WOW! I got this wrote on Sunday afternoon! I’m either getting better at managing my time or I was just lucky today.
A few lessons to remember from Sunday’s first service.
Jesus told the seventy in Luke 10 to pray when he sent them out. He also told them what to pray. Pray that the Lord of the harvest would send forth laborers. Remember He was sending them already. God was asking them to pray for people to go to the field, what He was calling them to do. It’s easy to just go because it’s the right thing to do. But pray that God gives you a burden for the lost and a passion for people. Then you can do what God sent you to do. We are the laborers God has ask us to pray for.
When the seventy returned Jesus let them know that the actions of evangelism, healing the sick, teaching, even casting out demons was the normal actions of those who God were empowered by the anointing. Great anointed church should be normal church. Dead boring religion is not normal church as far as Jesus is concerned.
Jesus then goes on to tell them we should be getting beside ourselves and rejoicing because our name in written in glory. We have a reserved place at the table of God. That is an eternal blessing. You want a reason to sing loud? Get you name written in glory and keep your vessel full so that you name stays written in Heaven.
So happy for the great number of young people who attended the Element Retreat this weekend (around 40). I know they had fun and were blessed of God. Yet I sure missed them in church in Sunday’s first service. I wouldn’t want to have church without young people! They add energy to our services.
We need to grab hold of Dad’ sermon at the evening service. Go Beyond, our Miracle is Beyond us. If we want to be used of God and be an anointed force in the Kingdom of the Lord we will have to go beyond where we are and become a spiritual force personally. It’s time we stop just riding and become what the Almighty has always intended us to be. Go Beyond!
This next article was a blog post from Perry Nobles. I really thought it is relevant and very timely.
STOP IT!!!
When God speaks clearly to you then you have a choice…
You can make plans…OR make excuses!
People who make excuses DO NOT change or impact the world around them.
They get STUCK because they keep obsessing over what God may want next for their lives when they refuse to deal with what He is speaking to RIGHT NOW!
Please read Ezekiel 14:1-6
Some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat down in front of me. Then the word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all? Therefore speak to them and tell them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: When any Israelite sets up idols in his heart and puts a wicked stumbling block before his face and then goes to a prophet, I the LORD will answer him myself in keeping with his great idolatry. I will do this to recapture the hearts of the people of Israel, who have all deserted me for their idols.' "Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Repent! Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices!
When God deals with an issue He will CONTINUALLY deal with THAT issue for as long as it takes to be confessed and repented of. AND…God is relentless!!! So…are you going to make plans OR excuses? (You will make one or the other!)
What is your answer TO THIS QUESTION? It changed my life!
What is “that thing” that you can’t get past…maybe it’s…
Finally deal with/confess sin and ask for help! (James 5:16)
Have that hard conversation that deals with confrontation/forgiveness! (See Matthew 6:14-15)
Begin to put God first in your finances! (See Proverbs 3:9-10)
Ask for help in your marriage! (Its way better to seek help when there is a problem than trying to find a divorce lawyer to help figure out who gets what!)
End an ungodly dating relationship. (And ungodly dating relationship is one that God keeps saying “NO” to you about!!!)
Join a (the) church!!!! (You are way too valuable to sit on the sidelines.)
I could go on and on…but you get the point!
What IS IT? STOP making excuses and STEP into WHO HE IS and WHAT HE wants you to do! Go for it!
Yes, that will give you a lot to think about I hope.
God is dealing with you right now about some needed changes in your life. Its past time you dealt with them and started moving forward in your relationship with God. Stop serving God on a part time bases and really live for Him. If you will do that you will find your life will turn in a much better direction and there is great peace when you love God with your daily living.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Something to Think About
This will be a little different today but I wanted to pass along a list of Tweets I have received from other people over the last several months. If you follow me on Twitter then you have read theses. The Italicized words are my thoughts on these quotes.
"Longevity in a Pew" doesn't determine "Spiritual Maturity!" ...beware of those who declare 'entitlement' over spiritual growth. No matter how long you and I have sit on a pew, no matter how long we have held a position or called ourselves a minister or saint, if there is no spiritual growth or life change we will be greatly surprised at the gate of eternity. Stop declaring your seniority and start living out your changed, growing life.
Before the church had pulpits and baptisteries, she had kitchens and tables. We are to be people of hospitality. Scripture tells us that we should be easily entreated, easy to approach, can people get to know Jesus around you? We need a baptism of the attitude of hospitality. The Priest and Levite lacked this in the story of the Good Samaritan.
The measure of your faith determines your power with God. Consequently eliminate anyone from your life who would steal your faith. Over and over in the Gospels and Epistles we are told to get away from people who drain us of our faith. Yet we often use the thought that we are trying to get someone to Jesus yet we fail to realize that they are getting us away from Jesus. Sometimes like the prodigal that Jesus told of, people will have to come to the cross on their own power. It is up to us to make sure we stay away from people who rob us of our faith and discourage us in our walk for God. This includes those who even sit on a pew in church.
If your ride through life is not as smooth as you would like it to be, blaming the road may not be the answer. Zig Ziglar This is a wonderful guiding statement. The day you realize that the struggles, rough places and the junk of life have much to do with what you are sowing is the day you can make great changes in your living. It is so easy to just blame the devil for everything. Yes, satan does fight against the cause of Christ but make sure you are not using the devil as a crutch not to change some of your life action. The road will often become smoother if we will change the way we are driving on it.
"The grass isn’t greener on the other side. There is no other side. The grass is green where you water it." ~ Ian Lawton WOW! This is a good thought. Too many people have destination disease. They are always saying and thinking, if they lived somewhere else, if they had gotten a different position, if they lived in a different house, if they were born to a different parent… they would be more successful. They live life thinking the grass is greener somewhere else. The truth is the grass is green where you water it or put effort into it. Believe it or not you will get the same things you are getting if you were somewhere else. Because if you don’t water the grass where you are you will not water it at the destination you are dreaming about. The key to greener grass is change the way you are taking care of where God has put you.
When we do more than we are paid for, eventually we will be paid more for what we do. Zig Ziglar. America has lost the ability to understand the power of hard work and going beyond in one’s effort. My father told me when I entered the work force in my teens that if I got all my work done then get a broom and start sweeping and picking up trash. As a boy one of my worries was not so much my boss but that my father would walk in and see me sitting down on the job. I am so glad he put this in me. Yet we have lost this in our day and too many are sitting around crying over not getting any breaks. The fact is they are not living their life in such a way as to get any breaks. Who would you promote the one working every time you walk in or the one who is always late and sitting around?
Better have a word from God; be plugged into the Holy Ghost; passionate about the message - or stay out of the pulpit. Souls are at stake! Yes! This not only is for those with a pulpit ministry but every teacher, Bible study instructor, worship leader and anyone who tries to tell others about God. Stop trying to just rely on your talents and abilities. You are killing too many. Read yourself full, pray yourself anointed and only then will your anointed life make a healthy difference.
Never OPEN your heart to a person that can't CLOSE their mouth. If they can't hold their tongue they can't hold your secret. You will have much better peace the sooner you realize that you can’t talk to everyone. Even some those who sit by you in church. Don’t pore yourself out to a vessel full of holes. It will leave you very dry and disappointed.
Complainers have spiritual bad breath. "Do everything without complaining!" Philippians 2:14. The next two verses of these words from Apostle Paul tell us why we should not complain. That we can rejoice in Christ and not run in vain. If you feel you’re not getting anywhere in God and no one wants to run the race with you, check your breath you may be complaining about what’s not going like you think it should.
The English language has 558 emotion words. 62% are negative 38% are positive. Will u dwell on the negative, or b the positive influence needed? This tells us right off the type of people we have become. We are putting more effort into complaining and the glass being half full than the positive out-look of life. Again God didn’t call us to be complainers. I challenge you to take a week and fast negative talking. You may not be able to make it a week. Why, faith comes by hearing… is your faith being flattened because of your negative words?
When you are more desperate for personal happiness than biblical obedience bad decisions are imminent. We often put too much time, effort and energy into things of this world that will be destroyed and that will deteriorate than we do the things of Heaven that last forever. Then we act like we can’t figure out why God is not blessing us and we have too many disgusting days. Answer? Bad decisions!
Now that is a lot to think on isn’t it?
I hope there are some thoughts here to help you grow and change your life. I believe we would all be surprised how much life would be better if we started changing the little things mentioned above. That’s my thoughts anyway.
"Longevity in a Pew" doesn't determine "Spiritual Maturity!" ...beware of those who declare 'entitlement' over spiritual growth. No matter how long you and I have sit on a pew, no matter how long we have held a position or called ourselves a minister or saint, if there is no spiritual growth or life change we will be greatly surprised at the gate of eternity. Stop declaring your seniority and start living out your changed, growing life.
Before the church had pulpits and baptisteries, she had kitchens and tables. We are to be people of hospitality. Scripture tells us that we should be easily entreated, easy to approach, can people get to know Jesus around you? We need a baptism of the attitude of hospitality. The Priest and Levite lacked this in the story of the Good Samaritan.
The measure of your faith determines your power with God. Consequently eliminate anyone from your life who would steal your faith. Over and over in the Gospels and Epistles we are told to get away from people who drain us of our faith. Yet we often use the thought that we are trying to get someone to Jesus yet we fail to realize that they are getting us away from Jesus. Sometimes like the prodigal that Jesus told of, people will have to come to the cross on their own power. It is up to us to make sure we stay away from people who rob us of our faith and discourage us in our walk for God. This includes those who even sit on a pew in church.
If your ride through life is not as smooth as you would like it to be, blaming the road may not be the answer. Zig Ziglar This is a wonderful guiding statement. The day you realize that the struggles, rough places and the junk of life have much to do with what you are sowing is the day you can make great changes in your living. It is so easy to just blame the devil for everything. Yes, satan does fight against the cause of Christ but make sure you are not using the devil as a crutch not to change some of your life action. The road will often become smoother if we will change the way we are driving on it.
"The grass isn’t greener on the other side. There is no other side. The grass is green where you water it." ~ Ian Lawton WOW! This is a good thought. Too many people have destination disease. They are always saying and thinking, if they lived somewhere else, if they had gotten a different position, if they lived in a different house, if they were born to a different parent… they would be more successful. They live life thinking the grass is greener somewhere else. The truth is the grass is green where you water it or put effort into it. Believe it or not you will get the same things you are getting if you were somewhere else. Because if you don’t water the grass where you are you will not water it at the destination you are dreaming about. The key to greener grass is change the way you are taking care of where God has put you.
When we do more than we are paid for, eventually we will be paid more for what we do. Zig Ziglar. America has lost the ability to understand the power of hard work and going beyond in one’s effort. My father told me when I entered the work force in my teens that if I got all my work done then get a broom and start sweeping and picking up trash. As a boy one of my worries was not so much my boss but that my father would walk in and see me sitting down on the job. I am so glad he put this in me. Yet we have lost this in our day and too many are sitting around crying over not getting any breaks. The fact is they are not living their life in such a way as to get any breaks. Who would you promote the one working every time you walk in or the one who is always late and sitting around?
Better have a word from God; be plugged into the Holy Ghost; passionate about the message - or stay out of the pulpit. Souls are at stake! Yes! This not only is for those with a pulpit ministry but every teacher, Bible study instructor, worship leader and anyone who tries to tell others about God. Stop trying to just rely on your talents and abilities. You are killing too many. Read yourself full, pray yourself anointed and only then will your anointed life make a healthy difference.
Never OPEN your heart to a person that can't CLOSE their mouth. If they can't hold their tongue they can't hold your secret. You will have much better peace the sooner you realize that you can’t talk to everyone. Even some those who sit by you in church. Don’t pore yourself out to a vessel full of holes. It will leave you very dry and disappointed.
Complainers have spiritual bad breath. "Do everything without complaining!" Philippians 2:14. The next two verses of these words from Apostle Paul tell us why we should not complain. That we can rejoice in Christ and not run in vain. If you feel you’re not getting anywhere in God and no one wants to run the race with you, check your breath you may be complaining about what’s not going like you think it should.
The English language has 558 emotion words. 62% are negative 38% are positive. Will u dwell on the negative, or b the positive influence needed? This tells us right off the type of people we have become. We are putting more effort into complaining and the glass being half full than the positive out-look of life. Again God didn’t call us to be complainers. I challenge you to take a week and fast negative talking. You may not be able to make it a week. Why, faith comes by hearing… is your faith being flattened because of your negative words?
When you are more desperate for personal happiness than biblical obedience bad decisions are imminent. We often put too much time, effort and energy into things of this world that will be destroyed and that will deteriorate than we do the things of Heaven that last forever. Then we act like we can’t figure out why God is not blessing us and we have too many disgusting days. Answer? Bad decisions!
Now that is a lot to think on isn’t it?
I hope there are some thoughts here to help you grow and change your life. I believe we would all be surprised how much life would be better if we started changing the little things mentioned above. That’s my thoughts anyway.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Beyond in our Giving
Today I am passing along some of my notes from Sunday evening’s service.
I often read and enjoy the stories told of the church in days gone by. I enjoy hearing an elde talk about the power of God in a service and the events that took place.
The stories are told over and over of the great things that God has done in the days gone by. The church of the living God in the early 1900’s saw and were part of miracles and moves of the Lord that were simply astounding. They saw miracles, healing, dead raised to life again, blind eyes opened and cripples restored. They saw many receive the Holy Ghost and baptisms often took all of Sunday afternoon and turned into its own service on the side of a river or pond bank.
They prayed and God answered. They preached and God confirmed His Word.
At the same time such a rich history causes me to look at my day and ask, why are we missing so much of the anointing. I look at our day, all our blessings. Never in her history has this church’s members been in a better position from a material and financial stand point. In the United States, just one third to one half of all church members give any financial support to their churches. Any! And of the people who do give something, only 3 to 5 percent give at the very least a tenth of their income. Meanwhile the wealth accumulated by churchgoing people has reached record levels. And despite the greatest opportunity ever to give in the greatest fashion ever, the American Christians today give proportionately less to their church than church members did during the Great Depression. (Taken from the book, Fields of Gold by Andy Stanley)
That is a very sad fact. I have to believe we are putting our seed in the wrong place.
We are hiding too much of what God has blessed us with in this old world.
We often ask the question why we don’t see the miracles and moves of God in our lives and churches like they did in the early 1900’s and Bible times, the answer is very simply. Today, we are praying and asking for a harvest over fields that have never been sown. We are asking for a miracle, a move of God over a place where no seeds have been planted, a place we have not invested our Time, Talents and Treasures.
What would we think of a farmer who prayed for a harvest, even a small harvest, but we knew he had never sown any seeds in his fields? He was only praying over empty soil. What do we think God will produce in the fields of our life when we have never bothered to sow for a harvest.
The Apostle Paul gives us these thought in writing to the church at Corinth.
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 NIV
There are three things that stand out about this scripture. (Fields of Gold by Andy Stanley)
Insight 1 – The law of the harvest applies to your finances
Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
What rational farmer would say, “I’m afraid to sow my seed because then I won’t have any seed anymore? Or what happens if I need this seed for next year?” Any farmer knows that if he wants a crop he has to put the seed in the ground. Neither does it do any good for him to pray, “Oh God, please give me a crop, give me a harvest. I’m not sure I’m ready to sow any of my seeds, but I am trusting you to get involved and give me a harvest. But I’ll hold my seed just in case.” No, the law of the harvest is in full affect in the giving of our Time Talents and Treasures.
Insight 2 – Financial giving aligns your life with God’s agenda
"He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."
Why did Paul say it like that? Why does he quote the 112 Psalm? Paul is reminding the church of God’s commitment to the poor and the needs of people and touching the lives of these people. In other words, God is up to something in this world. God has a plan that He is working. Paul is telling us that when we give we are aligning ourselves with God’s plan and what He is up to. When we do this we are taking our place in a plan that is much bigger than our life and our little bucket of seed. Like Vesta Mangun says, “When you make God’s business your business, God will make your business His business”.
Insight 3 – Good service results in repeat business
You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion,
We understand that one seed planted produces several times over its self. Paul is telling us that when we sow, God will increase us not so we can get more things. That’s burying the Lords gifts back into this world. But He blessed us so we can be generous on every occasion. We must remember why God is blessing us. Our prayers are often hindered because we are asking self-centered prayers. James in the New Testament said, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss (badly, grievously), that you may spend it on your pleasures.” James 4:3 NKJV God has blessed you and me so that we can give more generously.
In the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7, Jesus said, “When you pray”, “When you fast”, and “When you give”. Jesus didn’t say if we pray, if we fast or if we give. No, Jesus expects us to do each of these. Not one or the other. It is possible I believe for us to pray and fast but never give or sow seeds. If we do this I feel we will reap very little. The author of the book Fasting, says that these three form a three strand cord which Ecclesiastes says is not easily broken (Ecclesiastes 4:12). If you and I want a strong powerful help in our life that is not easily broken we will need to braid together, prayer, fasting and giving.
In 2001 I am attempting to lead us here at FPB to go Beyond in what we are doing for God. This will have to start with our personal living. I challenge you to go Beyond in your prayer, your love for people and in your giving. Go ahead, let’s go beyond.
I often read and enjoy the stories told of the church in days gone by. I enjoy hearing an elde talk about the power of God in a service and the events that took place.
The stories are told over and over of the great things that God has done in the days gone by. The church of the living God in the early 1900’s saw and were part of miracles and moves of the Lord that were simply astounding. They saw miracles, healing, dead raised to life again, blind eyes opened and cripples restored. They saw many receive the Holy Ghost and baptisms often took all of Sunday afternoon and turned into its own service on the side of a river or pond bank.
They prayed and God answered. They preached and God confirmed His Word.
At the same time such a rich history causes me to look at my day and ask, why are we missing so much of the anointing. I look at our day, all our blessings. Never in her history has this church’s members been in a better position from a material and financial stand point. In the United States, just one third to one half of all church members give any financial support to their churches. Any! And of the people who do give something, only 3 to 5 percent give at the very least a tenth of their income. Meanwhile the wealth accumulated by churchgoing people has reached record levels. And despite the greatest opportunity ever to give in the greatest fashion ever, the American Christians today give proportionately less to their church than church members did during the Great Depression. (Taken from the book, Fields of Gold by Andy Stanley)
That is a very sad fact. I have to believe we are putting our seed in the wrong place.
We are hiding too much of what God has blessed us with in this old world.
We often ask the question why we don’t see the miracles and moves of God in our lives and churches like they did in the early 1900’s and Bible times, the answer is very simply. Today, we are praying and asking for a harvest over fields that have never been sown. We are asking for a miracle, a move of God over a place where no seeds have been planted, a place we have not invested our Time, Talents and Treasures.
What would we think of a farmer who prayed for a harvest, even a small harvest, but we knew he had never sown any seeds in his fields? He was only praying over empty soil. What do we think God will produce in the fields of our life when we have never bothered to sow for a harvest.
The Apostle Paul gives us these thought in writing to the church at Corinth.
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 NIV
There are three things that stand out about this scripture. (Fields of Gold by Andy Stanley)
Insight 1 – The law of the harvest applies to your finances
Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
What rational farmer would say, “I’m afraid to sow my seed because then I won’t have any seed anymore? Or what happens if I need this seed for next year?” Any farmer knows that if he wants a crop he has to put the seed in the ground. Neither does it do any good for him to pray, “Oh God, please give me a crop, give me a harvest. I’m not sure I’m ready to sow any of my seeds, but I am trusting you to get involved and give me a harvest. But I’ll hold my seed just in case.” No, the law of the harvest is in full affect in the giving of our Time Talents and Treasures.
Insight 2 – Financial giving aligns your life with God’s agenda
"He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."
Why did Paul say it like that? Why does he quote the 112 Psalm? Paul is reminding the church of God’s commitment to the poor and the needs of people and touching the lives of these people. In other words, God is up to something in this world. God has a plan that He is working. Paul is telling us that when we give we are aligning ourselves with God’s plan and what He is up to. When we do this we are taking our place in a plan that is much bigger than our life and our little bucket of seed. Like Vesta Mangun says, “When you make God’s business your business, God will make your business His business”.
Insight 3 – Good service results in repeat business
You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion,
We understand that one seed planted produces several times over its self. Paul is telling us that when we sow, God will increase us not so we can get more things. That’s burying the Lords gifts back into this world. But He blessed us so we can be generous on every occasion. We must remember why God is blessing us. Our prayers are often hindered because we are asking self-centered prayers. James in the New Testament said, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss (badly, grievously), that you may spend it on your pleasures.” James 4:3 NKJV God has blessed you and me so that we can give more generously.
In the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7, Jesus said, “When you pray”, “When you fast”, and “When you give”. Jesus didn’t say if we pray, if we fast or if we give. No, Jesus expects us to do each of these. Not one or the other. It is possible I believe for us to pray and fast but never give or sow seeds. If we do this I feel we will reap very little. The author of the book Fasting, says that these three form a three strand cord which Ecclesiastes says is not easily broken (Ecclesiastes 4:12). If you and I want a strong powerful help in our life that is not easily broken we will need to braid together, prayer, fasting and giving.
In 2001 I am attempting to lead us here at FPB to go Beyond in what we are doing for God. This will have to start with our personal living. I challenge you to go Beyond in your prayer, your love for people and in your giving. Go ahead, let’s go beyond.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Personally Living Our Life Beyond
I think it is very important that we grasp all of what is going on in the story of the talents in Matthew 25. If we are to take our life beyond where it is now, we will have to do so through the area of God’s gifts in our life. We can’t go around them. God designed us like we are. Doing God’s purpose or will is of the utmost importance. The purpose of our life is sewn into the talents and abilities that God placed in our life. Our purpose cannot work outside that God created agenda. In other words, God will not require us to perform a duty or calling that He has not created us to perform. God will not demand of me something that I can’t do and do well with His help.
Matthew 25:14-30 gives us the story of the Talents. It is Jesus’ words. The entire chapters 24 and 25 are the response to the disciples when they ask what the end time would be like. (Matthew 24:3)Jesus gives us the story of the Talents exampling the coming of the Lord. He says:
14 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. (He gave His goods, His substance, we were created in His image, God built us from His desires.)
15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. (God did the giving. We don’t get an option in it. He is the Creator, He decides who gets what. Yes, some get more than others. It’s His stuff so He gets to order it how He pleases. Stop wasting precious time over what you didn’t get. Do something with what you did get.)
16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.
17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. (If we want our gifts to be greater, then we need to grow them. But always remember you will have to grow them with what God gave you. It should be our desire and nature to reproduce what God has placed in our life.)
18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money. (The word earth here does translate to soil first but by extension it also means globe or world. We must be on guard against burying our abilities in this world. We each tend to work in the areas of our talents. Our jobs more often than not, centers around our abilities. People who try to work outside their abilities in a job often are not successful. If we are successful in our job performance it will no doubt be in the areas of our gifting. But we must be on guard against burying our talents in this world. Though you may get bored and tried of your job, if it’s where your talents and abilities are then keep in mind that you can bury what God gave you in this world. Also when we bury our talents in this world we are not burying our stuff, it’s the Lord’s, it what He gave us to use while He is away.)
19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. (God is coming back and He will be asking how we did with what He gave us.)
20 "So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.'
21 His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'
22 He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.'
23 His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' (These two servants were greatly blessed because they increased their gifts. Each received the same bonus or blessing. The two talented servant received the same blessing that the five talented servant received. They were blessed because they used what they had been given from their Lord.)
24 "Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed.
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.' (The first thing this proved to me is God must hate a hording mentality. If you feel you are a small talented person, that you didn’t get all the abilities that some have, you had better be on guard against this mentality. This servant, rather than use contently what he had been given, horded it and left it like it was. Never be guilty of not using your God given talents because you don’t have the abilities others have. If he had made two with his he also would have received the blessings like the other two servants. He received one talent because the Lord knew that was what is ability demanded.)
26 "But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.
27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.
28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
29 'For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. (This is not kindergarten thinking. God is serious about His stuff. He wants to get the most out of the gifts He gave. So for that reason those who produce get the greatest blessings. Those who grow what He gave them and prepare their lives to grow in the Lord will be greatly blessed in their efforts.)
30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' NKJV
Why do people not use their talents in the kingdom of God? Why do we have so many people who are on the sideline rather than committing to the cause of Christ and using their talents in the church? Commitment is some of it. Again they are burying talents in the earth here. People will do just about whatever is demanded of them on a job or in school without question. Saying it’s important to do so because of money or education. But when it comes to the church they approach it half-hearted and without passion. Commitments people make for the secular they often would never make for the Kingdom. They want to do as they please without commitment. Again gifts buried in the world are lost gifts at eternity. We have too many people who are ignoring their gifts and talents because they don’t think they are flashy enough for the kingdom of God. There are people who don’t use the abilities of their life for the work of God because they want to do something else. They feel that their talents are not special enough. To think like this causes people to try to perform in areas they were not built to perform in. They end up struggling and feeling like they don’t matter to the church of the Lord.
If you want your gifts to be improved and expanded by the Lord you will have to increase what He gave you to start with. If you are ignoring your gifts don’t expect to be asked to do greater things.
In Mark 3:35 Jesus said, "For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother." Jesus said that who-ever does the will of God is His family. Do what God designed for you to do, that’s His will for you. In doing so, you will be part of the family of God.
Matthew 25:14-30 gives us the story of the Talents. It is Jesus’ words. The entire chapters 24 and 25 are the response to the disciples when they ask what the end time would be like. (Matthew 24:3)Jesus gives us the story of the Talents exampling the coming of the Lord. He says:
14 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. (He gave His goods, His substance, we were created in His image, God built us from His desires.)
15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. (God did the giving. We don’t get an option in it. He is the Creator, He decides who gets what. Yes, some get more than others. It’s His stuff so He gets to order it how He pleases. Stop wasting precious time over what you didn’t get. Do something with what you did get.)
16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.
17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. (If we want our gifts to be greater, then we need to grow them. But always remember you will have to grow them with what God gave you. It should be our desire and nature to reproduce what God has placed in our life.)
18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money. (The word earth here does translate to soil first but by extension it also means globe or world. We must be on guard against burying our abilities in this world. We each tend to work in the areas of our talents. Our jobs more often than not, centers around our abilities. People who try to work outside their abilities in a job often are not successful. If we are successful in our job performance it will no doubt be in the areas of our gifting. But we must be on guard against burying our talents in this world. Though you may get bored and tried of your job, if it’s where your talents and abilities are then keep in mind that you can bury what God gave you in this world. Also when we bury our talents in this world we are not burying our stuff, it’s the Lord’s, it what He gave us to use while He is away.)
19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. (God is coming back and He will be asking how we did with what He gave us.)
20 "So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.'
21 His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'
22 He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.'
23 His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' (These two servants were greatly blessed because they increased their gifts. Each received the same bonus or blessing. The two talented servant received the same blessing that the five talented servant received. They were blessed because they used what they had been given from their Lord.)
24 "Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed.
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.' (The first thing this proved to me is God must hate a hording mentality. If you feel you are a small talented person, that you didn’t get all the abilities that some have, you had better be on guard against this mentality. This servant, rather than use contently what he had been given, horded it and left it like it was. Never be guilty of not using your God given talents because you don’t have the abilities others have. If he had made two with his he also would have received the blessings like the other two servants. He received one talent because the Lord knew that was what is ability demanded.)
26 "But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.
27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.
28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
29 'For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. (This is not kindergarten thinking. God is serious about His stuff. He wants to get the most out of the gifts He gave. So for that reason those who produce get the greatest blessings. Those who grow what He gave them and prepare their lives to grow in the Lord will be greatly blessed in their efforts.)
30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' NKJV
Why do people not use their talents in the kingdom of God? Why do we have so many people who are on the sideline rather than committing to the cause of Christ and using their talents in the church? Commitment is some of it. Again they are burying talents in the earth here. People will do just about whatever is demanded of them on a job or in school without question. Saying it’s important to do so because of money or education. But when it comes to the church they approach it half-hearted and without passion. Commitments people make for the secular they often would never make for the Kingdom. They want to do as they please without commitment. Again gifts buried in the world are lost gifts at eternity. We have too many people who are ignoring their gifts and talents because they don’t think they are flashy enough for the kingdom of God. There are people who don’t use the abilities of their life for the work of God because they want to do something else. They feel that their talents are not special enough. To think like this causes people to try to perform in areas they were not built to perform in. They end up struggling and feeling like they don’t matter to the church of the Lord.
If you want your gifts to be improved and expanded by the Lord you will have to increase what He gave you to start with. If you are ignoring your gifts don’t expect to be asked to do greater things.
In Mark 3:35 Jesus said, "For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother." Jesus said that who-ever does the will of God is His family. Do what God designed for you to do, that’s His will for you. In doing so, you will be part of the family of God.
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