L iving B eyond Y ourself

1. Living BeyondYourself From Stealing to Sharing

2. “You shall not steal”

3. Ephesians 4:28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

4. Ephesians 4:25 “we are all members of one body”

5. The Big Idea... Be a giver not a taker!

6. Why are we tempted to steal? • Because we have a tempter John 10:10 - The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

7. Why are we tempted to steal? • Because we have a tempter • Because Stealing Is Part of the Old Self Matthew 15:19 - Out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder…theft.

8. Lead me not into temptation. I can find it all by myself!

10. “My first feeling of fear had passed away, and I thrilled now with a keener zest than I had ever enjoyed when we were the defenders of the law instead of its defilers.”

11. Ephesians 4:22-24 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness

12. Luke 12:15 Jesus warned us, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

13. “The greatest sport in America isn’t baseball anymore... It’s fraud.”

14. Stealing Is: • Against the law of God and Man It’s against God’s law Exodus 20:15 - You shall not steal. It’s against Society

21. 1 Peter 4:12-15 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

22. 1 Peter 4:12-15 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

23. 1 Peter 4:12-15 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.

24. Proverbs 30:7-9 7 Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die: 8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.

25. 9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.

26. Stealing Is: • Against the law • Against loyalty

27. Titus 2:9-10 Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.

28. Stealing Is: • Against the law • Against loyalty • Against love

29. Leviticus 19:13 Do not defraud your neighbor or rob him.

30. Romans 13:9-10 The commandments, … “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

31. Stealing can and must be repented of...

32. Luke 23:40-43 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

33. 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

34. Ephesians 4:28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands… …that he may have something to share with those in need.

35. Matthew 5:42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

36. “They were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ, as to a god, and bound themselves by a solemn oath, not to do any wicked deeds, never to commit any fraud, theft…, never to falsify their word, nor deny a trust when they should be called upon to deliver it up.”

37. Stealing is inconsistent with our identity as a New Creature in Christ • Stealing takes from others with no thought of giving in return.

38. Stealing can lead to trouble and loss of reputation and relationships. • Stealing leads only to more deception and lies. When confronted we will cover up our actions.

39. Believers in Christ are taught not to be takers but rather to share with others who are in need.