A Tale of Two Servants
Notes
Transcript
Opening Illustration
Opening Illustration
Evangelist D. L. Moody had a class of young men.
He had won most of them to Christ, but one had refused to yield.
One day he spoke to him, urging him to make his decision.
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“Listen, Mr. Moody,” replied the young man,
“I’m going West, and after I have made my fortune, when I return, I promise you I will accept Christ.”
And he turned away.
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Moody listened with a sad heart.
Some weeks later the young man became seriously ill and was taken to the hospital.
Moody felt led to visit him, and bending over his bed he again urged him to receive Jesus Christ.
But once more, this time in a feeble voice, he refused.
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“Mr. Moody,” he said,
“I’m going West, and when I come back I’ll become a Christian.”
Moody turned away with a heavy heart.
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Finally, one day, the young man, who did get better, came walking briskly up to Moody’s veranda.
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“Mr. Moody,” he cried extending his hand,
“I have come to say good-bye.
I am leaving for the West.”
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Moody laid his hand on his shoulder, and again spoke to him, urging the claims of Christ.
The young man became angry and shaking off the hand of the evangelist, he retorted:
“Mr. Moody, never speak to me again about my soul’s salvation.
I have promised you to make the decision when I have returned, but not before. Good-bye.”
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With that he left, and Moody, realizing that something had snapped in his own heart, sat down, disappointed.
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That night Moody was awakened by a loud knocking on his door.
Putting his head out of the window, he saw a woman with a shawl wrapped around her.
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“Oh, Mr. Moody,” she cried, her voice filled with anguish, “come quickly.
My husband is sick, desperately sick, and I am afraid.
Please come at once.”
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In a moment, Moody recognized her as the wife of the young man he had spoken to that afternoon.
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“It would be of no use,” was his reply.
“Your husband gave me his final refusal this afternoon.
He has crossed the deadline.
It would be useless for me to go.”
But because of her entreaties, he got dressed and went.
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As he mounted the steps he saw the young man lying on his back on the bed, his eyes wide open but apparently unconscious of those around him.
As he approached, he heard him uttering just two words:
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“Too late!
Too late!
Too late!”
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Kneeling down by his side, Moody grasped his hand, opened a Bible and commenced to pray.
But the young man paid no attention whatever.
He just kept staring up at the ceiling, and crying out:
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“Too late!
Too late!
Too late!”
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Moody did everything possible to arouse him, but there was no recognition, and in a few minutes he died, still exclaiming as he had before, “Too late!”
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This is such a sad story, Beloved...
D.L. Moody did everything in his power to warn this young man...
And Moody was a great example of a faithful servant to our Lord...
On the other hand...
This young man who was filled with worldly dreams...
He ignored all urgent pleas to surrender to the Lord...
Until it was too late...
He was an example of an unfaithful servant...
Someone who preferred to serve himself instead of serving the Lord...
And that will be our subject for this morning.
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So, please turn your Bibles to the Gospel of Luke.
We will conduct our study in Chapter 12 and focus on verses 41 through 48.
Our message this morning is titled, “A Tale of Two Servants”
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As you are turning to our passage...
Keep this in mind...
The message today will not only be about faithful and unfaithful servants...
We will also discuss how God has different degrees of punishment based on how much we know or don’t know.
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So, this morning we will cover three main points:
1) The Blessed Servant
2) The Wicked Servant
And...
3) The Degrees of Punishment
Opening Prayer
Opening Prayer
Before we consider our text, please join me in prayer...
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Heavenly Father...
Thank You for Your mercy and grace...
We would be lost without Your acts of compassion.
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Help us to oh Mighty One!
We need You every hour...
We need You every minute...
We need You every second of every day!
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Heavenly Father...
You are our mighty fortress...
You are our rest and our salvation...
Truly You are the only safe place that we can run to.
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Thank You for not turning Your back to Your children...
And instead of giving us what we deserved...
You sent us Your Son to save those who were once Your enemies.
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And it is in Jesus’s name we pray all these things...
Amen.
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Let’s turn to our text for today:
Reading of the Text
Reading of the Text
41 Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?”
42 And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time?
43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.
44 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.
45 But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk,
46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful.
47 And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating.
48 But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.
So, let’s look at our first point...
1) The Blessed Servant
1) The Blessed Servant
Verses 41-44: Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.
We open our passage with Peter,the leader of the disciples, saying, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?”
Now Beloved, we have to pause for a moment and take a look at what Peter is referencing...
To do that we need to go back to where we last left off on our study on the Gospel of Luke...
And that passage we covered previously is Luke 12:35-40 which says:
35 “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning,
36 and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.
37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.
38 If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants!
39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into.
40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
So here, Jesus is talking about constantly being on guard and on the ready for His return...
And what Peter wants to know is if this parable was only meant for the disciples and church leaders...
Or if this parable also extends to everyone else.
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Beloved, as we review our passage for today we quickly find out that Jesus does not actually answer Peter’s question...
And that would seem to indicate that the application is for both church leaders and every born again believer...
As the New International Commentary on the New Testament on Luke says:
“The Savior does not give a direct reply to Peter’s question, but through a counter-question and a parable He gives an answer which amounts to this, that He particularly means those whom He has appointed or will yet appoint as leaders over others to care for them (the disciples in the first place and after them all other spiritual leaders in His church).
But although the words of the Savior are especially addressed to all office-bearers, they are nevertheless also to be applied to every believer—each one is appointed to bear responsibility in the spiritual care of others.”
So yes, Those who are leaders of the church must pay close attention to Jesus’ parable...
But so do all other followers of Christ...
All of us are called to be ready at any time that our Lord and Savior may return.
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In order to reinforce this point, Jesus says to Peter, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time?
Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.
Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.”
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Beloved, let’s start by looking at the fact that a “manager” in this context was a trusted servant or slave...
They were usually someone born in the household of the master but not always...
They were also the individual who was chief of the management and distribution of household provisions.
So, the manager provided food for all the other servants...
This meant the manager managed his master’s resources for the well being of others.
He acted as an agent for his master, with full authority to transact business in the master’s name.
So, although a servant or the more accurate term was slave...
This manager was given much authority and influence in his master’s home...
He acted in place of the master when the master was away or attended to his own business.
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An example from Scripture was Joseph who was sold as a slave to Potiphar who was the captain of Pharaoh's guard as found in Genesis 39:4–6 which says:
4 So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had.
5 From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field.
6 So he left all that he had in Joseph’s charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate.
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Beloved, the faithful steward that Jesus presents here pictures a genuine believer...
This is the Christian who manages well the spiritual riches God has put in his care for the benefit of others...
This individual practices careful management of the master’s estate and puts his master’s desires above his own.
This faithful expression of wise duty of such spiritual stewardship will result in honor and reward...
For a good master appreciates the one who serves him faithfully...
And Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior is a very good Master!
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Beloved, that is why the ultimate goal and desire of every genuine born again believer is to hear the words of Matthew 25:21 which says:
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.’
Truly, what better words can we hear than those from Christ?
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Beloved, let me remind you of this, too...
Following the Lord has it’s cost...
We truly have to surrender everything to Him...
But it is not in vain.
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All the spiritual battles you are fighting today...
It is not in vain.
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All the sacrifices you have made to follow the Lord...
It is not in vain.
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All the humiliation and slander you are enduring for the Lord...
It is not in vain.
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So Beloved...
Continue fighting the good fight as a faithful servant of Christ...
Continue finishing the race as a faithful servant of Christ...
Continue keeping the faith as a faithful servant of Christ...
Or as 2 Timothy 4:6–8 records Paul putting it:
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
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However, do you know who won’t jump up for joy at the Lord’s appearing?
The unfaithful servant!
And that takes us to our second point.
2) The Wicked Servant
2) The Wicked Servant
Verses 45-46: But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful.
Jesus now illustrates for us an example of an unfaithful or “wicked” servant as Matthew’s parallel account labels this servant...
This wicked steward’s unfaithfulness and cruel behavior to others illustrates the evil of an unbelieving heart...
So, not only is he disobedient...
But takes pleasure in hurting others...
And instead of working hard for his master, he sits around eating and getting drunk.
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However, the master will not tolerate this blatant rebellion against him...
He will come back...
And when he does it will be unexpected...
And the cruel servant will be caught red handed...
For he did not expect him...
And then Jesus shares a graphic picture...
He says that the master will “cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful.”
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Wow!
That is a bold and urgent warning if I ever seen one!
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Why the strong and graphic image?
Because the penalty of perpetual unfaithfulness and a refusal to surrender to Christ results in the most extreme of punishments...
As the Baker Exegetical Commentary on Luke says:
“The master’s reaction to the slave’s behavior is swift and strong.
Some translations do not properly render the key term διχοτομήσει (dichotomēsei).
The RSV says that the master will ‘punish’ the slave, but the term is stronger and much more emotive than this:
‘To dismember, to cut in two.’
Beating the servants now produces judgment in kind, only it is more severe.
The steward receives a ‘mortal blow,’ a ‘declaration of judgment or prediction of cursing.’
God’s smiting the servant depicts punishment of the most severe type, but it is figurative, despite the opinion of some that it is literal.
A figurative sense emerges from the next line, which shows that the servant is still able to be placed among another group of people.
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The reprimand and punishment are total, since the servant is placed with the unfaithful because of his complete lack of faithfulness.
This is a picture of rejection.
In fact, dismemberment is the most graphic way possible to express rejection.
This is not a matter of dismissal or demotion, but departure.”
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So Beloved, Jesus is making it clear that all unfaithful and wicked servants will be rejected by Christ...
They must depart from Him and suffer terrible punishments for all eternity in Hell.
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In fact, the phrase “cut him in pieces” means to utterly destroy him.
This speaks of the severity of final judgment of unbelievers.
As Numbers 15:30–31 says:
30 But the person who does anything with a high hand, whether he is native or a sojourner, reviles the Lord, and that person shall be cut off from among his people.
31 Because he has despised the word of the Lord and has broken his commandment, that person shall be utterly cut off; his iniquity shall be on him.”
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So, clearly the wicked servant is cut off from God...
And in Matthew’s account he says in Matthew 24:51:
51 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Did you catch the end of that verse...
The line about “weeping and gnashing of teeth” in that verse?
That is the same language uses whenever Hell is being mentioned...
For example as Matthew 13:42 says:
42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
So, that “fiery furnace”...
That place of “weeping and gnashing of teeth”...
That “lake of fire”...
That place prepared for “the devil and his angels”...
That is a most terrible place...
A place of eternal punishment...
And it is a place that people will spend there if there name is not found in the Book if Life...
As Revelation 20:15 says:
15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
So, we are talking about eternal judgment and complete separation from God...
The unfaithful and wicked servant is not a genuine Christian who sins from time to time due to his struggle with his flesh...
We are instead talking about someone who is a slave to sin...
Someone who makes a practice of sinning...
Someone who’s life is defined more by wickedness than righteousness.
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A true Christian may make a cowardly decision and regret it and confess it...
But an unbeliever is a coward and lives to protect himself above all.
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A true Christian may at times struggle with their little faith and ask God to help them grow their faith...
But an unbeliever is faithless and lives without the fear of God.
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A true Christian may become angry at someone and later see that that anger is foolishness...
But an unbeliever is swallowed by hatred and even reach the point of murdering others.
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A true Christian may struggle with lust and feel shame but will ultimately take their thoughts captive with the power of the Holy Spirit...
But an unbeliever is swims in lust and if given the opportunity often practices sexual immorality.
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A true Christian may battles all the idols that the heart seems to constantly but they will ultimately put Christ above all in their life...
But an unbeliever never places God in his rightful spot in their heart and worship the things created instead of the Creator.
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A true Christian may under pressure lie and later confess their moment of weakness...
But an unbeliever lives a life filled with lies...
Sometimes so much that the unbeliever starts to believe may of those lies.
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As Revelation 21:8 says:
8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Beloved, evaluate your life today...
Look in the mirror and be honest about what you are seeing in the reflection...
Are you like the servant who is blessed?
Are you like the righteous servant?
Or are you more like the unfaithful servant?
Are you wicked to others and really live for your own benefit?
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Think on these things beloved...
In fact, the degree to which you are righteous or wicked will correlate to the degree of reward or punishment one will receive in the next life...
And this takes us to our third and final point.
3) The Degrees of Punishment
3) The Degrees of Punishment
Verses 47-48: And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.
Let’s start this final section of our study by looking at a few key observations...
So, please note these two take always...
First, ignorance is no excuse to sin...
“I didn’t know that was a sin” does not excuse the sin...
As Proverbs 24:12 says:
12 If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?
Likewise consider what Paul says in 1 Timothy 1:12-15:
12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service,
13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,
14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
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However, not knowing or any ignorance is taken into account according to God’s Word...
As the second take away is that there will be varying degrees of punishment for sin.
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So, a believer who commits a sin will very likely be meet with God’s discipline...
And the one who is faithful but not as faithful as he or she should be may receive a lesser reward in Heaven.
Likewise, for the unbeliever, a murder or cruel individual will receive a harsh punishment in Hell...
And someone who is also an unbeliever but did’t sin as grossly or was ignorant of some of his or her sins will still suffer in Hell but not as badly as some of the worse offenders.
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Contextually speaking, this last section we are studying is very much directed at the disciples, since they know more about Jesus than anyone else.
Beloved, that means that they bear the most responsibility of anyone that Jesus addresses, and they need to be faithful as a result...
The more we know about God’s Word...
The more we will be held accountable for that knowledge we have.
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Overall, our passage today brings to mind another of Jesus’ famous parables...
Just look with me at Matthew 25:14–30 which says:
14 “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.’
The more faithful we are in this world...
The greater our reward.
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The more negligent we are with the truth God reveals to us...
The greater the punishment.
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So, the key is to be well informed...
Study the Word of God well...
Meditate on it day and night...
For all of us have not excuse....
We actually live in a time were we in America have the Bible in our own language...
And the Bible is as of right know very easy to access...
Printed copies can be found for cheap...
And digital copies are for free online...
In fact, many ministries and churches will send you a pretty good Bible for free.
So, we have no excuse to be ignorant of what the Word of God says.
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If you have never read through your Bible...
Start today!
Start in Genesis and don’t stop until you get to Revelation...
Don’t like to read?
Still no excuse...
There are a myriad of audio Bibles that you can listen to.
I dare you to give me one good excuse not to read or hear His Word...
Beloved, I am serious...
Everyone here need to take the God’s Word seriously...
We all need to be ready...
Our Master may come back at any moment.
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In conclusion, theologian Darrell L. Bock provides a great summary of our passage:
“Those who serve him are to await his return when he will evaluate all that everyone has done.
The servant who works for God’s people is to look for Messiah.
Those who know he is returning but uncaringly flaunt his will are subject to rejection.
Those who know but do not do his will are subject to discipline.
Those who act out of ignorance are subject to less discipline.
Jesus notes that the blessed servant is the one who looks expectantly for him and serves him faithfully.
Jesus will serve that steward on his return, appoint the steward to more service, and reward the steward with a place at the blessed banquet table.
Given the choice, Luke’s reader is to see that faithfulness pleases the Lord and results in long-term benefits to the faithful follower.
One is to serve, knowing that God’s eye is on each one.
The disciple serves with one eye looking for Jesus’ return and the other knowing that the disciple will give an account of service.
Faithfulness means walking with God and responsibly serving his children.”
Closing Illustration
Closing Illustration
So, as this message comes to a close...
I would like you to consider this:
E. Schuyler English told about being approached in the lobby of a hotel by a person he had met earlier on one of two occasions.
After exchanging greetings, the man said,
“By the way, the reason I made myself known to you is because my brother frequently mentioned your name.
He was a minister and had some of your books in his library.”
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Continuing the account of that meeting, Dr. English related,
“Assuming that this casual acquaintance shared the faith of his brother, I told him what a happy experience I always had when I met a fellow-believer.
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“At that moment his wife joined us and he introduced me to her.
Then he said,
“My brother had all our family’s religion.
He used to keep after me to “turn to Christ,” as he put it.
Who knows?
Maybe I will someday.”
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It’s getting pretty late, I told him.
Today is the day of salvation!
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“You sound just like my brother,” he replied.
Taking his wife’s arm, he led her away, saying with a smile,
“We’ll be seeing you.”
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Nine days later I read his name in an obituary column.”
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Maybe Jesus does not come back in our time...
Maybe Jesus will be coming back after another 1,000 years...
Even if that was the case...
Our flesh will not go on forever...
Everyone of us will one day draw their last breath...
Some very unexpectedly.
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So, will you be ready?
Will your actions show faithfulness to His Word?
Will your life reflect his teachings?
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I pray each and everyone of you will be ready...
And if you are not...
Then today is the day to get ready.
Closing Prayer
Closing Prayer
Let’s pray...
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Heavenly Father...
If anyone hearing this message right now does not know You in a saving way...
Then show them the importance of a saving relationship with You...
Show them the beautiful sacrifice of Your Son...
And open their eyes, mind, and heart to Your saving knowledge!
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I appeal to Your Name’s sake!
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For those hearing this message who already know You...
Remind us to depend on Your Word more and more each day...
Remind us that we are called to serve You faithfully...
Remind us of who we once were...
And remind us of who we are now as adopted children in Your royal family.
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Again, I appeal to Your Name’s sake!
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It is in Jesus’s name we pray all these things...
To God be all the glory.
Amen.
