WEBVTT

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 So let's turn together now back to Matthew 25 and let's read this central parable and think

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 about that parable but the the wider teaching of Matthew 25 together. Again the kingdom of heaven

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 will be like a man going on a journey who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them.

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 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags and to another one bag, each according to

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 his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who received five bags of gold went at once and put

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 his money to work and gained five bags more. So also the one with two bags of gold gained two more

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 but the man who'd received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.

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 After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.

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 The man who'd received five bags of gold brought the other five. Master he said you entrusted me

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 with five bags of gold, see I have gained five more. His master replied well done good and

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 faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things.

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 Come and share your master's happiness. The man with two bags of gold also came. Master he said

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 you entrusted me with two bags of gold, see I have gained two more. His master replied well done good

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 and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things.

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 Come and share your master's happiness. Then the man who'd received one bag of gold came.

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 Master he said I knew that you are a hard man. Harvesting where you have not sown and gathering

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 where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground.

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 See here is what belongs to you. His master replied you wicked lazy servant. So you knew that I harvest

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 what I have not sown and gather what I have not scattered seed. Well then you should have put my

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 money on deposit with the bankers so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

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 So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be

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 given more and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have even what they have will be taken from

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 them. And throw that worthless servant outside into the darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing

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 of teeth. Amen. So here we are the parable that's often known as the parable of the talents.

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 And perhaps as we come to this we can come with a question. How does Christian hope

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 transform everyday life? I want to begin with a truth that the Christian church has what the world is

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 looking for. I came across recently a study done crossing 28 different countries asking the question

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 what worries the world? And the top answers is from August of last year. Now perhaps unsurprisingly

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 COVID-19 topped the list. Now but there was also unemployment, poverty, corruption and crime.

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 And to ask that question and to reflect on the answers it perhaps reveals that for many

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 looking at the world today there is a sense of anxiety. The question where is the world heading? It all

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 looks chaotic.

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 But what does Jesus say? What does the Bible say? About where the world is heading? It's very clear that

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 the world is not heading for chaos. It's not heading for destruction. The world and history is heading

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 for the return of Christ Jesus the King. It's heading for the renewal of all things in and under Christ.

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 There are many people in our world who are asking the question how can I find hope?

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 It's the cry of the lonely and the suffering. The anxious. Perhaps it's the question that everybody

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 asks as they take a look around and wonder what's going on. And again what does our Bible tell us about

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 hope? What does Matthew's gospel tell us about hope? Here is Jesus speaking about the end of times and his

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 return. And how does Matthew's gospel give us hope? Well after this, straight after this, chapters 26 to 28,

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 we find a focus moving towards the suffering and death of Jesus and the resurrection. And that's where

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 hope is centered because there at the cross and in the rejection, the betrayal, we see sin and evil and

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 darkness doing its worst against the king who is altogether good. But in the resurrection, we find

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 Jesus has defeated the darkness. Jesus is victorious over the devil and sin and death. He is the point of

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 hope. There is hope at what we could call the midpoint of history. It's Jesus and his resurrection. And that

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 true is the hope for the end point of history. Our hope is Jesus and the return of Christ the king. What he

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 has started, the cross and the resurrection, he will finish. Sin, suffering, death will be defeated and

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 destroyed. Once and for all, the world will be made new. God's people will enjoy life on this earth for all

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 eternity with a perfect savior. Jesus is our hope. But the question for today, and I think it's a question

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 we find in Matthew 25, is this. What difference does Christian hope make for everyday life?

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 What difference does the return of Christ make to my tomorrow? To how I live in my family, how I go to my

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 job? How does it shape my present living? So Matthew 25, Matthew 24 as well, Jesus teaches on the end times

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 and on his return. And as I said, we're going to focus on the central parable in Matthew 25, but we're

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 going to survey the key themes in all three. And here's what I want us to see. It's this. It's because

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 Christ is coming back. His servants, that's how the people of God are described, how we're called to

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 be servants. His servants should live with watchfulness, holiness, and faithfulness.

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 It's a very appropriate message for today, for new office bearers. We want our office bearers,

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 new or old, to be watchful, holy, and faithful. But that's a reality that should categorize all of

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 God's people, all of God's servants. So let's begin, first of all, by looking at our parable,

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 recognizing that the kingdom of heaven brings both privilege and responsibility. So our story

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 divides itself, I think, neatly into three different scenes. Again, this is one of these parables Jesus

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 tells, giving us a picture of the kingdom of heaven. The first scene, verses 14 and 15, we find some money

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 being distributed. Jesus tells the story of a master who's departing on a journey, and we discover that

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 the return of the master is an uncertain time. We don't know when that's going to happen. Verse 19,

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 we're told it comes after a long time. So he's going on a journey, and as he does, he entrusts his

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 property to servants. The NIV talks about bags of gold. So one of the confusing things about older

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 translations, they talked about talents, which maybe sounds like abilities, but actually it was a weight

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 of money, a weight of metal. So we can think about gold bags. Each bag, the experts tell us, would be

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 worth about 20 years of wages. And those bags are distributed, verse 15, each according to his

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 ability. So in verse 14 and 15, we discover two things. We discover that he's a master, and that

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 master has absolute authority over his possessions and over his servants. And we discover servants,

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 and they have an obligation of duty, an obligation to work for and to serve their master.

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 So that's the first scene. Second scene, verses 16 to 18, we discover the servants' actions. The

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 actions of three of those servants, two of them, we're told, verse 16, went at once. The good

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 servants put the master's money to work and gain more. So two, take positive action.

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 One, he digs a hole and hides the money in there. So remember, if you were here a few weeks ago,

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 we looked at a parable where it could be common in times of war or for security to dig a hole and

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 to put money there. But the problem is, and it becomes clear from the master's words, that he knows

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 this isn't the right thing to do. This is a refusal to do any work. This is disobedience on behalf of this

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 servant. So those are the actions. Two, put the money to work. One, digs a hole. And then verse

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 19 to 13, to 30 rather, is the day of reckoning. It's the settling of the accounts. And we're told

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 that this takes place after a long time. And so there's certain glimpses that we get reminding us

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 that within this parable, Jesus is teaching us about the theme. The theme is his return.

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 So Jesus has said in Matthew 24, verse 36, about the day or hour of his return, no one knows,

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 not even the angels in heaven, nor the sun, but only the father. So it's an unknown time of return

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 when Jesus will come back. But when this master who represents Jesus comes back,

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 he invites the servants to come. In verse 20, we can read,

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 the man who's received five bags of gold, brought the other five. Master, he said,

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 you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more. And then the one with two

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 does exactly the same thing. And both of them receive the same positive verdict. Well done,

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 good and faithful servant. That because they have shown themselves faithful with a few things,

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 there is this positive promise. Both that they will receive more responsibility,

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 but also there is this invitation to joy. Come and share your master's happiness. And again,

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 this is one of those moments where it takes us beyond the parable to thinking about the return

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 of Christ and the reality that will be true for his people sharing in the happiness, the eternal

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 happiness of Jesus. So this parable has this wonderful kingdom come theme where Jesus is saying,

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 faithful with a few, faithful in serving. Now you can look forward to a wonderful reward

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 when Jesus returns. Glorious work and glorious joy in the new heavens and the new earth for those who are

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 good and faithful. But of course there's the third servant, isn't there? That third servant who had

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 hard words to say about his master. I knew that you were a hard man. And so he overlooked his responsibility.

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 He actually misrepresents his master. He refuses to obey. He lacks love. He is unwilling to serve.

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 And so the master condemns this man. Verse 26, you wicked, lazy servant.

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 The master says, your own words condemn you. If you think I'm a hard man looking for things that I haven't

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 worked for, then why didn't you put my money to work in the bank? And there is a negative promise.

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 Verse 28, take the bag of gold from him. Verse 30, throw that worthless servant outside.

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 And again, even in this final moment of judgment, there's a reminder that this is about more than

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 just a story. This is about the return of Jesus the judge because of the language. Throw that worthless

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 servant outside into the darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

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 darkness and misery, pictures of eternal judgment in hell for those who refuse and reject the master.

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 Those who receive this verdict of worthless. And we have this solemn reminder from Jesus that to

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 dishonor this master, to disobey this master is to have no place in his joy, but rather to know

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 eternal misery. The kingdom of heaven brings privilege and responsibility as we see from this parable.

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 Now I imagine there's elements of this story that we have seen. Possibly we've seen it in our office or

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 workplace. Possibly we've seen it in our classroom. The boss or the teacher isn't around. They have to go

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 away for a while and then they don't come back for a little while. Perhaps the boss is away for a meeting

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 all afternoon. And what happens in those situations is sometimes you'll find that people will divide

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 into two categories. Some will continue to graft, to try and work hard, to stay on task. But other people

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 take the opportunity to laze around. Take the opportunity to take advantage of this freedom. Ah,

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 the person in charge is away. So let's do as we please. And sadly, Jesus' parable reminds us that

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 we can see the same with regards to Jesus. That while some will be faithful, some will not.

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 He, Jesus, is the master. He is the one who will depart. And remember, Matthew's going to go

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 straight from this parable to his going to the cross, rising from the tomb, and then returning

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 to heaven. So he's going to depart to glory by way of the cross and the resurrection. Jesus is the one

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 who gives, as it were, these spiritual bags of gold to his people. It is in Jesus that we find new life.

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 It is in Jesus that we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. It's through trusting in Jesus that we have

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 the hope of eternal life. It's Jesus by the Spirit who gives spiritual gifts. These are all privileges

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 that we have in the kingdom of heaven. But Jesus, our master, calls for service.

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 He gives each one of us, having made us in his image, having made us all unique, gifts, abilities,

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 and opportunities. And they look very different for each one of us. And in different seasons of life,

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 they will all be different. But we all have that responsibility, whatever our gifts, abilities,

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 opportunities, to honor him. To be at work in his kingdom. There's that responsibility within the

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 kingdom of heaven. And notice, and it's so important for us to notice, how does the master speak? He speaks,

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 well done, not good and successful servant, well done, good and faithful servant. It's faithfulness

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 that our master, the Lord Jesus, is looking for in our everyday life.

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 So Matthew 25 in this parable is reminding us, this master who has departed, who gives gifts,

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 who expects work, will come back one day. He will return on the day of judgment. And on that day,

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 he will pass a verdict on all of our lives. And the question we all need to ask ourselves today,

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 not on that day, not on that day, as today, is what will the verdict be on my life?

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 What word am I going to hear from Jesus on that day?

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 Because this parable tells us, in all seriousness, there will be some who will hear worthless.

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 Why? Because they refuse the call of Jesus, the master.

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 No faith, no obedience. Wasting of gospel privileges. Heard the gospel, had the chance of fellowship in a church.

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 You know, we often think about the unreached people groups, hundreds of millions of people,

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 never heard the name of Jesus. We have.

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 If we waste those privileges, we will hear worthless.

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 The verdict, that's not the verdict we want, is it? We want to hear, well done, good and faithful servant.

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 We want to be those who today and every day choose to honor Jesus as master.

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 Who live with faithfulness to him and his commands.

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 Who use what he has given to honor him.

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 Three actions I think we can all helpfully take.

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 The first is that we can pray.

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 Perhaps we need to confess the ways that we've not been faithful.

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 Perhaps we need to pray that we would endure and persevere in faithfulness.

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 Perhaps we need to pray to see the opportunities that God gives us to be faithful in his kingdom.

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 Secondly, we need to encourage one another.

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 We are called into local churches into fellowship and we need to support and spur one another on to love and good works.

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 To encourage one another towards this kind of faithfulness.

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 And three, we are to serve as we are able.

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 Serve as we are able.

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 We all have different abilities and different opportunities and those are given to us by God.

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 And so we shouldn't grumble and we shouldn't be proud and we shouldn't be envious.

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 Rather, we should look to think and to pray.

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 How can I be faithful today?

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 Recognizing the kingdom brings privilege and responsibility.

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 Well, having thought for a few minutes about this parable in detail, let's scale back.

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 Let's think wide angle over this whole chapter to recognize that there are three parables here from which we can draw three commands.

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 But again, just to recognize that as Jesus teaches, Matthew 24, 25, as he knows the cross is coming, he also knows he will rise again.

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 So he knows he must suffer and die to save sinners.

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 He knows he must rise again to show his power and victory over sin and death and the devil.

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 And that's the focus of Matthew 26 to 28.

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 But he also knows, and it becomes clear from these chapters, that he will return.

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 He will return as the last stage of the Father's salvation timetable.

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 And here in Matthew chapter 25, he gives instructions, particular instructions.

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 Instructions for his servants.

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 So every Christian is called to be a servant.

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 Instructions for servant.

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 And how to live with faith and hope until his return.

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 So let's look at three emphases we can get from each of these parables.

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 First, servants of Jesus live with watchfulness.

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 John Piper, a number of years ago, wrote a really helpful book called Don't Waste Your Life.

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 It's a really powerful book, actually.

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 And what prompted that, it was a story he read in a magazine.

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 It was a story of a retired couple who obviously had made plenty of money during their working careers.

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 And as they retired, they thought, here's what we'll do.

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 We'll buy ourselves a fancy yacht and we'll sail around from bay to bay, coast to coast, and we'll collect shells.

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 And I think it was Time Magazine did an article on this couple.

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 And John Piper read, and he thought, what a tragedy.

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 To spend years of your life lazing about collecting shells.

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 We were made for so much more than that.

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 We were made for eternal joy.

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 And we were made with present purpose.

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 And Matthew 25 gives us our purpose to use our time, to use our talents for our King.

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 And so that first parable, the parable of these ten virgins, these ten young women, waiting for a bridegroom to begin a wedding feast, really emphasizes watchfulness.

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 So if you have your Bible, you can turn back to 25, 1 to 13.

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 What we discover there are two groups of young women.

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 One group who are wise, one group who are foolish.

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 What makes the difference is that some are prepared to wait a long time for the bridegroom to come back.

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 Others are not prepared.

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 So they have their lamps, they have their lights to welcome.

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 Some bring extra oil, and some don't.

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 And what happens at the end of the story?

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 The cry goes out, here comes the bridegroom.

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 Get ready.

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 Only half hour.

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 So some enter the feast, and some in the end are sent away.

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 Jesus says to us, to be wise is to be ready for Christ's certain return.

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 The return is certain.

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 The timing is not.

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 So we need to live as people who are watchful.

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 But I think there's a particular emphasis that we can also take from this, from these two groups side by side, perhaps looking identical,

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 until the point where we realize some are ready and some are not.

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 Being around those who are ready to meet with Jesus is not enough.

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 Being around those who have faith in the Lord Jesus, who have trusted him personally, is not enough.

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 Faith cannot be shared.

00:22:58.259 --> 00:22:59.660
 Holiness cannot be shared.

00:23:00.180 --> 00:23:02.599
 Personal commitment is required.

00:23:02.599 --> 00:23:06.799
 Servants of Jesus live with watchfulness.

00:23:07.599 --> 00:23:11.399
 The first way to be ready is to be trusting in Jesus.

00:23:13.339 --> 00:23:18.439
 But again, as we sort of think about our big question, where's the world heading?

00:23:19.980 --> 00:23:22.599
 This parable reminds us, chaos is not the final destiny.

00:23:22.740 --> 00:23:26.879
 The return of Christ is the opportunity, the invitation to great joy.

00:23:28.379 --> 00:23:29.939
 It's where the world is heading.

00:23:29.940 --> 00:23:34.320
 And so we need to be watchful and not lose sight of that.

00:23:35.779 --> 00:23:38.680
 Not lose sight of our need to be right with God.

00:23:39.840 --> 00:23:41.700
 Need to be right with God today.

00:23:42.820 --> 00:23:46.059
 To not lose sight of what is of first importance.

00:23:47.340 --> 00:23:51.920
 How easy it is to start collecting shells and not to realize we're wasting our lives.

00:23:51.920 --> 00:23:59.800
 Not to lose sight of being ready to meet our maker and our master.

00:24:01.320 --> 00:24:04.380
 To not lose sight of this future award.

00:24:05.220 --> 00:24:08.560
 This wedding feast is such a powerful image in the Bible.

00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:14.539
 The Bible speaks of eternal life as being like a wedding feast.

00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:18.079
 A place of joy that lasts forever.

00:24:18.899 --> 00:24:24.379
 Where Jesus is the bridegroom and the church, the people who are trusting him, they're like the bride.

00:24:25.740 --> 00:24:31.799
 And so joy is our future when we are prepared for the return of Jesus by putting our trust in him.

00:24:31.799 --> 00:24:36.099
 So servants of Jesus live with watchfulness.

00:24:37.940 --> 00:24:42.759
 Secondly, servants of Jesus live with holiness.

00:24:42.759 --> 00:24:52.720
 So sometimes we'll see different variations of the fly-on-the-wall documentary.

00:24:53.180 --> 00:24:56.339
 Now whether that's following a sports team.

00:24:57.079 --> 00:25:00.859
 Whether that's following a group of children in a classroom.

00:25:01.680 --> 00:25:06.079
 Whether that's a fly-on-the-wall documentary looking at a particular company.

00:25:06.920 --> 00:25:08.799
 One of the things that will always reveal is,

00:25:09.019 --> 00:25:12.119
 how do people act behind closed doors when the boss isn't around?

00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:18.859
 Does that particular group in focus maintain their values when the person in charge is away?

00:25:20.900 --> 00:25:23.980
 And that's one of the great emphases of Matthew 25.

00:25:25.339 --> 00:25:30.339
 Our master Jesus calls us to match his heart and his values.

00:25:31.039 --> 00:25:35.460
 To live serving him even while he is absent.

00:25:36.619 --> 00:25:37.879
 And what is Jesus like?

00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.839
 Jesus is holy.

00:25:38.839 --> 00:25:43.559
 As the eternal son of God, he is without sin.

00:25:43.639 --> 00:25:47.579
 He is in a different moral category from us.

00:25:49.019 --> 00:25:51.299
 And as Jesus, the God-man,

00:25:51.839 --> 00:25:55.220
 he is the one who never sinned.

00:25:55.679 --> 00:25:57.500
 But always lived to please his father.

00:25:57.619 --> 00:25:59.319
 Always lived for the glory of his father.

00:25:59.319 --> 00:26:02.720
 And his people are told,

00:26:02.859 --> 00:26:04.419
 Be holy because I am holy.

00:26:07.579 --> 00:26:08.599
 To be holy.

00:26:08.700 --> 00:26:12.179
 First by trusting in Jesus that he would make us holy.

00:26:12.180 --> 00:26:15.759
 And then recognizing that united to Jesus.

00:26:17.259 --> 00:26:20.299
 That Jesus, by his presence and power in us,

00:26:20.900 --> 00:26:25.420
 transforms us and enables us to be holy,

00:26:25.680 --> 00:26:28.480
 to love as he loves.

00:26:28.480 --> 00:26:34.339
 And we can see that in the third parable in Matthew 25.

00:26:34.539 --> 00:26:37.339
 The parable of the sheep and the goats.

00:26:37.819 --> 00:26:40.039
 Again, it's a parable of separation, isn't it?

00:26:40.700 --> 00:26:42.740
 There are the sheep who receive reward,

00:26:42.819 --> 00:26:44.759
 the goats who receive judgment.

00:26:47.000 --> 00:26:47.960
 And within this parable,

00:26:48.059 --> 00:26:51.180
 there's that call to follow the example of Christ.

00:26:52.880 --> 00:26:54.079
 What do all of these,

00:26:55.099 --> 00:26:55.620
 when he says,

00:26:55.619 --> 00:26:56.899
 I was hungry, you gave me something to eat,

00:26:56.939 --> 00:26:58.259
 I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink,

00:26:58.319 --> 00:26:59.759
 I was a stranger, I needed clothes,

00:26:59.839 --> 00:27:01.039
 I was ill, I was in prison.

00:27:01.139 --> 00:27:01.719
 What are they?

00:27:01.799 --> 00:27:03.500
 They're examples of self-giving love

00:27:03.500 --> 00:27:04.799
 for the sake of others.

00:27:07.379 --> 00:27:07.939
 Sacrificial love,

00:27:07.979 --> 00:27:10.279
 especially for the weak and the poor.

00:27:12.859 --> 00:27:14.079
 Who's that a picture of?

00:27:15.059 --> 00:27:16.559
 Isn't that a picture of the Lord Jesus?

00:27:17.959 --> 00:27:19.619
 Doesn't that reveal his heart,

00:27:19.759 --> 00:27:21.199
 his values, his love?

00:27:21.979 --> 00:27:22.959
 And so Jesus is saying,

00:27:22.959 --> 00:27:24.359
 when he is absent,

00:27:24.359 --> 00:27:25.859
 while we wait his return,

00:27:26.319 --> 00:27:28.779
 servants of Christ are to show a measure of real,

00:27:29.240 --> 00:27:30.979
 lived out obedience to the will of God

00:27:30.979 --> 00:27:33.679
 in the way that we love others.

00:27:35.779 --> 00:27:38.819
 It's a way of showing our practical holiness.

00:27:42.019 --> 00:27:45.359
 That we would heed that command of Hebrews 12, verse 14,

00:27:45.359 --> 00:27:48.939
 make every effort to live in peace with everyone

00:27:48.939 --> 00:27:51.139
 and to be holy.

00:27:51.979 --> 00:27:53.039
 Without holiness,

00:27:53.839 --> 00:27:56.240
 no one will see the Lord.

00:27:58.740 --> 00:28:00.279
 So a question for us to ask,

00:28:00.359 --> 00:28:02.740
 is holiness a priority for me today?

00:28:02.919 --> 00:28:04.199
 Is that something I take seriously?

00:28:04.539 --> 00:28:05.579
 Is that something I ever think about?

00:28:06.519 --> 00:28:08.559
 Am I watchful of my words and actions,

00:28:08.639 --> 00:28:09.699
 my thoughts and emotions?

00:28:09.700 --> 00:28:13.319
 Is my life bearing the fruit of love

00:28:13.319 --> 00:28:14.819
 towards God and to others

00:28:14.819 --> 00:28:17.600
 because the Holy Lord Jesus has saved me

00:28:17.600 --> 00:28:18.440
 and is empowering me

00:28:18.440 --> 00:28:19.480
 and is living within me?

00:28:20.759 --> 00:28:22.819
 Servants of Jesus live with holiness.

00:28:24.160 --> 00:28:26.700
 And then to circle back to the central parable,

00:28:27.340 --> 00:28:29.420
 to recognize that servants of Jesus

00:28:29.420 --> 00:28:32.039
 live with faithfulness.

00:28:33.200 --> 00:28:35.180
 So I just finished a missionary biography

00:28:35.180 --> 00:28:37.400
 of a guy called James O. Fraser,

00:28:37.539 --> 00:28:40.360
 who's a missionary to the Lizu people in China.

00:28:41.440 --> 00:28:42.860
 And when he died,

00:28:43.880 --> 00:28:45.340
 there was sort of reports

00:28:45.340 --> 00:28:47.500
 from his missionary team

00:28:47.500 --> 00:28:49.840
 that were recorded in the book.

00:28:49.880 --> 00:28:50.940
 And what you got a sense was

00:28:50.940 --> 00:28:53.580
 that they'd lost both a great leader

00:28:53.580 --> 00:28:54.640
 and a great friend.

00:28:55.779 --> 00:28:57.460
 They'd lost a role model

00:28:57.460 --> 00:28:59.580
 and a real source of encouragement.

00:29:00.900 --> 00:29:02.759
 But there was one missionary

00:29:02.759 --> 00:29:04.339
 who wrote something that

00:29:04.339 --> 00:29:05.440
 just really connected

00:29:05.440 --> 00:29:07.299
 with my thoughts this week

00:29:07.299 --> 00:29:07.960
 on this passage.

00:29:08.059 --> 00:29:09.240
 When she said this,

00:29:09.879 --> 00:29:10.720
 Isabel Kuhn,

00:29:11.160 --> 00:29:12.019
 you may have heard of her,

00:29:12.099 --> 00:29:12.660
 she wrote,

00:29:13.660 --> 00:29:15.359
 it is one thing to be praised

00:29:15.359 --> 00:29:17.259
 by a person who has no experience

00:29:17.259 --> 00:29:18.119
 of your task.

00:29:19.160 --> 00:29:20.539
 It is quite different

00:29:20.539 --> 00:29:21.779
 to win a well done

00:29:21.779 --> 00:29:24.079
 from one who is himself

00:29:24.079 --> 00:29:25.460
 a master

00:29:25.460 --> 00:29:27.839
 in that very line of things.

00:29:28.539 --> 00:29:29.660
 They loved

00:29:29.660 --> 00:29:31.700
 when James O. Fraser said well done

00:29:31.700 --> 00:29:32.759
 because they knew

00:29:32.759 --> 00:29:34.900
 that he had lived well

00:29:34.900 --> 00:29:35.539
 as a missionary.

00:29:36.920 --> 00:29:37.759
 Now think about

00:29:37.759 --> 00:29:38.980
 what we just read,

00:29:39.059 --> 00:29:40.860
 what's central to our parable

00:29:40.860 --> 00:29:43.259
 is the Christian hope

00:29:43.259 --> 00:29:44.840
 of hearing

00:29:44.840 --> 00:29:46.500
 well done,

00:29:47.120 --> 00:29:49.360
 good and faithful servant.

00:29:49.880 --> 00:29:50.680
 From who?

00:29:51.680 --> 00:29:53.120
 From the Lord Jesus

00:29:53.120 --> 00:29:54.600
 who is the

00:29:54.600 --> 00:29:55.700
 great

00:29:55.700 --> 00:29:56.600
 servant.

00:29:56.599 --> 00:30:00.599
 he was perfectly

00:30:00.599 --> 00:30:02.139
 faithful to his service.

00:30:02.679 --> 00:30:03.779
 Always found doing

00:30:03.779 --> 00:30:04.539
 his father's will.

00:30:05.579 --> 00:30:06.699
 Always seeking to bring

00:30:06.699 --> 00:30:07.500
 his father glory

00:30:07.500 --> 00:30:09.139
 all the way to the cross.

00:30:10.279 --> 00:30:12.059
 Dying to serve us

00:30:12.059 --> 00:30:13.119
 by saving us.

00:30:14.059 --> 00:30:15.199
 And what's Jesus doing now?

00:30:16.059 --> 00:30:17.339
 Still serving us.

00:30:17.959 --> 00:30:18.719
 He's still living

00:30:18.719 --> 00:30:20.000
 to plead our cause.

00:30:20.079 --> 00:30:20.719
 He's still living

00:30:20.719 --> 00:30:21.799
 to pray

00:30:21.799 --> 00:30:22.859
 for his people.

00:30:23.339 --> 00:30:23.819
 Always.

00:30:23.819 --> 00:30:24.220
 praise.

00:30:26.220 --> 00:30:27.200
 The one who says

00:30:27.200 --> 00:30:27.779
 well done,

00:30:27.879 --> 00:30:29.159
 good and faithful servant

00:30:29.159 --> 00:30:30.720
 is the one who served us

00:30:30.720 --> 00:30:31.679
 so faithfully

00:30:31.679 --> 00:30:33.519
 and continues to do so.

00:30:34.039 --> 00:30:35.000
 And what this parable

00:30:35.000 --> 00:30:36.019
 calls us to do

00:30:36.019 --> 00:30:37.339
 is to live as faithful

00:30:37.339 --> 00:30:38.599
 servants in response.

00:30:39.779 --> 00:30:41.139
 Knowing just how good

00:30:41.139 --> 00:30:41.639
 and faithful

00:30:41.639 --> 00:30:42.500
 Jesus has been

00:30:42.500 --> 00:30:43.019
 to us

00:30:43.019 --> 00:30:44.119
 and for us.

00:30:45.539 --> 00:30:46.220
 With hearts

00:30:46.220 --> 00:30:46.859
 that are full of love

00:30:46.859 --> 00:30:47.139
 for him

00:30:47.139 --> 00:30:47.659
 we are called

00:30:47.659 --> 00:30:48.559
 to be faithful.

00:30:50.200 --> 00:30:51.439
 The parable reminds us

00:30:51.439 --> 00:30:52.399
 we'll be held accountable

00:30:52.400 --> 00:30:53.320
 for what we do

00:30:53.320 --> 00:30:54.480
 with the message

00:30:54.480 --> 00:30:55.540
 and how we serve

00:30:55.540 --> 00:30:56.960
 in the kingdom.

00:30:59.600 --> 00:31:00.320
 And remember

00:31:00.320 --> 00:31:00.820
 it's not good

00:31:00.820 --> 00:31:01.480
 and successful

00:31:01.480 --> 00:31:02.280
 it's good

00:31:02.280 --> 00:31:03.920
 and faithful.

00:31:04.880 --> 00:31:06.000
 Faithfulness is vital.

00:31:06.680 --> 00:31:07.360
 Faithful in our

00:31:07.360 --> 00:31:09.100
 everyday obedience.

00:31:10.460 --> 00:31:11.380
 With that desire

00:31:11.380 --> 00:31:12.019
 that in the end

00:31:12.019 --> 00:31:12.980
 we'd hear well done

00:31:12.980 --> 00:31:15.280
 not worthless.

00:31:15.279 --> 00:31:18.319
 So the return

00:31:18.319 --> 00:31:19.240
 of Christ

00:31:19.240 --> 00:31:20.879
 fuels

00:31:20.879 --> 00:31:22.259
 Christian hope.

00:31:23.619 --> 00:31:24.279
 It gives us

00:31:24.279 --> 00:31:25.399
 that reminder

00:31:25.399 --> 00:31:26.759
 against the anxiety

00:31:26.759 --> 00:31:27.819
 that panics

00:31:27.819 --> 00:31:28.240
 and wonders

00:31:28.240 --> 00:31:29.079
 where is the world

00:31:29.079 --> 00:31:29.420
 heading.

00:31:29.519 --> 00:31:30.319
 We know it's heading

00:31:30.319 --> 00:31:30.960
 for the return

00:31:30.960 --> 00:31:31.639
 of Christ.

00:31:33.779 --> 00:31:34.660
 It speaks

00:31:34.660 --> 00:31:35.480
 certain hope

00:31:35.480 --> 00:31:36.440
 against the wistful

00:31:36.440 --> 00:31:37.079
 thinking

00:31:37.079 --> 00:31:37.920
 that hopes

00:31:37.920 --> 00:31:38.619
 are we as people

00:31:38.619 --> 00:31:39.639
 we can save the world

00:31:39.639 --> 00:31:40.160
 we can create

00:31:40.160 --> 00:31:40.660
 some kind of

00:31:40.660 --> 00:31:41.799
 heaven on earth.

00:31:41.799 --> 00:31:44.200
 No our hope

00:31:44.200 --> 00:31:44.700
 is fixed

00:31:44.700 --> 00:31:45.680
 on the Lord Jesus

00:31:45.680 --> 00:31:47.460
 a living

00:31:47.460 --> 00:31:48.460
 returning

00:31:48.460 --> 00:31:49.619
 saviour.

00:31:50.720 --> 00:31:51.559
 And because

00:31:51.559 --> 00:31:52.399
 he is coming back

00:31:52.399 --> 00:31:52.960
 one day

00:31:52.960 --> 00:31:54.339
 because he is coming

00:31:54.339 --> 00:31:54.879
 back

00:31:54.879 --> 00:31:56.139
 to speak

00:31:56.139 --> 00:31:57.220
 a word

00:31:57.220 --> 00:31:58.059
 over us

00:31:58.059 --> 00:31:59.359
 every day

00:31:59.359 --> 00:32:00.940
 we are to live

00:32:00.940 --> 00:32:01.700
 watchful

00:32:01.700 --> 00:32:02.799
 holy

00:32:02.799 --> 00:32:03.879
 faithful

00:32:03.879 --> 00:32:05.079
 lives of service

00:32:05.079 --> 00:32:07.819
 that we would hear

00:32:07.819 --> 00:32:09.159
 well done

00:32:09.159 --> 00:32:11.200
 on that day.

00:32:11.200 --> 00:32:12.500
 by trusting

00:32:12.500 --> 00:32:13.240
 him as saviour

00:32:13.240 --> 00:32:14.559
 and living

00:32:14.559 --> 00:32:14.900
 for him

00:32:14.900 --> 00:32:15.279
 as king.

00:32:16.799 --> 00:32:17.480
 Let's pray

00:32:17.480 --> 00:32:17.840
 briefly

00:32:17.840 --> 00:32:18.480
 about that now.

00:32:23.360 --> 00:32:24.100
 Lord God

00:32:24.100 --> 00:32:24.660
 once again

00:32:24.660 --> 00:32:25.299
 we give you

00:32:25.299 --> 00:32:25.980
 thanks

00:32:25.980 --> 00:32:27.500
 that Jesus

00:32:27.500 --> 00:32:28.180
 the master

00:32:28.180 --> 00:32:29.000
 in this parable

00:32:29.000 --> 00:32:29.680
 is also

00:32:29.680 --> 00:32:31.019
 the suffering

00:32:31.019 --> 00:32:31.580
 servant

00:32:31.580 --> 00:32:32.860
 the one

00:32:32.860 --> 00:32:33.420
 who gave

00:32:33.420 --> 00:32:34.059
 his life

00:32:34.059 --> 00:32:34.779
 as a ransom

00:32:34.779 --> 00:32:35.580
 for sinners

00:32:35.580 --> 00:32:36.680
 the one

00:32:36.680 --> 00:32:37.220
 who ever

00:32:37.220 --> 00:32:37.700
 lives

00:32:37.700 --> 00:32:38.340
 to plead

00:32:38.340 --> 00:32:39.100
 our cause

00:32:39.100 --> 00:32:39.519
 to make

00:32:39.519 --> 00:32:40.360
 intercession

00:32:40.359 --> 00:32:41.059
 for us

00:32:41.059 --> 00:32:41.659
 in heaven

00:32:41.659 --> 00:32:44.719
 and we pray

00:32:44.719 --> 00:32:45.059
 that you would

00:32:45.059 --> 00:32:45.500
 help us

00:32:45.500 --> 00:32:46.279
 to be faithful

00:32:46.279 --> 00:32:48.919
 that even

00:32:48.919 --> 00:32:49.479
 as

00:32:49.479 --> 00:32:50.559
 his return

00:32:50.559 --> 00:32:51.159
 can sometimes

00:32:51.159 --> 00:32:51.839
 seem so

00:32:51.839 --> 00:32:52.399
 distant

00:32:52.399 --> 00:32:53.240
 in our minds

00:32:53.240 --> 00:32:54.459
 we pray

00:32:54.459 --> 00:32:54.919
 that you would

00:32:54.919 --> 00:32:55.559
 help us

00:32:55.559 --> 00:32:56.059
 to fix

00:32:56.059 --> 00:32:56.719
 our hope

00:32:56.719 --> 00:32:57.619
 fix our eyes

00:32:57.619 --> 00:32:58.339
 on eternity

00:32:58.339 --> 00:32:58.979
 so that we would

00:32:58.979 --> 00:32:59.459
 live with

00:32:59.459 --> 00:33:00.279
 watchfulness

00:33:00.279 --> 00:33:03.899
 keep our eyes

00:33:03.899 --> 00:33:04.479
 on the Lord

00:33:04.479 --> 00:33:05.000
 Jesus

00:33:05.000 --> 00:33:06.119
 so that we would

00:33:06.119 --> 00:33:06.899
 live with

00:33:06.899 --> 00:33:07.599
 holiness

00:33:07.599 --> 00:33:10.679
 Lord we pray

00:33:10.679 --> 00:33:11.139
 that you would

00:33:11.139 --> 00:33:11.859
 transform

00:33:11.859 --> 00:33:13.279
 our everyday

00:33:13.279 --> 00:33:13.959
 reality

00:33:13.959 --> 00:33:15.159
 as you would

00:33:15.159 --> 00:33:15.759
 impress

00:33:15.759 --> 00:33:16.740
 upon our

00:33:16.740 --> 00:33:17.319
 hearts and

00:33:17.319 --> 00:33:17.740
 lives

00:33:17.740 --> 00:33:19.139
 the reality

00:33:19.139 --> 00:33:19.879
 of the return

00:33:19.879 --> 00:33:20.480
 of Christ

00:33:20.480 --> 00:33:22.599
 Lord we pray

00:33:22.599 --> 00:33:23.519
 that this

00:33:23.519 --> 00:33:24.299
 message

00:33:24.299 --> 00:33:25.539
 would be

00:33:25.539 --> 00:33:26.179
 one that

00:33:26.179 --> 00:33:26.539
 would be

00:33:26.539 --> 00:33:27.119
 heard

00:33:27.119 --> 00:33:28.319
 in our

00:33:28.319 --> 00:33:29.159
 city today

00:33:29.159 --> 00:33:30.659
 and heard

00:33:30.659 --> 00:33:31.159
 in our

00:33:31.159 --> 00:33:31.639
 nation

00:33:31.639 --> 00:33:32.199
 today

00:33:32.199 --> 00:33:34.259
 for those

00:33:34.259 --> 00:33:34.779
 who feel

00:33:34.779 --> 00:33:35.299
 hopeless

00:33:35.299 --> 00:33:36.419
 for those

00:33:36.419 --> 00:33:37.059
 who are

00:33:37.059 --> 00:33:37.960
 terribly

00:33:37.960 --> 00:33:38.799
 anxious

00:33:38.799 --> 00:33:39.759
 about what's

00:33:39.759 --> 00:33:40.240
 happening in

00:33:40.240 --> 00:33:40.599
 the world

00:33:40.599 --> 00:33:41.079
 today

00:33:41.079 --> 00:33:42.259
 help them

00:33:42.259 --> 00:33:42.700
 to see

00:33:42.700 --> 00:33:43.139
 Jesus

00:33:43.139 --> 00:33:43.859
 as that

00:33:43.859 --> 00:33:44.440
 fixed

00:33:44.440 --> 00:33:45.059
 point

00:33:45.059 --> 00:33:46.720
 that point

00:33:46.720 --> 00:33:47.700
 of certain

00:33:47.700 --> 00:33:48.259
 hope

00:33:48.259 --> 00:33:49.399
 and may

00:33:49.399 --> 00:33:50.019
 they entrust

00:33:50.019 --> 00:33:50.579
 themselves

00:33:50.579 --> 00:33:51.399
 to him

00:33:51.399 --> 00:33:53.559
 Lord we pray

00:33:53.559 --> 00:33:54.259
 in particular

00:33:54.259 --> 00:33:55.099
 this week

00:33:55.099 --> 00:33:56.480
 as our

00:33:56.480 --> 00:33:57.059
 church will

00:33:57.059 --> 00:33:57.619
 be in

00:33:57.619 --> 00:33:58.299
 general

00:33:58.299 --> 00:33:58.879
 assembly

00:33:58.879 --> 00:34:00.000
 we pray

00:34:00.000 --> 00:34:00.779
 for ministers

00:34:00.779 --> 00:34:01.559
 and elders

00:34:01.559 --> 00:34:02.019
 who will

00:34:02.019 --> 00:34:02.339
 gather

00:34:02.339 --> 00:34:03.019
 together

00:34:03.019 --> 00:34:04.519
 to hear

00:34:04.519 --> 00:34:05.160
 reports

00:34:05.160 --> 00:34:05.579
 and to

00:34:05.579 --> 00:34:06.440
 have

00:34:06.440 --> 00:34:07.039
 discussions

00:34:07.039 --> 00:34:07.539
 and to

00:34:07.539 --> 00:34:07.799
 make

00:34:07.799 --> 00:34:08.599
 decisions

00:34:08.599 --> 00:34:10.300
 Lord may

00:34:10.300 --> 00:34:10.900
 we have

00:34:10.900 --> 00:34:11.759
 that sense

00:34:11.759 --> 00:34:12.159
 of

00:34:12.159 --> 00:34:13.420
 watchfulness

00:34:13.420 --> 00:34:14.980
 and may

00:34:14.980 --> 00:34:15.400
 you give

00:34:15.400 --> 00:34:15.960
 us as a

00:34:15.960 --> 00:34:16.360
 church

00:34:16.360 --> 00:34:17.599
 faithfulness

00:34:17.599 --> 00:34:19.780
 may you

00:34:19.780 --> 00:34:20.519
 help us

00:34:20.519 --> 00:34:21.139
 to pursue

00:34:21.139 --> 00:34:21.800
 holiness

00:34:21.800 --> 00:34:23.519
 as a

00:34:23.519 --> 00:34:23.880
 church

00:34:23.880 --> 00:34:24.440
 in this

00:34:24.440 --> 00:34:24.900
 nation

00:34:24.900 --> 00:34:26.059
 as we

00:34:26.059 --> 00:34:26.559
 seek to

00:34:26.559 --> 00:34:27.579
 be about

00:34:27.579 --> 00:34:27.920
 our

00:34:27.920 --> 00:34:28.480
 master's

00:34:28.480 --> 00:34:28.920
 business

00:34:28.920 --> 00:34:30.559
 Lord we

00:34:30.559 --> 00:34:31.159
 pray that

00:34:31.159 --> 00:34:31.539
 you would

00:34:31.539 --> 00:34:32.780
 raise up

00:34:32.780 --> 00:34:33.780
 more

00:34:33.780 --> 00:34:34.540
 workers

00:34:34.540 --> 00:34:35.720
 for

00:34:35.720 --> 00:34:37.740
 serving

00:34:37.740 --> 00:34:38.320
 you here

00:34:38.320 --> 00:34:38.780
 in Scotland

00:34:38.780 --> 00:34:39.320
 and around

00:34:39.320 --> 00:34:39.840
 the world

00:34:39.840 --> 00:34:40.420
 more who

00:34:40.420 --> 00:34:41.100
 could preach

00:34:41.100 --> 00:34:41.900
 and teach

00:34:41.900 --> 00:34:42.320
 more who

00:34:42.320 --> 00:34:42.980
 could train

00:34:42.980 --> 00:34:43.880
 and disciple

00:34:43.880 --> 00:34:45.460
 Lord that

00:34:45.460 --> 00:34:45.760
 you would

00:34:45.760 --> 00:34:46.340
 continue

00:34:46.340 --> 00:34:47.540
 to build

00:34:47.540 --> 00:34:48.300
 your church

00:34:48.300 --> 00:34:49.180
 among us

00:34:49.180 --> 00:34:51.200
 Lord help

00:34:51.200 --> 00:34:51.500
 us to

00:34:51.500 --> 00:34:52.180
 continue to

00:34:52.180 --> 00:34:52.760
 reflect

00:34:52.760 --> 00:34:54.340
 to allow

00:34:54.340 --> 00:34:55.060
 your word

00:34:55.060 --> 00:34:55.620
 to ask

00:34:55.620 --> 00:34:56.500
 questions

00:34:56.500 --> 00:34:57.420
 of our

00:34:57.420 --> 00:34:57.900
 hearts

00:34:57.900 --> 00:34:58.560
 we pray

00:34:58.559 --> 00:35:01.079
 and may

00:35:01.079 --> 00:35:02.019
 you by

00:35:02.019 --> 00:35:02.779
 your spirit

00:35:02.779 --> 00:35:04.000
 so work

00:35:04.000 --> 00:35:04.699
 in all

00:35:04.699 --> 00:35:05.179
 of us

00:35:05.179 --> 00:35:06.099
 that we

00:35:06.099 --> 00:35:06.400
 would be

00:35:06.400 --> 00:35:06.960
 ready

00:35:06.960 --> 00:35:08.259
 to meet

00:35:08.259 --> 00:35:08.639
 with the

00:35:08.639 --> 00:35:09.279
 Lord Jesus

00:35:09.279 --> 00:35:10.559
 and that it

00:35:10.559 --> 00:35:11.079
 would be

00:35:11.079 --> 00:35:12.400
 your will

00:35:12.400 --> 00:35:12.799
 that each

00:35:12.799 --> 00:35:13.299
 one would

00:35:13.299 --> 00:35:13.900
 hear well

00:35:13.900 --> 00:35:14.679
 done good

00:35:14.679 --> 00:35:15.440
 and faithful

00:35:15.440 --> 00:35:16.019
 servant

00:35:16.019 --> 00:35:17.659
 as you would

00:35:17.659 --> 00:35:18.400
 cause us to

00:35:18.400 --> 00:35:19.320
 turn from sin

00:35:19.320 --> 00:35:20.779
 and to trust

00:35:20.779 --> 00:35:21.420
 in Jesus

00:35:21.420 --> 00:35:22.519
 and we pray

00:35:22.519 --> 00:35:23.219
 in his name

00:35:23.219 --> 00:35:24.199
 Amen