What's holding you back? (2)
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
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Hi everybody, and welcome to the channel. I pray that this video adds value to your life, and more importantly that it brings you closer to God. Today we are going to be talking about stewardship. Did you know that when God saved you, He had a very spesific purpose in mind. He wanted to partner with you by his Holy Spirit to do the work of the Kingdom. In fact the Bible goes as far as calling you His workmanship?
Lets read: Ephesians 2:8–10
(Present)
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
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So what does that mean? Firstly it means that we are not saved by works. Secondly, we have been saved by grace through faith. Lastly, we have been saved for good works and that will the focus of our study today.
Right before Jesus was arrested, we read in John 17:4 that Jesus prays for Himself. And as He is speaking to the Father, he make it clear that he has finished the work for which the Father had sent him. At the end of the apostle Paul’s life he could confidently say to his spiritual son Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:7–8
(Present)
2 Timothy 4:7–8 (NKJV)
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
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Paul had devoted his life to the work of God, often times in the in the introductions to the Pauline Epistles He calls himself a bondservant of God - meaning that He has willingly giving himself over as a slave to God and His work. He had completely surrendered his life to Jesus Christ. And because of that He could confidently step into eternity knowing that he had fullfilled the work that God had entrusted to Him. He was ready to receive his reward. What a wonderful assurance that must have been.
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Often times I wonder if I could enter eternity with that same assurance. Yes, I’ve been saved and nothing can change that. But have I been faithful servant? Will there be an reward waiting for me when I stand before that Bema Seat? Maybe I’m not alone, and maybe some of you watching this video today feel the same. Lets be honest with ourselves for a moment? Have we been faithful with that which God has entrusted to we? Our time, our money, our abilities and even our calling? But most importantly have we been faithful to the single instruction Jesus has given to us.
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After Jesus had had died for the sins of the world, He rose from the dead and appeared to His disciples. In the book of 1 Corinthians 15:5-6 we read that he appeared alive the twelve disciples, and to more than 500 people at one time. That’s amazing. But right before He would ascend back into Heaven to be seated the right hand of the Father, as it was prophesied thousands of years in advance in Psalm 2, He gave them a very spesific instruction.
Lets read it togehter in Matthew 28:18-20.
(Present)
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
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We have been given a very spesific instruction, and that was to share the good news with the lost and to make disciples of the nations. And I would like to ask you today, have you been faithful to this command? How many people have you shared the gospel with this last week, this last month, or this last year. Do you even know what the gospel is? Are you ready to make a reasonable defense for the hope that is within you, like 1 Peter 3:15 commands us? Friends, we will be held accountable. There will come a time when excuses will no longer be tolerated, and the actions of others will be completely irrelevant. We will individually have to give an individual account to God for what he has entrusted to us. And that day is around the corner.
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We are seeing end time prophecy being fulfilled before our very eyes. It the time for indifference, the fear of man and laziness is over. Its time to be a faithful steward and to make your stand for Christ.
Luke 8:26 reads.
For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.
Lets make sure we’re ready for His return.