If you are faithful in the small things, God will entrust to you the bigger things.

The parable of the faithful servant
Luke 19:17 ^“And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’”

The parable of the faithful servants
Matthew 25:21,23 “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’”
Luke 16:10-12 “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.
¹¹ Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
¹² And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?”

Jesus said on many occasions, “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

One instance is in Mark 4:23

Mark 4:23-25 ^“If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”
²⁴ Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.
²⁵ For whoever has (ears to hear), to him more will be given; but whoever does not have (ears to hear), even what he has will be taken away from him.”

Have you been having a difficult time hearing God?

Maybe you have some unfinished business.

God forgives disobedience but He does not excuse it.

Don’t expect Him to tell you something new until you have completed the last thing he told you to do.

He led the Israelites around the mountain over and over again until they were ready to obey Him.

If you start something for the Lord, you will be rewarded when you see it through to the harvest.

Galatians 6:9
⁹ And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Every Christian I know has come to a place in their walk with the Lord where they say, “I believe the Lord wants me to…”.

Then they start out down the road to complete the task.

Then somewhere on the journey:

• Distraction jumps up
• Discouragement creeps in
• Disappointment stops by
• Discomfort pokes through

How many Christians determine that they must have missed God and give up before they reach the harvest?

Will the devil tell you to do something good?  God has preordained good works for you to complete.  If you believe God has given you a good work to complete, you are not finished until you have attained the harvest.  “Hold fast to your confession of faith.”  Don’t back up. Don’t give up.  Don’t give in.  Keep on keepin on.  See it through to the harvest.  This is how you know you have completed the task.  You will reap if you do not lose heart.

Mark 4:13-20 ¹³ And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?
¹⁴ The sower sows the word.
¹⁵ And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.
¹⁶ These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
¹⁷ and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble.
¹⁸ Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word,
¹⁹ and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
²⁰ But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

Let’s look at this parable in the light of Galatians 6:9

We have God’s Word sown in our heart. We decide to do what He tells us to do.

1. Immediately, Satan comes to steal our Word.
2. Afterward, tribulation and persecution arises for the Word’s sake.
3. Then the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things choke the Word.

What do all of these things have in common?

The enemy’s target is the Word. He wants to keep you from fulfilling the Word that you received from God.

Are you having trouble hearing from the Lord?

Maybe you have some unfinished business.

Priorities

Where are your priorities?

What do you put first in your life?

Luke 9:59-62 “Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” ⁶⁰ Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” ⁶¹ And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.” ⁶² But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

The Barclay’s Daily Study Bible states, “It is easy to pack life with such a multiplicity of interests that there is no time left for Christ. As the poet said, the cares of life can be like the clogging dust until “we forget because we must and not because we will.” The more complicated life becomes, the more necessity there is to see that our priorities are right, for there are so many things which seek to shoulder Christ from out the topmost niche.”

It takes work and commitment to stay in love.  It takes the same to stay committed to anything that is important.  We must prioritize our lives in such a way that we do not lose our first love.

Revelation 2:4-5 “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. ⁵ Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place–unless you repent.”

Let’s take a look at Psalm 50:23 for a minute:

The New King James Version says, “Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; And to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God.”

Let’s break it up and look at the original language:

Psalm 50:23 (KJV)
²³ Whoso offereth (zabah – sacrifices) praise (toda – praise, thanksgiving, confession) glorifieth (kabed – honors and glorifies) me: and to him that ordereth (sum – puts in proper place or order) his conversation (derek – road or course of life; conversation, practice, manners) aright will I shew the salvation (yesha – liberty, deliverance, prosperity, safety) of God.

Whoever offers sacrifices with his praise, thanksgiving, and confession, honors and glorifies God: and to him that puts in proper place or order his road or course of life, his conversation, practice, and manners, will see the liberty, deliverance, prosperity, and safety of God.

God values order. He has specific ways that He likes things to be done.

In the Jewish temple, everything had a place and an order. There was a pattern and specific steps for the way things were to be completed. All of the utensils had to be placed correctly. Even the wood for the altar had an order in which it was to be placed upon the fire. The sacrifice had to be killed in a specific way, boiled in a specific manner, and burned exactly right for it to be accepted.

The Israelites even camped and traveled in a specific manner.

When David tried the first time to bring the ark into Jerusalem, they just went up and got it and started bringing it. They didn’t prepare and they didn’t do it in the proper way. They had the right heart, but God wanted it done in a specific way. One of the men reached up to steady the ark during a bumpy patch and died from touching the ark. God has an order to do things. So David built a place to house the ark and went and studied how to do it right. Then he went back and brought the ark into Jerusalem the correct way.

Not under law but under grace. So why do we need to know this story?  We know that the Old Testament gives us types and shadows of the New Testament.  God cares about order.

God has a way that he wants things done. When we do things in the right order, He blesses it. When we do things His way, He blesses it.

Psalm 37:23-24 “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way. ²⁴ Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand.”

Psalm 119:133 “Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.”

1 Corinthians 14:40 ”Let all things be done decently and in order.”

SO, in prioritizing your life, what do you put first?

Take a sheet of paper and write “MY PRIORITIES” at the top.

Now, take two minutes and write down what is important to you. Try to use short phrases to describe your priorities. Do it in brainstorm fashion and not in order of importance.

Now that you have a list of what is important to you, you have done something that many people never do. Most people never put in writing what they think is most important. As a result, many people think they know what they want but they do not focus enough to attain it. If we do not really know what is important, we will allow our hearts, our minds and our flesh to waste our time with unimportant things.

Is just writing this list enough? No

What have we failed to do? Order it

If we know what is important but we never determine what is most important, we will allow our hearts or our heads or our flesh to use up much of our time with less important things.

Take the time to understand what is important and then take the time to order the importance.

Go ahead and take two minutes to place your priorities in order of importance.

These priorities can change as you change. As you grow, you may drop something down your list or even remove it completely. You may move something up your list or completely add a new one. For example,

If you are single, spouse and children may not even be on your list. If you do not have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, spending time in the Word of God is not a priority.

What should a person put first? Hint:

Revelation 22:13 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”

Matthew 6:33 “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

Would two people like to read their priorities?

Take a few minutes to let a couple of people share.

In 2 Corinthians 8:10-12, Paul tells the Corinthian church that committing to do something is not good enough. One must follow through on his commitment. It begins with a willing mind, but it does not finish until it is completed.

So just writing your priorities is not enough. You must begin making choices every day that align with theses priorities.

If family is a high priority and hobbies are a low priority, then you will postpone a hobby in order to take care of family needs such as – quality time, love, training, etc.

If the CRC Vision is a high priority, you will find time to work on it.

If your relationship with God is numero uno, you will spend daily time with God by praying and praising and reading the Word.

Did anyone put, “Watch TV” on your list of priorities? What about computer games? When you understand what is most important, you will not sit down to watch TV prior to your highest priority.

Do you want to be successful in what you are doing?  You must do what is right in the natural. Our natural actions have spiritual repercussions.  We reap what we sow.  We sow in the natural through our confession and through our actions.  Even though our seeds are natural words, they produce spiritual harvest.  How does one sow to the spirit and reap life?  By speaking the Words of Christ and doing the deeds of Christ.  Just as Jesus said, “I do what I see the Father do and I say what I hear the Father say.”

1 Corinthians 15:45-46 “However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual.”

Mend the nets, the catch will be great!

Mark 12:28-34 “Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?” ²⁹ Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. ³⁰ And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.
³¹ And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” ³² So the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. ³³ And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” ³⁴ Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” But after that no one dared question Him.”

Mark 9:35 “And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”

Proverbs 3:5-11 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. ⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. ⁸ It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. ⁹ Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; ¹⁰ So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine. ¹¹ My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor detest His correction;”

Matthew 5:23-24 “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”

Romans 12:1-3 ^“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. ² And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. ³ For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”

Matthew 3:11 “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:”

Acts 1:4-5 ^“And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. ⁵ For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”

Acts 11:15-16 ^“And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. ¹⁶ Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.”

“to baptize,” primarily a frequentative form of bapt?, “to dip,” was used among the Greeks to signify the dyeing of a garment ~ Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old Testament and New Testament Words.

dip v.tr.

1. To plunge briefly into a liquid, as in order to wet, coat, or saturate.

2. To color or dye by immersing:

Making Pickles

Step 1 – Selecting the cucumbers

Step 2 – How many cucumbers?

Step 3 -Wash and cut the vegetables!

Step 4 – Get the jars and lids sanitizing

Step 5 – Mix the vinegar with the pickling mix and bring to a near boil

Step 6 – Heat the pickle mix

Step 7 – Fill the jars with cucumbers and put the lid and rings on

Step 8 – Boil the jars in the canner

Step 9 – Done

When something is baptized, it takes on new characteristics.  Where do those characteristics come from?

Acts 4:31 ^“And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”

When you are baptized in the Holy Ghost, there is an outward manifestation.

There will be noticeable changes to whom and what you are.

You will not be the same person.  You will get a new nature.  …a nature that does not enjoy the same types of things.  …a nature that has new desires.

Ephesians 5:18 ^“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;”

The Holy Spirit is both an outward and an inward transformation.  If we have the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwelling in us, why aren’t we doing the things that Jesus did?

Let’s look at these clay pots. Jars of Clay.  (There were clay pots stacked upside down on top of each other from small on the bottom to large on the top.  Each one completely hid and covered the one under it.  On the very bottom was a small lit candle.) The little one up to the big one.

Gal. 5:19-23  says that the works of the flesh are “Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, ²⁰ Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, ²¹ Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like:”, but the fruit of the Spirit is “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, ²³ Meekness, temperance:”

The clay pots represent the flesh and the works of the flesh.

The more of our flesh that we have in the way, the less of the Spirit of God that is evident in our life.

What is the overall makeup of this person?  What percentage of the whole is ruled by the Spirit?

When I remove this big one, does the makeup change?

When I remove another, does the percentage get better?

As we crucify the flesh, more of God’s Spirit becomes manifest in our lives – not because we have more of the Spirit, but because we have less of us.

Remember John the Baptist?  He said, “Jesus must increase and I must decrease.”

There was not more of Jesus; there was just less of John.

Jesus didn’t get bigger, but his reputation did.  People stopped talking about John and started talking about Jesus.

Psalm 17:15 ^“As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.”

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 ^“Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. ¹⁸ But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

Galatians 5:16-18 ^“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. ¹⁸ But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.”

“²⁴ And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. ²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Galatians 2:20 ^“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

1 Corinthians 15:50 ^“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.”

Romans 13:14 ^“But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.”

Galatians 6:7-9 ^“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. ⁸ For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. ⁹ And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

So how do you get from Clay Pot Flesh Man to Super Spirit Man?

Sowing and Reaping

Start sowing to the Spirit

• Praying (Understanding and Spirit)
• Reading and Confessing the Word of God
• Acting out your faith –Witnessing to the lost/Praying for the sick
• Walking in the love of God
• More Spirit – Less Flesh

Romans 8:1-39 ^“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
² For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
³ For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
⁴ That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
⁵ For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
⁶ For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
⁷ Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
⁸ So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
⁹ But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
¹⁰ And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
¹¹ But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
¹² Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
¹³ For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
¹⁴ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
¹⁵ For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
¹⁶ The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
¹⁷ And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
¹⁸ For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
¹⁹ For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
²⁰ For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
²¹ Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
²² For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
²³ And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
²⁴ For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
²⁵ But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
²⁶ Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
²⁷ And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
²⁹ For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
³⁰ Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
³¹ What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
³² He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
³³ Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
³⁴ Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
³⁶ As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
³⁷ Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
³⁸ For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
³⁹ Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

petra denotes “a mass of rock,” as distinct from petros, “a detached stone or boulder,” or a stone that might be thrown or easily moved. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old Testament and New Testament Words.

Peter was a piece of the mass but was not the mass on which the church should be built.  The mass of rock that would become the foundation of the church is, “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

It was not just to Peter that Jesus was giving the keys to the Kingdom of God.  He was issuing the keys to the church – to those who had made Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God their foundation.

Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God?  Then “whatsoever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Let’s talk about some kingdom keys.

James 4:7-10 “He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble. “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. ⁸ Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. ⁹ Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. ¹⁰ Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”

1. Submit to God – In order to submit to God, we must learn what He thinks, says and does.  We must learn how to hear Him and to know Him.  We must learn His Worship, His Words, His Ways, His Works, His Will, His Warfare, and His When.
   1. His Worship – What good is worship if it is done in pride?  What is more prideful than desiring to do something your own way when a specific way has been prescribed?  How should we worship?  We must learn to worship God in the manner that He desires to be worshipped.  He commanded us to not make any images of Him to worship.  He desires that we should humble ourselves.  In Psalms we learn that praise and worship is done with instruments, with singing and dancing, with shouting and clapping, and without regard to who is watching.

Hebrews 13:15 “ Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.”

1. 1. His Words – If our words are always at odds with His Words, have we submitted ourselves to Him?  We must set a watch before our lips and make sure that our words are in agreement with His.

Proverbs 18:20-21 “A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth, From the produce of his lips he shall be filled. ²¹ Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.”

1. 1. His Ways – Are there any craftsmen here today?  When you train someone to work for you, do you want them to do things your way or their own way.  Think about marketing.  You business owners want to brand yourself in a certain manner.  You want people to think of you in a certain way.  So if you have a trademark, you want that trademark to be the same throughout your business regardless of who is interacting with the customer.  Submit your ways unto the Lord.

Exodus 33:13 “Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight.”

Psalm 25:4-5 “Show me Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. ⁵ Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day.”

1. 1. His Works – There is a lot of talk about works in the Scripture.  It is important to note that even though we may not work our way into God’s good graces, He has prepared works for us to do and to accomplish.

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”

Philippians 2:13 “for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”

John 14:10-15 “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. ¹¹ Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves. ¹² “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. ¹³ And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. ¹⁵ “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. ³⁵ By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

1. 1. His Will – We must seek to do His will and not our own like John the Baptist said, “He must increase and I must decrease.”

Mark 3:35 “For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.”

Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 “Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰ Do not despise prophecies. ²¹ Test all things; hold fast what is good. ²² Abstain from every form of evil.”

Romans 8:26-28 “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. ²⁷ Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. ²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

1. 1. His Warfare – God has a way for us to fight.  It is a spiritual fight and not a fleshly one.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. ⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, ⁵ casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,”

Romans 12:21 “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Romans 8:35-39 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ³⁶ As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” ³⁷ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Revelation 12:10-11 “ Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.¹¹ And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”

1 John 5:4-5 “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world–our faith. ⁵ Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

1 John 4:4 “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

1. 1. His When – There is a proper time and a proper timing for everything.  God has a plan for your life and you will succeed if you follow it.  Seedtime and harvest time is a vital part of the kingdom of God.  If you wish to reap a harvest, you must sow a field with seed.  If you wish to eat the harvest, you must plant during seedtime.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: ² A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; ³ A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; ⁴ A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; ⁵ A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; ⁶ A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; ⁷ A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; ⁸ A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace. ¹¹ He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.”

1. Resisting the devil
   1. Wiles – The devil is a trickster and a liar. He will do whatever he can to wriggle into your life and mess it up.
      1. Unforgiveness
      2. Lustfulness
      3. Pride and arrogance
      4. Unrighteous anger and hate
      5. Greed

Ephesians 6:10-18 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ¹⁸ praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints”

1. 1. Worries – If the devil can’t get you to outright turn against God, he will try to scare you into backing away from God or from God’s plan.

Matthew 6:31-34 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Hebrews 13:5b-6 “For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” ⁶ So we may boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

1. 1. Warfare – The devil is always looking for a way to pick Christians off one by one, but don’t think that he will not try to attack the whole body all at once.
      1. Sickness
      2. Strife and Backbiting
      3. Rebellion
      4. Division

1 Peter 5:6-9 “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, ⁷ casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. ⁸ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. ⁹ Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.”

Matthew 6:33 ^“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

What does it mean to seek first the kingdom of God?

• Seek – be (go) about, desire, endeavor, enquire (for), require
• First – Coming before all others in time or order.
• Seek (Be about, Go about, Desire, Endeavour, Enquire for, Require) First (Coming before all else in time and order) the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

Luke 16:16 ^“The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.”

In light of the previous verse, what does it mean to press into the kngdom of God?

• Remember the illustration from a few weeks ago? “Press Illustration” – Picture a running back for a football team trying to run through a huge defensive line without any offensive line to block for him.  He must fight through all opposition – no matter how tough it will be.  It will take a lot of heart and effort to make it through.
• It means that not only do you seek it first, but you seek it with all your might.
• It means that you do not let other things keep you from seeking it.

Matthew 13:44 ^“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.”

When you understand the deepness of the treasure of the kingdom of God, nothing else will deter you from obtaining it.

Matthew 13:45-46 ^“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: ⁴⁶ Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.”

How important is seeking the kingdom of God?

• Jesus said it is more important than all of your worldly possessions. He thinks that because “that which is seen is temporal and that which is unseen is eternal.” 2 Cor 4:8
• Jesus said that it is more important than family. He said that you may have to give up your family during your pursuit of the kingdom of God.
• Jesus said it is important enough to suffer persecution or even death to obtain it. Jesus and all of the disciples suffered for the kingdom of God.

Mark 4:30-32 ^“And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? ³¹ It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: ³² But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.”

Seeking the kingdom of God starts with a seed and never stops. It always grows and expands. As you seek the kingdom of God, your understanding grows. As you pursue the kingdom of God, your ability and authority expands. As your ability and authority expands in the kingdom of God, your responsibilities to others in the kingdom become greater.

Seeking the kingdom of God begins with an understanding of seedtime and harvest. There are many varieties of “Kingdom Fruit”.

If there are many varieties of fruit, then there are many varieties of seed. Each seed has a specific fruit. Every seed bears fruit after its own kind.

Corn seed makes corn. Apple seed makes apples. And so on.

Mark 4:14 says that “The seed is the Word.” Matthew 13:19 calls it “the word of the kingdom”.

If you have a need in your life, find the Word that will be the seed to produce the fruit that you need.

Let’s look at what the Israelites did when they took the land of Canaan. They went in and fought all of the big guys first. Then they systematically divided the land and conquered it a bit at a time. They inhabited the land and fortified their positions. They didn’t just run through in a straight path because this would have left a void that the enemy would fill in as they passed through.

Once you have taken control in the land and established dominance, you begin sowing the Word of God in your life in such a way that you always have the fruit that you need. Don’t wait for a problem.

Don’t wait to get sick to start praying for the sick and believing and confessing that you are the healed of the Lord.

Don’t wait until you have a financial need to start giving and believing and confessing that “My God supplies all of my need according to his riches in glory.”

What makes the seed grow? The earth

Mark 4:28 ^“For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.”

Why does the earth make the seed grow? Because God said that it would.

Genesis 8:22 ^“While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.”

When God speaks a Word, it will accomplish what it says, and it will continue to accomplish it until it is through accomplishing it.

Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”

How do you know when God’s Word is finished accomplishing what it was sent to do? Listen to what it says. If there is an end date or condition, it will stop when the end date or condition is fulfilled. If there is no end date or condition, it will continue until God withdraws it.

Conditions for seedtime and harvest

1. “While the earth remains, there will be seedtime and harvest”
2. “Whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap.”
3. “One man sows, another waters, and God gives the increase.”

What is the result of gravity? Weight – stability if you are on the ground and falling if you are in the air

What is the result of sowing? Reaping and Increase

When God speaks a Word, it continues until He withdraws it.

Why do you think the following verse is in the Bible?

Deuteronomy 22:9-11 ^“Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with divers seeds: lest the fruit of thy seed which thou hast sown, and the fruit of thy vineyard, be defiled. ¹⁰ Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together. ¹¹ Thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts, as of woollen and linen together.”

God wants us to understand that our pursuit of the kingdom of God must be wholehearted. Don’t mix your faith with doubt. Don’t mix the “word of the kingdom” with the word of the world. Sow seed that is 100% Word of God and Kingdom of God oriented.

Galatians 6:7-9 ^“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. ⁸ For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. ⁹ And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

Now look at these next verses in the light of “Whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap.”

2 Corinthians 9:6-15 ^“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. ⁷ Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: ⁹ (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. ¹⁰ Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) ¹¹ Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. ¹² For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; ¹³ Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; ¹⁴ And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. ¹⁵ Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.”

Galatians 6:1-10 ^“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. ² Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. ³ For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. ⁴ But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. ⁵ For every man shall bear his own burden. ⁶ Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. ⁷ Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. ⁸ For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. ⁹ And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. ¹⁰ As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”

Psalm 126:5-6 ^“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. ⁶ He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”

Hosea 10:12-13 ^“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. ¹³ Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.”

1. The seed determines the type of harvest. Every seed produces after its own kind.
2. The kind of ground determines the size, amount and longevity of the harvest.
3. Everything that we say and do can be a seed. “If we sow to the flesh, we reap corruption; if we sow to the spirit, we reap life everlasting.”

When is it a good time to sow the Word of God? All the time.
Ecclesiastes 11:4-6 ^“He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. ⁵ As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all. ⁶ In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.”

There are other factors that effect your harvest.

Isaiah 30:21-23 ^“And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. ²² Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence. ²³ Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures.”

1. Being led by the spirit
2. Removal of false gods and idols from your life
3. The rain – blessing of God

The blessing of God is the result of:

1. Faith in Jesus Christ – who became a curse to give the blessing of Abraham to all who believe
2. Faith in God’s Word – of which Jesus Christ is the incarnation
3. Your adherence to God’s Word – How can you say that you are in Christ Jesus if you do not keep His Words?
4. Patience and perseverance

If you persevere past the persecution you will possess the promise.

Isaiah 61:1-11 ^“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; ² To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; ³ To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. ⁴ And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations. ⁵ And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. ⁶ But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves. ⁷ For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them. ⁸ For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. ⁹ And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed. ¹⁰ I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. ¹¹ For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.”

Matthew 13:18-23 ^“Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. ¹⁹ When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. ²⁰ But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; ²¹ Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. ²² He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. ²³ But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

Mark 4:13-20 ^“And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? ¹⁴ The sower soweth the word. ¹⁵ And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. ¹⁶ And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; ¹⁷ And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended. ¹⁸ And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, ¹⁹ And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. ²⁰ And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.”

Matthew 13:24-30 ^“Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: ²⁵ But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. ²⁶ But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. ²⁷ So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? ²⁸ He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? ²⁹ But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. ³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.”

Matthew 13:36-43 ^“Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. ³⁷ He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; ³⁸ The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; ³⁹ The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. ⁴⁰ As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. ⁴¹ The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; ⁴² And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. ⁴³ Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.”

Matthew 13:33 ^“Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.”

Matthew 13:47-50 ^“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: ⁴⁸ Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. ⁴⁹ So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, ⁵⁰ And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

Mark 4:24-25 ^“And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. ²⁵ For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.”

Mark 4:26-29 ^“And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; ²⁷ And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. ²⁸ For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. ²⁹ But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.”

Luke 19:11-27 “And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. ¹² He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. ¹³ And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. ¹⁴ But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. ¹⁵ And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. ¹⁶ Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. ¹⁷ And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. ¹⁸ And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. ¹⁹ And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. ²⁰ And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: ²¹ For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. ²² And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: ²³ Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? ²⁴ And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. ²⁵ (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) ²⁶ For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. ²⁷ But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.” What lessons can we find in this parable which Jesus told?

1. It is about the Kingdom of God

2. The nobleman represents Jesus Christ who would be leaving to receive a kingdom from His Father.

3. The servants receiving money represent the followers of Jesus Christ. Pounds or Minas. Between sixteen and eighteen dollars apiece. Does the small sum surprise you? He has only devoted a definite sum of money with which to prove his servants. The smallness of the amount corresponds to the emphasis of the parable – the relationship between faithfulness in that which is least to becoming ruler over much.

4. They have been instructed to “occupy till I come”. Occupy (pragmateuomai) means to busy oneself with trade, to buy and sell and do business.

5. God rewards those who are faithful over what He gives them

6. God punishes those who are unfaithful over what He gives them

How are we to be occupied?

Jesus tells us in His last instructions to the disciples in Acts 1:8, “You shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” While we wait for His return, we have been left on this earth to lead others to Christ. We have been made ministers of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:17-21 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. ¹⁸ And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹ To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. ²⁰ Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. ²¹ For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

What then keeps so many of us from witnessing about Jesus Christ on a regular basis?

Roadblocks to Sharing Your Faith

1. Proxies. Someone who is authorized to represent you is called a proxy. In the church, we’ve developed a convenient system: “If you cannot go to spread the Gospel, you can send someone in your place.” It is important to support our missionaries. But institutional missions was never intended to replace individual missions. God wants everyone to go somewhere.

2. Professionalism. You might ask your pastor, “What do you mean you want us to witness? Isn’t that what we pay you for?” According to the Bible, it is the pastor’s job to equip the people of God so they can do the work of evangelism. Witnessing is not only the job of the pastor; it’s your job. Sheep have sheep.

3. Pessimism. Many hold a pessimistic view of witnessing because they don’t want to be viewed as being too aggressive or narrow-minded. We live in an age when people believe that all roads lead to God, as long as you sincerely believe. How many of you know you can be sincerely wrong? Jesus didn’t say, “I am one of the ways.” He said, “I am the Way” (John 14:6).

4. Panic. Just the thought of witnessing creates panic in many people. Many of us fear witnessing because we don’t feel ready to share our faith. Preparing to witness is kind of like taking a CPR class. People learn CPR in order to resuscitate someone physically if necessary. You don’t have to be a medical doctor with years of training to perform CPR. You just have to learn a few basic principles. In the same way, we ought to know some basic principles of witnessing so we can spiritually resuscitate someone.

The following steps will show you how to perform “spiritual CPR” and share your faith.

Sharing the Road to Salvation

1. Be Enthusiastic. Are you enthusiastic about your faith in Jesus Christ? A contagious Christian is doing something that’s got them excited, something that gets them out of bed in the morning.

2. Be Authentic. People don’t only read the Christian literature we give them; they read our lives. It’s nearly impossible to ignore someone who authentically lives out his or her convictions. But it’s easy to discount someone who says one thing and does another.

3. Be Looking for Opportunities. In the past month, how many of you have had dinner with an unsaved couple or individual? Witnessing presents a real challenge if we are always around believers.

4. Be Prepared. Prepare yourself for evangelism by praying and studying the Bible. Begin on your knees by asking God to touch your unsaved friends through the power of the Holy Spirit. Even if you don’t see your friends come to Christ right away, keep praying!

5. Be Christ-Centered. Acts 8:5 tells us that Philip the evangelist went down to Samaria and preached Christ. He went right to the core of the Gospel message. We must be committed to preaching Christ’s death and resurrection.

Finding Worth in the Wait
As you wait for Christ’s return, is witnessing a priority in your life? Nothing can compare to being God’s instrument to lead one person out of the kingdom of Satan into the glorious life of heaven. If you have never had that experience, or you would like to be more effective in your witness, God can use you starting today.