Hello. I want to welcome
you again to another edition of
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Bible Alive. I'm excited today.
One of my favorite Chapters
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that were going to study Matthew
20. It's about The Parable
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of the Vineyard Owner and the
laborers and the thing with it
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is I think I want to call this
instead of that "Who Writes The
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Contract. " Pastor I'm glad that
you're here with us today. Yeh
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good to be here. Good friend
and Co-Host. We've got a good
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you know it's an interesting
story today about the-
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really the attitudes of the
workers and they yeh bring that
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out in the you know the contract
and it's interesting the
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workers who wrote it
their own contract didn't end up
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liking it. That's hard sorry.
So you know, who should write
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the contract? And we will find
out but get in those Bibles of
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yours OK. It's Matthew Chapter
20 I'm going to open that
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and try to find the page
here if you have your Remnant
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Study Bibles it would be Page
1156 otherwise Chapter 20 of
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Matthew and under my little
heading it says the Parable of
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Workers in the Vineyard like
I said though I like calling it
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Who Writes the Contract. So
let's get started but I guess
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first we need to have a
word of prayer always before we
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open the Bible. So if you'll
bow your heads with me let's
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just have a word of prayer.
Father in heaven again I thank
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you so much that we can be a
part of this last day finishing
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work. Father I pray that
you might guide Pastor Mark and
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myself as we speak. That it
will not be our words Father
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but your words, we'd just
be channels that we might work
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according to your will and
according to your pleasure and
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then Father I would ask that
everyone who is watching that
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you will give them a double
portion of your spirit. Open
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their hearts and their minds
that they may receive these
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words with all readiness and
check them out for themselves
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and then Father that they will
apply them to their lives and
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make them practical. I thank
you for hearing this prayer
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because I pray it in the
name of Jesus and in faith. Amen
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Amen. OK so go ahead
Matthew Chapter 20 verse 1. The
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Bible tells us that,
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Jesus telling the parable here,
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Verse 6,
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Uh hmm
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OK. So that's the whole parable
there in a nutshell but let's
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start unpacking that. So I love
the first text 20 verse 1 it
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says, that number one, "the
kingdom of heaven it's like" so
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if you want to know what
the heaven of or the kingdom of
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heaven is like read these
parables because there is a lot
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of parables and they say the
kingdom of heaven is like this
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or like that but here it says,
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So obviously this Landowner
you know I'm thinking it. I
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remember you know going and
I don't know if it's like that
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much now but in California
I remember when I used to sell
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product out there early
in the morning there would be
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Spanish people that would
be in- and other people that
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would be there at the
corners and they are waiting for
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someone to hire them uh
hmm and they want to get hired
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and they are just standing
there and people would drive by
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and say, "Hey, we are going
to do this kind of work are you
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good at that and this is
what we're going to pay and they
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kind of work back and forth"
and boom they'd either hire
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them or not hire them for
the day... and that's what
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was here I think.
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...you go even
more maybe with a modern
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scenario for most of our Viewers
you probably remember job
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interview I remember my
first job interviews you know in
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High School going to get
a job and you'd sit down and
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basically talk about what the
job is yeh and what they were
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going to pay and whether you're
willing to work for it and
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that's basically what happens
here is you know there is
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some people who come out
for this job they get hired they
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agree to the terms and they
begin to work and everything
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seems to be going okay until
later on this Vineyard Owner
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comes out and he sees
some other people that aren't
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working he needs more
help and so he enters into an
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agreement with them as well
only the agreement is a little
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bit different well yeh the first
is that in verse 2 it says,
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That's right see it wasn't
that the Owner of the Vineyard
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didn't say I'm going to pay
you such and such it says when
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he had agreed in other words
there was some- like you said
00:06:04.15\00:06:06.56
there was some kind of going
back and forth and it says he
00:06:06.59\00:06:09.04
agreed with the laborers in
other words the laborers said
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OK if I'm going to work
all day long I want X amount of
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money and- and the- and the
Owners said OK I'll do it so
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the- the point here that's
really important is it that the
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Owner did not make the contract
up the laborer did it's kind
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of like if you have a contract
and many of you I'm sure
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have signed contracts before
whether it's for a car or house
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or many other things but there
is a contract and you read all
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that and once you read it
all you sign your name and then
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that consummates that contract
but I look at this that that's
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what- that's what those folks
did the first- the first ones
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early in the morning they wrote
the contract and this in case
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the Owner represents Christ
and Christ says OK I'll sign it.
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So it was a contract yeh they
agreed so in the second group
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of people and you'll
find them at the Bible says,
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in middle of the day
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actually but that was for...
that was nine in the morning
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yeh nine and then
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uh hmm in verse 5
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both in verse 5 so at noon
and at three and he keeps going
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all the way to
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and basically he says
the same to every one of them
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whatever is right I will give
you so here kind of what you
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were saying is yeh the
Landowner now the Vineyard Owner
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rather he is the one who sets
the price yeh and he doesn't
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yeh tell them how much he
just says whatever is fair now
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the first guys you know you've
got to figure that they also
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were hired on for what was
fair but it was what was fair in
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their minds yes that's really
important at least at the time
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right they thought that that
sounded fair I mean the denarius
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was something they agreed
to they proposed it the Owner
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might have even asked them
what do you think is fair one
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way or the other they it
was their idea of what was fair
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that's right where as in
this last group of people the
00:08:04.57\00:08:07.63
Vineyard Owner didn't
even tell them... can you
00:08:07.67\00:08:10.43
imagine taking a job you
know I mean I'll tell you on
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my job interviews even
when I was- when I first started
00:08:13.11\00:08:16.07
working on I was a bag boy
in a grocery store I mean they
00:08:16.10\00:08:18.48
told me what they were
going to pay me right can you
00:08:18.52\00:08:20.78
imagine you know OK we'll
hire you you'll get to work
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and work hard and then whatever
I feel like I need to pay you
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when it's all said and done
I'll give you well wait a minute
00:08:25.77\00:08:28.04
you know you could have
very easily said I need to know
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how much that's right and
a denarius a day for the ones
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that might not know a denarius
a day was a day's wages a
00:08:33.80\00:08:38.46
common on day's wages I
mean it was for- and I would
00:08:38.49\00:08:40.96
have to say that this Landowner
since he went out and got
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these people it was local
in other words yeh more than
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likely he wasn't going a
100 miles away no trying to hire
00:08:48.37\00:08:51.51
people that didn't know
him and so the people did know
00:08:51.54\00:08:53.68
him you would think that
the first people would have said
00:08:53.72\00:08:56.57
hey you've been the Landowner
you've been a fair person
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I've had many people that
worked for you and they were
00:08:58.85\00:09:01.68
always totally happy but
you know this right here states
00:09:01.72\00:09:05.41
that only on the first one
did he agree because like you
00:09:05.45\00:09:08.24
said they must have talked
about it they must of said hey
00:09:08.28\00:09:10.78
well we think a denarius
a day, you need to pay us a
00:09:10.81\00:09:13.24
denarius- that's a fair day's
wage yeh and he said fine OK
00:09:13.27\00:09:16.87
I'll do that and then it goes
on and all the way up to- like
00:09:16.90\00:09:20.24
you said the eleventh hour
and that was at six or five
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o'clock at night and he- and
they are off at six they only
00:09:23.95\00:09:27.01
had one hour to work uh
hmm if you could imagine and
00:09:27.04\00:09:30.93
anyways it's amazing and
something that we'll discuss
00:09:30.96\00:09:34.78
because we got to- we're going
to have to take a break here
00:09:34.82\00:09:36.97
but what's amazing to me is
that who did he pay first the
00:09:37.00\00:09:42.16
last he paid the last now I
don't know about you but if I
00:09:42.19\00:09:46.23
was a Landowner and I was
going to pay the last people the
00:09:46.26\00:09:50.37
same amount as the first people
I might have taken care of
00:09:50.41\00:09:53.38
the first people first and
then send them on their way send
00:09:53.41\00:09:56.19
them on their way you see then
I wouldn't have to deal with
00:09:56.22\00:09:58.12
some issues but were going
to talk about that in just a few
00:09:58.15\00:10:00.89
minutes. So don't go away
because we will be right back.
00:10:00.93\00:10:03.40
Have you ever noticed
how some people have a way of
00:10:05.04\00:10:07.86
making cool stuff look easy,
as if they were born doing it
00:10:07.90\00:10:11.06
but ask any one of them and
they'll tell you that it took a
00:10:11.10\00:10:14.13
lot of hard work and dedication.
Sometimes they even fall but
00:10:14.16\00:10:18.16
a winner gets right back up
keeps going. Well did you know
00:10:18.19\00:10:21.31
that our walk with God just
like that? We have to practice
00:10:21.34\00:10:24.32
and be dedicated if we
want to close walk with God and
00:10:24.36\00:10:27.46
one day we won't just be
walking with God, we'll be
00:10:27.49\00:10:30.56
soaring with Him.
00:10:30.60\00:10:31.57
The first Labor Day
holiday was celebrated to honor
00:10:35.70\00:10:39.27
America's labor force.
A huge parade was held on
00:10:39.30\00:10:42.79
September 5, 1882 in
New York City, since then no
00:10:42.82\00:10:45.64
working man or woman
in North America has ever
00:10:45.67\00:10:48.42
forgotten about it. After all,
it's an annual 3-day weekend
00:10:48.46\00:10:51.84
for millions of hard workers,
when they can spend more
00:10:51.88\00:10:55.20
time with their families
and catch up on that much needed
00:10:55.23\00:10:58.65
rest. But, did you know that
you can also find another labor
00:10:58.68\00:11:02.10
day in the Bible? That's right,
in Genesis we learnt that God
00:11:02.14\00:11:05.68
created the World in 6 days
and then on the seventh day he
00:11:05.71\00:11:08.98
rested. He even blessed that
day; setting it apart as Holy
00:11:09.01\00:11:12.51
for all time and called
it The Sabbath. It's a weekly
00:11:12.55\00:11:15.98
celebration when we get to
spend special time with Jesus.
00:11:16.02\00:11:19.34
You can find out more
about this very special day in a
00:11:19.38\00:11:22.50
Christ centered Book called
A Day to Remember. It's an
00:11:22.54\00:11:25.59
exciting an easy to understand
booklet that you will enjoy
00:11:25.62\00:11:28.75
reading and sharing with
your friends. In fact, Remnants
00:11:28.78\00:11:31.84
Publications has designed this
book just for that. Share it.
00:11:31.87\00:11:34.98
Because of its small and
portable size, it's easy to
00:11:35.02\00:11:38.23
carry multiple copies around
so that you have it ready to
00:11:38.26\00:11:41.75
share when any and every
opportunity arises. It's ideal
00:11:41.78\00:11:45.20
for Churches to purchase in
bulk quantities. So, why wait?
00:11:45.23\00:11:49.47
Start experiencing God's special
Labor Day right now and don't
00:11:49.51\00:11:53.71
forget to share it with others.
00:11:53.74\00:11:55.24
Don't wait. Order now at
remnantspublications. com or
00:11:55.27\00:12:00.89
call 1-800-423-1319.
00:12:00.92\00:12:05.32
Hi. This is Doug Batchelor
and I want you to know, that
00:12:09.32\00:12:12.30
there is no substitute for
the power of the word of God and
00:12:12.33\00:12:15.56
the new Remnants Study Bible
is an excellent resource for
00:12:15.59\00:12:19.10
personal Bible study and
has thousands of wonderful tools
00:12:19.14\00:12:22.43
in there to strengthen your
relationship with Jesus and I
00:12:22.47\00:12:25.49
recommend it.
00:12:25.52\00:12:26.49
This Bible has special editions
in the back, for example, it
00:12:26.50\00:12:30.19
has a section that has the
Prophesies of the Messiah and
00:12:30.23\00:12:33.41
also the fulfillments of
those prophesies of the Messiah;
00:12:33.45\00:12:36.53
something very important
because to know that Jesus is
00:12:36.57\00:12:39.59
your Lord is one very important
thing but to look at all the
00:12:39.62\00:12:43.17
Old Testament prophesies
being fulfilled in the New
00:12:43.20\00:12:45.57
Testament is very exciting
and Remnants Study Bible has a
00:12:45.61\00:12:49.30
wonderful section that covers
all of those very important
00:12:49.34\00:12:52.99
facts.
00:12:53.04\00:12:54.01
In this beautiful Remnants
Study Bible, you will find not
00:12:54.14\00:12:58.47
only chain references but
beautiful supporting quotes in
00:12:58.50\00:13:02.02
the spirit of prophesy and
in addition, to that, you will
00:13:02.05\00:13:04.95
find in the back beautiful Bible
Studies with color pictures
00:13:04.98\00:13:08.26
to illustrate our basic beliefs
and to help you explain them
00:13:08.29\00:13:11.88
to others.
00:13:11.91\00:13:12.88
It is so full of Ellen White's
quotes and helps that will
00:13:12.89\00:13:18.89
really help you in your study
of God's word. So, whatever
00:13:18.92\00:13:23.23
you do be sure you get a
copy of the Ellen White Remnants
00:13:23.26\00:13:29.00
Study Bible.
00:13:29.04\00:13:30.29
Now the decision is in
your hands. Will you accept the
00:13:30.33\00:13:33.84
challenge to become
part of God's Last Day Army?
00:13:33.88\00:13:37.36
Equip yourself today.
00:13:37.39\00:13:39.70
I'm glad that you're back and
we left off just at the point
00:14:43.33\00:14:48.15
where you would think that
Pastor that we had mentioned
00:14:48.19\00:14:53.06
that here these- here these
workers are all congregated
00:14:53.10\00:14:56.93
together yeh yeh you can
see them in the crowd and- and
00:14:56.96\00:15:00.72
the Owner pays the last first
but would it be OK if you pay
00:15:00.75\00:15:05.59
them a lot less? But can you
imagine the anticipation yeh if
00:15:05.63\00:15:09.70
you was a first hour worker
yeh that you say wow! I mean
00:15:09.74\00:15:13.09
they only worked an hour
let's see I've been here since
00:15:13.12\00:15:16.41
maybe six this morning that's
right until six at night a 12
00:15:16.44\00:15:19.69
hour day maybe I'll get 12
denarius while they got one well
00:15:19.73\00:15:22.91
they got one because I've worked
12 times as much and when they
00:15:22.95\00:15:26.33
got the one but the Landowner
did it on purpose of course we
00:15:26.37\00:15:29.23
know that this is a parable but
I think it's vitally important
00:15:29.26\00:15:32.00
that- it says the last shall be
first in the first shall be last
00:15:32.04\00:15:34.71
but what I like about it is the
first hour workers wrote their
00:15:34.74\00:15:40.91
own contract. All the other
workers said you know- I wish I
00:15:40.94\00:15:43.92
had a piece of paper you could
imagine I gave a blank piece
00:15:43.95\00:15:47.69
of paper to the Lord say you
know the only thing I'm going
00:15:47.73\00:15:51.42
to do is I'm going to sign my
name on this contract it's all
00:15:51.45\00:15:55.03
blank Lord you write the
contract because whatever you
00:15:55.06\00:15:58.57
write is going to be right-
it's going to be right for me
00:15:58.60\00:16:02.59
whatever it is if I get no
pay or a lot of pay or mediocre
00:16:02.62\00:16:06.20
pay if you had me work 12 hours
or 10 hours it doesn't matter
00:16:06.23\00:16:09.30
I am just signing my name right
here. I'm going to give you
00:16:09.33\00:16:12.03
this contract you'll
fill it in the way you desire
00:16:12.06\00:16:15.62
because I know that you are
a fair and just man and that to
00:16:15.66\00:16:19.86
me is the whole crux of this
of this story. So we- bring the
00:16:19.89\00:16:23.71
practical application to us
in our personal experience today
00:16:23.74\00:16:27.69
I mean there are things
that come to my mind I mean I- I
00:16:27.72\00:16:31.73
think of really even amongst
us as Christians sometimes I
00:16:31.77\00:16:35.52
mean you have the one aspect
that is trying to teach us in
00:16:35.55\00:16:38.65
essence the benefits of the
Gospel are equal to everybody
00:16:38.69\00:16:41.76
yeh you know there are people
and- and I've known this with
00:16:41.80\00:16:44.84
you know having been a
Pastor and having people who
00:16:44.87\00:16:49.67
become Christians late in their
life sometimes you have the
00:16:49.70\00:16:52.33
older brother syndrome of
the prodigal son where yeh some
00:16:52.36\00:16:55.01
of the church members are
almost upset because somebody
00:16:55.05\00:16:57.60
got in why they get eternal
life too and they get to go
00:16:57.63\00:17:00.11
around and have all kinds of
fun their whole life you know
00:17:00.14\00:17:02.46
that's sometime the attitude
supposedly fun supposedly
00:17:02.49\00:17:04.37
right and they say wait a
minute you're a Christian you
00:17:04.41\00:17:06.29
should have been the one having
fun you're the one that has
00:17:06.32\00:17:07.90
been in the Lord but they
you know they have an attitude
00:17:07.93\00:17:09.97
with the last hour workers
that they would be able to have-
00:17:10.00\00:17:13.21
well how come you know
they get to have the same
00:17:13.24\00:17:15.98
everlasting life that I get
to have you know so sometimes
00:17:16.01\00:17:18.74
you see that- that practical
application amongst ourselves
00:17:18.77\00:17:24.02
That's right as Believers
yeh that's right you know where
00:17:24.05\00:17:26.47
we have a jealousy yes and
we feel like we deserve more
00:17:26.50\00:17:29.82
while it is up to the Vineyard
Owner what he wants to pay
00:17:29.85\00:17:32.66
when you know what I think
that there would be a lot of
00:17:32.69\00:17:35.46
less trouble in the Churches
and in our homes with our
00:17:35.49\00:17:39.86
families if we were to allow
the Lord to write the contract
00:17:39.89\00:17:44.86
to write the contract yeh
because we do we are jealous we
00:17:44.89\00:17:47.97
think you know- I've heard
you know even with our Kids
00:17:48.00\00:17:50.41
when they were growing up
" Well Daddy I did more than
00:17:50.44\00:17:52.86
you know that Alicia did.
You know I worked harder why
00:17:52.89\00:17:56.68
didn't I get that?" I mean
we are always worried about me
00:17:56.71\00:17:58.69
myself and I and the Lord is
trying to get our attention by
00:17:58.72\00:18:03.26
my saying, "Look it. "
You- you remember when after the
00:18:03.29\00:18:08.24
crucifixion and Jesus is talking
to Peter yeh on the beach uh
00:18:08.27\00:18:13.15
hmm and Jesus is sharing with
him what he is- what's going to
00:18:13.18\00:18:16.47
happen right what- what
about John, yeh what's going to
00:18:16.50\00:18:19.03
happen to John and he
said don't worry about it you-
00:18:19.06\00:18:22.15
basically you have- you that's
right don't have to worry it
00:18:22.18\00:18:23.75
that's right don't worry
about it whatever happens to him
00:18:23.78\00:18:26.04
I'm in control. You
need to let me write your
00:18:26.07\00:18:28.94
contract Peter from here
on out because you know when
00:18:28.97\00:18:31.77
you wrote your contract you
know what happened right you
00:18:31.80\00:18:34.48
denied me and so if you let
me write the contract then it
00:18:34.51\00:18:39.07
will be OK so if you trust me
so here is the question why is
00:18:39.10\00:18:41.48
it so hard for us to let
God write the contract? When you
00:18:41.51\00:18:45.14
think that would be easy
well yeh I mean if God were to
00:18:45.17\00:18:47.94
write the contract that's going
to be the best contract out
00:18:47.97\00:18:49.92
there. Why is it that we have
such a hard time letting him
00:18:49.95\00:18:53.33
write the contract? and we are
writing the contract? I think
00:18:53.36\00:18:55.21
it is because we are- we have
such selfish natures. We are
00:18:55.24\00:18:59.12
born selfish in fact we're
afraid we're afraid we won't he
00:18:59.15\00:19:02.67
won't be fair well yeh and
we're selfish. We are selfish I
00:19:02.70\00:19:06.20
mean when we were born I
mean I see little children you
00:19:06.23\00:19:08.12
never taught them to be selfish
one will have the toy, the
00:19:08.15\00:19:10.59
other one will grab it. We
want really what isn't ours
00:19:10.62\00:19:14.06
and- and it makes it selfish
and then and like you said I
00:19:14.09\00:19:17.89
think the other side that goes
with that is that we're afraid
00:19:17.92\00:19:19.89
that if Jesus writes the
contract we are going to be
00:19:19.92\00:19:24.12
disappointed it's going to be
hard it won't be any fun and so
00:19:24.15\00:19:29.21
we are always looking at
somebody else- I mean I used to
00:19:29.24\00:19:32.61
say all the time in class
when you were supposed to raise
00:19:32.64\00:19:34.45
your hands and- and my worst
marks were in citizenship in
00:19:34.48\00:19:37.76
Grade School uh hmm because
I always blurt out the answer
00:19:37.79\00:19:40.04
and the Teacher would get
on my case I thought too much
00:19:40.07\00:19:45.08
as a child I know it wasn't
that now but I thought that and
00:19:45.11\00:19:49.09
then when I would go home
and I get these little report
00:19:49.12\00:19:50.76
cards and Citizenship would
be like a C or C- or D right and
00:19:50.79\00:19:54.98
my Parents would say, "Dwight
why don't you learn to just
00:19:55.01\00:19:58.12
raise your hand?" And I say,
"But half the class don't raise
00:19:58.15\00:20:01.80
their hands. They are all
talking out of turn" and my Dad
00:20:01.83\00:20:04.34
would say, "but Son, did
you talk out of turn?" I said,
00:20:04.37\00:20:08.83
"Well Dad they were talking...
" He said, "I'm not- I'm not
00:20:08.86\00:20:10.96
talking about that. I wasn't
there. I am asking you ..."
00:20:10.99\00:20:12.97
That's so true "... did you talk
out of turn?" and then I would
00:20:13.00\00:20:15.00
say, "Well yeh" and then Son,
if- if were talking out of turn
00:20:15.03\00:20:18.35
Right and that Teacher
got on your case then she was
00:20:18.38\00:20:21.68
justified by doing it. Don't
worry about everybody else" and
00:20:21.71\00:20:25.85
that's the thing we are so
selfish we want something that
00:20:25.88\00:20:29.29
somebody else has we're afraid
we're not going to get a fair
00:20:29.32\00:20:31.96
shake and I don't understand
the point that it's Jesus. He
00:20:31.99\00:20:36.16
wants us to have the first
shake more than anybody. You
00:20:36.19\00:20:38.44
know there is a- there is a
passage in the Gospel of Luke
00:20:38.47\00:20:40.62
OK that makes me think of this
you know like there's a lot in
00:20:40.65\00:20:43.59
here really about the lesson
of faith and works yes there is
00:20:43.62\00:20:46.30
and you know there is a- there
is a- really a confusion I- I
00:20:46.33\00:20:50.04
believe- I more than believe
it's being a Pastor. I mean,
00:20:50.07\00:20:53.29
I've talked to even some
of my own members. There is a
00:20:53.32\00:20:55.20
confusion amongst Christians
at large about the difference
00:20:55.23\00:20:58.49
between faith and works.
Some people think that works is
00:20:58.52\00:21:00.81
anything that you are
conscientious about our you're
00:21:00.84\00:21:05.50
particular about. If
you're particular about how you
00:21:05.53\00:21:07.82
worship God. If you are
particular about how you work
00:21:07.85\00:21:10.16
for him then that's it, then
that's a works religion right
00:21:10.19\00:21:12.92
and what's interesting is that
second class of workers was-
00:21:12.95\00:21:18.03
was every bit as particular
about their work yes but they-
00:21:18.06\00:21:22.71
what was interesting is their
attitude was different yes and
00:21:22.74\00:21:26.07
when it comes down to faith and
works when it comes down to a
00:21:26.10\00:21:28.23
works legalism versus you
know true obedience, the issue
00:21:28.26\00:21:31.94
isn't as much- is much how
obedient is a person being or
00:21:31.97\00:21:37.41
how particular but what's the
attitude that's it and we see it
00:21:37.44\00:21:40.43
in Luke 17 where- verse ...
where are we here? Verse 6 and
00:21:40.46\00:21:48.36
it's Page 1236 in the Remnant
Bible, The Remnant Study Bible.
00:21:48.39\00:21:53.28
Luke 17 verse 6,
00:21:53.31\00:21:54.96
Verse 7,
00:22:01.89\00:22:03.24
uh hmm
00:22:10.94\00:22:12.30
he is a servant after all yeh
00:22:15.14\00:22:16.92
hmm
00:22:27.57\00:22:28.54
Unprofitable
00:22:34.04\00:22:35.10
In other words, the Lord is
trying to say here, there is
00:22:38.02\00:22:40.99
nothing we do whether much
or little that earns us any
00:22:41.02\00:22:44.47
favor with God. It's what
we are commanded and whether
00:22:44.50\00:22:47.14
you have those workers in
the Vineyard in the morning or
00:22:47.17\00:22:49.91
those in the afternoon see
the problem was this those who
00:22:49.94\00:22:51.68
came in the morning were
thinking they did more yeh but
00:22:51.71\00:22:54.30
the reality is maybe for example
I'm a Christian my whole life
00:22:54.33\00:22:57.27
and here comes some guy
who becomes a Christian in the
00:22:57.30\00:22:59.99
later- later years of his life
and I say, "why? I've given so
00:23:00.14\00:23:02.69
much more service to the Lord.
" Well, have I really? Or have I
00:23:02.72\00:23:05.78
has it been the Lord working
in my life? Yes In other words
00:23:05.81\00:23:08.69
can I take credit for it? Not
really Not really that's right
00:23:08.72\00:23:12.11
and that's what I see in this
parable of the Vineyard, just
00:23:12.14\00:23:14.37
what Jesus is saying here
with these servants is or this
00:23:14.40\00:23:17.50
particular servant situation
here. Your servant comes in
00:23:17.53\00:23:20.98
from the field and serves you
because that's his job yes You
00:23:21.01\00:23:23.85
don't-you don't give him an-
an added thanks for doing what's
00:23:23.88\00:23:27.30
he's supposed to be doing
he's supposed to be doing anyway
00:23:27.33\00:23:29.16
That's right that's right and
neither should we as Christians
00:23:29.19\00:23:31.73
think that because of being
a Christian longer or whatever
00:23:31.76\00:23:35.00
because I do more in the cause
of God that I deserve more.
00:23:35.03\00:23:38.60
The reality is, that is- all the
glory belongs to God, none of
00:23:38.63\00:23:41.55
it belongs to me or you or
anybody else. That's right.
00:23:41.58\00:23:43.69
That's- that's tremendous
because I wasn't even thinking
00:23:43.72\00:23:46.37
about that. That's what's so
neat about Bible Alive because
00:23:46.40\00:23:49.45
Pastor Mark and I will- will
discuss this and we each have
00:23:49.48\00:23:53.21
our points that we want to
try to get across how- how the
00:23:53.24\00:23:56.14
Bible's being practical with
us but Mark that's tremendous I
00:23:56.17\00:24:00.69
like that and you think about
it really we're supposed to just
00:24:00.72\00:24:06.00
be a channel that's right we
are to be the channel that God
00:24:06.03\00:24:09.11
can flow through us those
things. So whether we- whether
00:24:09.14\00:24:13.51
we start at the beginning
or end up God's going to use us
00:24:13.54\00:24:16.46
the same. We're going to be
a channel. You know it's also
00:24:16.49\00:24:19.26
interesting in the story is he-
he- he two times he tells the
00:24:19.29\00:24:22.83
workers that came later I will
give you what is right yes or
00:24:22.86\00:24:27.22
what his fair those words are
very closely aligned together
00:24:27.25\00:24:30.10
and then at the very- you
know toward the very end of the
00:24:30.13\00:24:33.02
parable he says in verse 14,
00:24:33.05\00:24:35.01
I mean it's his money yes
00:24:39.84\00:24:41.15
In other words, have I done
something wrong? Yes because I
00:24:51.29\00:24:54.21
chose it's my money they're
in my Workers I've done this I
00:24:54.24\00:24:56.83
chose what was fair and like
you said they didn't write- he-
00:24:56.86\00:25:00.19
this is his contract right if
you didn't let him write maybe
00:25:00.22\00:25:03.03
they would have gotten more
yeh the fact off the matter is
00:25:03.06\00:25:04.99
even then if I see somebody
in life getting what I think is
00:25:05.02\00:25:08.72
more, do I complain?
because I got what I once
00:25:08.75\00:25:13.01
thought was fair yeh from
the Lord. Has it become unfair?
00:25:13.04\00:25:15.52
We should be happy for them
yeh the denarius was fair in
00:25:15.55\00:25:18.59
the morning, why isn't it
fair now? Yeh but it's because
00:25:18.62\00:25:21.85
they were greedy you know
and really to me we have this
00:25:21.88\00:25:29.57
problem even in society today
people go on strike they are
00:25:29.60\00:25:34.03
always wanting more
money for maybe doing the same
00:25:34.06\00:25:36.35
thing then people will do a
lot of extra work don't get the
00:25:36.38\00:25:39.77
extra money I mean everything
is seem so upside down
00:25:39.80\00:25:43.87
today but really as Christians
if we agree to work for
00:25:43.90\00:25:48.25
something I mean this is a
practical thing now for working
00:25:48.28\00:25:51.25
but if you agree to work for
a certain wage, why would you
00:25:51.28\00:25:54.25
complain? Because you are the
one that agreed to that that's
00:25:54.28\00:25:57.21
right I mean do you- you
should and every time you agree
00:25:57.24\00:26:00.26
to that if something is wrong
and you would think, "Well,
00:26:00.29\00:26:03.13
I'm doing a lot more work,
so I think I better get more"
00:26:03.16\00:26:05.35
then you would go in and
talk to the Owner and say, "Hey,
00:26:05.38\00:26:08.24
I've been doing extra" uh
hmm" and would that now pay
00:26:08.27\00:26:11.10
extra" but they didn't do
any extra they got paid their
00:26:11.13\00:26:14.29
denarius that's right so that
a day's wage and really it was
00:26:14.32\00:26:17.72
the Owner's money, who cares
if the Owner paid the other
00:26:17.75\00:26:19.99
people twice as much?
00:26:20.02\00:26:21.20
Well that's what he said
about Peter I mean John's
00:26:21.23\00:26:22.90
saying or whatever when
Peter looked at John what about
00:26:22.94\00:26:24.69
him. We look at
somebody else and then we think
00:26:24.72\00:26:26.97
because we- we think of
what we did have we- we thought
00:26:27.00\00:26:30.91
was fair now suddenly it's
unfair because we are comparing
00:26:30.94\00:26:33.39
with somebody else that's
it and what happens is we lose
00:26:33.42\00:26:35.85
our focus and we lose our
experience that's right when
00:26:35.88\00:26:38.92
if we were just to
focus a little we'd be content
00:26:38.95\00:26:40.41
absolutely. What is it? 1st
Timothy 6 verse 6 That's right
00:26:40.44\00:26:44.42
what is it? "Godliness with
contentment is great game. " Be
00:26:44.45\00:26:47.82
satisfied with what God
has chosen as fair absolutely
00:26:47.85\00:26:51.14
absolutely and just want
to make an appeal to you right
00:26:51.17\00:26:55.06
now before we have to go. Get
into this Chapter and read it
00:26:55.09\00:26:59.41
and see if it doesn't
make sense and in a number of
00:26:59.44\00:27:02.59
different ways. At your
workplace don't complain do
00:27:02.62\00:27:05.45
what is right. If you agree
to something then do what you
00:27:05.48\00:27:08.05
agree to. Actually you
should do more. Why do only what
00:27:08.08\00:27:10.96
you have to do? And then
don't be jealous of somebody
00:27:10.99\00:27:14.27
else. If you are doing the
best that you can and you have
00:27:14.30\00:27:16.98
agreed, if someone makes
twice as much, who cares?
00:27:17.01\00:27:18.90
Because the bottom line
it's the teaching of Heaven. So
00:27:18.93\00:27:21.77
anyway, take those, check
it out and we'll have to leave
00:27:21.80\00:27:25.49
now because time is already
up, but you know what? You
00:27:25.52\00:27:30.47
can have a better way of
life by reading your Scriptures.
00:27:30.50\00:27:33.48
And my thing to you again
is, don't put it off, because it
00:27:33.51\00:27:37.51
could be too late. God bless.
00:27:37.54\00:27:38.97
By working together 1.7 million
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