SEVEN WORDS EVERY CHRISTIAN WANTS TO HEAR MATT. 25: For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own

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1 SEVEN WORDS EVERY CHRISTIAN WANTS TO HEAR MATT. 25: For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21 lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22 that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26 lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

2 29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matt 25:14-30 (KJV) STEWARDSHIP-way someone organizes and takes care of something. Realize first of all that this Parable is not directed to Christians but to the Nation of Israel. We know this because the Lord is speaking of the end of The Tribulation Period (Kingdom of Heaven) when He returns to judge his servants, Israel. We will return with Him (Rev.19:11-16) having been in Heaven with Him since the rapture (1 Thess. 4:13-18; Rev. 4:1-2). That does not mean that we cannot apply the principles and lessons taught here to us as Christians, we can. 1 Cor.10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Paul is talking here about the O.T. and Israel. We can learn from God s dealings with Israel. The seven words you should want to hear--- Well done thou good and faithful servant. Let s examine this statement and apply it to us today in our service for the Lord. Well done.. Speaks of our trials and testing. To be well done you have to stay in the fire longer. The Surety of Trials. 2 Tim.3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Paul takes occasion from the reference to his own persecutions (v. 11), 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 2 Tim 3:11 (KJV) Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 2 Tim 3:12 (KJV)

3 to say that his case was not peculiar. It was the common lot of all who endeavored to serve their Redeemer faithfully; and Timothy himself, therefore, must not hope to escape from it John 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. A.The Surety of Trials. B.The Suffering in Trials 1 Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 1 Tim. 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. 2 Tim. 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: 1 Pet. 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 1 Pet. 4:16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. A.The Surety of Trials. B.The Suffering in Trials The Shortness of Trials. 1 Pet. 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: The word used here for season is ollegos meaning brief, little, short. 2Cor. 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; A.The Surety of Trials. B.The Suffering in Trials The Shortness of Trials. The Savior s Reward for Trials. real not doubtful. Complete and full commendation Useful commendation-not an encumbrance (a heavy gold chain, a heavy robe)

4 I. Well done.. II. Good Speaks of the conduct of the servant, his character. Not prideful because he had more. 1Cor. 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. Acts 20:19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: Not depressed because he had less. Phil. 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 1Tim. 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. He realized his responsibility and went to work. Not slothful but used his time wisely. Eph 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Col 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. I. Well done.. II. Good III. Faithful God does not require us to be successful--he requires us to be faithful. 1Cor. 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. He took that which the Lord had given him and used it wisely. It doesn t matter how much we are given but what we do with what we are given. If we are not faithful with what we have the Lord will remove it and give it to another. Matt. 25:28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. We show what we are by what we do. Faithfulness requires action.

5 James 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. James 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. I. Well done.. II. Good III. Faithful IV. Servant The word used here for servant is doulos denoting a slave, one who is a bond slave. John 13:16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. Paul felt that way about himself Rom. 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, Tit 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; 1Cor. 9:19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. It was the attitude of the Lord Phil. 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. James felt that way James 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. Peter felt that way 2Pet. 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: Jude felt that way Jude 1:1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:

6 A slave had no will of his own, his whole life was devoted to the will of his master. His every thought and action was to carry out the will of the one who owned him. 1Cor. 6:19-20 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. QUESTION WILL YOU HEAR THE WORDS WELL DONE, THOU GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT? OR DEPART FROM ME, I NEVER KNEW YOU. IT IS UP TO YOU.