WEBVTT

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 Verse number 11, where the Bible says this,

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 And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable,

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! Because he was nigh to Jerusalem,

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 and because they thought the kingdom of God should immediately appear.

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 He said, Therefore, a certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom,

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 and to return.

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 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them,

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 Occupy till I come.

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 But his citizens hated him.

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 And he sent a message after him, saying,

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 We will not have this man to reign over us.

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 And it came to pass that when he was returned, having received the kingdom,

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 then he commanded the servants to be called unto him,

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 to whom he had given the money,

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 that he might know how much every man hath gained by trading.

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 Then came the first, in verse 16, saying,

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 Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.

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 And he said unto him,

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 Well, thou good servant, because thou hast been faithful in a very little,

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 have thou authority over ten cities.

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 And the second came, saying,

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 Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.

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 And he said likewise to him,

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 Be thou also over five cities.

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 And he came, saying,

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 And another came, saying,

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 Lord, behold, here is thy pound,

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 which I have kept laid up in a napkin.

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 For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man,

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 and thou takest up that thou layest not down,

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 and reapest that thou didst not sow.

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 And he saith unto him,

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 Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant.

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 Thou knewest that I was an austere man,

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 taking up what I laid not down,

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 and reaping that I did not sow.

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 Wherefore, then gavest thou not my money into the bank,

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 that it might at my coming have acquired,

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 I have required mine own with usury.

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 And he said unto them that stood by,

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 Take from him the pound,

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 and give it to him that hath ten pounds.

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 Verse 25,

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 And they said unto him,

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 Lord, he hath ten pounds.

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 For I say unto you, Jesus said,

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 that unto everyone which hath shall be given,

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 and from him that hath not,

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 even that he hath shall be taken away from him.

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 But those mine enemies,

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 which would not that I should reign over them,

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 bring hither and slay them before me.

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 So Jesus is going to give us this very kind of intense parable.

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 And we're going to see exactly what he's talking about.

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 But he really wants to remind us,

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 there's a job to do until he comes.

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 The call of the Christian life is not,

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 hang on until Jesus shows up.

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 Here's what it is.

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 Occupy till I come.

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 There's a job to do,

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 and there's a calling that we must all follow.

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 And that's what we're going to see here this morning.

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 Let's ask him to bless our reading.

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 Father, thank you for the word of God.

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 Thankful that we have a copy.

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 We can hold it in our own hands.

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 We can even carry it in our pocket on our phones.

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 It's so accessible to us.

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 But Lord, I pray that our familiarity with the word of God

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 would not hinder it from getting into our heart,

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 into our lives.

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 And I pray that you would do that this morning.

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 That you would help us to see the truth

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 and the reminder that you have called us all

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 to be in your service.

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 We are to occupy until you come.

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 But I pray that there is someone here

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 that doesn't know you,

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 that today would be that day.

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 And we ask this in your son's precious name.

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 Amen.

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 Thank you so much for standing.

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 You may be seated.

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 I try not to think back to my days in school very often

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 because that means I have to go back to school in my mind.

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 And I don't want to be there.

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 You know, because it was one of those things.

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 But I remember, like you did,

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 the teacher would say this,

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 and this was very dangerous.

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 I need to step out of the class for just a few minutes

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 and I'll be right back.

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 Nobody get out of your seat.

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 Nobody talk.

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 Anybody remember that?

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 But in every class you ever went,

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 everybody just stayed quiet and stayed still

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 and did absolutely what they were told.

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 No.

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 I mean, as soon as the door closed,

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 I mean, you're like watching her walk to the door

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 and you're like waiting for the door to close

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 and you kind of hear her feet maybe walking down the hallway

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 and as soon as that happens,

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 somebody starts talking,

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 somebody's turning around.

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 I mean, it's an all-out spitwad fight

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 or whatever it may be

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 and somebody's walking across the classroom.

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 I cannot confirm or deny,

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 I juggled scissors.

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 I just learned to juggle.

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 And I thought,

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 this is a great opportunity to show my classmates

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 this unique skill.

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 But just like in all the situations you experienced,

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 as soon as I was juggling them,

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 the door opened.

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 And here comes the teacher

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 and just like she promised,

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 she would come back

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 and what everybody was doing up to that point

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 suddenly mattered.

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 Why?

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 Because the authority's back in the classroom now.

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 The teacher's there as she's promised

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 and we're reminded of that little illustration

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 that just because the teacher left,

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 it doesn't mean that the assignment disappeared.

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 It doesn't mean that her instruction disappeared

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 and it certainly didn't mean that she wasn't coming back.

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 And as we come to Luke chapter 19

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 in this lengthy passage of scripture

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 that we read just a moment ago,

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 Jesus is dealing with something far more serious

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 than a teacher leaving a classroom.

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 Really what he's reminding them

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 is he knows things they don't know.

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 And now he's tried to explain it a couple of times,

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 but they didn't want to hear it

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 and they were missing it

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 that Jesus was coming not to set up a kingdom,

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 but he was coming

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 and he was marching towards a cross.

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 And by the time we're here in Luke chapter 19,

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 we're about a week or so away

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 from the arrest and the betrayal

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 and the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

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 And see, he knows

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 that he's about to leave them for a time.

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 It'd be in this time frame

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 coming up very closely

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 in John's gospel

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 where he goes to the upper room

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 and they're gonna celebrate Passover.

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 We're gonna see that here in a moment,

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 but he tells them,

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 hey, I'm going away.

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 And they're troubled by that.

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 And that's where he gave them

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 that famous verse in John 14,

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 let not your heart be troubled.

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 You believe in God,

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 believe also in me.

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 If I go away,

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 I'm gonna come again.

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 That's what he reminds them here.

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 But before he goes,

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 he's reminding his disciples

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 and in turn reminding us

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 that you're not just to hide up

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 and hole up

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 and hang out until I come.

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 No, there's a job to be done.

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 That God wants us to be involved

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 in the work

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 and he gives them something to do

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 and he says,

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 here's what I want you to do

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 and I want to remind you,

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 I am coming back.

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 I love that it is well.

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 The third verse is probably my favorite,

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 but the fourth is right up with it.

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 And we're reminded of that great truth

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 that Jesus Christ is coming back.

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 We look at our world

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 and we think he's forgot about us.

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 No, he has not.

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 You think, well,

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 why hasn't he come back?

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 Why is he tearing his coming?

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 Here's why.

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 Because God so loved the world

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 that he sent his only begotten son.

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 And he's there.

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 We are here to share the gospel

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 and he's saying,

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 this is what I want you to do.

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 Occupy, get to work,

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 do what I've called you to do.

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 And I love hearing the gospel of Luke.

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 He's done it a couple of times

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 and it makes somewhat my job a little easier

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 as I study the passage.

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 Verse number 11,

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 Jesus tells us exactly why he's telling this parable.

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 Like, why did Jesus tell this story?

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 Did it just come to the top of his head?

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 No, he tells us that they're getting close to Jerusalem.

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 They've been working their way there,

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 but Jericho's very close.

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 About 17 miles, you know,

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 just a good 17 mile hike up the road to Jerusalem.

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 But in those days, that's pretty close.

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 And he's moving his way towards there

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 and the excitement is building at the end of chapter number 18.

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 There on the way to Jericho,

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 he saw a blind man on the side of the road

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 and his name was Bartimaeus.

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 And he cried out and said,

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 Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.

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 And Jesus healed the blind man.

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 Of course, the frenzy begins to build.

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 He gets into the town

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 and he sees a chief publican,

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 a very rich man,

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 a notorious sinner,

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 the kingpin of Jericho named Zacchaeus,

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 who's been extorting his own people.

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 And he's up in a sycamore tree

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 and Jesus comes to him and says,

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 hey, I'm going to go to your house today.

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 And Jesus completely changed Zacchaeus' life.

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 And really the idea is there's just this buzz going around.

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 Hey, did you hear that Bartimaeus can see?

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 Did you hear that Zacchaeus got saved?

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 I mean, what is going on here?

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 And really they believe

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 and they're beginning to see

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 kind of from a skewed view

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 that Jesus is the Messiah.

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 And he is the Messiah.

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 But they're thinking he's a political savior.

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 And really the thought is

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 they're kind of conversing amongst themselves.

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 And you read the other gospel accounts,

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 the disciples begin to argue

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 who's the greatest

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 and who's actually going to sit next to him

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 when he sets his throne up in Jerusalem.

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 And that's what they're talking about.

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 And so the idea is they're just thinking,

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 man, this is it.

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 I mean, this is what we signed up for.

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 Hey, this is why we left our boats.

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 This is why I left my tax booth,

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 Matthew may have thought.

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 This is why we're following this man.

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 Rome is going down.

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 Jerusalem, Israel is going to be

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 in its rightful place.

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 And everything we thought was going to happen,

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 it's here.

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 But verse 11 says,

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 Jesus said,

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 I think you got your times wrong.

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 Your calendar, your dates are off.

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 Because what they did not understand

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 that he was going away.

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 And really from Luke 17,

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 even to this spot,

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 he's showing us this tension that we live in.

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 The already, but the not yet.

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 That the king had come.

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 And Jesus Christ was the king.

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 He already was.

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 Don't misunderstand that.

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 But he's coming again.

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 So the question and the opportunity

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 Jesus wants you to see

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 is what are we going to do in that in between?

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 How are we going to live for him

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 while he's gone?

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 Because while he's gone,

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 we see here in this parable

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 that he entrusts his servants

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 with great responsibility.

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 That he expects them to do something.

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 See, they were so fixated

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 on when the kingdom will come.

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 And really, we're kind of the same way.

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 We get so focused on that today

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 that we forget that the actual real thought

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 of the text is

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 how do we live

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 until he comes again?

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 That's what he wants us to see.

00:09:48.379 --> 00:09:49.960
 That's where he wants us to understand.

00:09:50.220 --> 00:09:51.399
 And so here's the big idea

00:09:51.399 --> 00:09:52.659
 I want us to kind of get a hold of

00:09:52.659 --> 00:09:53.279
 in this passage

00:09:53.279 --> 00:09:55.419
 is that the king will return.

00:09:55.419 --> 00:09:57.379
 He is coming back

00:09:57.379 --> 00:09:59.419
 and so we must faithfully use

00:09:59.419 --> 00:10:01.419
 what he has entrusted to us

00:10:01.419 --> 00:10:02.779
 until he comes.

00:10:03.519 --> 00:10:05.000
 That is the main thought

00:10:05.000 --> 00:10:06.459
 of this passage that we see.

00:10:07.259 --> 00:10:07.939
 So here's the question

00:10:07.939 --> 00:10:08.599
 I want us to answer

00:10:08.599 --> 00:10:09.379
 as we walk through it.

00:10:09.659 --> 00:10:10.719
 How should we live

00:10:10.719 --> 00:10:11.919
 until the king returns?

00:10:12.599 --> 00:10:13.860
 The first thing we see is this,

00:10:13.959 --> 00:10:14.360
 number one,

00:10:14.599 --> 00:10:15.740
 that we should live

00:10:15.740 --> 00:10:18.019
 under the king's authority.

00:10:18.799 --> 00:10:19.579
 We should live

00:10:19.579 --> 00:10:20.539
 under the king's authority.

00:10:21.599 --> 00:10:22.240
 Verse number 12

00:10:22.240 --> 00:10:23.559
 in our text this morning,

00:10:23.559 --> 00:10:24.099
 he said,

00:10:24.359 --> 00:10:24.619
 therefore,

00:10:24.979 --> 00:10:25.979
 a certain nobleman

00:10:25.979 --> 00:10:26.979
 went to a far country

00:10:26.979 --> 00:10:28.519
 to receive for himself

00:10:28.519 --> 00:10:29.579
 a kingdom

00:10:29.579 --> 00:10:31.659
 and to return.

00:10:32.399 --> 00:10:32.959
 Now to us,

00:10:32.979 --> 00:10:33.500
 it just seems like

00:10:33.500 --> 00:10:34.259
 the start of a story.

00:10:34.859 --> 00:10:35.339
 But really,

00:10:35.599 --> 00:10:37.579
 to the original audience

00:10:37.579 --> 00:10:38.459
 and to those hearers

00:10:38.459 --> 00:10:39.359
 right there in Jericho,

00:10:39.659 --> 00:10:39.839
 I mean,

00:10:39.899 --> 00:10:40.539
 their mind would have

00:10:40.539 --> 00:10:41.619
 immediately understood

00:10:41.619 --> 00:10:42.500
 what he was talking about.

00:10:42.919 --> 00:10:43.739
 Because really what Jesus

00:10:43.739 --> 00:10:44.439
 is doing here

00:10:44.439 --> 00:10:45.399
 is he's kind of taking

00:10:45.399 --> 00:10:47.619
 a front page news article

00:10:47.619 --> 00:10:49.000
 and applying it

00:10:49.000 --> 00:10:49.639
 to their life.

00:10:50.319 --> 00:10:51.179
 Because I don't want

00:10:51.179 --> 00:10:52.000
 to bore you with history,

00:10:52.000 --> 00:10:52.899
 but just to give an idea

00:10:52.899 --> 00:10:53.860
 of what's going on here,

00:10:54.139 --> 00:10:55.460
 about 30 years prior

00:10:55.460 --> 00:10:56.440
 to this account,

00:10:56.879 --> 00:10:57.440
 there was a man

00:10:57.440 --> 00:10:58.379
 named Herod the Great.

00:10:59.139 --> 00:11:00.500
 And he was not great.

00:11:01.019 --> 00:11:02.100
 He was a horrible guy.

00:11:02.639 --> 00:11:03.519
 You probably know him

00:11:03.519 --> 00:11:04.419
 from the Christmas story.

00:11:04.519 --> 00:11:05.019
 This would have been

00:11:05.019 --> 00:11:06.279
 the Herod that would have

00:11:06.279 --> 00:11:07.700
 ordered all of the babies

00:11:07.700 --> 00:11:09.059
 two years and younger

00:11:09.059 --> 00:11:10.120
 to be murdered.

00:11:10.759 --> 00:11:12.080
 So he was the ruler

00:11:12.080 --> 00:11:14.100
 of Judea at that time.

00:11:14.740 --> 00:11:16.039
 And he was trying

00:11:16.039 --> 00:11:17.919
 to stamp out Jesus Christ

00:11:17.919 --> 00:11:19.000
 as a young child.

00:11:19.000 --> 00:11:21.559
 Well, one of his sons,

00:11:21.919 --> 00:11:22.779
 Archiralius,

00:11:23.120 --> 00:11:23.940
 is now,

00:11:24.700 --> 00:11:25.980
 became the ruler

00:11:25.980 --> 00:11:27.200
 after Herod the Great died.

00:11:27.500 --> 00:11:28.340
 You see that in Matthew

00:11:28.340 --> 00:11:28.960
 chapter 2

00:11:28.960 --> 00:11:30.419
 when they come back,

00:11:30.460 --> 00:11:31.200
 when Joseph and Mary

00:11:31.200 --> 00:11:31.980
 and Jesus come back

00:11:31.980 --> 00:11:32.419
 from Egypt,

00:11:32.799 --> 00:11:34.179
 they hear that Herod's

00:11:34.179 --> 00:11:34.659
 son's ruling

00:11:34.659 --> 00:11:35.799
 so they go to Nazareth.

00:11:36.379 --> 00:11:36.759
 So really,

00:11:37.080 --> 00:11:37.740
 this man,

00:11:37.820 --> 00:11:38.799
 what he did is

00:11:38.799 --> 00:11:40.419
 when a ruler

00:11:40.419 --> 00:11:41.179
 would take over

00:11:41.179 --> 00:11:42.559
 a new area

00:11:42.559 --> 00:11:43.279
 in this situation,

00:11:43.379 --> 00:11:43.759
 they would have

00:11:43.759 --> 00:11:44.539
 to go to Rome

00:11:44.539 --> 00:11:45.580
 and they would have

00:11:45.580 --> 00:11:46.720
 to be kind of confirmed

00:11:46.720 --> 00:11:47.480
 by Caesar

00:11:47.480 --> 00:11:48.420
 to make sure

00:11:48.420 --> 00:11:48.920
 they would be

00:11:48.920 --> 00:11:49.639
 in control.

00:11:50.879 --> 00:11:52.279
 And while he was going,

00:11:52.620 --> 00:11:53.560
 obviously the people

00:11:53.560 --> 00:11:54.480
 didn't care for him.

00:11:54.920 --> 00:11:55.960
 They didn't like his dad.

00:11:56.360 --> 00:11:57.420
 His dad was a murderer.

00:11:57.800 --> 00:11:58.899
 He used the Jews.

00:11:59.279 --> 00:11:59.860
 This man,

00:11:59.940 --> 00:12:00.700
 when he kind of

00:12:00.700 --> 00:12:01.519
 got control,

00:12:01.879 --> 00:12:03.480
 he kind of killed

00:12:03.480 --> 00:12:04.820
 about 2,000 or 3,000 Jews

00:12:04.820 --> 00:12:05.779
 according to the historians

00:12:05.779 --> 00:12:06.879
 just to kind of let them know,

00:12:07.000 --> 00:12:07.820
 hey, I'm in charge.

00:12:08.500 --> 00:12:09.200
 So obviously,

00:12:09.360 --> 00:12:10.180
 they weren't real keen

00:12:10.180 --> 00:12:11.120
 on this man ruling.

00:12:11.860 --> 00:12:13.639
 So as he made his way

00:12:13.639 --> 00:12:14.120
 to Rome,

00:12:14.460 --> 00:12:15.620
 the people here

00:12:15.620 --> 00:12:16.200
 in Judea

00:12:16.200 --> 00:12:16.960
 sent a delegation

00:12:16.960 --> 00:12:17.420
 and said,

00:12:17.639 --> 00:12:18.280
 hey, we don't want

00:12:18.280 --> 00:12:19.600
 this guy ruling over us.

00:12:19.920 --> 00:12:20.620
 And we can see this

00:12:20.620 --> 00:12:21.340
 throughout history.

00:12:22.540 --> 00:12:23.820
 But what Jesus is doing

00:12:23.820 --> 00:12:24.480
 is he's using

00:12:24.480 --> 00:12:25.560
 this political situation

00:12:25.560 --> 00:12:26.139
 that would have

00:12:26.139 --> 00:12:27.019
 piqued their interest

00:12:27.019 --> 00:12:28.500
 because Archiraglius

00:12:28.500 --> 00:12:29.019
 would have ruled

00:12:29.019 --> 00:12:30.060
 right in the area

00:12:30.060 --> 00:12:30.580
 of Jericho.

00:12:30.720 --> 00:12:31.560
 So this wasn't

00:12:31.560 --> 00:12:32.860
 some long-distance story.

00:12:33.180 --> 00:12:33.780
 Many of these people

00:12:33.780 --> 00:12:34.519
 would have been alive

00:12:34.519 --> 00:12:35.600
 that heard this story.

00:12:36.460 --> 00:12:37.180
 And they would have

00:12:37.180 --> 00:12:37.800
 recognized it,

00:12:37.820 --> 00:12:38.500
 but he's teaching them

00:12:38.500 --> 00:12:39.340
 a much bigger truth

00:12:39.340 --> 00:12:41.680
 that he's not liking himself

00:12:41.680 --> 00:12:43.080
 to this wicked ruler,

00:12:43.180 --> 00:12:43.680
 but he's reminding,

00:12:43.900 --> 00:12:44.620
 hey, the king

00:12:44.620 --> 00:12:45.379
 is going to go away.

00:12:45.379 --> 00:12:46.939
 And he's going

00:12:46.939 --> 00:12:47.519
 to return

00:12:47.519 --> 00:12:48.580
 and he is going

00:12:48.580 --> 00:12:49.240
 to rule

00:12:49.240 --> 00:12:50.320
 and what are we

00:12:50.320 --> 00:12:50.960
 going to do there

00:12:50.960 --> 00:12:51.480
 in the meantime?

00:12:52.320 --> 00:12:53.039
 But we see in verse

00:12:53.039 --> 00:12:53.659
 number 14

00:12:53.659 --> 00:12:55.500
 that the citizens

00:12:55.500 --> 00:12:56.299
 of this parable

00:12:56.299 --> 00:12:57.179
 wanted nothing

00:12:57.179 --> 00:12:58.659
 to do with the king.

00:12:59.340 --> 00:13:00.179
 They simply

00:13:00.179 --> 00:13:02.299
 don't just dislike

00:13:02.299 --> 00:13:03.559
 certain things he does.

00:13:03.700 --> 00:13:04.960
 They reject his authority

00:13:04.960 --> 00:13:06.000
 altogether.

00:13:07.120 --> 00:13:08.000
 Notice what they say

00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:08.720
 in verse number 14.

00:13:08.720 --> 00:13:10.300
 We will not have

00:13:10.300 --> 00:13:10.960
 this man

00:13:10.960 --> 00:13:12.639
 to reign over us.

00:13:14.340 --> 00:13:15.279
 And I would submit

00:13:15.279 --> 00:13:16.019
 to you that that's

00:13:16.019 --> 00:13:16.639
 still the attitude

00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:17.220
 of the world

00:13:17.220 --> 00:13:17.840
 in general

00:13:17.840 --> 00:13:19.240
 towards Jesus Christ.

00:13:21.920 --> 00:13:22.920
 There's a lot of people

00:13:22.920 --> 00:13:23.980
 that will agree with you

00:13:23.980 --> 00:13:24.899
 that Jesus Christ

00:13:24.899 --> 00:13:25.899
 was a great teacher.

00:13:27.040 --> 00:13:27.740
 He was a good

00:13:27.740 --> 00:13:28.620
 moral teacher.

00:13:28.960 --> 00:13:29.100
 I mean,

00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:30.580
 you look at the Beatitudes

00:13:30.580 --> 00:13:31.440
 and you look at the

00:13:31.440 --> 00:13:32.100
 Sermon on the Mount

00:13:32.100 --> 00:13:32.480
 and you look at

00:13:32.480 --> 00:13:33.160
 certain things

00:13:33.160 --> 00:13:33.560
 that Jesus taught.

00:13:33.700 --> 00:13:33.899
 I mean,

00:13:33.940 --> 00:13:34.940
 they will agree with that

00:13:34.940 --> 00:13:35.139
 and say,

00:13:35.200 --> 00:13:35.279
 man,

00:13:35.379 --> 00:13:36.180
 these are really good

00:13:36.179 --> 00:13:36.979
 ways to live by.

00:13:37.059 --> 00:13:37.159
 I mean,

00:13:37.199 --> 00:13:38.679
 we should really employ

00:13:38.679 --> 00:13:39.939
 the golden rule

00:13:39.939 --> 00:13:40.639
 in our life.

00:13:42.039 --> 00:13:42.959
 They may appreciate

00:13:42.959 --> 00:13:43.819
 his compassion

00:13:43.819 --> 00:13:44.759
 and his care

00:13:44.759 --> 00:13:45.500
 for the poor

00:13:45.500 --> 00:13:47.259
 and those in need.

00:13:47.939 --> 00:13:48.479
 And they may even

00:13:48.479 --> 00:13:49.479
 quote some of his words.

00:13:51.000 --> 00:13:52.179
 But the reality is

00:13:52.179 --> 00:13:52.719
 when it comes to

00:13:52.719 --> 00:13:53.239
 the authority

00:13:53.239 --> 00:13:54.159
 of Jesus Christ,

00:13:54.979 --> 00:13:55.659
 when it comes to

00:13:55.659 --> 00:13:56.899
 his right to rule,

00:13:57.279 --> 00:13:57.839
 when it comes to

00:13:57.839 --> 00:13:59.339
 his right to tell us

00:13:59.339 --> 00:14:00.519
 and to command us

00:14:00.519 --> 00:14:01.139
 how to live,

00:14:01.279 --> 00:14:02.000
 the majority

00:14:02.000 --> 00:14:03.079
 still cries today,

00:14:03.339 --> 00:14:04.219
 we will not have

00:14:04.219 --> 00:14:05.319
 this man rule

00:14:05.319 --> 00:14:05.979
 on our lives.

00:14:07.000 --> 00:14:07.459
 And really,

00:14:07.579 --> 00:14:08.839
 he's making this point

00:14:08.839 --> 00:14:10.219
 and he's showing them

00:14:10.219 --> 00:14:10.879
 this truth

00:14:10.879 --> 00:14:11.699
 that he's even

00:14:11.699 --> 00:14:13.099
 experiencing to this point

00:14:13.099 --> 00:14:14.099
 and is continuing

00:14:14.099 --> 00:14:14.819
 until today.

00:14:15.719 --> 00:14:17.239
 That rejecting the king,

00:14:17.500 --> 00:14:19.239
 it does not remove

00:14:19.239 --> 00:14:19.959
 the king.

00:14:21.299 --> 00:14:22.059
 They would have

00:14:22.059 --> 00:14:22.759
 understood this.

00:14:22.799 --> 00:14:23.199
 They would have been

00:14:23.199 --> 00:14:24.299
 living under the rule

00:14:24.299 --> 00:14:25.079
 of Herod

00:14:25.079 --> 00:14:26.199
 and Archalias

00:14:26.199 --> 00:14:26.679
 and they would have

00:14:26.679 --> 00:14:27.419
 understood these

00:14:27.419 --> 00:14:28.299
 difficult things

00:14:28.299 --> 00:14:29.039
 and just because

00:14:29.039 --> 00:14:30.219
 they didn't like him

00:14:30.219 --> 00:14:31.599
 doesn't mean

00:14:31.599 --> 00:14:32.459
 that he wasn't the king.

00:14:33.359 --> 00:14:34.299
 And Jesus is making

00:14:34.299 --> 00:14:35.099
 a much deeper

00:14:35.100 --> 00:14:36.159
 spiritual application

00:14:36.159 --> 00:14:37.259
 that people may

00:14:37.259 --> 00:14:38.279
 refuse his authority

00:14:38.279 --> 00:14:40.340
 and they still do today.

00:14:40.519 --> 00:14:40.980
 But let me just

00:14:40.980 --> 00:14:41.460
 remind you,

00:14:41.680 --> 00:14:42.840
 refusing his authority

00:14:42.840 --> 00:14:44.139
 does not cancel

00:14:44.139 --> 00:14:45.159
 his authority.

00:14:46.120 --> 00:14:46.820
 That he is still

00:14:46.820 --> 00:14:47.600
 in control

00:14:47.600 --> 00:14:49.620
 and his physical presence,

00:14:49.759 --> 00:14:50.639
 his physical absence,

00:14:50.759 --> 00:14:51.300
 I should say,

00:14:51.519 --> 00:14:52.860
 does not cancel it either.

00:14:53.960 --> 00:14:54.540
 Yes, we don't see

00:14:54.540 --> 00:14:55.379
 Jesus physically

00:14:55.379 --> 00:14:56.420
 on this earth anymore,

00:14:56.920 --> 00:14:58.240
 but we will one day.

00:14:58.759 --> 00:15:00.560
 He is going to come back,

00:15:00.559 --> 00:15:01.379
 he's going to set foot

00:15:01.379 --> 00:15:02.479
 on the Mount of Olives

00:15:02.479 --> 00:15:03.839
 and he is going to set up

00:15:03.839 --> 00:15:04.919
 a kingdom on this earth.

00:15:05.059 --> 00:15:06.299
 But I just want to remind you

00:15:06.299 --> 00:15:07.619
 that he's still in control,

00:15:08.099 --> 00:15:09.539
 that he still is the king

00:15:09.539 --> 00:15:10.959
 and he still calls us

00:15:10.959 --> 00:15:12.359
 to live under his authority.

00:15:12.699 --> 00:15:12.919
 You say,

00:15:13.000 --> 00:15:13.779
 well, what's his authority?

00:15:14.019 --> 00:15:14.739
 It's right here.

00:15:15.399 --> 00:15:16.319
 It's his word.

00:15:16.579 --> 00:15:17.779
 It's what he's called us

00:15:17.779 --> 00:15:18.859
 to live by.

00:15:19.339 --> 00:15:20.919
 And let me just remind you,

00:15:20.979 --> 00:15:21.779
 when he comes,

00:15:22.619 --> 00:15:24.139
 Revelation chapter 19,

00:15:24.219 --> 00:15:25.239
 verse 16 reminds us,

00:15:25.419 --> 00:15:26.519
 he's coming with this name,

00:15:26.839 --> 00:15:28.159
 King of Kings

00:15:28.159 --> 00:15:30.059
 and Lord of Lords.

00:15:30.799 --> 00:15:31.879
 When he was crucified

00:15:31.879 --> 00:15:32.899
 and buried

00:15:32.899 --> 00:15:33.879
 and he rose again,

00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:35.279
 he didn't lose that title.

00:15:36.059 --> 00:15:37.120
 He always was,

00:15:37.459 --> 00:15:38.339
 he always is,

00:15:38.459 --> 00:15:40.019
 and he always will be.

00:15:40.659 --> 00:15:41.740
 And we must live

00:15:41.740 --> 00:15:43.059
 under that authority.

00:15:44.360 --> 00:15:45.860
 But that creates a question.

00:15:46.759 --> 00:15:48.000
 If he is going away

00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:49.240
 and they're dealing with,

00:15:49.259 --> 00:15:49.819
 this is the disciples

00:15:49.819 --> 00:15:50.259
 who are thinking,

00:15:50.539 --> 00:15:51.860
 this is not how I thought

00:15:51.860 --> 00:15:52.439
 it was going to go,

00:15:52.659 --> 00:15:53.500
 but if he is going away,

00:15:53.620 --> 00:15:54.659
 what are we supposed to do?

00:15:55.620 --> 00:15:56.339
 I think the question

00:15:56.339 --> 00:15:57.519
 still applies to us today.

00:15:58.159 --> 00:15:59.579
 Since Jesus isn't here,

00:15:59.659 --> 00:16:00.559
 we know he's coming again.

00:16:00.659 --> 00:16:02.600
 Scripture makes that plain

00:16:02.600 --> 00:16:04.319
 throughout the New Testament.

00:16:05.039 --> 00:16:06.539
 What are we to do

00:16:06.539 --> 00:16:07.399
 while he's gone?

00:16:07.459 --> 00:16:08.139
 I think we see this.

00:16:08.219 --> 00:16:08.559
 Number two,

00:16:09.339 --> 00:16:10.559
 we are to invest

00:16:10.559 --> 00:16:11.860
 what the king

00:16:11.860 --> 00:16:13.879
 has entrusted to us.

00:16:15.079 --> 00:16:15.860
 We're to invest

00:16:15.860 --> 00:16:16.980
 what he has entrusted

00:16:16.980 --> 00:16:18.379
 to us.

00:16:19.759 --> 00:16:19.899
 I mean,

00:16:19.939 --> 00:16:20.539
 verse number 13

00:16:20.539 --> 00:16:22.579
 is a very simple command.

00:16:23.919 --> 00:16:25.259
 Jesus calls his servants,

00:16:25.659 --> 00:16:26.139
 and really,

00:16:26.279 --> 00:16:26.419
 I mean,

00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:27.620
 this man calls his servants,

00:16:27.620 --> 00:16:28.259
 this noble man,

00:16:28.399 --> 00:16:29.519
 and delivered unto them

00:16:29.519 --> 00:16:30.379
 ten pounds,

00:16:30.620 --> 00:16:31.639
 and said unto them,

00:16:32.100 --> 00:16:35.320
 Occupy till I come.

00:16:36.379 --> 00:16:36.700
 Now,

00:16:36.759 --> 00:16:37.820
 we may hear the word occupy,

00:16:37.960 --> 00:16:38.879
 and we may think,

00:16:39.080 --> 00:16:39.240
 well,

00:16:39.259 --> 00:16:40.279
 that means just to sit there.

00:16:40.440 --> 00:16:41.960
 You are occupying your chair.

00:16:42.740 --> 00:16:42.919
 I mean,

00:16:42.960 --> 00:16:43.419
 some of you,

00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:44.539
 you even occupy it

00:16:44.539 --> 00:16:45.139
 when you're not here.

00:16:45.419 --> 00:16:46.120
 You leave a blanket,

00:16:46.500 --> 00:16:47.940
 and you leave your Bible.

00:16:48.039 --> 00:16:48.220
 You're like,

00:16:48.240 --> 00:16:49.019
 I'm coming back tonight,

00:16:49.080 --> 00:16:49.799
 and this is my seat.

00:16:49.840 --> 00:16:51.039
 I'm occupying this seat.

00:16:51.560 --> 00:16:51.779
 You know,

00:16:51.779 --> 00:16:53.200
 like nobody touches my stuff.

00:16:54.039 --> 00:16:54.879
 You occupy

00:16:54.879 --> 00:16:56.340
 is hold your place.

00:16:56.960 --> 00:16:57.960
 You ever been in a parking lot,

00:16:58.039 --> 00:16:58.840
 and you're trying to find

00:16:58.840 --> 00:16:59.879
 a really good parking spot,

00:16:59.960 --> 00:17:00.519
 and one opens up,

00:17:00.700 --> 00:17:01.879
 somebody jumps out of the car,

00:17:02.059 --> 00:17:03.080
 and they go and stand

00:17:03.080 --> 00:17:03.779
 in that parking spot

00:17:03.779 --> 00:17:04.359
 for that other person?

00:17:05.339 --> 00:17:06.059
 That's wrong.

00:17:06.400 --> 00:17:07.779
 They're occupying that spot.

00:17:08.579 --> 00:17:09.579
 We might think of it

00:17:09.579 --> 00:17:10.339
 as waiting,

00:17:11.400 --> 00:17:11.900
 but that's not what

00:17:11.900 --> 00:17:12.759
 Jesus means here.

00:17:13.500 --> 00:17:14.579
 The idea here

00:17:14.579 --> 00:17:15.839
 to occupy till I come

00:17:15.839 --> 00:17:16.599
 has this thought.

00:17:16.880 --> 00:17:17.660
 Do business.

00:17:18.660 --> 00:17:19.799
 Get to work.

00:17:20.519 --> 00:17:22.559
 Use what I have entrusted

00:17:22.559 --> 00:17:23.539
 to you.

00:17:24.299 --> 00:17:25.440
 Do the work

00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:26.180
 of the Lord,

00:17:26.299 --> 00:17:26.980
 and as believers,

00:17:27.079 --> 00:17:27.759
 I mentioned already,

00:17:27.980 --> 00:17:28.659
 we're not called

00:17:28.659 --> 00:17:29.579
 just to hold on

00:17:29.579 --> 00:17:30.579
 until Jesus comes.

00:17:31.139 --> 00:17:31.579
 No,

00:17:31.700 --> 00:17:32.500
 it's pretty simple.

00:17:32.599 --> 00:17:33.619
 We are to occupy

00:17:33.619 --> 00:17:34.759
 till He comes.

00:17:34.919 --> 00:17:36.099
 We are to get to work

00:17:36.099 --> 00:17:36.720
 until He comes,

00:17:36.879 --> 00:17:38.059
 and we see here

00:17:38.059 --> 00:17:38.759
 in verse 13

00:17:38.759 --> 00:17:40.940
 that each of these servants

00:17:40.940 --> 00:17:42.500
 receives 10 pounds

00:17:42.500 --> 00:17:43.659
 or a mina.

00:17:43.940 --> 00:17:45.059
 Maybe your Bible says

00:17:45.059 --> 00:17:45.460
 the parable

00:17:45.460 --> 00:17:46.279
 of the 10 minas,

00:17:47.099 --> 00:17:48.180
 and really what it is,

00:17:48.180 --> 00:17:49.299
 is it's a significant

00:17:49.299 --> 00:17:49.920
 amount of money.

00:17:50.560 --> 00:17:51.560
 Three months wages.

00:17:52.400 --> 00:17:53.380
 I think we'd all sign up

00:17:53.380 --> 00:17:53.539
 and say,

00:17:53.779 --> 00:17:53.960
 hey,

00:17:54.060 --> 00:17:54.500
 if you're going to give me

00:17:54.500 --> 00:17:55.039
 three months wages,

00:17:55.140 --> 00:17:55.779
 go ahead and do that.

00:17:56.420 --> 00:17:57.299
 I'm for that.

00:17:57.860 --> 00:17:58.820
 I want us to understand,

00:17:59.060 --> 00:17:59.940
 it's not like He said,

00:18:00.200 --> 00:18:01.240
 I'll be back tomorrow.

00:18:01.840 --> 00:18:01.940
 No,

00:18:01.960 --> 00:18:02.880
 it's a very significant

00:18:02.880 --> 00:18:03.539
 amount of money

00:18:03.539 --> 00:18:04.680
 that He entrusted with them,

00:18:04.799 --> 00:18:06.180
 and He entrusted all of them

00:18:06.180 --> 00:18:06.799
 with the same amount,

00:18:06.860 --> 00:18:07.180
 by the way.

00:18:08.100 --> 00:18:08.880
 This is not the parable

00:18:08.880 --> 00:18:09.380
 of the talents.

00:18:09.480 --> 00:18:10.500
 This is different than that.

00:18:11.140 --> 00:18:11.240
 Now,

00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:11.820
 some of us have

00:18:11.820 --> 00:18:12.600
 different talents

00:18:12.600 --> 00:18:13.060
 and different things

00:18:13.060 --> 00:18:13.940
 and we use them for the Lord,

00:18:14.120 --> 00:18:15.580
 but this particular thing

00:18:15.580 --> 00:18:16.779
 that Jesus is showing us

00:18:16.779 --> 00:18:18.279
 is we all have the same amount

00:18:18.279 --> 00:18:19.460
 and what are we going to do with it?

00:18:20.420 --> 00:18:21.839
 And the emphasis is very clear

00:18:21.839 --> 00:18:22.579
 in verse number 13

00:18:22.579 --> 00:18:24.339
 that He entrusted them

00:18:24.339 --> 00:18:25.599
 to do something

00:18:25.599 --> 00:18:26.619
 with what He gave them.

00:18:27.500 --> 00:18:28.960
 They had a job to do.

00:18:30.279 --> 00:18:31.519
 And I want to just remind us

00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:32.079
 that ultimately,

00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:33.579
 everything that you have

00:18:33.579 --> 00:18:34.099
 in your life,

00:18:34.440 --> 00:18:35.160
 everything that I have

00:18:35.160 --> 00:18:35.680
 in my life,

00:18:35.779 --> 00:18:37.420
 has been entrusted to me

00:18:37.420 --> 00:18:38.299
 by God.

00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:39.839
 Everything.

00:18:40.839 --> 00:18:41.440
 Your time.

00:18:41.440 --> 00:18:43.660
 I know in Brother Caleb's

00:18:43.660 --> 00:18:44.240
 Sunday school class,

00:18:44.360 --> 00:18:45.200
 they're going through

00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:46.320
 stewarding your life

00:18:46.320 --> 00:18:47.200
 and it's just a reminder

00:18:47.200 --> 00:18:48.019
 that we aren't just

00:18:48.019 --> 00:18:49.259
 to steward our finances.

00:18:49.779 --> 00:18:50.380
 We think of that

00:18:50.380 --> 00:18:51.120
 just as money

00:18:51.120 --> 00:18:51.960
 and this parable

00:18:51.960 --> 00:18:52.920
 has to deal with money.

00:18:53.180 --> 00:18:53.279
 No,

00:18:53.320 --> 00:18:54.120
 but we are called

00:18:54.120 --> 00:18:55.320
 to steward our time,

00:18:56.140 --> 00:18:57.000
 our resources,

00:18:57.900 --> 00:18:58.840
 our opportunities

00:18:58.840 --> 00:18:59.960
 to share the gospel

00:18:59.960 --> 00:19:01.140
 at school and at work

00:19:01.140 --> 00:19:02.240
 or wherever God may

00:19:02.240 --> 00:19:03.779
 allow us to do so.

00:19:04.039 --> 00:19:05.600
 We are to steward

00:19:05.600 --> 00:19:06.519
 the influence

00:19:06.519 --> 00:19:07.360
 that He's given us.

00:19:08.620 --> 00:19:10.080
 We may have relationships

00:19:10.079 --> 00:19:11.259
 that we can speak into.

00:19:12.059 --> 00:19:12.899
 I have opportunities

00:19:12.899 --> 00:19:13.679
 to share.

00:19:13.919 --> 00:19:14.759
 We have relationships

00:19:14.759 --> 00:19:15.699
 that we are to steward

00:19:15.699 --> 00:19:17.220
 or our spouses

00:19:17.220 --> 00:19:18.159
 and our children

00:19:18.159 --> 00:19:18.980
 and our coworkers

00:19:18.980 --> 00:19:19.679
 and our friends

00:19:19.679 --> 00:19:20.759
 and here's what we are to do.

00:19:20.939 --> 00:19:22.019
 We are to use everything

00:19:22.019 --> 00:19:23.699
 God has given for Him

00:19:23.699 --> 00:19:25.379
 and not for us.

00:19:26.500 --> 00:19:27.139
 Because here's what

00:19:27.139 --> 00:19:27.859
 we're prone to do.

00:19:28.059 --> 00:19:28.960
 Here's what I'm prone to do.

00:19:29.159 --> 00:19:30.199
 Hey, this is my stuff

00:19:30.199 --> 00:19:30.659
 and I'm going to do

00:19:30.659 --> 00:19:31.720
 what I want to do with it.

00:19:32.879 --> 00:19:33.460
 Okay, I'm making sure

00:19:33.460 --> 00:19:34.159
 I'm not the only one.

00:19:34.839 --> 00:19:35.000
 You know,

00:19:35.039 --> 00:19:36.359
 I worked hard for this.

00:19:36.879 --> 00:19:38.259
 Hey, I deserve this.

00:19:38.480 --> 00:19:38.779
 And listen,

00:19:39.240 --> 00:19:39.799
 isn't that a different

00:19:39.799 --> 00:19:40.319
 mess for a different night?

00:19:40.440 --> 00:19:41.279
 God's not against you

00:19:41.279 --> 00:19:41.859
 doing things

00:19:41.859 --> 00:19:42.720
 and having nice stuff.

00:19:43.419 --> 00:19:44.680
 But He wants us to understand

00:19:44.680 --> 00:19:45.839
 that everything we have,

00:19:45.919 --> 00:19:46.579
 every good gift

00:19:46.579 --> 00:19:47.319
 and every perfect gift

00:19:47.319 --> 00:19:47.960
 is from above.

00:19:48.379 --> 00:19:49.399
 And it comes down

00:19:49.399 --> 00:19:50.339
 from the Father of lights

00:19:50.339 --> 00:19:51.700
 and He gives us

00:19:51.700 --> 00:19:52.359
 this opportunity.

00:19:52.700 --> 00:19:53.619
 But most importantly

00:19:53.619 --> 00:19:54.259
 what He gives us

00:19:54.259 --> 00:19:55.700
 is the gospel itself.

00:19:58.319 --> 00:19:59.319
 I mean, what a joy.

00:20:00.700 --> 00:20:00.899
 I mean,

00:20:01.019 --> 00:20:02.759
 I keep going back to it

00:20:02.759 --> 00:20:03.940
 because it just makes

00:20:03.940 --> 00:20:05.399
 my heart want to burst.

00:20:05.700 --> 00:20:06.539
 But singing it as well,

00:20:06.700 --> 00:20:08.359
 the fact I can sing that song

00:20:08.359 --> 00:20:09.339
 and know it's true

00:20:09.339 --> 00:20:09.839
 in my life

00:20:09.839 --> 00:20:10.939
 is an amazing thing.

00:20:11.579 --> 00:20:12.519
 What a joy

00:20:12.519 --> 00:20:14.619
 to know who Jesus is

00:20:14.619 --> 00:20:15.839
 and what He's done.

00:20:16.339 --> 00:20:17.419
 What a joy it is

00:20:17.419 --> 00:20:19.000
 to experience His love

00:20:19.000 --> 00:20:19.959
 and His mercy

00:20:19.959 --> 00:20:22.119
 every single day.

00:20:22.919 --> 00:20:23.899
 You don't have to come to church

00:20:23.899 --> 00:20:25.139
 and just feel the mercy of God.

00:20:25.339 --> 00:20:26.479
 No, I love what the psalmist says,

00:20:26.879 --> 00:20:28.419
 daily He loadeth me down

00:20:28.419 --> 00:20:29.039
 with benefits.

00:20:29.939 --> 00:20:30.779
 I mean, we're so blessed

00:20:30.779 --> 00:20:31.799
 we don't even realize

00:20:31.799 --> 00:20:32.699
 how blessed we are.

00:20:33.099 --> 00:20:34.519
 And the fact that we know that

00:20:34.519 --> 00:20:36.679
 and the fact that we experience that

00:20:36.680 --> 00:20:38.140
 and we know that message

00:20:38.140 --> 00:20:39.279
 changed our life

00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:40.799
 from darkness to light.

00:20:41.019 --> 00:20:41.740
 We were on a road

00:20:41.740 --> 00:20:42.799
 and we had no hope

00:20:42.799 --> 00:20:44.320
 and life was falling apart

00:20:44.320 --> 00:20:45.180
 but somehow,

00:20:45.420 --> 00:20:45.960
 in some way,

00:20:46.220 --> 00:20:47.460
 somebody invited you to church,

00:20:47.560 --> 00:20:48.460
 somebody shared the gospel

00:20:48.460 --> 00:20:50.360
 and it changed everything.

00:20:51.320 --> 00:20:52.720
 The fact you know that

00:20:52.720 --> 00:20:54.279
 is a wonderful thing.

00:20:55.560 --> 00:20:56.680
 But here's the question.

00:20:57.279 --> 00:20:58.519
 What are you doing with it?

00:20:59.660 --> 00:21:00.900
 It is the most precious thing

00:21:00.900 --> 00:21:02.100
 that you've ever experienced

00:21:02.100 --> 00:21:02.740
 in your life.

00:21:03.920 --> 00:21:04.320
 Jesus says,

00:21:04.400 --> 00:21:05.500
 you better not put it in a napkin.

00:21:05.500 --> 00:21:07.339
 You better not hide it.

00:21:07.579 --> 00:21:08.200
 No, you better,

00:21:08.400 --> 00:21:08.680
 you better,

00:21:08.960 --> 00:21:10.259
 sorry that bothered me right there.

00:21:10.920 --> 00:21:11.480
 You better,

00:21:11.599 --> 00:21:13.359
 you better do something with it.

00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:17.339
 See, Jesus didn't say,

00:21:17.880 --> 00:21:19.140
 preserve until I come.

00:21:20.259 --> 00:21:21.099
 Sometimes I think our church

00:21:21.099 --> 00:21:22.000
 has become like a little

00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:23.900
 history museum.

00:21:24.640 --> 00:21:25.480
 Look at all the things

00:21:25.480 --> 00:21:26.619
 God used to do.

00:21:27.339 --> 00:21:28.460
 Man, remember when God did this

00:21:28.460 --> 00:21:28.880
 and God did that?

00:21:29.019 --> 00:21:29.720
 Listen, I'm so thankful

00:21:29.720 --> 00:21:30.859
 God's done some great things

00:21:30.859 --> 00:21:31.599
 in Central Baptist Church

00:21:31.599 --> 00:21:32.319
 throughout the years.

00:21:32.319 --> 00:21:33.919
 But we're not here

00:21:33.919 --> 00:21:34.799
 to be a museum

00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:35.599
 in Cook County.

00:21:36.539 --> 00:21:37.099
 No, no, we're here

00:21:37.099 --> 00:21:38.220
 not to preserve

00:21:38.220 --> 00:21:39.139
 until Jesus comes.

00:21:39.299 --> 00:21:40.419
 We're here to occupy.

00:21:40.579 --> 00:21:41.539
 We're here to put to work

00:21:41.539 --> 00:21:42.480
 what God has given us

00:21:42.480 --> 00:21:43.639
 whether it is resources

00:21:43.639 --> 00:21:44.839
 or it is time

00:21:44.839 --> 00:21:45.899
 or it is prayer

00:21:45.899 --> 00:21:47.179
 or it is the gospel

00:21:47.179 --> 00:21:48.220
 in every situation.

00:21:48.539 --> 00:21:49.240
 Simply put,

00:21:49.419 --> 00:21:50.259
 here's what he's saying

00:21:50.259 --> 00:21:50.859
 in verse 13.

00:21:51.220 --> 00:21:52.240
 Use what the king

00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:53.259
 has placed in your hand

00:21:53.259 --> 00:21:54.399
 for the interest

00:21:54.399 --> 00:21:55.299
 of the king.

00:21:55.899 --> 00:21:57.099
 Not for your self-interest.

00:21:57.500 --> 00:21:58.599
 Not for your own gain.

00:21:58.799 --> 00:21:59.480
 Not for those things.

00:21:59.539 --> 00:22:00.259
 And that's the difference

00:22:00.259 --> 00:22:01.059
 between ownership

00:22:01.059 --> 00:22:01.700
 and stewardship.

00:22:02.640 --> 00:22:03.559
 I mean, an owner says,

00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:04.519
 hey, this is mine.

00:22:04.559 --> 00:22:05.440
 What do I want to do with it?

00:22:06.039 --> 00:22:07.379
 But a steward says this,

00:22:07.539 --> 00:22:08.879
 hey, this belongs to him.

00:22:09.519 --> 00:22:10.500
 What does he want me

00:22:10.500 --> 00:22:11.059
 to do with it?

00:22:11.500 --> 00:22:12.460
 How does he want me

00:22:12.460 --> 00:22:12.940
 to use it?

00:22:13.140 --> 00:22:14.279
 Where does he want me

00:22:14.279 --> 00:22:15.259
 to invest it?

00:22:16.279 --> 00:22:17.599
 And that's why the wording

00:22:17.599 --> 00:22:18.279
 is so important

00:22:18.279 --> 00:22:19.140
 in verse number 16.

00:22:20.579 --> 00:22:22.400
 Notice what the first servant says.

00:22:22.859 --> 00:22:24.160
 Then came the first saying,

00:22:24.160 --> 00:22:27.039
 Lord, thy pound

00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:28.859
 hath gained 10 pounds.

00:22:28.859 --> 00:22:30.799
 You know what we see here?

00:22:31.139 --> 00:22:32.319
 The servant was in possession.

00:22:33.379 --> 00:22:34.319
 The master gave it to him

00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:34.659
 before he left.

00:22:34.719 --> 00:22:34.899
 He said,

00:22:35.219 --> 00:22:36.000
 here, I'm giving you

00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:36.659
 these 10 pounds.

00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:38.039
 I'm giving you this money.

00:22:38.500 --> 00:22:39.719
 I want you to use it.

00:22:39.740 --> 00:22:40.719
 I want you to occupy.

00:22:41.119 --> 00:22:42.079
 And when he comes back,

00:22:42.099 --> 00:22:42.379
 he didn't say,

00:22:42.599 --> 00:22:42.919
 hey, Lord,

00:22:42.979 --> 00:22:43.500
 look what I did

00:22:43.500 --> 00:22:44.179
 with all my money.

00:22:44.959 --> 00:22:45.559
 He said,

00:22:45.919 --> 00:22:46.599
 thy pound,

00:22:47.119 --> 00:22:47.899
 thy money,

00:22:48.359 --> 00:22:50.599
 what you entrusted to me,

00:22:50.939 --> 00:22:52.819
 I have used it for you.

00:22:52.819 --> 00:22:55.259
 It was always the master's.

00:22:55.979 --> 00:22:57.179
 It was never his.

00:22:57.180 --> 00:23:00.100
 It never belonged to him.

00:23:00.820 --> 00:23:01.860
 And that changes the way

00:23:01.860 --> 00:23:02.860
 we look at a lot of things

00:23:02.860 --> 00:23:03.420
 in our life.

00:23:04.299 --> 00:23:05.380
 That's not your paycheck.

00:23:06.539 --> 00:23:07.900
 That's not your children.

00:23:09.180 --> 00:23:09.700
 I know that's tough

00:23:09.700 --> 00:23:10.320
 for us to hear.

00:23:11.060 --> 00:23:11.960
 No, they're just gifts

00:23:11.960 --> 00:23:12.580
 from God

00:23:12.580 --> 00:23:14.779
 that he has entrusted us

00:23:14.779 --> 00:23:15.820
 to use them

00:23:15.820 --> 00:23:16.759
 for the furtherance

00:23:16.759 --> 00:23:17.539
 of his kingdom.

00:23:17.840 --> 00:23:18.539
 And what we notice

00:23:18.539 --> 00:23:19.460
 in verse number 16

00:23:19.460 --> 00:23:20.420
 is this servant

00:23:20.420 --> 00:23:22.340
 had simply just been faithful

00:23:22.340 --> 00:23:23.820
 with what he'd been given.

00:23:23.819 --> 00:23:26.980
 And one day,

00:23:27.639 --> 00:23:28.740
 he's going to ask us

00:23:28.740 --> 00:23:29.439
 what he did with it,

00:23:29.599 --> 00:23:30.279
 what we did with it.

00:23:30.859 --> 00:23:32.460
 How we used it

00:23:32.460 --> 00:23:33.299
 for his glory.

00:23:34.139 --> 00:23:35.240
 We see in verse number 18,

00:23:35.299 --> 00:23:36.039
 the second comes.

00:23:37.159 --> 00:23:37.639
 And he said,

00:23:37.899 --> 00:23:38.599
 likewise unto him.

00:23:38.639 --> 00:23:38.919
 He said,

00:23:39.019 --> 00:23:40.079
 be thou over five cities.

00:23:40.599 --> 00:23:41.919
 He invested

00:23:41.919 --> 00:23:43.099
 what God had given him.

00:23:44.779 --> 00:23:45.480
 And here's the point

00:23:45.480 --> 00:23:47.519
 of these first two servants.

00:23:48.059 --> 00:23:49.460
 That faithfulness matters.

00:23:50.299 --> 00:23:51.240
 It really does.

00:23:51.240 --> 00:23:52.980
 I mean,

00:23:53.059 --> 00:23:54.079
 think about people

00:23:54.079 --> 00:23:55.759
 God has used in your life.

00:23:56.000 --> 00:23:56.640
 They're probably going to have

00:23:56.640 --> 00:23:57.440
 this characteristic.

00:23:57.759 --> 00:23:59.599
 They were just faithful to God.

00:24:00.660 --> 00:24:02.180
 Wasn't some flash in the pan thing.

00:24:02.500 --> 00:24:03.039
 No, they were there

00:24:03.039 --> 00:24:03.779
 every time you went

00:24:03.779 --> 00:24:04.380
 to Sunday school.

00:24:04.620 --> 00:24:05.019
 They were there

00:24:05.019 --> 00:24:05.880
 teaching that class.

00:24:06.599 --> 00:24:07.059
 They were there

00:24:07.059 --> 00:24:07.720
 in children's church.

00:24:07.940 --> 00:24:08.819
 Your parents were there

00:24:08.819 --> 00:24:09.620
 and you had that opportunity.

00:24:09.859 --> 00:24:10.579
 Maybe the bus came

00:24:10.579 --> 00:24:11.059
 and picked you up.

00:24:11.220 --> 00:24:11.960
 It was just people

00:24:11.960 --> 00:24:13.099
 that God placed in your life

00:24:13.099 --> 00:24:14.519
 and they weren't flashy

00:24:14.519 --> 00:24:15.940
 and they weren't about themselves.

00:24:16.039 --> 00:24:16.960
 They were just faithful.

00:24:18.140 --> 00:24:19.299
 They couldn't do a whole lot

00:24:19.299 --> 00:24:19.880
 but they just did

00:24:19.880 --> 00:24:21.000
 what God wanted them to do.

00:24:21.000 --> 00:24:22.220
 And that's all he requires.

00:24:23.160 --> 00:24:23.940
 And what we see

00:24:23.940 --> 00:24:24.420
 is not only

00:24:24.420 --> 00:24:25.420
 does faithfulness matter

00:24:25.420 --> 00:24:26.500
 but it's rewarded.

00:24:27.880 --> 00:24:29.279
 In both of these situations

00:24:29.279 --> 00:24:32.759
 the nobleman says,

00:24:33.039 --> 00:24:34.180
 hey, because you're faithful

00:24:34.180 --> 00:24:35.220
 I'm going to put you

00:24:35.220 --> 00:24:36.259
 in charge of ten cities.

00:24:37.119 --> 00:24:39.940
 That's a pretty good

00:24:39.940 --> 00:24:41.119
 return on investment.

00:24:42.259 --> 00:24:42.940
 Ten pounds,

00:24:43.019 --> 00:24:43.559
 three months wages.

00:24:43.660 --> 00:24:44.420
 Now you're in control

00:24:44.420 --> 00:24:45.160
 of all these cities.

00:24:45.400 --> 00:24:46.279
 The idea is this.

00:24:46.359 --> 00:24:47.140
 Sometimes we think

00:24:47.140 --> 00:24:48.599
 faithfulness only counts

00:24:48.599 --> 00:24:49.480
 if it looks impressive.

00:24:49.480 --> 00:24:53.120
 Faithfulness doesn't,

00:24:53.319 --> 00:24:54.200
 a large ministry

00:24:54.200 --> 00:24:55.440
 doesn't mean faithfulness.

00:24:57.120 --> 00:24:58.240
 Great influence,

00:24:58.779 --> 00:24:59.720
 a lot of followers,

00:25:00.200 --> 00:25:01.019
 got all these followers

00:25:01.019 --> 00:25:01.920
 on TikTok and Instagram,

00:25:02.099 --> 00:25:02.720
 that doesn't mean

00:25:02.720 --> 00:25:03.180
 you're faithful.

00:25:05.579 --> 00:25:06.660
 Faithfulness is not something

00:25:06.660 --> 00:25:08.140
 that everybody notices.

00:25:10.140 --> 00:25:11.680
 Faithfulness is what God notices.

00:25:12.960 --> 00:25:13.839
 Faithfulness is doing

00:25:13.839 --> 00:25:15.259
 what God has called you to do.

00:25:15.579 --> 00:25:16.940
 Where he has placed you

00:25:16.940 --> 00:25:17.660
 to serve.

00:25:18.220 --> 00:25:19.160
 Notice what Jesus says

00:25:19.160 --> 00:25:19.779
 in verse 17.

00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:21.940
 Look at this little phrase.

00:25:22.440 --> 00:25:24.340
 Because thou hast been faithful

00:25:24.340 --> 00:25:26.740
 in very little.

00:25:27.860 --> 00:25:28.880
 I love that.

00:25:31.279 --> 00:25:32.440
 Don't despise

00:25:32.440 --> 00:25:34.240
 the little things

00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:35.980
 that God has put in your hands.

00:25:38.059 --> 00:25:38.600
 You know, I think sometimes

00:25:38.600 --> 00:25:39.700
 we can get so frustrated.

00:25:40.420 --> 00:25:41.080
 Well, God, if you just

00:25:41.080 --> 00:25:41.680
 give me more

00:25:41.680 --> 00:25:43.120
 I'd be faithful.

00:25:44.279 --> 00:25:44.860
 Lord, I mean,

00:25:44.859 --> 00:25:46.119
 I can't do much with this.

00:25:46.979 --> 00:25:47.959
 No, here's what you can do.

00:25:48.439 --> 00:25:49.259
 You can be faithful.

00:25:50.379 --> 00:25:51.779
 That's what he's called you to do.

00:25:54.019 --> 00:25:55.240
 Maybe you don't have

00:25:55.240 --> 00:25:55.619
 the opportunity

00:25:55.619 --> 00:25:56.219
 to do certain things,

00:25:56.319 --> 00:25:57.039
 but maybe it's just

00:25:57.039 --> 00:25:57.839
 that conversation

00:25:57.839 --> 00:25:58.479
 with somebody

00:25:58.479 --> 00:25:59.919
 who's seeking Jesus.

00:26:01.139 --> 00:26:02.319
 It can be had over lunch

00:26:02.319 --> 00:26:02.759
 at work

00:26:02.759 --> 00:26:04.019
 just multiple weeks.

00:26:04.819 --> 00:26:05.500
 Somebody asking

00:26:05.500 --> 00:26:06.139
 for the truth.

00:26:06.419 --> 00:26:07.619
 Maybe it's that child

00:26:07.619 --> 00:26:08.240
 you're raising.

00:26:08.359 --> 00:26:09.519
 Listen, that's kingdom work.

00:26:10.440 --> 00:26:11.440
 You are called

00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:12.160
 to instill

00:26:12.160 --> 00:26:13.279
 the truth

00:26:13.279 --> 00:26:14.119
 of the word of God

00:26:14.119 --> 00:26:14.779
 into their life.

00:26:15.000 --> 00:26:15.119
 Listen,

00:26:15.440 --> 00:26:17.480
 not everybody gets to see it,

00:26:18.099 --> 00:26:18.900
 but the Lord knows.

00:26:19.980 --> 00:26:20.980
 The Lord's watching.

00:26:22.579 --> 00:26:23.480
 We have some teachers

00:26:23.480 --> 00:26:24.000
 in here,

00:26:24.220 --> 00:26:24.619
 whether you're

00:26:24.619 --> 00:26:25.339
 a Sunday school teacher

00:26:25.339 --> 00:26:26.339
 or a school teacher,

00:26:27.279 --> 00:26:27.879
 having the opportunity

00:26:27.879 --> 00:26:29.500
 to speak truth

00:26:29.500 --> 00:26:30.240
 into people's lives.

00:26:30.359 --> 00:26:31.519
 Listen, God sees that.

00:26:32.220 --> 00:26:32.819
 Maybe God's giving you

00:26:32.819 --> 00:26:33.139
 an opportunity

00:26:33.139 --> 00:26:34.200
 to disciple somebody.

00:26:34.460 --> 00:26:35.059
 Maybe he's giving you

00:26:35.059 --> 00:26:35.799
 some resources

00:26:35.799 --> 00:26:36.980
 that you quietly use

00:26:36.980 --> 00:26:37.960
 for the kingdom of God.

00:26:37.960 --> 00:26:39.259
 And God sees

00:26:39.259 --> 00:26:40.740
 just those ordinary days

00:26:40.740 --> 00:26:41.779
 that you live faithfully

00:26:41.779 --> 00:26:42.100
 to him.

00:26:42.319 --> 00:26:42.620
 And you think,

00:26:42.759 --> 00:26:43.460
 is any of this

00:26:43.460 --> 00:26:44.140
 making a difference?

00:26:44.319 --> 00:26:44.980
 Let me remind you,

00:26:45.160 --> 00:26:46.059
 he sees it.

00:26:46.860 --> 00:26:47.759
 And he's going to tell us

00:26:47.759 --> 00:26:48.660
 one day we've been faithful.

00:26:48.840 --> 00:26:49.380
 You've been faithful

00:26:49.380 --> 00:26:50.039
 with very little.

00:26:50.440 --> 00:26:51.299
 Look what you have.

00:26:52.259 --> 00:26:52.700
 Welcome.

00:26:53.059 --> 00:26:53.660
 Well done,

00:26:53.720 --> 00:26:54.920
 thou good and faithful servant.

00:26:55.579 --> 00:26:56.640
 I'm so thankful

00:26:56.640 --> 00:26:57.440
 that the king

00:26:57.440 --> 00:26:58.440
 sees faithfulness.

00:26:59.500 --> 00:27:00.940
 That's what he calls us to do.

00:27:02.220 --> 00:27:03.420
 And that's important

00:27:03.420 --> 00:27:04.720
 as we await

00:27:04.720 --> 00:27:05.740
 the return of Christ

00:27:05.740 --> 00:27:06.940
 because we don't have to,

00:27:06.940 --> 00:27:08.259
 we shouldn't have to dread it.

00:27:09.259 --> 00:27:10.340
 We shouldn't dread

00:27:10.340 --> 00:27:11.460
 that the king is coming back.

00:27:11.700 --> 00:27:12.380
 I know some people

00:27:12.380 --> 00:27:13.160
 start looking

00:27:13.160 --> 00:27:13.820
 at the book of Revelation

00:27:13.820 --> 00:27:14.620
 and they get scared.

00:27:15.539 --> 00:27:15.720
 They think,

00:27:15.799 --> 00:27:16.519
 I don't want to be,

00:27:16.620 --> 00:27:17.100
 I don't want to see.

00:27:17.220 --> 00:27:18.480
 No, I want to be here

00:27:18.480 --> 00:27:19.500
 when Jesus comes back.

00:27:20.120 --> 00:27:21.059
 I want to be like,

00:27:21.100 --> 00:27:21.680
 I want to be like

00:27:21.680 --> 00:27:22.200
 the apostle Paul.

00:27:22.299 --> 00:27:23.039
 He thought he was going

00:27:23.039 --> 00:27:23.640
 to be alive

00:27:23.640 --> 00:27:24.820
 when Jesus came back.

00:27:25.420 --> 00:27:26.980
 I hope when the Lord

00:27:26.980 --> 00:27:27.620
 takes us up

00:27:27.620 --> 00:27:28.140
 to be in the air,

00:27:28.279 --> 00:27:29.240
 I'm no longer afraid

00:27:29.240 --> 00:27:29.580
 of heights.

00:27:31.120 --> 00:27:32.320
 That's got to go away, right?

00:27:32.400 --> 00:27:32.660
 I mean,

00:27:32.779 --> 00:27:33.500
 I can't find anybody

00:27:33.500 --> 00:27:34.440
 like, Lord, please.

00:27:34.680 --> 00:27:34.860
 I mean,

00:27:34.880 --> 00:27:35.799
 I've prayed that once or twice.

00:27:35.799 --> 00:27:36.579
 I'm like, I hope I'm not

00:27:36.579 --> 00:27:37.000
 afraid of heights.

00:27:37.059 --> 00:27:37.700
 I'll just pass out

00:27:37.700 --> 00:27:38.079
 on the way up

00:27:38.079 --> 00:27:38.659
 and miss everything.

00:27:39.680 --> 00:27:41.119
 That would be awful.

00:27:43.659 --> 00:27:43.980
 Listen,

00:27:44.139 --> 00:27:44.819
 don't dread

00:27:44.819 --> 00:27:46.000
 the return of the king.

00:27:47.379 --> 00:27:48.039
 But you know why

00:27:48.039 --> 00:27:48.839
 you can dread it sometimes

00:27:48.839 --> 00:27:49.519
 even as Christians?

00:27:50.500 --> 00:27:51.139
 Because you know

00:27:51.139 --> 00:27:51.980
 you're not investing

00:27:51.980 --> 00:27:53.220
 what he's invested in you.

00:27:55.000 --> 00:27:55.759
 There was times

00:27:55.759 --> 00:27:56.379
 growing up,

00:27:56.440 --> 00:27:57.440
 I wasn't super keen

00:27:57.440 --> 00:27:58.339
 on my parents coming back

00:27:58.339 --> 00:27:59.680
 because I didn't do anything

00:27:59.680 --> 00:28:00.579
 they asked me to do

00:28:00.579 --> 00:28:01.299
 while they were gone.

00:28:02.259 --> 00:28:02.759
 Because they'll say,

00:28:02.759 --> 00:28:03.960
 hey, when I come back

00:28:03.960 --> 00:28:04.960
 I want your room picked up

00:28:04.960 --> 00:28:05.960
 and I want the kitchen cleaned up.

00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:06.379
 I'm like, alright.

00:28:07.339 --> 00:28:08.200
 And then I hear the garage,

00:28:08.259 --> 00:28:10.059
 I'm like, uh-oh.

00:28:11.000 --> 00:28:11.619
 You know why I dreaded it?

00:28:11.640 --> 00:28:12.240
 Because I wasn't doing

00:28:12.240 --> 00:28:13.440
 what they had asked me to do.

00:28:14.500 --> 00:28:15.460
 But when we are doing

00:28:15.460 --> 00:28:16.559
 what God has asked us to do,

00:28:16.680 --> 00:28:17.379
 when we're faithful

00:28:17.379 --> 00:28:17.920
 in the little things,

00:28:17.960 --> 00:28:18.720
 we can look forward

00:28:18.720 --> 00:28:19.400
 to his return.

00:28:19.680 --> 00:28:19.839
 Listen,

00:28:20.019 --> 00:28:20.980
 faithfulness gives us

00:28:20.980 --> 00:28:21.759
 a reason to anticipate

00:28:22.279 --> 00:28:22.720
 the king,

00:28:22.879 --> 00:28:23.720
 not fear him.

00:28:25.740 --> 00:28:27.000
 So here's a question for you.

00:28:28.039 --> 00:28:29.039
 Are you using

00:28:29.039 --> 00:28:30.140
 what Christ has entrusted

00:28:30.140 --> 00:28:30.480
 to you?

00:28:30.619 --> 00:28:31.220
 Are you just trying

00:28:31.220 --> 00:28:31.819
 to preserve it?

00:28:33.579 --> 00:28:34.620
 Are you investing

00:28:34.620 --> 00:28:36.100
 what he's invested in you?

00:28:36.299 --> 00:28:37.799
 Are you using your life

00:28:37.799 --> 00:28:38.839
 for his interest?

00:28:39.440 --> 00:28:40.319
 For his kingdom?

00:28:40.640 --> 00:28:41.559
 For his cause?

00:28:42.860 --> 00:28:43.740
 See, we see the first

00:28:43.740 --> 00:28:44.600
 two servants,

00:28:44.680 --> 00:28:45.539
 they were very active.

00:28:46.299 --> 00:28:47.140
 They took what the master

00:28:47.140 --> 00:28:47.980
 gave them

00:28:47.980 --> 00:28:49.460
 and they put it to work.

00:28:50.039 --> 00:28:50.660
 But here in these

00:28:50.660 --> 00:28:51.400
 closing verses,

00:28:51.519 --> 00:28:52.799
 in verses 20 through 27,

00:28:53.160 --> 00:28:54.759
 we see another servant

00:28:54.759 --> 00:28:56.339
 that wasn't as proactive.

00:28:57.140 --> 00:28:57.799
 And it brings us

00:28:57.799 --> 00:28:58.900
 to this final reminder

00:28:58.900 --> 00:29:00.120
 in these verses.

00:29:00.220 --> 00:29:01.019
 Number three is this.

00:29:01.019 --> 00:29:02.960
 is that we should expect

00:29:02.960 --> 00:29:04.440
 to give an account.

00:29:05.639 --> 00:29:06.680
 We should expect

00:29:06.680 --> 00:29:07.599
 to give an account.

00:29:08.519 --> 00:29:09.279
 Look at verse number 20.

00:29:10.539 --> 00:29:11.579
 And another came saying,

00:29:11.980 --> 00:29:13.099
 Lord, behold,

00:29:13.279 --> 00:29:14.059
 here is thy pound

00:29:14.059 --> 00:29:15.000
 which I have kept

00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:16.379
 laid up in a napkin.

00:29:17.379 --> 00:29:18.039
 I think he was

00:29:18.039 --> 00:29:18.920
 very enthusiastic,

00:29:19.099 --> 00:29:19.720
 at least in the way

00:29:19.720 --> 00:29:20.299
 he said it.

00:29:20.539 --> 00:29:21.359
 He was trying to kind of,

00:29:21.400 --> 00:29:21.619
 you know,

00:29:21.819 --> 00:29:23.579
 put lipstick on a pig,

00:29:23.639 --> 00:29:24.079
 so to speak.

00:29:24.519 --> 00:29:25.779
 Lord, look what I did.

00:29:26.099 --> 00:29:27.119
 I kept it all pretty

00:29:27.119 --> 00:29:27.680
 and shiny.

00:29:28.379 --> 00:29:29.079
 Nobody even knew

00:29:29.079 --> 00:29:29.839
 it was here.

00:29:30.439 --> 00:29:30.639
 I mean,

00:29:30.679 --> 00:29:31.299
 at first glance,

00:29:31.339 --> 00:29:32.339
 it doesn't sound terrible.

00:29:33.079 --> 00:29:34.039
 He still has it.

00:29:34.699 --> 00:29:36.199
 He didn't spend it.

00:29:36.639 --> 00:29:37.859
 He didn't lose it.

00:29:38.500 --> 00:29:40.159
 But when we keep reading here

00:29:40.159 --> 00:29:41.460
 and we notice

00:29:41.460 --> 00:29:42.539
 that the master,

00:29:42.639 --> 00:29:43.220
 the nobleman,

00:29:43.339 --> 00:29:45.159
 was not pleased at all.

00:29:46.500 --> 00:29:46.939
 Why?

00:29:47.879 --> 00:29:48.699
 Because this truth

00:29:48.699 --> 00:29:49.119
 that's running

00:29:49.119 --> 00:29:49.859
 through this text

00:29:49.859 --> 00:29:50.539
 is that preservation

00:29:50.539 --> 00:29:51.720
 is not the same

00:29:51.720 --> 00:29:52.639
 as faithfulness.

00:29:52.640 --> 00:29:54.640
 The master did not

00:29:54.640 --> 00:29:55.620
 give this man money

00:29:55.620 --> 00:29:56.380
 to keep it safe.

00:29:56.600 --> 00:29:57.380
 He gave him money

00:29:57.380 --> 00:29:58.280
 to use it,

00:29:58.820 --> 00:30:00.140
 to invest it,

00:30:00.900 --> 00:30:02.880
 to move the business

00:30:02.880 --> 00:30:03.780
 along further.

00:30:04.660 --> 00:30:05.320
 In verse number 21,

00:30:05.420 --> 00:30:06.220
 the servant explains

00:30:06.220 --> 00:30:06.980
 why he did this.

00:30:07.060 --> 00:30:07.259
 He said,

00:30:07.300 --> 00:30:08.000
 For I feared thee,

00:30:08.640 --> 00:30:09.420
 because thou art

00:30:09.420 --> 00:30:10.720
 an austere man.

00:30:10.759 --> 00:30:11.540
 We don't use that word

00:30:11.540 --> 00:30:11.820
 a lot,

00:30:11.860 --> 00:30:12.759
 but it carries this idea

00:30:12.759 --> 00:30:13.720
 of stern

00:30:13.720 --> 00:30:14.840
 and exacting

00:30:14.840 --> 00:30:15.700
 and harsh.

00:30:17.600 --> 00:30:18.900
 Really what we see here

00:30:18.900 --> 00:30:20.960
 is this man's inactivity.

00:30:20.960 --> 00:30:22.120
 It really reveals

00:30:22.120 --> 00:30:23.539
 his view of the master.

00:30:25.779 --> 00:30:26.660
 That he sees

00:30:26.660 --> 00:30:27.360
 his nobleman,

00:30:27.500 --> 00:30:28.720
 he sees this king

00:30:28.720 --> 00:30:29.680
 through fear

00:30:29.680 --> 00:30:30.480
 and suspicion.

00:30:31.799 --> 00:30:32.559
 He's essentially

00:30:32.559 --> 00:30:33.340
 saying this,

00:30:33.640 --> 00:30:34.140
 Well, I didn't really

00:30:34.140 --> 00:30:34.759
 trust you.

00:30:36.480 --> 00:30:38.000
 I feel like I'm better

00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:38.740
 with my things

00:30:38.740 --> 00:30:39.480
 than you are.

00:30:41.079 --> 00:30:41.700
 Ever thought that

00:30:41.700 --> 00:30:42.100
 with the Lord?

00:30:43.100 --> 00:30:43.819
 Lord, I know how

00:30:43.819 --> 00:30:44.680
 to invest this money.

00:30:45.079 --> 00:30:46.079
 I watched a YouTube video.

00:30:47.440 --> 00:30:47.579
 I mean,

00:30:47.860 --> 00:30:49.279
 sometimes that's how

00:30:49.279 --> 00:30:50.299
 we think in our life.

00:30:50.299 --> 00:30:51.299
 I didn't really

00:30:51.299 --> 00:30:51.899
 trust you.

00:30:52.079 --> 00:30:52.539
 He's thinking,

00:30:52.759 --> 00:30:53.119
 Well, I thought

00:30:53.119 --> 00:30:53.779
 you were harsh

00:30:53.779 --> 00:30:55.180
 and I was afraid

00:30:55.180 --> 00:30:55.819
 what might happen

00:30:55.819 --> 00:30:57.000
 so I did nothing.

00:30:58.579 --> 00:30:59.379
 But nothing

00:30:59.379 --> 00:31:00.339
 in this parable

00:31:00.339 --> 00:31:01.200
 suggests

00:31:01.200 --> 00:31:02.500
 that the master

00:31:02.500 --> 00:31:03.500
 actually deserves

00:31:03.500 --> 00:31:04.099
 this description.

00:31:04.960 --> 00:31:05.740
 In fact,

00:31:05.899 --> 00:31:06.539
 we just saw

00:31:06.539 --> 00:31:07.220
 the generosity

00:31:07.220 --> 00:31:08.099
 of this master.

00:31:09.000 --> 00:31:10.399
 He gave 10 pounds

00:31:10.399 --> 00:31:10.899
 and they did

00:31:10.899 --> 00:31:11.599
 what they were supposed to.

00:31:11.700 --> 00:31:12.879
 He gave him 10 cities.

00:31:13.440 --> 00:31:14.399
 He gave him 5 cities.

00:31:14.659 --> 00:31:15.259
 That's the type

00:31:15.259 --> 00:31:16.299
 of master we serve.

00:31:16.720 --> 00:31:17.879
 One that is loving

00:31:17.879 --> 00:31:18.579
 and kind

00:31:18.579 --> 00:31:19.220
 and rewards

00:31:19.220 --> 00:31:20.220
 far beyond

00:31:20.220 --> 00:31:21.339
 what any of us deserve.

00:31:22.359 --> 00:31:23.359
 So the servant's view

00:31:23.359 --> 00:31:24.359
 here is not based

00:31:24.359 --> 00:31:25.119
 in reality.

00:31:25.960 --> 00:31:26.759
 And let me just remind you,

00:31:26.919 --> 00:31:27.939
 a wrong view

00:31:27.939 --> 00:31:28.659
 of the king,

00:31:28.740 --> 00:31:29.379
 it produces

00:31:29.379 --> 00:31:30.720
 an unfaithful life.

00:31:32.159 --> 00:31:32.699
 A.W. Tozer

00:31:32.699 --> 00:31:33.339
 said it like this,

00:31:33.579 --> 00:31:34.460
 Nothing twists

00:31:34.460 --> 00:31:35.359
 and deforms

00:31:35.359 --> 00:31:36.099
 the soul

00:31:36.099 --> 00:31:37.119
 more than a low

00:31:37.119 --> 00:31:37.980
 or unworthy

00:31:37.980 --> 00:31:38.980
 conception of God.

00:31:40.740 --> 00:31:41.539
 God doesn't

00:31:41.539 --> 00:31:42.539
 respond

00:31:42.539 --> 00:31:43.099
 and act

00:31:43.099 --> 00:31:43.720
 and treat us

00:31:43.720 --> 00:31:44.379
 and do business

00:31:44.379 --> 00:31:45.439
 like somebody we know.

00:31:45.440 --> 00:31:45.799
 No,

00:31:45.940 --> 00:31:46.940
 he's perfect

00:31:46.940 --> 00:31:47.460
 and holy

00:31:47.460 --> 00:31:48.080
 and just

00:31:48.080 --> 00:31:49.299
 and he knows

00:31:49.299 --> 00:31:49.840
 what he's doing

00:31:49.840 --> 00:31:50.820
 and he's given us

00:31:50.820 --> 00:31:51.539
 the opportunity

00:31:51.539 --> 00:31:52.600
 and that's exactly

00:31:52.600 --> 00:31:53.519
 what we see here

00:31:53.519 --> 00:31:54.519
 is this servant's

00:31:54.519 --> 00:31:55.259
 view of the master

00:31:55.259 --> 00:31:56.880
 affected how he lived

00:31:56.880 --> 00:31:57.539
 while the master

00:31:57.539 --> 00:31:58.080
 was away.

00:31:59.860 --> 00:32:00.779
 And we have to be careful

00:32:00.779 --> 00:32:01.759
 not to fall in that trap.

00:32:03.059 --> 00:32:03.539
 That we know

00:32:03.539 --> 00:32:04.200
 who God is.

00:32:04.820 --> 00:32:05.480
 The Bible

00:32:05.480 --> 00:32:06.420
 makes it very clear

00:32:06.420 --> 00:32:07.360
 that he is high

00:32:07.360 --> 00:32:07.900
 and he's holy

00:32:07.900 --> 00:32:08.759
 and he's all these things

00:32:08.759 --> 00:32:09.720
 and before we rush

00:32:09.720 --> 00:32:10.120
 to judgment,

00:32:10.240 --> 00:32:11.039
 we must make sure

00:32:11.039 --> 00:32:11.820
 that the same

00:32:11.820 --> 00:32:12.980
 does not happen to us.

00:32:13.700 --> 00:32:14.740
 If you see God

00:32:14.740 --> 00:32:15.660
 as only harsh

00:32:15.660 --> 00:32:16.240
 and distant

00:32:16.240 --> 00:32:17.120
 and impossible

00:32:17.120 --> 00:32:17.740
 to please,

00:32:17.940 --> 00:32:18.440
 you're probably

00:32:18.440 --> 00:32:18.819
 going to spend

00:32:18.819 --> 00:32:19.599
 your life hiding

00:32:19.599 --> 00:32:20.620
 instead of actually serving.

00:32:24.380 --> 00:32:25.380
 And if we forget

00:32:25.380 --> 00:32:25.940
 his goodness

00:32:25.940 --> 00:32:27.120
 and we forget

00:32:27.120 --> 00:32:27.759
 his grace

00:32:27.759 --> 00:32:28.480
 and generosity

00:32:28.480 --> 00:32:29.500
 and his faithfulness,

00:32:30.019 --> 00:32:30.779
 we can begin

00:32:30.779 --> 00:32:31.779
 treating obedience

00:32:31.779 --> 00:32:32.980
 like a burden

00:32:32.980 --> 00:32:34.120
 instead of a privilege.

00:32:34.519 --> 00:32:34.720
 Listen,

00:32:34.799 --> 00:32:35.700
 it's a privilege

00:32:35.700 --> 00:32:36.900
 to obey God.

00:32:37.400 --> 00:32:38.440
 It is a privilege

00:32:38.440 --> 00:32:39.180
 to serve.

00:32:39.420 --> 00:32:40.120
 It is a privilege

00:32:40.120 --> 00:32:41.400
 to do the work

00:32:41.400 --> 00:32:41.940
 that the Lord

00:32:41.940 --> 00:32:42.940
 has called us to do.

00:32:43.519 --> 00:32:44.319
 And in verse 22

00:32:44.319 --> 00:32:45.120
 and verse 23,

00:32:45.380 --> 00:32:47.099
 we notice the master's response.

00:32:48.220 --> 00:32:48.819
 And he said unto him,

00:32:48.880 --> 00:32:49.839
 Out of thy own mouth

00:32:49.839 --> 00:32:50.640
 will I judge thee,

00:32:50.680 --> 00:32:51.480
 thou wicked servant.

00:32:52.920 --> 00:32:53.700
 Really what he's saying

00:32:53.700 --> 00:32:54.140
 in these verses,

00:32:54.180 --> 00:32:54.700
 we won't take time

00:32:54.700 --> 00:32:55.079
 to read them

00:32:55.079 --> 00:32:55.819
 for the sake of time,

00:32:56.120 --> 00:32:57.160
 but what the king

00:32:57.160 --> 00:32:57.900
 is saying here

00:32:57.900 --> 00:32:59.160
 is if you really believe

00:32:59.160 --> 00:33:00.099
 what you just said,

00:33:00.779 --> 00:33:01.480
 why didn't you just

00:33:01.480 --> 00:33:02.519
 at least put it in the bank?

00:33:03.259 --> 00:33:03.839
 I could have at least

00:33:03.839 --> 00:33:04.519
 got some interest

00:33:04.519 --> 00:33:05.480
 when I showed back up.

00:33:06.079 --> 00:33:06.819
 Really what he's saying

00:33:06.819 --> 00:33:08.539
 is your own words

00:33:08.539 --> 00:33:09.180
 are exposing

00:33:09.180 --> 00:33:10.259
 how you're living.

00:33:11.240 --> 00:33:12.920
 They don't even hold up.

00:33:12.980 --> 00:33:14.539
 It's a terrible excuse.

00:33:16.039 --> 00:33:16.700
 And in verse 24

00:33:16.700 --> 00:33:17.379
 and verse 25,

00:33:17.500 --> 00:33:18.319
 the king takes

00:33:18.319 --> 00:33:19.279
 his money,

00:33:19.759 --> 00:33:20.319
 the one pound

00:33:20.319 --> 00:33:20.960
 that he had,

00:33:21.779 --> 00:33:22.579
 the one mina

00:33:22.579 --> 00:33:23.019
 that he had,

00:33:23.119 --> 00:33:23.799
 and gives it

00:33:23.799 --> 00:33:24.339
 to the servant

00:33:24.339 --> 00:33:24.920
 that had ten.

00:33:25.079 --> 00:33:25.960
 And you hear the gasp

00:33:25.960 --> 00:33:26.440
 in the crowd say,

00:33:26.519 --> 00:33:28.000
 you can't do that.

00:33:29.599 --> 00:33:30.579
 He can do anything

00:33:30.579 --> 00:33:31.160
 he wants.

00:33:32.299 --> 00:33:33.079
 He's the king.

00:33:33.079 --> 00:33:35.159
 But we've seen

00:33:35.159 --> 00:33:35.699
 throughout this

00:33:35.699 --> 00:33:36.480
 that he's not there

00:33:36.480 --> 00:33:38.199
 just to keep his thumb

00:33:38.199 --> 00:33:38.679
 on us.

00:33:38.859 --> 00:33:40.000
 No, he's a loving king.

00:33:40.399 --> 00:33:41.159
 He cares.

00:33:41.339 --> 00:33:42.259
 He wants us

00:33:42.259 --> 00:33:42.759
 to be involved.

00:33:42.960 --> 00:33:43.419
 He's given us

00:33:43.419 --> 00:33:44.079
 an opportunity

00:33:44.079 --> 00:33:44.859
 to be involved

00:33:44.859 --> 00:33:45.319
 in the work.

00:33:45.519 --> 00:33:46.119
 And then he gives us

00:33:46.119 --> 00:33:47.359
 this great principle

00:33:47.359 --> 00:33:48.199
 in verse 26,

00:33:48.539 --> 00:33:49.460
 for I say unto you

00:33:49.460 --> 00:33:50.240
 that unto everyone

00:33:50.240 --> 00:33:51.399
 which hath

00:33:51.399 --> 00:33:52.199
 shall be given,

00:33:52.639 --> 00:33:53.240
 and from him

00:33:53.240 --> 00:33:53.839
 that hath not,

00:33:54.000 --> 00:33:54.879
 even that he hath

00:33:54.879 --> 00:33:55.599
 shall be taken

00:33:55.599 --> 00:33:57.220
 away from him.

00:33:57.759 --> 00:33:58.519
 Here's what Jesus

00:33:58.519 --> 00:33:59.039
 is saying

00:33:59.039 --> 00:33:59.859
 as he closes out

00:33:59.859 --> 00:34:00.419
 this parable.

00:34:00.420 --> 00:34:02.860
 is that when we're faithful

00:34:02.860 --> 00:34:03.980
 it leads to

00:34:03.980 --> 00:34:05.000
 greater stewardship.

00:34:06.580 --> 00:34:07.840
 The more that we're faithful

00:34:07.840 --> 00:34:08.300
 with the things

00:34:08.300 --> 00:34:08.920
 that God gives us,

00:34:09.139 --> 00:34:09.659
 he's going to give us

00:34:09.659 --> 00:34:10.460
 more opportunities.

00:34:11.700 --> 00:34:12.559
 This is not some

00:34:12.559 --> 00:34:13.180
 wealth, health,

00:34:13.220 --> 00:34:14.139
 and prosperity gospel.

00:34:15.300 --> 00:34:16.079
 That's not what

00:34:16.079 --> 00:34:16.500
 Jesus is saying.

00:34:16.680 --> 00:34:17.300
 But he is saying

00:34:17.300 --> 00:34:17.940
 if you're faithful

00:34:17.940 --> 00:34:18.139
 with things,

00:34:18.360 --> 00:34:19.039
 God's going to give

00:34:19.039 --> 00:34:19.880
 faithful people

00:34:19.880 --> 00:34:20.820
 opportunities to serve.

00:34:21.579 --> 00:34:22.980
 But when we're faithless,

00:34:23.579 --> 00:34:24.900
 when we're fruitless,

00:34:24.980 --> 00:34:25.500
 here's what it does,

00:34:25.619 --> 00:34:26.519
 it leads to loss.

00:34:28.099 --> 00:34:28.579
 God's not going to

00:34:28.579 --> 00:34:29.559
 keep giving us things

00:34:29.559 --> 00:34:30.539
 if we're not using it.

00:34:31.360 --> 00:34:32.039
 He didn't give you

00:34:32.039 --> 00:34:32.679
 all those gifts

00:34:32.679 --> 00:34:33.599
 we talked about earlier

00:34:33.599 --> 00:34:34.779
 for you to hoard them,

00:34:35.420 --> 00:34:36.619
 to save them,

00:34:36.940 --> 00:34:37.679
 to store them.

00:34:37.880 --> 00:34:38.639
 He gave them to you

00:34:38.639 --> 00:34:39.719
 to use them.

00:34:41.360 --> 00:34:41.619
 You know,

00:34:41.739 --> 00:34:42.360
 I see people

00:34:42.360 --> 00:34:43.179
 that buy all these shoes

00:34:43.179 --> 00:34:43.699
 and some of you

00:34:43.699 --> 00:34:44.400
 may be sneakerheads.

00:34:44.659 --> 00:34:45.340
 They buy all these

00:34:45.340 --> 00:34:45.860
 awesome shoes

00:34:45.860 --> 00:34:46.400
 and they put them

00:34:46.400 --> 00:34:47.420
 in boxes with lights

00:34:47.420 --> 00:34:47.799
 and they put them

00:34:47.799 --> 00:34:48.259
 in their closet.

00:34:49.239 --> 00:34:49.539
 I was like,

00:34:49.599 --> 00:34:50.159
 that's cool,

00:34:50.279 --> 00:34:51.380
 but I thought

00:34:51.380 --> 00:34:51.619
 you were supposed

00:34:51.619 --> 00:34:52.299
 to wear shoes.

00:34:53.400 --> 00:34:54.199
 We can't wear these shoes

00:34:54.199 --> 00:34:55.079
 because they're super cool

00:34:55.079 --> 00:34:56.019
 and they're super expensive.

00:34:56.699 --> 00:34:57.259
 What's the point

00:34:57.259 --> 00:34:57.880
 of a shoe then?

00:34:58.119 --> 00:34:58.840
 Set in a box?

00:34:59.600 --> 00:34:59.780
 Listen,

00:34:59.860 --> 00:35:00.940
 I don't know how

00:35:00.940 --> 00:35:01.940
 Christians live their life.

00:35:02.280 --> 00:35:02.960
 They got the coolest

00:35:02.960 --> 00:35:03.440
 thing in the world

00:35:03.440 --> 00:35:03.820
 but they're just going

00:35:03.820 --> 00:35:04.360
 to sit in a box

00:35:04.360 --> 00:35:04.820
 in their closet

00:35:04.820 --> 00:35:05.300
 and they're going

00:35:05.300 --> 00:35:05.640
 to put it under

00:35:05.640 --> 00:35:06.260
 their arm

00:35:06.260 --> 00:35:06.539
 when they come

00:35:06.539 --> 00:35:07.240
 to church on Sunday.

00:35:07.940 --> 00:35:08.360
 It's the only time

00:35:08.360 --> 00:35:08.960
 they ever use it.

00:35:09.680 --> 00:35:10.320
 They only wear shoes

00:35:10.320 --> 00:35:11.019
 on special occasions.

00:35:11.220 --> 00:35:11.920
 We can only use this

00:35:11.920 --> 00:35:12.820
 on special occasions.

00:35:13.600 --> 00:35:13.800
 No,

00:35:13.860 --> 00:35:14.539
 we need to live it

00:35:14.539 --> 00:35:15.100
 every single day

00:35:15.100 --> 00:35:15.760
 of our life.

00:35:16.620 --> 00:35:16.780
 See,

00:35:16.860 --> 00:35:17.400
 I want to remind us

00:35:17.400 --> 00:35:18.519
 this is not just

00:35:18.519 --> 00:35:19.360
 a fictional story.

00:35:20.640 --> 00:35:21.460
 It keeps coming up

00:35:21.460 --> 00:35:22.100
 over and over again

00:35:22.100 --> 00:35:23.300
 and Jesus reminds us

00:35:23.300 --> 00:35:23.700
 that one day

00:35:23.700 --> 00:35:24.620
 the king's going to ask us

00:35:24.620 --> 00:35:25.280
 what we did with it.

00:35:25.519 --> 00:35:26.460
 He asked all of his servants,

00:35:26.559 --> 00:35:27.039
 what'd you do?

00:35:28.679 --> 00:35:29.699
 He's not going to ask you

00:35:29.699 --> 00:35:31.240
 what does somebody else do?

00:35:32.720 --> 00:35:33.360
 Sometimes we get

00:35:33.360 --> 00:35:33.860
 kind of cornered

00:35:33.860 --> 00:35:34.059
 and we say,

00:35:34.179 --> 00:35:34.500
 well,

00:35:34.500 --> 00:35:35.340
 they didn't do it.

00:35:36.280 --> 00:35:36.659
 You're not going to

00:35:36.659 --> 00:35:37.780
 give an account for them.

00:35:38.740 --> 00:35:39.039
 You're going to give

00:35:39.039 --> 00:35:39.820
 an account for your life

00:35:39.820 --> 00:35:41.220
 and what you've done

00:35:41.220 --> 00:35:41.659
 with what God

00:35:41.659 --> 00:35:42.179
 has given you.

00:35:42.179 --> 00:35:44.000
 I mean,

00:35:44.039 --> 00:35:44.399
 is there anything

00:35:44.399 --> 00:35:44.899
 in your life

00:35:44.899 --> 00:35:45.460
 that you're leaving

00:35:45.460 --> 00:35:46.460
 unused for him?

00:35:47.239 --> 00:35:47.940
 A relationship,

00:35:48.179 --> 00:35:48.839
 an opportunity,

00:35:49.239 --> 00:35:49.859
 some time,

00:35:50.099 --> 00:35:50.699
 the gospel?

00:35:52.319 --> 00:35:52.980
 But the parable

00:35:52.980 --> 00:35:53.579
 doesn't just end

00:35:53.579 --> 00:35:54.199
 with the servants.

00:35:55.259 --> 00:35:56.099
 Look at verse number 27.

00:35:56.219 --> 00:35:56.839
 This is a tough verse

00:35:56.839 --> 00:35:57.199
 to read.

00:35:58.559 --> 00:35:59.359
 But those mine enemies

00:35:59.359 --> 00:36:00.039
 which would not

00:36:00.039 --> 00:36:01.219
 that I should reign over them

00:36:01.219 --> 00:36:02.099
 bring hither

00:36:02.099 --> 00:36:03.059
 and slay them

00:36:03.059 --> 00:36:04.259
 before me.

00:36:06.659 --> 00:36:07.319
 That sounds

00:36:07.319 --> 00:36:08.079
 really severe

00:36:08.079 --> 00:36:10.779
 and Jesus intends

00:36:10.780 --> 00:36:11.820
 for it to sound severe.

00:36:13.320 --> 00:36:14.160
 Because the return

00:36:14.160 --> 00:36:14.680
 of the king,

00:36:14.800 --> 00:36:15.940
 when Jesus comes again,

00:36:16.700 --> 00:36:17.600
 he's not just coming

00:36:17.600 --> 00:36:18.420
 to bring a reward,

00:36:18.760 --> 00:36:20.100
 it will also bring judgment.

00:36:22.380 --> 00:36:23.340
 What kind of God

00:36:23.340 --> 00:36:23.980
 would do that?

00:36:24.420 --> 00:36:25.300
 The same kind of God

00:36:25.300 --> 00:36:25.680
 that would send

00:36:25.680 --> 00:36:26.140
 his only son

00:36:26.140 --> 00:36:26.800
 the first time

00:36:26.800 --> 00:36:29.080
 and to die on the cross

00:36:29.080 --> 00:36:29.900
 for my sin

00:36:29.900 --> 00:36:30.660
 and for your sin.

00:36:31.400 --> 00:36:31.840
 Because the Bible

00:36:31.840 --> 00:36:32.640
 is clear that all

00:36:32.640 --> 00:36:33.080
 have sinned

00:36:33.080 --> 00:36:33.440
 and come short

00:36:33.440 --> 00:36:34.080
 of the glory of God.

00:36:34.280 --> 00:36:34.940
 See, the first time

00:36:34.940 --> 00:36:35.480
 we already saw

00:36:35.480 --> 00:36:36.340
 in Luke chapter 19,

00:36:36.420 --> 00:36:36.740
 verse 10,

00:36:36.940 --> 00:36:37.820
 here's why he came,

00:36:38.040 --> 00:36:39.340
 to seek and to save

00:36:39.340 --> 00:36:40.300
 that which was lost.

00:36:40.780 --> 00:36:41.519
 So there will be

00:36:41.519 --> 00:36:42.140
 no excuse.

00:36:42.260 --> 00:36:43.200
 He has made a way.

00:36:43.440 --> 00:36:44.480
 He has paid the debt.

00:36:44.760 --> 00:36:45.620
 All of the things

00:36:45.620 --> 00:36:46.260
 have been taken care of.

00:36:46.480 --> 00:36:47.200
 That's the king

00:36:47.200 --> 00:36:47.860
 that we serve.

00:36:48.080 --> 00:36:48.860
 But some are going

00:36:48.860 --> 00:36:49.940
 to outright reject

00:36:49.940 --> 00:36:50.500
 that king.

00:36:51.200 --> 00:36:52.140
 But it does not

00:36:52.140 --> 00:36:52.920
 change the truth

00:36:52.920 --> 00:36:53.840
 that he is the king.

00:36:54.720 --> 00:36:55.960
 And because he is just,

00:36:56.460 --> 00:36:58.000
 he will have to punish sin

00:36:58.000 --> 00:36:59.200
 even though he took

00:36:59.200 --> 00:37:00.780
 the debt on his own body

00:37:00.780 --> 00:37:01.780
 in that tree

00:37:01.780 --> 00:37:02.700
 as the apostle Paul

00:37:02.700 --> 00:37:03.340
 reminds us,

00:37:03.540 --> 00:37:04.380
 that there is going

00:37:04.380 --> 00:37:05.980
 to be severe judgment.

00:37:07.100 --> 00:37:08.160
 And those that reject

00:37:08.159 --> 00:37:08.779
 his rule

00:37:08.779 --> 00:37:10.799
 will answer to him.

00:37:12.359 --> 00:37:13.299
 So this parable

00:37:13.299 --> 00:37:14.000
 is not just,

00:37:14.159 --> 00:37:14.819
 well, we need to use

00:37:14.819 --> 00:37:15.659
 our talents better.

00:37:17.000 --> 00:37:18.980
 I think the thrust

00:37:18.980 --> 00:37:19.819
 of this entire parable

00:37:19.819 --> 00:37:20.159
 is this,

00:37:20.319 --> 00:37:21.579
 what are you doing

00:37:21.579 --> 00:37:22.099
 with the king?

00:37:24.579 --> 00:37:25.579
 Some reject him

00:37:25.579 --> 00:37:25.980
 altogether.

00:37:27.659 --> 00:37:29.339
 Some claim to serve him

00:37:29.339 --> 00:37:30.379
 but really waste

00:37:30.379 --> 00:37:31.899
 what he's entrusted

00:37:31.899 --> 00:37:32.219
 to them.

00:37:32.219 --> 00:37:33.719
 And others faithfully

00:37:33.719 --> 00:37:34.279
 serve him

00:37:34.279 --> 00:37:35.179
 looking forward

00:37:35.179 --> 00:37:35.819
 to his return.

00:37:37.319 --> 00:37:38.219
 So as we close

00:37:38.219 --> 00:37:38.519
 this morning,

00:37:38.579 --> 00:37:39.059
 I just want to ask you

00:37:39.059 --> 00:37:39.179
 this,

00:37:39.460 --> 00:37:40.059
 what attitude

00:37:40.059 --> 00:37:41.339
 characterizes your life?

00:37:42.839 --> 00:37:43.879
 The king is coming.

00:37:45.059 --> 00:37:46.480
 He will come again.

00:37:47.259 --> 00:37:48.219
 You don't have to dread it.

00:37:49.119 --> 00:37:50.000
 You can look forward

00:37:50.000 --> 00:37:50.219
 to it.

00:37:50.239 --> 00:37:51.000
 In fact, you should.

00:37:51.339 --> 00:37:52.119
 I love what John

00:37:52.119 --> 00:37:52.559
 says at the end

00:37:52.559 --> 00:37:52.980
 of Revelation.

00:37:53.339 --> 00:37:54.139
 Even so,

00:37:54.619 --> 00:37:55.279
 come quickly.

00:37:56.359 --> 00:37:57.179
 Come quickly,

00:37:57.319 --> 00:37:57.739
 Lord Jesus.

00:37:59.919 --> 00:38:00.879
 See, we started there

00:38:00.879 --> 00:38:01.699
 in verse number 11.

00:38:02.559 --> 00:38:02.879
 And the people

00:38:02.879 --> 00:38:03.559
 thought the question

00:38:03.559 --> 00:38:05.139
 was when is the kingdom

00:38:05.139 --> 00:38:05.739
 going to appear?

00:38:06.960 --> 00:38:08.019
 But what Jesus does

00:38:08.019 --> 00:38:08.579
 in this text

00:38:08.579 --> 00:38:10.179
 is he redirects

00:38:10.179 --> 00:38:10.699
 their attention.

00:38:11.839 --> 00:38:12.319
 And it should be

00:38:12.319 --> 00:38:13.199
 the same for us.

00:38:14.420 --> 00:38:15.319
 Yes, the king

00:38:15.319 --> 00:38:15.920
 has gone away.

00:38:16.779 --> 00:38:17.259
 He's been away

00:38:17.259 --> 00:38:17.980
 for a while now

00:38:17.980 --> 00:38:18.719
 and the world mocks

00:38:18.719 --> 00:38:19.319
 and he's been gone

00:38:19.319 --> 00:38:20.239
 2,000 years.

00:38:21.339 --> 00:38:22.079
 But he's given us

00:38:22.079 --> 00:38:23.099
 a great responsibility.

00:38:24.119 --> 00:38:24.819
 Go ye therefore

00:38:24.819 --> 00:38:26.639
 into all the world

00:38:26.639 --> 00:38:28.019
 and preach the gospel.

00:38:29.099 --> 00:38:29.839
 That's why we're having

00:38:29.839 --> 00:38:30.699
 a missions month.

00:38:31.000 --> 00:38:31.599
 That's why we brought

00:38:31.599 --> 00:38:32.539
 missionaries in.

00:38:32.739 --> 00:38:33.879
 That's why we want

00:38:33.880 --> 00:38:34.539
 to take the gospel

00:38:34.539 --> 00:38:35.180
 to Hong Kong

00:38:35.180 --> 00:38:35.820
 and check via.

00:38:35.980 --> 00:38:36.260
 That's why

00:38:36.260 --> 00:38:36.820
 Brother Zach and

00:38:36.820 --> 00:38:37.200
 Miss Cherish

00:38:37.200 --> 00:38:37.920
 are taking the gospel

00:38:37.920 --> 00:38:38.519
 to Nakona

00:38:38.519 --> 00:38:40.019
 and to see opportunities

00:38:40.019 --> 00:38:41.240
 there for people

00:38:41.240 --> 00:38:41.860
 to know the Lord.

00:38:42.099 --> 00:38:42.980
 And so the big question

00:38:42.980 --> 00:38:43.880
 I want you to answer

00:38:43.880 --> 00:38:44.440
 this morning

00:38:44.440 --> 00:38:45.519
 that we must answer

00:38:45.519 --> 00:38:45.800
 in our heart,

00:38:46.000 --> 00:38:46.940
 what am I doing

00:38:46.940 --> 00:38:47.840
 until he comes again?

00:38:49.539 --> 00:38:50.340
 That's really where

00:38:50.340 --> 00:38:51.220
 he's pulling us to.

00:38:51.700 --> 00:38:53.119
 But because until he comes

00:38:53.119 --> 00:38:54.519
 there is work to do.

00:38:55.559 --> 00:38:56.420
 There are people

00:38:56.420 --> 00:38:57.340
 that need the gospel.

00:38:57.680 --> 00:38:58.539
 There are opportunities

00:38:58.539 --> 00:38:59.440
 that he is placing

00:38:59.440 --> 00:39:00.160
 in front of your life

00:39:00.160 --> 00:39:00.720
 right now.

00:39:00.719 --> 00:39:01.339
 You have some

00:39:01.339 --> 00:39:02.019
 at school tomorrow.

00:39:02.879 --> 00:39:03.500
 You have some

00:39:03.500 --> 00:39:04.139
 at the lunch table

00:39:04.139 --> 00:39:04.679
 at work.

00:39:05.500 --> 00:39:06.319
 Hey, around the water

00:39:06.319 --> 00:39:07.059
 cooler tomorrow.

00:39:08.339 --> 00:39:09.199
 There are resources

00:39:09.199 --> 00:39:10.379
 God has called you

00:39:10.379 --> 00:39:11.079
 to steward.

00:39:12.139 --> 00:39:13.299
 And he invites you.

00:39:13.539 --> 00:39:14.379
 There's cards in your

00:39:14.379 --> 00:39:14.899
 chair back in front of me.

00:39:14.919 --> 00:39:15.399
 We'll talk about it

00:39:15.399 --> 00:39:16.099
 next week a little more.

00:39:16.179 --> 00:39:17.000
 But faith promise.

00:39:17.059 --> 00:39:17.859
 Just get involved

00:39:17.859 --> 00:39:18.699
 in getting the gospel

00:39:18.699 --> 00:39:19.739
 across the world.

00:39:20.679 --> 00:39:21.679
 There are people to love.

00:39:21.759 --> 00:39:22.839
 There's a church to serve.

00:39:23.099 --> 00:39:24.379
 There's a king to obey.

00:39:26.319 --> 00:39:27.699
 And he just reminds us

00:39:27.699 --> 00:39:28.179
 over and over.

00:39:28.219 --> 00:39:28.619
 And I'll leave you

00:39:28.619 --> 00:39:29.119
 with this thought.

00:39:29.420 --> 00:39:31.039
 Until he comes

00:39:31.039 --> 00:39:32.579
 be faithful

00:39:32.579 --> 00:39:33.460
 with what he has placed

00:39:33.460 --> 00:39:34.819
 in your hands.

00:39:35.460 --> 00:39:36.719
 Because he is coming again.

00:39:37.539 --> 00:39:38.579
 And would he find us

00:39:38.579 --> 00:39:39.619
 occupying,

00:39:40.380 --> 00:39:40.759
 serving,

00:39:41.579 --> 00:39:42.460
 doing the work

00:39:42.460 --> 00:39:43.799
 when he comes again.

00:39:44.159 --> 00:39:44.679
 Would you stand

00:39:44.679 --> 00:39:45.339
 with your heads bowed

00:39:45.339 --> 00:39:45.719
 and with your hands?