PURSUIT What it Means to be Faithful

Transcription

1 PURSUIT What it Means to be Faithful Matthew 25:14-30 / January 6, 2019 / Pastor Bill Russell G INTRO: MOSART S MUSIC D The seductive and sentimental side of great works of art not being! D Reality Check: Great Accomplishments involve G NEW YEAR S SERIES: PURSUIT: CHASING AFTER THE HEART OF GOD! D David the original man after God s own heart! D Question: What would it look like to live a life of Holy and Heavenly Pursuit? BIG IDEA: THE LIFE THAT KNOWS THE GREATEST SUCCESS IS THE LIFE OF QUIET FAITHFULNESS! G THE CONTEXT AND SETTING OF MATT 25 [and all of the gospels.] D The gospels actually with the O.T than the N.T. D Focused on the Millennial Kingdom not the Body of Christ. 6 Observations About Pursuing a Life of Faithfulness! 1. Faithfulness is a for God! Well done, good and faithful servant. 2. To be faithful is to manage what God to us. and entrusted to them his property o THE QUESTION: What have I been entrusted with? S The! [1 Cor 4:1-2, 1 Tim 1:11, 2 Tim 1:12-14] S Our! [1 Cor 6:19-20, 1 Peter 1:14-19] S Our! [Romans 5:1-4] S Our, and! [Col 4:5]

2 3. The key to faithfulness is being faithful in the of everyday life. You have been faithful over a little o REALITY CHECK: Much of our life is a routine we faithfully repeat. S The example of SAMUEL. [1 Samuel 8:1, 7:15-17] S Don t focus on great focus on great! S The heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 were called to SIGNIFICANT TASKS because they! [Heb 11:8-10, 24-26] 4. To be Faithful is to make! bringing five talents more o REPEAT It s not about accomplishing great things but making progress! S The servant that was reprimanded was! S The Key to success is &. = 5. There is in being faithful! Enter into the joy of your master JOHN MAXWELL S RULE OF 5: It is better to do the right thing everyday - Than to do the right thing somedays! 6. Your biggest test of faithfulness is your! [v 24-27] And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. o THE QUESTION: How is your Life? S His response is simply an. I was afraid S His heart was towards God. Master, I knew you to be a hard man Application and Transformation What did God say to me this morning about faithfulness? What has God entrusted to me that I am overlooking or that I need to be more faithful with? Is there a tree in my life I need to take an ax to? Something I need to face intentionally and consistently? Where and in what do I want to make more progress?

3 Matthew 25:14-30 ESV For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more. 21 His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master. 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more. 23 His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master. 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours. 26 But his master answered him, You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 24:36-42 ESV But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 ESV This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 1 Timothy 1:11 ESV the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

4 2 Timothy 1:12-14 ESV But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me. 13 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 1 Peter 1:14-16, HCSB 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. 15 But as the One who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; 16 for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy. 18 For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from the fathers, not with perishable things like silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. Romans 5:1-4 HCSB Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We have also obtained access through Him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, 4 endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. Colossians 4:5 ESV Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. 1 Samuel 8:1 ESV When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. 1 Samuel 7:15-17 ESV Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. 16 And he went on a circuit year by year to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah. And he judged Israel in all these places. 17 Then he would return to Ramah, for his home was there, and there also he judged Israel. And he built there an altar to the Lord.

5 Hebrews 11:8-10 ESV By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. Hebrews 11:24-26 ESV By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. RAPTURE SECOND COMING I Thessalonians 4:13-18 Matthew 24:36-42 Righteous caught away to Heaven Unrighteous left behind to face the Tribulation Comfort one another with these words Unrighteous taken away to Judgement Righteous are left on earth to enjoy the Kingdom As in the days of Noah