WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:22.260 Hi, and welcome to the Willow Ridge Church weekly podcast. 00:00:22.780 --> 00:00:25.880 This is where you can find audio for our current and past sermons. 00:00:26.100 --> 00:00:30.420 We hope that you enjoy this week's installment, and be sure to check back next week to hear 00:00:30.420 --> 00:00:31.260 the latest message. 00:00:31.680 --> 00:00:32.460 Thanks for listening. 00:00:45.960 --> 00:00:46.700 Good morning. 00:00:47.760 --> 00:00:48.500 That's what I'm talking. 00:00:48.560 --> 00:00:49.180 Thank you, Mike. 00:00:49.200 --> 00:00:50.240 I appreciate that, buddy. 00:00:50.760 --> 00:00:54.120 Hey, I also want to welcome y'all here, and this is something new for all of us, what I'm 00:00:54.120 --> 00:00:57.920 about to do, but I'm excited to welcome everybody that's watching us online, too. 00:00:58.060 --> 00:01:02.920 It's good to get back and to gather together, but it's also good to be able to continue to 00:01:02.920 --> 00:01:06.820 reach those that can't be with us right now that are joining us online. 00:01:07.280 --> 00:01:11.880 So we're glad that all of us are either worshiping here or at homes together. 00:01:12.280 --> 00:01:16.320 Before we dive into the message, I do want to point out to you guys, we've got some special 00:01:16.320 --> 00:01:17.560 guests that are here. 00:01:17.680 --> 00:01:20.580 We got Rick and Tina Nolan are here with us this morning. 00:01:21.080 --> 00:01:25.460 For many of you know, Rick and Tina are those that were part of our church that feel called 00:01:25.460 --> 00:01:26.340 to go be missionaries. 00:01:26.440 --> 00:01:31.620 And so our church is sending them to go onto the mission field, and they've got plans to 00:01:31.620 --> 00:01:36.640 go to Greece to serve there to share the gospel, largely with the Muslim refugees that are in 00:01:36.640 --> 00:01:36.960 Greece. 00:01:37.320 --> 00:01:40.160 And because of everything, I don't know if you've heard, but life's been a little different 00:01:40.160 --> 00:01:40.480 lately. 00:01:41.480 --> 00:01:44.760 Because of all the things that are going on, they've gone through their training but haven't 00:01:44.760 --> 00:01:45.960 yet been mobilized. 00:01:45.960 --> 00:01:50.060 And so they had the opportunity to be with us as they're continuing to prepare to go 00:01:50.060 --> 00:01:50.660 overseas. 00:01:50.920 --> 00:01:54.000 And so they'll be with us at all three of our services this morning. 00:01:54.200 --> 00:01:57.840 And so afterwards, maybe you're one of their supporters and you want to talk to them, they're 00:01:57.840 --> 00:01:58.800 going to be out on the patio. 00:01:59.100 --> 00:02:02.180 Or maybe you're not one of their supporters, but you just want to encourage them and talk 00:02:02.180 --> 00:02:02.420 with them. 00:02:02.440 --> 00:02:05.420 They would love to have you come by and speak with them. 00:02:05.480 --> 00:02:06.540 So hey, thanks for being here. 00:02:06.820 --> 00:02:10.320 I know you guys got a lot of places to be, but as your home church, we're so grateful to 00:02:10.320 --> 00:02:12.680 have you as a part of our body of fellowship. 00:02:12.680 --> 00:02:15.220 And so thank you guys for all that you do. 00:02:15.740 --> 00:02:19.520 Well, if you've got your Bibles, go ahead and open them up to Matthew chapter 25. 00:02:20.320 --> 00:02:24.340 In just a moment, we're going to read starting in verse 14. 00:02:25.000 --> 00:02:29.040 Now this is week one of a series that we're doing on the parables. 00:02:29.720 --> 00:02:36.620 Now the parables are a set of stories that Jesus would tell in order to teach those who 00:02:36.620 --> 00:02:40.740 are around him about the gospel and then aspects of the gospel. 00:02:40.740 --> 00:02:45.440 A pastor that I grew up with, he would quite often teach from the parables and would use 00:02:45.440 --> 00:02:47.440 this phrase every single time. 00:02:47.560 --> 00:02:51.260 They are earthly stories with heavenly meanings. 00:02:51.500 --> 00:02:53.860 So it's a good way for us to think about that. 00:02:54.140 --> 00:02:58.280 Because one of the greatest parts of Jesus's ministry here on earth, and it was what he was 00:02:58.280 --> 00:03:00.820 referred to so often, was as a teacher. 00:03:01.360 --> 00:03:02.920 So he taught sermons. 00:03:03.500 --> 00:03:07.060 So just like you guys, there would be times where people would come and gather around and 00:03:07.060 --> 00:03:08.540 Jesus would teach them. 00:03:08.920 --> 00:03:13.840 There were other times where it was less formal settings and Jesus would be there and he would 00:03:13.840 --> 00:03:17.580 have an interaction with someone and it became a teachable moment. 00:03:17.760 --> 00:03:23.000 And so for many of us, kind of think of the way as we raise our kids, we're just out doing 00:03:23.000 --> 00:03:24.800 life and conversation starts. 00:03:25.140 --> 00:03:27.900 And next thing we know, it's an opportunity to speak truth. 00:03:28.260 --> 00:03:30.560 But then sometimes Jesus would teach in parables. 00:03:31.060 --> 00:03:36.100 And quite often what Jesus would do as he would teach parables is he would be with a group of 00:03:36.100 --> 00:03:38.460 people and they would just be traveling along. 00:03:38.940 --> 00:03:43.880 You know, Jesus would move from city to city to heal and to preach and to do different things. 00:03:43.960 --> 00:03:48.280 And as they would go on these journeys, there would be these moments and Jesus would stop, 00:03:48.760 --> 00:03:54.320 whether it's something that he saw or something that he heard or a question that was asked. 00:03:54.680 --> 00:03:58.100 And Jesus would stop and begin to tell a story. 00:03:58.600 --> 00:04:03.060 Now, what would seem kind of random in there is you're, if you're sitting there and listen 00:04:03.060 --> 00:04:07.620 to Jesus tell the story, you can kind of go, well, what was the point of that? 00:04:08.540 --> 00:04:10.960 Like Jesus told a story about some sheep one time. 00:04:11.700 --> 00:04:13.620 He told the story about a lost coin. 00:04:14.680 --> 00:04:16.180 Jesus told a story about a farmer. 00:04:17.040 --> 00:04:21.640 And in that immediate moment, as he gets done telling the story, a lot of those around him 00:04:21.640 --> 00:04:26.360 are like, I have no clue what he's talking about. 00:04:26.940 --> 00:04:30.380 And then what Jesus would do is he would begin to explain. 00:04:31.300 --> 00:04:37.120 You see, because when Jesus taught the parables, people weren't understanding fully the ministry 00:04:37.120 --> 00:04:37.840 and what he was there. 00:04:38.260 --> 00:04:43.060 So it was only through his power as he would, as he would teach that he would explain them 00:04:43.060 --> 00:04:46.860 and give the application of the story and what that means. 00:04:47.220 --> 00:04:51.640 And so as we go through these parables, that is our goal, that we can see, that we can read 00:04:51.640 --> 00:04:57.300 these stories, that we can understand them, but even more importantly, apply these stories 00:04:57.300 --> 00:04:58.020 to our life. 00:04:58.420 --> 00:05:01.480 And so all throughout the summer, we're going to be journeying through the parables together. 00:05:01.800 --> 00:05:05.580 We've got our videos that we're going to show every single week to kind of help some of our 00:05:05.580 --> 00:05:10.480 younger learners understand the truth and the gospel of what's being told. 00:05:10.940 --> 00:05:15.860 But as we go through them, I'm going to ask you to think about the same three questions 00:05:15.860 --> 00:05:16.620 every week. 00:05:17.020 --> 00:05:19.940 As we go through the parables, here's what I want you to think about. 00:05:20.020 --> 00:05:21.300 Question number one is this. 00:05:21.860 --> 00:05:24.760 What is Jesus teaching me about God? 00:05:25.340 --> 00:05:26.300 I want to begin with that. 00:05:26.780 --> 00:05:29.160 What does this teach me about God? 00:05:29.260 --> 00:05:31.140 What does this teach me about Christ? 00:05:31.540 --> 00:05:36.160 What does this teach me about our Lord and Savior that we've said that we've surrendered 00:05:36.160 --> 00:05:37.960 our lives to? 00:05:38.700 --> 00:05:41.100 The second question I want you to ask yourself is this. 00:05:41.660 --> 00:05:48.600 As we tell the parable, where do you find yourself in the parable? 00:05:49.420 --> 00:05:53.120 They've got characters that we're going to learn about, that we're going to talk about. 00:05:53.560 --> 00:05:59.220 And what I want us to do is as we read through them every single week, find where you find 00:05:59.220 --> 00:06:00.980 yourself in that parable. 00:06:01.160 --> 00:06:06.000 And what you can find with this is what are you relating to or who are you relating to? 00:06:06.120 --> 00:06:10.340 And the question that this takes us toward is, what are you learning about yourself? 00:06:11.320 --> 00:06:13.500 What are you learning about you in this? 00:06:14.160 --> 00:06:14.260 Right? 00:06:14.500 --> 00:06:20.500 And then the last thing that I want us to begin to focus in every single week is how does this 00:06:20.500 --> 00:06:27.040 parable, how does this teaching that Jesus has given us, how does it change the way I view 00:06:27.040 --> 00:06:30.020 the world in which I live? 00:06:30.740 --> 00:06:37.900 I think that's very, very important, not just in this time that we live in, but in every aspect. 00:06:38.560 --> 00:06:43.300 Now, most of the stories, the parables that Jesus told, he wanted to focus in on the kingdom 00:06:43.300 --> 00:06:49.980 of God because what he wanted the followers to understand is this, that as believers, that 00:06:49.980 --> 00:06:58.180 we should have a different worldview, we should see things differently, we should see events 00:06:58.180 --> 00:07:03.900 differently, we should see people differently than the rest of the world. 00:07:04.700 --> 00:07:06.580 So what does this teach me about God? 00:07:06.660 --> 00:07:08.240 What does this teach me about myself? 00:07:08.420 --> 00:07:13.520 And then how does this change the way that I view the world? 00:07:14.340 --> 00:07:18.840 And so the first one that we are going to look at this morning is the parable of the talents. 00:07:19.080 --> 00:07:24.300 And so let's start reading Matthew 25, starting in verse 14. 00:07:25.240 --> 00:07:26.920 Jesus speaks and says, 00:07:26.920 --> 00:07:34.380 for it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them 00:07:34.380 --> 00:07:35.420 his property. 00:07:36.200 --> 00:07:44.500 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. 00:07:45.360 --> 00:07:47.380 Then he went away. 00:07:48.240 --> 00:07:54.920 He who received five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 00:07:55.240 --> 00:07:59.700 So also he who had two talents made two talents more. 00:08:00.240 --> 00:08:07.060 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 00:08:07.640 --> 00:08:13.060 Now after a long time, the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 00:08:13.460 --> 00:08:19.500 And he who had received the five talents came forward bringing five more talents, saying, 00:08:19.500 --> 00:08:22.480 Master, you delivered to me five talents. 00:08:22.720 --> 00:08:25.620 Here I have made five talents more. 00:08:26.220 --> 00:08:27.540 And his master said to him, 00:08:27.880 --> 00:08:29.880 Well done, good and faithful servant. 00:08:30.220 --> 00:08:32.160 You have been faithful over a little. 00:08:32.500 --> 00:08:34.520 I will set you over much. 00:08:34.980 --> 00:08:37.620 Enter into the joy of your master. 00:08:38.200 --> 00:08:41.940 And he also who had the two talents came forward saying, 00:08:42.400 --> 00:08:44.360 Master, you delivered to me two talents. 00:08:44.680 --> 00:08:46.300 Here I have made two talents more. 00:08:46.500 --> 00:08:48.200 And his master said to him, 00:08:48.620 --> 00:08:50.640 Well done, good and faithful servant. 00:08:50.920 --> 00:08:52.680 You have been faithful over a little. 00:08:52.880 --> 00:08:54.660 I will set you over much. 00:08:55.100 --> 00:08:57.760 Enter into the joy of your master. 00:08:58.240 --> 00:09:02.020 He also had received the one talent came forward saying, 00:09:02.580 --> 00:09:12.500 Master, I knew you to be a hard man reaping what you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. 00:09:12.500 --> 00:09:16.620 So I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. 00:09:17.180 --> 00:09:19.560 Here you have what is yours. 00:09:20.180 --> 00:09:22.080 But his master answered him, 00:09:22.520 --> 00:09:24.340 You wicked and slothful servant. 00:09:24.740 --> 00:09:31.100 You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have scattered no seed. 00:09:31.880 --> 00:09:35.040 Then you ought to have invested my money with bankers. 00:09:35.320 --> 00:09:40.080 And at my coming, I should have received what was my own with interest. 00:09:40.420 --> 00:09:45.280 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 00:09:45.720 --> 00:09:51.200 For to everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. 00:09:51.920 --> 00:09:57.000 But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 00:09:57.380 --> 00:10:01.360 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. 00:10:01.720 --> 00:10:06.600 In that place, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 00:10:07.320 --> 00:10:08.980 So Jesus tells a story. 00:10:09.740 --> 00:10:12.040 Now imagine being on this journey with Jesus. 00:10:13.180 --> 00:10:14.820 And Jesus begins to tell this. 00:10:15.340 --> 00:10:20.200 And he tells the story of a man who is going to go on a journey. 00:10:20.520 --> 00:10:24.900 A long journey where he's going to be away from his servants. 00:10:25.440 --> 00:10:30.040 Where he's going to be away from what he's entrusted them with. 00:10:30.100 --> 00:10:34.220 Now this man who's going on the journey is a wealthy man. 00:10:34.580 --> 00:10:36.000 Is a powerful man. 00:10:36.440 --> 00:10:45.220 And so all that he has, he's going to entrust to others who are living under his authority. 00:10:45.880 --> 00:10:46.880 And he leaves. 00:10:47.460 --> 00:10:51.800 And he says to three different servants, I'm going to leave you something. 00:10:52.360 --> 00:10:54.420 One's going to get five talents. 00:10:54.720 --> 00:10:56.740 One's going to get two talents. 00:10:56.980 --> 00:10:59.140 And one is going to get one talent. 00:10:59.580 --> 00:11:01.160 So what is a talent? 00:11:02.140 --> 00:11:09.400 Well a talent is 20 years, 20 years worth of wages. 00:11:10.060 --> 00:11:13.840 For the average person in their economy. 00:11:14.380 --> 00:11:20.660 So I did a little math this weekend because to help us understand the culture from where Jesus is to where we are right now. 00:11:20.760 --> 00:11:21.660 So here's what they got. 00:11:22.780 --> 00:11:26.220 Servant number one got $6 million. 00:11:27.700 --> 00:11:31.320 Servant number two got $2.4 million. 00:11:32.080 --> 00:11:36.780 And servant number three got $1.2 million. 00:11:38.320 --> 00:11:42.540 Now as we've read through, as I've read through this and studied this, here's what I want us to understand. 00:11:43.260 --> 00:11:45.860 Don't let the number be the focus. 00:11:46.340 --> 00:11:48.700 It's not about who got the most. 00:11:49.200 --> 00:11:50.300 Because I'll be honest with you. 00:11:50.780 --> 00:11:55.320 If you were given $1.2 million, that's pretty awesome, isn't it, right? 00:11:56.360 --> 00:12:04.580 So one got six, one got 2.4, one got 1.2, but it's not about what they, how much they were given. 00:12:04.580 --> 00:12:10.500 The point that Jesus is making is this, what everyone got was valuable. 00:12:11.260 --> 00:12:14.640 What everyone got was important to the master. 00:12:15.380 --> 00:12:19.520 What everyone got was precious to him. 00:12:20.360 --> 00:12:21.280 He entrusted. 00:12:22.220 --> 00:12:24.020 He said, this is what I value. 00:12:24.760 --> 00:12:27.740 This is what I have here. 00:12:28.820 --> 00:12:30.280 And he gives it to them. 00:12:31.120 --> 00:12:32.320 He gives it to them freely. 00:12:32.920 --> 00:12:34.840 And he gives it to them out of his choice. 00:12:35.620 --> 00:12:39.840 And he gives it to them out of his kindness and out of his generosity. 00:12:40.700 --> 00:12:44.300 So the Bible tells us, Jesus tells us, that the master returns. 00:12:44.640 --> 00:12:47.300 This is important after a long time. 00:12:48.040 --> 00:12:49.000 It's not a long weekend. 00:12:49.660 --> 00:12:51.060 This isn't a spring break trip. 00:12:51.740 --> 00:12:54.300 He goes for a long period of time. 00:12:54.420 --> 00:12:58.500 And when he comes back, two of the servants, they've doubled. 00:12:59.220 --> 00:13:01.540 They've doubled what the master gave them. 00:13:01.940 --> 00:13:04.460 But one servant had nothing. 00:13:05.280 --> 00:13:08.100 To the two that doubled, they were rewarded. 00:13:09.040 --> 00:13:10.800 They were entrusted with more. 00:13:11.120 --> 00:13:12.320 They're promised joy. 00:13:12.960 --> 00:13:16.460 They're promised the joy of the master. 00:13:17.600 --> 00:13:19.340 But to the one who did nothing. 00:13:20.280 --> 00:13:23.640 To the one, he didn't lose it, but he did nothing with it. 00:13:24.360 --> 00:13:25.020 He's punished. 00:13:26.460 --> 00:13:29.880 Here's a good way to understand of what Jesus is bringing us to. 00:13:30.540 --> 00:13:39.700 As he talks through and as he teaches this parable, it's very important for us to understand the setting in which Jesus tells this. 00:13:40.180 --> 00:13:45.200 Look back down at your Bibles and just see what chapter 26, the details that will begin to unfold. 00:13:46.300 --> 00:13:51.860 The plot to kill Jesus, where Judas will betray him. 00:13:52.820 --> 00:13:57.500 Jesus is on the final days of his journey to the cross. 00:13:58.260 --> 00:14:05.580 And he wants those who follow him to understand fully who he is, who God is. 00:14:06.860 --> 00:14:09.000 And what we learn from this parable is this. 00:14:09.940 --> 00:14:16.600 That God is both gracious and giving and stern in judgment. 00:14:18.480 --> 00:14:29.080 If you haven't noticed this from the parable yet, Jesus himself is the master. 00:14:30.060 --> 00:14:36.780 Jesus is preparing those around him for a long time where he is going to leave them. 00:14:37.380 --> 00:14:41.640 Not in the short journey that he's going to take after the death on the cross. 00:14:42.260 --> 00:14:48.880 But the journey that the master will take after the resurrection when he ascends to heaven. 00:14:49.500 --> 00:14:54.100 And it's so important to him that he lays the groundwork. 00:14:54.380 --> 00:14:58.040 And what we see here is the responsibility of what's left. 00:14:58.640 --> 00:15:02.200 What we see is that, yes, the master is gracious. 00:15:02.560 --> 00:15:04.140 The master is kind. 00:15:04.400 --> 00:15:05.700 The master is good. 00:15:05.700 --> 00:15:12.400 Joy comes from what those who have surrendered to him do with what he entrusts them with. 00:15:13.320 --> 00:15:18.860 But the master, as kind as he is, is also stern. 00:15:20.540 --> 00:15:29.080 You see, Jesus wants them to understand as they begin to see the mission field that will lay before them. 00:15:29.660 --> 00:15:34.680 The depth of the truth of the reality that heaven is real. 00:15:35.700 --> 00:15:36.660 But so is hell. 00:15:38.160 --> 00:15:39.220 Heaven is real. 00:15:39.980 --> 00:15:42.300 But so is hell. 00:15:43.480 --> 00:15:46.960 And he says, look, there is a judgment. 00:15:47.620 --> 00:15:48.580 And he's gracious. 00:15:49.520 --> 00:15:54.720 And so what we find that in this, what is Jesus leaving them with? 00:15:54.940 --> 00:15:57.420 What is Jesus entrusting them with? 00:15:57.420 --> 00:16:01.700 What is more valuable than six million dollars? 00:16:02.680 --> 00:16:03.320 The gospel. 00:16:04.540 --> 00:16:05.540 The gospel. 00:16:06.660 --> 00:16:08.600 And what we do with it matters. 00:16:09.500 --> 00:16:14.740 In Matthew chapter 7, starting in verse 21, Jesus in other teaching says this, 00:16:15.240 --> 00:16:18.460 Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven. 00:16:18.540 --> 00:16:23.160 But the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 00:16:24.780 --> 00:16:33.120 Today, many will say to me, Lord, Lord, do we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name. 00:16:33.320 --> 00:16:36.800 And then I will declare to them, I never knew you. 00:16:37.160 --> 00:16:39.740 Depart from me, you workers of lawlessness. 00:16:39.740 --> 00:16:43.700 Again, Jesus here talking about judgment. 00:16:44.500 --> 00:16:46.240 He says to be people that come to me. 00:16:46.700 --> 00:16:49.320 I did this, I did this, I did this. 00:16:49.320 --> 00:16:52.320 But you didn't do the will of my Father. 00:16:53.160 --> 00:16:58.260 You didn't do with the gospel what I entrusted you to do. 00:16:58.920 --> 00:17:05.980 You see, when judgment comes, the question that we have for those of us who have professed Christ, 00:17:06.340 --> 00:17:09.160 to those of us that say, I'm a servant of the master. 00:17:09.380 --> 00:17:16.520 But the telltale, what the Bible says, it needs to be evident in our life, is the fruit of the true believer. 00:17:16.720 --> 00:17:25.780 Jesus doesn't say, well, those who filled out a card, those who go to church, those who call themselves Christians. 00:17:27.200 --> 00:17:32.740 Jesus says, those who do the will of my Father. 00:17:33.220 --> 00:17:34.540 Church, it's so important. 00:17:35.360 --> 00:17:39.700 In the parable, who does the will of the master? 00:17:40.140 --> 00:17:40.640 The two. 00:17:41.560 --> 00:17:42.480 And who does not? 00:17:43.060 --> 00:17:43.580 The one. 00:17:44.200 --> 00:17:46.240 So what is this fruit that we're looking for? 00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:48.660 What's the fruit that needs to be evident in our life? 00:17:48.700 --> 00:17:53.460 The Bible talks about tons of fruit, but what we want to look at is the fruit of faithfulness. 00:17:54.340 --> 00:17:57.540 That when you and I make a profession of faith in Christ, 00:17:57.540 --> 00:18:03.220 that what we understand is that we have to be faithful with what we are entrusted in. 00:18:03.500 --> 00:18:07.960 And the marks of the true believer are those who take what has been given to us, 00:18:08.040 --> 00:18:11.640 and we do what is expected by the master. 00:18:11.860 --> 00:18:15.360 I love the process of what we see in salvation. 00:18:15.760 --> 00:18:23.140 The process of what God does for us and trusts to us and then releases us to do. 00:18:23.140 --> 00:18:30.520 What we see is the beautiful picture of God's will changing the men and women who call themselves Christians, 00:18:30.520 --> 00:18:33.480 changing their will to be obedient to Him. 00:18:34.280 --> 00:18:37.740 Paul summarizes this in chapter 2 of Ephesians. 00:18:37.740 --> 00:18:43.200 In verses 8 and 9, Paul talks about what God is doing in salvation. 00:18:43.200 --> 00:18:59.800 He talks about what we didn't deserve, but what God did. 00:19:00.120 --> 00:19:03.800 He talks about what we didn't earn, but it's God's work instead. 00:19:05.420 --> 00:19:06.880 God saved us. 00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:09.140 But here's what begins to happen. 00:19:10.620 --> 00:19:17.040 In the fruit of the life of the believer, what we see is a transformation that takes place. 00:19:17.840 --> 00:19:18.620 Look at verse 10. 00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:21.120 Paul continues on. 00:19:21.120 --> 00:19:27.560 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, 00:19:28.260 --> 00:19:34.420 which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. 00:19:35.120 --> 00:19:37.640 The fruit of faithfulness. 00:19:38.300 --> 00:19:39.080 What do we see? 00:19:39.560 --> 00:19:40.720 What do we see in this? 00:19:41.380 --> 00:19:46.660 That Jesus Christ created for us good works. 00:19:47.820 --> 00:19:51.180 So that when He saw you, and He saw you, and He saw you, and He saw me, 00:19:51.920 --> 00:19:57.120 what was laid out before us is the work of the gospel that's there. 00:19:58.460 --> 00:19:59.680 And He calls us. 00:20:00.840 --> 00:20:01.880 He says, I'm going on a journey. 00:20:03.120 --> 00:20:04.580 And you don't know when I'm going to return. 00:20:05.560 --> 00:20:07.140 And you don't know when this is going to happen. 00:20:08.420 --> 00:20:14.580 But there's going to be an accountability of what did you do with what you were entrusted with. 00:20:15.560 --> 00:20:16.740 Church, here's my fear. 00:20:17.540 --> 00:20:24.040 For so many of us, is that God gave to us the gospel. 00:20:25.420 --> 00:20:29.960 And there are some of us that have taken the gospel, and we've run forth with it. 00:20:30.300 --> 00:20:33.620 And we want to see it multiply, and multiply, and multiply. 00:20:33.820 --> 00:20:36.440 We want it to grow, and grow, and grow. 00:20:36.580 --> 00:20:38.260 And to see the fruit that comes from it. 00:20:38.420 --> 00:20:46.700 But then so many of us, we run back to the yard, and we dig the hole, and we bury it right there. 00:20:47.120 --> 00:20:48.040 And we cover it up. 00:20:49.620 --> 00:20:54.540 And then when Jesus returns, you say you're a believer. 00:20:55.840 --> 00:20:58.040 What did you do with it? 00:20:59.060 --> 00:20:59.960 What did you do with it? 00:21:01.300 --> 00:21:06.580 And in the graciousness of God, we see the reward. 00:21:06.580 --> 00:21:18.140 But in the sternness of his judgment, the reality, we see what happens to those of us that have buried it. 00:21:19.520 --> 00:21:20.840 Here's what I want you to think through. 00:21:21.840 --> 00:21:24.460 Which servant are you? 00:21:24.460 --> 00:21:32.800 If Jesus is the master, which servant are you? 00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:44.180 And on that day, when accountability is there, one day when we stand before, not what others have done, 00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:50.580 but when we stand in the testimony of our life, before our creator and our savior, 00:21:51.580 --> 00:21:58.000 for what we have claimed, has it been lip service, or has it been the condition of our heart? 00:21:58.620 --> 00:22:04.580 And are we going to be like the servants and show the action or excuse? 00:22:06.100 --> 00:22:08.360 Are we going to show the action or the excuse? 00:22:08.680 --> 00:22:10.920 You see, it's not the works that save you. 00:22:11.140 --> 00:22:13.340 Your action will never save you. 00:22:13.500 --> 00:22:15.480 It's Jesus' work that saved you. 00:22:15.680 --> 00:22:16.960 Don't miss that. 00:22:18.760 --> 00:22:23.420 But the gospel calls us to something. 00:22:24.440 --> 00:22:27.240 The gospel holds us accountable to something. 00:22:28.020 --> 00:22:36.380 And we have to take what we are giving, if we are really is, and it comes from us. 00:22:37.600 --> 00:22:41.320 Just as the master returned, look, I don't know when. 00:22:42.580 --> 00:22:43.440 I don't. 00:22:44.100 --> 00:22:44.880 No clue. 00:22:46.140 --> 00:22:47.060 But he will. 00:22:48.580 --> 00:22:49.180 He will. 00:22:50.560 --> 00:22:55.140 You see, the first two, first two servants, they weren't investors. 00:22:56.060 --> 00:22:57.260 They weren't bankers. 00:22:58.080 --> 00:22:59.840 They weren't educated into this. 00:23:00.520 --> 00:23:06.480 But the Bible tells us that when Jesus gave them what was most precious to him, 00:23:06.480 --> 00:23:09.380 the Bible says they went at once. 00:23:10.480 --> 00:23:13.360 They didn't wait to live out the gospel until they were trained. 00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:18.080 They didn't wait to live out the gospel until they had reached a level of perfection. 00:23:18.400 --> 00:23:21.980 They didn't wait to live out the gospel until they had dealt with the stuff in their life. 00:23:22.080 --> 00:23:28.080 No, immediately, as God was transforming them, they took what he had been given, what he had given them, 00:23:28.180 --> 00:23:29.440 and they went forth with it. 00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:33.940 And when they stood there before him, there was the fruit of the work in which they had done. 00:23:34.760 --> 00:23:36.340 Here's the action of the saved life. 00:23:36.340 --> 00:23:39.200 Here's the action of the transformed heart. 00:23:39.260 --> 00:23:42.480 But one came forward. 00:23:43.380 --> 00:23:45.640 He dug up the talent. 00:23:46.540 --> 00:23:47.580 He brought it. 00:23:48.800 --> 00:23:50.580 And he says, here's this. 00:23:51.800 --> 00:23:52.720 You didn't do anything with it? 00:23:53.420 --> 00:23:53.660 Mm-mm. 00:23:54.500 --> 00:23:56.620 Because I knew you, that's what he says. 00:23:57.260 --> 00:23:58.520 I knew who you were. 00:23:59.220 --> 00:24:00.780 I knew that you were harsh. 00:24:01.740 --> 00:24:02.700 And I was scared. 00:24:03.480 --> 00:24:05.880 So I did nothing with it. 00:24:06.560 --> 00:24:08.560 Now notice what he says. 00:24:09.360 --> 00:24:11.180 The master doesn't agree to. 00:24:11.880 --> 00:24:15.500 The master asked a question back to him. 00:24:16.180 --> 00:24:17.400 Here's what the master's saying. 00:24:18.980 --> 00:24:20.220 You didn't know me. 00:24:21.440 --> 00:24:27.700 If you went and buried it, you never knew me. 00:24:30.980 --> 00:24:33.740 Church, where are we going to be? 00:24:35.400 --> 00:24:36.520 Where are you going to be? 00:24:37.960 --> 00:24:39.100 Where am I going to be? 00:24:40.900 --> 00:24:45.580 Are we the ones that take the gospel and bury it in the ground? 00:24:46.180 --> 00:24:52.300 Or are we the ones that take the gospel that we've been entrusted with 00:24:52.300 --> 00:24:55.540 and seek to see it multiply? 00:24:56.260 --> 00:25:00.520 Not just in the gathering of these walls, 00:25:01.280 --> 00:25:09.180 but in our homes, at work, with our friends, with strangers. 00:25:10.100 --> 00:25:13.960 For people who are different than us, who think differently, 00:25:13.960 --> 00:25:15.600 who act differently. 00:25:17.020 --> 00:25:21.380 What are we going to do with the gospel? 00:25:22.620 --> 00:25:23.940 Because judgment will come. 00:25:25.340 --> 00:25:31.560 And in judgment, God will be both gracious and stern. 00:25:32.920 --> 00:25:33.700 Would you pray with me? 00:25:36.980 --> 00:25:39.840 Lord, we thank you for your word and for who you are. 00:25:43.360 --> 00:25:47.080 God, I thank you that this is who you show us to be. 00:25:48.340 --> 00:25:51.000 Lord, it is not a surprise to us. 00:25:52.260 --> 00:25:53.680 Your word is very clear. 00:25:56.200 --> 00:26:02.740 Lord, for all of us, may we find who we are in you. 00:26:04.360 --> 00:26:05.940 Which servant are we? 00:26:06.900 --> 00:26:09.560 Lord, speak to us and reveal that to us. 00:26:10.600 --> 00:26:13.160 Lord, for those of us who are faithful, 00:26:14.240 --> 00:26:18.200 Lord, may we feel the encouragement of the time right now 00:26:18.200 --> 00:26:22.400 so that we can continue on and be who you've called us to be. 00:26:24.880 --> 00:26:29.660 Lord, for those of us who find ourselves in a different setting. 00:26:30.660 --> 00:26:35.720 Lord, we've heard the gospel and we've stored it away somewhere. 00:26:36.260 --> 00:26:37.600 It hasn't changed us. 00:26:37.780 --> 00:26:39.380 It hasn't consumed us. 00:26:39.520 --> 00:26:41.020 It hasn't transformed us. 00:26:41.320 --> 00:26:44.660 Lord, could today be the day in your grace and your kindness 00:26:44.660 --> 00:26:46.180 that you transform our hearts, 00:26:46.320 --> 00:26:49.020 that it begins with repentance and with brokenness. 00:26:49.720 --> 00:26:54.780 So that, Lord, what we can experience is your grace and your joy and your mercy 00:26:54.780 --> 00:26:57.600 that comes from a broken, repentant heart 00:26:57.600 --> 00:27:03.720 where sin makes our hearts hardened to the gospel. 00:27:06.560 --> 00:27:10.980 Lord, today, could we respond to it? 00:27:14.080 --> 00:27:19.280 Lord, could this change and shape the way that we view the world 00:27:19.280 --> 00:27:24.160 Lord, nothing is more deadly 00:27:24.160 --> 00:27:28.800 than a person who knows the gospel 00:27:28.800 --> 00:27:31.860 and seeks not to share. 00:27:35.280 --> 00:27:37.100 But nothing brings more life 00:27:37.100 --> 00:27:40.960 than the sweetness of the gospel 00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:43.920 that comes from the lips of the saints. 00:27:48.280 --> 00:27:50.900 Lord, in the brokenness that we see 00:27:50.900 --> 00:27:54.220 and the divide that is there 00:27:54.220 --> 00:27:58.160 and what needs to be made right 00:27:58.160 --> 00:28:00.600 can only happen 00:28:00.600 --> 00:28:03.800 through the blood of the cross 00:28:03.800 --> 00:28:07.000 and the resurrection of Christ. 00:28:11.160 --> 00:28:15.860 Jesus, you have sent us. 00:28:16.040 --> 00:28:18.040 May we go. 00:28:19.780 --> 00:28:21.100 It's in Jesus' name we pray. 00:28:22.100 --> 00:28:22.400 Amen. 00:28:37.040 --> 00:28:40.120 Thanks again for listening to the Willow Ridge Church Weekly Podcast. 00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:42.960 We hope that you enjoyed listening to this week's message. 00:28:43.580 --> 00:28:45.360 If you'd like to learn more about who we are 00:28:45.360 --> 00:28:46.980 or explore additional resources, 00:28:47.560 --> 00:28:52.020 visit us online at www.willowridgechurch.com 00:28:52.020 --> 00:28:55.560 or by searching for Willow Ridge Church on Facebook and Instagram. 00:28:57.920 --> 00:28:58.920 We hope that you enjoyed listening to this week's message. 00:28:58.920 --> 00:28:59.920 We hope that you enjoyed listening to this week's message. 00:28:59.920 --> 00:29:01.920 We hope that you enjoyed listening to this week's message. 00:29:01.920 --> 00:29:02.920 We hope that you enjoyed listening to this week's message. 00:29:02.920 --> 00:29:03.920 We hope that you enjoyed listening to this week's message. 00:29:03.920 --> 00:29:04.920 We hope that you enjoyed listening to this week's message. 00:29:04.920 --> 00:29:05.920 We hope that you enjoyed listening to this week's message. 00:29:05.920 --> 00:29:06.920 We hope that you enjoyed listening to this week's message. 00:29:06.920 --> 00:29:07.920 We hope that you enjoyed listening to this week's message.