Pastor Rob Carlson: 
"The Trust Test, part two" 
From the series: "STEWARDSHIP: It's a Matter of Trust"
Sunday, October 19, 2003 

REVIEW: 

T - Taking inventory 
R - Recognize God as my source
U - Understand God's principles
S - Surrender everything to God
T - Test God's promises 

Understand God's principles: 

1. The “Who’s In Charge?” principle
2. The “Give and Grow” principle 
3. The “Do it Now” principle
4. The “I'm in Debt” principle 
5. The “Fountain of Youth” principle 

6. The "Who's #1" principle 

Matthew 22:36-38--"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 
³⁷Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 
³⁸This is the first and greatest commandment. 

Proverbs 3:9--Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 

1 Corinthians 16:2--On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 

7. The "Cheerful Attitude" principle 

Stewardship begins with loving, not giving. 

8. The "Big Shovel" principle 

You cannot out-give God. 

Luke 6:38--Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 

9. The "River" principle 

Our life is to be like a river, not a reservoir. 

5 Outlets of Power: 

• Through our life--what we are 
• Through our lips--what we say 
• Through our ministry--what we do 
• Through our money--what we give 
• Through our prayer--what we ask for in Jesus' name 

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. 

10. The "Who has Who?" principle 

Until God is in control of my life, I am out of control. 

Surrender everything to God. 

Luke 16:10--Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 

• The Independent Person (Jeremiah 17:5-6) 

• The Dependent Person (Jeremiah 17:7-8) 

Test God's promises. 

Biblical characters that passed the trust test: 

• Noah - Genesis 7:5-6 

• Abraham - Genesis 22:12 

• Joshua - Joshua 5:1 

• David - 1 Samuel 17:37-39 

PROMISES GOD GIVES HIS CHILDREN WHEN WE TITHE: 

Malachi 3:10-12--Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. 
¹¹ I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. 
¹² "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty. 

1. He will provide for us. (verse 10) 

2. He will protect me. (verse 11) 

3. Our lives will be attractive to others. (verse 12) 

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