Unlocking the Power of Stewardship: A Life-Changing Sermon by Tony Evans

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Understanding Ownership and Stewardship
   • 2.1 God's Comprehensive Kingdom Ownership
   • 2.2 The Role of Humanity as Stewards
   • 2.3 The Rebellion of Lucifer and the Fall
3. Unpacking the Concept of Kingdom Stewardship
   • 3.1 Definition and Responsibilities of Stewardship
   • 3.2 The Relationship Between Ownership and Management
4. The Freedom and Responsibility of Stewardship
   • 4.1 The Freedom to Mess Up
   • 4.2 The Consequences of Poor Stewardship
5. Maximizing Potential and Being Fruitful
   • 5.1 Unleashing the Potential of Creation
   • 5.2 The Intimacy of Relationship with God
   • 5.3 The Intimate Relationship as a Basis for Rule
6. Benefits of Kingdom Stewardship
   • 6.1 Experiencing God's Blessing
   • 6.2 Ruling in Concert with Relationship
7. Giving Up Ownership and Embracing Stewardship
   • 7.1 Surrendering Ownership in Favor of Management
   • 7.2 Pleasing the Owner and Unleashing Potential
8. Conclusion

Understanding Ownership and Stewardship

In today's world, the concept of ownership often dominates our thinking. We believe that we have the right to possess and control everything within our reach. However, as believers, it is essential to understand that true ownership lies solely in the hands of God. He claims comprehensive kingdom ownership of all creation (Psalm 24:1). This means that everything we have is ultimately His, and we owe nothing.

So, what then is our role? We are called to be stewards—managers—of what God has entrusted us with. God has given us the freedom to mess up what He has created, but it is our responsibility to manage it well. Just like owners hire management companies to take care of their properties, God has chosen mankind as His management team. Before the creation of humans, angels served as God's management team. However, one of the angels, Lucifer, rebelled against God and tried to claim ownership. This rebellion led to his downfall and his banishment from heaven.

Unpacking the Concept of Kingdom Stewardship

Kingdom stewardship involves the responsible management of God's creation. It is our earthly responsibility to protect and expand the assets that belong to God. We are entrusted with the task of maximizing the potential of what God has created. Stewardship goes beyond mere ownership; it is about using what God has given us for His glory.

Unfortunately, many people confuse ownership with stewardship. They claim ownership over what they possess without realizing that it all belongs to God. This conflict between ownership and management leads to chaos and misunderstandings. As stewards, we must align our actions with the will and purposes of the owner. We work for God, and He expects us to manage His creation according to His design.

The Freedom and Responsibility of Stewardship

As stewards, we enjoy the freedom to manage what God has entrusted to us, but this freedom also comes with great responsibility. We have the freedom to mess up what God created, including our own lives. However, reckless management can have severe consequences. When we stray from our role as stewards, conflicts arise between the owner's will and our actions. We must remember that we work for God; He does not work for us.

Although ownership grants freedom and control, it is in relinquishing ownership that we find true fulfillment and purpose. By accepting our role as managers, we position ourselves under the authority of the owner. God has given us the freedom to choose, but He desires that we use our freedom to steward His creation wisely.

Maximizing Potential and Being Fruitful

Maximizing the potential of God's creation is at the core of stewardship. Just as a farmer cultivates the soil to unlock its potential, we are called to cultivate and bring out the potential of God's creation. Our role as stewards goes beyond maintaining what exists; it involves discovering and developing new possibilities.

This fruitful stewardship requires intimacy with God. We are to mirror God's image and reflect His rule in all that we do. Intimacy with God grants us insight and understanding, enabling us to unleash the full potential of His creation. Living by revelation, rather than human reason, is the key to successful stewardship.

Benefits of Kingdom Stewardship

Embracing kingdom stewardship brings abundant blessings. When we align ourselves with God's will and faithfully carry out our responsibilities, we experience His favor and goodness. We are entrusted with the favor of God to benefit not only ourselves but also others.

In ruling as stewards, we find fulfillment and purpose. As we reframe our perspective from owners to managers, we come to understand that our true fulfillment lies in pleasing the owner. We learn to surrender ownership and embrace the privilege of stewardship.

Giving Up Ownership and Embracing Stewardship

It is time to let go of the illusion of ownership and fully embrace our role as stewards. We must recognize that everything we have is a gift from God and that it is our responsibility to manage these gifts according to His will. By doing so, we invite the owner's pleasure into our lives and experience the transformative power of stewardship.

In conclusion, kingdom stewardship calls us to surrender the concept of ownership and wholeheartedly embrace our role as managers. Our purpose is to protect and expand what God has entrusted to us, maximizing its potential for His glory. Let us release the burden of ownership and engage in the privilege of stewardship, inviting God's blessing and favor into our lives.