DELIGHTING in the LORD

Transcription

1 The one thing I ask of the Lord - the thing I seek most - is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord s perfections and meditating in his temple. Psalm 27:4 DAY 1: Tribulation: Be Ready Matthew 24 & 25: The Olivet Discourse We closed Matthew 23 with Jesus speaking in the temple to the unbelieving Jews, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem...for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Having been given the opportunity to receive Jesus, the King Messiah, they refused Him and therefore, the nation of Israel would no longer be the light through which God would shine forth to a dark and dying world. How Jesus heart must have grieved! But as He finished speaking, our merciful and loving Father gave Israel a ray of hope, as He does with each one of us. Despite their refusal to accept Him, despite their desperate condition, Jesus will one day come again for them. They will cry out a blessing to their Messiah at His second coming, having come to know Him as their Savior. Because of their rejection the Jewish temple would temporarily become desolate and empty, but at His return God s promise to King David will be fulfilled...your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. (2 Samuel 7:16) It is here that we open Matthew 24. This week we will be combining Matthew 24 & 25 into one lesson. These chapters are commonly referred to as the Olivet Discourse, spoken by Jesus to His disciples on the Mount of Olives. It is here that Jesus pulls back the curtain for a moment, and gives His disciples a glimpse into the future Kingdom, the Kingdom that is to come. The Kingdom they have been waiting for, looking for and anticipating. An everlasting Kingdom for believing Jews and Gentiles. It is here that Jesus teaches about the end of the age, specifically the Jewish age. Before the Jewish age can come to an end, Jesus must finish building His church, the body of believers. Then, Jesus will come again and take His church home to be with Him. This event is referred to as the rapture which is the sudden departure of the believing church. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 tells us For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Oh, what a glorious day that will be! Although, at the time of Jesus speaking, the mystery of the church s rapture had not yet been revealed as the church hadn t even been formed. It is after the rapture that the events of Matthew 24 & 25 take place. Jesus second coming will be to deliver Israel, defeat its enemies and set up His Kingdom in Jerusalem. This will follow a 7 year period of tribulation and great tribulation which will end in the Lord s judgment to those who don t believe in Him. This will be the end of the Jewish age because Israel will finally be fully restored. It will begin Jesus Millenial reign on the earth over all nations. In Matthew 24, Jesus speaks warning and encouragement to His disciples and a Jewish audience. He also speaks a message of hope to all of us. These two chapters are the Lord s words of prophecy looking forward to future fulfillment. The events after Matthew 24:3 have not taken place yet. We read in Mark 13 that Peter, James, John, and Andrew came to Jesus privately asking Him very pointed questions regarding the temple s destruction, the sign of Jesus coming and the end of the age. Jesus sat with them on the Mount of Olives, exhorting both them and every believer, both Jew and Gentile, to watch and be ready, for He is coming again. First He will come for His church (the rapture). After the rapture begings the 7 years of tribulation. Following the tribulation, He will come again in the clouds in glory to defeat His enemies, establish His promised Kingdom and rule and reign from the very temple mount He is leaving in Matthew 24. This plan has been in place since the beginning of time. It will come to pass. Are you ready? Matthew Chapter 24 & 25 Day 1

2 Oh, dear sister, we are going to cover a lot of Biblical ground this week. This week will have seven days of study. I pray you don t lose heart, but remain steadfast in your study. May God open your spiritual eyes to His understanding and may He show you the application He has for you today, as you await His return. It should be a call for all of us to examine our lives before the Lord that we would be found ready, faithful, watchful and expectant. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The runners take their mark. Their legs are loose, their bodies hydrated, their running shoes well broken in. Ready, Set, Go! And they are off setting their pace knowing that the race requires steadfast focus and endurance. The clock is ticking and each tick marks a second closer to the end of the race. From the beginning of time, Jesus knew the end. He knew man would sin. He knew the Jews would reject Him when He came. He knew we would need a Savior. He knew the Gentiles would be given the testimony of Jesus through the Jews rejection. He knew He would come, would die and would be resurrected. He knew it all. And He did it all for us! Jeremiah said of the Lord toward us in Jeremiah 30:11, For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. There is a future kingdom prepared and being made ready for every believer in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is our hope. Prophecy gives us clues and signs to the coming fulfillment of God s plan for us. It is here in these verses that Jesus begins to explain to His disciples what is to come in the days ahead. He does this so that we may be prepared, ready and waiting expectantly for His return. These will be hard days. But he who endures to the end will be saved (Matthew 24:13). So take your mark. Be ready! R RECEIVING God s Word Open in Prayer Read Matthew 24:1-51 Today s Scripture Focus: Matthew 24:1-14 E EXPERIENCING God s Word In 19 B.C., Herod began rebuilding the temple. It was completed around 63 A.D, taking more than 80 years to be rebuilt. The temple was said to be magnificent in beauty and massive in size. Some of the stones used to build the temple weighed up to one hundred and twenty tons and were perfectly carved so that they fit together smoothly. Josephus, a Jewish historian, says that the temple was covered on the outside with gold plates and where there was no gold, white marble blocks were used instead. As Jesus was leaving the temple mount area, we read in Mark 13 and Luke 21 that one of His disciples spoke up regarding the splendor of the temple, its adornments and the manner of its construction. The disciples were quite impressed with the temple and brought it to Jesus attention. This prompted Jesus to respond with prophecy. Matthew Chapter 24 & 25 Day 1

3 1. What did Jesus prophecy concerning the temple in verse 2? Why do you think He shared this with the disciples at this time? How do you think they responded to this? This prophecy was fulfilled in 70 A.D. when Titus came into Jerusalem with Roman troops to seize control of the city. The Jews fled the city and the temple was destroyed, so much so, that even today it is difficult to identify the exact location of the temple because every stone was thrown down. From there, Jesus traveled over the Kidron Valley and sat with His disciples upon the Mount of Olives. It is here that the rest of Matthew 24 & 25 take place. 2. The disciples ask Jesus three questions in verse 3. What are those questions? a. b. c. The first question had to do with when the temple would be destroyed in Jerusalem. Matthew does not answer this question. We must go to Luke 21:20-24 to find Jesus answer. This first question would have been prophecy to the disciples and Jews at that time. For us now, it is history. It was fulfilled just as Jesus said. The next two questions are the ones that Jesus addresses in the remainder of Matthew 24 and 25. Continually keep these questions in view as you work through these chapters. 3. Read Daniel 9:26 through the first sentence of Daniel 9:27. List all that you learn from these prophetic verses regarding events following the rapture of the church and preceeding Jesus second coming. Keep in mind that 1 week equals 7 years. Matthew Chapter 24 & 25 Day 1

4 4. The conditions seen in verses 4-8 can be applied to all the centuries since the Lord returned to Heaven. Today is no exception. From these verses, what is happening in the world prior to the Lord s second coming? 5. What did Jesus mean when He said in verse 8, All these are the beginning of sorrows? 6. Let s compare Matthew 24:4-12 to Revelation 6 which describes the seals that will be opened from Heaven upon those remaining on the earth after the rapture and during the tribulation period. Fill in the chart with a few words to describe the world conditions using Revelation 6 and Matthew 24:4-12. Let s see how these two match up. World Conditions from Matthew Seals from Revelation Matthew 24:4-5: Rev. 6:1-2: Matthew 24:6 Rev. 6:3-4 Matthew 24:7 Rev. 6:5-6 Matthew 24:7 Rev. 6:7-8 Matthew 24:9-11 Rev. 6:9-11 Matthew 24:12 Rev. 6: What does Matthew 24:13 teach us? Look back at Matthew 10: It wasn t the first time the disciples heard this teaching. What will people need who are living through this period of time? What do we often need today? How might the disciples have struggled with this? Matthew Chapter 24 & 25 Day 1

5 8. Let s finish today s study by looking at Matthew 24:14. Remember we are looking at the first half of the tribulation. It is a time when the church has been removed. If the church is removed, who will be preaching and sharing the gospel of the kingdom to those people still here, who haven t received Jesus as their Savior? Go to Revelation 7:1-4. Who are those that are sealed by God? a. Revelation 11:3-13. Who will God send to the earth during the tribulation to preach the gospel of the kingdom to all the world? b. Read Revelation 14:6-7. Who else will be sharing the gospel of the kingdom to the world? c. What does this teach you regarding God, His love for His people and His desire that none should perish without salvation? A ACTING on God s Word Are you ready for the Lord s return? If He came this very minute, would you be ready? Would you be taken in the air with Him or would you be left here on the earth to go through the tribulation? We all should know clearly the answer to this question for our own soul. It is a matter of salvation. If you ve asked the Lord into your heart and life, then you are ready. You will go home at the trumpet call when the Lord comes to rapture His church. We just studied that the signs of His return are near and have been for centuries. These are the birth pangs not only for the time now, but also during the first half of the tribulation. God is giving us warning signs and opportunity to be ready and influence those around us. Does this affect the way you live and your daily attitude. How? If not, why? D in God s Word Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. Revelation 19:7 Close in prayer asking God to speak to your heart how He wants you to be ready for His return. Matthew Chapter 24 & 25 Day 1

6 The one thing I ask of the Lord - the thing I seek most - is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord s perfections and meditating in his temple. Psalm 27:4 DAY 2: Great Tribulation: Be Warned Matthew 24 & 25: The Olivet Discourse I (Stacy) remember the first time I heard the deafening alarm begin to sound. We had just moved into our new house and out of nowhere was heard a resounding alarm throughout the neighborhood. It was so loud, I could hear it in the house. I ran outside to see what it was. There wasn t any sign or indication of what it was. Everything was going on as normal. I called the local township office inquiring to this sound and as the lady laughed, she explained to me that on the first Monday of the month, the alarm sounds as a test. You see, I live within 30 miles of a nuclear power plant. If this alarm sounds on any day other than the testing day, it tells us to take cover for there has been a nuclear disaster. The alarm warns us of trouble to come. These verses we will study today are God s alarm and warning to the Jews of what is to come. It is important to remember that Jesus is speaking to a Jewish audience. With these verses we enter into the last half of the tribulation period. It is commonly referred to as the great tribulation, or the time of Jacob s trouble. The great tribulation will last 3 1/2 years. At its completion, the Lord will return for the Jews (His elect) and for those who put their faith in Jesus during the 7 year tribulation period. This is referred to as the second coming. When Jesus returns a second time, the Jewish age will come to a close. After this the millennial age will begin. These verses are prophecy. They have not come to pass yet. These will be times of great despair and suffering as the Lord gives people one more chance to turn to Him. It is not a time anyone will want to live through. There will be one who comes to God s temple and demands to be worshipped. He will be a counterfeit Christ and will be the head of the Roman empire. The alarm will sound when he sets up worship in the temple. What follows is Jesus instructions to His elect during this time. Be warned, Jesus says, I have told you beforehand. Jesus never leaves us unprepared. When these 1260 days come to an end, He will return. R RECEIVING God s Word Open in Prayer Read Matthew 24:1-51 Today s Scripture Focus: Matthew 24:15-31 E EXPERIENCING God s Word 1. What does Matthew 24:15 tell us will happen at the midpoint of the tribulation? 2. Read Daniel 9:27 and Daniel 11:31 regarding this event. What do you learn? Where will this take place and who will do it? Matthew Chapter 24 & 25 Day 2

7 3. Read 2 Thessalonians 2:3-10. What do you learn about who will be revealed during the great tribulation? What does he do? 4. In verses 16-20, list all the preparations that the Jews should take when they see this happening. List all the instructions that the Lord is giving them. 5. In verse 22, Jesus refers to the Jews that will be saved during the tribulation as the elect. What will God do to the days during this time so that it will be more tolerable for the elect? 6. In preparing the Jews and those who go through the tribulation who may read these very words during that time, what warning did Jesus give in verses 23-26? 7. According to verse 27 & 30, how will Jesus come back the second time? When will this happen according to verse 29? 8. Let s look at how Jesus second coming is spoken of throughout God s Word. Look up the following verses and note what you learn. Revelation 1:7 Daniel 7:13-14 Revelation 19: We are told in verse 30 that all the tribes of the earth will mourn. Why will there be mourning? What is Jesus coming back to do? 10. Verse 31 tells us there will be a great gathering in Jerusalem when Christ returns. Who will be gathered? Why? Matthew Chapter 24 & 25 Day 2

8 A ACTING on God s Word If you ve accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are ready for His return. You will not have to experience the tribulation or the great tribulation! This is the way to go!! As a believer, waiting for your Messiah s return, how does your life demonstrate your preparedness for His return? What warnings have you seen on today s horizon that are pointing to His return? Do you heed these warnings or are you ignoring the warning signs? Why? D in God s Word Can you imagine that day when, they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Believers in Christ will be returning with Him. Thank Him for prophecy. Thank Him for preparing us. Thank Him for warning us. Thank Him for His salvation! Close in Prayer NOTES Matthew Chapter 24 & 25 Day 2

9 The one thing I ask of the Lord - the thing I seek most - is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord s perfections and meditating in his temple. Psalm 27:4 DAY 3: Be Watching Matthew 24 & 25: The Olivet Discourse G. Campell Morgan said this of the Lord s return: That Jesus Christ is coming again He plainly declared, and all the New Testament writers affirm the truth. That certainty falls upon all the darkness of the processes through which the victory of the kingdom of God is to be won. Nothing will be completed until He comes, but everything is working to that consummation. Nothing is more explicit in His references to that glorious end than the declaration that the day and hour are not revealed. The hiding of that time is part of the divine counsel. To seek to discover it is to attempt to be wiser than our Lord intends that we should be. Our attitude is to be that of those who watch. To know the day or hour would make watching largely unnecessary, and this would rob us of that alertness which is the very essence of true discipleship. Knowing beforehand both the strangeness of the period of our waiting, and the certainty of His coming we are to be so occupied about His business that when He comes we shall be neither surprised or ashamed. Jesus begins by saying, Now learn this parable from the fig tree. Girls, we need to learn the things He is teaching us and then apply them to our lives. All that He has taught regarding His coming and the signs of the end of the age, we are to know. But more importantly, we are to live in that reality knowing that time is running short. Each day that passes is one day closer to His coming. We should always be alert and watching the landscape. God calls us to live in this reality and to wait with expectant hope, not getting caught up in the cares of this world, but focused on Him; His plans and the eternal future He has prepared for each of us who believe in Him through faith. R RECEIVING God s Word Open in Prayer Read Matthew 24:1-51 Today s Scripture Focus: Matthew 24:32-44 E EXPERIENCING God s Word 1. In verse 32, what do you learn about the fig tree and its growing season? What does the budding of the tree indicate? 2. What did Jesus mean in verse 33 when He said, So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near-at the door. What is near? (Remember the church will have already been brought to the Christ.) Matthew Chapter 24 & 25 Day 3

10 3. As Jesus spoke verse 35 to His disciples, these words may have replayed in their minds. He had spoken these words to them earlier in His earthly ministry. Read Matthew 5: How do these two verses, spoken by Jesus, speak to your heart today regarding the Word of God and God s faithfulness to His people? 4. In verses 36-39, Jesus now makes a comparison to the days of Noah to emphasize the fact that we will not know the precise time when the Lord will return. What were the people doing in the days of Noah, before the flood came bringing judgment on the people? How were they living? a. The flood represented J to the unbelieving world at that time. They were warned, but did not heed the warning and it took them by suprise. So too, Jesus return will bring J to those who never put their trust and faith in Jesus Christ. 5. In verses 40-41, what will people be doing not only before the church is raptured, but also before the Lord s second coming? 6. Verses give us very clear commands. What does Jesus tell us to do as we wait for His return? 7. Read what Luke has to say regarding Christ s second coming in Luke 21: Note the differences in his warning as compared to Matthew s. What are we not to get caught up with? Matthew Chapter 24 & 25 Day 3

11 A ACTING on God s Word I don t know about you, but I m (Stacy) not a big fan of being in the waiting room. Throughout my breast cancer journey, there were many waiting rooms that I spent many hours in. The waiting room can stir up a lot of different emotions. Let s face it, it is hard to wait; to wait for a day to come, to wait for a special event, to wait for an answer. I m sure each of you have been in that place before. So how are you in the Lord s waiting room? With me, there was many a day when I looked expectantly toward all my surgeries and treatments being done. With each passing day, I knew I was one day closer to the possible end. But if I spent too much time looking forward, I lost God s message for me that day. Each day was a balance of looking forward with expectant hope, but living in today and being faithful with what God was asking of me and what He wanted to speak to my heart. As I waited, I was also called to active duty; that is to live out God s plan for me each day. To walk in obedience to Him. Watching begs the question: What are you focused on each day? And waiting begs the question: What is your attitude as you wait? How would you answer these questions regarding a waiting room God has you in right now? How would you answer this question regarding the Lord s return and the way you are living your life as you wait? Are you weighed down with the anxieties of life or does the reality of Christ s return give you hope and an eternal focus? Do you watch for His return or are you consumed with life right now? D in God s Word Sing these words of praise from a hymn writer long ago: Rejoice, rejoice, believers, and let your lights appear; the evening is advancing, and darker night is near. See that your lamps are burning; replenish them with oil; and wait for your salvation, the end of earthly toil. The watchers on the mountain proclaim the Bridgegroom near, go meet Him as He cometh, with alleluias clear. Close in Prayer Matthew Chapter 24 & 25 Day 3

12 The one thing I ask of the Lord - the thing I seek most - is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord s perfections and meditating in his temple. Psalm 27:4 DAY 4: Be Faithful Matthew 24 & 25: The Olivet Discourse In these final verses of Matthew, we see a stark contrast between two different servants. There will be faithful servants who follow obediently after Jesus and there will be wicked servants who follow after this world. The faithful remain faithful because their hope is steadfast in Jesus and His Word. The evil lose heart, don t trust Jesus or His words and fall away while waiting. Their hearts wander from the truth and give up hope. Faithfulness is a heart attitude, a choice, and a service. God is looking for the faithful, who keep pressing on toward their high calling in Jesus Christ. They don t lose heart. Instead, each new day affords them more time to live for Him and share the Gospel with the lost. The faithful take their service to the Lord seriously. They are always about His business, not their own. The greatest thing Satan can achieve is to take away your hope in Jesus. Hope is a heart choice and posture. It is Satan who says, Your Master is delaying. God s timing is perfect and is according to His timetable, not ours. Dear sister, don t lose heart. Your Savior will return and with His return will come blessing and reward to those who are found faithful. R RECEIVING God s Word Open in Prayer Read Matthew 24:1-51 Today s Scripture Focus: Matthew 24:45-51 E EXPERIENCING God s Word 1. Verse 46 calls the faithful servant, blessed. Why is this servant blessed by his master? What was was entrusted to his care? Who does this group represent? a. What reward is given to this servant in verse 47? 2. According to verses 48-49, what is the evil servant doing while his master is away? a. What will it be like for the evil servant when the master returns in verses 50-51? Matthew Chapter 24 & 25 Day 4

13 3. For those servants who are found faithful, R are given from the Father. For those servants who are found evil, J is given from the Father. 4. Look up the following verses and note what they have to say regarding a man (woman s) service to God. Job 34:11 Psalm 58:11 Matthew 16:27 Revelation 22:12 5. Why does a just God need to judge sin? A ACTING on God s Word God calls us to be faithful while we wait. Waiting can be difficult and it can test our faith and trust in Jesus. It can also cause us to doubt. Do you ever doubt Christ s return? If so why? We want to be faithful servants. We don t want to grow weary in doing what God has entrusted to us. Don t allow the enemy to rob, destroy or distract you from your calling in Jesus Christ. We learned that the enemy will try to deceive you and will go to great lengths. Have you grown weary as you wait? Are there areas in your life where the enemy has distracted you? What areas do you need to be more steadfast in your faith? If Jesus came back today, would He find you being a faithful and wise servant? Explain. Matthew Chapter 24 & 25 Day 4

14 D in God s Word And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:9-10 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. 1 John 2:28 Close in Prayer NOTES Matthew Chapter 24 & 25 Day 4

15 The one thing I ask of the Lord - the thing I seek most - is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord s perfections and meditating in his temple. Psalm 27:4 DAY 5: Be Wise Matthew 24 & 25: The Olivet Discourse Have you ever been a bridesmaid? I (Brenda) have been a bridesmaid several times and it was my privilege to be a special part of the wedding. As a bridesmaid, it was my job to help the bride in any way possible. There was a lot of excitement and preparation as we got ready for her big day! I would not have been a good bridesmaid if I did not help organize a bridal shower, shop for dresses and show up on her wedding day to assist her in getting down the aisle completely prepared for her wedding! She trusted me and trusted what I had to say knowing that I wouldn t steer her in the wrong direction. Today we are going to read about a wedding celebration focusing upon 10 bridesmaids. However, there is a tragic twist because some of the ladies are ill prepared and unwise. They are not fully ready nor have they heeded the instructions given to them. They are missing a key element necessary to enter the wedding banquet. Keep an eye out for what it is! Do you have it? God tells us in Proverbs 19:20, Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days. We ve already learned many of the instructions and preparations that Jesus has given us regarding the latter days. He is now telling us to be wise and receive the instruction so that when He returns for us, we will be ready to enter into eternal blessing with Him. R RECEIVING God s Word Open in Prayer Read Matthew 24:45-25:46 Today s Scripture Focus: Matthew 25:1-13 E EXPERIENCING God s Word 1. In verse 1 we find the words kingdom of heaven. Recall back to what you have learned about the Kingdom of Heaven in Chapter 13. As a review, summarize the difference between the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God. Then describe how all ten virgins represent the Kingdom of Heaven but only 5 represent the Kingdom of God. In wedding customs in Jesus day, the bridegroom would return from the house of the bride in a procession leading to his own home where a wedding banquet would be enjoyed. In Jesus parable, He as King will return from heaven with His bride, the church, in order to enter into the Millennium. The Jews in the Tribulation will be some of the invited guests privileged to share in the feast. (The Bible Knowledge Commentary Matthew Chapter 24 & 25 Day 5

16 2. Put a check next to the attributes both the wise and the unwise share according to verses 2-9. Virgins Lamps Have Oil Fell Asleep Want to see the Bridegroom 3. What is the key difference between the wise and the unwise virgins? Why did this separate the two groups? 4. Read Zech 4:1-6. What do you learn in this passage about what oil can represent? (This may be a hard one, if you don t get it, you can ask your small group leader.) 5. When does the Holy Spirit take up residence inside someone according to Romans 8:9? 6. Why were the 5 wise virgins allowed access into the wedding banquet in verse 10? What does being ready look like? 7. Read Revelation 19:6-9, write down anything that you learn about the wedding supper of the Lamb. 8. What happened to the five virgins who went to buy oil and then tried to access the wedding feast according to verses 11-12? 9. What is the moral of the story Jesus gives us in verse 13? Matthew Chapter 24 & 25 Day 5

17 A ACTING on God s Word Remember that the book of Matthew was written to the Jews. So the context of this text is written with Jewish readers in mind. However, it can be applied to us as the church living now as well. How does the parable about the 10 Virgins encourage you to live wisely for the Lord today, knowing that a wedding feast awaits the wise who are filled with the Holy Spirit? John 14:28 says, But the helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. How have you seen the Holy Spirit teach you and make you wise? Give an example of a time you heard the Holy Spirit speak wisdom to your heart. D in God s Word Matthew 25:10 But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. They virgins who were ready went in with Him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. As you close in prayer ask God to keep you alert and ready for His return! Close in Prayer Matthew Chapter 24 & 25 Day 5

18 The one thing I ask of the Lord - the thing I seek most - is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord s perfections and meditating in his temple. Psalm 27:4 DAY 6: Be Useful Matthew 24 & 25: The Olivet Discourse Did you know that the present day term talent (ability or gift) was derived from the unit of coinage used in this parable? 75 pounds of metal (silver, in this particular story) was called a talent. You can see why being given even one talent was a serious gift! Now, think about how today we call the gifts we have talents. You may have the talent to play the piano or sing (not one I was given!). You may be a talented athlete (another gift I don t have!) or you may have the talent to garden (nope, don t have that either). Now, I could look at all the talents I don t have or I can chose to focus on the ones that God did give me and use them for Him! We all have been given different talents, and it is our responsibility to use them well for the Lord. The ones He gave you are unique to you and for the purposes He has in mind for you to use them! There are three servants described in today s lesson let s take a look at what they each do for the Master with the talents He gave them. R RECEIVING God s Word Open in Prayer Read Matthew 25:1-46 Today s Scripture Focus: Matthew 25:14-30 E EXPERIENCING God s Word 1. Read verses and complete the following chart Servant Number of Talents Given What He did with the Talent The Master s Response Servant #1 Servant #2 Servant #3 2. Using the chart above what do you notice about the following things: a. What do Servant #1 and #2 have in common? What is different? Matthew Chapter 24 & 25 Day 6

19 b. What does Servant #3 have in common with Servants #1 and #2? What is different? c. Which servant(s) do you think believe their master is returning? Which servant(s) do you think do not believe their master is returning? How does this affect their behavior? 3. What do you think the phrase come and share your master s happiness (NIV) means in verses 21 and 23? 4. In verse 25, what kept Servant #3 from using his talent? 5. In verses some shocking things happen. What are they? 6. What is the lesson Jesus wanted us to learn from this parable (see verses 29-30)? 7. Where is the place of weeping and gnashing of teeth? (Hint: Matthew 13:40-42) A ACTING on God s Word Something I hope you picked up from this lesson is that both servant #1 and servant #2 were given the same commendation from the master even though their talent size was different! The key was they were faithful with what had been entrusted to them! What about you? What talents has God given you? List them below: Matthew Chapter 24 & 25 Day 6

20 What are you doing with these gifts to serve and honor Him? How are you being useful for God? Is there any gift you are burying? If so, why? Is fear holding you back? What can you do this week to begin to uncover this talent and put it to use for God? D in God s Word 2 Timothy 2:21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. Close in Prayer NOTES Matthew Chapter 24 & 25 Day 6

21 The one thing I ask of the Lord - the thing I seek most - is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord s perfections and meditating in his temple. Psalm 27:4 DAY 7: Be Judged Matthew 24 & 25: The Olivet Discourse If you are a parent, I m sure you ve heard your children say regarding your punishment of an offense, That isn t fair. Maybe you ve even said those very words at one time. They see the offense and think it should have been treated differently. And frankly, I ll admit, I m not always fair. I try to be, but my justice can be swayed by emotion in the moment. But, as a parent, I know that when my children disobey me, their offense and disobedience must be punished. It isn t something I enjoy, but know is necessary. Today we are going to look at God s judgment at the end of the age, and maybe some of you will say, That isn t fair! We must always go back to God s heart and, that is where I hope you go today, to the heart of God. Psalm 98:8-9 tells us, Let the rivers clap their hands; Let the hills be joyful together before the Lord, For He is coming to judge the earth. With righteousness He shall judge the world, and the peoples with equity. God is a just, loving, and righteous God. But sin must be judged. As we studied this week, Jesus not only prepares us for His return, but He gives us so many opportunities to receive Him as our Lord and Savior and escape His judgment. He is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentence. (2 Peter 3:9) That is God s heart toward you and me. What do we know about the future? Well, if we are honest with ourselves, none of us knows how many days we will be given on this earth; however, we can learn about the plans God has for the future. This glimpse ahead may be shocking to the unbeliever because their future is not bright! However, depending upon how we spend the days God gives us being faithful to Him and working for Him, we have a unique opportunity to impact the future! Let s examine the process by which Jesus judges the nations and gain insight into what is important to Him. These events mark Jesus final prophecy regarding the future establishment of His kingdom. Following His judgement of the nations, Satan will be restrained and removed and Christ will set up His 1000 year reign as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! The kingdom the Jews have been waiting for will be here! R RECEIVING God s Word Open in Prayer Read Matthew 24:45-25:46 Today s Scripture Focus: Matthew 25:31-46 E EXPERIENCING God s Word When the Lord returns in His glory, He will judge not only the nation Israel (as in the Parable of the 10 Virgins and the Parable of the Talents) but also the Gentiles. This is not the same as the great white throne judgment, which involves only the wicked and which follows the Millennium (Rev. 20:13-15). The judgment of the Gentiles will occur 1,000 years earlier in order to determine who will and will not enter the kingdom. (The Bible Knowledge Commentary) Matthew Chapter 24 & 25 Day 7

22 1. What is the first word in verse 31? How is this different from the word If? What does this tell you about the future? 2. The Bible Knowledge Commentary explains that the word nations in verse 32 should be understood as the Gentiles and as people other than the Jews who have lived through the tribulation period. Out of this group, there will be two groups created. Who are they? Which place will He set each group according to verse 33? 3. What will those on the right side be told by the King in verse 34? 4. Since we know that our salvation is a free gift through belief in Jesus Christ, then the works that are described in verses do not gain the sheep their salvation. What did these works demonstrate about the sheep? 5. According to verses the sheep seem surprised by what the King tells them. Why do you think this is? What does this demonstrate about their motivation to do good works? The expression these brothers (verse 40) must refer to a third group that is neither sheep nor goats. The only possible group would be Jews, physical brothers of the Lord. In view of the distress in the Tribulation period, it is clear that any believing Jew will have a difficult time surviving. The forces of the world dictator will be doing everything possible to exterminate all Jews (Rev. 12:17). A Gentile going out of his way to assist a Jew in the Tribulation will mean that Gentile has become a believer in Jesus Christ during the Tribulation. His works will not save him; but his works will reveal that he is redeemed. (The Bible Knowledge Commentary) 6. In verse 41, we learn a very important thing about hell. Was hell intended for the people who were on the King s left? Why are they being sent there? Who have they aligned themselves with? Matthew Chapter 24 & 25 Day 7

23 7. In verses what do you learn about the goat s behavior and what did that demonstrate about their convictions? What does Revelation 13:16-18 tell you about these goats and what they have accepted upon their physical body. 8. There are two very clear places people will spend eternity and they are given in verse 46. List both places and describe who will end up where. A ACTING on God s Word Like in the other two parables, Jesus was speaking about future events in today s parable. However, we can learn something for our lives today as we see what deeds were important to Jesus. Feeding those who are hungry and thirsty, providing hospitality for strangers, providing clothes, looking after the ill, as well as visiting those in prison were all things that Jesus honored about those He recognized in verses If you had to boil these actions down to one word, it would be love. In John 13:35 Jesus told his disciples that By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. Love is the distinguishing mark of a true Christian. What are you doing to love those around you? Do you find it hard to minister to the least of these? Pray and ask God to show you where else He may ask you to serve in His name. Do you believe God is a just God? Why or why not? D in God s Word Psalm 103:1-4 Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul and forget not all his benefits who forgives all your sins, and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion. Spend some time in prayer thanking God for all He has done for you and the love that crowns your head because of Him. Close in Prayer Matthew Chapter 24 & 25 Day 7

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