Acts 13:21-22
22 And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, 'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will. NKJV
• David would not have be the person that you would want your daughter to marry
• Adulterer, murder, etc., but he got up!
Acts 13:36-37
36 "For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption; NKJV
Served: an attendant, subordinate, assistant, servant; service under the direction of someone
How can I be in service under the direction of the Holy Spirit by the will of God?
Rom 12:1-8
12 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. NKJV
1. Present your bodies as a living sacrifice
Present: (parasite) to place or stand at the service of someone
2. This is your reasonable (logical) service
3. God has given each of a measure (capacity) of faith
4. Each of us has been given a gift and grace to use to serve the Body of Christ
Gift: (Charismata) a (divine) gratuity, (specifically) a (spiritual) endowment
Grace: (Charin)That which causes joy, pleasure, gratification, favor, acceptance, for a kindness granted or desired,
Rom 12:6-8
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. NKJV
Damon’s Translation
It is logical, considering all that Christ has done for us, to place our bodies under the direction of the Holy Spirit which has endowed with divine gifts; pleasure a gratification comes from doing so!
Last week we learned about the “Wise and Foolish Virgins” (those that live a life set apart for God)
• The wise Virgins had their life in order, and enough oil to sustain them until the bridegroom came to meet (VIP) them
o Jesus will greet His Bride in the air at the Rapture, and come to the earth at the second coming bringing judgement!
• The Foolish Virgins slept, they were indifferent!
• And the door was shut!
Jesus then tells the Parable of the Talents
Matt 25:14-30
14 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.15 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. 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20 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. 21 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. 22 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. 23 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. 24 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: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26 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: 27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29 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. 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. KJV
1. The Man traveling into a far country represent Christ
2. His own servants represent those that believe in Christ
Servant: one who is in a permanent relation of servitude to another, his will being altogether consumed in the will of the other
3. To the servants, he gave talent according to their abilities (Gifts and Grace)
Notice he delivered to them goods and talents
Goods: Property or assets
Talent: a certain fixed weight for gold and silver.
• Wages: The value of a talent was about 20 years of a laborer's wages.
• Dollars: Based on the 6,000 denarii and a denarius being a day's wage, one talent could be worth around $600,000 in today's dollars.
Matt 25: 19-30
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20 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. 21 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. 22 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. 23 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.
24 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:
Knew thee: to observe you as having experienced him but had not (assumed, judged)
• How quickly he forgot that it was the Lord that gave him possession and talents
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful (foolish vrigins) servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
Thou knewest: to see with perception
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
• Most people would have not thought this was fair! Giving to the one with 10 talents!
• God gave to the one that was a good steward of God’s gifts a grace!
29 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. 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. KJV
Conclusion: In a time when everyone wants fairness, life isn’t fair, life is an opportunity. Some have been given more opportunities, but all have been given opportunities! What will you do with what you have.
Rom 11:29-30
29 For God's gifts and his call can never be withdrawn. NLT
I wasted what God gave me for years but praise God He never withdrew my calling, I started where I was and God uses me in spite of my past and as a result, I missed out on HELL, and have lived a life full of Joy and pleasure!!!!!!!
