It's easier to continue than to stop and start again.
"If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 21 It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them." 2 Peter 2:20-21
We know people who were once on fire for God but are no longer walking with Him. None of us can look at that and say it's a good thing.
Life becomes painful.
You don't know what you have until it's gone.
Lfe getes in the way. We let life get in the way.
God knows what is good for us -- it's Him. That's what is best.
A successful life is walking through life with God.
God gave us a personal trainer. He is the Holly Spirit. He's there.
What we want is to be one with God. We all want God to say, "Well done good and faithful servant."
14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,[a] each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money." Matthew 25:14-18
According to his ability.
God gives us different abilties. In the area you have, in your realm of influence God has give you what you need to make a difference for Him.
All people get something. We all get a chance to do something for God, to be active.
Our life is meant to be used.
19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.Come and share your master’s happiness!’
22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’
23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.Come and share your master’s happiness!’" Matthew 25:19-23
There's no difference. Same blessing comes to both of them.
You take what you got. Run with what you have. Don't worry about what others have.
26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’" Matthew 25:26-30
God has offered His Son to every person. Everyone has the opportunity. You will get what you have chosen.
You chose not to do anything with what I gave you.
Imagine a farmer inheriting a field but letting it go to weeds.
1. Spend time in the Word. That's one of the bags of gold. Am I wasting His investment?
2. Time with God in Prayer. Jesus spent time alone with God. If he did, we should too. We need to treat our lives as gifts.
3. Sacrifice -- a form of worship
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship." Romans 12:1
Worship should be even greater now that we have salvation.
Our lives should be a sacrifice. What we do is worship to God (or can be). Our work is meant to be active.
18"But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder." James 2:18-19
Faith without works is burying that bag of gold in the ground.
22 "God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be headover everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of himwho fills everything in every way." Ephesians 1:22-23
If the church is empty how can it fill anything up?
Why go to church?
1. God tells us to.
2. We share in learning the Word.
3. Fellowship.
Where you spend your time is what you will look like.
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21
What you spend your time on is what you value.
Are you too tired for God?
The most precious thing is a relationship with God.
Others lose if we don't use the talents God has given us.
Do what you can in your sphere of influence.
Take what God has given you and run with it or lose the gifts He has given you.
"If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 21 It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them." 2 Peter 2:20-21
We know people who were once on fire for God but are no longer walking with Him. None of us can look at that and say it's a good thing.
Life becomes painful.
You don't know what you have until it's gone.
Lfe getes in the way. We let life get in the way.
God knows what is good for us -- it's Him. That's what is best.
A successful life is walking through life with God.
God gave us a personal trainer. He is the Holly Spirit. He's there.
What we want is to be one with God. We all want God to say, "Well done good and faithful servant."
14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,[a] each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money." Matthew 25:14-18
According to his ability.
God gives us different abilties. In the area you have, in your realm of influence God has give you what you need to make a difference for Him.
All people get something. We all get a chance to do something for God, to be active.
Our life is meant to be used.
19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.Come and share your master’s happiness!’
22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’
23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.Come and share your master’s happiness!’" Matthew 25:19-23
There's no difference. Same blessing comes to both of them.
You take what you got. Run with what you have. Don't worry about what others have.
26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’" Matthew 25:26-30
God has offered His Son to every person. Everyone has the opportunity. You will get what you have chosen.
You chose not to do anything with what I gave you.
Imagine a farmer inheriting a field but letting it go to weeds.
1. Spend time in the Word. That's one of the bags of gold. Am I wasting His investment?
2. Time with God in Prayer. Jesus spent time alone with God. If he did, we should too. We need to treat our lives as gifts.
3. Sacrifice -- a form of worship
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship." Romans 12:1
Worship should be even greater now that we have salvation.
Our lives should be a sacrifice. What we do is worship to God (or can be). Our work is meant to be active.
18"But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder." James 2:18-19
Faith without works is burying that bag of gold in the ground.
22 "God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be headover everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of himwho fills everything in every way." Ephesians 1:22-23
If the church is empty how can it fill anything up?
Why go to church?
1. God tells us to.
2. We share in learning the Word.
3. Fellowship.
Where you spend your time is what you will look like.
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21
What you spend your time on is what you value.
Are you too tired for God?
The most precious thing is a relationship with God.
Others lose if we don't use the talents God has given us.
Do what you can in your sphere of influence.
Take what God has given you and run with it or lose the gifts He has given you.
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