Fearfully and Wonderfully Made - 2

Introduction - Last week we took a look into Psalm chapter 139.

Remember, I told you when we look in the book Psalms and deal with a single chapter we call it a what? ________ A psalm.

Also, along those lines, this is for free. When you speak about the last book in the Bible, it is called the book of Revelation, not revelations.

In Psalm 139, we said that God revealed to us two major ideas concerning ourselves.

Can anyone tell me what those major ideas where?

God has made us ___________.

and

God has made us ___________.

God has made us specifically.

God has made us specially.

As we think about those things we understood that God man us— and the Bible tells us that man is made in the image and likeness of God.

When God created you, He created you specifically and He also made you special.

We are not cookie cutter cut outs of each other. We have similarities— but we are all different. Along with our differences God has given us certain abilities.

That brings us to our lesson tonight, thinking about how special God has made you… would you turn with me to Matthew 25.

We are going to read a parable tonight… In fact we have kind of already gone through the parable with our object lesson…illustration earlier.

Look with me in verse Matthew 25:14–30

Matthew 25:14–30 KJV 1900

For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Let’s pray…

God has made each one of you specially…

You will remember that any talent we may have is given to us by God.

We remember from last week the verse out of 1 Corinthians 4:7 “7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?”

That means if I can sing real well, it is because God has given me the ability to sing.

If I can cook real well, it is because God has given me the ability to cook.

And as we discover those things we ought to us them for God’s glory.

I want you to realize tonight that because God has made you specifically, He has done so for a reason. You were designed by the Creator… and because He designed you and knows all about you— He has a purpose for you!

We just read in Matthew 25 a story… it’s called a parable.

Can anybody tell me what a parable is?

A parable is story that is told to communicate some important truth that the Lord wants us to know.

This parable was spoken by the Lord to help His disciples understand that God has given them something for His glory… in the story they are called talents… these talents were no doubt money…

The money is not the point.

The point is that the Lord Jesus Christ, who is God, gives to everyone of us something to use for His glory.

I am going to give you three points tonight.

I. Every person is given something special from God.

Most people will have many special things that God has given them. As you grow up—should the Lord tarry… you need to discover what those things are…

As we said many times before that, you might have the ability to sing.

We also said that some might have the ability to work with electronic

Some might have the ability to organize things… Some might be really good at teaching… There are all kinds of talents that God gives and all kinds of spiritual gifts that God gives when someone trusts in Christ as their Savior.

This is what the Lord is illustrating in this parable.

Now thinking back to our object lesson and this parable, someone tell me what were the different servants given?

One was given four talents, one was given two talents, one was given one talent… but every servant was given something.

There is not a person the comes into this world who can claim—-I have nothing that the Lord gave me… in fact our life itself is a gift from God.

Think about this, the Bible says that Psalm 127:3 “Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: And the fruit of the womb is his reward.”

II. Every Christian is to serve the Lord.

We notice that that Bible begins in this parable by naming those who were given talents ‘servants.’

They were not just servants but we discover they were given their Master’s goods. Meaning they were ‘stewards.’

Can anyone tell me what the word ‘steward’ means?

Websters dictionary defines it this way, “A man employed in great families to manage the domestic concerns.”

That means that talent you received is not yours, but rather it is His.

Notice what the Word of God states in verse 14. Matthew 25:14 “For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.”

The big answer to life’s question of why is the Lord Jesus Christ.

In other words, Why am I here? Why do I have the parents I have? Why did God make me with brown eyes? Why did God create me with the ability to speak? Why did God make me so I am good at teaching?

Why do I live here and now?

Colossians 1:16 tells us, “16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:”

The key to this life is discovering what God has given you and using it for His glory.

This begins on the day that we trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. (Before that time, God’s will is for you to here the Gospel message, repent of your sin and by faith trust in Him.) Jesus Himself stated this in John 6, where we are in adult Sunday School. The crowds look at the Lord and said in John 6:28–29 “28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”

Why is that? Because before we get saved we are at enmity with God. Meaning we are in fact enemies with God…

The Bible tells us that (Ephesians 2:2) “in time past [before we get saved—trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior] ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:”

There is separation between us and God because of sin.

In fact, the Bible says that we must be reconciled to God. The only way that can take place is by trusting in Jesus Christ because He paid the punishment for our sin on Himself when He died on the cross.

That familiar verse we quote in the book of Ephesians 2:8–9 “8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

This tells us that Salvation is a gift of God accessed by faith.

When we turn from our sin of unbelief and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ His life, death, burial and resurrection, then we receive the gift of God, eternal life according to Romans 6:23 “… through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

In other words, through the wonderful Savior Jesus Christ, we receive eternal life because of what He has done we are brought into a right relationship with God.

But after we are saved the Bible continues in Ephesians 2:10 and tells us“10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

All that verse is saying is that God has some special work for you to do… just like in the parable, you are His servant… and He gives you talents and says I have work for you to do….

You look in the mirror and see that you are created specifically—- and specially… I have given you all these things…

Are you going to use them wisely as a good steward?

Are you going to take care of all that I have given you and invest it and take part in my wonderful plan?

III. Every one of us will given an account.

You might tell me, Pastor James, I can sing real well! That is wonderful—- Are you using it for the Lord?

You might say, Pastor James I know the gospel inside and out.

I can quote from the Bible Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Romans 5:8, Romans 10:9,13 … That is wonderful, I ask you Are you using that for the Lord?

You see the Lord is the man travelling on a far journey… in this parable.

What happens when that man comes back?

Look with me at verse 19. What does the Bible say?

Matthew 25:19 “19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.”

When the Lord Jesus Christ comes back—- the Bible says He reckons with them. That word is a word used by people who deal with money… That means He is going to check and see how the servants dealt with the talents He gave them.

In other words we might say it this way… Well I can sing real good… well God is going to ask you one day, what did you do with that gift I gave you? Did you use it to get ahead in the world… for your own benefit…? Or did you use to deliver to people the Gospel for my plan and my glory?

We notice in the parable that some did well with what they were given and some did not, but all had to give an account.

It did not matter how much they were given. But it did matter how they used what was given.

When you read this parable, the Lord does judges based on what was given—-

When we began this lesson two weeks ago, we wanted first to emphasize the fact that God has created us specifically and specially.

God is the one who choose for us whether we are a boy or a girl, whether or not we would have blue eyes or brown eyes, whether or not we would be short or tall…

So we decided there is no need for us to make fun of each other for how God made us… and further there is no need for us to be prideful about how God has made us.

All that we have, has been given to us by God. As Paul stated to the idol worshippers in Athens in Acts 17:28 “For in him we live, and move, and have our being…”

He recorded all about us and He sees all about us all through our lives. (In Luke 12:7 the Bible says, “7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.”)

God also made us specially, with certain abilities and talents…He further gives us spiritual gifts—all of this God gives to us for His glory, His purpose, and our good.

Tonight we went over three points:

Every Person Is Given Something Special From God.

Every Christian Is To Serve The Lord.

Every One Of Us Will Give An Account.