What Will You Do in the Meantime?

May 23, 2021 /

What Will You Do in the Meantime?

Luke 19:11-27

 

-In today’s passage, we see a responsibility given to all who have been redeemed– to share that story and hope with those around them.

-The people had gotten the notion that Jesus was there to bring about a political revolution. 

-They were certainly on the right track a/b the “deliverer” part, but had a completely wrong perspective on the political part.

-Jesus had come to bring a spiritual revolution to the human race.

Jesus sets the context in the beginning of story pointing out that there is a responsibility given to everyone.

-Luke 19:12-13, 15, He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

     –That’s the meantime part…the master had left for a while.

(13) And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy (lit. trade) till I come

     -The master gave them something to do while he was gone—trade his money for a profit until he returned.

(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.

     –The master examines and rewards the stewards on their faithfulness with his mission.

-3 Correlating truths: 1. Jesus has gone for a while (back to heaven) and we are in the meantime period.

2. Jesus has given us a mission while He’s gone—to glorify God and share His Gospel of hope.

3. Jesus will return and examine & reward according to what we did with His mission.

 

3 possible responses to Jesus in the meantime period:

I. Active (Luke 19:16-19)

Then came the first, saying, LORD, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. And the second came, saying, LORD, thy pound hath gained five pounds. And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.

-The master didn’t seem to be so concerned about the actual amount of gain (although he rewarded accordingly), but he was most concerned that they did in fact work to get gain from the original amount.

-2 things that are true if we are to be counted in the “ACTIVE” response category: 1. We’ve accepted the stewardship position.  2. We’ve applied ourselves to the stewardship mission.

-1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

-Rom. 8:1, There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus…

 

-What does God call us to do in His service?

-Col. 3:12-15 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

     1. Love as Christ loves.

     2. Let God’s peace rule our heart.

     3. Be grateful.

 

II. Sedentary (Luke 19:20-25)

-And another came, saying, LORD, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: 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. 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: Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. (And they said unto him, LORD, he hath ten pounds.

-Some people are so fearful of God that they are scared to do anything in life for fear of God’s wrath (misunderstanding of grace).

-Some people misunderstand the holiness of God and his call for us to be holy and so they live however they please (also a misunderstanding of grace).

-(W. Weirsbe) It is sad when a Christian is motivated by slavish fear instead of loving faith. While there is a proper “fear of the Lord” that should be in every Christian’s heart, that “fear” should be the respect of a loving child and not the dread of a frightened slave.

-(A.W. Tozer) Nothing twists and deforms the soul more than a low or unworthy conception of God.

-Most, if not all, of our stewardship of life problems originate with a wrong view of God problem!

-Sometimes we know the things that are true about God, but we over or under emphasize certain truths a/b God and that throws our worship and function out of whack (see “God Is” Wagon Wheel)

-When our view of God is balanced, our activity for God will be balanced too!

 

III. Rejection (Luke 19:14, 27)

But his (the master) citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us…(master’s response:) But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

-In the story, to reject the master’s rule was a death sentence!

-People in this story had 2 choices: 1. Accept the incredibly privileged position of stewardship from the master, or 2. Reject his authority and sign their own death certificate.

-To reject Christ is to be eternally condemned to separation from God—spiritual death!

-Rom. 6:23, the wages of sin is death

-John 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

-John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

1 John 5:11-13 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life…

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