This broadcaster has 1041 podcast archives available on-demand.
Keep up-to-date with this broadcaster on social media and their website.
August 24, 2021 1:00 am
How we handle the small tasks of today is vitally important. It affects whether we’re given a larger task to perform—and enjoy the rewards that go with it. In Luke 19, Jesus taught about faithfulness and the perils of unfaithfulness.
Click here to listen (Duration 25:02)Reason for us. Jesus longer remember how we handle small tasks affects whether were given a larger reform and then enjoy the rewards that go with it. In the parable Jesus taught about and the parables of the lack of faithfulness, more lessons, the words of Jesus church in Chicago this morning to win with Sir clear teaching helps us make it across the finish line. Your series is called.
You can't read does this mean we only get one chance to get things right will debut know it depends on how you interpret your question, I interpreted this way. That of course we have the opportunity of getting things right. As long as we're alive.
But as all of us know when the time comes to die. That might be too late. So my heart is to say to all who are listening today. It is so critical that we begin today to invest in the ministry and the kingdom of heaven. By that I mean to live our lives for the glory of God today. We have to begin to do that, you know, we hear it running to winter in the midst of what we call a matching gift challenge that is to say some of our friends have said that they will match any gift given and this is a time in which we can double our gifts would you consider becoming a part of this ministry. Here is what you do you go to RTW offer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337 now want us to listen carefully, because getting back to Dave's question. The question we must answer is this how do we begin today to live for God. Today I begin with a question and that is this.
Are you living some thing that is beyond the simply your existence. In other words, you have something in mind that you are striving for that is so much bigger than you are that it is quite probable and quite correct to say that it is out of this world. It it exists in another sphere because you are living for eternity and not for time. Perhaps you say today will Pastor Luther, I have a vocation that I absolutely hate I hate going to work. I don't care what kind of a vocation. You are in and what kind of a predicament. You may be in God is calling you to do something great and today were going to find out exactly what that is, the passage of Scripture is the 19th chapter of the Gospel of Luke Luke chapter 19 this is the only parable that Jesus ever told that has a historical basis when he was telling this parable. He was actually using something that the people were acquainted with. In those days a political event that had great repercussions for them that they all would've ring member in order for you to add the background. I need to remind you that King Herod was a wicked king your member. The Bible says he tried to kill Jesus and he did many other evils, but after Herod died after he died, he left his kingdom to three sons and one of them was named Archelaus and Archelaus was the one who ruled their in Judea, but in order for him to actually be acknowledged as a king. He had to go to Rome and speak personally to Caesar Augustus, because only a justice who control the world at that time could acknowledge him to be a king, and to give approval for his leadership.
What according to Josephus, 50 Jews were so angry that Archelaus would be their king that they went ahead of him and they went to Rome and they gave their reasons why he should not be installed as a cane and when he got there. Archelaus didn't get exactly what he wanted. He didn't get the kingdom of Judah, but he was never called a king. He died being a king want to be and when he came back he punished those who were against them severely killing them because he was as evil as his father will that's the background really to today's parable, but you'll notice that there is a parallel to Jesus, but of course there also many dissimilarities but let's take and look at the text itself. Jesus is speaking in Luke chapter 19 verse 11, and as they heard these things, he proceeded to tell them a parable because he was near to Jerusalem and because they suppose the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. Now Jesus is in Jericho.
They previous story is on the psyche is who was converted there in Jericho. Jesus is about 17 or 18 miles from Jerusalem. And you must realize that in those days, the Jews believed that when Messiah came, the kingdom would be established. All of those verses in the Old Testament about the greatness of God and how that the law would go forth from Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem and there would be peace and prosperity in the world. They believe that when Messiah came, that's what would happen. The problem was that here they were beginning to believe that Jesus was the Messiah, but the kingdom wasn't being established. So Jesus told this parable to help them to understand that that before he receives the kingdom he has to go away first. He's talking about the ascension and then when he comes back it is then that he is going to evaluate his servants. And that's where the parable begins. You'll notice that Jesus said them and nobleman verse 12 went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return so much that is like Archelaus calling 10 of his servants. He gave them 10 aminos and said to them, and engage in business until I come.
But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him saying we do not want this man to reign over us. When he returned, having received the kingdom. He ordered the servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him that he might know what they had gained by doing business first came before him, saying, Lord, your Aminah has made 10 minutes more.
He said to him, well done, good servant because you have been faithful in a very little. You shall have authority over 10 cities. The second came, saying, Lord, your Aminah has made five minutes and he said to him, and you are to be over five cities just that far for a moment, let's just look at this parable rather quickly will go through it and help us to unpack it to understand what Jesus is talking about. First of all, the parable opens with the resources being distributed now if you know your Bibles you'll be tempted to confuse this parable with another one in the 25th chapter of Matthew. In Matthew 25 there is an on even distribution of talent. You have one person having five talents somebody else to raise somebody else. One and then it says, each according to his ability. That's not what is happening here Aminah by the way, was about to three months wages. The amount really doesn't matter for us to understand the point that Jesus is making, but here you have 10 servants and each servant gets one main what could the Mina possibly referred to what is it that all servants of the Lord have in common because this has nothing to do with one's validity abilities are on evenly distributed opportunities are on evenly distributed. But in this case, everyone gets the same. I believe that the only thing it can really be is the gospel itself, which saves us, and that gospel message that Jesus died for sinners and because he died and was raised again.
He can become our Savior and reconcile us to God that message that deposit of the gospel is given to every one of God's servants. In fact, you can't be a servant unless you understand the gospel and believe it's interesting that the apostle Paul frequently uses the phrase entrusted with the gospel. First Thessalonians chapter 1 he talks about the fact that God entrusted me by the way isn't that a beautiful word God entrusted me with the gospel. This king trusted his servants and he gave them something special. Christ in you the hope of glory. We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us. We are entrusted with the message that saved us. But now that it saved us. What are we going to do with it. So the resources are distributed and every one of the servants gets the same realize today that the same Holy Spirit that saved the apostle Paul is the same one who saved use saved DL Moody use saved Billy Graham the great preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon in England whose grave I visited a number of years ago.
We are all united in the good news of the gospel, but now instructions are given and the instructions are very clear and that what the nobleman says is engage in business. Verse 13 until I come. I've given you something and now I want you to do something with what I given you because the whole issue here is one of accountability. God says I am going to hold you accountable for what you do with the gifts that I gave you do something with it so that when I return all get a good return on my investment. The message isn't yours. The Bible talks about the gospel as belonging to God. It is God's gospel that he has given to us.
The question is what are we going to do with it. So the instructions are clear invested do business until I return we get to first of all the faithful servants who are rewarded and I read the text. A moment ago. The first came before in verse 16, saying, Lord, your Aminah has made 10 aminos more and he said to him, well done, good servant because you been faithful in a very little you'll have authority over 10 cities.
Well here's a man who actually hears from the lips of Jesus. Well done. What beautiful words to think that his servant would actually hear that what we have to servants in the text. We have one who is faithful and the other not so faithful. The second servant says that your Aminah has made five minutes and he said that you are to be over five cities why we have to pause here.
The topic here being discussed in this verse is the judgment seat of Christ. The Bible says in second Corinthians chapter 5 verse 10 for we shall all appear before the judgment seat of Christ and give an account for the deeds done in the body, whether they be good or bad. Wow, this is reckoning time. This is not a time that is really unimportant that you can forget about this is what you should live for now, we don't understand the 10 cities you know how many cities that are going to be in the millennial kingdom. How many cities throughout all of eternity. Are we actually going to be ruling. These cities will answer seems to be asked for the faithful. You have one man who receives good and faithful servant from the lips of Jesus. The other dozen he's not so faithful, but he still gets five cities I been talking very quickly.
I want to talk to you directly so that you understand from my heart to yours about this. Most people when they think about rewards at the judgment seat of Christ. They think it's going to be crowns medallions that we throw at the feet of Jesus and then walk away and forget how badly we lived on earth we might be getting those crowns and we might throw them at the feet of Jesus, but were going to have to pick them up again because the Bible says that were going to rule with him, but not everyone in heaven is going to receive the same reward. Remember this. This is a thorough evaluation. This is very very serious. Some people will have more responsibility in heaven. It isn't. It isn't just it isn't just the idea of some crown that I throw the feet of Jesus. Know this has to do with responsibilities in the kingdom.
Those of you have taken college entrance exams. The reason for that exam is to know where you are to be slotted and in terms of what courses you can take all of life is an entrance exam.
So God knows how much responsibility to give you in the kingdom the way you live now will have a consequences during the millennial reign and probably throughout all of eternity.
While Jesus said he who overcomes, to him I shall grant to sit with me on my throne, even as I overcame and sat with my father on his throne. I read this and I say how disproportionate I mean the person who used his Aminah to get 10 minutes. I mean, that was great. That's a thousand percent is net I'm just doing that in my head as I moving along your member. I always say that when it comes to arithmetic as long as I'm right 90% of the time. I mean who cares about the other 5% thousand percent. That's great, but does he really deserve ruling over 10 cities of course not how God is so generous when he rewards faithfulness. It boggles the mind. Well, that's the faithful servants but were not at the end of the story, and now the story becomes even sobering because there is one servant who isn't faithful you'll notice it says send them percent 19 your to have rulership over five cities, but verse 20.
Another came, saying, Lord, here is your Aminah which I Laid away in a handkerchief.
Brian was afraid of you because you're a severe man.
You take what you did not deposit and reap what you did not so. And Jesus said to him, okay, I understand you got some bitterness in your fear, so I'm going to excuse you that with your translation says your reading from the reverse division. He says in verse 22 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. So is that your opinion of me why then did you not put my money in the bank and at my coming I could've collected it with interest. This takes our breath away couple of comments. First, the man was filled with fear. He said you know God you're very austere. You are very unknowable. You are very judgmental and so I was afraid and I accept this mean I accepted the gospel but I Did wrapped up because I'm so full of fear about you. I decided to play it safe. I wasn't willing to take any kind of a risk at all for the purpose of the gospel. I only played that which was save that which was close to the vest. As the saying goes, and then not only was he fearful, but the bottom line. Of course, was that he was very faith lists the reason you see he took the gospel for himself hit it in a handkerchief never shared it is because he did not have confidence that the gospel had the ability to multiply itself. He didn't believe that if the gospel were shared, and if he got involved in propagating the gospel that it would have an eternal impact so he was content to have the gospel will be something that he enjoyed and benefited from, but that he himself was not going to do anything to advance it.
No interest in the bank. You know, my friend, this is Pastor Luther.
I've been reading the New Testament. Ever since I was a child, I have to tell you that sometimes even now I find the some of the things that Jesus taught to be puzzling, but he did that deliberately so that we might think in that we might think deeply and hear this ministry of running to win.
We emphasize, of course, the gospel, but we also want to help you make it all the way to the finish line to understand the deeper things that Jesus had to say would you consider helping us right now we're in the midst of a matching gift challenge that is to say that your gift will be doubled during this period of time. For more information. Here's what you can do. Go to RTW offer.com that's RTW offer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337. This would be a wonderful time to give you may never have contributed to this ministry before begin today.
Here's what you do go to RTW offer.com or if you prefer to call us at 1-888-218-9337. I know for another chance for you to ask Pastor Luther question about the Bible or the Christian life.
When a marriage is built on a shaky foundation trouble is almost always inevitable. Here's the story of one anonymous running to win listener.
My daughter married a man who was unfaithful to her during their courtship, but promised he would be faithful to her in marriage. Well now they've been married for four years and have a child. He is now broken that promise. He's begging to come back to his wife. My question is do people with a history of sexual immorality ever really change or do they just make repeated promises that they will change owner. Thank you today for writing to us and to connecting with us in asking this very difficult question. I need to begin by saying that my heart goes out to your daughter.
Unfortunately, there were red flags in her courtship days that she should've picked up on because you say that he was unfaithful to her during their courtship and I assume that she knew that he was being unfaithful.
But then he made a promise that he was going to change and I'm sure that he meant very well. No question there about motive problem is that there is something about sexual sin that can become so deeply ingrained the desires can become so difficult and because you've walked through that door and pushed back the guidelines of God it so much easier to do it again and again. What am I saying number one. I hope people change, but he probably won't until his feet are held to the fire. Your daughter has the responsibility of forgiving him. She does not have the responsibility of being reconciled to him. Reconciliation is based on forgiveness, trust and respect.
So he is a long way to go before he achieves that. But at the same time, I would encourage your daughter to receive counsel and he should be receiving counsel as well to see whether or not it's just not a matter of sincerity on his part but a matter of understanding how deeply he needs accountability and needs God without that, I'm not giving your daughter a whole lot of hope. People can easily make promises to change like one translation says Jesus said talk is cheap and they may even mean it. But real heart change is more difficult.
I hope that your daughter receive some counsel that will enable her to trust her husband again, but the road is going to be rocky and perhaps quite long so God bless you and I hope that this marriage will be saved by God's grace, accountability, and counsel.
Some words of wisdom from Dr. Erwin lutes or thank you Pastor Luther if you'd like to hear your question answered. Go to our website that RTW offer.com and click on ask Pastor Luther or call us at 1-888-218-9337 that's 1-888-218-9337 you can write to us at the running to win 1635 N. LaSalle Boulevard Chicago, IL 60614 Jesus told of three servants got money to invest to made substantial returns and were rewarded the third wrapped his in a piece of cloth and felt his master's wrath. Next time I'm running to win and interpretation of this parable that likens money to the gospel and how we spread it. Thanks for listening for Dr. Erwin lutes or this is Dave McAllister running to win is sponsored by the Moody church