Today, marks the end of our Rich series.
I don't how you feel about that. Thank you for feeling that way.
And you youth wouldn't have been part of this.
I know you've had some amazing stuff last week.
You had a DTI Sunday. Is that right?
Yeah. Which was really, very cool.
I hear who's going to DTI summer, DTI.
Hey, what are you guys going to TCI amazing?
DT is dreaming. The Impossible?
It's The Vineyards UK which call it Festival.
Summer Festival for youth, that's really exciting.
And let's say we have the youth in with us and the moment which
kind of makes me a bit excited but Yes, we have been looking at
reach and this is the final talk in reach and we've been looking
at everyone gets to play over the past couple of weeks and we
looked at the place of money as part of reach why Mark is their
money. Well, because, as I said to you,
there's a dual objective for our Reach campaign, which is a
10-year, the 10-year plan of how, we extend our reach to
reach the lost. And we've done some amazing
things that you can find out in that brochure, do get one there
in the atrium. And I said that the duel purpose
is everyone. We extend our reach to reach the
last but it's also about us as a people extended ourselves to
grow in Christ. It's a tailor-made discipleship
program for this church. Because as we know everyone gets
to play, this is not about the paid staff or the man or woman
on the stage that does the stuff.
This is not a spectator sport Christianity.
It's every member Ministry. We all get to do the stuff that
is the subtitle. For today's talk doing the stuff
taken from John whimpers, very famous phrase, John Wimber is
many of, you know, was the founder of the vineyard movement
back in the early 80s. And here's whole thing about
coming to Faith was that He got excited about reading the New
Testament and doing the stuff of Jesus and was rather
disappointed. When a pastor in his early,
Christian years said to him, oh no, we don't do the stuff, we
just read the stuff. Well, listen, maybe you've come
from a church background where you read about the stuff, but
you don't do the stuff. Well, I'm here to tell you, you
do the stuff, everything you read about the Jesus, does you
get to do it too? Which means, yes, you, cast out
demons really? Yep, it means you get to heal
the sick, really? Yep, it means you get to extend
God's kingdom here on Earth. His Justice.
His compassion, his peace, etc, etc.
We do the stuff. And I find it very interesting
that we end on doing the stuff on.
Got Sunday and we will unpack that in a moment.
So I'm not going to recap because I don't want to talk too
long. I add an if you noticed but I
removed the front row during the week.
This is a bit more space. There's a reason for that and I
want to make sure we have time for ministry here and what I
want to look at for doing the stuff.
Is that a really Interesting, Parable, that I'm sure many of
you have read called the parable of the talents.
And I'd like us to start by, we're going to do a bit of a
Bible study, then I write the bible study on the parable of
the talents. So why don't we turn together if
you're online? Welcome again, of course, it's
good to have you there, it'll be on your screen.
Whatever device you are looking at and in the room, it will be
on up here as well, but the parable of the talents can be
found in Matthew 25 verses 14 to 30.
So why don't we read that? And it's worth saying, the
context here is that back in chapter 24, when Jesus foretells
the Function of the temple, which happened in 70 AD, but
also is a dual prophecy for the end of the age because that was
the question. When is the end of the age,
which is what the disciples were asking?
Jesus answers in many different ways.
And so he gives examples. And this is one of the examples
of what it's going to be like when Jesus comes again.
Okay, that's the context. So let me read it for.
You wouldn't be like a man going on a journey who called his
servants and entrusted to them, his property.
To one, he gave five talents to another two to another one to
each. According to his ability, then
he went away. He who had received the five
talents. Went at once and traded with
them and he made five talents more.
So also, he who had two talents made two talents more.
But he who had received the one Talent went and dug in the
ground, and hid his master's money.
Now, after a long time, the master of those servants came
and settled accounts with them, and he who had received the five
talents came forward, Bringing five talents.
More said, Master you delivered to me, five talents.
Here, I have met five, talents more.
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.
And he also who had the two talents came forward his master
said to him. Well done, good.
And faithful servant. You have been Faithful over a
little. Now, we'll set you over much.
Enter into the joy of your master.
He'll 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. So I was afraid and I went and
hid your talent in the ground here.
You have what is yours? But his master answered him.
You Wicked and slothful servant. You know that I reap where I
have not sown and Gathering. It's got a snow seed.
Then you watch with invested my money with the bankers.
And my coming. I should have received what was
my own with interest, so take the talent from him and give it
to him. Who has ten talents for to
everyone who has will be, who has will be more given, and he
will have an abundance. But from the one who has not,
even what he has, will be taken away.
And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness in that
place, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
What a parable that is loaded, isn't it?
I mean, that's just loaded with so much and we could spend a
whole series on unpacking the parable of the talents, but I
have tried to focus this on six things that I want to look at
very briefly 6 things. Now, I can't count cover all of
this. There are clearly some things
that are a bit confusing about this.
Like, what is that place with the Weeping and gnashing of
teeth? What does that mean?
Why did Jesus seemed to agree with?
If you recognize that the master is, is Jesus here saying, you
know, I've recognized you to be, you know, someone that will be
angry and Jesus seems to say yes, but no, he was just saying,
if that's what you believe, that's what you believe.
Why did you do that? So, there's lots of things here
that I would recommend you. Do a bit of a Bible study
yourself, but I want to zoom in on six things, as it relates to
doing the stuff because these are Kingdom principles, whether
you're here. Are in youth or you have your
much older and you're even ancient Maybe.
Don't put your hand up if your ancient, you know, you are so
welcome here. You know, I love about this
church. I love that we've got a
cross-generational church that it's just such a healthy thing.
Whether you're one or you're 100, it's just a wonderful
thing, right? Are we ready for the six?
Number one, we have been entrusted with the kingdom.
Verse 14 for it will be like a man going on a journey, he
called his servants and entrusted to them, his property.
Jesus has gone away the here and not yet, we're waking waiting
for him to come back, right? And during this time, he has
entrusted to you his property. What is his property while other
translations say wealth? But you can look at it like
this. He has entrusted to you his
kingdom. He has entrusted to you all of
his kingdom now. Maybe who's done Jesus?
He's here, recently. Anybody done Jesus's?
I'm thinking about the youth. Any other exams?
We got some over there. Done, Jesus's SATs.
And I really you just sat, you know, you're doing these exams,
aren't you? Because you're trying to, you
know, get yourself, you know, learn and schooled in certain
things to prepare you for life outside school.
And, you know, in the old days I can if they still have it.
Have careers advice you sit down with a career advisor and they
and they talk it through. I should have been a copywriter
apparently turns out. I wasn't a copywriter.
But anyway, but I want to tell you that you've got a job
because God has entrusted, you to be a kingdom Bearer.
That's your role. Now like every one of you God
has entrusted you with his property and his wealth.
I don't think you're getting this.
So I said, yeah, we are. Let's be a bit Pentecostal about
this. God has entrusted you with his
kingdom. His kingdom.
Oh, preach, it brother. I'm reminded of what Paul said
in when his letter to the Corinthians.
He said this 1 Corinthians 4:1. This then is how you ought to
regard us as being the body of Christ, as Servants of Christ,
listen to this. And those entrusted with the
Mysteries God has revealed, you've been entrusted with the
kingdom of God and all its Mysteries.
You see the Great Commission is this, God has entrusted you with
his kingdom to extend it here. Now in his absence, you get
this, what did Jesus say go and make disciples of every nation
and baptizing them in the name of the father, son, etc.
Etc, that is your job. Now, you do that in the spheres
of influence that where you are, whether that's in the workplace,
whether that's in your school playground, whether that's in
the sixth form. Room wherever that is.
You have been entrusted with his kingdom and to extend that.
So, I don't want any of you to say, I can't do the stuff
because quite frankly it's quite explicit.
You don't get to say, I don't want to do that job.
You've been entrusted. The question is not of this of
this Parable. And number two, therefore we
respond in love and Devotion to being entrusted.
There's a the word here servant some of your translations and if
you using a device it might have a little little stop.
Dropping my tease a little thing, you click on and it will
say Bond servant. Because actually the Greek word
here is more akin to a bond servant than a servant and there
is a difference, a bondservant didn't need to, they made a
choice, a bond servant said in love and devotion I want to
serve you and I'm going to make a choice to say no to my rights.
And to serve you. And then they were sealed by the
master, very different than a servant.
A servant in many ways had no choice, but a bond servant, made
a choice out of love and devotion.
And so you are a bondservant of Christ.
You have made a decision to die to yourself, right?
You have made a decision to give up your rights.
We are in a culture. It's all about our rights.
I'm here to tell you, you don't have any
Did the pastor? Just tell me?
I have no rights? Yes.
In the context of Walking With Jesus, you gave up your rights,
because Jesus Paid the price on the cross for you and guess what
happens? When we like a bond servant give
up our rights, he seals us. Ephesians 1:13 says in him.
Also Christ, when you heard the word of Truth, The Gospel of
your salvation gospel, meaning the good news and believed in
Jesus. You are then sealed.
Isn't that interesting? You are then sealed.
With the promise of the Holy Spirit.
Isn't that interesting? That in the natural quotes.
The bond servant would say I'm going to give up my rights and
I'm going to follow you. And then the master would
physically seal them. We have suggested Jesus, those
who have and the Holy Spirit is still do for the day of
redemption. You are his, that's it.
You are his and you see that's the focus of this and it brings
us brings us to point number three, I want to get through
these quickly. Number three, he creates a
tailor Man, Taylor. Made plan for us.
It says, this verse fifteen to one, he gave five talents to
another two to another one to each.
According to his ability, then he went away.
Now, these talents were a weight of gold or silver and scholars.
Believe that at one Talent would could have been worth several
years worth of salary, several years.
Some say, up to 2030 This is not insignificant.
Even one Talent is an abundance. Imagine if someone said Tony
take this Talent you don't have to work for 20 years.
I mean you'd be pretty happy. I mean what an abundance.
Imagine Penny, if someone gave you ten talents. 200 Years,
Happy Days. God has a lot of resources.
Ellie. Imagine if Jesus went and gave
you five talents, your mat is better than mine. 5 times, 20 is
100 That's a lot. I mean you, how are you feeling?
11, I should know this and I do Hundred plus 11 is 111.
I mean, I pray that you live long, but, but you may not need
to worry about working. Again, if Jesus gave you that
many talents, like we think God is so small, don't we get?
He's just giving me this little bit.
No, I think the point this is trying to say here is God is a
god of abundance. Even the one is massive.
Now, I want to tell you something that while the parable
is about investing money, this is not about getting into the
financial markets. Just we'll let you know, don't
think you have to go and invest in them, but if you do, that's
great, I'm not saying that. But and if you're looking for a
career advice financial advisors, I know we got some in
the room great career to be in, But this is actually not about
money. The money represents something
else. Let me tell you what these
talents are. The talents here, represent the
responsibilities and opportunities that God gives you
to fulfill the call on your life.
I want to, I want to say that. Again, the talents represent,
the responsibilities God has given you and the opportunities
he places in front of you, to fulfill the call on your life.
That's what this is. And what this is saying is God
doesn't place on you expectations of fulfilling,
those causing those responsibilities.
That are not in line with how God created you in the gifts,
he's given you. You see the talents, he gives
you the the opportunities in front of you.
The the responsibilities he lays.
Before you a, commensurate with the abilities and the giftings
he's given you you see this? obligation that you will fall on
the first hurdle. He says, I know you and I love
you and I know what I've got for you, the plans and purposes for
your amazing. And so here are the talents.
I'm going to give you to fulfill the call that I placed on your
life. and I want to say this, I want to say it for the Youth and
the adults in the room because in some ways, the adults are
more susceptible to this and the youth stay in your own lane.
Can you know the power of wouldn't say that the man that
got five talents looked at the man that had ten talents said
what? How come he's got ten talents.
These five talents are useless, can't be bothered.
Then what's the point if he's got 10 I give up.
It doesn't say that the man who had 110 looked at the guy with
five talents saying, wait a minute.
How come he's got five, that's not fair.
The guy with 10 talents didn't look at the guy with one
telling, that's not fair. He's already got the
responsibility of what I got 10. And oftentimes, don't we get
into that thing of. Look at that gifts.
Look at that responsibilities and opportunities that God's
given them in their life. That's not fair.
Stay in your own God called you to be because
only you can do what God's called you to do.
You are unique and special. The bless you.
You know, I we we pray for you. We're going to pray for you
young people later, but the pressure on you to be conformed
and I think the irony of this world is this culture right now
is you can choose your own path and be truthful.
And yet what we see out working is a completely different
approach, which is you've got to be like this.
It's Bonkers be who God called you to be.
God's got a tailor-made plan for you.
Number four, we will, we will see a return.
If we invest, you know what? This Parable doesn't say is the
man who had ten talents went to make more and discovered that he
had made a wrong decision and so he lost it all, it doesn't say
that does it. It doesn't say the man with five
talents made a bad financial decision in the markets tank
because Commodities didn't do what you expected and therefore
he lost every he doesn't say anything.
That does it everybody that made a decision the Terran of the
five to do something with what God had given them?
They got to return. Why is that the case?
Because his Parable is not about performance, it's about
faithfulness. This Parable is not about how
well you perform it's about whether you are faithful with
what God has given you. Number five, our works will be
rewarded. It says, after a long time Jesus
came to settle the master came to settle accounts.
Now I'm going to touch on some doctrines hear that.
Either you haven't heard or you've heard skewered.
So let me read to 2 Corinthians 5:10, if you're interested.
So we must all appear before the Judgment seat of Christ.
This is Paul writing to the Christians in the Church of
Corinth. Okay, for we must all appear
before the Judgment seat of Christ.
So that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the
body according to what he has done.
Whether good or bad? What?
I mean, I'd I thought that Jesus
Paid the penalty and I'm not judged.
You're absolutely right. You won't be judged for your
sin, that has happened at the cross of calvary.
It is finished. You Are Holy but what you read
in the scriptures, and this is not really talked about, I don't
know why there are two judgment seats.
There's a white Throne of judgment, which has been judged
for sin. For those that, don't say yes to
Jesus. And there is what is called the
bema seat of judgment. The Christians.
What is the bema seat? Well, you know, in the I mean,
well, when they had the Olympics or the Greeks, should I say
there would be the bema seat where they would give rewards
out. For the effort for the works.
If you like for the for the running and all that kind of
stuff, it was a throne of rewards.
It wasn't a throne of judgment. And so what we need to do, what
we need to know and understand is we won't be judged at the
white Throne of judgment because Jesus Paid the price.
Whew. And if you're not a Christian,
can I just tell you? You are heading to that place at
the moment that white Throne of judgment.
But you do have to use. You need to just believe that
Jesus has paid the price for you but if you're a Christian as
Paul said I'm not making this up, am I?
I mean it is their right? We will stand before Christ at
the bema seat and we will be rewarded or recompense for the
Deeds that we've done and that's why Jesus says don't store up
for yourselves, Treasures on Earth, where rust and moth would
distort destroy, but store up for yourselves Treasures in
Heaven, does he say that? So are you telling me Mark this
reward In heaven. Yes, I am. we don't like to hear
the doctrine of Eternal rewards because all of a sudden, it's
not just a simple as Jesus done it.
Oh, I don't have to do anything now.
Now when we all get to heaven, trust me, we're going to be very
happy. But you know, we're going to
rule and reign with Christ. And those rewards are how we're
going to rule and reign with Christ.
And maybe I'll do a Caesar a series on all of that, you know.
William Carey who was a missionary I think, in the 19th
century said this, I'm not afraid of failure, I'm afraid of
succeeding at things that don't matter.
Because if you read this, it says, according to what has been
done, whether good or bad bad doesn't mean sinful, it just
simply means worthless things that are of no worth.
It means doing things that may look successful in the world's
eyes, but actually, when we get to the bema seat laws over that
didn't mean anything. Do we understand this
Philippians 3:14 to 15 Paul said this, I press on to reach the
end of the race? Who's pressing on to reach the
end of the race? I am I tell you some days more
than most and receive the heavenly prize.
For which God through Christ Jesus calling us.
You mean there's a prize at the end of the race?
Yep. And sometimes who wants a, who
wants me to be honest. Well, how you, how you mean, you
obviously hope that I've been honest, the whole time on the
stage, but the pastor is not saying that there are.
Sometimes, he's not honest, he's not saying that.
He's saying that he's going to be transparent with you.
There are some days I wake up and it's only because of the
prize ahead of me that I can run it.
Yeah, it's true. I mean I think Paul was like
this and I'm just listen, I know.
I want to get that Crown. I'm running the race.
I want that price. Is it bad to say?
No, I don't think so. Now God wants to bless us with
and we put God in a box. God is debtor to no man.
We're not going to get to the bema seat and go man.
I work my butt off for you. God you owe me big time.
We're going to be like, wow. All I did was tell someone about
Jesus and you're giving me this reward loving it number five
I've already said it's about faithfulness not performance
well done good and they thank you not.
Well done good and very money. Lee monetary astute person.
I think I've done six points. Can we have them all on the
screen, please? Because I've kind of lost my
train of thought. I'm getting overly excited,
there we are. You can take a picture of that
if you want, you might find helpful to write them down.
We have been entrusted with the kingdom.
You've got a job to do. Listen, I've got to be honest
with you, you're not here to have an amazing time.
All the time you're here to do the work of the Kingdom.
Like you're going to be here for like and then you're in heaven.
This is like you doing your GCC revision.
Right now, this life. This is like you doing your
practical exams, the reward comes at the end of that, right?
This is just a training ground for ruling and reigning with
Christ. So focus on What's important?
I say we respond in love and devotion with Bond servants.
We he creates a tailor-made plan for us.
We will see a return if we invest our talents, our work to
be rewarded. It's about faith was not
performance. Now you might say to me I'm
running out of time. Well Mark, that's all very well
but how on Earth do I do that? I want to share this scripture
that Paul wrote to Timothy. Timothy was leading a church in,
I believe Ephesus. And it Paul said this guard, the
good deposit that was entrusted to you, isn't it interesting?
The same word god it with the help of the Holy Spirit who
lives in US, you see it's by the holy spirit that we can do the
stuff by the power and the equipping of the holy spirit
that we can take our talents and see a return.
I'd like to invite the band up who here wants to do the stuff.
Who here has been entrusted with the kingdom?
You're an ambassador of Christ. You're a co-heir with Christ.
Wait a minute. I'm a co-heir with Christ.
Isn't that heresy know it's in the Bible?
Can we all stand?