10, "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day."

B.   It is His day; not "rest day," recreation day, NFL day, family day, etc.

C.   It is a day (John 11:9); not an hour.

 

VII. The Lord's Supper

A.   Instruction was received from the Lord - 1 Cor 11:23

B.   It is called "the Lord's Supper." - 1 Cor 11:20

1.   The bread is His body.  - 1 Cor 11:24

2.   The cup (the fruit of the vine) is in memory of  His blood. - 1 Cor 11:25

 

VII. The Lord's Judgment.  -   John 5:30; John 8:16; Rom 1:32 (NKJV) 

A.   He is the righteous judge - 2 Tim 4:8

B.   The people will not judge  - Matt 7:22-23.

C.   Are you ready for that day of the Lord's judgment?