Podcasts about servants

In episode 507 of the Reformed Brotherhood, Tony and Jesse continue their journey through the parables of Luke's Gospel, landing in Luke 12:35–40. What appears at first glance to be a familiar call to watchfulness turns out to be something far more demanding — and far more gracious. The parable of the waiting servants is not a call to spiritual passivity or anxious vigil, but to active, disciplined faithfulness. Girded loins and burning lamps are not the posture of someone sitting and waiting — they are the posture of someone already at work. And when the master returns to find his household in good order, he does the unthinkable: he puts on an apron and serves his servants. Grace, as always, gets the last word. Key Takeaways Biblical waiting is never passive. The command to "gird your loins" describes a settled state of active readiness — not anxious watching, but faithful, ongoing work in the master's household. This parable is more about sanctification than justification. Unlike the Parable of the Ten Virgins, which emphasizes spiritual preparedness, this parable calls believers to holiness and continued good works in the time before Christ's return. The master's service is the shocking grace at the center of the parable. That the returning master would gird himself and serve the faithful servants is the parable's defining surprise — the reward is not earned, but given freely by a gracious master. Our best works cannot merit grace, yet God is pleased to reward sincere obedience. Drawing on Calvin and Augustine, Jesse articulates that when God crowns our faithfulness, he is crowning his own gifts working in and through us. The parable speaks differently to different audiences. Christ is addressing a mixed crowd — genuine disciples, swept-up enthusiasts, and hostile opponents. The same event (the master's return) carries opposite meanings depending on the condition of the heart that meets it. The late-watch blessing is a word of encouragement to the weary. Faithfulness at 3 a.m. is harder than faithfulness at 9 p.m. The blessing pronounced on those found faithful in the late watches is a word of hope for those in seasons of dryness, discouragement, or spiritual fatigue. Peter's question in verse 41 is not a failure — it is a mirror. Even Peter, standing directly in front of Jesus, did not know who the parable was for. Confusion in the face of these texts is not shameful — it is an invitation to slow down and look more carefully. Key Concepts Active Faithfulness: What "Girded Loins" Actually Demands The phrase "let your loins be in the state of having been girded" is a Greek perfect participle — describing not a momentary action but a settled, ongoing condition. In the ancient Near East, men wore long flowing robes, and tucking the hem into the belt was reserved for moments of work, travel, or battle. It was not comfortable. You would not stay girded longer than you had to. The parable's command, then, is not simply "be alert" — it is "stay in the posture of someone already doing their job." The servants are expected to be found working when the master returns, not merely watching out the window. Biblical waiting, as Jesse notes, has always been active: Israel ate the Passover meal with sandals on and staff in hand. Simeon waited for the consolation of Israel by being present in the temple. Waiting, rightly understood, is a form of faithfulness. Grace That Serves: The Parable's Shocking Reversal The most disorienting moment in this parable is not the master's unexpected return — it is what he does when he arrives. He finds his servants awake and the house in order, and rather than accepting their service, he girds himself and waits on them. This is not a reward they have earned by staying awake. As Tony points out, the master serves because there is nothing left to be done — the household is already well kept. The servants' faithfulness creates the conditions for the master's grace to be expressed in the most lavish possible way. This is the Reformed instinct confirmed by the parable itself: our obedience does not purchase the feast, but the master's grace sets the table. When God crowns faithfulness, he is crowning his own gifts, not ours. The banquet was always his to give. A Parable for a Mixed Crowd: One Return, Two Meanings Christ is not preaching to a tidy congregation of committed disciples. He is speaking to thousands — a traveling crowd that includes genuine believers, curious followers, and hostile observers. The sudden shift from the returning master to the image of a thief in verse 39 is jarring, but it may be precisely the point. The same event — the return of the Son of Man — carries entirely different weight depending on who is waiting for him. To those who are watchful and faithful, he comes as a beloved master bringing a feast. To those who are careless or unprepared, he comes like a thief, and loss follows. The doctrine of perseverance is not a license to coast. God perseveres his people through their persevering — working in them both to will and to do. The parable presses every hearer to ask: which household am I keeping?

The Righteous Shall Live by Faith, Romans 1:17 By Dave Jenkins Series: Romans: The Gospel That Changes Everything Our standing before God rests on the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ. In this sermon on Romans 1:17, Dave Jenkins explains how the gospel reveals the righteousness of God, why sinners are justified by faith alone, and how believers continue living by faith in Christ. Listen or Watch Romans 1:17: The Righteous Shall Live by Faith In Romans 1:16, Paul declares that the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. Verse 17 explains why: in the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed. God provides through Jesus Christ the righteousness that sinners cannot produce for themselves. Paul's quotation of Habakkuk shows that justification by faith is rooted in God's revelation. The gospel fulfills His saving promises, and those whom He declares righteous through faith in Christ continue to trust Him throughout the Christian life. What You Will Learn How the gospel reveals God's righteousness and His righteous way of saving sinners. Why our acceptance before God rests on Christ's righteousness. Why faith receives Christ without contributing merit of its own. How Paul's quotation of Habakkuk connects the gospel to the Old Testament. What it means to live by faith through suffering, temptation, and weakness. Justification and Assurance in Christ Justification is God's declaration that a sinner is righteous in His sight because of Jesus Christ. Christ's righteousness is counted to those who trust in Him. Our assurance therefore rests on the perfection of our Savior rather than the changing strength of our performance or emotions. Holiness matters deeply, but it is the fruit of salvation rather than the foundation of justification. Faith looks away from self and rests in Christ and His finished work. Learning to Live by Faith Each Day The Christian life begins by faith and continues by faith. Believers trust Christ in sanctification, suffering, temptation, ministry, and death. Living by faith means resting in God's character, believing His promises, and walking according to His Word. When your conscience reminds you of your failures, look to Christ. When pride tempts you to boast or weakness tempts you to despair, look to Christ. The righteousness you need is found in the Savior God has provided. For Reflection Where are you tempted to base your acceptance before God on your performance? How does Christ's perfect righteousness strengthen your assurance? What present trial calls you to trust God's promises and obey His Word? Continue studying Romans with Dave Jenkins through Romans: The Gospel That Changes Everything. Explore the series at Servants of Grace or watch on YouTube. Share this episode with someone who needs encouragement to rest in Christ.

Year of Parables – Episode 40: In this parable Jesus shared, we discover how a wealthy man from an important family trust ten of his slaves with some of his money, because he is looking for those he can trust with more. Discover how ten servants are trusted, but not all ten servants are truly trustworthy. Listen to this episode and/or subscribe on ReflectiveBibleStudy.com...

00:00:00 Romans 1 – Gospel Revealed, Wrath Against Unrighteousness, and Heathen Depravity00:04:04 Romans 2 – Impartial Judgment, Doers of the Law, and Inward Circumcision00:07:37 Romans 3 – All Have Sinned, Justification by Faith, and Boasting Excluded00:10:58 Romans 4 – Faith Imputed for Righteousness and Promise to Abraham00:14:12 Romans 5 – Peace with God, Grace Abounding, and Death Through Adam00:17:07 Romans 6 – Dead to Sin, Alive to God, and Servants of Righteousness00:19:57 Romans 7 – Dead to the Law, Inward Conflict, and Flesh vs Spirit00:23:11 Romans 8 – Life in the Spirit, Joint-Heirs with Christ, and More Than Conquerors00:27:59 Romans 9 – Election of Grace, Sovereign Mercy, and Israel's Stumbling-Stone00:32:00 Romans 10 – Righteousness of Faith, Confessing the Lord, and Preaching the Gospel00:34:36 Romans 11 – Remnant according to Election, Wild Olive Tree, and Mystery Revealed00:39:16 Romans 12 – Living Sacrifice, Diversity of Gifts, and Overcoming Evil00:41:47 Romans 13 – Subjection to Higher Powers, Love the Fulfilling of the Law00:43:58 Romans 14 – Weak in Faith, Judgement Seat of Christ, and Stumblingblocks Avoided00:46:59 Romans 15 – Bearing Weakness, Minister to Gentiles, and Paul's Travel Plans00:50:58 Romans 16 – Salutations to Saints, Warning Against Divisions, and Final Doxology

God Empowers the Weak (7)  (audio) David Eells, 9/30/26 We all want to manifest the fruit of the Spirit, but first there must be the crucifixion of the lusts. Jesus taught us and He's our example. Many people think He was an example so that we wouldn't have to die. No, Jesus didn't die so that we wouldn't have to die. Jesus died so that we could die. I'm talking about dying spiritually; dying to self. He died to make it possible for us to die to self.  Those who refuse to take up their cross and follow Him, and refuse to obey His commands, are refusing to be disciples. Even if they call themselves Christians. I want to show you that Jesus turned the other cheek, but He did it as an example to us. When Jesus was before Pilate and the Sanhedrin (Matthew 27:12-14), He resisted not the evil. He did turn the other cheek. He had the power to say “No.” He had more power than the disciples understood He had because they thought they were going to save Him with the sword. (Mat.26:52) Then saith Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into its place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. He said, “Don't you know I could call more than 12 legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53) Look, Jesus had power they didn't know of to keep from going to the cross. He didn't have to resort to man's arm of the flesh. One angel in the Old Testament killed 185,000 men (2 Kings 19:35) and Jesus is talking about calling 72,000 angels here. That's power! Christians need to realize that their power is not in the arm of the flesh; it's in the Kingdom of Heaven. That power should be used to fulfill God's Will. In the very next verse after Jesus said, “Don't you know I could call more than 12 legions of angels?” He said, “how then should the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?” (Mat.26:54) We want the Scriptures to be fulfilled in us, which is the manifestation of Christ; however, they won't be fulfilled if you refuse to go to your cross. Just as Jesus had a free will and He could have called the 12 legions of angels, we have a free will, and we could, in many cases, walk away from our cross. But that doesn't mean we won't be faced with it again. We will be faced with it again and again because God is merciful. And we'll be faced with it until we get it right or just run out of time because we are running out of time. We've been put here to bear fruit, and we've been given a certain amount of time to do that. There's a door closing on the other end of this life. I've shared before the vision my wife had about being on a treadmill. The door ahead was closing. We had to run faster and faster to get through the door before it closed. The treadmill was imperceptibly picking up speed going in the opposite direction, and we had to run faster and faster. That's the way the world is; it's picking up speed in the opposite direction, and the door is closing. We're running a race but it's not a race against one another; this is a race against time. There's a door closing. You have to bear fruit or else you'll be called what Scripture and Jesus called an “unprofitable servant,” cast forth into outer darkness (Matthew 25:30). There's no such thing as bearing fruit without the cross. I'm going to point out just a few of Jesus' commands and show you that when you obey them, they put you in a position of weakness. You cannot defend yourself. You cannot hit back. You won't be able to do the things that your flesh wants because, if you do, your flesh will live and it will get stronger. (Rom.8:13) For if ye live after the flesh (in other words, if you walk in obedience to the flesh), ye must die; but if by the Spirit ye put to death the deeds of the body, ye shall live. We want the new man to live and there's only one way that can happen – the old man has to die. They live in the same house. The spiritual man was supposed to go into the Promised Land and kill the old man and live in his house, and we are, in one parallel, that promised land. That spiritual man is Christ in us and He's the spiritual man in every one of us, Who seeks to take over our vessel. (1Pe.2:18) Servants, [be] in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. (19) For this is acceptable (the literal translation is actually “grace”), For this is grace, if for conscience toward God a man endureth griefs, suffering wrongfully. Grace? That's right. God sends us through grace down here on this earth. Sometimes we don't look on it as grace, but it's fleshly suffering. He calls it grace. That's the original word there. We have to go through suffering. (Act.14:22) … Through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God. We must go through suffering because the flesh doesn't die without suffering. If you're not suffering, then you're not ceasing from sin. Peter said, He that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin (1Pe.4:1). That's because when you're suffering, when the flesh is suffering – and I'm talking about that entity of the old man in you, the mind of the flesh in you – when that old man is suffering, it means that he's not getting his way and he's dying. This is not about the physical flesh suffering, you understand. I'm talking about that entity that lives in you that wants to gratify “self.” If the old man is not suffering, you're not bearing the cross; you're not obeying the commands of Jesus to lose your life. So Peter called it “grace” here. (1Pe.2:20) For what glory is it, if, when ye sin, and are buffeted [for it,] ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer [for it,] ye shall take it patiently, this is grace with God. The last thing we want is to do right and to have wrong done to us in return. We want justice and our rights. The flesh demands its rights, but the flesh is a dead man. We reckon the old man to be dead unto sin (Romans 6:11) and dead men don't demand rights. You can slap the dead man on one cheek and they'll turn the other one, too. That's the way Jesus commanded us. If you want that old man to die, then don't feed him. Just don't obey him and he'll die. This is grace with God. (1Pe.2:21) For hereunto were ye called…. We were called to suffer in what the world would call “wrongfully.” In other words, we're called to suffer when we do right. (1Pe.2:21) For hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow his steps: (22) who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: (23) who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, threatened not; but committed [himself] to him that judgeth righteously. In other words, Jesus left judgment, wrath and payback in the hands of God. Peter said Jesus left this example to us so that we should follow in His steps. Every day we're going to have an opportunity to do this. There's just no way you could live this life without having an opportunity to deny our self life. Don't waste your time. Redeem the time (Ephesians 5:16), the Scripture says. This is what we're here for. Suffering is one of God's greatest methods to put to death your flesh so that Christ can live in you.  (1Pe.3:13) And who is he that will harm you, if ye be zealous of that which is good? (14) But even if ye should suffer for righteousness' sake, blessed [are ye:] and fear not their fear, neither be troubled; (15) but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: [being] ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear: (16) having a good conscience; that, wherein ye are spoken against, they may be put to shame who revile your good manner of life in Christ. (17) For it is better, if the will of God should so will, that ye suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing. (18) Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit. We can see a spiritual type there in the life of Christ. When He resisted not the evil, He was put to death in the flesh, but He was made alive in the spirit. This is a spiritual type for us because, if we want to be made alive in the spirit, we must accept our death in the fleshly self-life daily.  (1Pe.4:14) If ye are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed [are ye;] because the [Spirit] of glory and the Spirit of God resteth upon you. (15) For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil-doer, or as a meddler in other men's matters: but if [a man suffer] as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name. (17) For the time [is come] for judgment to begin at the house of God: and if [it begin] first at us, what [shall be] the end of them that obey not the gospel of God? (18) And if the righteous is scarcely saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear? (19) Wherefore let them also that suffer according to the will of God (That doesn't fit the prosperity doctrine very well, does it?) commit their souls in well-doing unto a faithful Creator. Commit your soul unto a faithful Creator. Jesus obeyed His own command in Matthew 5:39 and He was crucified for it. I can imagine several places where He could have interjected just a little bit of truth and totally turned the situation around, such as when He talked about, “destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (Joh.2:19). Of course, he spake of the temple of his body (21), but that's not what was brought out at the trial by the Sanhedrin and I never saw Him even objecting to it, though He knew what He meant. He didn't bother to stick up for Himself. There's one person from the Old Testament who really impressed me with his understanding of not resisting him that is evil, and that's David. He obeyed this. I've seen probably a half-dozen to a dozen good examples of where David obeyed this doctrine. He seemed to be way ahead of his time in understanding what it was that pleased God. He seemed to be almost walking in New Testament revelation in some areas of this resisting not evil and it definitely bore fruit in his soul. (Psa.38:12) They also that seek after my life lay snares [for me,] And they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and meditate deceits all the day long. (13) But I, as a deaf man, hear not; And I am as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth. (14) Yea, I am as a man that heareth not, And in whose mouth are no reproofs. (15) For in thee, O Lord, do I hope: Thou wilt answer, O Lord my God. David put his trust in God to bring about justice, just as the Lord did (1 Peter 2:23), and not with his own tongue, nor in his own strength. In fact, as we read on here, you'll see that David knew and understood God's purpose. You know, it's a fiery trial when you resist not the evil, no matter what form it is. There's a righteous indignation that rises up on the inside of you wanting justice, but listen, we can't afford justice. Nobody reading this can afford justice. We want mercy. With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful (Psa.18:25). If you get justice, you're in trouble. Did you know that? God gives justice to some and He gives mercy to others (Romans 9:21-23). Christians get mercy. The world doesn't always get mercy. But I'll tell you what, the only thing we better show to the world is mercy because God's going to be merciful and forgiving to those who are merciful and forgiving. And to those who are not merciful, He's going to give justice (Matthew 18:35). None of us here can afford the justice of God. Not everybody even gets a revelation of God in this world, but they get justice because every man is going to reap what he sows (Galatians 6:7). People ask, “What do you do with the wicked who never hear the name of Christ?” No problem. They're going to get justice. Everybody in this world is going to at least get justice, but Christians, at least true Christians, are going to get mercy and grace from Him.  God's not doing wrong by doing that because He's at the very least giving justice to people. But we had better pray that we don't get justice because that means we'll pay for what we've done and what we are doing that is wrong. David understood this, and Jesus understood this. So David says, “for I said, Lest they rejoice over me: When my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.” (Psa.38:16) (17) For I am ready to fall, And my sorrow is continually before me. (18) For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin. (19) But mine enemies are lively, [and] are strong; And they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied. (20) They also that render evil for good Are adversaries unto me, because I follow the thing that is good. (21) Forsake me not, O Lord: O my God, be not far from me. (22) Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation. (39:1) I said, I will take heed to my ways, That I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, While the wicked is before me. (2) I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; And my sorrow was stirred. (3) My heart was hot within me; While I was musing the fire burned; [Then] spake I with my tongue: (4) Lord, make me to know mine end, And the measure of my days, what it is; Let me to know how frail I am. You know, when David resisted not the evil, when he kept his mouth shut when he was really being pressured to speak up, he said the fire burned in him. Have you ever felt that fire? I have. It's just like a real fire burning in you. It's a fiery trial that's come to prove you and to burn up the wood, hay and stubble of the self-life. You know, we've been told by some church ministers that the fiery trial is in the next life, but that's as big a lie as has ever been told. (1Co.3:12) But if any man buildeth on the foundation gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, stubble; (13) each man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself shall prove each man's work of what sort it is. It's here that you go through the fiery trial to burn up the wood, hay and stubble, not in the next life. The Bible says, “the day shall declare it.” There are no days in eternity. This is where the fiery trial comes. But you can avoid the fiery trial very easily. All you have to do is not obey the commands of Jesus. If you don't obey Him, it's easy to avoid those kinds of trials, and quite often we'll go around them, but what we're doing is putting off the day of crucifixion and the day of bearing fruit. God wants to motivate us with many, many Scriptures that today is the day of salvation. Today is God's day of deliverance (2 Corinthians 6:2). I found many places where David understood this. One of them is when Nabal's herds had been protected by David and his men out in the wilderness (1 Samuel 25:16). By the way, Nabal means “fool.” And David's men were sent to Nabal to get some supplies for his men, who were living in the wilderness, and Nabal answered them very roughly and sent them back without any help (1 Samuel 25:10,11,14). So David had decided, “I'll just go over there and take his head off” (1 Samuel 25:22). Meanwhile, Nabal's wife, who was a very understanding and wise woman, decided she was going to go meet David and ask his forgiveness, and she did (1 Samuel 25:24). And one thing she said is, “Thank God that the Lord has withheld you from avenging yourself at your own hand” (1 Samuel 25:26,31). She said that twice. Then David thanked her for her part in bringing that to pass (1 Samuel 25:32,33). You know, there's something wrong about us avenging ourselves with our own hand. (Rom.12:19) Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath [of God:] for it is written, Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will recompense, saith the Lord. He said, if you do this, “thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head” (20). In other words, it's God's job to repay. If we repay, then God has to whip us because we've been commanded over and over not to repay. If we do it, He's going to whip us, but He doesn't have to whip them.  I'll give you an example. If you have two kids and you tell them, “Now, look, don't you hit back. If so-and-so does something to you, you come and tell me; I'll take care of it. If one of them hits back, then the other one has al­ready gotten his punishment. In that case, why should I hit him again? I'm going to have to hit you since you're the one who needs the whipping because you disobeyed me.” Here's the point. This is the way God does things. If He tells us. “Don't do it,” there's a purpose in it. (Eph.6:12) For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual [hosts] of wickedness in the heavenly [places]. What we war against must be done in the spirit; it must be done with authority of Christ and through the power of faith. It can't be done in the flesh.  Let me show you a really good example of this from David. (2Sa.16:5) And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, there came out thence a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera; he came out, and cursed still as he came. (6) And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. (7) And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Begone, begone, thou man of blood, and base fellow: (8) the Lord hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned … Well, I don't know if Shimei knew it or not, but David had opportunity about three times to kill Saul. It was in his hand to do it, and he wouldn't do it. He would resist the evil. He wouldn't repay. He left that to the Lord, and the Lord took care of that. The Lord used the Philistines to take Saul and his whole family out (1 Samuel 31:6), but He didn't have to blame David for it. David even had to dodge some of Saul's spears and his evil spirits (1 Samuel 18:11, 19:10). Shimei went on with his slander… And the Lord hath delivered the kingdom unto the hand of Absalom thy son; and, behold, thou art [taken] in thine own mischief, because thou art a man of blood. (2Sa.16:9) Then said Abishai the son of Zeruah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse the lord my king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head. (10) And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? Because he curseth, and because the Lord hath said unto him, Curse David … Do you see that? “The Lord hath said unto him, ‘Curse David.'” David wasn't wrong here. The Lord works all things after the counsel of His Own Will (Ephesians 1:11). He sends wicked people to us to crucify our flesh. It's His purpose to do that, just as He sent and used the hand of wicked men to crucify the Lord. (Act.2:23) Him, being delivered up by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye by the hand of lawless men did crucify and slay. God used these vessels of dishonor. He used the people of Israel and He used the wicked Roman Empire to crucify the Lord, as the Scripture says. It's the same with us. He put us here in the midst of a bunch of wolves. Jesus said, “I send you forth as lambs in the midst of wolves” (Luk.10:3). We have been put here for crucifixion, and the world is designed to crucify us. If you don't understand that, you don't understand the sovereignty of God. God designed this world to crucify us. Jesus was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8). Stop and think. “The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Before Adam fell, God designed a Savior. Do you think we're in Plan B? Nope. We're in Plan A. There never has been a Plan B because God is Sovereign. He designed this world to manifest sons, and to manifest sons, you have to have a fallen nature to begin with. There have to be people who don't deserve God's goodness. That's where you have to start out because God wasn't creating angels. If He was creating angels, He wouldn't have had to make man at all. God didn't want angels. He wanted somebody who was fallen and so they could gratefully realize they picked up by the grace of God. You remember what Jesus said to one of the Pharisees? (Luk.7:40) And Jesus, answering, said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Teacher, say on. (41) A certain lender had two debtors: the one owed five hundred shillings, and the other fifty. (42) When they had not [wherewith] to pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most? (43) Simon answered and said, He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. (47) Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, [the same] loveth little. In other words, “Who is forgiven much, loveth much.” See, we're going to know how to love God because we don't deserve anything. We have fallen and have been picked up by grace, not by our works, but by grace or unmerited favor. We don't deserve anything. We deserve justice, but pray you don't get that because God's grace is far above justice. His mercy is far above justice. That's why we have to give grace to other people. Don't give them what they deserve; you may get what you deserve. (Mat.7:2) For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured unto you. If you give somebody justice, you'll receive it back. Give them mercy. Give them grace. God will judge them. God may even judge them out of your mouth, but understand that it won't be with your flesh. The prophets spoke judgments. In the Book of Revelation, prophets speak judgment in (Revelation 11:6). I'm convinced that everything that happens in the Book of Revelation comes out of the mouth of God's children. Many of the curses today that are coming upon this world are coming out of the mouth of God's children. In fact, I'm convinced that all of them do. God is bringing judgment, and He's doing it through His people but it won't be personal retaliation or unforgiveness. They're speaking judgment, but they're not doing it with the mouth of the flesh. You know, we can't rise up against this government that God ordained according to Romans 13. If you do, God promises, “all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword” (Mat.26:52). But ultimately God's Kingdom is coming. The saints are going to possess the Kingdom, and they're going to take it from the Beast. They will do this by using the Sword of the Spirit and it will be happening in the spirit realm. They won't be doing it in the flesh. The flesh must be crucified. Works of the flesh must cease. You must desist. You must resist not him who is evil. In the spirit realm, we can do many mighty things. God has planned it that way so that your spirit man will be strong, but your flesh will be weak. That's the way God's salvation, God's deliverance, and every need is going to come. David understood that the Lord had commanded this, and we need to understand this, too. All we have to do is read Job to see that circumstances are the same today as they were back then. (Job2:10) … What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?…. And you know what? Job repented after God answered him in chapters 38-40. He repented of his self-righteousness. He repented (Job 42:1-6) and God gave him back what he'd lost (Job 42:10). But God used crucifixion in Job's life. Job wasn't physically doing wrong things; he wasn't in outward immoral disobedience. His problem was self-righteousness. God brought all this against him to bring him to repentance. David was also put in a position of crucifixion by God. God sent this enemy against him and David understood that. I think very few people in the Old Testament had wisdom like David concerning this. And he said, (2Sa.16:10) And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? Because he curseth, and because the Lord hath said unto him, Curse David; who then shall say, Wherefore hast thou done so? (11) And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, who came forth from my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more [may] this Benjamite now [do it]? let him alone, and let him curse; for the Lord hath bidden him. “The Lord hath bidden him.” Think about that the next time people come against you and want to put you on the cross, and you keep wanting to climb down. We do want to climb down off that cross, but you can't drive the nails. God has designed the wicked to put the cross in the ground and drive the nails. That's their calling in this world.  God has vessels of honor and vessels of dishonor. He has vessels of grace and vessels of wrath. They're all doing His Will, one way or the other. All things serve the Lord, and He works all things after the counsel of His Own Will (Ephesians 1:11). If you understand this, you can walk in grace and peace in this world, no matter what comes against you, because God put you there for a purpose. He put you there to be crucified and so that you would learn to use the weapons of your warfare (2 Corinthians 10:4). You know, sometimes the Lord sends the devil against you just so you can defeat him. He'll send the enemy against you, but He doesn't want you to go against him by wrestling with flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12). Remember that the Bible says, “resist not him that is evil” (Mat.5:39). On the other hand, it says, “resist the devil” (Jas.4:7). “Resist not him that is evil” is talking about man. We don't wrestle with flesh and blood. When they wrestled with flesh and blood in the Old Testament, that was a type and shadow of them wrestling with principalities and powers. Go back over there and read the names of those kings and the names of those tribes that were conquered, and study in the Hebrew what those names mean. You're going to find out they're all the lusts of the flesh and demon spirits. That's who the Israelites were spiritually wrestling with and everything that happened to them was a type and a shadow for us. (1Co.10:11) Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come. So go back to the Old Testament and look at it carefully. You'll see what they wrestled with.  Today we think we're supposed to carry on an Old Testament-type warfare in the way we war with people, but you can't grow if you do that. God will chasten you if you do that because you're rebelling against His Word. And David said of his accuser, “the Lord hath bidden him” (2Sa.16:11). (12) It may be that the Lord will look on the wrong done to me, and that the Lord will requite me good for [his] cursing of me this day. David is saying that the Lord will pay him back good for his resisting not evil. If the Lord's going to bless you for it, go ahead and let them curse. Didn't Jesus say you'd be blessed when men would curse you? Absolutely (Matthew 5:11). Didn't He say the spirit of grace and the Spirit of God would rest upon you? Have you ever experienced that? I have. When I first learned of this doctrine, the Lord put me in situations where I did, by His grace, turn the other cheek, and I felt the power of God on me for going through that. It's just a great anointing that comes upon you when you obey God in the place where you want to defend yourself, and you refuse to do it. Instead, you leave it in the hands of God, and you won't defend yourself.  If you do defend ‘self', then the old man will live; he'll climb down off that cross. Even though he's crucified, he's not totally dead yet, so he can still climb down. It's true that we have to reckon him dead (Romans 6:11), but until he is dead, don't let him live; don't feed him. Do you know what fasting is a type of? Well, when you fast, you're not feeding the flesh. What happens when you don't feed it? It gets weak. What does that do? It makes the spiritual man strong. There's a reason for fasting and there's a spiritual type. The whole chapter of Isaiah 58 is talking about spiritual fasting, about denying yourself, so we see that they had a revelation of that in the Old Testament, too. (2Sa.16:13) So David and his men went by the way; and Shimei went along on the hill-side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust. (14) And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary; and he refreshed himself there. Well, that wasn't the end of the story. David never did do anything to Shimei, but his son Solomon had him killed because he rebelled against his commands and left the city. It's hard to comprehend why Shimei was so against David. My guess is he was a low-life who just didn't want to understand the situation here. Anybody who was on Absalom's side and saw righteousness in Absalom and not in David, and saw righteousness in Saul and not in David, was in trouble. He was a sick son of the devil. Leaving our recompense in God's hands will do a work in you that nothing else will do because our old man would like to get the last word. And the last place you'll usually overcome in doing this is in your family. You can do it pretty well with the world and with the Christians around you, but one of the last places you're going to do it is with your family. The Scriptures teach this really well. The Lord says, “bless them that persecute you; bless, and curse not” (Rom.12:14).(17) Render to no man evil for evil. Take thought for things honorable in the sight of all men. (18) If it be possible, as much as in you lieth, be at peace with all men. We're to be at peace with all men. I once had a rather strange thing happen to me when I was in that state between dreaming and waking up. I was faced with an enemy that had come against this country. I saw an invasion force, and I was in the midst of it, and I was saying things to them in this dream like, “You're not my enemy.” The world may have enemies, but the world is not our enemy. Did you know the world is not our enemy? He said, “I will be his father, and he shall be my son: if he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men” (2Sa.7:14). See, the rod is not your enemy; the rod is God's method of creation. When what we call our “enemy” is finished doing their work, God's going to destroy them. They have a work to do that we have to cooperate with God in. They are the rod of God who comes against us, but they're not really our enemy. We are to resist not that evil because that evil is what crucifies this flesh, which is our true enemy; it's the enemy of our eternal life. So they're doing a work in us that nothing else could do, and we need them. And God says, “as much as in you lieth, be at peace with all men” (Rom.12:18). (19) Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath [of God]. “Give place unto the wrath.” That “of God” wasn't in the original. Just cross that out because it's not in there. It says, “give place unto the wrath: for it is written, Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will recompense, saith the Lord” (19). (20) But if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him to drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head. (21) Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. Our method to bring the Gospel to people around us is to overcome evil with good. And Paul said, always leave the vengeance up to the Lord. Now I've heard for years that this ‘heaping coals of fire upon their head' was coals of conviction. Maybe so. But if you don't take vengeance, the Lord will, because He said to Israel, I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse (Gen.12:3). The Bible says we're the Israel of God. That verse is about you. It's not about a bunch of pagan Israelites who don't know God. No, it doesn't have anything to do with them. It has to do with the Israel of God. For as many as are of the faith of Abraham, these are the sons of Abraham (Romans 4:16). (Rom.2:28) For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh: (29) but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart…. God's going to bless those who bless you, but He's going to curse those who curse you.  (Psa.140:9) As for the head of those that compass me about, Let the mischief of their own lips cover them. (10) Let burning coals fall upon them: Let them be cast into the fire, Into deep pits, whence they shall not rise. So, this ‘burning coals upon the head;' could mean a lot more than just the convicting power. There are some people who will be totally convicted when you resist not their evil, and God can overcome evil in people who can be convicted because the power of God is drawing them. But there are some people who have no desire toward God. They're not being drawn of God, as a matter of fact. The Scripture doesn't say God draws everybody. (Joh.6:44) No man can come to me, except the Father that sent me draw him…. It's just not in there. And this won't do anything for them, but the Bible does say God's judgment will fall upon them. If you resist not the evil, God's judgment will fall upon them, so those burning coals can mean the judgment of God. (Rom.13:1) Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God…. Did you know that there is no power but of God? If somebody has power over you, guess Who gave them that power? Jesus told Pilate, “thou wouldest have no power against me, except it were given thee from above” (Joh.19:11). It's the same situation with us. God puts us in positions where physically we don't have the power; the enemy, the wicked, have the power. How many times have you ever seen a Christian government over a country? Daniel said that God gives the kingdom to whom He will and He sets up over it the basest of men (Daniel 4:17). Did you ever wonder why God does that? Did you ever wonder why, in the days of Jesus, there were the Neros and the Caesars, and since then the Hitlers and the Mussolinis? God does that because we need crucifixion. God is in the process of creating sons, and there has to be a crucifixion for sons. The people in power most often are the wicked. The Bible says in Romans 13 that when they're put in power, God puts them there. So it says, “let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God; and the [powers] that be are ordained of God” (Rom.13:1). And that was written in the days of the Herods and the Caesars and the Neros! God put them in there and they crucified the Christians. They brought the Christians through trouble and all that was God's purpose. (Act.14:22) … Through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God.

Pursuing Peace and Unity Without Compromising Truth By Dave Jenkins Christians are called to pursue peace, love one another, and stand firmly on the truth of God's Word. Ephesians 4 shows how those responsibilities belong together. Our unity is grounded in Christ and the gospel, and we are called to maintain it with humility, patience, and love. Listen or Watch Biblical Unity Is Grounded in Truth In Ephesians 4:1–6, Paul urges believers to walk in a manner worthy of their calling. He calls them to humility, gentleness, patience, and love, and to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. That unity has doctrinal content: one Lord, one faith, and one God and Father of all. In this episode of Anchored in the Word, Dave Jenkins considers how Christians can remain faithful to essential gospel truths while extending grace in secondary disagreements and matters of Christian liberty. He explains why compromise disguised as unity and divisiveness disguised as discernment both fail to reflect the character of Christ. Pursue Peace with Conviction and Love Christians need wisdom to know when to stand firm, when to extend liberty, and how to speak the truth in love. Our deepest unity comes through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who reconciles sinners to God and makes his people one in himself. Scripture Discussed Ephesians 4:1–6, 15 Romans 12:18; 14:19 Jude 3 Anchored in the Word is a weekly segment of the Servants of Grace podcast. Share this episode with someone in your church, and send questions for future episodes through the contact page. For more from Anchored in the Word please visit here or at our YouTube.

Welcome to Day 2959 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2959– “People Get Ready” – Luke 12:35-48 Putnam Church Message – 09/20/2026 The Good News According to Luke: “People, Get Ready”   Last week, our message was “The Testimony of a Fool,” and we learned that wherever your treasure is... your heart will follow, and we need to make certain our hearts are headed toward home. Today, we continue with our thirty-ninth message from Luke's narrative of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Today's message is: “People, Get Ready.” Our core passage today is Luke 12:35-48, starting on page 1618 of your pew Bibles.  “Be Ready for the Lord's Coming” 35 “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. 37 The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! 38 He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn.[d] But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready. 39 “Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.” 41 Peter asked, “Lord, is that illustration just for us or for everyone?” 42 And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. 43 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. 44 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. 45 But what if the servant thinks, ‘My master won't be back for a while,' and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? 46 The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant in pieces and banish him with the unfaithful. 47 “And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn't prepared and doesn't carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. 48 But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required. Opening Prayer Father, we come before You today as people living between promise and fulfillment. Your Kingdom has come near in Jesus Christ, yet we still wait for the day when the King returns and all things are made new. Lord Jesus, teach us to live ready. Keep us from drifting into complacency, distraction, fear, or selfishness. Make us faithful stewards of the time, truth, resources, and responsibilities You have placed in our hands. Holy Spirit, give us wisdom to live today in light of eternity. May we not merely talk about Christ's return, but live in such a way that we are prepared to welcome Him. In Jesus' name, amen. Introduction: Prepared Before the Crisis On March 18, 1979, Stephanie May received news no person is prepared to hear. A twin-engine airplane had crashed shortly after takeoff near Aspen, Colorado. In a single moment, she lost her husband, John Edward; her twenty-two-year-old son, Davin; her eighteen-year-old daughter, Karla; and her son-in-law, Richard. / Four people she loved were suddenly gone. / There is no way to prepare emotionally on March 17 for something like March 18. Yet over the following weeks Stephanie kept a journal. She poured her grief onto its pages, and eventually she wrote words that reveal something important about readiness. / She admitted she was not strong. / She did not pretend she was brave. She simply said, in essence: “I am a Christian carrying a burden. My faith has survived. My life belongs to God. I have walked through hell, but now I walk with God in peace.” How could she say that? Because the spiritual foundation she needed on March 18 had been laid long before March 18. That is the kind of readiness Jesus is talking about today. Last week, in “The Testimony of a Fool,” Jesus told us not to build bigger barns while neglecting eternity. He told us not to worry about food or clothing, but to seek God's Kingdom first. He told His “little flock” not to be afraid because the Father delights to give them the Kingdom. Now Jesus continues: If the Kingdom is really your treasure... If the Father really is trustworthy... If eternity really matters more than earthly accumulation... Then: People, get ready. Do not wait until tragedy comes. Do not wait until persecution comes. Do not wait until the end of life comes. Do not wait until Christ returns. Prepare your heart now. Let's explore four truths for today's lesson as found on your bulletin insert on the side that says: People, Get Ready! Truth 1: Live Ready Because the Master Is Returning Luke 12:35–40 Jesus begins with a vivid command: “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning.” The literal image is to have your loins girded. That sounds strange to us because we wear clothing differently. / In the first century, men wore long tunics. If someone needed to run, work, climb, or fight, the flowing garment would get in the way. So, the person would gather the fabric, pull it upward, and tuck it securely into the belt. It meant: Ready for action. We might say today: “Keep your shoes on.” “Have your bags packed.” “Keep the engine running.” “Stay ready.” Then Jesus adds: “Keep your lamps burning.” Oil lamps required attention. / A neglected lamp could go out. / A servant waiting late into the night had to trim the wick, replenish the oil, and stay awake. / Jesus is describing a disciple who lives with spiritual alertness. The Returning Master Jesus pictures servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet. / Ancient wedding celebrations could last several days. / The servants knew the master would return. / They simply did not know when. / Maybe early. / Maybe midnight. / Maybe near dawn. The question was not: “Will he return?” The question was: “Will the household be ready when he does?” That distinction matters. / Christian hope is not built on speculation about whether Christ will return. Jesus says He will. The issue is readiness. The Astonishing Reversal Then Jesus says something remarkable. If the master returns and finds the servants ready, the master will dress himself to serve them. (NLT) he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat!  That would have shocked His hearers. / Masters did not return home and serve servants. / Servants served masters. / Yet Jesus says the returning Lord will seat His faithful servants at the table and serve them. Does that sound familiar? John 13 shows Jesus removing His outer robe, wrapping a towel around His waist, kneeling, and washing His disciples' feet. The King becomes the servant. / And one day, the...

Luke 17Andrew and Edwin discuss the lepers Jesus healed and the need to give thanks as well as a surprising turn of grace for unworthy servants.Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here.    Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org.    Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. We'd love to meet you. Be a guest among the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue. Click here to find out more. Michael Eldridge sang all four parts of our theme song. Find more from him by clicking here.   Thanks for talking about the text with us today.________________________________________________If the hyperlinks do not work, copy the following addresses and paste them into the URL bar of your web browser: Daily Written Devo: https://readthebiblemakedisciples.wordpress.com/?p=26941The Christians Who Meet on Livingston Avenue: http://www.christiansmeethere.org/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TalkAboutTheTextFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/texttalkMichael Eldridge: https://acapeldridge.com/ 

The Servants of Ar-Rahmaan - Part 1: Mufti Yusuf Moosagie by Radio Islam

This sermon examines the selection of the first seven deacons in the early Jerusalem church and introduces Stephen as a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit. It addresses the internal conflict between Hebrew and Hellenist Jews, arguing that communal sharing was a temporary necessity rather than a permanent divine ordinance, while emphasizing the importance of personal labor and spiritual discipline. The speaker distinguishes between the role of these early servants and the biblical office of deacons, highlighting the need for godly men who support the pastor's ministry of prayer, study, and teaching. Furthermore, the lesson explores Stephen's intellectual prowess and his confrontation with false accusations, illustrating how a deep knowledge of Scripture enables believers to withstand spiritual attacks and defend the truth with wisdom.

This sermon examines the selection of the first seven deacons in the early Jerusalem church and introduces Stephen as a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit. It addresses the internal conflict between Hebrew and Hellenist Jews, arguing that communal sharing was a temporary necessity rather than a permanent divine ordinance, while emphasizing the importance of personal labor and spiritual discipline. The speaker distinguishes between the role of these early servants and the biblical office of deacons, highlighting the need for godly men who support the pastor's ministry of prayer, study, and teaching. Furthermore, the lesson explores Stephen's intellectual prowess and his confrontation with false accusations, illustrating how a deep knowledge of Scripture enables believers to withstand spiritual attacks and defend the truth with wisdom.

4PB 2026 - Humble Servants | Byron Beck | September 27, 2027 | Fellowship Church | Poplar Bluff, MO

Multiplying Servants - Thriving Under Pressure (Week 4) - Jason Frizzell by C*Road Church

Pastor Kurt Hoover gives us the word "Servants" to study from Matthew 21! I had my Steward Baliwick post this for me so thanks to him...

Introduction: Church: Be Unified and Purified (1 Corinthians 16:13-24) Be PURIFIED . (1 Cor 16:13) Be WATCHFUL ! Stand FIRM ! Act like MEN ! Be STRONG ! Be UNIFIED . (1 Cor 16:14-24) Be SUBJECT to SERVANTS . (1 Cor 16:15-16) Give RECOGNITION to REFRESHERS (1 Cor 16:17-18) Show AFFINITY to one ANOTHER . (1 Cor 16:19-24) Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Unified and Purified: Motivated By Love Jeff Miller Download Audio Transcript 00:00Amen. Open your Bibles, please, if you haven't already, to the passage that Pastor Taylor just read. 1 Corinthians 16, picking up in verse 13. Just take a moment, please, while you're doing so, and just pray for me to be faithful, to communicate God's Word clearly and accurately as I should, and I will pray for you to receive what it is the Lord wants to teach us in this passage. Let's just take a moment.00:29Thank you, Father, for this journey you've taken us through. And it's a lot. It's so challenging in parts, so contrary to human, natural, worldly thinking. Your wisdom always is, though. Father, give us the faith to truly believe what it is that you said.00:59not just say we believe it but to truly believe what it is that you say in your word may your name be glorified greatly father as we have one more passage here speak to us through your word father we ask in jesus name and all of god's people said amen amen about a month or so ago we get a call here on the church line and the the guy we get these calls from time But the guy went into this very long, confusing, convoluted story. Remember this, Pastor Taylor? It was something about he had a truckload of furniture and somebody was paying him to haul it, but he was running out of gas, so he was calling the church to see if we could help him with gas because he needed to get to, where was he going, Oklahoma City or something? It was just this long, convoluted, confusing story.01:59And then finally, I said, okay, stop, stop, stop, stop. I said, tell me in one sentence what it is that you want. And he said, well, I want to see if I can donate some of this furniture from the truck for gas money. I was born at night, but it wasn't last night. It was one of these scam things, right? So I said, we don't have any room for furniture. Have a great day. But what was the plan then?02:29Somebody was paying him to haul donated furniture. He was going to use that furniture to fund his... Anyway, too long, right? It's like those emails you get. Too long, didn't read. You get those emails? Too long, didn't read? It was like the phone call version of that. And as we get to the end of 1 Corinthians, it's a lot. I mean, we've been covering this since last October. Can you believe that?02:59Everything that Paul has said under inspiration of the Holy Spirit of 1 Corinthians, you're like, whoa, whoa, Paul, Paul, can you tell me in one sentence what it is you want me to know? Right? Can you sum it up? And yeah, actually, that's where we got the theme for the year. Be purified, church.03:28Being purified is about who you are. It's holiness. We've talked about that. You're like, yeah, yeah, but can you give it to me in one sentence? Sure. Look at verse 13. Here it is. Be watchful. Stand firm in the faith. Act like men. Be strong. There it is. Like, yeah, Pastor Jeff, you could have saved a lot of time in the last year if you would have just led with that. Right? That sums it all up.03:58But that's be purified. We've also been looking at what God's Word says about being unified, church. Being purified is about who you are. Being unified is about how you love other people. You're like, yeah, we've talked a lot about unity. Can you tell me about unity in one sentence, Pastor Jeff? Can you tell me in one sentence? He does. Look at verse 14. Let all that you do.04:28be done in love. Wow, you could have saved some time. That's it. Be purified, be unified. Corinth had a lot of problems. Like how many problems did they have? Well, two books worth in the Bible. Right? A lot of problems. And we've spent the last year talking about them. Divisions and lusts and suing one another and insisting on their freedoms.04:58and self-exalting. And we've had, in 1 Corinthians, we've had 15 chapters of don't. And he closes with just a few verses of do. So what we see here is that we get to this home stretch here. What Paul does here in this passage is he puts a big bow on it. He gives us one more word on these two themes that we've been covering this past year.05:27So church be unified and purified. Number one, let's talk about the first command here. Be purified.05:36Church. Look at verse 13 again.05:39Not difficult.05:41It's clear. Be watchful.05:44Stand firm in the faith.05:45Act like men. Be strong.05:48Be purified.05:49Look, if we're going to be collectively pure as a church, you need to be individually holy.06:00You want a pure church? It means you have a part in that. Right? So let's just quickly, he just like blasts us with these four things. We're going to look at them quickly. Letter A, be watchful, he says. Be watchful. Literally, this phrase means be awake.06:27literally means be fully awake. You know the difference between being awake and being fully awake? You know the difference between the two? I think of many years ago, I was taking my Sunday afternoon nap. Delicious. And I was sleeping. I was out. The smoke alarm went off. So I get up. Back to bed. Erin runs in. She goes, Jeff, there's actually a I jump up here. We had a metal garbage can and my son found a lighter and put some papers on fire in the garbage can. No damage to the house. It was a metal can. Everything contained. But my point is this. There is a big difference between the first time I got up and the second time I got up. I was awake and then I was fully awake. And fully awake is what he's saying here when he says be watchful. Because honestly Christians, Many Christians today are in the sleepy stupor. They're in the stupor like the first time I woke up and that's just how they wander through life. Half awake, half asleep. And there's spiritual attacks all around and it's just like, oh, no problem. There's temptations to sin all around and you're just kind of staggering through, not really watching for them.07:57There's needs of others around you and you're just like, don't notice.08:05And that's what Paul, that's what he says here.08:06He goes, wake up.08:07Like, no, wake up.08:09See what's going on around you.08:12Be watchful.08:14Secondly, letter B says stand firm.08:17Church, you've got to know what you believe.08:21You've got to know why you believe what you believe.08:23And when you do, live it.08:25Do not waver.08:26And that's what we saw in 1 Corinthians. They were so sucked into worldly wisdom that some of them were denying that there was even a resurrection. That's why we have 1 Corinthians 15. Like, what? You're like, shame on them. Well, you know what? Shame on us because there are people that they hear some goofy nutjob preacher online teaching some wackadoo doctrine and they just latch on to that. Like, wow.08:56I never heard this before. Do you know why you never heard that before? Because it's wrong. How about that? People believing some bizarre things. How does that happen? Because they don't know what they really believe. People aren't studying God's Word for themselves. And that's why Paul says, hey, hey, Corinthians, stand firm in the faith. Let us see, he says, act like men.09:27Act like men. What's he saying? Be mature. Be mature. Obviously, he's talking to the men here, right? Do you know why he's talking to the men? Because men usually have the maturity problem. True or false? We can be honest here.09:56We have the maturity problem. True.10:01All the fighting. All the bragging.10:04All the self-seeking. We've seen Paul address this in 1 Corinthians.10:07Paul's like, you're acting like children.10:10You're acting like a bunch of toddlers back in Harvest Academy.10:13Fighting over the goldfish crackers.10:15Knock it off.10:17He says, grow up. He says, act like, how about acting like men for a change?10:24But we see that with men. Not acting like men. Acting like children. I'm mad. I didn't get my way. I'm never speaking to him again. I'm leaving the church because I don't prefer this. No. Act like men. Grow up. Be a man. Show the young men how a man acts. Act like men. And then he says be strong. Be strong. Literally.10:54Literally, it's be strengthened. There's a difference, right? Between being strong and being strengthened. The difference is the source. Being strong means I try to muster it up myself. I can't. That's not what he says. He says, be strengthened. I need someone to do that to me. And that's God. I need God's Spirit. I need the power of the Spirit. I need the wisdom of His Word.11:23I was looking through this list. I'm like, you know what? If I'm walking by the Spirit, I will be watchful. I will stand firm. I will act like a man. And as a result, I'll be strong if I do that. Right? It's the result. All of these things obviously are acts of intention, right? They're all resolute postures. All of these things give you that, Like, yes, I am God's soldier. I'm going to stand on the Word of God. I will not waver, right? Right? I'm purified by Him. I'm purified for Him. Here's the only problem with that is if we just commit to going after that, we're going to be crusty.12:24We need to be motivated by love. Right? It's both truth and grace. That's why, number two, you can't just be purified. Church, you also have to be unified. Look at verse 14 again. Verse 14, he says, let all that you do be done in love.12:53Everything that you do. Let it be motivated by love. This is what the Corinthians desperately needed. This is what Harvest Bible Chapel desperately needs. This is what every single church that belongs to Jesus Christ truly needs. That we are motivated. Everything that we do is done because we love one another.13:20Love is action. We talked about that, right? 1 Corinthians 13. Love is action. Like, what does that look like? Well, what you see here when we get to the end of the letter, it's a very easy formula. Paul here gives us three groups of people and then gives us three commands on how to respond to each of these.13:53This is a two-way street.13:54You must respond by doing this.13:57That's the formula.13:58And do you know what that tells me?14:03It's a reminder that love is a two-way street.14:07Right?14:08Love is meant to be a two-way street.14:15If you've ever been involved in a relationship where love was just a one-way street, you know how frustrating that can be. And Paul reminds us here, look, these people did things. You respond in this way. Love is a two-way street. You have to be actively loving each other. Be unified. So what does that look like? Well, letter A, he says, be subject to servants. Be subject to servants. Look at verse 15. He says, now I urge you, you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia.14:57And that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints.15:07Devoted themselves. I love that phrase. They devoted themselves.15:12Themselves. Do you know what that means? That means they weren't coerced.15:18They weren't begged to serve. They were self-motivated. They're like, we're doing this because we want to. They devoted themselves. But even more interesting to me than that, that word devoted, that word has the same root from where we get the word addicted. They were addicted.15:48to serving people.15:50And if you've ever known someone that was an addict to a substance, to a chemical, to drugs or alcohol, you know the drive of, I just can't stop doing this.16:05I need more and more and more to satisfy.16:11And this is that attitude, but used in a positive, He says you should be addicted to serving people in Christ. Like, I can't help it. Like, hey, stop doing ministry. I need you to take a couple weeks off. I can't help it. I cannot help it. I want to serve. How can I serve people? Like, you really need to quit. No, I need to do it more. I just can't get enough of it. They were addicted to ministry. And that's just how it is when you find your calling from God.16:47You're addicted. You're addicted. You can't help yourself. If somebody says you're absolutely forbidden in this church to serve the Lord in this way, you'll find someplace where you can serve Him because you're addicted. Have you found your ministry addiction? Well, what do we do in response to these ministry addicts? Look at verse 16. He says, be subject to such as these.17:15and every fellow worker and laborer. Be subject. Paul says, when someone like Stephanas so faithfully serves the Lord, you be subject to them. Be subject to them. You say, look, this is who God is using. This is healthy ministry. I want to do everything I can to support them. And as I was reading and studying this this week, do you know who I was thinking of from our church like this? I was thinking of Joe and Janie Berger.17:46You know, they started a ministry for people in their 20s.17:52They weren't asked to do that. That was on their heart. They said, the Lord put that on us.17:56We want to serve in this way. We want to help disciple young adults, people in their 20s.18:02They were completely self-motivated to do that, and they continue. How can we make improvements to that room?18:08What can we do to make this? They take up a whole other level this year than they did last year.18:15How can we better serve the young adults? They're like addicts. That's exactly what he's talking about here. And you should be looking at people like Joe and Janie Berger and saying, how can I help them along? What can I do to support them? He says, be subject to such as these. Let her be. Be unified. Love is this two-way street, right? Here's the next two-way street.18:45He says, give recognition to refreshers. Give recognition to refreshers. Look at verse 17. He said, I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortinatus and Achaicus because they have made up for your absence. But they apparently didn't have nicknames.19:15I mean, can we do that real quick? Stephanas, we'll call him, what, Stevie? Does that work? Okay. What about, this next one's going to be a little harder. Fortunatus, what do we call him, Fortnite? Did you play that game? Fortnite? 40. 40. And when he turns 40, whoa, that's a All right? What about Achaicus? You guys are really bad at nicknaming people. How about Achy Breaky Heart? Anyways. All right. So these are Stevie and Forty and Achy. What have they done? Paul says they made up for your absence. Literally the Greek there, he says they filled up my lack of you.20:17They filled up my lack of you. You know, as we've gone through 1 Corinthians, we could say in all sincerity that Corinth sounded like the kind of church that you would absolutely love to avoid. Right? Like, hey, if you like cliques, gluttony, and chaos, have we got a church for you? Like, I'm busy.20:45every Sunday.20:47And that's why reading 1 Corinthians and getting to the end here, it's astounding to me that Paul was actually longing to see them.20:58Do you see that?21:02He says, I miss all of you.21:06But Stevie and Forty and Achy, they really scratched that itch.21:12Look at verse 18.21:14He says, for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours.21:19Here's the command.21:20Here's the response.21:21Give recognition to such men.21:26These men refreshed Paul's spirit.21:31And we should come to church.21:34We should come to small group wanting to refresh people.21:39Being positive, thankful, uplifting.21:42We all know people that do the opposite. I think back to my days. I worked at Walmart and Butler in the mid-90s and there was an employee there. I'm not going to say her name. She's surely dead by an hour. She'd be 130. But like there was an employee there that like it was like this running gag. They're like if you see her just say hi.22:12Because, you know, sometimes we're like, hey, how are you? The problem with her is if you ask, how are you? She'll tell you. Not the short version either. And there have been times that I'll pass her in the aisle, and I'd say, hey, how are you? And as soon as it came out of my mouth, I'm like, oh, I did it. I'm like, hey, how are you? She'll be like, oh, you know what? My bad knee's acting up.22:41Now, my good knee's been hurt, and my daughter, you know, my daughter's gone through this divorce, and she has the gout, and her ex-husband has the gout, and they had this landlord who has this uncle who knew this guy, and he has the gout, and my finances are a wreck, and it would just drain the life out of you. You know people like that? Don't point. You know people like that? Some people drain the life out of you, but some people, They seem to do the opposite. They seem to fuel you.23:16Fill up your tank.23:19It's like, you know what refreshing feels like?23:20Here's a real life example of what refreshing feels like.23:24Something that we can all relate to.23:26As if we've ever been at a whether it's small group breakout time or a prayer service where people are going around giving their prayer requests.23:34You know, sometimes it's just like health issue after tragedy, after financial issue and we should be praying for those things. I'm not criticizing that at all.23:44But you know what's refreshing? Is when you get to the guy that's like, you know what?23:49I have a praise. Can I share a praise? And it's like, yes!23:52Thank you! Please share the praise. And that person's like, I just want to thank God for the way that I've seen Him at work in this church.24:00And it's so refreshing.24:03Like, yes! That's what Paul's talking about here.24:07These guys.24:10They refresh you. You recognize or honor them.24:21Some people deserve to be honored. That's just all there is to it.24:24They deserve to be honored. Not because they have money. Not because they're influential. Not because they have cool names.24:33They deserve to be recognized because their attitudes and their words refresh people.24:41You're like, man, I've really had a hard week.24:45And man, it was so good.24:47I ran into so-and-so and it was so good to see him.24:51Man, he just, running into him just made my day.24:56You know what I'm talking about?25:01Paul listed some people here.25:02And again, I was thinking about people here at Harvest. And there were so many names and faces that came to mind. So many. But Paul listed three. I'm like, I've got to just do three right off the top of my head. Of people that when I encounter them, I always feel good after walking away from a conversation with them. And here's who I wrote down. Chris Richards. Always. Do you know our worship team today was like, Literally 50% Richards.25:37But every time I talk to Chris, I just walk away feeling better.25:41He's refreshing. You know who else I thought of?25:43And you might not know all these people. It's okay. You need to meet them.25:46Jillian gave you a chance and you blew it.25:48But you know, somebody else that does that for me is Sally Cousins.25:54If you know Sally Cousins from our church, I always feel like a million bucks after talking to her.25:58She's refreshing.25:59You know who else I wrote down here?26:01Like I said, there's so many.26:02Don't feel excluded. I could be up here till Thanksgiving listing people. I wrote down Russ House. Russ, you all, man, you always make me feel better after talking to you. You're such an encourager. And that's what Paul's talking about here. He says, when you have people like that, give recognition to them. And then finally, letter C, show affinity to one another.26:34Show affinity to one another. Look at verses 19 and 20. He says, The churches of Asia send you their greetings.26:48Akilah and Prissa together with the church in their house send you hearty greetings in the Lord.26:55All the brothers send you greetings.26:59Greet one another with a holy kiss.27:02So here Paul's like, Achille and Priscilla and the churches and the brothers. You know, we're like, tell everybody I said hi. That's what he's doing here. Everybody says hi to you, Corinth. He says, look, hey Corinth, everyone is showing affinity, showing affection to you. And then you notice, he says, now you do it. He says, greet one another with a holy kiss. Greet one another with a holy kiss. Now, wait a minute.27:34This phrase comes up several times in the New Testament. It's in Romans, 2 Corinthians, 1 Thessalonians, 1 Peter. But I want you to understand something. In their culture, men kissed men and women kissed women. In our culture, that's the equivalent of the handshake or the hug. Right? But we can't get so caught up on the method that we missed the big picture because Corinth needed this and Harvest Bible Chapel needs this. We should be expressing affection towards one another. We should be expressing that. People come to church here, they come in during the third song and then they slip out during the last song and then they're like, I just didn't feel very loved at that church.28:32You stared at the back of somebody's head? Really? You didn't feel loved? I can understand why. How about this? How about stick around and talk to people and shake some hands and give some hugs? Then you'll feel loved. That's exactly what Paul's saying here. Don't slip in and out. Stick around. Love each other. Show affinity. People need to know that they are loved and they are valued. You're not a customer here.29:02You are a brother or sister in the Lord. So, who wants a holy kiss? Just Aaron. That's appropriate. Wish granted. I'm going to owe you that. But we'll move on. I'm glad nobody did rush the stage for that actually.29:32Aaron would have knocked you out. But moving on. He says, I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. You know, often Paul would dictate, somebody would write. But Paul's like, I'm signing off on this. And I know we can sort of laugh some of these names and holy kisses and things like that.30:02But this next verse to me is one of the most convicting verses in the entire Bible. Look at verse 22. Paul says, if anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord come. So convicting. Look at the verse again. You should have this underlined in your Bible. He says, if anyone has no love for the Lord.30:32And I just need to ask you, based on what God's Word says here, I need to ask you, do you love the Lord? Do you love Him? We're not saying, hey, hey, hey, you're not anti-Jesus, are you?31:02We're not saying, do you like going to church?31:07And we're not saying, are you okay with having a little religion in your life?31:13You think it's good for the kids, right?31:14You're okay with a little religion.31:16We're not saying any of that.31:17Look at what your Bible says.31:19Do you love the Lord?31:26Do you love the Lord?31:26Because listen, it does not matter if you merely acknowledge that Jesus is right.31:35It doesn't matter if you respect Jesus.31:42It doesn't even matter if you sort of idealize Jesus.31:47The question is, do you love Him?31:51Do you love Him?31:54Well, how do I know?32:00Come on.32:01You know if you love someone. You just know if you love someone. You have a relationship with them. You enjoy talking to them. You long to be with them. It's the same with Jesus. Do you love Him? Do you have a relationship with Him? I mean, do you spend time talking with Jesus?32:32Do you have this desire? Like, I just, more than anything, I want to be with Jesus. Do you have that longing? You know, sometimes we talk to people about heaven, and they're like, oh, I can't wait to go to heaven because my Uncle Fred's going to be there. Like, who cares about Uncle Fred? Do you know who's going to be there? Jesus! Where's the longing to be with Him? Do you love Him?33:01Jesus said, if you love me, you will keep my commandments. Do you love Jesus Christ? Look, here's the thing. Jesus' love for you is not in question. The Bible says he demonstrated his love when he died on the cross. So if you ever get that idea in your head, well, God doesn't love me, that's not in question.33:31Jesus died on the cross in your place to pay the penalty for your sin. And He commands you to respond to that love. Jesus' love for you is not in question. What is in question is this, do you love Jesus? And finally, last two verses. He says, the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all.34:01in Christ Jesus. Amen. Do you know what Paul's saying there? Saying, you are loved. We didn't make that up, by the way. We stole that also from the Bible. But that's exactly what Paul's saying. So I understand when we get up here, whether it's me or Pastor Taylor, whoever gets up here and says, you are loved, you know what we're saying is, look, God loves you with an eternal love in Jesus Christ.34:31You are loved by God. And you are loved by us at the church. That's exactly what Paul's saying here. That's what we say when we say you are loved. And I think it was especially important for the Corinthians to hear this after 16 chapters of being taken to the woodshed. Paul's like, look, none of this was meant to beat you down. It's because that I love you, that I want God's best for you. Our worship team would make their way up in our communion servers. I think it's only appropriate that we close this message, we close this series around the Lord's table. Why did Jesus die for us?35:30Jesus died for us so that we would be holy. We could be made righteous so that we would be purified. That's why He died. So that God would look at you, see you in Christ, and say, you are not guilty of sin. You are as righteous as I am. God gave us His righteousness. God did this so that we would be Purified.36:03So why do we, as a church, take the Lord's Supper together?36:08So that we are unified.36:11When we do this together, we are saying collectively, I believe that Jesus is the Christ.36:17I believe that He died for me.36:19I believe He rose from the dead.36:20I believe He's coming back.36:22And we, together as a church, are the body of Christ.36:26This is a great act of unity. Small Group DiscussionRead 1 Corinthians 16:13-24What was your big take-away from this passage / message?What did Paul mean by “act like men” (1 Cor 16:13)? What are some ways men aren't acting like men in the church today? What does it look like to “act like a man”?Who is someone who “refreshes your spirit” (1 Cor 16:18)? How do they do that? How are you doing at being a “refresher”?Though we don't kiss each other in our culture (1 Cor 16:20), what are ways we can show affinity towards one another? Why is it important for us to do so?How would you respond to someone who asks “How do I know if I truly LOVE the Lord?” (1 Cor 16:22)?BreakoutPray for one another.

Acts 4:23–31 shows Jerusalem believers answering threats through Scripture-grounded prayer, applying Psalm 2, requesting boldness, and receiving Spirit-empowered courage to continue their witness. :chatgpt-content-reference{index="0"}

Nehemiah: Build the People not the Walls - Servants Act - God WorksPassage: Nehemiah 1v1-2v8Speaker: Pastor Andy Rees

Exploring the Connection Between Matthew 22, Song of Songs, and Isaiah 22 For Bible in Ten – By DH – 25th September 2026 Matthew 22, Song of Songs, and Isaiah 22 Lets look at 8 connections between these chapters.  The King and His Son Song of Songs is the Bible's great book of love between a bridegroom and bride. Matthew 22 begins with a king preparing a marriage for his son. The feast is ready, but those invited refuse to come. The problem is not with the feast. The problem is their attitude toward the Son.  Matthew 22 presents those who receive the King's invitation but do not desire His Son. That is the tragedy of Israel's rejection of Christ. The Pattern of Twenty-Two CG notes in his Bible Commentary on Song of Songs available at the SuperiorWord.org that Bullinger associates twenty-two with intensified disorganisation and disintegration. He then asks whether love, perfect in its source in God, becomes corrupted when handled by fallen man. Matthew 22 repeatedly presents this problem. God has given Israel His law,His Scriptures,His commandments, and His Messiah.  Yet the religious leaders mishandle each.  They know the Scriptures but oppose Christ. They know Messiah is David's Son but fail to understand that He is also David's Lord.  They speak of God's law while seeking to destroy God's Son. “His Banner Over Me Was Love” Song of Songs 2:3-4 says:  He brought me to the banquet room.     His banner over me is love.    Matthew 22 likewise begins with a royal banquet. the Song's love connects with the love of God displayed in Christ. Servants are sent.  They are rejected.  But God's purpose for His Son is not frustrated. The wedding remains ready. The Son will still receive His honour. The Wedding Garment and Isaiah 22 Matthew 22 also introduces the man without a wedding garment, symbolising the righteousness of Christ. Right standing rests upon God's provision, not man's own righteousness. Isaiah 22 provides an interesting parallel.  When Eliakim is appointed, God says: 21 “ I will take your robe and put it on him. I will give him your belt. I will give him the important job you have. He will be like a father to the people of Jerusalem and the family of Judah.  The clothing and office are given to him.  He does not appoint or clothe himself. Likewise in Matthew 22, the King determines the terms of inclusion to His feast. The feast is His.  The Son is His.  The invitation is His. And acceptable standing before Him must come according to His provision. “You Have Not Looked Unto the Maker” Isaiah 22 contains another striking statement concerning Jerusalem: “You made a pool between the two walls.     It was to save water from the old pool. But you did not trust the God who made these things.     You did not respect the One who planned them long ago.  ”  Isaiah 22:11, ICB They prepare defences, strengthen walls and secure water, yet fail to look to God. Matthew 22 presents the same spiritual blindness. The leaders see Caesar.  They see taxation.  They see Moses.  They see marriage laws. They see commandments. They see David. But they fail to recognise the One standing before them. Jesus therefore asks: ““What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” ”  Matt 22 43 ICB That is the question toward which the whole chapter moves. Death and Resurrection Isaiah 22 also records the words: “Let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we will die.”   verse 13  ICB Matthew 22 gives the opposite perspective. When the Sadducees challenge Jesus concerning resurrection, He answers: “God is the God of living people, not dead people.” .”  matt 22 23  ICB Isaiah 22 presents a feast overshadowed by death. Matthew 22 presents the King's feast alongside the promise of resurrection. Song of Songs says: “Love is as strong as death.”   Song of Songs   8:6 The Bridegroom died and rose again.  In Christ, God's love conquers death.    Love God The great theme of Song of Songs is love. Matthew 22 later reaches the greatest commandment: “37 Jesus answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.'[a] 38 This is the first and most important command. ”  ICB Then: “Love your neighbor as you love yourself. ” So Matthew 22 begins with a wedding and proceeds to the great commandment of love.   The Key of David Perhaps the strongest connection between Matthew 22 and Isaiah 22 is here in Isaiah 22 verse 22: “I will put the key to the house of David around his neck. If he opens a door, no one will be able to close it. If he closes a door, no one will be able to open it.”   Matthew 22 ends with Jesus asking: “What do you think about the Christ? whose son is he?” They answer: “The Son of David.” Jesus then quotes Psalm 110, where David calls the Messiah Lord. The Messiah is David's Son, but also David's Lord. Revelation later takes the language of Isaiah 22 and applies it directly to Christ: 7 “Write this to the angel of the church in Philadelphia: “The One who is holy and true says this to you. He holds the key of David. When he opens something, it cannot be closed. And when he closes something, it cannot be opened.   Revelation 3:7  ICB Isaiah 22 gives the symbol — the key of David, representing authority over David's house. Matthew 22 identifies the person — the Christ is David's Son, yet also David's Lord. Revelation 3 confirms the connection — Jesus is the One who actually holds the key of David.  Life Application . “What do you think about the Christ? ”  In Song of Songs — Book 22 describes The king, the beloved, love, the bride, and the banquet. In Isaiah chapter 22, Jerusalem's failure to look to God, clothing, stewardship, the house of David and the key of David are introduced. Matthew 22:   The King, His Son, the wedding, the garment, resurrection, love, allegiance, the Son of David and David's Lord. Matthew 22 begins: “A certain king… made a marriage for his son.” It ends by revealing who that Son truly is.  He is the Son of David.  He is David's Lord.  He is the image of God.  He is the God of the living.  And He is the Son for whom the King has prepared the wedding. The great question of the chapter therefore remains: “What do you think about the Christ?”   Lord God,   Thank You for Your Word, which continually points us to Christ.  Thank You that You have prepared the wedding feast for Your Son.  May Jesus Christ receive all the honour that is due to Him, and may our hearts rejoice in His glory now and forever. Amen.

Not Ashamed of the Gospel, Romans 1:16 The gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. In this message from Romans 1:16, Dave Jenkins explains why Christians must never be ashamed of Christ and why our confidence in proclaiming the gospel rests in God's saving power. Listen or Watch Confidence in the Gospel Paul was eager to preach in Rome because he knew the power of the message entrusted to him. Rome possessed wealth, military strength, and cultural influence, but none of those things could forgive sin or reconcile sinners to God. The gospel announces what God has accomplished through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Its saving power comes from God, giving Christians confidence to proclaim it faithfully. In This Message Christians must not be ashamed of the gospel. The gospel is the power of God. Humanity's deepest need is salvation from sin. Salvation is received through faith in Christ alone. Jews and Gentiles are saved through the same gospel. Salvation Through Faith in Christ Alone Faith rests in Jesus Christ and His finished work. Our morality, ministry, religious knowledge, and good intentions cannot justify us before God. Christ alone is our righteousness and our hope. Paul's words “to everyone who believes” also remind us that the gospel crosses cultural, ethnic, and social boundaries. Every kind of sinner needs the same Savior. Proclaim Christ Faithfully Christians face pressure to soften biblical truth or seek the world's approval. Romans 1:16 calls us to speak with humility, patience, compassion, and conviction, trusting God to work through His Word. Believe the gospel. Treasure Christ. Teach this truth to your children, share it with your neighbors, and never be ashamed of the Savior. Scripture: Romans 1:16 Preacher: Dave Jenkins Series: Romans: The Gospel That Changes Everything Explore more biblical teaching at Servants of Grace, subscribe to the podcast, and share this message to encourage others to stand confidently in Christ. For more messages, visit Romans: The Gospel That Changes Everything or our YouTube channel.

How can we measure true success in ministry? Today, Sinclair Ferguson opens the Bible passage that was preached at his ordination, verses that have shaped his thinking about what it means to serve Christ and His church. Read the transcript: https://ligonier.org/podcasts/things-unseen-with-sinclair-ferguson/servants-for-jesus-sake/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://donate.ligonier.org/ Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

Wednesday evening message from the pulpit of Shawano Baptist Church

When new believers serve the Lord, the church grows stronger.  Pastor Al Dagel brings a little history of how deacons got into the spotlight as servants in the early church.

Servants be subject, regardless of the justice of your position. Do this out of your faith in God, knowing that enduring suffering is a part of life and Christ himself shows us how. How can I endure this unjust treatment and suffering? I look to Christ. He suffered for me, so that my sins could be forgiven and I could die to sin and live to righteousness. Wounds can actually bring about healing. Trust the shepherd of your life, he is watching over your soul.

A History of Grace Pastor Mark Havel Matthew 20:1-16[Jesus said,] “The kingdom of heaven is like a laborer who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them out into the vineyard. When he went out about nine o'clock, he found others standing idle in the marketplace and he said to them, ‘You also go into my vineyard and I will pay you what is right.' So they went. When he went out about noon and again about 3 o'clock, he did the same. When he went out at 5 o'clock, he found others still standing around. He said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?' They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, ‘You also, go out and work in the vineyard.'When evening came, the landowner said to his manager, ‘Call in the workers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and going to the first.' When those who were hired at 5 o'clock came in, they received the usual daily wage. When those who were hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but instead they also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner saying, ‘These last have worked only one hour and yet you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.'The landowner said to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to the last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?' So, the last will be first and the first will be last.” I've had the occasion to talk about Cross of Grace's history a few different times in the last several weeks – particularly where our earliest days as a new, “mission” congregation are concerned. And it's all been related to our latest expansion project and because of the 25th anniversary we've been celebrating over the course of this past year or so. I've talked about the building with our architects and contractors, of course. I've had a recent conversation with someone from our synod, who's new to the ministry, about mission development and what it takes to start a new congregation. And I shared some of all of that with folks in our most recent CrossRoads class – as I always do – for people who want to learn more about where we come from, and about how and why we do what we do, as a family of faith.So it all came to mind again when I started to consider this familiar parable about “the workers in the vineyard.”The story goes, as many of you know, that I was called as a Pastor and Mission Developer, technically, to serve as an associate at Servants of Christ Lutheran Church, up in the Oaklandon/Geist neck of the woods, in Indianapolis, but that all of my work and ministry took place here in New Palestine. I like to tell about how a handful of faithful, committed, brave Lutheran-flavored Christians were assembled from a few area Lutheran congregations, like Servants of Christ, and St. James, in Greenfield, Gethsemane on the east side, and Bethany on the south side, all to serve as seeds for this fledgling idea of a new congregation.And I like to tell about how Servants of Christ paid my salary and many of our General Fund expenses for the first three years of our life together. And about how Servants of Christ purchased the land we're sitting on and then signed over the title to all 10.3 acres of it, free and clear, as a gift. And I like to explain that all of that spiritual capital and financial support were a big part of why we were able to build our first building … and add to it as soon and as often as we have … and continue to grow in ways far more important that square footage, in just these past 25 years.See, for people who know anything about new church start-ups and mission developments in our denomination, what we've been able to do in a relatively short period of time at Cross of Grace – namely to build and grow and build and grow and give generously and thrive along the way – usually takes the average mission congregation much, much longer in this day and age. Typically a pastor/developer shows up in a mission field like New Palestine and spends 6 months to a year just gathering people who might want to be part of a new congregation. Typically, they don't start worshipping for another 9 months or so, until they've been together for meetings and for Bible studies and for other ways of getting to know each other, first. Typically, they have to spend all sorts of time and energy – and spiritual and financial resources – raising money and saving money; finding land and paying for it; or buying land back from the larger Church who owned it in the first place. Typically, all of that needs to be done – and can take years – long before they can even think about designing and building a first facility for worship, learning, and service. And typically, the first building a mission congregation builds doesn't look anything like what we were able to build – which was basically the space we're sitting in that has sustained us and made room for us, these past 25 years – at least as far as worship is concerned. First facilities – per the expectations and demands of the larger church – are usually a lot smaller and can't foster the kind of ministry – or welcome – that we've been blessed to share, thanks to the head-start and help we received from our friends at Servants of Christ.And typically, because of all of that work and waiting, pastors and mission developers for new congregations don't last as pastors of their congregations for more than 18 months after they move into their first building, or complete a major building project – let alone three. Honestly – and sadly – it's just too much of a tiring, conflicted, stressful journey to bear.Well, this morning's parable had me thinking about all of this, because when I tell the story of Cross of Grace to others in the Church – especially when I tell it to other Pastors and Mission Developers who know something about all I just described – I get a little self-conscious and I used to even feel a bit guilty about the way we've come to be. Having come here straight out of seminary – green as green can be – I wondered if they looked at me like I was like one of those workers who showed up at 5 o'clock, worked for a shorter part of the day, and reaped the same reward my friends and colleagues had been dreaming about and working for since very early in the proverbial morning.But to feel guilty or self-conscious about any of this is to deny the very profound experience of grace that has blessed my life – and ours together – from the very beginning.See, the plan for starting new congregations where the larger Church is concerned is what it is and I understand why it has to be that way in many instances. The larger church wants congregations to establish themselves as viable. They want to see trends of financial income and commitments. The larger church needs to be paid back for the land and the resources they provide, so that they can provide those resources for others down the line. The larger church needs to see new, growing communities of Christian workers out there in the vineyard punching a clock and earning their keep and proving themselves. Even the Church, in instances like this, can't act like God can act – as graciously as Jesus tells us God acts – in this morning's parable.And at the risk of tooting our own proverbial horn, I think it's fair to say that we have been as faithful and as successful – if not more faithful and more successful in our ministry together – because we keep telling this story and working to honor the gracious abundance that has been shared with us over the years.And, while the larger Church has all those good reasons and real needs for starting congregations the way they do, I can't help but wonder if all those rules and regulations; all those hoops and hurtles; all those tiresome timelines and tedious ways do everything but foster generosity, gratitude and grace – which I happen to think are our greatest assets at Cross of Grace, and the reason we continue to do God's work well and faithfully around here.And I hope and pray our experience as a congregation impacts and translates into the way we live as individuals – and out there in the world – too.Because if each of us takes a minute, I suspect we can all think of someone or some ways that we have been blessed with a gracious advantage in our lives. I suspect most of us can point to someone who helped us when we didn't deserve it; gave us a leg-up, encouraged us, supported us, pushed us; loved us, just because. And, of course, by virtue of the circumstances of our birth – most of us as working or middle class white people in this country we call home – are graced with privilege so many others in the world can't comprehend.It's why I have to think those laborers in the vineyard – the ones who showed up at 5 o'clock in the afternoon and received the full day's wage – were so surprised and grateful that they came back to work for that landowner again. I'd like to think they showed up early the next morning, instead of hanging around in the marketplace all day. I'd like to think they worked hard for their boss, and that they probably brought along some friends to help, too; to experience this abundance I'm sure they could hardly believe themselves. And I'd like to think that landowner's simple grace and surprising generosity fostered their own.So much of that is why I work as hard as I do around here – because I'm still surprised and I remain grateful for what was and has first been given to us for the sake of this ministry we share.It's why I hope we are all inspired to give generously to what we're up to around here – Building Funds, General Funds, and every other chance we have to share our resources with the world around us.It's why I hope we're always looking for ways to get involved in this ministry, by serving on ministry teams, by studying Scripture, and by getting our hands dirty for the sake of the kingdom.It's why I hope, whether you've been here for 5 minutes or for 25 years, you're compelled by the shear blessing of God's grace that built and lives and moves and breathes in this place, and that you're moved to celebrate and share that however you can manage.Because – truth be told – the work of starting a church and being faithful and growing a congregation and celebrating 25 years of it all – isn't any less work, if you're doing it well, no matter how much help you've received along the way, or how recently you've arrived to the party. My hope is that, because the grace we've received from the beginning of our life together is so abundantly clear … and because of the grace that belongs to us all in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus … we'll continue to be clear and diligent and faithful and generous, in returning the favor to as many people and in as many ways as we can – with no strings attached – as we go.Amen

A suspicious ship of dubious registry is boarded by Qing marines off Canton, 12 of her crew are taken captive for piracy, and the British allege their flag was hauled down in the process. That last part, at least, was almost certainly untrue... not that that stops it all from spinning entirely out of control. Within the month, the Royal Navy will be shelling the office of the viceroy who won't meet with them, Parliament's own better angels will be promptly overturned by the public itself at the polls, and the kickoff of a 4-year war… that no one could ever quite name an actual cause for: The Arrow War, AKA The 2nd Opium War.Time Period Covered:Oct. 1856 – 1860 CE Major Historical Figures:The Qing:The Xianfeng Emperor [1831–1861]Ye Mingchen, Governor-General of Liangguang [1807–1859]Senggelinqin, Mongol prince; commander at Taku [1811–1865]The British:James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin, High Commissioner & Plenipotentiary [1811–1863]Frederick Bruce, first British Minister to China [1814–1867]Harry Parkes, acting British Consul at Canton [1828–1885]Sir John Bowring, Governor of Hong Kong [1792–1872]In Parliament:Lord Palmerston, Prime Minister [1784–1865]William Gladstone [1809–1898]Benjamin Disraeli [1804–1881]The French & Americans:Baron Gros, French PlenipotentiaryFather Auguste Chapdelaine, missionary [d. 1856]Josiah Tattnall, U.S. Navy commodore [1795–1871]John E. Ward, U.S. Minister to China [1814–1902]The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom:Hong Xiuquan, the Heavenly King [1814–1864] Major Works Cited:Platt, Stephen R. Autumn in the Heavenly Kingdom: China, the West, and the Epic Story of the Taiping Civil War.Twitchett, Denis, and John K. Fairbank, eds. The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 10: Late Ch'ing, 1800–1911, Part 1.Wong, J. Y. Deadly Dreams: Opium, Imperialism, and the Arrow War (1856–1860) in China. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Twenty years later, Vinnie looks back on the album that carried Jedi Mind Tricks' momentum further than it had ever gone — a record that pushed the group to new heights while staying true to the sound that built them. From the writing to the guest verses to the reaction it got once it hit the road, Vinnie walks through what made this one land the way it did, and why it still holds up two decades on.

Recognizing and Resisting Subtle False Teaching False teaching is not always obvious. It can use Christian language, quote Scripture, and speak about Jesus while quietly distorting the truth of God's Word. In this episode of Anchored in the Word, Dave Jenkins considers Acts 17:11 and the example of the Bereans. They eagerly received teaching, but they also searched the Scriptures to see whether what they heard was true. Their example calls every Christian to test sermons, books, podcasts, and spiritual claims by the authority of God's Word. Listen or Watch Biblical Discernment Rooted in Scripture Biblical discernment is neither cynical nor gullible. It is the loving practice of comparing every teaching with the Word of God. Christians are called to love truth, test what they hear, and grow in confidence as their lives are anchored in Scripture. Dave explains why subtle false teaching is dangerous, why believers need the faithful ministry of the local church, and why the best defense against error is a growing knowledge of the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Scripture References Acts 17:11 1 John 4:1 2 Timothy 3:16–17 Titus 1:9 Romans 12:9 Every false gospel ultimately diminishes Christ or adds to His finished work. The biblical gospel points sinners to Christ alone, who lived without sin, died for sinners, rose again, and saves all who trust in Him by grace through faith. Stay rooted in the Word of God and anchored in Christ. For more from Anchored in the Word please visit our page at Servants of Grace or at our YouTube.

Robert Bishop (Lead Pastor) | Stewardship, Ep. 2 | Sept 13, 2026

Justin Peters examines several claims made by Bill Johnson concerning the presence of God, the Holy Spirit's work in believers, Peter's shadow, miraculous healing, and "bringing heaven to earth." Opening Scripture in context, Justin contrasts vague spiritual claims with the clear teaching of God's Word and calls Christians to practice biblical discernment. For more from Justin Peters, visit his Servants of Grace page: https://servantsofgrace.org/justin-peters-sound-theology/ This episode first appeared on Justin's YouTube channel and is posted here with his permission: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNbWniF07ys

Justin Peters examines several claims made by Bill Johnson concerning the presence of God, the Holy Spirit's work in believers, Peter's shadow, miraculous healing, and "bringing heaven to earth." Opening Scripture in context, Justin contrasts vague spiritual claims with the clear teaching of God's Word and calls Christians to practice biblical discernment. For more from Justin Peters, visit his Servants of Grace page: https://servantsofgrace.org/justin-peters-sound-theology/ This episode first appeared on Justin's YouTube channel and is posted here with his permission: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNbWniF07ys

Playlist Hub

Acts 4:23–31I. A Model Response to Gospel OppositionII. A Lesson in Prayer Worth Pondering

September 15th, 2022In the Hot Notes: John Durham appears to be wrapping up his investigation into the oranges of the Trump/Russia investigation, his report is expected by the end of the year; the FBI served a warrant on pillowman, Cyber Symposium organizer, and conspiracy theorist Mike Lindell in connection to the charges Tina Peters, the Mesa County, Colorado is facing regarding a scheme that allegedly allowed an unauthorized person to access voting machines; plus an interview with journalist and author David Enrich.David Enrichhttps://twitter.com/davidenrichServants of the Damned – HarperCollins Reminder - you can see the pod pics if you become a Patron. The good news pics are at the bottom of the show notes of each Patreon episode! That's just one of the perks of subscribing! patreon.com/muellershewrote Listener Survey:http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=shortFollow the Podcast on Apple:https://apple.co/3XNx7ckWant to support the show and get it ad-free and early?https://patreon.com/thedailybeanshttps://dailybeans.supercast.com/https://apple.co/3UKzKt0 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tonight, join Mike, Kat & Andrew for another BONUS episode as they break down one of the biggest horror movies of the year: Backrooms.Fresh off the viral success of his YouTube short film series of the same name, Director Kane Parsons received the green light from A24 to bring his massively popular short films to the big screen. The results: a smash success with almost $400M at the box office. But is it any good? Tune in to find out! Spoiler-free until 36:16.But first: Sherlock Holmes and the Servants of Hell by Paul Kane and breaking down Hellraiser: Revival.#backrooms #2026movies #2026horror #horrormovies #kaneparsons #chiwetelejiofor #renatereinsve #supernaturalhorror #psychologicalhorror #scifihorror #a24 #horrorpodcast #horrorfactsdotcom #fangoria #ahhpod #americashometownhorror #plymouthmaBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/america-s-hometown-horror--4187035/support.Support the Show:FANGORIA: We are a proud affiliate of Fangoria! Visit the Fangoria Shop and use code HOMETOWNHORRORPOD for an exclusive 20% discount on mags and merch.HORROR FACTS: Check out more in-depth reviews and horror news at HorrorFacts.com.SUPPORT US: Love the show? Become a supporter on Spreaker to help us keep the lights on.All Music, Sound Editing & Audio Production by Shaun O'Loughlin of Sky Wheel Media.

Thanksgiving, Prayer, and Mutual Encouragement in Christ Romans 1:8–12 In this episode of the Servants of Grace podcast, Dave Jenkins continues the Romans series by considering Paul's thanksgiving for the believers in Rome, his continual prayers for them, his desire to strengthen them, and the mutual encouragement found in the body of Christ. Romans 1:8–12 teaches that gospel-shaped ministry is marked by thanksgiving, prayer, affection, strengthening, and mutual encouragement in the faith. Paul's example reminds Christians that faith is a work of God's grace, the church is sustained by prayer, and believers need one another as they grow in Christ. Listen or Watch Thanksgiving, Prayer, and Gospel Fellowship Paul thanks God for the faith of the Roman believers because genuine faith is the work of God's grace. Their faith was known throughout the world, bearing visible witness to Christ in the heart of the Roman Empire. Paul also demonstrates that faithful gospel ministry depends on prayer. Though he had not yet visited the Roman church, he continually prayed for them and longed to see them strengthened in Christ. Finally, Paul's desire for mutual encouragement reveals the beauty of the body of Christ. No Christian is above the need for encouragement, and every believer has a part to play in strengthening others through faith, prayer, hope, endurance, and faithful presence. As Christians, we should thank God for the evidence of His grace in others, pray for the people of God, seek to strengthen fellow believers, and refuse to isolate ourselves from Christ's church.

Training Your Conscience by the Word of God Anchored in the Word with Dave Jenkins How should Christians train their conscience according to the Word of God? The conscience is a gift from God, but it is not the believer's final authority. Scripture must shape, correct, and inform it. Listen or Watch In this episode of Anchored in the Word, Dave Jenkins explains why Christians must not blindly follow their feelings, cultural values, or personal convictions. The Bible teaches that the conscience can be good, weak, defiled, or seared. A trustworthy conscience is one that has been trained by the truth of God's Word. Looking at 1 Timothy 1:5, 1 Timothy 4:2, Romans 2:15, 1 Corinthians 8, and Hebrews 9:14, this episode considers how believers can grow in discernment, respond to conviction with repentance, exercise humility in matters of Christian liberty, and live in the cleansing grace of Christ. Jesus Christ not only forgives the sins of His people; through His perfect life, sacrificial death, and victorious resurrection, He cleanses their consciences so that they may serve the living God. As believers submit to Scripture, their minds, hearts, and consciences are increasingly renewed by grace. Scripture References 1 Timothy 1:5 1 Timothy 4:2 Romans 2:15 1 Corinthians 8 Hebrews 9:14 For more episodes of Anchored in the Word, visit Servants of Grace and subscribe to the Servants of Grace YouTube channel.

What does it really mean to serve God when doing so costs us something?As Northwest Hills closes out a year focused on living as servants and stewards, Worship Director Justin Jackson looks back at the lives of Joseph, Jeremiah, Peter, Jesus, and others we've studied along the way. Through their stories, he explores faithfulness through hardship, choosing truth when it's costly, letting go of present comforts, and the surprising relationship between serving God and true freedom.Scripture ReferencesProverbs 21:6John 8:31–32Jeremiah 20:71 Peter 1:3–4Genesis 50Jeremiah 29:11John 6:38–40Key Moments(00:00) Welcome(00:28) Message: Is Serving God Worth It?(01:11) The Game Ball My Brother Gave Away(06:28) A Year in Review: Joseph, Jeremiah, Peter, and the Mothers of Jesus(09:36) Fighting for the Truth(19:18) Fighting Through Hardship(25:20) Trading Present Comforts for Future Reward(28:35) Trading "Freedom" for True Freedom(33:04) Redefining Freedom: Doing Whatever God WantsMentioned in This MessageChasing Love by Sean McDowellJohn Adams and the Boston Massacre trialThank you for listening to this message from Northwest Hills Community Church in Corvallis, Oregon, on September 6, 2026, at 10:30am. You can find us online at ⁠nwhills.com⁠.

We examine 8 characteristics of a Biblical servant.

Cory O'Hara teaches from 1 Corinthians 4:1–2 about living as servants of Christ and faithful stewards of the gospel. He challenges listeners to put aside pride, serve sacrificially, and practice faithfulness in their finances, relationships, work, and college life.

QA Session ~ Servants Spiritual Day @ St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church - Houston, TX ~ August 29, 2026

Today we're decoding the Bible's most visually explosive book: Revelation. We're moving past the theories to break down the cryptic visions, the Four Horsemen, and the true meaning of the Mark of the Beast. Is this a map of the end times or a manual for today? WELCOME TO RELIGION CAMP!

By Jerald Kliewer - The change that happens in people as they repent and turn to Christ being led by the Holy Spirit. Rom 3:22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

If there’s one of these stories that Jesus told that has most impacted my life, it is this one. It’s a guide for daily living and it will meet you exactly where you are every day of your life. The moral of the story – JUST BE FAITHFUL. What happens when you are faithful with little? God sees you can be trusted with more. What happens when you aren’t faithful with little? God knows he simply can’t give you more. Whatever you’re doing with what you’ve already been given determines what you’re given next. The story Jesus tells is about money, but I assure you this is a lesson on more than just finances. This is about your time. This is about your talent. This is about your treasures. Today, God is asking each of his girls to take an inventory and measure what we’ve been doing with what we’ve been given. Maybe you’ll find what I’ve found … it’s time to step up and do more with what I already have before I ask for one more thing. Okay, so it’s story time and it’s a long story. Grab your Bible and read along. I’ll insert a few details along the way to help you understand the story Jesus is telling us. Matthew 25: 14-30 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. 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. Some translations will read ‘talents’ and that means money. My translation reads silver, again meaning money. How much money are we talking about? Answer: A ridiculous amount of money. All 3 of them received MUCH. One talent or bag was around 75 pounds of silver. To put that into perspective, the smallest measure of money given here was about 16 to 20 years of daily wages. The story Jesus is telling isn’t about the dollar amount – everyone received a lot from their master, even the one who received the least. The story is about faithfulness with what is given. The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master's money. What do you think digging a hole in the ground and hiding away what you’ve been given would look like? Wouldn’t it look like wasting it? Wouldn’t it look like doing nothing with it? Wouldn’t it look like playing it safe? Yes. And wouldn’t it sometimes look like waiting until you’re more qualified, more confident, more ready? Wouldn’t it look like comparing what you have to what someone else has and deciding yours isn’t enough? Wouldn’t it look like being so afraid of losing what you’ve been given that you never actually use it? A buried gift is simply an unused gift. It’s the thing you’ve been entrusted with, but you’ve done absolutely nothing with it. It’s the talent to sing, but you’re too afraid to raise your voice for the One who gave it to you. It’s the money to give, but you’re too concerned about what they might do with it. It’s the story you’ve lived, but you’re too ashamed to tell it because you don’t want anyone to know where you’ve been. It’s the opportunity in front of you, but you’re too afraid to fail. It’s the idea God put in your heart, but you’ve talked yourself out of it before you’ve ever taken the first step. It’s the time you have, but you’ve spent it scrolling and staying busy instead of investing it in what matters. It’s the people God has placed around you, but you’re so distracted by your own life that you never stop long enough to pour into theirs. It’s the calling you’ve sensed, but you’ve buried it under a thousand excuses: “I’m too old. I’m too young. I’m not qualified. I’m not ready. Someone else could do it better.” Are you the one who has buried what you’ve been given? You haven’t invested it. You haven’t put it to work. You haven’t used it to build or grow or impact. You’ve simply buried it. Waiting. Sometimes that’s exactly how we waste what God has given us. Not by doing something terrible with it—just by doing nothing with it. Girl, do you have a hole in the ground where your calling is buried? You’ve been given so much, but you’re not doing anything with it. Not really. And you know it. What has God placed in your hands that you’ve stopped using. Look at your time, your talents and your treasures – what’s sitting stagnant in your life? What opportunity, gift, resource, idea, story, or calling have you buried because fear convinced you it was safer underground? Well, what happens when God has given us something but we have refused to use it? What happens when we’re not faithful with what we’ve already been given? Here comes the rest of the story … After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.' 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!' 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.' The master said, ‘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!' Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn't plant and gathering crops you didn't cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.' But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn't plant and gathered crops I didn't cultivate, why didn't you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.' Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. 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. Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' The master is God, and when the master returns he calls for each of us to give an account of how we used everything he has given us. It doesn’t matter what you’ve been given or how much you’ve been given – what matters is what you’ve done with it. The master wants to know. It matters! If you’ve been given 40 years of life – what have you done with those 40 years? If you’ve been given 2 children – what have you done with those 2 children? If you’ve been given a weekly paycheck of $1000 – what have you done with that pay? If you’ve been given a 2,000 square foot house – what have you done with that house? If you’ve been given mercy and grace from past mistakes – what have you done with that mercy and grace? If you’ve been given health – what have you done with that body that can move and go? You never see the master asking a servant to produce the same as what another servant produced. He’s not comparing. The master is asking each one to produce with precisely what they’ve been given. He expected each one to do something with what they had. It’s so easy for us to look at someone with extreme wealth and assume we would be so ridiculously generous if we were in their position. Oh, the good we would do with their money! But God isn’t fooled! Who you are with a $40,000 salary is who you would be with a $40 million dollar salary. More money just makes you more of who you already are. Without children it’s easy to paint a fantasy world of how we would sing sweet songs as we cooked breakfast for our little angels. Girl, if you’re not singing songs while you feed the dog, you certainly wouldn’t sing cooking for ungrateful creatures who refuse to eat. Isn’t it fun to fantasize about what you would do with a big new house with all that storage space? Oh to have a butler’s pantry! Oh mercy, walk in closets in every room! Built in storage in the garage. But do you know what you would do with it – the same exact thing you’re doing with a smaller house. If you’re complaining about this one, you would complain about that one. If you’re messy with this one, you would be messy with the next one. If you’ve overfilled this one with junk, you would overfill the next one with bigger junk. Have you ever thought – well if I could sing like her I would use it for God in big ways? Uh huh – well girl, you can cook – are you cooking for God? You can talk to a rock – are you talking to others for God? You can clean – are you cleaning that church building for God? Really, let’s check ourselves. So, let’s get to the point of the story Jesus is telling. The point isn’t to make you feel guilty about what you haven’t done. The point is to wake you up to what you still CAN do. Because here’s the beautiful thing about this story: You are not standing at the end of your story. You’re standing in the middle of it. And if you’ve buried something, you can dig it up now! If you’ve been sitting on something, you can put it to work today. If you’ve been waiting, you can start right here. The master hasn’t returned YET – but he may soon. And he’ll want to know what you’ve done with what he’s given you. You don’t have to have five bags. You don’t have to be the most talented, the most educated, the wealthiest, the prettiest, the healthiest, or the most qualified. You just have to be faithful with what is already in your hands. Stop looking at what she has. Stop wishing you had her life, her resources, her opportunities, her gifts, her energy, her story or her butt. That’s not your assignment. Your assignment is your life. Your people. Your resources. Your opportunities. Your gifts. Your story. Your time. And maybe you’ve been waiting for God to give you more when He’s been waiting for you to do something with what He’s already given you. Today, let’s stop asking for more and instead ask this – “God, what have you already given me that I’m not using?” Then let’s dig it up. Use it. Invest it. Give it. Share it. Build with it. Love with it. Serve with it. Do something with it. Because one day, the Master is coming back. And when He does, I don’t want to stand before Him with a list of reasons why I was afraid. I want to stand there with open hands and say, “You gave me this—and I gave it everything I had. I did everything I could with it God. It hasn’t been perfect, but I sure tried.” And I want to hear those words every one of us longs to hear: “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” Notice what the Master celebrates. He doesn’t say, “Well done, my successful servant.” He doesn’t say, “Well done, my impressive servant.” He says, “Well done, my GOOD and FAITHFUL servant.” That’s the goal. Not bigger. Not better. Not more impressive. Faithful. JUST BE FAITHFUL. Faithful with the little. Faithful with the much. Faithful when nobody is watching. Faithful when it feels insignificant. Faithful when you’re tired. Faithful when you’re afraid. Faithful with the time, the talent, the treasure, the opportunity, and the life God has placed in your hands. Girl, you have been given so much. Don’t bury it. Take what you’ve been given and put it to work. And let’s live the rest of our lives with one simple prayer: “God, everything I have is Yours. Show me what You’ve put in my hands – and give me the courage to be faithful with it.” That’s it. That’s the assignment. JUST. BE. FAITHFUL. Follow Pamela on Instagram – https://instagram.com/headmamapamela Or Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pamela.crim Find out more about BIG Life – http://biglifehq.com