1 00:00:03,336 --> 00:00:04,671 We're going to be in Matthew 25. 2 00:00:04,671 --> 00:00:07,507 So if you have a Bible and brought one with you, turn to Matthew 25. 3 00:00:07,507 --> 00:00:09,542 It's also on the on our app. 4 00:00:09,542 --> 00:00:12,545 If you go to our app, you can follow along there. 5 00:00:13,346 --> 00:00:16,349 But let me let me set up Matthew 25 with this. 6 00:00:16,483 --> 00:00:21,221 Have any of you been anxiously awaiting for something to arrive? 7 00:00:21,221 --> 00:00:22,822 And you kind of. 8 00:00:22,822 --> 00:00:25,025 You're not exactly sure when, but you're going to kind of 9 00:00:25,025 --> 00:00:26,793 go to bed at night thinking, okay, it might be, 10 00:00:26,793 --> 00:00:29,562 it might be soon, and you'll wake up with anticipation. 11 00:00:29,562 --> 00:00:31,131 Any of you. 12 00:00:31,131 --> 00:00:31,398 Yeah. 13 00:00:31,398 --> 00:00:33,833 Remember what was like to be a kid at Christmas time? 14 00:00:33,833 --> 00:00:36,703 You know, summer vacation, whatever. 15 00:00:36,703 --> 00:00:40,273 So I've been talking about this renovation of the 16 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:44,110 the interior for a long time, and we're making progress. 17 00:00:44,677 --> 00:00:47,680 But it should have been done a month ago. 18 00:00:47,747 --> 00:00:52,352 And and it's been this constant thing where I get word. 19 00:00:52,385 --> 00:00:56,389 Okay, so so in two days we're going to start on this and it'll take us a couple 20 00:00:56,523 --> 00:01:00,827 and then and and I find myself I found myself especially this week 21 00:01:00,860 --> 00:01:03,696 getting excited like, oh, I wonder if they start out on this part 22 00:01:03,696 --> 00:01:06,433 and checking the cameras in the morning and nothing. 23 00:01:06,433 --> 00:01:09,335 And then getting, oh, hey, it was delayed. 24 00:01:10,370 --> 00:01:12,872 I think they're still blaming the supply chain and Covid. 25 00:01:12,872 --> 00:01:16,342 I'm not sure exactly what's going on, but, you know, it's just delayed and so. 26 00:01:16,376 --> 00:01:18,311 Okay, well, tomorrow then we'll start this. 27 00:01:18,311 --> 00:01:20,280 And so I'm like, okay, oh, I'm excited for a while. 28 00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:23,283 And I wake up in the morning, check the cameras and nothing. 29 00:01:23,616 --> 00:01:25,919 And it's been like that. 30 00:01:25,919 --> 00:01:29,422 This was it was again, it just happened on Friday. 31 00:01:30,056 --> 00:01:33,059 You're supposed to get all the wrap done and then they'll put the door in on. 32 00:01:33,059 --> 00:01:35,495 You know, I'm so excited for the church to get to see it. 33 00:01:35,495 --> 00:01:38,498 And then of course, it's not done. 34 00:01:38,531 --> 00:01:41,935 And I found myself just so frustrated 35 00:01:42,402 --> 00:01:45,371 because of the anticipation and the letdown. 36 00:01:46,306 --> 00:01:48,675 Right. 37 00:01:48,675 --> 00:01:53,012 And then and then I felt incredible conviction 38 00:01:53,012 --> 00:01:57,150 because while all that's going on, I'm reading Matthew 25 39 00:01:58,351 --> 00:01:59,119 and I'm 40 00:01:59,119 --> 00:02:03,256 realizing I have more excitement and joyful anticipation 41 00:02:03,256 --> 00:02:07,360 about a garage door than I do about the return of Jesus. 42 00:02:10,230 --> 00:02:13,233 And I was just I was convicted, 43 00:02:13,533 --> 00:02:16,536 and I was amazed at how quickly. 44 00:02:18,271 --> 00:02:21,274 The main thing stops being the main thing, 45 00:02:21,774 --> 00:02:24,711 and everything else in my world starts taking precedence 46 00:02:24,711 --> 00:02:28,915 over the joyful expectation of the journey of Jesus. 47 00:02:31,751 --> 00:02:34,754 And so Matthew 25 48 00:02:36,122 --> 00:02:39,826 is Jesus's instructions on how we live. 49 00:02:42,395 --> 00:02:45,398 While we wait for his return. 50 00:02:45,598 --> 00:02:48,668 The foundation of what Jesus is going to say in Matthew 25. 51 00:02:48,701 --> 00:02:52,438 He's already laid the foundation in the previous chapter, Matthew 52 00:02:52,472 --> 00:02:57,210 24 verse 44 and he says this therefore you also must be ready, 53 00:02:57,210 --> 00:03:01,114 for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. 54 00:03:02,348 --> 00:03:05,852 Now, granted, we live in tension with the idea of Jesus's return. 55 00:03:05,852 --> 00:03:10,957 The tension is this there are passages in Scripture prophecies in Daniel 56 00:03:10,957 --> 00:03:14,694 that Jesus referred to in Matthew 24, his own words in Matthew 24 57 00:03:14,761 --> 00:03:18,831 that seem to give us indication of when these times are going to come, 58 00:03:18,831 --> 00:03:22,835 when you see these things happen in, when you see what Daniel calls the 59 00:03:22,902 --> 00:03:26,940 the abomination of desolation set up in the temple, you know, then you'll know 60 00:03:26,940 --> 00:03:30,977 when you see these things happen that Jesus is right around the corner. 61 00:03:31,010 --> 00:03:32,478 The segment is right around the corner. 62 00:03:32,478 --> 00:03:36,216 And so there seems to be some indication, well, we'll know some stuff. 63 00:03:36,482 --> 00:03:38,785 But then there's other passages like this. 64 00:03:38,785 --> 00:03:41,621 He's like, you got no idea when I'm coming back. 65 00:03:41,621 --> 00:03:43,022 Had no clue. 66 00:03:43,022 --> 00:03:45,024 Matter of fact, the only one who really knows is a father. 67 00:03:45,024 --> 00:03:46,593 So quit trying to guess. 68 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:49,796 And so we live in this strange tension. 69 00:03:49,796 --> 00:03:52,865 And let me just tell you, as far as faith is concerned, 70 00:03:52,865 --> 00:03:55,868 as far as the Bible is, there's a lot of tension. 71 00:03:55,935 --> 00:03:59,572 There's a lot of stuff we live in the now, but the not yet. 72 00:04:01,641 --> 00:04:03,676 And we just have to learn to live with that. 73 00:04:03,676 --> 00:04:06,079 We won't have answers. We don't have answers. 74 00:04:06,079 --> 00:04:07,747 And so there's this tension. 75 00:04:07,747 --> 00:04:10,750 He could be coming back today. 76 00:04:10,917 --> 00:04:13,786 And so Jesus says, listen, because you don't know, 77 00:04:13,786 --> 00:04:17,156 you might be able to see some signs when it gets like you might see, 78 00:04:17,624 --> 00:04:19,492 but you don't know when those signs are going to show up. 79 00:04:19,492 --> 00:04:21,761 So you just don't know. 80 00:04:21,761 --> 00:04:24,731 So get so be ready. 81 00:04:25,665 --> 00:04:27,734 That's the whole thrust, 82 00:04:27,734 --> 00:04:31,671 especially now in Matthew 25 and in Matthew 25, 83 00:04:31,704 --> 00:04:35,942 Jesus is going to tell two parables a parable of a wedding banquet 84 00:04:35,942 --> 00:04:40,480 and a marriage, and the parable of stewards, 85 00:04:40,513 --> 00:04:44,584 servants who've been entrusted with some of the master's stuff and the parable. 86 00:04:44,584 --> 00:04:49,555 Just to remind ourselves a parable is is a story from everyday life 87 00:04:49,555 --> 00:04:52,592 that sit next to something that's 88 00:04:52,592 --> 00:04:55,962 difficult to understand, to help you understand it better. 89 00:04:56,429 --> 00:04:58,031 So the parable, 90 00:04:59,932 --> 00:05:02,068 everything doesn't mean something in a parable. 91 00:05:02,068 --> 00:05:04,871 There's a main point to the parable that helps you understand the truth. 92 00:05:04,871 --> 00:05:07,440 And so we're going to look at these two parables. 93 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:12,879 Don't look for Henny hidden meaning behind all the little details. 94 00:05:13,112 --> 00:05:16,516 Look for the point of the story, because that'll help us understand 95 00:05:16,516 --> 00:05:19,452 Jesus saying, you don't know when, so you better be ready. 96 00:05:19,452 --> 00:05:21,020 Got it? 97 00:05:21,020 --> 00:05:25,024 Okay, so the overarching thing through 98 00:05:25,058 --> 00:05:28,094 Matthew 25 and what Jesus said, he's getting ready to go to the cross is like, 99 00:05:28,094 --> 00:05:31,597 I got to give my disciples a couple last things. 100 00:05:32,932 --> 00:05:35,134 And so the last things that he's telling them 101 00:05:35,134 --> 00:05:39,305 is this and live with the joyful anticipation of my return. 102 00:05:39,305 --> 00:05:40,506 That's what he's saying. 103 00:05:40,506 --> 00:05:43,643 I want you to live the joyful anticipation of my return. 104 00:05:43,643 --> 00:05:47,880 And here's two reasons why we, as disciples of Jesus, 105 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:52,251 should live constantly with the joyful anticipation of eternity of Christ. 106 00:05:52,318 --> 00:05:55,855 One because the joyful anticipation of the eternity 107 00:05:55,855 --> 00:05:59,625 of Jesus motivates me to holy living. 108 00:06:00,860 --> 00:06:03,863 It motivates me to live a holy life. 109 00:06:04,263 --> 00:06:06,265 Because if he can come back right now, 110 00:06:06,265 --> 00:06:09,702 I don't want him to find me living a life I'm ashamed to live. 111 00:06:10,536 --> 00:06:13,306 You follow. 112 00:06:13,306 --> 00:06:16,376 But the other reason why we should live 113 00:06:16,376 --> 00:06:20,380 for the joyful anticipation of the turn of Christ is because it 114 00:06:20,413 --> 00:06:25,752 calibrates my perspective on my life and the world around me. 115 00:06:25,918 --> 00:06:27,754 It calibrates it all. 116 00:06:27,754 --> 00:06:30,523 If I know that Jesus could come back at any time, 117 00:06:30,523 --> 00:06:34,794 it calibrates how I view my life and the world around me, 118 00:06:35,027 --> 00:06:37,830 because what it tells me is all this stuff 119 00:06:37,830 --> 00:06:40,833 is passing away. 120 00:06:41,501 --> 00:06:43,703 The Bible says in Second Peter, 121 00:06:43,703 --> 00:06:45,705 but the day of the Lord will come like a thief. 122 00:06:45,705 --> 00:06:49,976 The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, 123 00:06:49,976 --> 00:06:53,479 and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. 124 00:06:53,746 --> 00:06:56,816 Since everything will be destroyed in this way. 125 00:06:56,816 --> 00:06:59,852 What kind of people ought you to be, Peter? 126 00:06:59,952 --> 00:07:01,721 Peter's answering the question. 127 00:07:01,721 --> 00:07:04,824 How do we live while we wait for the return of Christ? 128 00:07:05,291 --> 00:07:07,860 Well, what kind of people want you to be? 129 00:07:07,860 --> 00:07:14,066 You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God. 130 00:07:14,100 --> 00:07:15,535 And speed is coming. 131 00:07:15,535 --> 00:07:18,738 That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire. 132 00:07:18,771 --> 00:07:23,709 Talk about global warming and the elements will melt in the heat. 133 00:07:24,110 --> 00:07:27,480 But in keeping with his promise, we are looking forward 134 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:31,384 to a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells. 135 00:07:31,384 --> 00:07:33,753 So then, dear friends, 136 00:07:33,753 --> 00:07:36,622 since you are looking forward to the joyful anticipation 137 00:07:36,622 --> 00:07:40,159 of his return, since that's what you're looking forward to, make every effort. 138 00:07:40,159 --> 00:07:40,660 To what? 139 00:07:40,660 --> 00:07:44,730 To be found spotless and blameless and at peace with him. 140 00:07:45,932 --> 00:07:48,935 The joyful expectation of the return of Christ. 141 00:07:49,502 --> 00:07:52,104 It causes me to motivate me to live a holy life, 142 00:07:52,104 --> 00:07:55,107 and it recalibrate how I view this world. 143 00:07:55,775 --> 00:07:58,511 Those who are who do not have 144 00:07:58,511 --> 00:08:03,382 a joyful expectation of Jesus return have a horizontal view of life. 145 00:08:03,382 --> 00:08:04,784 This is. This is the only plane. 146 00:08:04,784 --> 00:08:07,820 They see the world through this lens right here. 147 00:08:09,021 --> 00:08:11,991 Their life and what's around them. 148 00:08:11,991 --> 00:08:14,894 Those who live with a joyful expectation of the church, Christ, 149 00:08:14,894 --> 00:08:17,897 have a vertical view. 150 00:08:18,331 --> 00:08:22,101 We'll look at beyond this plane 151 00:08:22,835 --> 00:08:25,471 and it calibrates it all. 152 00:08:25,471 --> 00:08:29,709 And when this is my view, the joyful return to Christ, 153 00:08:30,376 --> 00:08:33,212 I'm not so worried about life. 154 00:08:33,212 --> 00:08:36,215 I'm not so worried about this world like most of you are. 155 00:08:37,817 --> 00:08:39,519 Jesus warned us what was going to happen. 156 00:08:39,519 --> 00:08:40,853 I realized this is not my home. 157 00:08:40,853 --> 00:08:43,022 I realize I'm a stranger passing through. 158 00:08:46,559 --> 00:08:50,396 So the person with the vertical view, 159 00:08:50,596 --> 00:08:55,067 the expected return to Jesus Christ, has the view that job had job 160 00:08:55,067 --> 00:08:59,872 as the whole life as this as this view was, was being destroyed. 161 00:08:59,906 --> 00:09:03,442 He looked this way and he said, I know that my Redeemer lives, 162 00:09:03,442 --> 00:09:06,379 and that in the end he will stand on the earth. 163 00:09:06,379 --> 00:09:08,948 After and after my skin has been destroyed. 164 00:09:08,948 --> 00:09:14,220 This is all gone, yet in my flesh I will see God. 165 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:17,323 I myself will see him with my own eyes. 166 00:09:17,323 --> 00:09:19,959 I am not another. I won't see anybody else. I'll only see him. 167 00:09:19,959 --> 00:09:23,296 And how my heart yearns within me for that day. 168 00:09:26,098 --> 00:09:29,101 And so Jesus says, listen. 169 00:09:30,202 --> 00:09:31,037 I want you to live 170 00:09:31,037 --> 00:09:34,373 within a joyful expectation of my return. 171 00:09:34,540 --> 00:09:38,711 And while you live, waiting on my return, joyful, anticipating it, 172 00:09:38,711 --> 00:09:41,380 I'm going to tell you how you're supposed to live. So you ready? 173 00:09:42,882 --> 00:09:44,016 Matthew 25. 174 00:09:44,016 --> 00:09:44,750 I'm going to do this. 175 00:09:44,750 --> 00:09:47,653 I'm going to read the entire parable, and then we'll talk about it. 176 00:09:47,653 --> 00:09:50,856 So the first parable is 13 verses, okay. 177 00:09:50,890 --> 00:09:51,691 And we'll talk about 178 00:09:51,691 --> 00:09:54,026 there's going to use a lot of words that aren't going to make a lot of sense. 179 00:09:54,026 --> 00:09:55,628 All those scenarios we're not going to understand, 180 00:09:55,628 --> 00:09:58,698 but we'll explain it verse 20, chapter 25, verse one. 181 00:09:58,698 --> 00:10:00,299 Then the kingdom of heaven will be like 182 00:10:00,299 --> 00:10:04,270 ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 183 00:10:04,670 --> 00:10:07,573 Five of them are foolish, and five were wise. 184 00:10:07,573 --> 00:10:11,110 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no with them. 185 00:10:11,110 --> 00:10:14,714 But the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 186 00:10:14,914 --> 00:10:18,651 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 187 00:10:18,651 --> 00:10:22,955 But at midnight there was a cry, here's the bridegroom, come out and meet him. 188 00:10:23,456 --> 00:10:26,659 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 189 00:10:26,659 --> 00:10:30,463 And the foolish said to the wise, give us some of your own for our lamps, 190 00:10:30,463 --> 00:10:31,597 for our lamps are going out. 191 00:10:31,597 --> 00:10:35,234 But the wise answered, saying, since there will not be enough for us 192 00:10:35,234 --> 00:10:39,105 and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves. 193 00:10:39,105 --> 00:10:43,142 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready 194 00:10:43,142 --> 00:10:46,712 went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 195 00:10:46,746 --> 00:10:52,952 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 196 00:10:54,353 --> 00:10:57,623 But he answered, truly I say to you, I do not know you. 197 00:10:57,623 --> 00:11:00,059 And then Jesus says, watch. 198 00:11:00,059 --> 00:11:01,694 Therefore this is how you live. 199 00:11:01,694 --> 00:11:05,398 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. 200 00:11:06,699 --> 00:11:10,903 Now this scenario make perfect sense to them, because they understood 201 00:11:11,070 --> 00:11:14,073 the ancient Jewish, because it wasn't ancient to them. 202 00:11:14,106 --> 00:11:16,275 You know, process of of marriage. 203 00:11:16,275 --> 00:11:18,110 We don't understand so much. 204 00:11:18,110 --> 00:11:19,812 We, you know, I'm lonely. 205 00:11:19,812 --> 00:11:21,347 I'm gonna go on Tinder, I'm going to find somebody, I'm 206 00:11:21,347 --> 00:11:23,382 going to swipe, you know, whatever that is, whatever. 207 00:11:23,382 --> 00:11:26,018 However it works now, 208 00:11:26,018 --> 00:11:27,253 it wasn't so back then. 209 00:11:27,253 --> 00:11:29,555 Back then, 210 00:11:29,555 --> 00:11:31,257 marriages were arranged like 211 00:11:31,257 --> 00:11:34,660 the fathers got together and decided who their kids would marry. 212 00:11:34,694 --> 00:11:37,596 It was a it was a brilliant system. 213 00:11:37,596 --> 00:11:39,865 It's a brilliant system. 214 00:11:39,865 --> 00:11:43,402 And so they would work out the payment of what the bride was worth. 215 00:11:43,402 --> 00:11:47,039 The, you know, the groom's parents would pay the money they would enter in. 216 00:11:47,073 --> 00:11:49,709 There were three elements to a Jewish wedding. 217 00:11:49,709 --> 00:11:55,614 There was there there was the betrothal, the engagement, and then the wedding. 218 00:11:55,614 --> 00:11:57,983 And it lasted last over a year. 219 00:11:57,983 --> 00:12:00,986 It was a long process, but. 220 00:12:00,986 --> 00:12:06,459 But it culminated with the groom kind of arriving at an unknown time, 221 00:12:06,459 --> 00:12:09,829 and the bride and all her wedding party going out to meet him, 222 00:12:09,829 --> 00:12:12,465 and they would come together and consummate the whole wedding deal. 223 00:12:12,465 --> 00:12:14,800 That's what this story is about. 224 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:19,305 This parable is about now when I was when I was young, 225 00:12:20,306 --> 00:12:20,840 like in the 226 00:12:20,840 --> 00:12:23,843 70s, and I know I don't look it, but I am that old. 227 00:12:24,577 --> 00:12:28,180 That was like the whole the Jesus movement 228 00:12:28,347 --> 00:12:32,918 and the hippies on the tail end of that and this great revival. 229 00:12:33,652 --> 00:12:36,756 And back in those days, we learned this song 230 00:12:38,657 --> 00:12:40,259 give me for my lamp. 231 00:12:40,259 --> 00:12:41,761 Keep me burning, burn and burn it. 232 00:12:41,761 --> 00:12:44,730 Give me all for my lamp I pray. Hallelujah. 233 00:12:45,297 --> 00:12:46,699 Give me your for my lamp. 234 00:12:46,699 --> 00:12:48,067 Keep me burning. Burn up burning. 235 00:12:48,067 --> 00:12:51,070 Keep me burning till the break of day. 236 00:12:52,138 --> 00:12:54,740 Right. 237 00:12:54,740 --> 00:12:57,143 The goofy song. 238 00:12:57,143 --> 00:12:58,344 But it was the 70s. 239 00:12:58,344 --> 00:13:00,146 And it was cool 240 00:13:00,146 --> 00:13:02,782 that songs about this passage give me all from a 241 00:13:02,782 --> 00:13:05,518 give me a burn, burn a burning can't be burned to the break of day. 242 00:13:05,518 --> 00:13:08,654 Now, back in the 70s, we added a bunch of other, 243 00:13:09,221 --> 00:13:11,757 you know, lyrics to that cool song Give Me Gas from my Ford. 244 00:13:11,757 --> 00:13:15,261 Keep me trucking for the Lord, give me gas from earth, Lord I pray Hallelujah me 245 00:13:15,261 --> 00:13:16,962 gas from my forehead. Give me trucking for the Lord. 246 00:13:16,962 --> 00:13:18,264 Check it out on the break of day. 247 00:13:18,264 --> 00:13:20,099 Hallelujah, hallelujah. 248 00:13:20,099 --> 00:13:22,434 All this stuff. 249 00:13:22,434 --> 00:13:26,472 But it was about this passage because there was an expectation 250 00:13:26,472 --> 00:13:30,042 that who knows, just give me all for my lap. 251 00:13:30,075 --> 00:13:32,211 Keep me burning. I don't want to. 252 00:13:32,211 --> 00:13:33,579 I don't want to miss this. 253 00:13:36,515 --> 00:13:38,184 These elements to this wedding. 254 00:13:38,184 --> 00:13:41,187 Let me walk you through it. 255 00:13:41,353 --> 00:13:42,721 There was the betrothal, 256 00:13:42,721 --> 00:13:45,758 which was the agreement between the groom 257 00:13:45,758 --> 00:13:48,761 and the bride, of what the bride was worth and the payment that was made. 258 00:13:48,794 --> 00:13:53,132 And once that payment was made, then they entered into the engagement period. 259 00:13:53,132 --> 00:13:57,102 And the engagement period was was like a year long. 260 00:13:57,102 --> 00:14:00,339 And during that engagement period, the groom would leave 261 00:14:00,339 --> 00:14:03,342 to prepare a home for the bride. 262 00:14:03,576 --> 00:14:06,579 And when the home was ready, the groom would return 263 00:14:06,612 --> 00:14:09,915 and take the bride with him that they would be together. 264 00:14:10,382 --> 00:14:14,653 And during that time of of engaged, while the groom was gone, 265 00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:19,558 that was used to prove that the groom was able to take care of the bride. 266 00:14:20,626 --> 00:14:24,296 He was shown to be trustworthy and reliable and providing 267 00:14:24,296 --> 00:14:28,267 and mighty and powerful, and everything that a bride would want in a groom. 268 00:14:28,601 --> 00:14:30,135 And then that was the second. 269 00:14:30,135 --> 00:14:32,872 And then the third part of it was the actual wedding feast, 270 00:14:32,872 --> 00:14:35,741 when the groom would come back and as the groom came back, 271 00:14:35,741 --> 00:14:40,145 there would be great pomp and circumstance and fanfare, and everybody in the city 272 00:14:40,179 --> 00:14:43,616 would know that the groom was coming back, and then the bride and her party 273 00:14:43,682 --> 00:14:45,217 would go out to meet the groom, 274 00:14:45,217 --> 00:14:48,988 and together they would arrive together and establish their presence. 275 00:14:49,955 --> 00:14:50,990 That would that 276 00:14:50,990 --> 00:14:53,993 that was the process of a Jewish wedding. 277 00:14:54,026 --> 00:14:56,662 And usually when the groom would come back because it was unknown 278 00:14:56,662 --> 00:15:00,199 and usually it would, it would be in the evening time or night time. 279 00:15:00,199 --> 00:15:04,503 And so the bride in her wedding party made sure that during that, 280 00:15:04,536 --> 00:15:09,074 during that entire time, they always kept their lamps with them 281 00:15:09,074 --> 00:15:13,379 in case, in case the groom came back and it was dark 282 00:15:14,146 --> 00:15:17,149 so they would be able to go meet him. 283 00:15:17,349 --> 00:15:21,220 And which, by the way, let me just pause right here and tell you 284 00:15:21,320 --> 00:15:24,957 this is the picture, I believe, of Jesus second coming, 285 00:15:25,958 --> 00:15:28,894 the wedding processional. 286 00:15:28,894 --> 00:15:30,963 See the patrol. Those already happen. 287 00:15:30,963 --> 00:15:36,669 The price has been set for the bride, and the price was blood. 288 00:15:38,070 --> 00:15:39,705 And so 289 00:15:39,705 --> 00:15:43,175 God, through Jesus the Father, through the son, 290 00:15:43,242 --> 00:15:46,545 paid the price on the cross. 291 00:15:47,780 --> 00:15:51,784 And because the price has been portrayed, the agreement has been made. 292 00:15:52,351 --> 00:15:56,722 Now in the second period of this process, 293 00:15:56,956 --> 00:16:00,159 the engagement, Jesus goes to prepare a place. 294 00:16:00,259 --> 00:16:02,361 And this is what says in the Gospel of John, 295 00:16:02,361 --> 00:16:05,297 if I go to prepare for you, I will come back and receive you to myself 296 00:16:05,297 --> 00:16:06,198 so we can be together. 297 00:16:06,198 --> 00:16:08,834 It's the whole marriage 298 00:16:08,834 --> 00:16:11,470 now. He's been working on our place for 2000 years. 299 00:16:11,470 --> 00:16:14,473 It's probably going to be pretty good. 300 00:16:15,874 --> 00:16:18,277 And then here's what's going to happen, as I understand it. 301 00:16:18,277 --> 00:16:20,112 And you can disagree with me, that's fine. 302 00:16:20,112 --> 00:16:21,714 But as I understand Scripture 303 00:16:21,714 --> 00:16:25,117 and as I understand the the context of a Jewish wedding, 304 00:16:25,918 --> 00:16:28,721 when Jesus comes back, there's this whole idea of the 305 00:16:28,721 --> 00:16:30,956 how many of you heard the rapture of the church? 306 00:16:30,956 --> 00:16:34,626 Okay, when Jesus pulls the church out and the tribulation goes on 307 00:16:34,626 --> 00:16:38,197 and the church isn't in the world, I don't think it's going to go down like that. 308 00:16:38,230 --> 00:16:41,100 I think the church is going to be here through the whole tribulation. 309 00:16:41,100 --> 00:16:42,468 And here's why. 310 00:16:42,468 --> 00:16:48,874 Because when the groom comes as he's on his way, the bride hears 311 00:16:48,874 --> 00:16:53,946 and he calls her out to meet him, and then they arrive together. 312 00:16:56,615 --> 00:16:59,318 When the Bible talks about the return of Christ, 313 00:16:59,318 --> 00:17:04,356 his his appearing requires him touching down on earth. 314 00:17:04,757 --> 00:17:07,426 And so if the church is taken 315 00:17:07,426 --> 00:17:10,429 out of the world during the tribulation, 316 00:17:10,462 --> 00:17:13,032 that is talked about the perilous of Christ, 317 00:17:13,032 --> 00:17:16,301 the appearance of Christ, he has to touch down to take the church out. 318 00:17:16,802 --> 00:17:17,936 If that happens before 319 00:17:17,936 --> 00:17:21,140 the tribulation, he's got to come back a third time for the final coming. 320 00:17:21,140 --> 00:17:24,109 So there's three returns of Christ. It doesn't make sense. 321 00:17:24,109 --> 00:17:27,146 And so according to Scripture, and as I understand 322 00:17:27,179 --> 00:17:29,114 the context of a Jewish wedding, 323 00:17:29,114 --> 00:17:32,518 when Jesus comes, the church is here through the tribulation. 324 00:17:32,918 --> 00:17:35,921 When Jesus comes, he pulls the church out 325 00:17:35,921 --> 00:17:38,857 and they arrive together after the tribulation. 326 00:17:38,857 --> 00:17:42,061 For the what's the Bible calls the millennial reign of Christ 327 00:17:42,061 --> 00:17:44,096 with his bride for a thousand years 328 00:17:45,431 --> 00:17:47,132 to follow. 329 00:17:47,132 --> 00:17:49,268 So personally, I believe the church is going to be here 330 00:17:49,268 --> 00:17:52,704 through the through the through, through the entire seven year tribulation. 331 00:17:52,905 --> 00:17:55,741 No, if you don't, we disagree. 332 00:17:55,741 --> 00:17:57,476 And that's okay. 333 00:17:57,476 --> 00:18:00,479 Because if I'm wrong, I'm happy. 334 00:18:00,712 --> 00:18:03,715 But if you're wrong, you better get ready. 335 00:18:05,918 --> 00:18:06,952 You follow. 336 00:18:06,952 --> 00:18:10,355 And I think that scenario fits the Jewish wedding. 337 00:18:10,355 --> 00:18:14,293 And that's what the context of this whole thing is about the Jewish wedding. 338 00:18:14,293 --> 00:18:18,597 So as we go through this, I'll just just look at this. 339 00:18:18,664 --> 00:18:19,832 There's ten virgins. 340 00:18:19,832 --> 00:18:20,999 Think bridesmaids. 341 00:18:20,999 --> 00:18:21,834 That's what we're talking about. 342 00:18:21,834 --> 00:18:24,837 Ten bridesmaids. 343 00:18:25,938 --> 00:18:27,973 Because they don't know when the groom's coming back. 344 00:18:27,973 --> 00:18:30,175 They keep their their their lamps ready. 345 00:18:30,175 --> 00:18:32,377 Really? That word lamp in Greek is torch. 346 00:18:32,377 --> 00:18:34,580 And it literally was a stick with cloth 347 00:18:34,580 --> 00:18:36,882 on the end, soaked and all that they would light. 348 00:18:36,882 --> 00:18:39,852 So that's really what these what these ladies have 349 00:18:40,385 --> 00:18:42,654 all ten of them waiting for the groom to come back, 350 00:18:42,654 --> 00:18:45,791 and all ten of them fall asleep because he's delayed. 351 00:18:45,958 --> 00:18:48,293 And the Bible doesn't say that's good or bad. 352 00:18:48,293 --> 00:18:53,098 It's just is he's gone a long time and they get tired and they fall asleep. 353 00:18:53,098 --> 00:18:56,101 No problem. When they hear him coming back. 354 00:18:56,135 --> 00:18:56,869 Wake up. 355 00:18:56,869 --> 00:18:58,137 Let's go meet him. 356 00:18:58,137 --> 00:19:00,339 The procession has started. 357 00:19:00,339 --> 00:19:02,941 We realize he's coming. Let's get our lamps. 358 00:19:02,941 --> 00:19:05,777 Light him and go meet him. Five of them are wise. 359 00:19:05,777 --> 00:19:06,712 Five are foolish. 360 00:19:06,712 --> 00:19:08,881 Why not? Because they got tired. 361 00:19:08,881 --> 00:19:12,251 Because of his delay, but because five of them weren't ready. 362 00:19:13,318 --> 00:19:13,919 They said we 363 00:19:13,919 --> 00:19:17,055 don't have enough all to sustain us. 364 00:19:17,055 --> 00:19:18,857 So give us some of yours. 365 00:19:18,857 --> 00:19:22,394 And the the fife who had extra all said, we can't. 366 00:19:23,162 --> 00:19:25,664 We can't give you our oil. 367 00:19:25,664 --> 00:19:28,233 Go buy some. Now. This might have been at midnight. 368 00:19:28,233 --> 00:19:30,302 There's nobody open at midnight to bio. 369 00:19:30,302 --> 00:19:33,305 It's too late 370 00:19:33,438 --> 00:19:34,740 now. Listen. 371 00:19:34,740 --> 00:19:35,974 All through the Bible. 372 00:19:35,974 --> 00:19:38,977 All is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. 373 00:19:39,678 --> 00:19:41,313 Old Testament holy. 374 00:19:41,313 --> 00:19:42,548 The kings were anointed. 375 00:19:42,548 --> 00:19:46,518 God's chosen were anointed with all symbolizing the presence of God 376 00:19:46,518 --> 00:19:49,521 through the spirit on them to anoint them and empower 377 00:19:49,521 --> 00:19:52,558 them and purify them all through the Bible. 378 00:19:52,591 --> 00:19:54,026 Oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. 379 00:19:54,026 --> 00:19:57,429 So apparently there were five who looked like 380 00:19:57,829 --> 00:20:00,499 they were ready, 381 00:20:00,499 --> 00:20:03,502 but they weren't 382 00:20:03,702 --> 00:20:05,537 because they had not the Holy Spirit. 383 00:20:11,543 --> 00:20:14,546 There are some who look ready, who are. 384 00:20:15,981 --> 00:20:18,984 And some who look ready, who are not. 385 00:20:21,420 --> 00:20:24,423 It's easy to look ready. 386 00:20:34,132 --> 00:20:37,135 I don't want you to miss this. 387 00:20:38,370 --> 00:20:41,373 It's easy to look ready. 388 00:20:46,378 --> 00:20:48,213 See, some look the part, 389 00:20:48,213 --> 00:20:51,216 but they lack the heart. 390 00:20:54,519 --> 00:20:55,387 They had the outward 391 00:20:55,387 --> 00:20:58,390 appearance of a Christian, but they weren't a disciple. 392 00:20:59,391 --> 00:21:01,860 There was no repentance of sin. 393 00:21:01,860 --> 00:21:04,863 There's no transformed life. 394 00:21:06,498 --> 00:21:07,199 Spurgeon 395 00:21:07,199 --> 00:21:10,202 said, if your theology doesn't change your behavior, 396 00:21:10,302 --> 00:21:13,305 it'll never change your destiny. 397 00:21:15,774 --> 00:21:17,743 You make all the confession you want in the world, 398 00:21:17,743 --> 00:21:21,880 but there's no repentance of sin and putting sin to death in your life. 399 00:21:22,014 --> 00:21:25,017 That confession means nothing. 400 00:21:28,120 --> 00:21:31,223 Just because one might say the word sometime in their life. 401 00:21:31,223 --> 00:21:33,992 Jesus, come into my life, make me Christian. I want to go to heaven. 402 00:21:33,992 --> 00:21:39,698 Where I die does not mean one is saved because words can't save anybody. 403 00:21:46,104 --> 00:21:49,107 If those words aren't proved 404 00:21:49,374 --> 00:21:53,879 to be true by a repentance and a turning of sin 405 00:21:53,879 --> 00:21:57,516 and putting sin to death in one's life, there are just words. 406 00:22:01,219 --> 00:22:04,222 And many will look ready 407 00:22:04,456 --> 00:22:07,459 and find that there's no oil. 408 00:22:11,463 --> 00:22:12,831 I don't want you to get tripped up 409 00:22:12,831 --> 00:22:17,202 on the nuances of the parable when the 500 should go buy some oil. 410 00:22:17,202 --> 00:22:17,502 It's not. 411 00:22:17,502 --> 00:22:18,870 They're not saying that the Holy Spirit 412 00:22:18,870 --> 00:22:21,873 can be purchased, that salvation can be purchased. 413 00:22:21,907 --> 00:22:25,711 Nor are they saying that salvation can't be inherited by somebody else. 414 00:22:26,411 --> 00:22:29,414 You can't gain it from somebody giving it to you. 415 00:22:29,481 --> 00:22:32,451 Each person, each person. 416 00:22:34,319 --> 00:22:36,254 Has to work it out them selves 417 00:22:36,254 --> 00:22:39,257 between them and God. 418 00:22:39,791 --> 00:22:42,394 Their own repentance. 419 00:22:42,394 --> 00:22:47,799 And every person must own the faith for themselves, not just in word, 420 00:22:47,799 --> 00:22:52,871 but in proof by repentance and the putting to death of sin. 421 00:22:56,174 --> 00:22:57,376 Now for you parents. 422 00:22:57,376 --> 00:22:59,111 For us parents, it is wonderful. 423 00:22:59,111 --> 00:23:02,280 It's a blessing to raise our children in the Christian home. 424 00:23:02,381 --> 00:23:05,384 Showing I did, 425 00:23:05,384 --> 00:23:07,853 but even with that, each child 426 00:23:07,853 --> 00:23:10,856 must make that decision for themselves, 427 00:23:11,056 --> 00:23:16,194 not just accepting Jesus as their Savior as we like to say, but turning from sin 428 00:23:16,194 --> 00:23:20,065 in repentance and putting to death sin that reigns in their bodies. 429 00:23:22,734 --> 00:23:25,737 Magic words don't work. 430 00:23:27,939 --> 00:23:29,141 And there will come 431 00:23:29,141 --> 00:23:33,712 a time when the door is shut, and many 432 00:23:33,745 --> 00:23:37,949 who look the part will say, please let me in. 433 00:23:38,850 --> 00:23:42,587 And the response for some will be, I don't know who you are. 434 00:23:49,628 --> 00:23:50,595 The Bible says many 435 00:23:50,595 --> 00:23:53,632 in that they will say, Lord, Lord, didn't we do these things in your name? 436 00:23:53,632 --> 00:23:57,302 We made the confession with our mouth and he'll say, I don't know you. 437 00:24:04,376 --> 00:24:07,379 Listen, there will be an end to all of this. 438 00:24:07,379 --> 00:24:10,382 Our days will end 439 00:24:10,582 --> 00:24:13,585 and the end will result from the eternal of Christ. 440 00:24:15,020 --> 00:24:17,589 Two things are guaranteed, 441 00:24:17,589 --> 00:24:20,892 and you and I will experience one of them. 442 00:24:22,794 --> 00:24:24,629 Either 443 00:24:24,629 --> 00:24:27,432 you will die, 444 00:24:27,432 --> 00:24:30,435 or while you are alive, Christ will return. 445 00:24:31,770 --> 00:24:33,905 When either of those two things happen, 446 00:24:33,905 --> 00:24:36,908 the door will be shut. 447 00:24:42,280 --> 00:24:44,983 And the only thing those on the outside will hear 448 00:24:44,983 --> 00:24:47,986 is, I don't know who you are. 449 00:24:51,156 --> 00:24:53,825 And so the point of that parable is, don't be foolish. 450 00:24:53,825 --> 00:24:56,828 Be ready. 451 00:24:56,962 --> 00:24:59,931 Got it? 452 00:25:00,866 --> 00:25:02,067 And just think for a moment. 453 00:25:02,067 --> 00:25:05,437 If I'm right about the whole return of Christ, 454 00:25:05,904 --> 00:25:08,940 that we're here through the tribulation, and then we go to meet Christ in the air, 455 00:25:08,974 --> 00:25:12,377 and we come together for the 1000 year reign before the consummation 456 00:25:12,377 --> 00:25:15,947 of all things. If we're here for that time 457 00:25:17,115 --> 00:25:20,118 and we can't even get ourselves ready now 458 00:25:21,453 --> 00:25:24,456 before that time. 459 00:25:27,158 --> 00:25:28,226 What do you think it's going to be like 460 00:25:28,226 --> 00:25:31,229 during that time? 461 00:25:35,867 --> 00:25:38,870 Be ready. 462 00:25:39,104 --> 00:25:42,107 Do you feel how sobering this is? 463 00:25:45,710 --> 00:25:46,611 Jesus is like, 464 00:25:46,611 --> 00:25:49,614 I'm going to the cross at the end of this week. 465 00:25:50,015 --> 00:25:54,519 What am I going to leave you with that will motivate you for holy living? 466 00:25:54,853 --> 00:25:56,955 And that'll put this world in perspective. 467 00:25:56,955 --> 00:25:59,958 And this is what he says. 468 00:26:01,092 --> 00:26:02,827 And then he tells another parable, 469 00:26:02,827 --> 00:26:05,830 let me read it for you, 470 00:26:05,897 --> 00:26:08,133 for it will be like a man going on a journey 471 00:26:08,133 --> 00:26:10,101 who called his servants and entrusted. 472 00:26:10,101 --> 00:26:13,972 Remember that to them his property to when he gave five talents, 473 00:26:13,972 --> 00:26:17,175 to another, two to another one, to each according to his ability. 474 00:26:17,175 --> 00:26:20,478 Then he went away, and he would receive the five talents, 475 00:26:20,478 --> 00:26:23,715 went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 476 00:26:23,715 --> 00:26:28,753 So also, who had the two talents made two talents more, but he had received 477 00:26:28,753 --> 00:26:32,490 the one talent and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 478 00:26:32,557 --> 00:26:34,993 Now, after a long time, the master of those two servants 479 00:26:34,993 --> 00:26:38,029 came and settled accounts with him settled accounts, 480 00:26:38,430 --> 00:26:41,299 and who had received the five talents came forward, bringing 481 00:26:41,299 --> 00:26:44,536 five talents more, saying, master, you delivered to me five talents. 482 00:26:44,536 --> 00:26:46,504 Here I've made five talents more. 483 00:26:46,504 --> 00:26:49,240 His master said, well done, good and faithful servant. 484 00:26:49,240 --> 00:26:51,876 You've been faithful over a little I will set you over much. 485 00:26:51,876 --> 00:26:53,578 Enter into the joy of your master. 486 00:26:53,578 --> 00:26:57,616 And he also had two talents came forward, saying, master, you delivered me 487 00:26:57,616 --> 00:27:00,051 two talents. Here I have made two talents more. 488 00:27:00,051 --> 00:27:02,921 His master said to him, well done, good and faithful servant. 489 00:27:02,921 --> 00:27:04,255 You've been faithful with over little. 490 00:27:04,255 --> 00:27:06,858 I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master. 491 00:27:06,858 --> 00:27:08,860 He also had received the one. 492 00:27:08,860 --> 00:27:12,864 Talent came forward, saying, master, I knew you to be a hard man, 493 00:27:13,231 --> 00:27:16,267 reaping where you did not, so gathering where you scattered no seed. 494 00:27:16,267 --> 00:27:18,737 So I was afraid, and I went hid your town. 495 00:27:18,737 --> 00:27:21,473 The ground here have what's yours? 496 00:27:21,473 --> 00:27:23,274 The master answered him. 497 00:27:23,274 --> 00:27:25,810 You wicked and slothful servant. 498 00:27:25,810 --> 00:27:28,813 Oh, you knew that I reap where I have not shown, and gather where I 499 00:27:28,813 --> 00:27:29,547 scatter no seed. 500 00:27:30,615 --> 00:27:33,385 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, 501 00:27:33,385 --> 00:27:37,122 and at my comment I should have received what was mine with interest. 502 00:27:37,155 --> 00:27:40,291 So take the talent from him, and give it to the one who has ten times 503 00:27:40,291 --> 00:27:44,095 for everyone who has or be given more, and he will have an abundance from the one 504 00:27:44,095 --> 00:27:44,796 who has not. 505 00:27:44,796 --> 00:27:48,299 Even what he has will be taken from him and cast the wicked, worthless 506 00:27:48,299 --> 00:27:52,070 servant and outer darkness in that place they'll be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 507 00:27:52,070 --> 00:27:55,073 Pretty strong parable. 508 00:27:56,541 --> 00:27:58,977 In order to understand that, you have to understand what a talent is. 509 00:27:58,977 --> 00:28:00,945 A talented is not a skill in the Bible. 510 00:28:00,945 --> 00:28:01,613 It's not a skill. 511 00:28:01,613 --> 00:28:05,450 It's not a it's not a talent is a measurement of weight. 512 00:28:05,784 --> 00:28:08,853 And in the Bible, the the talent, the measurement weight 513 00:28:08,920 --> 00:28:11,856 is always in connection with money, 514 00:28:11,856 --> 00:28:14,759 the talent of silver or talented gold, that type of thing. 515 00:28:14,759 --> 00:28:18,229 So when Jesus says one was given five talents, two talents, one talent, 516 00:28:18,263 --> 00:28:22,200 one talent of silver was worth 20 years wages. 517 00:28:22,801 --> 00:28:27,939 And so the point is, he's saying, God, the master has given you a lot. 518 00:28:29,107 --> 00:28:31,876 Cherish it. 519 00:28:31,876 --> 00:28:34,612 The wealthy traveler go about the business. 520 00:28:34,612 --> 00:28:36,948 He goes and he leaves his. 521 00:28:36,948 --> 00:28:40,385 He leaves the treasure possession with his servants. 522 00:28:40,618 --> 00:28:43,621 What instruction did he give his servants? 523 00:28:47,258 --> 00:28:48,259 You're looking for your Bible. 524 00:28:48,259 --> 00:28:49,160 You're not going to find it. 525 00:28:49,160 --> 00:28:51,296 He didn't give me any instruction. 526 00:28:51,296 --> 00:28:52,797 I'm going away. I'm leaving this with you. 527 00:28:52,797 --> 00:28:54,466 I know you can handle it. 528 00:28:54,466 --> 00:28:57,702 They can't all each handle the same thing, but they each handle something. 529 00:28:58,203 --> 00:28:59,704 He doesn't give them any stress 530 00:28:59,704 --> 00:29:03,508 because he expects his servants to know his heart and know his desire. 531 00:29:03,508 --> 00:29:06,511 And to get busy doing it. 532 00:29:07,212 --> 00:29:08,480 And the Bible says that 533 00:29:08,480 --> 00:29:12,584 the one is given five immediately he got the the master left 534 00:29:12,584 --> 00:29:16,521 and he got is he right then investing it and making it grow. 535 00:29:16,855 --> 00:29:19,591 He didn't wait for instruction because he knew the master's heart 536 00:29:19,591 --> 00:29:21,092 and he knew the master's desire. 537 00:29:21,092 --> 00:29:24,162 And he said, I have so much expectation of a comeback. 538 00:29:24,162 --> 00:29:26,931 I gotta get busy putting this to use right now. 539 00:29:26,931 --> 00:29:28,233 And the one who was given two towns 540 00:29:28,233 --> 00:29:31,236 did the exact same thing, and the one who was given one. 541 00:29:32,036 --> 00:29:33,104 What did he say? 542 00:29:35,840 --> 00:29:36,708 He was afraid. 543 00:29:36,708 --> 00:29:39,177 What he say. 544 00:29:39,177 --> 00:29:42,147 He said, I what I know of you 545 00:29:42,147 --> 00:29:45,150 is that you are an unreasonable master. 546 00:29:45,850 --> 00:29:47,418 You reap or you don't. 547 00:29:47,418 --> 00:29:51,790 So you take things from stuff that you never laid anything down. 548 00:29:52,090 --> 00:29:56,494 What I know of you is your harsh and unreasonable and you scare me to death. 549 00:29:56,494 --> 00:29:59,264 So whatever you want, take whatever he didn't say. 550 00:29:59,264 --> 00:30:02,267 He said take, take, take, take a little bit. 551 00:30:02,667 --> 00:30:05,937 And the response in the parable from Jesus, 552 00:30:05,937 --> 00:30:08,940 he doesn't agree with this guy's assessment of him. 553 00:30:09,707 --> 00:30:11,042 It's more long lines. 554 00:30:11,042 --> 00:30:15,747 Oh, you knew that I was, I kind of pictured Denzel Washington that 555 00:30:15,747 --> 00:30:19,784 oh, you knew I wish I could do Denzel, but that's kind of, you know, 556 00:30:20,418 --> 00:30:23,421 oh, you knew that I was. 557 00:30:24,522 --> 00:30:25,256 In essence, he's 558 00:30:25,256 --> 00:30:28,393 saying, listen, if that's your assessment of me, 559 00:30:28,426 --> 00:30:32,497 if all you think of me is that I am harsh and unreasonable, 560 00:30:32,931 --> 00:30:35,934 then you should have at least put it on interest. 561 00:30:36,100 --> 00:30:41,372 But because you don't know who I am, you condemn yourself. 562 00:30:43,374 --> 00:30:46,377 Harsh and unreasonable. 563 00:30:47,078 --> 00:30:50,081 You don't know me. 564 00:30:53,251 --> 00:30:54,352 Now listen. 565 00:30:54,352 --> 00:30:58,723 This parable is not about how we handle the practical blessings of God. 566 00:30:58,723 --> 00:31:02,060 It's not what we do with the talents and gifts he's given us. 567 00:31:02,093 --> 00:31:05,196 It has nothing to do with the resources he's 568 00:31:05,196 --> 00:31:08,499 entrusted to us and making sure we're, you know, giving back to the church. 569 00:31:08,499 --> 00:31:10,301 And it doesn't have anything to do with that. 570 00:31:10,301 --> 00:31:12,570 It's something much more deep than that. 571 00:31:12,570 --> 00:31:15,573 But but here's so that you don't walk out 572 00:31:15,640 --> 00:31:19,143 and think, well, there's nothing practical I'm going to give you. 573 00:31:19,177 --> 00:31:21,212 I'm going to give some practical insight into these talents, 574 00:31:21,212 --> 00:31:24,215 and then I'm going to tell you the deeper spiritual truth. 575 00:31:24,549 --> 00:31:24,916 Okay. 576 00:31:24,916 --> 00:31:30,121 So listen, the overarching question is, is what are you doing for God 577 00:31:30,188 --> 00:31:33,191 with what God's giving you while you wait? 578 00:31:33,191 --> 00:31:36,628 What are you doing for God with what God's giving you? 579 00:31:37,762 --> 00:31:40,198 That's the just the practical application. 580 00:31:40,198 --> 00:31:43,067 There are five practical observations for this parable. 581 00:31:43,067 --> 00:31:45,069 I'm going to give it to you real quick. 582 00:31:45,069 --> 00:31:46,471 Jesus owns everything. 583 00:31:46,471 --> 00:31:49,374 We only manage his stuff. 584 00:31:49,374 --> 00:31:52,810 The servants given five and two talents. 585 00:31:52,877 --> 00:31:54,212 They doubled it. 586 00:31:54,212 --> 00:31:56,881 How much do they keep for themselves? 587 00:31:56,881 --> 00:31:58,383 Not because it wasn't theirs. 588 00:31:58,383 --> 00:32:01,019 They give it all to the master because it's all he is. 589 00:32:01,019 --> 00:32:02,854 They just managed. 590 00:32:02,854 --> 00:32:04,522 By a while he was gone. 591 00:32:04,522 --> 00:32:09,294 Everything that we have in this world, we're just managing for a time 592 00:32:09,294 --> 00:32:12,530 until the matter was back and asked for an accounting. 593 00:32:13,231 --> 00:32:14,866 Do you follow? 594 00:32:14,866 --> 00:32:15,333 Okay. 595 00:32:15,333 --> 00:32:16,834 Second one is this God 596 00:32:16,834 --> 00:32:20,471 expects us to use what he's entrusted to us to benefit his kingdom. 597 00:32:20,672 --> 00:32:23,107 How much of what they produce do they say? 598 00:32:23,107 --> 00:32:25,677 Well, great, now I'm going to live large. 599 00:32:25,677 --> 00:32:28,813 It was all given and invested not for their benefit, 600 00:32:28,813 --> 00:32:31,382 but his kingdom's benefit. 601 00:32:31,382 --> 00:32:34,118 That's the point. Follow. 602 00:32:35,820 --> 00:32:37,622 Oh, don't. 603 00:32:37,622 --> 00:32:39,223 The third thing is this. Don't be idle. 604 00:32:39,223 --> 00:32:43,461 Be busy during the times of waiting and faithful during times of delay. 605 00:32:43,594 --> 00:32:46,597 The moment the master left, the guys got busy. 606 00:32:46,831 --> 00:32:48,399 Two of them did. 607 00:32:48,399 --> 00:32:51,035 There was no delay. 608 00:32:51,035 --> 00:32:52,704 They didn't have to ask for a search. 609 00:32:52,704 --> 00:32:55,707 They knew the father's heart. 610 00:32:56,174 --> 00:32:58,042 And they knew they'd be held accountable. 611 00:32:58,042 --> 00:33:01,346 The fourth thing is this a misunderstood view of God is no excuse 612 00:33:01,346 --> 00:33:04,349 for poor stewardship. 613 00:33:04,549 --> 00:33:06,551 Just because the one didn't understand 614 00:33:06,551 --> 00:33:10,722 the heart of the master was not an excuse for his failure. 615 00:33:17,662 --> 00:33:19,731 And fifthly, where there is no risk for God, 616 00:33:19,731 --> 00:33:22,734 there's no reward from God. 617 00:33:26,471 --> 00:33:30,241 But I think there's more to this parable than that practical stewardship. 618 00:33:30,274 --> 00:33:33,945 And I think all the practical stewardship is true and applicable. 619 00:33:33,945 --> 00:33:36,080 But there's something deeper going on here. 620 00:33:37,281 --> 00:33:38,149 That's why it 621 00:33:38,149 --> 00:33:41,986 ends with cast that worthless servant into outer darkness. 622 00:33:41,986 --> 00:33:44,989 In that place they'll be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 623 00:33:46,557 --> 00:33:49,560 In this parable, the master. 624 00:33:53,031 --> 00:33:55,833 The master is Christ. 625 00:33:55,833 --> 00:33:58,836 The servants are us. 626 00:34:00,505 --> 00:34:03,508 And there will be an accounting. 627 00:34:04,108 --> 00:34:08,980 What is the most precious thing 628 00:34:09,147 --> 00:34:12,150 entrusted to us? 629 00:34:15,787 --> 00:34:16,854 It's not your money. 630 00:34:16,854 --> 00:34:17,722 It's not your time. 631 00:34:17,722 --> 00:34:18,556 It's not your opportunity. 632 00:34:18,556 --> 00:34:21,559 It's not your possessions, 633 00:34:21,659 --> 00:34:23,394 it's Christ. 634 00:34:23,394 --> 00:34:27,432 It's the gospel that's been entrusted to us. 635 00:34:27,465 --> 00:34:30,468 First Thessalonians two four. 636 00:34:30,902 --> 00:34:34,072 On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be 637 00:34:34,105 --> 00:34:36,874 what entrusted with what? 638 00:34:36,874 --> 00:34:39,877 The gospel. 639 00:34:40,411 --> 00:34:42,713 The most precious thing that's been entrusted to us 640 00:34:42,713 --> 00:34:46,551 is the gospel of Christ and salvation. 641 00:34:50,455 --> 00:34:53,458 How faithful are we 642 00:34:53,691 --> 00:34:56,794 in the administration of the gospel 643 00:34:56,894 --> 00:35:01,699 to multiply it in this world while we wait? 644 00:35:08,306 --> 00:35:11,309 There will be an accounting. 645 00:35:12,276 --> 00:35:16,280 The question is, am I leveraging everything I have been given 646 00:35:16,280 --> 00:35:20,751 to help people here and know and respond to and repent 647 00:35:20,751 --> 00:35:23,754 and mature in faith? 648 00:35:28,826 --> 00:35:29,560 This is why 649 00:35:29,560 --> 00:35:33,464 that one servant who just hid what he had, because he didn't understand 650 00:35:33,464 --> 00:35:36,467 the heart of the father is sentenced to hell. 651 00:35:37,802 --> 00:35:40,771 Because all he knew what the father. 652 00:35:42,140 --> 00:35:45,143 Was a harsh, unreasonable master. 653 00:35:50,915 --> 00:35:53,784 Jesus said, you only see him as harsh and cruel and unreasonable. 654 00:35:53,784 --> 00:35:54,785 Find your words. 655 00:35:54,785 --> 00:35:57,788 Condemn yourself. 656 00:35:58,823 --> 00:36:01,826 My expectation of those who know me 657 00:36:02,193 --> 00:36:04,228 is that they multiply all that I've given them. 658 00:36:04,228 --> 00:36:06,664 Imagine for a moment what would it have happened 659 00:36:06,664 --> 00:36:09,267 had the 120 in the upper room after Jesus ascension? 660 00:36:09,267 --> 00:36:14,839 Had they received the truth of salvation and hid it in themselves? 661 00:36:17,074 --> 00:36:20,077 Where would the world be? 662 00:36:33,424 --> 00:36:34,959 What are you doing? 663 00:36:34,959 --> 00:36:36,027 What are we doing as a church? 664 00:36:36,027 --> 00:36:41,065 What are you doing as an individual to leverage everything that God has given you 665 00:36:41,799 --> 00:36:44,902 to help people here and know and respond to 666 00:36:44,902 --> 00:36:47,905 and repent and mature in their faith? 667 00:36:48,239 --> 00:36:50,975 Have you taken the truth of the gospel and the truth 668 00:36:50,975 --> 00:36:52,710 and just hid it here and think, well, 669 00:36:52,710 --> 00:36:54,478 I pray the prayer I said the words I'm going to heaven. 670 00:36:54,478 --> 00:36:57,481 I'm you know, I'm good. 671 00:36:58,482 --> 00:37:01,452 Oh, lazy and foolish of it. 672 00:37:07,825 --> 00:37:08,426 I know, 673 00:37:08,426 --> 00:37:11,429 I know the pushback from a lot of people. 674 00:37:11,596 --> 00:37:14,232 I don't know how to, like, help people out. 675 00:37:14,232 --> 00:37:17,235 Jesus. Like, that's not my gig. 676 00:37:17,268 --> 00:37:20,538 But if I get it, 677 00:37:20,538 --> 00:37:23,674 if you think you're not good at it, the point is, isn't to be good at it. 678 00:37:23,674 --> 00:37:26,177 The point is to be faithful with it. 679 00:37:26,177 --> 00:37:29,780 The Holy Spirit makes even a bad presentation, a good presentation. 680 00:37:30,548 --> 00:37:33,751 And honestly, if you're not good at this stuff, come to the 401 class. 681 00:37:33,751 --> 00:37:35,553 I'll teach you how to be good at it. 682 00:37:41,759 --> 00:37:44,595 Listen, the point of this whole thing. 683 00:37:44,595 --> 00:37:47,598 Get ready. 684 00:37:50,034 --> 00:37:53,037 Don't be one of those who looks ready. 685 00:37:55,940 --> 00:37:58,943 Be one of those who is ready. 686 00:38:00,311 --> 00:38:01,879 The way you get ready 687 00:38:01,879 --> 00:38:04,882 starts with repentance. 688 00:38:06,984 --> 00:38:09,920 There's nowhere in the Bible 689 00:38:09,920 --> 00:38:13,791 of anybody who followed Jesus or was instructed to. 690 00:38:13,824 --> 00:38:16,861 Throughout all of church 691 00:38:16,861 --> 00:38:19,864 history, there's no one 692 00:38:20,064 --> 00:38:22,400 who said, all you got to do is say this magic prayer, 693 00:38:22,400 --> 00:38:24,235 and then you're sealed and you're good. It doesn't. 694 00:38:24,235 --> 00:38:25,069 Nothing else matters. 695 00:38:25,069 --> 00:38:28,072 It doesn't work that way. 696 00:38:28,439 --> 00:38:31,108 There's no magic prayer. 697 00:38:31,108 --> 00:38:33,377 The whole idea of Jesus come into my heart. 698 00:38:33,377 --> 00:38:34,779 Save me. I want to go to heaven. 699 00:38:34,779 --> 00:38:37,882 That didn't even show up in American Christianity 700 00:38:37,882 --> 00:38:40,851 until about the 1950s. 701 00:38:43,521 --> 00:38:45,723 All through scripture, 702 00:38:45,723 --> 00:38:48,659 a disciple was defined as someone 703 00:38:48,659 --> 00:38:52,029 who believed in a living Jesus. 704 00:38:52,029 --> 00:38:55,900 Though he was crucified and repented of their sin 705 00:38:55,900 --> 00:38:59,236 and put sin to death in their life. 706 00:39:03,541 --> 00:39:06,544 Are you ready? 707 00:39:09,613 --> 00:39:11,949 Repent. 708 00:39:11,949 --> 00:39:13,784 Believe in a risen Lord 709 00:39:13,784 --> 00:39:16,987 who is coming back in day. 710 00:39:19,790 --> 00:39:23,794 And as a sign of repentance, put sent to death in your body 711 00:39:23,794 --> 00:39:28,733 that you've been dating and courting for far too long, and leverage 712 00:39:28,733 --> 00:39:32,103 everything in your life for the Kingdom of God and its benefit. 713 00:39:36,640 --> 00:39:39,610 I want you to pray with me. 714 00:39:44,915 --> 00:39:45,683 Father, thank you 715 00:39:45,683 --> 00:39:49,120 that your mercies are new every morning. 716 00:39:50,988 --> 00:39:52,523 Thank you that your faithfulness is great 717 00:39:52,523 --> 00:39:55,493 because mine is not. 718 00:40:05,035 --> 00:40:08,038 For your love and your forgiveness. 719 00:40:12,877 --> 00:40:14,979 Father, 720 00:40:14,979 --> 00:40:18,315 I pray this in the first service and I got prayed again, 721 00:40:18,315 --> 00:40:22,186 not not just so people are here, but because 722 00:40:23,521 --> 00:40:25,189 I know the iniquity of my own heart 723 00:40:25,189 --> 00:40:28,192 how crooked I am. 724 00:40:30,060 --> 00:40:33,063 And I'm truly father, I am sorry. 725 00:40:35,232 --> 00:40:38,269 That I was so much more excited 726 00:40:38,269 --> 00:40:41,439 and anticipating a garage door installation than your return. 727 00:40:41,439 --> 00:40:42,106 Jesus, 728 00:40:43,574 --> 00:40:46,577 that's just stupid. 729 00:40:47,077 --> 00:40:50,080 And I'm reminded how quickly 730 00:40:50,181 --> 00:40:53,217 the main thing isn't the main thing in my life. 731 00:40:53,984 --> 00:40:55,052 How often that happens. 732 00:40:55,052 --> 00:40:58,055 I'm sorry. 733 00:41:06,530 --> 00:41:09,133 Father, ask your forgiveness of the iniquity of my heart, 734 00:41:09,133 --> 00:41:12,136 the crookedness of my own heart, the perversion of my own heart. 735 00:41:12,503 --> 00:41:13,838 And I acknowledge it. 736 00:41:13,838 --> 00:41:17,141 Sometimes the iniquity of my heart leads me to trespass in my life. 737 00:41:17,174 --> 00:41:19,543 And I, 738 00:41:19,543 --> 00:41:22,279 Jesus, thank you that you died on the cross so I could be forgiven. 739 00:41:22,279 --> 00:41:25,282 I accept what you did. 740 00:41:26,851 --> 00:41:29,854 And I want to live in repentance. 741 00:41:31,222 --> 00:41:33,290 And father, I'm asking by your mercy 742 00:41:33,290 --> 00:41:36,293 that as I repent that you give me all that your grace allows. 743 00:41:38,195 --> 00:41:41,198 I won't be ready. 744 00:41:41,398 --> 00:41:44,235 I want to live ready. 745 00:41:44,235 --> 00:41:47,238 God, I don't want to fool myself. 746 00:41:48,072 --> 00:41:49,173 And thinking, I'm ready. 747 00:41:49,173 --> 00:41:50,274 I want to be ready. 748 00:41:54,278 --> 00:41:57,281 And so, father, I pledge allegiance to you. 749 00:41:59,750 --> 00:42:01,151 Help me to put to death sin 750 00:42:01,151 --> 00:42:04,154 that still is alive in my body. 751 00:42:09,660 --> 00:42:11,295 And invite you that. 752 00:42:11,295 --> 00:42:14,198 That that prayer had nothing to do with you. 753 00:42:14,198 --> 00:42:14,932 That was. 754 00:42:14,932 --> 00:42:17,935 That was just about me. 755 00:42:19,570 --> 00:42:20,871 And I'm going to encourage you 756 00:42:20,871 --> 00:42:23,874 to utter something of the same. 757 00:42:26,610 --> 00:42:29,613 In your sin, confess your sin, and repent. 758 00:42:34,151 --> 00:42:36,053 Choose this day to make the decision 759 00:42:36,053 --> 00:42:39,056 to put to death sin that you still keep, 760 00:42:40,057 --> 00:42:41,358 that you still keep hold of this. 761 00:42:41,358 --> 00:42:44,361 You still practice. That you still 762 00:42:44,695 --> 00:42:46,830 coddle and date. 763 00:42:46,830 --> 00:42:49,833 Put it to death. 764 00:42:51,335 --> 00:42:53,103 How's the father to give you the Holy Spirit 765 00:42:53,103 --> 00:42:56,173 and the power of the Holy Spirit to put to death the sins of your body? 766 00:42:58,642 --> 00:43:00,144 To give you the increased desire 767 00:43:00,144 --> 00:43:04,214 to live a holy life and a righteous life and obedience life. 768 00:43:06,317 --> 00:43:07,151 Because you 769 00:43:07,151 --> 00:43:10,154 have been loved, because Jesus has died for you. 770 00:43:11,055 --> 00:43:14,058 That is our response. 771 00:43:15,593 --> 00:43:16,026 Father, 772 00:43:16,026 --> 00:43:19,029 there are some in this place who are. 773 00:43:20,264 --> 00:43:23,434 In this moment not relying on it, special 774 00:43:23,434 --> 00:43:27,504 magic words, but who truly believe that you are alive, Jesus, 775 00:43:27,504 --> 00:43:30,708 that you're coming back, and our repenting of sin 776 00:43:31,875 --> 00:43:34,878 who desire to live a holy life, 777 00:43:35,012 --> 00:43:38,015 who are pledging their allegiance to you, 778 00:43:38,415 --> 00:43:40,451 solidify that decision in them. 779 00:43:40,451 --> 00:43:43,454 Secure it. 780 00:43:47,157 --> 00:43:50,394 We pray what your people have been praying for 2000 years. 781 00:43:50,394 --> 00:43:53,831 Come, Lord Jesus, come and find us faithful. 782 00:43:53,831 --> 00:43:56,834 When you do your name. 783 00:43:56,834 --> 00:43:59,837 Amen. 784 00:44:01,071 --> 00:44:01,438 Listen, 785 00:44:01,438 --> 00:44:05,509 I really believe what Spurgeon said, that if your theology doesn't 786 00:44:05,509 --> 00:44:08,512 change your behavior, it cannot change your destiny. 787 00:44:09,980 --> 00:44:11,749 A part of some of you made 788 00:44:11,749 --> 00:44:14,985 a decision and made a prayer, 789 00:44:16,120 --> 00:44:17,388 and you've 790 00:44:17,388 --> 00:44:21,358 taken what God has given you the promise of forgiveness, the promise of salvation. 791 00:44:21,392 --> 00:44:24,395 You've taken that and you've internalized it, 792 00:44:24,695 --> 00:44:28,298 and you endeavor to live a holy life, to put to death sin. 793 00:44:28,298 --> 00:44:31,301 Good man. 794 00:44:32,202 --> 00:44:35,172 The danger is that you bury it now, 795 00:44:36,473 --> 00:44:37,708 and you don't allow it 796 00:44:37,708 --> 00:44:40,711 to multiply in your life. 797 00:44:40,978 --> 00:44:42,780 One of the ways that it begins 798 00:44:42,780 --> 00:44:45,783 to multiply is by telling somebody 799 00:44:45,783 --> 00:44:49,787 and praying with somebody, the solidification of that decision. 800 00:44:49,787 --> 00:44:52,790 It's a commitment. It's a public commitment. 801 00:44:53,390 --> 00:44:55,492 And so as we do every week, 802 00:44:55,492 --> 00:44:57,161 the people are going to be in front and back 803 00:44:57,161 --> 00:44:59,797 that are willing to pray and just say, yeah, let's celebrate this together. 804 00:44:59,797 --> 00:45:01,699 Let's confess this together. Let's clean this together. 805 00:45:01,699 --> 00:45:03,100 Let's let's hold this together 806 00:45:04,635 --> 00:45:05,335 so that it 807 00:45:05,335 --> 00:45:08,639 comes just from here and starts to multiply a little bit. 808 00:45:08,672 --> 00:45:11,675 At least get the ball rolling. 809 00:45:13,577 --> 00:45:15,212 My fear is that we offer this every week. 810 00:45:15,212 --> 00:45:16,113 Some of you are going to take. 811 00:45:16,113 --> 00:45:16,513 No man. 812 00:45:16,513 --> 00:45:19,516 I'm good. I'm. 813 00:45:19,917 --> 00:45:22,553 And you're going to take what God is beginning to birth 814 00:45:22,553 --> 00:45:27,091 and beginning to to to these embraces begin to stir and to blow on to night. 815 00:45:27,091 --> 00:45:27,825 You're going to take that. 816 00:45:27,825 --> 00:45:28,759 It's just going to end you. 817 00:45:28,759 --> 00:45:31,762 It's just going to. 818 00:45:33,664 --> 00:45:36,667 Don't let that happen. 819 00:45:37,901 --> 00:45:39,703 Repent. 820 00:45:39,703 --> 00:45:42,172 Be joyful about it. 821 00:45:42,172 --> 00:45:45,175 Because repentance is the doorway to grace 822 00:45:45,843 --> 00:45:48,378 and nothing. Be ashamed of man. 823 00:45:48,378 --> 00:45:51,381 And there's certainly nothing supposed to be privatized. 824 00:45:54,151 --> 00:45:54,852 Let's sing.