CALVARYNEWS A PUBLICATION OF CALVARY CHURCH JULY 2018 ISSUE 207 PP5911/11/2012(031323) Bold to Make Every ‘Pint’ Count! Faithful Stewards Exalt, Equip and Evangelise in Tamil Learning to have Faith and Fun A Day at Paradise! are required to be faithful stewards of God. The his hand. So Joseph found favour in his sight, tried to come in and fool around with me,” she said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of I didn’t cultivate, why didn’t you deposit my Bible says, “And he gives grace generously. As and served him. Then he made him overseer of said. “But when I screamed, he ran outside, the entire land of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh money in the bank? At least I could have gotten the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud his house, and all that he had, that the Lord leaving his cloak with me!” Potiphar was removed his signet ring from his hand and some interest on it. Then he ordered, ‘Take the FAITHFUL but gives grace to the humble”” (James 4:6). blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s furious when he heard his wife’s story about placed it on Joseph’s nger. He dressed him money from this servant, and give it to the one sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all how Joseph had treated her. Then Joseph’s in ne linen clothing and hung a gold chain with the ten bags of silver. To those who use well c) We are should keep ourselves physically healthy that he had in the house and in the eld” master took him and put him into the prison, around his neck. Then he had Joseph ride what they are given, even more will be given, and in order to be faithful in serving God and useful to (Genesis 39:1-5 NIV). The Bible said, ‘The Lord a place where the king’s prisoners were in the chariot reserved for his second-in- they will have an abundance. But from those STEWARDS the Kingdom of God. We are also spiritual beings was with Joseph and he found favour with God. conned. And he was there in the prison. But command. And wherever Joseph went, the who do nothing, even what little they have will be By Senior Pastor Prince Guneratnam and need to be faithful students of God’s Word. His master noticed it and made him overseer of the Lord was with Joseph and showed him command was shouted, “Kneel down!” So taken away’” (Matthew 25:26-29). In the same Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, his house and the blessing of God prospered mercy, and He gave him favour in the sight of Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of all Egypt. way, the Bible says, “Yes, each of us will give but by every word of God” (Luke 4:4 KJV). The him as a faithful steward’. the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the And Pharaoh said to him, “I am Pharaoh, but a personal account to God” (Romans 14:12). Bible also says, “And let us not neglect our prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the no one will lift a hand or foot in the entire land “A faithful man will abound with blessings, but he “Moreover it is required meeting together, as some people do, but 2. JOSEPH WAS A FAITHFUL STEWARD EVEN prisoners who were in the prison; whatever of Egypt without your approval”” (Genesis who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished” in stewards that one be found encourage one another, especially now that the WHEN HE WAS TEMPTED they did there, it was his doing. The keeper of 41:39-44). From being a man sold as a slave (Proverbs 28:20 ESV). “Remember the Lord your day of his return is drawing near” (Hebrews The Bible says, “So Potiphar gave Joseph the prison did not look into anything that was and imprisoned, Joseph was now in charge of God. He is the one who gives you power to be faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2 KJV). 10:25). The assembling together is to come to complete administrative responsibility over under Joseph’s authority, because the Lord the nation of Egypt. The reward for faithfulness successful, in order to fulll the covenant he church to worship, pray and receive God’s Word. everything he owned. With Joseph there, he was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord outweighs the temptations of sin. conrmed to your ancestors with an oath” didn’t worry about a thing—except what kind made it prosper” (Genesis 39:6-9, 12, 16-23). (Deuteronomy 8:18). The Bible says, “The blessing A steward is one who manages d) We are to be faithful stewards of the earth and of food to eat! Joseph was a very handsome When we prosper, let us be aware of Jesus’ Teaching on Stewardship of the Lord makes a person rich, and he adds no another’s property, nances or other its environment. The Bible says, “The earth is and well-built young man, and Potiphar’s wife temptations. Though Joseph was misjudged We can learn from Jesus’ teaching on “the parable sorrow with it” (Proverbs 10:22). When the delegated affairs. As born-again the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and soon began to look at him lustfully. “Come and and thrown into prison, the Lord was with him. of the talents”, “The Kingdom of Heaven can be blessings of wealth and prosperity do not come all its people belong to him” (Psalm 24:1). “So sleep with me,” she demanded. But Joseph As believers, when we put God rst and stay illustrated by the story of a man going on a long from God, it comes with sorrow. believers, we are God’s stewards and God created human beings in his own image. refused. “Look,” he told her, “my master trusts faithful to the vision God gives us, we will prevail trip. He called together his servants and to be faithful is not an option. We In the image of God he created them; male me with everything in his entire household. No over every circumstance and prosper. entrusted his money to them while he was gone. Everything we have comes from God. Joseph ought to be loyal, trustworthy and and female he created them. Then God one here has more authority than I do. He has He gave ve bags of silver to one, two bags of recognised he was God’s steward of all he blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and held back nothing from me except you, 3. JOSEPH WAS PROMOTED TO BE SECOND IN silver to another and one bag of silver to the last – possessed. He was a faithful steward despite the steadfast. We must be committed and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign because you are his wife. How could I do such LINE NEXT TO PHAROAH BECAUSE HE WAS A dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then challenges he went through and God promoted dedicated to serve God and there is over the sh in the sea, the birds in the sky and a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against FAITHFUL STEWARD AND GOD WAS WITH HIM left on his trip. After a long time their master and prospered him. In the same way, we have been all the animals that scurry along the ground.”” God.” She came and grabbed him by his The Scripture records what Pharaoh said to returned from his trip and called them to give an given talents, gifts and abilities. We have the choice nothing hypocritical about our whole (Genesis 1:27-28). God has created the world cloak, demanding, “Come on, sleep with me!” Joseph, “Since God has revealed the meaning account of how they had used his money” to be faithful or unfaithful with all that we have. Let being. The faithful steward does what with all the provision that man needs to survive. Joseph tore himself away, but he left his cloak of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as (Matthew 25:14-15, 19). The master commends the us be good stewards to live, love and serve Him God has entrusted him and his When there is lack, it is not because God has in her hand as he ran from the house. She kept intelligent or wise as you are. You will be in rst two servants for he says, “Well done, my good faithfully and may the Lord say to us, “Well done, not provided, but man has failed to be the the cloak with her until her husband came charge of my court, and all my people will take and faithful servant. You have been faithful in my good and faithful servant”. faithfulness opens the door for God to faithful steward of this earth. home. Then she told him her story. “That orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne, handling this small amount, so now I will give you Hebrew slave you’ve brought into our house will have a rank higher than yours.” Pharaoh many more responsibilities” (Matthew 25:21, 23). All Bible quotations are in the New Living Translation, unless promote, prosper and cause His otherwise indicated. Joseph’s life is a good example of one who lived, The master’s commendation was based on faithful steward to prevail over every loved and served God as a faithful steward and faithfulness, not the size of the gift because we are obstacle, even his enemies.