Getting Faithfulness Right Part 2

The reason for us to Jesus phone number for the master gave three servants money to invest in a parable Jesus is to serve as made substantial returns and were rewarded for wrapped his in a piece of cloth and felt the wrath of his master today parable likens money the way we spread the gospel church in Chicago. This is going to win with Dr. Sir who is clear teaching helps us make it across the finish line on the surface it seems this parable extols the virtue of playing the stock market today I have to tell you I did not see that question coming in as I think about it, I realize that playing the stock market. I don't like the way you use the word playing but investing in the stock market might not be wrong. If you do that in reputable companies and so forth. One of the things that we want to stay away from, however, is gambling where you take all kinds of risks that probably will not work out in your favor and we could tell many stories about that. But isn't it interesting that Jesus Christ talked about investments and we hear it running to win.

Encourage people to make sure that they invest in heavenly things. By the way this sermon series is available for a gift of any amount. The title of the series is you Redo life how the parables help us get it right the first time, go to RTW offer.com gift of any amount. This series can be yours or call us at 1-888-218-9337.

Now let us listen carefully as Jesus talks about the subject of investments. The man was filled with fear, they said you know God you're very austere. You are very on allowable. You are very judgmental and so I was afraid and I accept this mean I accepted the gospel but I Wrapped up because I'm so full of fear about you.

I decided to play it safe. I wasn't willing to take any kind of a risk at all for the purpose of the gospel.

I only played that which would save that which was close to the vest. As the saying goes, and then not only was he fearful, but the bottom line. Of course, was that he was very face less.

The reason you see he took the gospel for himself hit in a handkerchief never shared it is because he did not have confidence that the gospel had the ability to multiply itself.

He didn't believe that if the gospel were shared, and if you got involved in propagating the gospel that it would have an eternal impact so he was content to have the gospel will be something that he enjoyed and benefited from, but that he himself was not going to do anything to advance it. No interest in the bank and I think there's something else going on in the text. I thought of it this morning.

I think he's angry.

I mean, these are the words of somebody using and when you have somebody who is angry with God angry at the church. Angry because of the way in which their money has been spent. What did they do they say to themselves, you'll never get anything out of. I may be here to look up a blessing for myself, but I'm not going to lift a finger to bless anybody else. Oh bitter people are oftentimes very stingy, angry, and they take the Mina glad for it but they don't share it. The rest of the story is not heartwarming at all. You'll notice that Jesus did not look upon this and say well I'm going to excuse you because you had a hard background. You'll notice he says why didn't you put my money in the bank. If you think that I was so austere and so angry. You should've been working hard to please me didn't give you an excuse not to do anything. And then you'll notice Jesus said to those who stood by, he said I'm in verse 24. Take the Mina from him and give it to the one who is 10 and they say exactly what we would look for. He's only got an why give it to the man who has an already, why should he have 11 Jesus said, I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not even what he has will be taken away and then the most solemn words of old, but as for those enemies of mine who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before you know this is the meek and mild Jesus, I'm so amused when sometimes on the news it's is what didn't Jesus just preach love, yet he preached love and died to demonstrate it but is also the Jesus of great judgment that I'd like to do is to bring this down for you and I live because I intend that your life be changed because your hearing God's word. Our lives should always be changed when we hear God's word and a sobering word like this from the lips of Jesus should not escape us at all couple of comments. First of all, we are accountable for what we do with the gospel. Did the gospel save you. Did God's gospel save you.

I realized today that most of you I'm sure are saved. Many of you are not, but for a moment. I'm talking to those of you who are and you know it because of your faith in Christ. Did you know that you're going to be held accountable. Did you know that you're going to come into the presence of Jesus and Jesus is going to say what did you do with my gospel that saved you.

How do we invest in the gospel so that were not embarrassed at his return couple of comments. First of all what we need to do is to share the gospel. How can you explain a man or a woman saved by Jesus for all eternity. Working with people, perhaps in the business next to them and the person next to them year after year does not know that he or she is even a Christian as they keep the gospel wrapped in that handkerchief as they hide it under a bushel and make sure that no 1C it either because they're ashamed. But that's not the real reason. Did you know why people don't witness for Christ. No matter how much he does for us.

It is so difficult to get Christians to speak about him, you sail it's because they don't know how listen there tons of courses out on how to witness and it's so easy you can give them a book and say read this book and I'll talk to you about it in two weeks time not to put too fine a point on it, but one that you might like to use is one minute after you die, that would be a wonderful book to give to somebody and then say I'll talk to you about this in two weeks is not the real reason we got methodology coming out of her ears.

The real reason that people do not share the faith is because they themselves are not walking in spiritual great and therefore they say to themselves, who am I to commanded Jesus to someone when obviously I'm not walking in fellowship with him at all. You see, that's really the reason then that's why evangelism happens when the Holy Spirit helps us clean up our lives. It is then that we begin to share the good news.

Many Christians are like a cup half filled trying desperately to spill over. But they have nothing to give. For others because their own cup is only half full, we should share the gospel. Also, we can then invest in the gospel by supporting the gospel we support the gospel. Our children's ministry here at the Moody church is maxed out not only maxed out in terms of the VBS.

I want to say a word about that but it's maxed out for other reasons because it is been entirely too successful and then we need workers.

I'm going to say a word now to Moody church.

I realize that this message eventually goes to all kinds of churches over the radio and other means by the Internet all over the world so you can apply this to your own church. But I'm going to speak to the people at Moody church just for a moment when you invest when you contribute to the ministry of Moody church financially. When you make that contribution. You are actually extending the gospel you are investing in the gospel so that young people can go to camp so that our children's ministry can be strong and healthy because you see those of us who work with the budget we always say to ourselves, you know, this ministry is expanding, but we don't have enough money for it because what we're interested in is not paying the bills, and keeping the lights on and the floors swept all that is because of a much greater reason, namely the extension and the investment of the gospel around the world. That's what it is that we are committed to here in this church and because someday Jesus is going to say what did you do the gospel that saved you. Did you charity to help extend it when you volunteer as a children's worker at great sacrifice when you volunteer as a car Parker or in Osher or all of the other ministries we publish a booklet a couple times a year with all the different opportunities in all the different volunteers that we know what you are really doing is you are investing in the gospel and what an investment it is because we are accountable.

There is a second lesson that we must realize and that is that were not rewarded equally were not rewarded equally when it comes to interpreting parables.

We have to be very careful that we shouldn't necessarily draw a lot of lessons from the parable because parables have one point and this point is that Jesus is going away and will hold all of his servants accountable, but I tend to think that this servant who had nothing to show for himself was a Christian I woke up this morning at 330 and couldn't get back to sleep so I hope that I'm awake this morning. I think I am. I don't want to be like that preacher who dreamed he was preaching and then woke up and found out he was lying there in bed like Velcro affixed to my soul.

I thought of the words of Jesus to this servant you wicked slave, and I wondered, would Jesus ever speak to one of his own. That way, while you say well know, of course, he wouldn't because Calvary covers it all.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. All that is blessedly true, but the fact that we are redeemed and clothed in Christ righteousness does not mean that God will not review our lives. This is so clear from Scripture.

Jesus said in the book of Revelation chapter 22 behold, I come quickly and my reward is with me to reward each person according to what he asked done well. Now, of course, throughout all of eternity.

Those who do well in those who don't do well, will all be one, something like a chandelier. Some lights burn brighter than others but all of them are burning all of them are giving glory to God. But I'm talking to you today about something very very serious because you and I as believers will stand before Christ and he will ask what did you do with the gospel. Did you advance it did you contribute toward it. Did you volunteer for it. Did you share it when you give to the ministry of Moody church.

You're also giving to missions and you'll notice on our envelope. There's a special category for that and missions giving happens to be down and I know that these are difficult financial times, but at the end of the day, what we're interested in doing here as a church is a community called by God to live passionately for Jesus Christ. We are very interested in extending the gospel in each of our missionaries are doing that in different parts of the world and were saying that we will stand with you because we are committed to its advance and its investment because someday were going to explain it all to Jesus and it'll all be very clear son of a very sobering so were not all awarded rewarded equally yes Calvary covers it all. But the question is what are we doing with the gift.

Calvary offers there's a final lesson and that is this, that if you reject if you reject the king you don't get into the kingdom.

If you reject the king you don't get into the kingdom. I read the verse. A moment ago that Schutz send it chills up our back. Verse 27 but as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them. It's the Jesus who judges in this parable.

You have three different people you have the faithful person who does good, you have the unfaithful person who does nothing.

These content with having his mean.

I wrapped in his own handkerchief TO himself uninvolved in the proclamation and extension and the investment of the gospel save somebody who does good. You have somebody who does nothing and then you have the wicked, who do evil.

Three categories in this parable 92, explained that 10 for many of you who are on a spiritual journey. And you've never come to saving faith in Christ saving faith in Jesus Christ. Becoming a member of the kingdom is not something that happens because you were baptized. It's not something that you grow into it is a personal decision to stop trusting yourself and to trust Christ alone for your eternal soul and your eternity.

And once you have that you have your Mina.

That is to say you get the free gift of the gospel and that gift is free, but then we have the responsibility of living it out, you know, Jesus told parables and I began this message by talking about the fact that Jesus wants us to live meaningful lives. Some of you who are in very difficult circumstances. You say how can I do that what you can pray for the extension of the gospel.

You can pray for the ministry of Moody church. You can pray for missionaries.

You can pray, but everyone involved in extending the gospel we all get the same gift. What are we doing with it, but there's a parable that Jesus told that I'm not going to be speaking about in this series and that is them Jesus said two people went into a temple to pray, one was a Pharisee and he prayed and said oh God, I thank you that I'm not like other people. I'm a good person. I don't commit adultery. I tithe and I fast. Remember that story. Jesus said next to him. There was a publican and that this publican. It was kind of like a tax gatherer kind of on the outskirts of society never even looked up, you know, when we sing the song holy, holy, holy, and then it says you know that the eye of sinful man thy glory cannot see. I don't know about you but I'm deeply convicted.

I can't even look up, but he wouldn't look up to heaven, he simply said God be merciful to me, the center Jesus said which one went home justified was not the one who said I don't need the gospel. I don't need justification because I'm good enough is the man who saw his need and responded in simple faith. That's the beginning point and then once you enter the kingdom you're going to have accountability and all of us will give an account for what we did with God's most precious gift.

His son, the good news of the gospel. Let us pray for father. We want to thank you today for the great opportunities that you give us and they are many, but Lord, we sometimes hold back. We ask this morning that you'll help us as you've spoken to us about areas of ministry and involvement help us to know that will give an account and help those who never trusted Christ as Savior to see his beauty and his Savior. We pray in Jesus name, amen. This is Pastor Luther and I have to tell you my friend that oftentimes we need to glibly talk about the fact that we are going to give an account is very serious and you know Jesus through the parables has helped us to understand what is going on in our own lives and how to in past properly. Perhaps you missed some of the messages in this series and you would like to have them permanently so that you can listen to them again and again and share them with your friends. The title of the series. You can't redo life how the parables help us get it right the first time for a gift of any amount. These messages can be yours.

Here's what you do go to RTW offer.com and by the way, thank you so much for your continuing investment in this ministry. We aim to get the gospel of Jesus Christ to as many people as possible. But here's what you do go to RTW offer.com for gift of any amount. These messages can be yours if you prefer you can call us at 1-888-218-9337. Let me give you that phone number again asked for the series. You can't redo life 1-888-218-9337 is time now for another chance for you to ask Pastor Luther a question about the Bible or the Christian life. The prophetic timeline for the end times. There's a lot to digest and understand. Tony has written to ask this, we are taught that the resurrection is first and then the rapture and then the tribulation is in Revelation 20. The Bible says Satan is bound and put in a bottomless pit for thousand years. And then the first resurrection takes place. We reign with Christ for those thousand years. How could this be the first resurrection if the resurrection has already taken place at the time of the rapture. Thanks, Tony. Great question. I think that when the Bible refers to the first resurrection there in Revelation chapter 20 verse five. It really includes in that first resurrection. The resurrection of all Christians no matter when the resurrections will have occurred. Let me give you an example. Jesus was the first one who was raised from the dead. In fact, when Jesus was raised there were even some saints who came out of their graves, who walked around in Jerusalem that is a very difficult passage, but there it is in God's holy word. So the fact that we are enraptured, at the time beginning the tribulation. Then you have the tribulation, then you have the millennium and then you have this reference to the first resurrection I would say simply that the first resurrection involves a number of different resurrections.

Bottom line is really the resurrection of the saints. All Saints no matter when they are raised later on. It talks about a second resurrection and that's the resurrection of all unbelievers and that even may occur in the stages so good question Tony, but I don't think that we should interpret it in such a way that we think to ourselves that this is the first time that there were people raised from the dead. God bless you. Keep studying and I hope you continue to listen to running to win.

Thank you Tony. Thank you Dr. Luther if you'd like to hear one of your questions answered.

Go to our website@rtwoffer.com and click on ask Pastor Luther or call us at 1-888-218-9337 that's 1-888-218-9337 you can write to is running to win 1635 N. LaSalle Boulevard Chicago, IL 60614 running to win is all about helping you find God's roadmap for your race of life. Jesus once told a parable about a man posting a banquet when the invited guests begged off the man found anyone he could to sit at his table. The lesson for us. God seeks the lost just like this man thought people to see.

Next time I'm running when join us for teaching from Luke 14 on getting evangelism right thanks for listening.

This is Dave McAllister running to win is sponsored by the teacher