WEBVTT
00:00:38.560 --> 00:00:48.560
So another area that I want to touch on is that the whole area of investment of living our lives and dependence upon the Lord.
00:00:49.439 --> 00:00:56.880
But I think this is critical because the one thing that Adam and Eve did was to declare their independence.
00:00:58.079 --> 00:01:00.880
They said, we're going to do our own thinking.
00:01:00.960 --> 00:01:02.079
We can make our own judgment.
00:01:02.719 --> 00:01:04.400
We have a knowledge of good and evil now.
00:01:04.480 --> 00:01:06.400
We can figure this whole thing out.
00:01:06.959 --> 00:01:12.239
And so our race, the race of Adam, is cursed with independence.
00:01:13.040 --> 00:01:19.439
As we grow up, we're even taught to be independent, to do our own thinking, do our own way.
00:01:19.840 --> 00:01:27.359
And we have to come back to a point where everything is filtered through the Lord.
00:01:27.920 --> 00:01:32.239
We need to have his purpose, his power, and his process.
00:01:33.280 --> 00:01:36.239
And I want to think about that with you for a moment.
00:01:36.400 --> 00:01:39.359
His purpose means his will, not our will.
00:01:39.519 --> 00:01:46.959
If we want to make a difference for eternity, we have to be involved in what he wants us to do, not what we want to do.
00:01:47.680 --> 00:01:52.640
See, for the for the Lord uh was fully committed to his father's will.
00:01:53.200 --> 00:01:59.359
It was not that he was simply resigned to God's will.
00:01:59.920 --> 00:02:03.439
He he was not merely submissive to God's will.
00:02:03.680 --> 00:02:11.360
It's not like he accepted God's will, but it says in Psalm 40 verse 8, I delight to do your will.
00:02:11.680 --> 00:02:14.960
So Christ delighted to do the Father's will.
00:02:15.199 --> 00:02:16.879
Now, where did he get that?
00:02:17.039 --> 00:02:22.800
Well, he he loved the Father supremely because he knew the Father completely.
00:02:23.120 --> 00:02:30.879
So it's that deep knowledge of our Father that leads to love and leads to a commitment to his will.
00:02:31.039 --> 00:02:40.960
And that is what the Lord wants to develop in each of us as we follow him and as we become involved with things that last for eternity.
00:02:42.639 --> 00:02:46.879
We can look in John 6.38 and see where the Lord declared this.
00:02:47.039 --> 00:02:51.680
It says, For I've come down from heaven not to do my will, but to do the will of him who sent me.
00:02:52.319 --> 00:03:00.639
And then in John 8.29, the one who sent me is with me, he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.
00:03:01.680 --> 00:03:09.919
And this purpose of commitment to fully God's will is demonstrated in the temptation in the wilderness.
00:03:10.159 --> 00:03:20.879
Where in Matthew 4 7 it says, Jesus answered to him, it is also written, do not put the Lord your God to the test.
00:03:21.039 --> 00:03:22.159
I've got that written wrong.
00:03:22.319 --> 00:03:25.680
It says, I should have had Matthew 4.4 there.
00:03:27.039 --> 00:03:34.080
Man uh does not depend on bread alone, but on the uh every word that comes out of the mouth of God.
00:03:34.240 --> 00:03:41.759
So I've got the wrong reference there in Matthew, but it's the reply to the temptation to turn the stones into bread.
00:03:42.080 --> 00:03:45.120
Then I have the wrong the wrong verse there.
00:03:45.360 --> 00:03:50.800
So he was tempted to depart from the from the will of God to meet a very basic need.
00:03:51.280 --> 00:03:54.159
And I think we are tempted in that always.
00:03:54.400 --> 00:03:57.840
Will we do things our way or will we do it God's way?
00:03:57.919 --> 00:04:01.199
And that is very critical to doing his will.
00:04:01.360 --> 00:04:03.599
The second thing is his power.
00:04:04.400 --> 00:04:10.319
Um and not his power is dependent really upon the Lord.
00:04:10.400 --> 00:04:15.759
And to depend on his power, we need to have complete confidence in God always.
00:04:16.480 --> 00:04:32.319
Christ succeeded in the first temptation, uh, the weakness of when he was weak when he was going to turn it ask to turn it into bread, but he succeeded in the second temptation because his confidence in God was so strong that it did not need to be demonstrated.
00:04:32.959 --> 00:04:40.879
Likewise, as we invest in our lives in discipleship, our confidence needs to be fully, fully in God.
00:04:41.920 --> 00:04:49.360
Um and this is what he said, the verses I've written again, it is also written, Do not put the Lord your God to the test.
00:04:50.160 --> 00:04:57.519
Not only do we need to depend upon him for uh his will, for his strength, but we need his process.
00:04:58.160 --> 00:05:08.240
We are always tempted to take a shortcut in what we do, and here Christ was tempted to take a shortcut by falling down for a moment and giving homage to the evil one.
00:05:09.519 --> 00:05:18.160
When Satan failed in his attempt to destroy the perfect man, he then tried to destroy him as the perfect servant.
00:05:18.560 --> 00:05:22.800
But again, the Lord's answer to him was, Away from me, Satan.
00:05:23.040 --> 00:05:26.399
It is written, Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.
00:05:26.959 --> 00:05:28.959
So what do we what can we take from this?
00:05:29.120 --> 00:05:30.800
Well, Christ is our life.
00:05:31.040 --> 00:05:32.639
He has already succeeded.
00:05:32.879 --> 00:05:35.920
He left that temptation in the power of the Spirit.
00:05:36.240 --> 00:05:41.439
In the power of the Spirit, His life, his perfect humanity, his deity is given to us.
00:05:41.759 --> 00:05:53.519
And as we live in perfect trust in Him, moment by moment, day by day, we then are able to live in complete, full, and total dependence upon Him.
00:05:53.839 --> 00:05:58.480
And to the measure that we do that is a measure that we have impact.
00:06:00.240 --> 00:06:02.639
Prayer in His name, I think, illustrates this.
00:06:02.720 --> 00:06:08.000
I remember Ray Steadman saying, you know, I asked him one day, what does it mean to pray in God's name?
00:06:08.160 --> 00:06:09.839
He said, It means three things.
00:06:10.079 --> 00:06:18.639
It means what he wants, it means dependent on him to do it, and it means dependent on his process.
00:06:19.360 --> 00:06:21.279
And those are three things we've looked at.
00:06:21.600 --> 00:06:26.639
God's will, dependence on him to do it, and dependence on his process.
00:06:26.720 --> 00:06:32.000
And that process often involves something sacrificial in our lives.
00:06:33.279 --> 00:06:38.639
Then we see the same thought in 1 Thessalonians 5.19, do not put out the spirit's fire.
00:06:38.720 --> 00:06:41.040
How do we put out the spirit's fire?
00:06:41.279 --> 00:06:47.279
By doing our own thing, dependent upon ourselves, dependent on our own process.
00:06:47.439 --> 00:06:49.360
It's all the same thing.
00:06:49.439 --> 00:06:52.399
We put out the spirit's fire by doing that.
00:06:53.920 --> 00:07:00.720
And finally, let's look at the fact, and I think this helps me too as I look at investing for eternity.
00:07:01.040 --> 00:07:06.240
Look at the fact that there will be discrimination made among his servants.
00:07:07.759 --> 00:07:14.000
And let's look here at the workers in the vineyard in Matthew 20, 1 through 16.
00:07:14.160 --> 00:07:20.399
It says, For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard.
00:07:20.720 --> 00:07:25.439
He agreed them to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
00:07:25.680 --> 00:07:29.600
About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace and doing nothing.
00:07:29.759 --> 00:07:34.560
He told them, You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.
00:07:34.720 --> 00:07:35.600
So they went.
00:07:35.839 --> 00:07:39.199
He went out again about the sixth hour, the ninth hour, and did the same thing.
00:07:39.360 --> 00:07:42.879
About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around.
00:07:43.120 --> 00:07:46.720
He asked them, Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?
00:07:46.879 --> 00:07:48.560
Because no one is hardest, they answered.
00:07:48.639 --> 00:07:51.759
He said to them, You also go and work in my vineyard.
00:07:51.920 --> 00:07:59.360
When evening came the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.
00:07:59.839 --> 00:08:03.680
The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius.
00:08:03.759 --> 00:08:07.600
So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more.
00:08:07.759 --> 00:08:10.879
But each one of them also received a denarius.
00:08:11.439 --> 00:08:14.560
When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner.
00:08:14.800 --> 00:08:23.120
These men who were hired last worked only at one hour, they said, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.
00:08:23.360 --> 00:08:26.480
But he answered one of them, Friend, I'm not being unfair to you.
00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:28.480
Didn't you agree to work for Daenerys?
00:08:28.560 --> 00:08:30.000
Take your pay and go.
00:08:30.319 --> 00:08:33.519
I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you.
00:08:33.679 --> 00:08:37.039
Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money?
00:08:37.360 --> 00:08:40.480
Or are you envious because I am generous?
00:08:40.720 --> 00:08:45.039
So the last will be first, and you the first will be last.
00:08:46.159 --> 00:08:55.120
Now, when we look at that, we each one of us thinks, well, maybe that wasn't fair after all, because we have a sense of fairness.
00:08:55.200 --> 00:09:06.960
But I think what he is saying is the same thing in all of these three parables and teachings, that his reward is given to faithfulness to opportunity provided.
00:09:07.679 --> 00:09:12.000
Some did not have the opportunity, but they were faithful to the opportunity provided.
00:09:12.240 --> 00:09:29.039
God gives different opportunities, uh, different um amounts of ability to each one, but they're faithful to the ability, faithful to the opportunity that God gives us, they will receive the same award.
00:09:29.519 --> 00:09:34.080
There are many here in this world who uh do not have much opportunity.
00:09:34.240 --> 00:09:53.919
They have a few children, maybe an isolated part of the uh city or the world, but their faithfulness to raise those children, their faithfulness to impact the lives that they are around, will be remembered and will be rewarded, the same as those who have had a more widespread ministry.
00:09:54.480 --> 00:10:05.279
Uh, the interesting thing about this, as I look at it, is that this problem could be avoided by simply paying those who were at work all day first, and they would have left and been on their way.
00:10:05.519 --> 00:10:07.120
Why didn't that happen?
00:10:07.279 --> 00:10:09.200
I don't know the answer to that.
00:10:10.080 --> 00:10:25.840
But I do wonder if those that uh did bear the burden of the day didn't have an opportunity to learn something about the landowner, that uh he is generous, to know him in a deeper way.
00:10:26.799 --> 00:10:37.519
And um one of the things that uh is impacted me about this teaching is that eternal life really is knowledge of Christ and of God.
00:10:38.320 --> 00:10:48.320
So the opportunity in our lives to really know Christ deeply and to know God more deeply, there was given an opportunity to know that to these who were hired earlier.
00:10:48.639 --> 00:10:53.279
They did not really approach it that way, however, and thought they'd been been cheated.
00:10:53.519 --> 00:11:00.240
But I've always wondered if there isn't some other teaching aspect to that story.
00:11:00.639 --> 00:11:12.879
It's interesting that those first ones, I I always thought they negotiated with it, they agreed rather than just letting the landowner okay, we'll just trust you.
00:11:13.440 --> 00:11:15.440
Right, they all agreed, they all made that mark.
00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:20.480
We're gonna make a few with it where the others just trusted his grace.
00:11:20.720 --> 00:11:21.120
Uh-huh.
00:11:21.440 --> 00:11:23.919
Yeah, I think I think that's a good point.
00:11:25.360 --> 00:11:35.440
And then the parable of the talents is a second teaching the Lord gives on this subject of eternal reward, discipleship.
00:11:35.759 --> 00:11:38.000
Matthew 25, 14 through 23.
00:11:38.080 --> 00:11:43.279
Again, it will be like a man going on a journey who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.
00:11:43.519 --> 00:11:49.919
To when he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability.
00:11:50.080 --> 00:11:51.519
Then he went on his journey.
00:11:51.759 --> 00:11:57.200
The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more.
00:11:57.679 --> 00:12:01.120
So also the one with the two talents gained two more.
00:12:02.559 --> 00:12:07.759
But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master's money.
00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:11.840
After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.
00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:14.879
The man who had received the five talents brought the other five.
00:12:15.200 --> 00:12:17.519
Mastery said, You entrusted me with five talents.
00:12:17.679 --> 00:12:19.039
See, I've gained five more.
00:12:19.200 --> 00:12:22.559
His master replied, Well done, good and faithful servant.
00:12:23.039 --> 00:12:26.879
You have been faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things.
00:12:27.120 --> 00:12:29.039
Come and share your master's happiness.
00:12:29.200 --> 00:12:31.200
The man of the two talents also came.
00:12:31.519 --> 00:12:34.000
Mastery said to you, entrusted me with two talents.
00:12:34.320 --> 00:12:35.600
See, I've gained two more.
00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:39.519
The master replied, Well done, good and faithful servant.
00:12:39.919 --> 00:12:43.519
You have been faithful to a few things, I will put you in charge of many things.
00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:45.919
Come and share your master's happiness.
00:12:46.399 --> 00:12:56.639
And that included the guy that buried his one, because I think what we want to see is how the Lord treated the one with five and the one with two.
00:12:57.120 --> 00:13:01.600
And if you look at that, you'll see the commendation was the same.
00:13:02.320 --> 00:13:06.000
The master said in both times, see, I've gained five more.
00:13:06.159 --> 00:13:08.960
His master replied, Well done, good and faithful servant.
00:13:09.120 --> 00:13:13.200
You've been faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things.
00:13:13.519 --> 00:13:16.399
And he said the identical thing to the one who gained two.
00:13:16.879 --> 00:13:19.200
Well done, good and faithful servant.
00:13:19.519 --> 00:13:23.440
You have been faithful to a few things, I will put you in charge of many things.
00:13:23.600 --> 00:13:26.480
Come and share your master's happiness.
00:13:26.879 --> 00:13:30.000
Again, faithfulness to opportunity provided.
00:13:30.639 --> 00:13:33.519
The opportunities are different with all of us.
00:13:33.840 --> 00:13:37.120
God will treat us fairly.
00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:18.960
But the older son was jealous of the younger son who was given a great feast.
00:14:19.440 --> 00:14:21.679
And that's kind of what's going on here.
00:14:21.840 --> 00:14:27.600
The ones who've been working all day long were jealous of the ones who didn't come in until the eleven hour.
00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:32.159
The reward is life with Christ.
00:14:32.399 --> 00:14:32.799
Uh-huh.
00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:34.720
A more eternalized.
00:14:56.399 --> 00:14:56.480
Right.
00:14:56.720 --> 00:14:58.399
And had the great feast.
00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:10.639
And although that didn't happen with this, you know, they still, the ones that came in at the 11th hour, received the same thing with the ones that came in at the very beginning, didn't they?
00:15:11.759 --> 00:15:20.639
Well, the Lord gives us that teaching, and then and then two more, and putting them together, we can we can kind of get a appraisal of that.
00:15:20.720 --> 00:15:25.679
And the last one, we'll just cover that briefly as well, the parable of the minas.
00:15:26.559 --> 00:15:32.080
Uh, while they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable because he was near Jerusalem.
00:15:32.159 --> 00:15:35.679
The people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once.
00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:42.240
He said a man of noble birth noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return.
00:15:42.480 --> 00:15:45.200
So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas.
00:15:45.360 --> 00:15:48.000
Put this money to work, he said, until I come back.
00:15:48.399 --> 00:15:54.159
But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, We don't want this man to be our king.
00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:56.960
He was made king, however, and returned home.
00:15:57.039 --> 00:16:02.159
Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money in order to find out what they had gained with it.
00:16:02.320 --> 00:16:06.399
The first one came and said, Sir, your minor has earned ten more.
00:16:06.960 --> 00:16:14.399
Well done, my good servant, his master replied, because you have been trustworthy in a very small manner, take charge of ten cities.
00:16:14.960 --> 00:16:18.080
The second came and said, Sir, your minor has gained five more.
00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:21.440
His master answered, You take charge of five cities.
00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:28.639
Now I think the thing that we need to note here is that the commendation was not the same.
00:16:29.440 --> 00:16:31.279
The supply was the same.
00:16:31.360 --> 00:16:38.080
They had a minor, they had a similar opportunity, they were given the same uh ability, opportunity.
00:16:38.559 --> 00:16:42.559
The one had had ten, one had five.
00:16:43.039 --> 00:16:46.639
The Lord said, Well done, good and faithful servant, to the one.
00:16:46.960 --> 00:16:56.639
The other, he recognized the work that would uh was done, what was accomplished, but it was not of the same degree that he could possibly have done.
00:16:56.960 --> 00:17:01.039
And so the Lord differentiated there between the servants.
00:17:02.159 --> 00:17:10.559
So I think the the lesson that I see from here is that uh looking at my life, God has given me opportunities.
00:17:11.039 --> 00:17:23.039
And God has given me uh individuals, God has given me talents, abilities, finances, uh time daily to make an impact for things that last for eternity.
00:17:23.279 --> 00:17:28.480
And when I stand before him, he's going to want to know uh what was accomplished.
00:17:28.640 --> 00:17:31.680
What did you do based on what I've given you?
00:17:31.839 --> 00:17:37.519
I've given you my son, the Holy Spirit, made him live in you to accomplish all this.
00:17:37.599 --> 00:17:43.599
If you live in dependence on him, uh this is this is what I would like to see.
00:17:43.839 --> 00:17:49.839
So I need to say, well, Lord, uh this this is this is what's developed.
00:17:50.079 --> 00:17:57.359
And so uh there will be that time when I stand before him when uh when he will be interested in that.
00:17:57.680 --> 00:18:01.920
And he really wants to reward us, he's desirous of rewarding us.
00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:14.640
And I think as we looked at that uh verse before, uh, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourself so that when it is done you'll be wealthy and into eternal wealth.
00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:19.599
And then Matthew 6, store up treasure for yourself in heaven.
00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:31.839
As we have our children and we want them to have an occupation which will take care of their family and all of their needs, we want them to live abundantly and not be in want or need.
00:18:32.079 --> 00:18:34.960
So I think the Lord wants that for us for eternity.
00:18:35.279 --> 00:18:38.400
He wants us to enjoy the fruit of our lives here.
00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:44.319
Uh and he is a gracious God who gives us an opportunity to invest that.
00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:50.480
2 Corinthians 5.10, and this is the last item, discipleship rewarded.
00:18:50.720 --> 00:19:00.079
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due to him for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.
00:19:00.400 --> 00:19:03.359
But we have that opportunity each day to live.
00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:12.000
I once heard a speaker who started off his talk by saying, each one of us lives in Philippians 1.21.
00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:13.839
Philippians 2.21.
00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:20.720
Philippians 1.21 says, for me to live as Christ, to die is gain.
00:19:21.119 --> 00:19:23.119
That's Philippians 1.21.
00:19:23.440 --> 00:19:26.160
For me to live is Christ, to die is gain.
00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:30.720
Or the alternative is to live our lives in Philippians 2.21.
00:19:31.279 --> 00:19:35.599
Everyone looks out for his known interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
00:19:35.839 --> 00:19:52.480
So as I think about that uh comment of his, periodically that will come to mind, and I think, am I uh living a life of Jesus Christ, or am I looking out for my own interests today or this week or this year?
00:19:52.880 --> 00:19:56.799
So I think the Lord has said to me the choice is mine.
00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:01.519
What I choose.
00:20:02.160 --> 00:20:08.880
But that's a great question.
00:00:38.560 --> 00:00:48.560
So another area that I want to touch on is that the whole area of investment of living our lives and dependence upon the Lord.
00:00:49.439 --> 00:00:56.880
But I think this is critical because the one thing that Adam and Eve did was to declare their independence.
00:00:58.079 --> 00:01:00.880
They said, we're going to do our own thinking.
00:01:00.960 --> 00:01:02.079
We can make our own judgment.
00:01:02.719 --> 00:01:04.400
We have a knowledge of good and evil now.
00:01:04.480 --> 00:01:06.400
We can figure this whole thing out.
00:01:06.959 --> 00:01:12.239
And so our race, the race of Adam, is cursed with independence.
00:01:13.040 --> 00:01:19.439
As we grow up, we're even taught to be independent, to do our own thinking, do our own way.
00:01:19.840 --> 00:01:27.359
And we have to come back to a point where everything is filtered through the Lord.
00:01:27.920 --> 00:01:32.239
We need to have his purpose, his power, and his process.
00:01:33.280 --> 00:01:36.239
And I want to think about that with you for a moment.
00:01:36.400 --> 00:01:39.359
His purpose means his will, not our will.
00:01:39.519 --> 00:01:46.959
If we want to make a difference for eternity, we have to be involved in what he wants us to do, not what we want to do.
00:01:47.680 --> 00:01:52.640
See, for the for the Lord uh was fully committed to his father's will.
00:01:53.200 --> 00:01:59.359
It was not that he was simply resigned to God's will.
00:01:59.920 --> 00:02:03.439
He he was not merely submissive to God's will.
00:02:03.680 --> 00:02:11.360
It's not like he accepted God's will, but it says in Psalm 40 verse 8, I delight to do your will.
00:02:11.680 --> 00:02:14.960
So Christ delighted to do the Father's will.
00:02:15.199 --> 00:02:16.879
Now, where did he get that?
00:02:17.039 --> 00:02:22.800
Well, he he loved the Father supremely because he knew the Father completely.
00:02:23.120 --> 00:02:30.879
So it's that deep knowledge of our Father that leads to love and leads to a commitment to his will.
00:02:31.039 --> 00:02:40.960
And that is what the Lord wants to develop in each of us as we follow him and as we become involved with things that last for eternity.
00:02:42.639 --> 00:02:46.879
We can look in John 6.38 and see where the Lord declared this.
00:02:47.039 --> 00:02:51.680
It says, For I've come down from heaven not to do my will, but to do the will of him who sent me.
00:02:52.319 --> 00:03:00.639
And then in John 8.29, the one who sent me is with me, he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.
00:03:01.680 --> 00:03:09.919
And this purpose of commitment to fully God's will is demonstrated in the temptation in the wilderness.
00:03:10.159 --> 00:03:20.879
Where in Matthew 4 7 it says, Jesus answered to him, it is also written, do not put the Lord your God to the test.
00:03:21.039 --> 00:03:22.159
I've got that written wrong.
00:03:22.319 --> 00:03:25.680
It says, I should have had Matthew 4.4 there.
00:03:27.039 --> 00:03:34.080
Man uh does not depend on bread alone, but on the uh every word that comes out of the mouth of God.
00:03:34.240 --> 00:03:41.759
So I've got the wrong reference there in Matthew, but it's the reply to the temptation to turn the stones into bread.
00:03:42.080 --> 00:03:45.120
Then I have the wrong the wrong verse there.
00:03:45.360 --> 00:03:50.800
So he was tempted to depart from the from the will of God to meet a very basic need.
00:03:51.280 --> 00:03:54.159
And I think we are tempted in that always.
00:03:54.400 --> 00:03:57.840
Will we do things our way or will we do it God's way?
00:03:57.919 --> 00:04:01.199
And that is very critical to doing his will.
00:04:01.360 --> 00:04:03.599
The second thing is his power.
00:04:04.400 --> 00:04:10.319
Um and not his power is dependent really upon the Lord.
00:04:10.400 --> 00:04:15.759
And to depend on his power, we need to have complete confidence in God always.
00:04:16.480 --> 00:04:32.319
Christ succeeded in the first temptation, uh, the weakness of when he was weak when he was going to turn it ask to turn it into bread, but he succeeded in the second temptation because his confidence in God was so strong that it did not need to be demonstrated.
00:04:32.959 --> 00:04:40.879
Likewise, as we invest in our lives in discipleship, our confidence needs to be fully, fully in God.
00:04:41.920 --> 00:04:49.360
Um and this is what he said, the verses I've written again, it is also written, Do not put the Lord your God to the test.
00:04:50.160 --> 00:04:57.519
Not only do we need to depend upon him for uh his will, for his strength, but we need his process.
00:04:58.160 --> 00:05:08.240
We are always tempted to take a shortcut in what we do, and here Christ was tempted to take a shortcut by falling down for a moment and giving homage to the evil one.
00:05:09.519 --> 00:05:18.160
When Satan failed in his attempt to destroy the perfect man, he then tried to destroy him as the perfect servant.
00:05:18.560 --> 00:05:22.800
But again, the Lord's answer to him was, Away from me, Satan.
00:05:23.040 --> 00:05:26.399
It is written, Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.
00:05:26.959 --> 00:05:28.959
So what do we what can we take from this?
00:05:29.120 --> 00:05:30.800
Well, Christ is our life.
00:05:31.040 --> 00:05:32.639
He has already succeeded.
00:05:32.879 --> 00:05:35.920
He left that temptation in the power of the Spirit.
00:05:36.240 --> 00:05:41.439
In the power of the Spirit, His life, his perfect humanity, his deity is given to us.
00:05:41.759 --> 00:05:53.519
And as we live in perfect trust in Him, moment by moment, day by day, we then are able to live in complete, full, and total dependence upon Him.
00:05:53.839 --> 00:05:58.480
And to the measure that we do that is a measure that we have impact.
00:06:00.240 --> 00:06:02.639
Prayer in His name, I think, illustrates this.
00:06:02.720 --> 00:06:08.000
I remember Ray Steadman saying, you know, I asked him one day, what does it mean to pray in God's name?
00:06:08.160 --> 00:06:09.839
He said, It means three things.
00:06:10.079 --> 00:06:18.639
It means what he wants, it means dependent on him to do it, and it means dependent on his process.
00:06:19.360 --> 00:06:21.279
And those are three things we've looked at.
00:06:21.600 --> 00:06:26.639
God's will, dependence on him to do it, and dependence on his process.
00:06:26.720 --> 00:06:32.000
And that process often involves something sacrificial in our lives.
00:06:33.279 --> 00:06:38.639
Then we see the same thought in 1 Thessalonians 5.19, do not put out the spirit's fire.
00:06:38.720 --> 00:06:41.040
How do we put out the spirit's fire?
00:06:41.279 --> 00:06:47.279
By doing our own thing, dependent upon ourselves, dependent on our own process.
00:06:47.439 --> 00:06:49.360
It's all the same thing.
00:06:49.439 --> 00:06:52.399
We put out the spirit's fire by doing that.
00:06:53.920 --> 00:07:00.720
And finally, let's look at the fact, and I think this helps me too as I look at investing for eternity.
00:07:01.040 --> 00:07:06.240
Look at the fact that there will be discrimination made among his servants.
00:07:07.759 --> 00:07:14.000
And let's look here at the workers in the vineyard in Matthew 20, 1 through 16.
00:07:14.160 --> 00:07:20.399
It says, For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard.
00:07:20.720 --> 00:07:25.439
He agreed them to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
00:07:25.680 --> 00:07:29.600
About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace and doing nothing.
00:07:29.759 --> 00:07:34.560
He told them, You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.
00:07:34.720 --> 00:07:35.600
So they went.
00:07:35.839 --> 00:07:39.199
He went out again about the sixth hour, the ninth hour, and did the same thing.
00:07:39.360 --> 00:07:42.879
About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around.
00:07:43.120 --> 00:07:46.720
He asked them, Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?
00:07:46.879 --> 00:07:48.560
Because no one is hardest, they answered.
00:07:48.639 --> 00:07:51.759
He said to them, You also go and work in my vineyard.
00:07:51.920 --> 00:07:59.360
When evening came the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.
00:07:59.839 --> 00:08:03.680
The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius.
00:08:03.759 --> 00:08:07.600
So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more.
00:08:07.759 --> 00:08:10.879
But each one of them also received a denarius.
00:08:11.439 --> 00:08:14.560
When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner.
00:08:14.800 --> 00:08:23.120
These men who were hired last worked only at one hour, they said, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.
00:08:23.360 --> 00:08:26.480
But he answered one of them, Friend, I'm not being unfair to you.
00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:28.480
Didn't you agree to work for Daenerys?
00:08:28.560 --> 00:08:30.000
Take your pay and go.
00:08:30.319 --> 00:08:33.519
I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you.
00:08:33.679 --> 00:08:37.039
Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money?
00:08:37.360 --> 00:08:40.480
Or are you envious because I am generous?
00:08:40.720 --> 00:08:45.039
So the last will be first, and you the first will be last.
00:08:46.159 --> 00:08:55.120
Now, when we look at that, we each one of us thinks, well, maybe that wasn't fair after all, because we have a sense of fairness.
00:08:55.200 --> 00:09:06.960
But I think what he is saying is the same thing in all of these three parables and teachings, that his reward is given to faithfulness to opportunity provided.
00:09:07.679 --> 00:09:12.000
Some did not have the opportunity, but they were faithful to the opportunity provided.
00:09:12.240 --> 00:09:29.039
God gives different opportunities, uh, different um amounts of ability to each one, but they're faithful to the ability, faithful to the opportunity that God gives us, they will receive the same award.
00:09:29.519 --> 00:09:34.080
There are many here in this world who uh do not have much opportunity.
00:09:34.240 --> 00:09:53.919
They have a few children, maybe an isolated part of the uh city or the world, but their faithfulness to raise those children, their faithfulness to impact the lives that they are around, will be remembered and will be rewarded, the same as those who have had a more widespread ministry.
00:09:54.480 --> 00:10:05.279
Uh, the interesting thing about this, as I look at it, is that this problem could be avoided by simply paying those who were at work all day first, and they would have left and been on their way.
00:10:05.519 --> 00:10:07.120
Why didn't that happen?
00:10:07.279 --> 00:10:09.200
I don't know the answer to that.
00:10:10.080 --> 00:10:25.840
But I do wonder if those that uh did bear the burden of the day didn't have an opportunity to learn something about the landowner, that uh he is generous, to know him in a deeper way.
00:10:26.799 --> 00:10:37.519
And um one of the things that uh is impacted me about this teaching is that eternal life really is knowledge of Christ and of God.
00:10:38.320 --> 00:10:48.320
So the opportunity in our lives to really know Christ deeply and to know God more deeply, there was given an opportunity to know that to these who were hired earlier.
00:10:48.639 --> 00:10:53.279
They did not really approach it that way, however, and thought they'd been been cheated.
00:10:53.519 --> 00:11:00.240
But I've always wondered if there isn't some other teaching aspect to that story.
00:11:00.639 --> 00:11:12.879
It's interesting that those first ones, I I always thought they negotiated with it, they agreed rather than just letting the landowner okay, we'll just trust you.
00:11:13.440 --> 00:11:15.440
Right, they all agreed, they all made that mark.
00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:20.480
We're gonna make a few with it where the others just trusted his grace.
00:11:20.720 --> 00:11:21.120
Uh-huh.
00:11:21.440 --> 00:11:23.919
Yeah, I think I think that's a good point.
00:11:25.360 --> 00:11:35.440
And then the parable of the talents is a second teaching the Lord gives on this subject of eternal reward, discipleship.
00:11:35.759 --> 00:11:38.000
Matthew 25, 14 through 23.
00:11:38.080 --> 00:11:43.279
Again, it will be like a man going on a journey who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.
00:11:43.519 --> 00:11:49.919
To when he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability.
00:11:50.080 --> 00:11:51.519
Then he went on his journey.
00:11:51.759 --> 00:11:57.200
The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more.
00:11:57.679 --> 00:12:01.120
So also the one with the two talents gained two more.
00:12:02.559 --> 00:12:07.759
But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master's money.
00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:11.840
After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.
00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:14.879
The man who had received the five talents brought the other five.
00:12:15.200 --> 00:12:17.519
Mastery said, You entrusted me with five talents.
00:12:17.679 --> 00:12:19.039
See, I've gained five more.
00:12:19.200 --> 00:12:22.559
His master replied, Well done, good and faithful servant.
00:12:23.039 --> 00:12:26.879
You have been faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things.
00:12:27.120 --> 00:12:29.039
Come and share your master's happiness.
00:12:29.200 --> 00:12:31.200
The man of the two talents also came.
00:12:31.519 --> 00:12:34.000
Mastery said to you, entrusted me with two talents.
00:12:34.320 --> 00:12:35.600
See, I've gained two more.
00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:39.519
The master replied, Well done, good and faithful servant.
00:12:39.919 --> 00:12:43.519
You have been faithful to a few things, I will put you in charge of many things.
00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:45.919
Come and share your master's happiness.
00:12:46.399 --> 00:12:56.639
And that included the guy that buried his one, because I think what we want to see is how the Lord treated the one with five and the one with two.
00:12:57.120 --> 00:13:01.600
And if you look at that, you'll see the commendation was the same.
00:13:02.320 --> 00:13:06.000
The master said in both times, see, I've gained five more.
00:13:06.159 --> 00:13:08.960
His master replied, Well done, good and faithful servant.
00:13:09.120 --> 00:13:13.200
You've been faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things.
00:13:13.519 --> 00:13:16.399
And he said the identical thing to the one who gained two.
00:13:16.879 --> 00:13:19.200
Well done, good and faithful servant.
00:13:19.519 --> 00:13:23.440
You have been faithful to a few things, I will put you in charge of many things.
00:13:23.600 --> 00:13:26.480
Come and share your master's happiness.
00:13:26.879 --> 00:13:30.000
Again, faithfulness to opportunity provided.
00:13:30.639 --> 00:13:33.519
The opportunities are different with all of us.
00:13:33.840 --> 00:13:37.120
God will treat us fairly.
00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:18.960
But the older son was jealous of the younger son who was given a great feast.
00:14:19.440 --> 00:14:21.679
And that's kind of what's going on here.
00:14:21.840 --> 00:14:27.600
The ones who've been working all day long were jealous of the ones who didn't come in until the eleven hour.
00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:32.159
The reward is life with Christ.
00:14:32.399 --> 00:14:32.799
Uh-huh.
00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:34.720
A more eternalized.
00:14:56.399 --> 00:14:56.480
Right.
00:14:56.720 --> 00:14:58.399
And had the great feast.
00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:10.639
And although that didn't happen with this, you know, they still, the ones that came in at the 11th hour, received the same thing with the ones that came in at the very beginning, didn't they?
00:15:11.759 --> 00:15:20.639
Well, the Lord gives us that teaching, and then and then two more, and putting them together, we can we can kind of get a appraisal of that.
00:15:20.720 --> 00:15:25.679
And the last one, we'll just cover that briefly as well, the parable of the minas.
00:15:26.559 --> 00:15:32.080
Uh, while they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable because he was near Jerusalem.
00:15:32.159 --> 00:15:35.679
The people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once.
00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:42.240
He said a man of noble birth noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return.
00:15:42.480 --> 00:15:45.200
So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas.
00:15:45.360 --> 00:15:48.000
Put this money to work, he said, until I come back.
00:15:48.399 --> 00:15:54.159
But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, We don't want this man to be our king.
00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:56.960
He was made king, however, and returned home.
00:15:57.039 --> 00:16:02.159
Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money in order to find out what they had gained with it.
00:16:02.320 --> 00:16:06.399
The first one came and said, Sir, your minor has earned ten more.
00:16:06.960 --> 00:16:14.399
Well done, my good servant, his master replied, because you have been trustworthy in a very small manner, take charge of ten cities.
00:16:14.960 --> 00:16:18.080
The second came and said, Sir, your minor has gained five more.
00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:21.440
His master answered, You take charge of five cities.
00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:28.639
Now I think the thing that we need to note here is that the commendation was not the same.
00:16:29.440 --> 00:16:31.279
The supply was the same.
00:16:31.360 --> 00:16:38.080
They had a minor, they had a similar opportunity, they were given the same uh ability, opportunity.
00:16:38.559 --> 00:16:42.559
The one had had ten, one had five.
00:16:43.039 --> 00:16:46.639
The Lord said, Well done, good and faithful servant, to the one.
00:16:46.960 --> 00:16:56.639
The other, he recognized the work that would uh was done, what was accomplished, but it was not of the same degree that he could possibly have done.
00:16:56.960 --> 00:17:01.039
And so the Lord differentiated there between the servants.
00:17:02.159 --> 00:17:10.559
So I think the the lesson that I see from here is that uh looking at my life, God has given me opportunities.
00:17:11.039 --> 00:17:23.039
And God has given me uh individuals, God has given me talents, abilities, finances, uh time daily to make an impact for things that last for eternity.
00:17:23.279 --> 00:17:28.480
And when I stand before him, he's going to want to know uh what was accomplished.
00:17:28.640 --> 00:17:31.680
What did you do based on what I've given you?
00:17:31.839 --> 00:17:37.519
I've given you my son, the Holy Spirit, made him live in you to accomplish all this.
00:17:37.599 --> 00:17:43.599
If you live in dependence on him, uh this is this is what I would like to see.
00:17:43.839 --> 00:17:49.839
So I need to say, well, Lord, uh this this is this is what's developed.
00:17:50.079 --> 00:17:57.359
And so uh there will be that time when I stand before him when uh when he will be interested in that.
00:17:57.680 --> 00:18:01.920
And he really wants to reward us, he's desirous of rewarding us.
00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:14.640
And I think as we looked at that uh verse before, uh, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourself so that when it is done you'll be wealthy and into eternal wealth.
00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:19.599
And then Matthew 6, store up treasure for yourself in heaven.
00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:31.839
As we have our children and we want them to have an occupation which will take care of their family and all of their needs, we want them to live abundantly and not be in want or need.
00:18:32.079 --> 00:18:34.960
So I think the Lord wants that for us for eternity.
00:18:35.279 --> 00:18:38.400
He wants us to enjoy the fruit of our lives here.
00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:44.319
Uh and he is a gracious God who gives us an opportunity to invest that.
00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:50.480
2 Corinthians 5.10, and this is the last item, discipleship rewarded.
00:18:50.720 --> 00:19:00.079
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due to him for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.
00:19:00.400 --> 00:19:03.359
But we have that opportunity each day to live.
00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:12.000
I once heard a speaker who started off his talk by saying, each one of us lives in Philippians 1.21.
00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:13.839
Philippians 2.21.
00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:20.720
Philippians 1.21 says, for me to live as Christ, to die is gain.
00:19:21.119 --> 00:19:23.119
That's Philippians 1.21.
00:19:23.440 --> 00:19:26.160
For me to live is Christ, to die is gain.
00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:30.720
Or the alternative is to live our lives in Philippians 2.21.
00:19:31.279 --> 00:19:35.599
Everyone looks out for his known interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
00:19:35.839 --> 00:19:52.480
So as I think about that uh comment of his, periodically that will come to mind, and I think, am I uh living a life of Jesus Christ, or am I looking out for my own interests today or this week or this year?
00:19:52.880 --> 00:19:56.799
So I think the Lord has said to me the choice is mine.
00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:01.519
What I choose.
00:20:02.160 --> 00:20:08.880
But that's a great question.