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We are responsible for our lives. That is stewardship. But God is sovereign. How is that possible? How can we be responsible for that over which God is sovereign?

I am often asked why should we pray, if God is in control of all things? If God is sovereign, as well as omniscient (He already knows what is going to happen) then aren't we wasting our time by praying? The answer is that God is indeed sovereign, be we still have responsibility in our life.

God is sovereign but we are also responsible. The Scriptures lay down these two ideas side-by-side, without apology, and without much explanation. In fact, we see this principle throughout the Bible. Here are a few examples. You probably know of others.

• "In his heart a man plans his course (our responsibility), but the Lord determines his steps (God's sovereignty)" (Proverbs 16:9).

• "The horse is made ready for the day of battle (our responsibility), but victory rests with the Lord (God's sovereignty)" (Proverbs 21:31).

• "Unless the Lord builds the house (God's sovereignty), its builders labor (our responsibility) in vain" (Psalm 127:1).

• David wrote, "I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; but you give us victory over our enemies" (Psalm 44:6). David didn't trust in his bow, but in God. But neither did he throw his bow away! He used it with all the skill he could muster.

• Paul writes, "To this end I labor (our responsibility), struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me (God's sovereignty)" (Colossians 1:29).

• Paul wrote, "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it (our responsibility), but God made it grow (God's sovereignty)" (1 Corinthians 3:6).

On top of all this, God invites, even instructs, us to "pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests" (Ephesians 6:18).

This idea that "God is sovereign but we are responsible" lies at the heart of stewardship. At its core, stewardship means receiving all our abilities, resources, love, relationships, spiritual gifts, possessions, and places as "gifts on loan" from a sovereign God. It means to keep an attitude of accountable responsibility tempered by profound gratitude.

Frankly, why would we want to pray to God for help unless He is sovereign? Because He is sovereign, it actually means something when we pray!

Here is your copy of firstIMPRESSIONS, Volume 10.32. Live for God, on purpose, working as though everything depended upon us, and praying as though everything depended upon Him!

Under New Management

Ever go by a store displaying a large banner in front proclaiming they are under new management? The store may have the same name, have similar merchandise, and perhaps even look the same as before. But, there is now someone new running the store. The display of "under new management" implies changes have been made, making for a new and improved operation.

Each of us should have an "Under New Management" sign around our neck! When you commit your life to Christ, your physical looks won't appreciably change. Your name won't change. Your giftings and abilities will still be there. But – you are under new management. The way your life's business has been done in the past should be different because of the new ownership.

If I enter a retail store that advertises new management, then I expect things to be better than they were. I expect to see that changes have been made, and things are run in a new and improved way. Likewise, when you become a Christian, I expect to see that there are changes that have been made!

If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creature! They are indeed "under new management!" What are you doing with your life now that you are under new management? 1 Corinthians 4:2 says "...a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful." (NLT) This Sunday at WFA we are going to look at five specific areas where new management will make a marked difference! You won't want to miss this life-changing message!

How Sharp is Your Ax?

by Os Hillman

"If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success." – Ecclesiastes 10:10

Manufacturing companies live and die by the ability of its designers, engineers, and staff to bring new products to market quickly. Yet for many organizations, a team's capacity to turn promising ideas into new revenue is diminished because of fragmented business processes, a geographically dispersed workforce, and a lack of standards across the supply chain according to an industry expert on innovation in technology.

We live in an information age where the level of knowledge is increasing at warp speed. The way you did things two years ago may not be the same way you do it today. The knowledge you have two years ago may not be adequate to compete in the global marketplace today. Businesses have gone bankrupt because they were not willing to change with the times. Have you seen a Polaroid camera lately? Do you know someone over sixty years old who chose not to learn about computers? The world passes by such people because they are unwilling to "sharpen their ax."

God calls every workplace believer to model four key attributes: 1) Excellence, 2) Ethics and Integrity, 3) Extravagant Love and Service, and 4) Signs and Wonders.

The first quality of a Christian worker should be excellence. Excellence does not just mean the way we do our jobs, but it also means staying abreast of how we do our jobs. God desires to reveal His innovations in His creation. You will not compete in the marketplace today unless you make a commitment to stay abreast of innovation. This too is good stewardship.

How is your "workplace ax"? Does it need sharpening? What are the areas in your working life that need to be sharpened? What innovation is needed to insure that you will be the "head, not the tail" in your workplace calling? Begin today to evaluate action steps you may need to take to have a very sharp "ax".

as seen in Os Hillman's "Today God Is First" at www.marketplaceleaders.org.

The Great Commission
or Omission

by Rick Ezell

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you" – Matthew 28:19-20

I have collected evangelism and mission quotes for years. Here are my top ten. My prayer is that they will encourage you to be faithful in your witness for Christ as they do me.

1. "The Great Commission is not an option to be considered; it is a command to be obeyed" – Hudson Taylor

2. "No one has the right to hear the gospel twice, while there remains someone who has not heard it once." – Oswald J. Smith

3. "Any church that is not seriously involved in helping fulfill the Great Commission has forfeited its biblical right to exist." – Oswald J. Smith

4. "We talk of the Second Coming; half the world has never heard of the first." – Oswald J. Smith

5. "No reserves. No retreats. No regrets" – William Borden

6. "The gospel is only good news if it gets there in time" – Carl F. H. Henry

7. "The mark of a great church is not its seating capacity, but its sending capacity." – Mike Stachura

8. "The Church must send or the church will end." – Mendell Taylor

9. "Sympathy is no substitute for action." – David Livingstone, missionary to Africa

10. "The evangelistic harvest is always urgent. The destiny of men and of nations is always being decided. Every generation is strategic. We are not responsible for the past generation, and we cannot bear full responsibility for the next one; be we do have our generation. God will hold us responsible as to how well we fulfill our responsibilities to this age and take advantage of our opportunities." – Billy Graham

The Onion

I was an onion before Christ set me free.
Layers upon layers of iniquity.
An ugly old onion whose fragrance was strong;
That my Jesus bought and loved all along.

Unknown to me what He was going to do.
Of what He was planning, I had not a clue.
Pulling each layer off one by one.
In order to make me more like Jesus the Son.

The first layer wasn't so bad.
I saw all the sins that I knew I had.
They were easy to fix, just change the way I talk.
And learn more of how He wanted me to walk.

Reading His Word, and learning again;
How to put aside my life of sin.
But the next layer was pulled which hurt more.
He was getting closer to the core.

Unknown what He would find there.
I simply gave it to Him in prayer.
As another layer was removed, He started to cry;
Pulling this layer brought pain to my Father on High.

And I was crying over the sadness I felt;
The brokenness and all of the guilt.
Past memories that I thought were gone;
They were buried under layers disguised in a fragrance so strong.

As onions peel more and more;
And they put tears in our eyes as we get close to the core;
So my Father wept over my pain;
Giving me a balm of comfort and strength to sustain.

"No More Layers." I would scream.
As He continued to peel them off of me.
"I'll have nothing left my Lord, what will I do?
I'll be nothing but a worthless core to you. "

But He just said "Trust me," and continued to peel
I was sure He was blinded to my pain that was so real.
Year after year I shrunk more and more;
Until all that was left of this onion was a core.

It was then that I began to understand;
As the Lord embraced me in His loving hand.
He said, now and only now can you be;
The creation that will minister before me.

Clothed with the righteousness only from above;
Gone are your layers of self so you can be filled with my love.
He took my layers of sin, hurt and pain;
And clothed me with love, truth and mercy in His name.

Yes, we are all onions, learning with each day;
How to overcome as each layer is taken away.
Some layers tear and pull at our heart;
While others grieve us to our innermost part.

But we are nothing but an ugly onion without Christ.
Layers upon layers of pride, sin and strife.
Only God can take those layers away.
And clothe us with His righteousness in that final day.

A Modern Parable
on Stewardship

The treasurer of a congregation resigned. The church asked another to take his position, a man who managed the local grain elevator. He agreed under two conditions:

1. That no report from the Treasurer for one whole year be given.

2. That no one ask him any questions during this one year period.

The church gulped, but finally agreed, since he was a trusted man in the community, and well known, because most of them did business with him as manager of the local elevator. At the end of the year he gave this report:

The indebtedness of $250,000 on the church was paid. The minister's salary was increased. Missions giving had doubled. There were no outstanding bills, and there was a cash balance of $12,000.

Immediately a shocked congregation asked, "How?" Quietly he answered, "Most of you bring your grain to my elevator. As you did business with me I simply withheld ten percent on your behalf and gave it to the church in your name. You never missed it. Do you see what we could do for the Lord if we were willing to give the first tithe to God, who really owns it?"

Unity

excerpt from A.W. Tozer's "The Pursuit of God."

Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all turned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshipers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be, were they to become ‘unity‘ conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.

The Last Impression

At a church meeting a very wealthy man rose to tell the rest of those present about his Christian faith. "I'm a millionaire," he said, "and I attribute it all to the rich blessings of God in my life. I remember the turning point in my faith. I had just earned my first dollar and I went to a church meeting that night. The speaker was a missionary who told about his work. I knew that I only had a dollar bill and had to either give it all to God's work or nothing at all. So at that moment I decided to give my whole dollar to God. I believe that God blessed that decision, and that is why I am a rich man today."

He finished and there was an awed silence at his testimony as he moved toward his seat. As he sat down a little old lady sitting just behind him leaned over and said to him: "I dare you to do it again."

God has been doing some wonderful things in our services here at WFA this summer. Perhaps you have been away on vacation and unable to attend the last week or so. Well, if you are in the North Delaware area this weekend, make plans to join us for worship at WFA on Sunday! You surely don't want to miss out on the blessings the Lord has been pouring out upon us! Looking forward with great anticipation to worshiping together with you! See you on Sunday!