WEBVTT 00:00:07.919 --> 00:00:09.199 Good morning. 00:00:10.160 --> 00:00:11.279 My name is Russ. 00:00:11.359 --> 00:00:15.359 If I hadn't had a chance to meet you, it is great to be with you this week. 00:00:15.519 --> 00:00:17.920 It's great to be back in Walnut Grove. 00:00:18.079 --> 00:00:20.559 Had a fun time in Social Circle last week. 00:00:20.719 --> 00:00:23.679 So thankful for Pat this week. 00:00:24.399 --> 00:00:31.280 I don't know how Pat uh preached this past week, but when I oh yes, yeah. 00:00:31.920 --> 00:00:33.600 There's no doubt it was great. 00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:39.759 But I felt like a little bit of a hellfire and brimstone preacher last week. 00:00:41.359 --> 00:00:47.200 And I'm afraid I'm gonna feel a little bit like a hellfire and brimstone preacher today. 00:00:49.520 --> 00:00:50.399 You want that? 00:00:50.560 --> 00:00:51.840 That's great. 00:00:53.920 --> 00:00:57.280 And so uh we're gonna be in Matthew chapter 5. 00:00:57.520 --> 00:00:58.719 I'm sorry, 25. 00:00:58.880 --> 00:01:00.240 Matthew chapter 25. 00:01:00.320 --> 00:01:28.879 We are moving through the book of Matthew, and and and and and obviously we haven't hit on every chapter, every story, um, but we're trying to really capture uh a lot of this at the end because um as we get closer to the end of Matthew, I believe that um we're gonna see some of the most important events that have ever happened in the history of the world, and it's quite important. 00:01:28.959 --> 00:01:43.840 And so we're next week we're gonna look at the crucifixion and the resurrection and what Jesus teaches us and commissions us with after his resurrection, before his ascension. 00:01:44.159 --> 00:01:55.599 And so here we are at the end, at the end before he goes and surrenders himself to be crucified. 00:01:55.920 --> 00:02:06.879 And so, wouldn't you think that what he teaches and what he says right before the end is pretty important? 00:02:08.400 --> 00:02:09.039 It is. 00:02:09.919 --> 00:02:21.120 As a matter of fact, it's what we see in Matthew 24 and 25 is, and the scholars call it the Mount Olivet Discourse. 00:02:21.759 --> 00:02:35.280 And it plays a huge role as we look at the larger picture of end times and what happens in all of history in the end. 00:02:36.960 --> 00:02:40.000 Now, you may or may not be aware of it. 00:02:40.240 --> 00:02:48.960 You may feel it, you may think this often, but I believe that the return of Jesus is imminent. 00:02:49.120 --> 00:02:50.319 It is close. 00:02:50.800 --> 00:02:52.479 We are in the end times. 00:02:52.719 --> 00:02:56.400 We we we we see the signs. 00:02:56.639 --> 00:03:04.240 Now, Jesus says no one will know the day nor the hour, but you will know the seasons. 00:03:04.479 --> 00:03:06.080 You'll know the signs. 00:03:06.400 --> 00:03:24.479 As a matter of fact, scholars refer to, and I'm gonna I'm gonna give you, so you may want to open your Bibles, whether electronic or physical, because I'm gonna read through Matthew 25 and it'll be on the screen, but I'm gonna give you some additional scriptures. 00:03:24.639 --> 00:03:31.919 So I have to turn in all my notes by like Thursday morning, but I'm sometimes I'm still going. 00:03:32.240 --> 00:03:36.159 And I I I went down a rabbit hole this week. 00:03:36.479 --> 00:03:42.960 And so, and so the the this what are called by scholars is the super sign. 00:03:43.599 --> 00:03:51.840 The super sign of the end times is the establishment of the nation of Israel. 00:03:52.400 --> 00:03:53.840 That's the super sign. 00:03:54.800 --> 00:03:56.879 I mean, think, I want you to think about it. 00:03:57.039 --> 00:04:06.319 Not not a lot of you, it it was right, it was prior to your birth, but it hasn't really been that long ago. 00:04:07.199 --> 00:04:29.519 I mean, right after War II in 1948, through the Balfour Declaration, in one day, a scattered people that had been scattered over the earth for thousands of years, in one day they become a nation. 00:04:31.920 --> 00:04:34.879 And so Isaiah speaks to this. 00:04:35.120 --> 00:04:39.199 Isaiah 66, 8. 00:04:39.759 --> 00:04:42.480 It says, Who has heard such a thing? 00:04:42.800 --> 00:04:45.199 Who has seen such things? 00:04:45.519 --> 00:04:49.040 Shall a land be born in one day? 00:04:49.279 --> 00:04:52.720 Shall a nation be brought forth in one moment? 00:04:53.680 --> 00:05:00.240 For as soon as Zion was in labor, she brought forth her children. 00:05:01.839 --> 00:05:04.240 And that ought to make you say, whoa. 00:05:05.759 --> 00:05:08.319 Wow, ooh, ah. 00:05:11.360 --> 00:05:12.959 That's a super sign. 00:05:14.079 --> 00:05:26.720 Along with that, people, Jewish people, have been flocking back to their homeland. 00:05:28.800 --> 00:05:42.000 In 2005, my brother and I went to Israel for the first time, and and and and so we were at In Geti, which is the oasis in the desert. 00:05:42.959 --> 00:05:51.519 Where, you know, what 3,000 years ago, King David took refuge there. 00:05:52.800 --> 00:06:02.800 And and and it is it is, I mean, when I say an oasis in the desert, it is the desert, the desert in Judea, it it's it makes me think of what the moon would be like. 00:06:02.959 --> 00:06:05.600 It is just absolutely desolate. 00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:24.319 And in the middle, there's this oasis, and so we are we are at this oasis, and it's a national park there in Israel, just like you have national parks here, and so they have people that go to visit and Getty and they swim and they get in the water and they play and have picnics and the the whole thing. 00:06:24.399 --> 00:06:29.120 And we got into conversations with with several people. 00:06:30.399 --> 00:06:37.759 And and one girl, um, Jewish girl, she said, we we got to talk, and she said, we said, Are you from here? 00:06:37.839 --> 00:06:42.079 She said, Well, I'm I'm Jewish, but I actually grew up in New Jersey. 00:06:42.720 --> 00:06:46.879 And she said, I I just landed here last week. 00:06:47.199 --> 00:06:58.319 And there was a plane full of us from New Jersey coming back to establish our homes here. 00:06:59.600 --> 00:07:12.399 And we hear if you if you pay attention to the news, you hear about the controversy of how the Jews are establishing these settlements. 00:07:13.120 --> 00:07:17.279 And people, who is moving into these settlements? 00:07:17.519 --> 00:07:20.879 It's Jewish people from all over the world. 00:07:21.199 --> 00:07:24.639 Planes are landing there on a daily basis. 00:07:25.279 --> 00:07:44.800 And this scripture, Jeremiah 23, 7 and 8, says, Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, well, they shall no longer say, As the Lord lives, who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt? 00:07:44.959 --> 00:08:01.839 But as the Lord lives, who brought up and led the offspring of the house of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where he had driven them, then they shall dwell in their own land. 00:08:04.399 --> 00:08:24.000 And so we are seeing right before our eyes things happening that are prophetic in nature that are setting the stage for the return of Jesus. 00:08:24.959 --> 00:08:28.959 And I mean, I believe it could just about be any day. 00:08:29.600 --> 00:08:38.559 I think there's some work left for us to do in getting the gospel to unreach people groups, to getting the word of God translated. 00:08:38.639 --> 00:08:44.720 There's still some work for us as believers, and I'm going to talk about that in Matthew 25. 00:08:45.039 --> 00:08:49.679 We all have some responsibility in the end times. 00:08:50.799 --> 00:08:52.960 But Jesus will return. 00:08:53.120 --> 00:08:54.240 He is going to return. 00:08:54.399 --> 00:08:57.039 It's going to be glorious. 00:08:58.799 --> 00:09:10.960 He will return, and this is what I believe is I have studied, and I know there's different perspectives, but I believe that Jesus will return and he will take his church up. 00:09:12.879 --> 00:09:27.440 He will take his church up and we will experience what it's like to be around the throne of God in the presence of Jesus while the rest of the world goes through what's called the tribulation period. 00:09:29.279 --> 00:09:33.120 Things will have to happen over those seven-year periods. 00:09:33.840 --> 00:09:47.200 And then Jesus and you and me, the church, will return back to a new heaven and a new earth for a millennial reign of a thousand years. 00:09:48.159 --> 00:09:52.399 Yes! That's worth a few of you believe that. 00:09:52.480 --> 00:09:53.759 That's great. 00:10:00.240 --> 00:10:13.360 And so that's why Matthew twenty-five is really important when we consider what's going on in the big picture. 00:10:14.480 --> 00:10:21.039 And here's the big idea for today is that present investments will yield eternal returns. 00:10:21.919 --> 00:10:26.240 Present investments will yield eternal returns. 00:10:26.399 --> 00:10:41.360 These last chapters in Matthew are addressing the end times, and there's these three parables that Jesus teaches the parable of the virgins, the parable of the talents, which we're going to talk about today. 00:10:42.799 --> 00:10:48.399 And then Jesus may be returning right now. 00:10:48.720 --> 00:10:50.399 Is there an amber alert? 00:10:51.759 --> 00:10:54.879 Lord, I pray for that child to be found. 00:10:55.600 --> 00:10:58.720 And God, that that situation would be settled. 00:10:59.200 --> 00:10:59.840 Amen. 00:11:00.559 --> 00:11:01.600 There we go. 00:11:03.440 --> 00:11:04.080 Amen. 00:11:04.240 --> 00:11:05.200 Lord, we pray. 00:11:05.440 --> 00:11:06.399 We pray. 00:11:06.799 --> 00:11:08.720 I you know, I've been waiting for this to happen. 00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:12.480 It's not really, it's we really, man, Lord, please, please. 00:11:12.720 --> 00:11:18.000 Whatever needs to happen in that situation, we pray your hand be upon it. 00:11:20.000 --> 00:11:23.120 Especially for the children that are involved. 00:11:24.080 --> 00:11:31.759 And so the parable of the virgins is really about depending on the gospel. 00:11:32.320 --> 00:11:37.600 The parable of the talents we're going to talk about today is about declaring the gospel. 00:11:38.240 --> 00:11:45.039 And the final judgment is about demonstrating the gospel. 00:11:45.679 --> 00:11:48.879 Now, Matthew 25, verse 14. 00:11:50.399 --> 00:11:51.919 I'm going to jump in. 00:11:52.480 --> 00:11:59.519 It says, again, the kingdom of heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. 00:11:59.679 --> 00:12:07.120 He called together his servants and he entrusted his money to them while he was gone. 00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:10.159 Now it says money. 00:12:10.480 --> 00:12:12.480 It's called the parable of talents. 00:12:13.600 --> 00:12:18.240 Money could be translated as talents, but what is talents? 00:12:18.879 --> 00:12:21.200 Talents represents a lot here. 00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:22.879 I'm going to explain it here. 00:12:23.120 --> 00:12:27.120 So he entrusted his money to them while he was gone. 00:12:27.360 --> 00:12:40.480 He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last, dividing it in proportion to their abilities. 00:12:41.120 --> 00:12:43.279 He then left on his trip. 00:12:43.600 --> 00:12:51.200 The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. 00:12:53.360 --> 00:13:00.960 The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. 00:13:01.360 --> 00:13:10.480 But the servant who received one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master's money. 00:13:11.279 --> 00:13:15.919 Now, these bags of money, these are talents. 00:13:16.080 --> 00:13:17.200 They represent talents. 00:13:17.279 --> 00:13:18.159 What is talents? 00:13:18.879 --> 00:13:28.159 It represents really everything that God has given us to advance his kingdom. 00:13:28.639 --> 00:13:33.360 The talent, first of all, represents the gospel. 00:13:34.399 --> 00:13:36.080 It represents the good news. 00:13:36.240 --> 00:13:41.279 It represents the responsibility that we've been entrusted. 00:13:41.919 --> 00:13:57.759 If you have ever heard the good news of Jesus and you responded to it, and you said, I want to repent and believe and put my faith in Jesus Christ, and I want to turn my life over to the Lord. 00:13:57.840 --> 00:14:06.559 And you are, at that point, you are justified, which means that when God sees you, he does not see your sin. 00:14:06.799 --> 00:14:10.000 He declares you not guilty. 00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:14.399 And you are given the gift of salvation. 00:14:14.960 --> 00:14:16.320 You are made right. 00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:19.279 You were clothed in the righteousness. 00:14:21.679 --> 00:14:25.519 And we're going to talk about the crucifixion next week. 00:14:25.679 --> 00:14:38.399 When Jesus suffers on the cross, he takes all of your sin, all of your wickedness, all of your shortcomings. 00:14:38.720 --> 00:14:46.159 He takes them off of you when you put your faith in him, and he puts them on himself. 00:14:47.279 --> 00:15:02.799 And he takes the righteousness that he has lived with his whole life as the Son of God, and He gives you the robe of righteousness as a gift. 00:15:03.440 --> 00:15:10.799 And you are given the gift of reconciliation with your Heavenly Father. 00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:16.879 So you are, you are, listen, heaven, it's not that you're going to go to heaven one day. 00:15:17.120 --> 00:15:18.879 Heaven has come to you. 00:15:22.559 --> 00:15:24.879 And then you have the power, then. 00:15:24.960 --> 00:15:36.320 I mean, we could, I could go on, and we we have the gift of the Holy Spirit, the power of the Holy Spirit given to us so we can take these talents. 00:15:36.720 --> 00:15:38.480 So the talent is the gospel. 00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:40.559 What do we do with this gospel? 00:15:41.679 --> 00:15:44.159 We've got to be obedient with it. 00:15:44.320 --> 00:15:45.919 We've got to be willing to share it. 00:15:46.080 --> 00:15:48.720 We've got to go to the ends of the earth. 00:15:49.600 --> 00:15:52.879 We've got to be willing to share it with a neighbor. 00:15:53.440 --> 00:15:54.879 We've got to pray for people. 00:15:55.440 --> 00:15:59.200 The gospel is one of the talents. 00:16:00.320 --> 00:16:07.840 The other talents are the spiritual gifts the Holy Spirit has empowered you with. 00:16:08.320 --> 00:16:10.799 You have special abilities. 00:16:11.679 --> 00:16:17.039 Some of you have the gift of prophecy. 00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:19.679 Some of you have the gift of administration. 00:16:19.840 --> 00:16:22.639 Some of you have the gift. 00:16:24.480 --> 00:16:26.399 All types of gifts. 00:16:27.759 --> 00:16:34.639 Gifts that are that are used to serve in the work of the gospel and the work of the ministry. 00:16:35.039 --> 00:16:36.879 Those are the talents. 00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:43.039 This is the money that God is Jesus is talking about in this parable. 00:16:47.679 --> 00:16:52.639 All of us believers are given an amount, and we're responsible. 00:16:53.600 --> 00:16:57.039 To use what we've been given for the glory of God. 00:16:58.639 --> 00:17:04.319 And one has maybe more than another. 00:17:07.119 --> 00:17:12.319 There may be one pastor that has responsibility over a certain amount. 00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:15.839 Another pastor has responsibility over a different amount. 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:17.279 You don't compare. 00:17:17.519 --> 00:17:19.200 Comparison kills. 00:17:20.079 --> 00:17:23.759 You don't compare and say, oh, woe is me. 00:17:23.920 --> 00:17:25.279 They have more than I have. 00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:26.640 They have more ability. 00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:29.599 No, you take responsibility for what you have. 00:17:29.839 --> 00:17:31.359 Comparison kills. 00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:33.680 Be responsible for what you have. 00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:35.519 But listen to this. 00:17:35.680 --> 00:17:37.839 Don't you waste your life. 00:17:38.400 --> 00:17:39.519 Don't waste it. 00:17:39.680 --> 00:17:40.400 Make it count. 00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:42.799 That's what Jesus is saying. 00:17:43.519 --> 00:17:44.960 Verse 19. 00:17:46.960 --> 00:17:58.240 He says, After a long time, their master returned from his trimp and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. 00:17:58.559 --> 00:17:59.279 Talents. 00:18:00.319 --> 00:18:02.240 Abilities, the gospel. 00:18:02.640 --> 00:18:15.039 The servant to whom he had entrusted five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more. 00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:17.359 The master was full of praise. 00:18:17.599 --> 00:18:19.920 Well done, my good and faithful servant. 00:18:20.079 --> 00:18:21.359 Don't we want to hear that? 00:18:21.599 --> 00:18:27.920 You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. 00:18:28.240 --> 00:18:29.759 Let's celebrate together. 00:18:29.920 --> 00:18:41.920 The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more. 00:18:42.160 --> 00:18:46.000 The master said, Well done, my good and faithful servant. 00:18:46.160 --> 00:18:52.559 You've been faithful in handling the small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. 00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:55.039 Let's celebrate together. 00:18:55.759 --> 00:19:01.680 Then the servant with one bag of silver came and said, Master, I knew you were a harsh man. 00:19:02.319 --> 00:19:06.640 Harvesting crops you didn't plant and gathering crops you didn't cultivate. 00:19:06.799 --> 00:19:24.319 Now, listen, this is what a person who doesn't have a relationship with God might, they might have a completely wrong perception of who God is and his character. 00:19:24.640 --> 00:19:25.920 And we see that. 00:19:29.519 --> 00:19:31.039 That's not Jesus. 00:19:31.519 --> 00:19:33.359 It's wrong perception. 00:19:33.680 --> 00:19:38.640 Wrong perception leads to a long, a wrong live life. 00:19:39.519 --> 00:19:42.640 Wrong perception leads to wrong living. 00:19:45.920 --> 00:19:50.480 He says, I was afraid you would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. 00:19:50.640 --> 00:19:52.880 Look, here is your money back. 00:19:54.880 --> 00:19:56.799 He said, Here's a key part. 00:19:56.880 --> 00:19:58.480 He says, I was afraid. 00:19:58.960 --> 00:20:00.400 I was afraid. 00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:02.400 I was afraid. 00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:03.680 I was afraid. 00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:06.160 We're not to respond to Jesus out of fear. 00:20:06.319 --> 00:20:10.480 We are to have a healthy fear of God because he's holy. 00:20:12.079 --> 00:20:13.920 But Jesus is good. 00:20:15.119 --> 00:20:16.640 He's faithful. 00:20:17.200 --> 00:20:21.920 Yes, he's holy, but he invites us into a relationship with him. 00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:29.039 We are not to respond out of fear with what he's given us to be responsible for. 00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:31.759 Fear is the opposite of faith. 00:20:31.920 --> 00:20:33.920 We are to respond with faith. 00:20:34.319 --> 00:20:36.160 So the master rewards. 00:20:37.119 --> 00:20:40.960 He rewards the investing of the one with five talents. 00:20:41.119 --> 00:20:42.799 He said, I'm going to give you more. 00:20:43.039 --> 00:20:44.480 Let's celebrate. 00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:51.599 He rewards the one with two, because he invested and made more. 00:20:52.400 --> 00:20:53.519 He rewarded him. 00:20:53.680 --> 00:20:55.039 Let's celebrate. 00:20:55.440 --> 00:20:57.359 But look at verse 26. 00:20:57.839 --> 00:21:02.000 But the master replied, You wicked and lazy servant. 00:21:02.480 --> 00:21:10.720 If you knew I harvested crops I didn't plant and gathered crops I didn't cultivate, why didn't you deposit my money in the bank? 00:21:10.880 --> 00:21:16.319 At least put it in the bank where it could have gotten some interest on it. 00:21:16.559 --> 00:21:22.960 Then he ordered, Take the money from this servant and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. 00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:30.720 To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. 00:21:30.880 --> 00:21:36.400 But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. 00:21:36.640 --> 00:21:42.960 Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 00:21:44.160 --> 00:21:47.200 Now that's a little hellfire and brimstone, isn't it? 00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:49.599 But it's truth. 00:21:50.480 --> 00:21:51.759 It's truth. 00:21:52.960 --> 00:21:54.240 It's truth. 00:21:56.000 --> 00:21:57.440 And so here's the choice. 00:21:57.599 --> 00:21:58.880 We can be selfish. 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:13.039 If you've experienced the gift of salvation and you don't understand what it means to go and partner and to be willing to share it and give it away. 00:22:14.400 --> 00:22:26.319 Now that's why we would have somebody like Craig's story share a couple of weeks ago, and we would tell a story about planting a church out in the area of Good Hope. 00:22:26.720 --> 00:22:35.599 And in another week or two, we're going to have another young man that's going to come and share about how he's planting a church over here at Aether Road. 00:22:35.839 --> 00:22:38.400 You said, Russ, that sure is close. 00:22:38.640 --> 00:22:42.400 Hey, people need Jesus everywhere. 00:22:42.640 --> 00:22:47.200 You throw a rock in any direction, and people need Jesus. 00:22:47.359 --> 00:22:49.519 You say, Russ, there's so many churches. 00:22:49.759 --> 00:22:51.599 No, you're talking about buildings. 00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:53.039 There's so many buildings. 00:22:53.119 --> 00:22:59.119 Sometimes inside those buildings, there isn't a church, or if there is one, it's dead. 00:23:01.200 --> 00:23:02.400 And you know what? 00:23:04.319 --> 00:23:08.799 They've taken the one talent and they've buried it. 00:23:14.799 --> 00:23:25.759 Yesterday, we celebrated the life of a guy named Michael O'Connor, and what breaks my heart and what's making me a little bit sad is that some of you didn't know Michael. 00:23:25.839 --> 00:23:28.240 You didn't have the privilege of knowing Michael. 00:23:30.079 --> 00:23:35.359 And part of Michael's story fits so well with what we're teaching today. 00:23:36.400 --> 00:23:47.119 Because we went, we decided we, we, I mean, even before we ever planted Church at the Grove here in Walnut Grove, we we knew that there needed to be another expression of a church and social circle. 00:23:49.359 --> 00:23:59.680 And so in 2012, we went down to the middle school and began to have services, and we sent we sent 50 people from Walnut Grove down there. 00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:05.599 And some of them are best, best workers and volunteers. 00:24:06.319 --> 00:24:14.960 And probably a year or so after we were down there, Michael O'Connor gave his heart to Jesus. 00:24:15.599 --> 00:24:23.839 And I believe with all my heart that if we had not gone to social circle, that Michael O'Connor may not be in heaven right now. 00:24:26.319 --> 00:24:30.559 And I went, I went to the funeral yesterday, and you know what I did? 00:24:30.720 --> 00:24:48.160 I sat out in a seat and I watched with pride as Pastor Nathan beautifully eulogized Michael's life. 00:24:49.440 --> 00:24:52.720 And I thought about this passage. 00:24:55.039 --> 00:24:57.200 I don't have to preach another Sunday. 00:24:57.279 --> 00:24:59.200 I don't have to preach another funeral. 00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:01.519 I don't have to get any credit. 00:25:01.680 --> 00:25:08.640 I'm I I anybody else can take this pulpit and and take the responsibility. 00:25:08.799 --> 00:25:10.160 It's not about me. 00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:18.400 I want to plant more churches, I want to see more work done, and it doesn't matter who gets the credit, Jesus gets the credit. 00:25:19.119 --> 00:25:33.440 So we're going to keep going and keep multiplying and keep planting and keep taking what God has given us and multiply it and be responsible with it. 00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:34.799 And you know what? 00:25:34.960 --> 00:25:37.359 I wrote in my notes two words. 00:25:37.680 --> 00:25:39.279 Be faithful. 00:25:40.880 --> 00:25:42.240 Be faithful. 00:25:43.279 --> 00:25:44.640 Be faithful. 00:25:45.279 --> 00:25:47.519 Don't waste your life. 00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:51.440 Take what you have and use it for the glory of God. 00:25:54.960 --> 00:25:56.640 Because he's coming. 00:25:57.519 --> 00:25:59.920 Jesus is coming soon. 00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:03.359 That's the point of this chapter. 00:26:03.680 --> 00:26:05.599 He is coming soon. 00:26:13.839 --> 00:26:17.920 And we'll gather with the saints. 00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:22.000 I think of what John wrote, Revelation chapter 4. 00:26:22.079 --> 00:26:25.920 After this, I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. 00:26:26.160 --> 00:26:35.519 And the first voice which I heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this. 00:26:35.839 --> 00:26:43.519 At once I was in the spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, and one seated on the throne. 00:26:43.759 --> 00:26:48.720 And he who sat there had the appearance of Jasper and Carnelian. 00:26:48.880 --> 00:26:58.400 And around the throne was a rainbow that that a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. 00:26:58.799 --> 00:27:09.599 Around the throne were 24 thrones, and seated on the throne were the 24 elders clothed in white garments with golden crowns on their heads. 00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:16.799 From the thrones came flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder. 00:27:17.039 --> 00:27:23.759 And before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God. 00:27:23.920 --> 00:27:30.079 And before the throne there was, as it were, a sea of glass like crystal. 00:27:30.799 --> 00:27:48.079 And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. 00:27:48.240 --> 00:28:09.440 And the four living creatures, each of them with wings, are full of eyes all around, and within, and day and night, they never cease to say, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty who was and is and is to come. 00:28:11.440 --> 00:28:12.079 Yes. 00:28:17.599 --> 00:28:26.079 And so there is no better time than right now than if you have never put your faith in Christ, just to say yes to Jesus. 00:28:27.440 --> 00:28:28.720 I'm not gonna. 00:28:46.079 --> 00:28:59.759 Every eye open, every head up, if you for the first time want to say yes to Jesus, would you just stand up right where you are? 00:29:01.119 --> 00:29:02.880 There may not be anybody. 00:29:03.119 --> 00:29:05.680 You may all be believers in this service. 00:29:08.880 --> 00:29:11.759 Anybody that just says, you know what? 00:29:11.839 --> 00:29:14.960 I I I need to respond to Jesus. 00:29:15.839 --> 00:29:17.599 If that's you, stand up. 00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:20.559 We want to celebrate it. 00:29:22.559 --> 00:29:24.319 It's a beautiful thing. 00:29:25.839 --> 00:29:26.640 Anybody? 00:29:29.839 --> 00:29:55.920 Are there any believers that need to examine your heart and really come to grips with whether you are the one with five talents, two talents, or the one with the one talent and you buried it. 00:29:57.839 --> 00:30:01.359 And you might need to come and just get right with the Lord. 00:30:06.640 --> 00:30:09.759 Father, we ask that you would work. 00:30:13.599 --> 00:30:15.759 We pray for your Holy Spirit to come. 00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:18.319 God, come and work, come and speak. 00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:23.759 God, use this time as we respond. 00:30:25.119 --> 00:30:32.079 God, just to have the Holy Spirit move. 00:30:34.079 --> 00:30:48.400 To draw us to obedience, to draw us to faithfulness, to draw us to be aware of what's happening in this world. 00:30:52.400 --> 00:30:58.319 To be aware of the culture. 00:31:08.319 --> 00:31:42.000 I'm thinking the words of the Apostle Paul, he says in 2 Timothy 3, but I understand this that in the last days there will come times of difficulty, for people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. 00:31:45.599 --> 00:31:57.839 God help us to be a people that acknowledge you and your power, and that we would be a people that seek to walk in it in obedience. 00:31:58.720 --> 00:32:04.480 God, that we would we would see this and be challenged to examine our hearts. 00:32:05.119 --> 00:32:07.680 It's in Jesus' name that we pray.