Are We There Yet?

Looking ahead to working alongside her parents, while learning how to run a household. She also plans to help teach and care for her siblings who have special needs, as well as volunteering in the community.

Julie Outman and Abigail McCarthy have been key Spiritual Mentors

Milestone – Many Milestones in Life

As a graduate – A lot of Expectation, Some Fear

Hope, Excitement, Anticipation

Anxiety, Worry…….

Perfect Grades? No

Even 4.0 Students make use of ‘Extra Credit’

Perfect Attendance? No

Even Home Schoolers have ‘Sick Days’

As Good As others in Every Metric? No

Every Person has Strengths….and Weaknesses

One Element of Graduating High School Is When All the Grades are In

And All the attendance Taken – It is Pass or Fail

It is Whether or not One has met the standards – The Threshold

Not Everyone graduates………..Not Everyone stays in school

We congratulate graduates for their decisions to invest themselves, to work hard, to exercise wisdom by investing now in promise of rewards later

Well Done Guys!

One Question Today?

WILL I HEAR MY MASTER SAY TO ME……WELL DONE?

On What Basis?

Today we will briefly look at Luke 19 and Matthew 25

The Only times we see this statement – “Well done! Good and Faithful Servant!”

Context:

Content:

Connection:

Context of Luke 19:

Before the Triumphal Entry

In Jericho – On His way to Jerusalem

Luke 19:1-9

19 He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.

Why was Jesus There?

Why am I here?

Luke 19:10 “The son of Man came to seek and to save the lost!

John 17:18 High Priestly Prayer “As you sent me into the world, So I have sent them into the World”

Matthew 28:18-20 ““All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Look – Luke 19:11

11 As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately.

CONTENT: Luke 19:12-27

12 He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. 13 Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas (Minah: 3 months wages – 6,000: total 60,000), and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’ (Mission – take money – make money)

14 But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ 15 When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business.

16 The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.’ (10x’s!!) 17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’

Note: Disproportionate REWARD!

From 3 Months Wages to 10 Cities!!!

18 And the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made five minas.’ 19 And he said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’

20 Then another came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief; 21 for I was afraid of you,

Stop – DID HE DO WHAT HE WAS SUPPOSED TO DO?

He didn’t earn anything – No! Did He ‘engage in Business’?

No – He did Nothing!! ……. For the master anyways

He did what He wanted…. Who was his master?

…..21 for I was afraid of you,…..REALY?!

…..because you are a severe man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’

22 He said to him, ‘I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’

You didn’t even do the bare minimum!!! ….. 24 And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ 25 And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten minas!’

Underline this : 26 ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

27 But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.’ ”

CONNECTION: Luke 19 Couple of notes here

TIME FOR SALVATION– Jesus did not come to Rule – He Came To Save!

He did not right the wrong

He did not punish the wicked

He did not fix all social ills……. In Fact He would suffer under them all!

Suffer for them in our Place!

He did not fix the environment – the world! – HE WILL

JESUS WILL COME TO REIGN! HE WILL DO ALL Of THAT!

This is the time for salvation yet!

2 Cor. 6:2 Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation

3 GROUPS –

Faithful Servants

False Servants

Enemies

Look at the group:

-Outside Jericho – Healed the Blind Man Luke18:43

42 And Jesus said to him, “Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.” 43 And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

-Inside Jericho – He accepted Zacchaeus Luke 19:5

5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “

-Later At Jerusalem – After the Parable

In the Garden Luke 22:48 – Jesus said to him “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a Kiss”

In the Courtyard Luke 22:61 – “Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.”

In Disgust / Disappointment Luke 23:18 – “18 But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”— 19 a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. 20 Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, 21 but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” 22 A third time he said to them, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.” 23 But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed.

3 Groups – Faithful Servants – Not Perfect – Acts 2 – Peter Preaches Boldly

False Servants - Revealed

Enemies – Wonder How many Realized in Acts 2 – Who Heard This!

OUR BUSINESS

The Beauty of Gods grace seen in Acts 2

God did not throw Peter Away –

God Redeemed some of his Enemies – Peter was back on Mission

He Was Doing Business –

AS A DISCIPLE BE ABOUT MAKING DISCIPLES, TEACHING

WILL I HEAR JESUS SAY TO ME – “Well Done! Good and Faithful Servant!”

ANSWER THAT

AM I AN ENEMY?

AM I A FAITHFUL SERVANT?

Look again at Luke 19:26

26 ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, > more will be given,

but from the one who has not, > even what he has will be taken away. LOOSE EVERYTHING!

HAS WHAT!?!? WHAT DO I NEED TO HAVE!!?

Context – Results of Faithfulness

Results of Obedience

Something To Show from what God Has Given

ALL THAT I HAVE > ALL THAT I AM IS FROM GOD

MY TIME< TALENTS< TREASURES< TRINKETS

FRUIT!!

John 15 – ABIDE, BE CONNECTED – RELATIONALY, PERSONALLY

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.

Galatians 5 – Fruits of Walking in Step With the Spirit

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Three Questions:

Whose Servant Am I?

Every Day – Lord I Am your Servant! Please Help Me

Living In Acts 2 – Not Perfection but Submission

What Has Been Entrusted to Me?

Everything I Am and Know….and the time to grow in it

Graduates – God’s Plan and Purpose for You

Being About Our Lords Business

The Rest of Us – The Graduates…. The Ones After them

The ones Before them

One another

What will I Present?

I Don’t Know!

WILL I HEAR JESUS SAY TO ME – “Well Done! Good and Faithful Servant!”

1 Corinthians 4:1-5

This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.

5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart.

Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

I Have to ASK THIS AS A MANAGER – AS A SERVANT

HOW CAN I INVEST WISELY – BUT WITH PRAYERFUL, HUMBLE SUBMISSION

“Here It Is Lord – You Know! You Know Me……. You know if there is anything in there”

Closing Remarks

Story of Henry C. Morrison The Myth – The Legend

Anne Graham Lotz, Many others…25 years, forty years….

The story is told of an old missionary named Samuel C. Morrison who, after twenty-five years in Africa, was returning to the United States to die. As it so happened, he traveled home on the same ocean liner that brought President Teddy Roosevelt back from a hunting expedition. When the great ship pulled into the New York harbor, the dock where it was to tie up was jammed with what looked like the entire population of New York City! Bands were playing, banners were waving, choirs of children were singing, multicolored balloons were floating in the air, flashbulbs were popping, and newsreel cameras were poised to record the return of the president.

Mr. Roosevelt stepped down the gangplank to thunderous cheers and applause, showered with confetti and ticker tape. If the crowd had not been restrained by ropes and police, he would have been mobbed!

At the same time, Samuel Morrison quietly walked off the boat. No one was there to greet him. He slipped alone through the crowd. Because of the crush of people there to welcome the president, he couldn’t even find a cab. Inside his heart, he began to complain, “Lord, the president has been in Africa for three weeks, killing animals, and the whole world turns out to welcome him home! I’ve given twenty-five years of my life in Africa, serving You, and no one has greeted me or even knows I’m here!”

In the quietness of his heart, a gentle, loving voice whispered, “But my dear child, you are not home yet!”

We Are Not There Yet

We Will Be - Lets Be Focused On That Day

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