Sermon Tone Analysis

Today we are going to continue discussing the idea of actively allowing God to help us shift our thinking by trying to understand the concept of Famine to Investment.

What a second that is exactly what would happen to us.

We would be called into the office, told that our services were no longer needed and asked to leave the premisis.

We understand this reality in our jobs and so most of us

RetellThis was a pretty harsh story

however this is not This was a pretty harsh story

Last week we talked about the Mind Shift of moving from Random to Strategic when it comes to building the kingdom.

Our thinking shapes our actions.

It is scary because it highlights the results of a mind set of fear.

Today we are going to continue discussing the idea of actively allowing God to help us shift our thinking by trying to understand the concept of Famine to Investment.

Today we are going to continue discussing the idea of actively allowing God to help us shift our thinking by trying to understand the concept of Famine to Investment.

Last week we talked about the Mind Shift of moving from Random to Strategic when it comes to building the kingdom.

We discussed the importance of not only waiting on the Holy Spirit to move but then acting on His Strategic plan of going to our family, Friends, Enemies and Total Strangers wit the gospel of Jesus.

Today we are going to continue discussing the idea of actively allowing God to help us shift our thinking by trying to understand the concept of Famine to Investment.

Famine means to suffer or cause to suffer extreme hunger; starve.

to starve to death.

to suffer or cause to suffer extreme hunger; starve.

to starve to death.

This is probably an overused word in our vocabulary after all very few if any of us haver very truly been famished or starving yet if we miss a meal or a meal time we often think we are starving…I mean look at me it would probably take a long time for me to get to the Place where I would be at the point of starvation…

However...I don’t overeat...I have taken time to invest in eating.

I mean not only do I miss very few meals I make up for it if I miss a meal and the result is that even if I do miss a meal I will probably be able to function.

So I am not overeating but I am investing…so I always have energy...

I know this is not a healthy example but it is a great reminder that Just as our bodies fail if we fail to feed it correctly so to does our spiritual life and the life of our body of believers fail if we fail to invest in the kingdom of God.

The truth is that famine happens in our spiritual life when we fear for our secular fate more than we fear the fate of the world.

This is at the heart of this passage of scripture.

The problem is not only that I may eat the wrong things it is that when I overeat if I do not exercise and burn off the calories food turns to fat…the more fat I have the more I have to burn in order to be healthy.

This passage is probably one of the most troubling passages that I preach.

In fact if you and I look at this parable the way that Jesus intended for us to look at it is down right scary.

It is scary because it highlights the results of a mind set of fear.

Believers who are ready for the coming of the Kingdom—and the coming of Christ—will not be passively waiting for that moment.

Rather, they will faithfully invest in the Kingdom according to their abilities.

--Hahn, R. L.--

Verse 28-30

Result V28-30

28 “Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver.

29 To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance.

But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.

30 Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Tyndale House Publishers.

(2013).

Holy Bible: New Living Translation ().

Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

The result of choosing fear over investing is that everything we value can be taken away from us.

However if we invest everything we are afraid of not having enough of we can have more than we ever dreamed.

Seminary professor Roger Hahn says

Believers who are ready for the coming of the Kingdom—and the coming of Christ—will not be passively waiting for that moment.

Rather, they will faithfully invest in the Kingdom according to their abilities.

--Hahn, R. L.--

Hahn, R. L. (2007).

Matthew: a commentary for Bible students (p.

300).

Indianapolis, IN: Wesleyan Publishing House.

It seems like we are constantly swept away from spiritual investment by the constant demands of this life.

This leads us to constantly having to choose how much we are willing or able to invest in building the kingdom of God.

The passage reminds us of a couple of things:

GIVE EXAMPLES....

1.

We must continue to activley invest what we have if we want to be a part of God’s movment.

2. Starving

We know this but it seems like we are constantly swept away from spiritual investment by the constant demands of this life.

This leads us to constantly having to choose how much we are willing or able to invest in building the kingdom of God.

That does not change the fact that God expects us to invest in the kingdom not starve it.

Every generation including this skdkdkdddw

That does not change the fact that God expects us to invest in the kingdom not starve it.

So what ways are we to invest?

We are going to start with probably the most sensitive area for most of us.

God through this passage tells us we are to invest Money.

MONEY

Verses 14-18

14-18

14 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip.

He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone.

15 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.

He then left on his trip.

16 “The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more.

17 The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more.

18 But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money.

Tyndale House Publishers.

(2013).

Holy Bible: New Living Translation ().

Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

If you are a follower of Jesus this parable is reminding us that every cent we have belongs to God.

(The Master)

If you are a guest here this morning you might be thinking I knew it all this guy wants is my money…well I want to set you at ease here because if you are not a believer then even though every cent you have comes from God it is not an expectation that you invest in the kingdom…you can give if you like but it is not required.

However for those of us called his servants this is a requirement.

Not just the tithe either…the tithe is simply living up to a requirement.

God calls his people to invest God’s money as much as we can to build his kingdom.

He does not call us to save it for a rainey day…he really does not call us to dig a hole and bury it.

One of the things that God’s people have to get over is the idea that money is a limited commodity....

There is no limit to finances if we are in God’s will because it all belongs to God.

So when we are using God’s money for God’s will it is not an expence it is an investment…

Expense is money that sustains...investments yield a return.

For God the return is not measured in dollars and cents but in the salvation of people.

But that is not the only investment that is important

But Investing from our need or abundance is what yields eternal capital.

But that is not the only investment that is important

Money with out time is just a donation not an investment.

Once the Master gave the money he left for a time to give His servants time to invest.

Verses 19-22 talks about time and the praises of using the masters time away to invest His money.

19 “After a long time...

21 “The master was full of praise.

‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.

You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities.

Let’s celebrate together!’

22 “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.’