Okay, let's pray together. The reason we do this is because we don't just come to hear a message about God, we come to encounter God on Sundays.
And so will you join me as we pray together?
Heavenly Father, gracious Lord, loving Savior, we come before you this morning, as we said earlier, to worship and adore you, God, because it is right and fitting to adore you and worship you.
But God, not because you need it, but because we need it, God.
Our hearts, Lord, are so often dragged away by other false gods, by the promises of hope.
And yet, God, you, Christ, have the words of life. You, Christ, life is found in you.
And God, we've come to fix our eyes on you this morning, God.
We've come to rightly orientate our hearts to you this morning.
We've come again, God, to be reminded of the hope of Jesus and for our hearts to be stirred in adoration and affection for you, God.
Christ, there really is no one and none like you in all the world.
There's no one as faithful as you.
There's no one as forgiving as you.
There's no one as gracious as you.
God, we all come here with all sorts of baggage, all sorts of hang-ups, God.
And yet, God, you are so incredibly good and faithful, God.
And we really do worship you and adore you for that.
We honor you for that this morning, God.
Father, receive our worship this morning, we pray.
We pray that, God, it will not only be good for us, it will be pleasing in your sight, Lord.
Father, we pray that as a church, God, that the wonderful good news of Jesus really will get deeper into our hearts and will start to shape our hearts.
Father, I confess how much I need that, Lord.
Christ, I need you to shape my heart.
And I pray for us as a church, God, that you, by your Spirit, will be at work in us, God.
Father, let the good news of Christ drop from our heads to our hearts, God.
Let it shape us, God.
I pray that as a church, we really will, this will be the culture of our church, God.
Christ, come and help us, we pray, Lord.
Come and help us, we pray, Father.
Father, this morning, as Ryuta opens up your word, we pray that you will speak to us.
God, as we so often say, we don't just need to be encouraged or inspired.
We want to meet with you in your word, Lord.
We want your word to come alive and to penetrate our hearts.
God, we pray that as your word is opened up, that, God, we will encounter you in your word.
And so we pray for Ryuta, God, as he preaches.
We pray, Lord, that you'll be guiding his words and what to say.
Spirit of God, be anointing that time, Father, and speak to us, we pray.
May we discover more of you in your word this morning, God.
God, this morning we want to pray for Jeremy and Angie and Bernard that are in Chiang Mai.
And God, we pray for us as a church that you will lead us in where you want us to go with regards to fostering and adoption, God.
I pray for families in this church that you're calling to adopt children without families.
God, I pray that we as a church will respond to the need and foster those that need families for a short period.
God, we pray that as a church this won't just be a strategy or an idea, but it really will be spirit-led.
We'll be following your leading of us this morning.
And so, Christ, we pray for that time.
Come and speak to us, Lord.
Speak to them that are away and lead and guide us, God, as a church about where you're wanting us to go in this regard.
Father, this morning we want to pray also, God, for those that are sick in Watermark.
Pray for those that are struggling with sickness.
Pray for Hannah Farrell, God, who really has struggled for months, God, with sickness.
We bring her before you this morning, even as she's away.
Lord, we pray for a breakthrough in her life.
We pray for healing, God.
We pray for those in our congregation that we don't know are sick, but, God, whose health is not good.
And we ask you, God, to come and strengthen them and encourage them.
We pray restore their bodies, but we also pray that you'll minister to them in the midst of this time, Father.
We bring our congregation before you this morning.
And, Lord, finally we want to, again, just pray for our resound brothers and sisters across Asia.
We want to pray for those in India, New Delhi and Bangalore, those in Japan and Australia and Singapore and Hong Kong, God.
We pray, Christ, that you will do a profound work in our churches, that the gospel really will sound forth.
God, we pray all these things in your wonderful and your powerful name.
Amen.
Rhoda is going to come and read God's word to us this morning.
Is this on?
Yeah.
The scripture reading from today is from Luke 19, 11 to 27.
Please follow along in your bulletin or on the screen.
As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable because he was near to Jerusalem
and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately.
He said, therefore, a nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return.
Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minutes and said to them,
Engage in business until I come.
But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying,
We do not want this man to reign over us.
When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him,
and that he might know what they had gained by doing business.
The first came before him, saying,
Lord, your minute has made ten minutes more.
And he said to him,
Well done, good servant, because you have been faithful in the very little.
You shall have authority over ten cities.
And the second came, saying,
Lord, your minute has made five minutes.
And he said to him,
And you are to be over five cities.
Then another came, saying,
Lord,
Here is your minute,
which I kept laid away in a handkerchief,
for I was afraid of you,
because you are a severe man.
You take what you did not deposit
and reap what you did not sow.
He said to him,
I will condemn you with your own words.
You were a good servant.
You knew that I was a severe man,
taking what I did not deposit
and reaping what I did not sow.
Why then did you not put my money,
sorry,
in the bank?
And at my coming,
I might have collected it with interest.
And he said to those who stood by,
Take the minute from him
and give it to the one who has the ten minutes.
And they said to him,
Lord, he has ten minutes.
I tell you that to everyone who has,
more will be given.
But from the one who has not,
even what he has will be taken away.
But as for these enemies of mine,
who did not want me to reign over them,
bring them here and slaughter them before me.
This is the word of God.
Amen.
Good morning, everyone.
Good morning.
It's good to see you.
Actually, I was here in 2013
when Tim Keller came to Hong Kong.
I did a conference.
That was actually a life-changing moment in my life.
That's the first time that I heard Tim Keller.
Changed my life.
Almost like a born again.
Of course, I was a Christian at the time.
But I rediscovered the gospel.
Then, following year,
I actually visited this church in 2014
with a city-to-city crew of guys
with church planters.
So, I'm sure I met you already, some of you.
And I think, yeah, you remember me.
And maybe if you don't, then that's fine.
My name is Ryuta.
Ryuta.
It's the name from Street Fighter.
The Hadoken thing.
The Ryuu.
It's the same pronunciation.
So, it's not Ryuta.
It's Ryuta.
Okay?
So, anyway.
No, it's okay, Kevin.
You're forgiven.
No, it's okay.
Seriously, it's okay.
You can call me Ru or Ryuu.
Yeah, so I just really want to thank you, first of all,
for your prayers and support
and also partnership through Resound.
Thank you, Kevin and Claire, for hosting us.
And really, I feel the brotherhood together,
the relationship, like a family of churches together.
So, on behalf of the Resound guys,
I feel love, and I'm sure all of us feel love here,
and strengthened, encouraged, and empowered
through this meeting.
So, I heard that you are going through
the book of Revelation.
And the original plan was that I was supposed to preach
from the book of Revelation.
But I'm glad that he told me that I don't have to
because I know it's a challenging book.
So, I picked this passage
because it kind of relates to the end times.
You know, maybe you noticed.
So, I thought it will be easier.
But, as I re-looked at the scripture,
no, it's not easy.
It's not easy.
I mean, scripture, any part,
it's actually not easy.
It has to challenge us
because it's the Word of God.
Because we are sinful,
we need to be reshaped
by the gospel and the Word of God.
So, I hope I can share with you,
unpacking this parable,
what it really means.
So, I have three headings today.
But before we go to these headings,
the points,
we have to look at a few historical background
or context first, I would say.
Because when Jesus shares these parables,
which was a lot in the Gospel of Luke,
he shares a lot of parables.
Luke is quite kind,
using intentionally these words
to hint what really it means.
For example,
it starts in verse 11
that as they were talking about these things,
as they're hearing these things, right?
So, what was the context before?
It was actually Jesus was talking to Zacchaeus
and his friend.
And Jesus was saying,
hey, today salvation has come to this house.
I came to seek the lost
and save the lost.
And in that context,
some people are grumbling
because Zacchaeus was a sinner,
was a tax collector,
wasn't popular.
And having in his mind,
Jesus went on to share.
And then even Luke gives another reason.
He says,
because they were approaching Jerusalem.
Okay, this is very important information
because why?
The parable starts.
This noble man goes to her country
to receive kingship, right?
And Jesus is kind of similar situation,
going to Jerusalem.
And everybody was thinking
that he's going to be enthroned
as the king of Israel, right?
So, exactly kind of similar situation.
But another reason,
two because there, right?
And second reason,
because they thought
that this kingdom of God
will arrive,
will come immediately.
And that was wrong thinking.
Disciples were thinking,
hey, now,
this is the time.
I'm sure.
They were seeing the situation
with Zacchaeus
and salvation has come to this house.
And they're thinking,
Amos, I'm sure.
Or something,
some Old Testament prophet.
This is the day of the Lord.
Jesus is going to destroy the Romans,
kill everyone,
and conquer,
and we will be the great ones
because they were discussing, right?
Who will be the greatest?
So,
Jesus wanted to correct
their wrong view,
wrong assumption.
Wrong view about their lives,
future,
and the kingdom of God.
So,
three things
I want to talk about today.
First thing is expectation.
Expectation from God.
Second,
assumption
that we make.
And third,
solution
to our wrong
thinking
or assumption
or attitude
towards life.
All right.
So,
you can see,
now,
Jesus,
we know that
Jesus wants to
correct
disciples' thinking
and people's thinking
that kingdom will come.
So,
that means that
Jesus wants to tell them
that,
well,
it's actually not the case.
Kingdom is here,
but it actually
still takes time
to be fulfilled,
right?
So,
it's already
there's a sense
of already.
Yes,
already salvation is here.
Already there's hope.
Already there's a future promised
through Jesus,
but not yet
completed.
We still suffer.
We still have to be patient.
We still have to be faithful.
And that's what we are experiencing,
right?
In Hong Kong.
We're still going through suffering.
The city is still not
as we hoped
it to be.
That kind of thing
hit us in Japan, too,
in 2011
when we experienced
the earthquake.
We were literally
shaken.
But actually,
I can tell you,
last
80 years,
a lot of people
started to think
about their lives.
especially in North,
where the earthquake
was affected,
people started to open up
their hearts
and think about their life,
death,
and many people
started to become Christians.
More church planting
last five years
started happening
around Tokyo
and all the cities.
And it is true,
as you heard this morning,
that God shakes
us,
our hearts,
through using these
tragedies
or hard times.
And,
Jesus wants to remind us
how we have to live
in this
between
the alreadyness
and not yetness.
Okay?
So,
first thing,
Jesus starts with
talking about
this noble man,
went into
a far country
and received
for himself
a kingdom
and then returned.
And I already
have a question,
why does he have to
go to a far country
to do this?
And this is
quite important information
because historically,
in a time around
4 BC
before Christ,
the Herod the Great
went to Rome
and received,
actually,
the kingship
and returned.
And people hated Herod.
And,
40 BC,
a little bit later on,
his son,
Archelaus,
also went to Rome,
but this time
he protested
about his,
another brother
was about to
kind of
to be chosen
and what happened
was he got
banished.
He didn't become king.
People hated it.
So,
you can see already
as he starts
the parable,
many people
are already engaged.
What?
He's using this
kind of
intense situation
that who's going
to be king
and we don't want
this evil king
to rule us.
And Jesus
is relating
to the kingdom
of God.
Then,
he talks about
this noble man
calls
these three servants
and gave them
out of blue
no reason
that he should
do this.
Probably.
It's a gracious
thing,
generous thing.
This noble man
gives gifts,
10 minutes,
which is about
maybe three months
wages,
which is not a lot,
but it's enough
money to invest,
right,
to business.
So,
when we hear
like this,
we feel,
okay,
this parable
is all about
our performance.
It's all about
God asking us
to be faithful
in our money
and reproduce,
start creating
Christian business
and then,
you know,
look God,
I did something
for you
so that God
will give us
favor.
But it's
actually not.
I was quite
surprised.
That's what I
used to think
because
there's the details
that,
in verse 14,
but citizens
hate it.
His citizens
hate it
and they didn't
want him to be
king.
what's going
on here?
I think we
have to look
at these
details.
Imagine,
this king
is going
away,
he's about
to be
chosen
as a king,
return,
and people
hate him.
Isn't this
similar to
the political
election
thing?
And here,
this is
interesting,
verse 13,
he uses
this word,
I mean,
they invest
into the
business
until I
return.
But that
word,
until,
can be
actually
translated
in three
ways.
In which
I return
or because
I return.
A few
scholars
actually
suggest
that actually
in Greek
because
is appropriate
here.
If it is
because,
it changes
the entire
meaning of
this.
Right?
So,
if it's
like until
I return,
it's like,
okay,
I want
money,
and I
want to
have a
return,
and,
you know,
I want
to have
more money,
that's what
the nobleman
might be
asking.
But it
is because
I return.
What do
you think
he will
ask of
you?
What kind
of business?
Is it for
yourself or
is it for
the king?
What do
you think?
Okay,
let's look
further here.
Verse 15,
says this,
when he
returned,
having received
the kingdom,
he ordered
the servants
to whom
he had
given the
money to
be called
to him
that he
might know
what they
had gained
by doing
business.
Again,
this seems
like he's
asking for
money,
right?
But actually,
original Greek
translation says
to be,
so they're
called to
him so
that they
might know
what business
had done,
what business
has
trans,
is that
it you
say?
Yeah,
transpired,
yeah.
So actually,
it's not
about money,
but it's
more about
what kind
of business
you invested
into.
Okay?
And this
is important
because if
you follow
the scripture,
the nobleman
is asking
about
faithfulness.
It's not
fruitfulness.
It's not
about
successfulness.
It's about
faithfulness,
isn't it?
What was
the reward
for them?
Was that
more privilege?
Hey,
you earn so
much,
now you
can go
and spend
money on
your cloth
and you
can live
happy
ever after?
No.
More
responsibility,
right?
So faithfulness
and reward
is more
responsibility
and authority
over the
cities.
So,
what is
master
asking
his servants
to do?
I can put
it this way.
I'm sure
he's asking
to campaign
for his
political
election.
Right?
he's asking
to promote
him
while he's
gone.
And
quite
difficult
because
many
people
against
him,
many
people
hate
him,
but in
that
tension,
in that
heat,
in that
difficulty,
he wants
his servants
to be
faithful
promoting
his name.
So,
when we
look at
our lives,
do we
do this?
If God
gave you
a lot
of money,
how would
you spend
it?
Probably
I'm thinking
I will
start my
own
clothes
shop.
Reuters
second
hand
store.
Right?
That's
a natural
thing.
And I
still,
of course,
because I'm
a Christian,
still thinking
back in my
head,
but this
is for
God.
That's
how I
excuse
myself.
Right?
Or maybe
you start,
maybe a
famous
scholar,
famous
person,
you can
say,
hey,
kevinisgreat.com.
Something like
that.
I don't
know.
I'm not
saying that
you will
do that.
Okay?
Or even
church.
It's almost
like you
can name
your church
Luther is
at the
center church
or something
like that
instead of
gospel center
church.
And this
was actually
a challenge
for me
when I
started
church.
Because I
was afraid
of what
people would
think.
I had
actually
many
so-called
enemies or
people who
didn't like
me because
I left
quite a sad
way,
my former
church.
So I
was worried
what if I
plant this
church,
what do
other people
think of
me?
What if I
fail?
Maybe they
will laugh
at me.
Huh?
See?
He wasn't
great.
He wasn't
capable of
doing this.
I was
worried about
this.
But through
actually this
scripture
challenged me,
is it really
about you?
Is that
your name
that you
want to
promote
through this
church
planting?
Or is
it God's
name that
you want to
promote in
your life?
So I
think this is
the first
challenge.
What are
you promoting
in your
life?
I'm not
just talking
about again
starting a
business but
in your
workplace.
do you
talk about
God?
Do you
talk more
about your
success?
How you
want to be
famous?
How you
want to be
popular?
What are
you promoting
not just in
the workplace
but maybe at
your home to
your children?
Daily life.
What else
we can learn
here?
It's actually
the master
is asking
about love
towards the
master.
Because this
attention again
people don't
like him,
hate him,
and you
have to be
the servant
that you
actually love
him and
want him
to become
king.
Right?
So that has
to show
through whatever
you do it
should display
our love.
And also it's
a faith because
for these
servants you
actually don't
know if the
king will be
enthroned and
can't come
back.
What if he
didn't?
Like actually
the son of
the Herod,
the Achilles,
he got
banished.
And that was
a happy thing
for the people
because people
didn't like him.
But what if
these servants
invest everything,
risk their
life for this
noble man,
and if this
noble man
didn't come
back?
So it's
actually
faith thing,
not just
faithfulness,
but faith
is required.
God is
asking to
believe in
him that
he will
return,
he will
come back
as a
king.
So it's
also hope.
The master
is asking
us to
have hope.
And these
first two
servants
had these
qualities.
That's why
they are
faithful.
that's why
it wasn't
about how
much
minerals
they
produced
because
first one
produced
more than
second one.
It didn't
matter
for the
king.
And as
we look at
like this,
we know
right away,
okay,
we are not
that faithful.
Right?
I can see
myself,
I'm not
that faithful.
I actually
fail.
I was
about to
fail when
I started
church.
So,
let's look
at the
second point
from verse
20 to
27.
I'm going
to look
at this
third
servants.
We need
to understand
what's going
on with
this
third
servants
because
it
reflects
our
heart.
So,
assumption,
that's my
second point.
the first
thing that
is quite
shocking
to see
that
he's
servant
and he
has exactly
the same
privilege
as other
servants.
He had the
same amount
of money
given,
10 minutes.
It's a
little bit
different
parable from
the Matthew
one,
okay?
This is
actually
different
detail.
So,
he had
the same
privilege,
he was
in the
same
position,
he was
the same
opportunity,
he actually
had the
same access
to the
nobleman.
But how
come
that he
couldn't
be faithful
like two
other
servants?
So,
verse 20
says,
then another
came saying,
Lord,
here's your
mina which
I kept
laid away
in handkerchief,
for I was
afraid of
you.
So,
now you
can see
already,
he's
afraid of
the
nobleman.
Okay?
Because you
are a
severe man,
you take
what you
did not
deposit
and reap
what you
did not
so.
And I
again
wonder,
where has
he got
this idea
about the
nobleman?
Because
other two
servants
seemed that
they didn't
have this
problem.
But particularly
this man
had the
problem.
And it
almost sounds
like it's
an excuse,
isn't it?
Hey,
because you
are like
this,
I could
not perform.
Because you
are like
this,
or circumstances
like this,
I could
not do
my best.
Have you
ever done
that kind
of thing?
I do
this all
the time
with my
wife.
It's
your fault.
Right?
I often do
it with my
church people.
I attempted
to do that.
Okay.
It's
interesting.
But then,
more
interestingly,
verse 22.
It says
this,
the master
hears this,
and of
course,
the assumption
that this
third servant
has,
or image
that he
has towards
his master,
is not
true.
Right?
It's
actually,
basically,
he's telling,
the third servant
is telling
the master
or king,
you are
a thief.
You are
a bad
guy.
That's
why.
It's a
very rude
thing to
say.
But
master,
I can see
a little
bit of
graciousness.
He says,
well,
okay,
all right,
let's
accept.
Let's
suppose
that you
are right.
Let's
suppose
that you
are right,
but I
can still
prove you
are wrong.
So he
goes on to
say,
what does
he say?
Okay,
you knew,
you knew
that I'm
a mean
man,
the kind
of person
who steals
from
other
people.
Okay,
but he
goes on
to say,
but then
why didn't
you put
the money
in the
bank?
This is
quite
interesting
because
it was
not
allowed
for
Israelites
to put
money,
not in
the bank,
but to
have
the
interest
from
fellow
Israelites.
How do
you know
that?
You know
because
this
language
echoes
Exodus
22,
25,
or
Leviticus
25,
36,
37,
even
Deuteronomy
23,
it's
mentioned
about
do not
take the
interest
from
the
fellow
brother
in
the
Israelites.
So basically
this
noble man
was saying,
hey,
it was
maybe,
actually it
was better
to put
or render
money
to
non-Jews
and get
interest
than
doing
nothing.
So he's
saying this,
if you
knew that
I'm a
severe man,
if this
is your
image,
you could
have not
done this,
but you
didn't.
So there's
an inconsistency
in your
words and
action.
Even
you are
right,
I can
prove
that you
are not
faithful.
And this
is quite
amazing,
this is
quite painful
because we
all have
wrong
image of
God,
wrong
image of
a master.
Right?
So how
come that we
have these
wrong images
or wrong
idea about
God?
Some of
us we
think God
is very
harsh and
not loving.
And some
of us think
God is just
loving.
He accepts
anything and
doesn't punish
anyone.
But Bible
says no.
God is a
judge.
He punishes
evil.
He's just
God.
But at the
same time,
He's a
gracious
God,
merciful
God,
loving
God.
This too
somehow has
to fit in.
Right?
But then
how come?
And it's
actually if you
dig deeper,
I can see
almost this
master saying,
it's not
because you
had a wrong
image of
me that
you are
faithful.
It's
actually
rather
opposite.
Because you
are unfaithful
already,
in your
heart,
you start
to see
me.
Wrong
way.
This is
interesting
scripture
here.
Psalm,
sorry,
I'm trying
to,
Psalm 18,
25 to
26,
says this,
with the
merciful you
show,
I'm talking
about God,
you show
yourself
merciful.
With the
blameless
man,
you show
yourself
blameless.
With the
purified,
you show
yourself
pure.
And with
the croaked,
you make
yourself seem
torturous.
You say
torturous?
Yeah,
or croaked.
So it is
interesting,
for those
people who
already have
a right
image of God,
already hearts
are right
towards God,
God is
always pure,
right,
righteous,
but when
our hearts
are croaked,
bent,
de-shaped,
we already
see everything,
not just
I think
God,
but everything
else is
de-shaped.
And this
actually reminds
me of this
concept in
Genesis,
isn't it?
Adam and
Eve,
why did
they sin?
Because they
believed the
lie,
the twisted
word of
Satan.
and Satan
twisted basically
the image of
God,
God cannot
be trusted.
God cannot
be trusted
and he's
hiding something
from you,
he doesn't
want to give
you the best.
That's why,
don't worry,
you can eat
and it's
okay.
It all
started from
there.
And you
know this
word that
the master
used,
you know,
you knew
that I'm a
severe man.
the word
is quite
interesting,
this is my
personal opinion,
it means to
experience,
to know or
to perceive,
and the word
origin is
idol,
it's the
original word
that diverts
into
idols.
It's the
idols that we
are creating
by having a
wrong image
of our
master.
that's the
original issue
or deep
problem of
this third
servant.
It's nothing
to do with
the performance,
it's nothing
to do with
how he
sees God,
I mean,
it's to do
with how he
sees God,
but originally
with a deep
hard issue
that we
have.
and I
had to
correct myself
with my
life too,
because I
brought up
in a
non-Christian
family,
my family
was single
parented,
I had
always wrong
image of
my father,
that my
father left
when I was
young,
and so
that carried
constantly
that image,
okay,
father who
just are
not responsible
leaves the
family,
so when I
got to know,
I mean,
started believing
God as a
father in
heaven,
I just
could not
see God
as my
father in
heaven.
I somehow
had back
on my
head,
I cannot
trust him.
So what
I decided
to do is
instead of
trust him,
I started
to trust
someone who
can be the
father figure
in my
life.
And I
started to
try to
please these
people rather
than pleasing
God himself,
and be
faithful to
God himself.
I always
had a fear,
and that
basically
shaped my
life in
the wrong
way.
But through
the gospel,
I had to
learn who
truly
who the
father is.
So now
you can
see,
master
says,
faithful in
little things.
What does
that really
mean?
It's
faithful
with a
heart
condition
every day.
Heart
condition,
how we
see God,
how we
apply everything
and relate
to our
heart,
perception,
worldview.
view.
Why did
Jesus say,
hey, you
need to
correct your
view about
the kingdom
of God
coming right
away?
Why?
Because if
you think
kingdom of
God coming
right away,
you think
this way,
oh, God
has to
bless me
right now.
Right?
God has
to give me
solution right
now.
God has
to heal me
right now.
Or God
has to
change the
situation of
Hong Kong
right now.
But sometimes
it's not the
case.
It takes
time.
So again,
our wrong
perception of
God and
the world
and kingdom
affects how
we live
our lives.
We become
impatient.
We start
excusing our
lives when
it's our
whole fault.
It's a deep
issue of our
heart.
So,
where is the
hope?
Where is the
hope?
Because the
end of this
parable seems
very scary.
Isn't it?
I mean,
when I first
read this,
I said,
well,
third servant,
it's not that
bad.
He didn't
kill anyone.
Right?
Did he steal?
He just was
a little bit
unfaithful.
Right?
He was a
little bit
fearful.
He didn't
do any
major mistake.
Now he
needs to be
killed.
A little bit
harsh here.
Isn't it?
And this
is shocking
for the
people,
the audience
because they
knew this
was the
reality of
the Roman
system.
This is
how the
heralds,
the great
treated
people in
reality.
So now,
is that the
kingdom of
God,
same as
the herald,
the king,
the great?
No.
I'm glad
that Jesus
does not
add the
sentence
saying,
okay,
bring them
here,
slaughter them,
so king
killed them.
He didn't
add that
sentence.
He left
it open.
So there's
actually no
conclusion to
this parable
at this
point.
And Luke
does very
similar things
with all
other
parables.
Many of
the parables,
the famous
ones, of
course,
the prodigal
son.
Right?
There's no
happy ending.
You don't
know what
happened.
But actually,
it's not just
Luke.
It's in
the Bible.
For example,
Abraham,
God tells
him to
kill his
son,
sacrifice,
but God
says,
you don't
have to.
Right?
For Abraham,
he was
hopeless,
but I'm
glad that
God comes
and works
and provides
different
ending and
solution to
our lives.
Yes,
we are
destined
originally
to be
killed,
punished,
casted
out,
sent into
hell.
We are
sinners.
So,
what's the
solution?
We know
from this
progression
of this
story.
Luke,
actually,
Luke started
all this
theme from
chapter 9.
As Jesus
was approaching,
he said,
he started
talking about
I'm going
to Jerusalem.
But he
started mentioning
three times
the very
important
information
that he
said,
I will
go there
to be
killed,
die for
people,
rise again
three days
later.
Three times
he mentioned
even in
chapter 18,
one chapter
before,
he mentions
it again,
third time.
But every
time he
mentions,
disciples do
not get
this,
didn't get
this.
Disciples
didn't
understand what
he was
saying.
And
maybe I
can mention
this,
maybe put
ourselves in
the shoes
of disciples.
Okay,
disciples at
this moment,
I'm sure
they're
thinking,
we are
the faithful
ones.
We follow
Jesus,
so yeah,
come on,
kill these
Romans,
Jesus.
Because Jesus
finished this
parable and
he was about
to go to
Jerusalem,
right?
He was
heading off.
It's almost
like a movie
scene and
the last
final,
the battles
begins,
the return
of the
king.
And
disciples
thinking,
yeah,
come on
Jesus.
But all
others are
thinking,
am I faithful?
Am I
going to
be killed
when Jesus
becomes king?
Well,
what happened
to disciples?
Disciples
actually betrayed
Jesus,
right?
You can
imagine
the fear
that they
had.
Thinking
about this
parable,
well,
we failed.
We weren't
faithful.
Not even
that.
They thought
he was
going to
be king,
but he
got killed
by the
people
who hated
him.
confusion,
mixed
feeling,
hopelessness,
because they
didn't
understand
what Jesus
was going
to do.
And we
know the
solution.
What did
he do?
He died
for us,
right?
Why did
he die?
So that
we,
the third
servants,
we,
who didn't
support him
to be
king,
we can
be treated
as
faithful
ones.
He
actually
is the
king,
well,
he was
already
king in
heaven.
He
created
all the
earth,
we were
his people,
supposed to
be,
he was
king,
but he
became
servant.
And Luke
is very
clear with
his theme,
the suffering
servant,
the servant
that Isaiah
talks about.
He was
king,
but he
became a
servant,
the only
faithful
servant who
served,
having
exact
image of
God,
with the
right
attitude,
and
performed
perfectly,
reproduced
everything
right.
He is
this,
the true
servant,
in this
story.
But good
news is
that because
he died
for us,
he took
our place,
now we
can be
treated
as a
true
servant.
But not
only that,
we know
that he
went back
to heaven,
right,
he's now
enthroned
in heaven,
but he
will come
back
with army.
A scary
thing is
that that
end time
will reflect
probably
this problem
more.
So,
in this
between,
the already
and not
yet,
how does
that apply?
How does
this truth
that Jesus
is dying
for in
our place,
for our
sins,
apply really
to our
hearts?
Then how
can we be
faithful?
How can
we have
a right
image of
God,
right attitude
towards
the
Master?
How?
Well,
first of all,
Jesus gave
us the
exact image
of the
Father.
God,
there's no
longer we
have an
excuse that
you are
like this,
or you're
a severe
man.
No,
God is
not just
a severe
man.
He's a
loving God.
He died
for you,
right?
He gives
up the
most precious
to you.
So,
how can we
have this
image?
Now,
God,
you're a
severe
man.
No,
we should
be saying,
God,
I trust
you.
God,
I know
what you
say is
true.
regardless
of all
the things
happening in
my life
and crazy
things going
on in
my life
or in
Hong Kong,
I know
that you
will come
back and
set everything
right.
This truth
can actually
give you love
towards him,
right?
Because now
you have a
right image.
It makes
us,
actually,
it's very
interesting because
these two
servants came
and said,
hey,
I produce
two,
ten more
minas.
What did
he say?
They said,
your minas
produced ten
more.
Your minas
produced five
more.
It's not
me.
It's your
gift.
It's your
generosity.
It's your
gift that
gave me,
actually,
through me,
produced more.
So this,
actually,
I'm sure they
understood that
there's no
pressure that
we have to
perform.
But it's
actually the
performance comes
naturally,
right?
Because he
enables me,
he helps
me,
he gives
me strength.
Therefore,
I'm not
worried about
results.
I'm not
worried about
whether I get
accepted or
not because
we already
accepted.
He already
sees us
faithful.
Now,
I can
produce
without fear,
without worry,
and come to
God,
and then
God,
look,
your son,
the greatest
gift that
you gave
me,
produced all
these things
in my
life.
That's the
attitude that
we can have
from the
gospel,
from what
Jesus has
done,
the greatest
gift that
God gave
you and
gave me.
So,
I want to
finish with
this
scripture.
It says
this,
Philippians 2,
6 to
11,
who being
in the very
nature of
God,
did not
consider equally
with God,
something to
be used
to his
own
advantage.
Rather,
he made
himself
nothing,
but taking
the very
nature of
a servant,
being made
in human
likeness,
and being
found in
appearance as
a man,
he humbled
himself by
becoming
obedient to
death,
even death
on the
cross.
Therefore,
he exalted
him to the
highest place,
gave him
the name
that is above
every name,
that at the
name of
Jesus,
every knee
should bow
in heaven
and on
earth and
under the
earth,
and every
time I
acknowledge
that Jesus
Christ is
Lord,
to the
glory of
God,
the Father.
I'm so
encouraged to
share this
gospel with
you,
even though
we're in
a different
country,
I feel
the same
actually.
You know,
you live in
a big city,
and I've been
challenged in
this way,
but we are
united.
in this
gospel.
So,
we're praying
for you,
Hong Kong,
so that you
will be
faithful servant
in time
like this.
Let's be
a shining
light and
salt to
the world
together.
Let's stand
up and pray.
Father, we
thank you for
this parable.
Sometimes we
get scared
when we see
the standard
that you
show us,
the expectation
that you have.
right away
feel, oh,
we have to
try hard.
We have to
live this
way.
But actually,
we thank you
for your
cross,
because first
it shows us
that we
can do it.
We can't.
We failed.
God,
and it's a
grace to
realize our
own weakness,
sinfulness.
It's not a
threat.
It's actually
grace and
love that you
show us,
because through
that, now we
can't rely on
you.
Through that,
we can actually
revive our
hearts and see
who you are
truly, not the
severe, mean,
cruel God,
bad, loving God
who gave up
everything for
us, who did
everything right
for us, who
lived for me,
for us,
Lord.
So help us
once again to
come back to
you.
Lord, help us
to really set
aside all the
excuses that we
every day make.
Help us not
that we are
blaming the
people around
us for
our situation,
Lord.
Help us to
stop that and
say, Lord,
help me.
I want to be
faithful through
you.
So, Lord, help
us, Lord, in
this time, in
this generation,
Lord, so that
we can be
faithful, we
can be the
light, promoting,
campaigning your
name in this
Hong Kong and
the cities all
over the world,
so that when you
return, people
will praise you,
glorify you,
and shout,
our King,
we glorify you,
Lord.
In Jesus' name
we pray.
Amen.
Thank you,
everyone.
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