Farsighted Living

He did not is you is you, Jonathan Evans is important to remember everything we have is just temporarily borrowed from God is not even your own life is a life celebrating.

This is the alternative Dr. Tony Evans authored speaker, senior pastor of Oakland Bible Fellowship Dallas, Texas, president of the alternative, if you're careful when driving your car, how much more careful would you be driving your bosses car will in a nutshell, that's the difference between ownership and stewardship. That's what will hear about today in this message from Jonathan Evans. Let's join today I want to talk to you about the stewardship of the kingdom, the stewardship of the kingdom understanding that your job as a steward of God has everything to do with your inheritance in the kingdom. Salvation is free but your inheritance takes work was important for us to understand the stewardship of the kingdom.

And while Jesus is talking to his disciples in Matthew 25, starting at verse 14. He's talking in terms of a parable and he's trying to get them to understand this concept of the stewardship and the kingdom in the story goes like this.

He said a man was about to go on a journey and this man called his slaves and entrusted his slaves with his possession to one slave.

He gave five talents, to another slave he gave to talents into another slave. He gave one town each one he gave according to their abilities.

The first slave who had five talents. He immediately went out and begin to work begin to trade begin to do his thing and he gained five more seconds. Slave went out and he did just like the first lady worked. He did his thing, he traded and he gained two more so now he has four the last slave. He took his talent and he dug a hole and buried in the dirt so he still with one and then the master return from his journey to settle accounts. The first leg came to visit master you gave me five but now I have 10 well done my good and faithful servant for you have been faithful over a few things and now I'm about to make many come into the joy of your master. The second slave came up. He's excited you gave me to but master now I have four well done my good and faithful servant for you have been faithful over a few things and now I'm about to make you ruler over many the last leg came up. After watching the first two and he said I knew that you were a hard man who reaped we do not sell when gathering scattered seed. So I just chilled. I dug it up and here have at least what you gave me in the master said you would get lazy slave if I was a man that was hard and I reaped where I do not sell and gather where I scatter no see then what would you have at least put it in the bank. At least there gained interest. Therefore take that one talent and give it to the one who has 10 because those who have more will be given but those who don't have, even what they do have will be taken away now cast for slave to outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

That's the story with me here.

This is the stewardship of the kingdom.

He starts out by saying a man is about to go on a journey Jesus talking to his disciples that man is Jesus Christ. Because this is prior to his crucifixion, his resurrection and his ascension.

So he's telling them through this parable. I'm about to be about here, but before I leave.

Let me call my slaves and entrust my slaves with my possessions.

Another words he's letting them know that even though I am about to be gone. Don't forget that you're still my slaves is the concept of redemption that we need to understand as a church that when Jesus Christ paid the price on the cross. He paid the price on the cross to redeem us from a slave master each individual in this room used to be under a slave master called sin. And when Jesus Christ died on the cross. He paid the price to redeem you from that slave master and only you for himself so that he is now your new master. You have been redeemed by high-priced a slave is obligated to his master slave is not free from his master. I know the sense that is free indeed. In Galatians 51 says it is for freedom that you have been set free, but it is for freedom that you have been set free from your old slave master. It doesn't mean you're not still a slave to a new master you belong to Jesus Christ and therefore you are obligated to his role just because he's gone physically doesn't mean that he doesn't still rule your whole life spiritually.

Every now and then when I leave to go out of town and I have to go out of town because Evans speaking engagement on travel with the cowboys or something like that.

I'll call my kids and I let him know hate that is about to go on a journey and I need you to do a few things.

Take care your mama and don't act bad, you know, make sure you follow the rules of the house when I leave.

By the time I get to the airport and is calling me Jonathan, your key is in her acting a fool because they think that just because debt debt is gone it's party time. Just because daddy has gone on a journey is time that we can do whatever we want to do because debt is not here to see our actions wrong when mama calls I have to get on the phone and let them kids know the fact that I'm going on a journey implies that I will be back and when I come back I will settle my account don't think that just because I'm gone just free to Rome and do whatever you want to do because I still even though I'm not present with Jesus is saying and that he's calling his slaves prior to him going on a journey so that they don't get confused on who they are in the relationship between master and lady, but watch this in verse 14 he says I'm calling my slaves and I'm entrusting to them my possessions, but wait a minute now there's something that I see that we all need to understand if were going to be good stewards.

It's his slaves and then when he gives them belong to him to everything in verse 14 is possessive to the master. Nothing in this chapter is possessive to the slight Jesus owns everything. Psalms 24 is clear that he owns the whole earth, and the fullness thereof, he owns absolutely everything. The worst thing a slave could do is take something from a master and start to think that is theirs. Your life is not even your own. Your life is a life all alone. You are a slave in the master entrusted his possessions to you what he did not do his possessions to you, he entrusted his possessions to you if I'm entrusting something to an institution like a bank. I will entrust my money to them, but I'm not entrusting my money to them for them to think that is theirs. I'm entrusting my money to them so that they will protect it and expand those two reasons why given the bank my money.

I want them to protect my money and then I want them to expand my money with an interest rate know the word I'm entrusting them with something that I want them to do something for me in return. I am not entrusting the bank.

The bank's benefit, but rather my benefit because it's mine. The question is is you take all the talents, the time the gifts the treasures that God has given you. Are you protecting it for his kingdom and then are you expanding it for his kingdom.

The sad reality today is most people have taken what God has entrusted them with and have used it to expand the kingdom of the slave not the kingdom of the master that's bad stewardship stewardship implies that you know nothing you don't own the patent on anything in your life, your house, your car, your clothes, your job, all of those different things are possessive to the master, they are not possessive to the slave so we need to skew our thinking that everything that I am in everything that I have been everything that I have possessed from the master.

I need to protect it for his kingdom and then I need to be focused on using it for his kingdom because he is the master and I am the slave. My life is not my own. My life is simply a life on loan and every now and then when I travel. I'm reminded because I have to go ahead and get a loaner car and I will look to enterprise and pull out all the terms and conditions that I never read through and then I put my initials down and then they walk around the car to make sure those scratches. They check the gas and by the time I get in the car. I'm keenly aware that that's not mine. I don't own that car I drive a loaner car rental car like I've never driven a car before you see me swinging and banging what I think I own is a whole lot different than the rental car. I mean, I'm checking my mirrors on looking in my blind spot somebody wanted Canadian go hit cut and we know that don't normally happen. Normally competitive on the road back up in my spot but I'm driving that rental car like I've never driven one very careful and check in the speed limit on driving this I'm doing it just right because I understand that I only have this car for limited time and what really reminds me that it's a loner and not mine is that I have to return it. We got to understand that our life is not our own is alive on loan and it came with terms and conditions on how to live it and how to use it and not abuse it. And guess what you are only here for limited time and he will have to return and when I return my car.

It never fails that I have to settle my account because it was in mine.

I'm either didn't reward points for doing a good job from having to pay out-of-pocket for doing a bad job. Either way, have to settle my account on something that doesn't belong to me in a moment more about what God expects.

When accounts are settled, but first I want to let you know that Dr. Evans will be back with us on the broadcast beginning June 22 and in the meantime, we are presenting a special series of messages from his son and co-labor ministry authors speaker and chaplain Jonathan Evans, as we been hearing each one of us is a manager over part of God's kingdom. And that's why he hold something special for us is given us a purpose for this life and beyond.

If you find yourself wondering what that could be then get a copy of Jonathan's challenging audio series called forever starts now. It's a collection of messages that can give you the tools and motivation for getting off the sidelines and into the game. You can do big things as you fulfill your God-given purpose. Would love to send you on nine full-length messages from this audio series on both CD and digital download is her way of saying thanks when you make a donation toward the urban alternatives ministry on radio and TV pastors, churches, and people just like you around the world and as an added bonus will also send you a copy of Jonathan Evans brand-new book on the same subject entitled your time is now. This special double offer is only available for limited time so don't miss out.

Visit us today@tonyevans.org or call our resource request line at 1-800-800-3222 I have our contact information for you again after part two of today's lesson and this was my first time meeting Jesus Wednesday after studying theology Tony Evans training center by renowned theologian Dr. Tony Evans online courses feature controlling and exclusive video and audio teaching class and interactive scripture based curriculum you can access online or through the mobile app sign up now Tony is chaining Dr. Evans exploring the kingdom anytime, anywhere.

Tony happens to his Jesus Christ was the master and he's about to go on a journey and he entrusted his slaves with his stuff. Our life is not our own life on loan and then watch this he says one slave. He gave five talents, to another slave he gave two talents into another slave. He gave one talent and he gave each according to the ability that the slave had another work the master new how much responsibility and stewardship responsibilities to give each slave he didn't give each slave the same thing because he knew the slaves that he was giving to. Don't spend your time looking at everybody else's talents because God knew you when you were in your mother's womb. He knew exactly how much to give you exactly how much could handle as it relates to stewardship in his kingdom and he didn't want to give you too much he loves you too much to give you too much as a concept that we need to understand and if we really understand our master and how he knows this, then we can even praise God. When God tells us no because God always told us.

Yes, some people be married to the wrong God always told you yes you started a business that will crumble in three seconds and your family would've been broken apart because of God always told you yes you can put yourself in some broken situations the matter back there some people in here who have a testimony that they can praise God because he told them no because when he told him no and got them to the place where they needed to be. God gave each slave according to their abilities to handle it.

Now you understand the talent that were talking about those big mining blocks that were targeted were a whole lot of money and they had a whole lot of weight and it's amazing how the master knew his slaves enough to know how much weight of responsibility that they have the ability to carry your master knows exactly how much weight you can carry, and sometimes what's a little bit too weighty than what we can handle and the master has to tell us no because he knows exactly how much you can carry on your person is amazing how the master says he called his slaves entrusted him with his stuff and then he portions of them based on their ability to be good stewards right where you are. Don't look at where you're going to look where you are and be a good steward of what he's placed you now in verse 19 after a long time.

The master returned.

So now were talking about your kingdom. The return of Christ. So right now you're in the in between. You can expand what God has entrusted to you before he comes back to settle his account.

He's letting you know that this is your window. This is your time. This is your opportunity but I want you to understand loud and clear that the master will return and when he returns he will settle his account knowingly talking about now were talking about the judgment seat of Christ in the Greek is called the Pima when you get judge and we all will be judged for our good and are bad.

The last slave.

He took his talent and he dug a hole and buried in the dirt. I really do nothing but at least I'm giving you what you gave me the response from the bema seat you wickedly slave if I gather were I do not spread any seeds and reap where I do not so that at least you would put my money in the bank. They were scared to lose it. Just put in the bank. At least there was a collective interest so you take what you have that you give me regular and give it to the one who has 10 because those who have more will be transferred to, but those who do not have, even what they do have will be stripped away. Why was the slave wicked and lazy because I think it will at least Jesus, he didn't lose it at least gave you back what you gave me.

Wouldn't we lose we cannot even first of all, why would I do when he worked for slave perspective. While what I do when he worked one. I'm not the one reaping the benefit I knew you were a man who wreaked where you don't even so, you gather when you don't even scattering the seed so from my perspective, while what I go out of my job and do all that work and put some monopoly for you. You can do nothing you can do any work.

I'm out here doing all this work and you want me to hand it all.

You are not interested in that perspective of the slave and then you have a slave.

The last slave whose riding the fence he's planning in the middle because he gave it away when he said why didn't you at least put in the bank.

Suspicion from the beam. Why did you at least put my money in the bank. You see, the bank keeps a record analog and the slave didn't want to be accountable to the record he wanted to put it in a whole just in case the master didn't return just in case the master didn't return. He would be able to go retrieve it without being accountable. He would be able to go retrieve it without being accountable and take his talent for himself just in case this whole Jesus returning stuff is hodgepodge just in case this whole Jesus coming back step is not real. I want to be able to say that I can use my talent for myself, so he didn't want to be accountable to the bank. He wanted to have the ability to retrieve it for himself just in case, but also don't want to work because I want to retrieve the benefit, but the master does return master does return. At least I can go retrieve it without there being any record of my intentions and give them back when he gave me oh you wicked lazy slave sitting in the middle trying to play the end against the middle and we got people in the church of Jesus Christ wicked lazy slaves. They've taken the talent from the master everything that they own in their sit in front of play the end against the middle.

If Jesus returns if all that stuff is true. At least I'll be able to say that I went to church on Sunday. At least I'll be able to say that I put a dollar in the offering plate. At least I'll be able to say that I prayed for aunt Shirley that Sunday. At least I'll be able to say that I gave him the minimum. But if he doesn't return. At least I can say I enjoyed my talent and you got Christians who were taking what God has given them and playing defense. They gotta show up to the big and then it ends like this throw him to the outer darkness with weeping and gnashing of teeth or not. The words profound regret.

There will be people in the kingdom.

The kingdom of God, which is the thousand year reign comes prior to eternity so you wouldn't hear were talking about the reign of Christ. The wedding party prior to the new heaven and the newer the kingdom of God, that party will have some Christians who he'll have to say based on their attire, need you to step outside while we have this party and then holler at you when the thousand years is over.

And when you step outside there's going to be profound regret word weeping and gnashing of teeth.

People realize I had 50 years and I did nothing for the kingdom your properly dressed step outside all, I had 80 years and did nothing for the kingdom. Well the wedding has just started and you're improperly dressed step outside is one of those things where an athlete gets suspended for the season.

He's still on the team but he's not able to participate in the game so there is extreme regret based on whatever he did to get suspended.

Are you following me know, so there are some Christians even though you're going to heaven that will enter the kingdom of the skin of their teeth. And then there will be those who are good stewards that can enjoy the party in revelations 26 and we will reign with him in second Corinthians 510 for we all will go before the judgment seat of based on our stewardship and judge. Good inheritance, Jonathan Evans will come back in a moment with a story that will give you a new perspective on weighing today's decisions when he wraps up our teaching just a moment first. So the title of today's lesson is farsighted living and you can request a full-length copy which includes material. We didn't have time to present on the year when you visit Tony Evans.org. Better yet, take advantage of that special double offer. I mentioned earlier and received today's message as a part of the complete nine part audio collection forever starts now. Along with the messages that you receive on CD and digital download will also get a copy of Jonathan's life-changing new book, your time is now.

Get what God has given you these resources can help transform you from a complacent spectator to someone who understands God's plan and boost to accomplish his divine destiny. The package is yours is our thank you gift when you make a contribution to help keep this broadcast coming your way each day. This is a limited time offer so don't put it off. Visit Tony Evans.org to get all the details.

Make your contribution and download full-length audio resources instantly or color 24-hour resource request line at 1-800-800-3222 let one of our team members assist that's 1-800-800-3222. Dr. Evans will be returning to our broadcast on June 22 after Jonathan Evans completes his special series called forever starts now. On Monday he'll point out that we jeopardize our future when we impulsively grabbed the things we want today.

Right now though he's back with this closing thought out like carrots if you like your all I care carrots that make you feel bad that to the side cares not my thing but that that this is not you know I will swallow that well but if somebody were to tell me if you eat carrots for year to pay your food bill your grocery bill and you're going out to eat Bill for the rest of your life, change my view wasn't carrots. Why because I'm viewing the inheritance of tomorrow and it changes my taste buds today.

My prayer is discovered that your farsighted and not nearsighted that you live in storage today in light of the Bemus. The alternative with Dr. Tony is brought to you by the celebrating 40 years of faithfulness, thanks to the generous contributions of listeners like you