Shall we bow our
heads for prayer?
00:00:35.00\00:00:37.97
Father, what a joy it
is to be in Your presence.
00:00:38.00\00:00:42.55
There is no better
place to be on planet earth.
00:00:42.58\00:00:46.37
And Father, what a joy it
is also to have Your holy word.
00:00:46.40\00:00:51.29
We can't conceive of
what it would be like
00:00:51.32\00:00:53.63
without the guidance of
Your word in this trying times.
00:00:53.66\00:00:57.80
And we ask that as we study
about "Living in Expectancy"
00:00:57.83\00:01:01.77
that Your Holy
Spirit will help us see
00:01:01.80\00:01:05.38
that we're living on
the brink of great events.
00:01:05.41\00:01:09.49
And that we need to prepare now
00:01:09.52\00:01:12.42
and every day for those events.
00:01:12.45\00:01:15.66
We thank You, Father,
for the privilege of prayer.
00:01:15.69\00:01:18.79
We thank You for
hearing and answering us.
00:01:18.82\00:01:21.11
For we ask it in the
precious name of Jesus. Amen.
00:01:21.14\00:01:27.16
It's gonna be very
difficult in our lecture today
00:01:27.19\00:01:30.26
to cover all of the
material in simply one lecture.
00:01:30.29\00:01:34.95
Originally, when I
put this series together
00:01:34.98\00:01:37.56
I had planned to present
two parts to this lecture.
00:01:37.59\00:01:42.86
But unfortunately,
it's not very good
00:01:42.89\00:01:45.91
to prepare a
series with 15 lectures
00:01:45.94\00:01:48.29
with an odd number.
00:01:48.32\00:01:49.78
It's much better
for different reasons
00:01:49.81\00:01:51.54
to have an even number.
00:01:51.57\00:01:53.26
And so what I
decided was to synthesize
00:01:53.29\00:01:55.90
and summarize and present
00:01:55.93\00:01:58.48
"Living in
Expectancy" in only one lecture.
00:01:58.51\00:02:02.63
Now allow me to give
you a little bit of context
00:02:02.66\00:02:05.32
that'll help you
understand where we're going
00:02:05.35\00:02:07.69
with what we're
gonna study today.
00:02:07.72\00:02:09.94
Matthew 24 presents the
signs of the coming of Jesus.
00:02:09.97\00:02:16.97
Then towards the
end of the chapter,
00:02:17.00\00:02:19.12
after the signs are presented,
00:02:19.15\00:02:21.61
Jesus gives three analogies
00:02:21.64\00:02:25.42
to show the urgency of
preparing for that great event,
00:02:25.45\00:02:31.99
for the close of probation
of the coming of Jesus.
00:02:32.02\00:02:35.08
Those three analogies
are the parable of victory,
00:02:35.11\00:02:39.14
you remember we
studied whole lessonon
00:02:39.17\00:02:41.00
on the "Parable
of the Fig Tree."
00:02:41.03\00:02:43.37
Secondly, He speaks about
00:02:43.40\00:02:45.25
the coming of the
thief in the night.
00:02:45.28\00:02:47.99
And how he can surprise
you when the thief comes.
00:02:48.02\00:02:51.19
And that's why
we need to be ready.
00:02:51.22\00:02:53.44
And finally, the last analogy is
00:02:53.47\00:02:55.61
what happened in
the days of Noah.
00:02:55.64\00:02:58.58
So after He presents the signs
00:02:58.61\00:03:01.27
and He gives three illustrations
of the need to be prepared,
00:03:01.30\00:03:05.81
then He goes on to
speak about how we can prepare
00:03:05.84\00:03:11.46
and what we need to do
in the light of the signs
00:03:11.49\00:03:14.81
and in the light of
the soon coming of Jesus.
00:03:14.84\00:03:18.66
Actually, He
presents four parables
00:03:18.69\00:03:21.91
after giving the signs
and the three analogies
00:03:21.94\00:03:25.89
and these parables are
00:03:25.92\00:03:28.72
the "Parable of
the Faithful Servant,"
00:03:28.75\00:03:30.89
that's the last
portion of Matthew 24,
00:03:30.92\00:03:34.29
'The Parable of the Ten Virgins,
00:03:34.32\00:03:37.21
The Parable of the Talents
00:03:37.24\00:03:39.77
and the Parable of
the Sheep and the Goats."
00:03:39.80\00:03:44.47
Now I would like to
begin reading at Matthew 24:45.
00:03:44.50\00:03:51.08
Matthew 24:45.
00:03:51.11\00:03:54.50
And actually
before we go to verse 45,
00:03:54.53\00:03:57.10
why don't we just
read beginning at verse 42.
00:03:57.13\00:04:00.32
Because we didn't study
specifically these verses
00:04:00.35\00:04:03.14
when we discussed the coming
of the thief in the night.
00:04:03.17\00:04:07.02
So let's just read them
and I'll do this quickly.
00:04:07.05\00:04:10.50
"Watch therefore,
for you do not know
00:04:10.53\00:04:13.71
what hour your Lord is coming."
00:04:13.74\00:04:16.65
What coming is
that referring to,
00:04:16.68\00:04:18.26
in the light of what
we've studied last time?
00:04:18.29\00:04:20.28
It's referring to the
coming of Jesus to close, what?
00:04:20.31\00:04:25.61
To close the door of probation.
00:04:25.64\00:04:28.41
"But know this, that
if the master of the house
00:04:28.44\00:04:31.49
had known what hour
the thief would come,
00:04:31.52\00:04:35.87
he would have watched
00:04:35.90\00:04:37.34
and not allowed his
house to be broken into.
00:04:37.37\00:04:41.05
Therefore you also be ready,
00:04:41.08\00:04:43.56
for the Son of Man is coming
at an hour you do not expect."
00:04:43.59\00:04:50.31
Now let's go to verse
45 and as we go along,
00:04:50.34\00:04:53.74
I'm going to interpret
the symbols of this parable.
00:04:53.77\00:04:58.20
It says here in verse 45,
00:04:58.23\00:05:00.19
"Who then is a
faithful and wise servant,"
00:05:00.22\00:05:05.74
Now the faithful
and wise servant here
00:05:05.77\00:05:09.45
represents the
leaders of the church.
00:05:09.48\00:05:12.82
It represents the
leadership of a church,
00:05:12.85\00:05:15.42
pastors, teachers, etcetera.
00:05:15.45\00:05:19.41
So it says "Who then is a
faithful and wise servant,
00:05:19.44\00:05:23.44
whom his
master--" Who is the master?
00:05:23.47\00:05:26.63
The master is Jesus
Christ, that's right.
00:05:26.66\00:05:30.20
"Whom his master made
ruler over his household,"
00:05:30.23\00:05:34.34
what is his household?
00:05:34.37\00:05:36.30
His household is the
church, that's right.
00:05:36.33\00:05:39.61
"To give them food,"
What does food represent?
00:05:39.64\00:05:43.71
It represents the word of God,
00:05:43.74\00:05:46.15
but notice it's not
any old kind of food.
00:05:46.18\00:05:49.47
It's a special kind of food.
00:05:49.50\00:05:51.81
It continue saying to
give them food, in what?
00:05:51.84\00:05:55.74
"in due season?"
00:05:55.77\00:05:57.86
In other words,
food at the right time.
00:05:57.89\00:06:00.30
We call it present truth.
00:06:00.33\00:06:03.80
Do you know that every
generation has present truth?
00:06:03.83\00:06:06.71
A truth that is
special for that generation.
00:06:06.74\00:06:09.30
For example, in the
days of Martin Luther,
00:06:09.33\00:06:11.54
it was "the just
shall live by faith."
00:06:11.57\00:06:15.25
Justification by faith
00:06:15.28\00:06:16.83
because the church was caught
up in works righteousness.
00:06:16.86\00:06:21.15
So God says the
special mission for you,
00:06:21.18\00:06:23.57
Martin Luther, and
Calvin, and Zwingli
00:06:23.60\00:06:25.76
is to restore the idea
that we're saved by grace
00:06:25.79\00:06:29.28
through faith in Jesus Christ.
00:06:29.31\00:06:31.96
See the role of Martin Luther
was not to restore the Sabbath
00:06:31.99\00:06:34.47
or the sanctuary
truth, that would come later.
00:06:34.50\00:06:37.16
God has a present
truth for every generation.
00:06:37.19\00:06:40.00
And so notice
that we're told here
00:06:40.03\00:06:42.29
that the
faithful and wise servant,
00:06:42.32\00:06:44.27
his master makes him
rule over his household
00:06:44.30\00:06:46.69
which is the church
so that the faithful
00:06:46.72\00:06:50.93
and wise servant gives food,
00:06:50.96\00:06:53.12
the right kind of
food at the right time.
00:06:53.15\00:06:56.12
Then notice verse 46.
00:06:56.15\00:06:58.34
"Blessed is that
servant whom his master,
00:06:58.37\00:07:02.34
when he comes,
will find so doing."
00:07:02.37\00:07:06.08
What does that mean, so doing?
00:07:06.11\00:07:07.62
Doing what? Feeding the, what?
00:07:07.65\00:07:10.56
Feeding the
church in the right time
00:07:10.59\00:07:14.98
with the right message.
00:07:15.01\00:07:17.01
So does God hold leaders
00:07:17.04\00:07:19.97
accountable for what
they feed their congregations?
00:07:20.00\00:07:23.65
Absolutely. Notice verse 47.
00:07:23.68\00:07:26.64
"Assuredly, I say to you
that he will make him ruler
00:07:26.67\00:07:31.58
over all his goods."
00:07:31.61\00:07:34.89
But now notice the
flip side of the coin.
00:07:34.92\00:07:37.46
"But if that evil
servant says in his heart,
00:07:37.49\00:07:42.06
'My master is
delaying his coming,'"
00:07:42.09\00:07:45.69
What does that referring
to, delaying his coming?
00:07:45.72\00:07:48.53
That's the time
that we're in now, right?
00:07:48.56\00:07:51.33
That's the time
that our parents,
00:07:51.36\00:07:52.94
our grandparents and
our great grandparents
00:07:52.97\00:07:55.58
have been preaching
the second coming of Jesus
00:07:55.61\00:07:57.95
and it hasn't happened.
00:07:57.98\00:07:59.86
"And so the wicked servants says
00:07:59.89\00:08:01.69
my master is delaying his coming
00:08:01.72\00:08:04.79
and begins to beat
his fellow servants,
00:08:04.82\00:08:07.56
and to eat and
drink with the drunkards."
00:08:07.59\00:08:10.47
In other words, he gets
all caught up in the world
00:08:10.50\00:08:12.39
and he lives like worldlings.
00:08:12.42\00:08:15.00
Verse 50, "The master of
that servant will come on a day
00:08:15.03\00:08:19.40
when he is not looking for him,"
00:08:19.43\00:08:22.02
What coming is that referring
00:08:22.05\00:08:23.42
to in the light of what
we've studied last time?
00:08:23.45\00:08:26.09
It is speaking about the moment
00:08:26.12\00:08:27.49
when Jesus comes
to close the door.
00:08:27.52\00:08:29.87
We'll have more to say
about that a little bit later.
00:08:29.90\00:08:33.24
So it says, "The master of
that servant will come on a day
00:08:33.27\00:08:36.76
when he is not looking for him
00:08:36.79\00:08:38.75
and at an hour
that he is not aware of,
00:08:38.78\00:08:42.25
and will cut him in two
and appoint him his portion
00:08:42.28\00:08:47.00
with the hypocrites.
00:08:47.03\00:08:48.74
There shall be weeping
and gnashing of teeth."
00:08:48.77\00:08:54.90
Who is Jesus warning here?
00:08:54.93\00:08:57.87
Well, He is warning
the secular humanists.
00:08:57.90\00:09:01.39
He is warning the Buddhists,
and the Hindu, and the Muslims.
00:09:01.42\00:09:06.26
Is that what Jesus is doing?
00:09:06.29\00:09:08.85
Who is Jesus talking about?
00:09:08.88\00:09:11.70
He is talking about
those who profess His name,
00:09:11.73\00:09:17.30
who are the ones who
are in danger of being
00:09:17.33\00:09:20.71
the wicked servants.
00:09:20.74\00:09:22.69
Not those who are
outside in the world,
00:09:22.72\00:09:25.15
but those who belong
to the covenant community,
00:09:25.18\00:09:28.81
those who claim to be followers
or servants of Jesus Christ
00:09:28.84\00:09:33.07
because you
notice that the servant
00:09:33.10\00:09:34.84
calls Jesus, what? Lord.
00:09:34.87\00:09:40.16
Do you remember that Matthew
24 began by Jesus saying,
00:09:40.19\00:09:44.22
"Make sure that
no one deceives you"
00:09:44.25\00:09:47.40
and He's
speaking to His disciples.
00:09:47.43\00:09:49.46
Make sure that
no one deceives you.
00:09:49.49\00:09:52.79
In other words, the
target of this teaching by Jesus
00:09:52.82\00:09:58.17
are His very own people,
those who profess His name.
00:09:58.20\00:10:04.08
By the way did you
notice here the expression
00:10:04.11\00:10:08.09
'weeping and gnashing of teeth'?
00:10:08.12\00:10:11.10
Did you notice also that
they're called hypocrites,
00:10:11.13\00:10:13.23
the evil and wicked
servant is called a hypocrite?
00:10:13.26\00:10:16.29
Do you know that every
single time in the gospels
00:10:16.32\00:10:20.00
that Jesus uses
the word hypocrite,
00:10:20.03\00:10:22.54
He is speaking about
people who claim to serve God.
00:10:22.57\00:10:26.69
He called the Pharisees
hypocrites very frequently.
00:10:26.72\00:10:30.49
Do you know also that
every single time in the gospels
00:10:30.52\00:10:33.37
and you can check it
out to see if it's true.
00:10:33.40\00:10:35.44
Every time in the gospels
that you find the expression
00:10:35.47\00:10:38.69
'weeping and gnashing of teeth',
it's referring to the Jews,
00:10:38.72\00:10:44.82
who claimed to
be servants of God,
00:10:44.85\00:10:48.68
who claimed to be members
of the covenant community.
00:10:48.71\00:10:53.43
In fact, in Matthew 15:7,
00:10:53.46\00:10:56.60
Jesus spoke about
the Jewish leaders
00:10:56.63\00:10:59.21
and He said, these people
serve me with their, what?
00:10:59.24\00:11:03.96
With their lips but
their hearts are what?
00:11:03.99\00:11:08.66
Their hearts are
far away from Me.
00:11:08.69\00:11:12.75
These are the same ones
that Jesus said not everyone
00:11:12.78\00:11:15.42
who says to Me, "Lord, Lord!"
00:11:15.45\00:11:18.43
shall enter the kingdom
of heaven, but he who, what?
00:11:18.46\00:11:21.62
Who does the will of my Father.
00:11:21.65\00:11:23.48
In other words, these
are the ones who are hearers
00:11:23.51\00:11:26.33
but they are not, what?
00:11:26.36\00:11:27.94
They are not doers.
00:11:27.97\00:11:31.75
And by the way, it
says in Matthew Chapter 7
00:11:31.78\00:11:34.60
that they can perform exorcisms
and they can give prophecies
00:11:34.63\00:11:39.67
and they can perform
miracles and yet, Jesus says,
00:11:39.70\00:11:44.13
"I don't know
you, depart from Me,
00:11:44.16\00:11:47.06
you workers of
lawlessness or of wickedness."
00:11:47.09\00:11:52.25
So who are the ones in danger?
00:11:52.28\00:11:54.27
The worldlings? No,
the leaders of the church.
00:11:54.30\00:11:59.43
Notice this remarkable passage
in volume 5 of the Testimonies,
00:11:59.46\00:12:03.62
page 101 and 102.
00:12:03.65\00:12:08.08
"The evil servant
who said in his heart,
00:12:08.11\00:12:12.64
"My Lord delayeth His coming,"
00:12:12.67\00:12:15.98
professed to be
waiting for Christ."
00:12:16.01\00:12:20.72
He professed to be
waiting for Christ.
00:12:20.75\00:12:23.88
"He was a "servant," and she
put servant in quotation marks,
00:12:23.91\00:12:28.90
"outwardly devoted
to the service of God
00:12:28.93\00:12:33.27
while at heart he
had yielded to Satan.
00:12:33.30\00:12:38.01
He does not, like the
scoffer, openly deny the truth,
00:12:38.04\00:12:44.14
but reveals in his life
the sentiment of the heart
00:12:44.17\00:12:48.26
that the Lord's
coming is delayed.
00:12:48.29\00:12:51.25
Presumption renders him
careless of eternal interests."
00:12:51.28\00:12:55.81
See, presumption
renders in, what?
00:12:55.84\00:12:58.28
Careless of eternal interests.
00:12:58.31\00:13:00.69
"He accepts the world's maxims
00:13:00.72\00:13:03.99
and conforms to its
customs and practices."
00:13:04.02\00:13:08.62
Now it says,
we're in this world,
00:13:08.65\00:13:10.33
the master is
delaying his coming,
00:13:10.36\00:13:12.13
so we just have
to kind of fit in.
00:13:12.16\00:13:16.01
And by the way he's
talking about leaders,
00:13:16.04\00:13:18.63
pastors of the church.
00:13:18.66\00:13:21.31
She continue
saying, "Selfishness,
00:13:21.34\00:13:24.45
worldly pride, and
ambitions predominate.
00:13:24.48\00:13:31.61
Fearing that his brethren
may stand higher than himself,
00:13:31.64\00:13:34.46
he begins to
disparage their efforts
00:13:34.49\00:13:36.86
and impugn their motives.
00:13:36.89\00:13:38.87
Thus he smites
his fellow servants."
00:13:38.90\00:13:41.31
By speaking badly of them,
00:13:41.34\00:13:42.71
remember he said that he
would smite the servants.
00:13:42.74\00:13:45.50
"As he alienates
himself from the people of God
00:13:45.53\00:13:48.77
he unites more and
more with the ungodly.
00:13:48.80\00:13:53.09
He is found eating and
drinking 'with the drunken,"
00:13:53.12\00:13:57.39
and then she
explains what that means.
00:13:57.42\00:13:59.54
"joining with worldlings
and partaking of their spirit.
00:13:59.57\00:14:04.28
Thus he is lulled
into a carnal security
00:14:04.31\00:14:08.53
and overcome by forgetfulness,
indifference, and sloth.
00:14:08.56\00:14:14.57
The very beginning of the evil
was a neglect of watchfulness."
00:14:14.60\00:14:18.79
Notice where the process begin?
00:14:18.82\00:14:20.19
"A neglect of
watchfulness and secret prayer,
00:14:20.22\00:14:23.67
then came a neglect of
other religious duties,
00:14:23.70\00:14:27.04
and thus the way was opened
of all the sins that followed.
00:14:27.07\00:14:31.67
Every Christian will be assailed
by the allurements of the world,
00:14:31.70\00:14:36.34
the clamors of
the carnal nature,
00:14:36.37\00:14:38.88
and the direct
temptations of Satan.
00:14:38.91\00:14:41.50
No one is safe.
00:14:41.53\00:14:43.31
No matter what our
experience has been,
00:14:43.34\00:14:45.45
no matter how high our station,
00:14:45.48\00:14:47.32
we need to watch
and pray continually.
00:14:47.35\00:14:50.70
We must be daily
controlled by the Spirit of God
00:14:50.73\00:14:54.82
or we are controlled by Satan."
00:14:54.85\00:15:00.36
You know most of the Christians
out there are teaching
00:15:00.39\00:15:03.13
that the end time
conflict is going to be
00:15:03.16\00:15:06.81
between Christians
and non Christians,
00:15:06.84\00:15:09.94
between the
religious and the secular.
00:15:09.97\00:15:13.08
Well, the fact is that these
parables we're gonna notice
00:15:13.11\00:15:16.19
are targeted to
those who profess
00:15:16.22\00:15:18.93
to serve Jesus Christ,
00:15:18.96\00:15:20.50
those who profess to serve God.
00:15:20.53\00:15:23.58
And the final conflict as
we've studied is not primarily
00:15:23.61\00:15:26.95
between the
secular and the religious,
00:15:26.98\00:15:29.45
it's between two different
types of religious people
00:15:29.48\00:15:34.46
who claim to serve God.
00:15:34.49\00:15:38.31
In fact, most of
the Christian world,
00:15:38.34\00:15:40.67
because Jesus
delays His coming becomes--
00:15:40.70\00:15:44.05
they become
comfortable with the world.
00:15:44.08\00:15:46.60
They adapt to the world,
00:15:46.63\00:15:48.53
to the temperature of the world.
00:15:48.56\00:15:50.50
They're expecting to be
ruptured out of this world
00:15:50.53\00:15:53.05
before the great
tribulation and therefore,
00:15:53.08\00:15:56.08
when the great
tribulation comes,
00:15:56.11\00:15:57.86
when the hard times come,
00:15:57.89\00:16:00.14
not the easy
times that we have now,
00:16:00.17\00:16:02.11
but when the hard times come,
00:16:02.14\00:16:04.31
they don't have a character
00:16:04.34\00:16:05.78
prepared to go through that
terrible time of tribulation.
00:16:05.81\00:16:11.18
Now that's the first
parable that Jesus gave.
00:16:11.21\00:16:13.81
Now we need to go
to the second parable.
00:16:13.84\00:16:16.08
It's the famous
parable of the ten virgins.
00:16:16.11\00:16:19.22
Who hasn't heard the
parable of the ten virgins?
00:16:19.25\00:16:21.41
Of course, that parable is
directed primarily to atheists.
00:16:21.44\00:16:27.39
You think?
00:16:27.42\00:16:29.02
Is that message
primarily for atheists?
00:16:29.05\00:16:31.63
Well, then will anybody
say that it's for Buddhists
00:16:31.66\00:16:34.73
or Hindus and Muslims? No.
00:16:34.76\00:16:37.88
It's directed towards whom?
00:16:37.91\00:16:39.94
God's people, who are the ones
00:16:39.97\00:16:41.57
that are in
danger of being deceived
00:16:41.60\00:16:43.51
or falling away
when they're persecuted,
00:16:43.54\00:16:46.01
not non
Christians but Christians.
00:16:46.04\00:16:49.85
All of Matthew 24 is
given for Christians.
00:16:49.88\00:16:52.93
The signs are
to show Christians.
00:16:52.96\00:16:54.94
The analogies
are so that they know
00:16:54.97\00:16:57.07
when Jesus is even at the door.
00:16:57.10\00:16:59.16
The parables are given saying,
00:16:59.19\00:17:00.78
listen in the light
of what we've studied,
00:17:00.81\00:17:02.54
the signs and the
analogies get ready.
00:17:02.57\00:17:05.68
Because if not, you
will fall by the wayside.
00:17:05.71\00:17:09.00
Let's go to Matthew 25:1-13
00:17:09.03\00:17:13.12
and once again I will interpret
as we go along in this parable.
00:17:13.15\00:17:18.78
"Then the kingdom of heaven
00:17:18.81\00:17:20.18
shall be
likened to ten virgins,"
00:17:20.21\00:17:22.96
the ten virgins
represent Christians,
00:17:22.99\00:17:27.99
but there's two
kinds of Christians,
00:17:28.02\00:17:30.02
we need to remember that,
00:17:30.05\00:17:31.49
but the ten virgins
represent Christians.
00:17:31.52\00:17:34.30
Let me ask you, does the
Bible speak about the church
00:17:34.33\00:17:36.39
as Christ's virgin.
00:17:36.42\00:17:38.19
It most certainly does.
00:17:38.22\00:17:39.72
You can read it for
example, in Jeremiah 6:2.
00:17:39.75\00:17:44.85
You can read it in
Revelation Chapter 14
00:17:44.88\00:17:46.88
speaking about that 144,000,
00:17:46.91\00:17:48.53
they are virgins the Bible says.
00:17:48.56\00:17:50.91
So in other words, the ten
virgins represent Christians.
00:17:50.94\00:17:55.06
Now notice what
he continue saying,
00:17:55.09\00:17:56.69
"who took their lamps,"
What does the lamp represent?
00:17:56.72\00:18:02.42
The lamp represents the Bible.
00:18:02.45\00:18:04.76
Thy word is what?
00:18:04.79\00:18:07.19
A lamp unto my feet
and a light unto my path.
00:18:07.22\00:18:10.94
So the lamp
represents the Bible.
00:18:10.97\00:18:13.88
So do all of the
Christians have the Bible?
00:18:13.91\00:18:15.94
Yes, according to this.
00:18:15.97\00:18:17.35
Now notice this, "and went
out to meet the bridegroom."
00:18:17.38\00:18:21.70
Who is the bridegroom?
00:18:21.73\00:18:23.61
The bridegroom is Jesus.
00:18:23.64\00:18:26.06
By the way, are
all of these claiming
00:18:26.09\00:18:27.97
to be followers of Jesus?
00:18:28.00\00:18:29.49
Why would they go out
to meet the bridegroom
00:18:29.52\00:18:31.00
if they didn't believe in Jesus?
00:18:31.03\00:18:33.10
Notice verse 2, "Now
five of them were wise,"
00:18:33.13\00:18:37.31
these are true
genuine Christians,"
00:18:37.34\00:18:41.10
and five were foolish."
00:18:41.13\00:18:43.84
These are
counterfeit, what? Christians.
00:18:43.87\00:18:47.29
They're like
the wicked servants.
00:18:47.32\00:18:48.80
See, there's a good servant
and there's an evil servant.
00:18:48.83\00:18:52.13
Here there is a good, what?
00:18:52.16\00:18:56.50
A good group of virgins
and a bad group of virgins,
00:18:56.53\00:19:01.47
both of them are Christians.
00:19:01.50\00:19:03.15
But one group
are true Christians,
00:19:03.18\00:19:04.90
the others are
counterfeit Christians.
00:19:04.93\00:19:07.65
Notice verse 3.
00:19:07.68\00:19:09.31
"Those who were
foolish took their lamps
00:19:09.34\00:19:12.58
and took no oil,"
Now I need to explain
00:19:12.61\00:19:15.03
that they did have
oil in their lamps,
00:19:15.06\00:19:17.92
but they did not have
an extra supply of oil.
00:19:17.95\00:19:21.66
We'll see that clearly in
the parable a little bit later.
00:19:21.69\00:19:24.81
They had--all of them
had oil in their lamps
00:19:24.84\00:19:26.97
because later on, even the
foolish virgins are saying,
00:19:27.00\00:19:29.89
our lamps are
what? Are going out.
00:19:29.92\00:19:33.31
So must they have had some oil?
00:19:33.34\00:19:35.11
Of course, they must
have had oil in their lamps,
00:19:35.14\00:19:37.54
but they had no extra supply.
00:19:37.57\00:19:39.05
And what I sustain is
00:19:39.08\00:19:40.74
that the oil
represents the Holy Spirit
00:19:40.77\00:19:43.94
that we received
when we believed.
00:19:43.97\00:19:47.92
The extra supply of oil
00:19:47.95\00:19:50.05
is the outpouring
of the latter rain
00:19:50.08\00:19:53.94
that we've been talking
about the last several days.
00:19:53.97\00:19:58.09
It's what is gonna be received
00:19:58.12\00:19:59.75
at the very end
of human history,
00:19:59.78\00:20:01.76
but if the early rain has not
produced growth in your life,
00:20:01.79\00:20:05.75
if after you
receive the early rain,
00:20:05.78\00:20:08.15
you died, the latter rain is not
gonna help a plant that's dead.
00:20:08.18\00:20:13.51
Are you
understanding what I'm saying?
00:20:13.54\00:20:15.41
Now, notice verse 3,
00:20:15.44\00:20:17.80
"Those who were foolish took
their lamps and took no oil."
00:20:17.83\00:20:20.81
There is no extra supply of oil.
00:20:20.84\00:20:22.81
They had oil when
they were converted
00:20:22.84\00:20:24.79
but they did not grow in grace
00:20:24.82\00:20:26.80
and in the
knowledge of Jesus Christ.
00:20:26.83\00:20:28.70
Verse 4, "But the
wise took oil," where?
00:20:28.73\00:20:32.94
"in their vessels."
00:20:32.97\00:20:34.34
So they have it in their lamp
00:20:34.37\00:20:36.04
and they also have an
extra supply in their vessels.
00:20:36.07\00:20:38.93
Now let me ask you.
00:20:38.96\00:20:40.33
What does oil
represent in scripture?
00:20:40.36\00:20:42.95
In scripture, oil
represents the Holy Spirit.
00:20:42.98\00:20:45.54
Do you know why
the Bible is powerful?
00:20:45.57\00:20:48.13
Because the Bible is a lamp,
00:20:48.16\00:20:50.34
but what gives the lamp
light is the Holy Sprit.
00:20:50.37\00:20:54.25
That's why the Bible is called
the "Sword of the Spirit."
00:20:54.28\00:20:58.20
See, because the word
without the Spirit of God
00:20:58.23\00:21:01.84
is just like any other book,
00:21:01.87\00:21:03.77
but the word with the
Spirit of God brings conviction.
00:21:03.80\00:21:07.57
Now notice what it
continues saying in verse 5,
00:21:07.60\00:21:11.16
"But while the
bridegroom was," what?
00:21:11.19\00:21:13.82
There we have the
same idea delayed.
00:21:13.85\00:21:15.79
What is the delay?
00:21:15.82\00:21:17.68
Well, the delay is
like 2,000 years old now.
00:21:17.71\00:21:21.44
Since Jesus went to
heaven, He's been delayed.
00:21:21.47\00:21:25.15
And so it says,
00:21:25.18\00:21:26.55
"But while the
bridegroom was delayed,
00:21:26.58\00:21:28.35
they all slumbered and slept."
00:21:28.38\00:21:30.03
Notice that all of
them slumbered and slept.
00:21:30.06\00:21:32.76
"And at
midnight a cry was heard:
00:21:32.79\00:21:34.88
'Behold, the bridegroom is
coming, go out to meet him!"
00:21:34.91\00:21:38.24
Now crunch time has come, right?
00:21:38.27\00:21:40.61
Now the time for an
extra supply of oil is needed
00:21:40.64\00:21:43.87
in the darkness of the night.
00:21:43.90\00:21:46.87
Then verse 7 says,
"Then all those virgins arose
00:21:46.90\00:21:50.77
and trimmed their lamps.
00:21:50.80\00:21:53.27
And the foolish
said to the wise,
00:21:53.30\00:21:55.74
'Give us some of your oil,
for our lamps are going out.'"
00:21:55.77\00:21:59.35
Did they have
oil in their lamps?
00:21:59.38\00:22:01.40
Yes or no? Of course, they did.
00:22:01.43\00:22:03.46
They had the
early rain experience.
00:22:03.49\00:22:05.37
They received the
Spirit when they believed,
00:22:05.40\00:22:07.69
but they did not
persevere, they did not grow.
00:22:07.72\00:22:10.64
Therefore the
extra supply wasn't there
00:22:10.67\00:22:13.23
when they urgently needed it.
00:22:13.26\00:22:15.60
And so it says,
"Give us some of your oil,
00:22:15.63\00:22:17.82
for our lamps are going out.
00:22:17.85\00:22:19.98
But the wise answered, saying,
00:22:20.01\00:22:21.58
'No, lest there should
not be enough for us and you,
00:22:21.61\00:22:25.48
but go rather to those who
sell, and buy for yourselves."
00:22:25.51\00:22:29.62
Let me ask you, can
we give other people
00:22:29.65\00:22:32.29
the Holy Spirit? No.
00:22:32.32\00:22:35.25
They can only
claim it for themselves.
00:22:35.28\00:22:37.45
I cannot give somebody
else my own experience.
00:22:37.48\00:22:41.51
And now notice what
it says in verse 10.
00:22:41.54\00:22:43.55
"And while they went to
buy, the bridegroom came,"
00:22:43.58\00:22:49.80
while they went
to, what? To buy.
00:22:49.83\00:22:53.37
Do you know that Amos 8:11, 12
00:22:53.40\00:22:56.89
says that the day is coming
00:22:56.92\00:22:59.24
when people will go to
the north and to the east,
00:22:59.27\00:23:03.28
and from sea to sea,
seeking the word of God
00:23:03.31\00:23:08.71
and they shall not
be able to find it,
00:23:08.74\00:23:12.19
because
probation has what? Closed.
00:23:12.22\00:23:16.05
Now what is represented here
by the coming of the bridegroom?
00:23:16.08\00:23:18.86
"And while they went to
buy, the bridegroom came."
00:23:18.89\00:23:22.07
This coming of
the bridegroom, folks,
00:23:22.10\00:23:23.77
is not the coming of
Jesus to planet earth.
00:23:23.80\00:23:27.31
This is explained in
Daniel Chapter 7 where it says,
00:23:27.34\00:23:30.54
that Jesus went on the
clouds of heaven, where?
00:23:30.57\00:23:34.94
To the ancient of days to
receive, what? The kingdom.
00:23:34.97\00:23:38.80
And you know how He
determines, what His kingdom is?
00:23:38.83\00:23:42.34
He does an
investigative judgment
00:23:42.37\00:23:44.32
to reveal to the universe
who belong to His kingdom.
00:23:44.35\00:23:49.16
So this is talking about Jesus
going to His Father in heaven
00:23:49.19\00:23:53.81
in order to reveal by
opening the books who are His.
00:23:53.84\00:23:59.08
This is referring to the moment
of the judgment in other words.
00:23:59.11\00:24:04.03
And now notice
what He continue saying,
00:24:04.06\00:24:05.77
"And while they went to
buy, the bridegroom came,
00:24:05.80\00:24:08.56
and those who were ready
went in with him to the,"
00:24:08.59\00:24:12.57
what? "to the wedding."
00:24:12.60\00:24:15.11
Do you know that the wedding is
not the second coming of Jesus,
00:24:15.14\00:24:17.34
Jesus doesn't come
to marry His people
00:24:17.37\00:24:19.12
when He returns the second time.
00:24:19.15\00:24:21.87
He marries His
people in absentia.
00:24:21.90\00:24:25.17
In other words, Jesus
marries His people in heaven
00:24:25.20\00:24:27.62
while they are on earth,
and you'll say now how is that?
00:24:27.65\00:24:30.26
I'm not gonna read it
now but go to Luke 12:35, 36,
00:24:30.29\00:24:34.24
where Jesus says
to His disciples,
00:24:34.27\00:24:36.09
you be like those good servants
that are watching and waiting
00:24:36.12\00:24:40.66
for the master to return
from the wedding, it says there.
00:24:40.69\00:24:44.92
By the way, you remember that
parable in Matthew Chapter 22,
00:24:44.95\00:24:48.16
where the king comes to examine
the garments of the guests
00:24:48.19\00:24:54.59
that he invited to the wedding?
00:24:54.62\00:24:57.71
What was found in there?
00:24:57.74\00:24:59.98
An individual who
did not have the garment.
00:25:00.01\00:25:04.38
So I suppose that
what that means is that
00:25:04.41\00:25:06.56
some people are
gonna sneak into heaven.
00:25:06.59\00:25:10.11
And when they're up there,
00:25:10.14\00:25:11.71
Jesus is gonna check
everybody's garment, say,
00:25:11.74\00:25:14.14
"Wait a minute, how
did you get in here?"
00:25:14.17\00:25:15.63
No, of course, not.
00:25:15.66\00:25:17.27
The checking of the garments
is what takes place, where?
00:25:17.30\00:25:20.68
In the judgment, in the heavenly
sanctuary before Jesus comes.
00:25:20.71\00:25:25.51
That is the coming of
the bridegroom to the father
00:25:25.54\00:25:28.40
to determine the
subjects of His kingdom
00:25:28.43\00:25:30.53
by opening the books and
revealing to the universe
00:25:30.56\00:25:33.36
who are genuine
followers of Jesus
00:25:33.39\00:25:36.19
and who are the
counterfeit followers of Jesus.
00:25:36.22\00:25:39.41
Are you
understanding what I'm saying?
00:25:39.44\00:25:41.79
Now so it says,
this is verse 10,
00:25:41.82\00:25:45.78
"And those who were ready went
in with Him to the wedding."
00:25:45.81\00:25:49.11
By the way we go
in, how? By faith.
00:25:49.14\00:25:54.28
Let me ask you, can we come
to the stone of grace today?
00:25:54.31\00:25:57.78
The Apostle Paul says,
00:25:57.81\00:25:59.18
"Let us come boldly
to the throne of grace."
00:25:59.21\00:26:00.60
Now what, do we have to
take a rocket to go up there?
00:26:00.63\00:26:03.52
We've go to NASA?
00:26:03.55\00:26:06.20
Does it say in Hebrews,
00:26:06.23\00:26:07.78
that we can enter into the
presence of Jesus by faith,
00:26:07.81\00:26:13.04
by His blood? Yes, it does.
00:26:13.07\00:26:15.14
But we don't enter
personally. We enter, how?
00:26:15.17\00:26:17.96
In our thoughts
and we follow Jesus
00:26:17.99\00:26:21.02
into the holy place to
watch His work as High Priest
00:26:21.05\00:26:24.83
we seem Him going where,
00:26:24.86\00:26:27.50
into the most Holy
place and we follow His work
00:26:27.53\00:26:30.34
that He's performing there.
00:26:30.37\00:26:31.74
In other words, we
go into the wedding
00:26:31.77\00:26:34.18
not personally but by faith.
00:26:34.21\00:26:38.97
And so notice it says,
00:26:39.00\00:26:40.51
"And those who were ready
went in with Him to the wedding
00:26:40.54\00:26:44.30
and the door was," what? "Shut."
00:26:44.33\00:26:47.29
What is the
shutting of the door?
00:26:47.32\00:26:49.82
That's the second coming, right?
00:26:49.85\00:26:51.76
It's not the second coming
because after the door is shut,
00:26:51.79\00:26:54.75
the foolish virgins still have
time to go try and find oil.
00:26:54.78\00:26:59.67
If this was the second coming,
00:26:59.70\00:27:01.07
they would've all
been destroyed, wiped out.
00:27:01.10\00:27:03.33
But they still have time
to say, you know, the doors,
00:27:03.36\00:27:06.44
it has closed but maybe
just maybe we can find oil.
00:27:06.47\00:27:10.94
But what has happened,
the Holy Spirit has been,
00:27:10.97\00:27:12.89
what? Withdrawn.
00:27:12.92\00:27:15.57
There's no more oil
00:27:15.60\00:27:17.70
because the
intercession of Jesus is, what?
00:27:17.73\00:27:20.16
Is finished into
heavenly sanctuary.
00:27:20.19\00:27:23.32
Verse 11, "Afterward the
other virgins came also, saying,
00:27:23.35\00:27:28.10
'Lord, Lord, open to us!"
00:27:28.13\00:27:30.40
You remember that expression
00:27:30.43\00:27:31.80
"Lord, Lord" in
Matthew Chapter 7,
00:27:31.83\00:27:33.20
not everyone who
says to me Lord, Lord,
00:27:33.23\00:27:36.07
will enter the kingdom of
heaven but he who does, what?
00:27:36.10\00:27:38.82
He who does the will of
my Father who is in Heaven.
00:27:38.85\00:27:41.37
By the way these
people perform miracles,
00:27:41.40\00:27:43.45
they perform exorcisms,
00:27:43.48\00:27:44.85
they prophesied
in the name of Jesus.
00:27:44.88\00:27:49.02
They said Lord, Lord, if
you read Matthew Chapter 7
00:27:49.05\00:27:53.38
but there's more.
00:27:53.41\00:27:55.75
"Afterward the other virgins."
00:27:55.78\00:27:57.98
Verse 11, "came also, saying,
'Lord, Lord, open to us!"
00:27:58.01\00:28:02.62
But He answered and said,
00:28:02.65\00:28:04.02
"Assuredly, I say to
you, I do not know you."
00:28:04.05\00:28:07.35
Is that what we
found in Matthew 7 also,
00:28:07.38\00:28:09.69
those who claim
the name of Jesus,
00:28:09.72\00:28:11.67
did we do this in your name,
00:28:11.70\00:28:13.07
that in your name,
these are believers.
00:28:13.10\00:28:17.91
And so it says, "But
He answered and said,
00:28:17.94\00:28:20.32
"Assuredly, I say to
you, I do not know you."
00:28:20.35\00:28:23.12
And then He
says, "Watch therefore,
00:28:23.15\00:28:25.89
for you know
neither the day nor the hour
00:28:25.92\00:28:28.95
in which the Son
of Man is coming."
00:28:28.98\00:28:31.13
The Son of Man
is coming for, what?
00:28:31.16\00:28:33.67
To close, what?
00:28:33.70\00:28:35.07
According to the context,
"Coming to close the door."
00:28:35.10\00:28:41.01
So what are we
supposed to prepare for?
00:28:41.04\00:28:43.01
The second coming or
the close of probation?
00:28:43.04\00:28:46.11
It's the close of probation,
00:28:46.14\00:28:47.88
because the Bible says
we're gonna have to live
00:28:47.91\00:28:49.53
through the time of trouble
00:28:49.56\00:28:50.93
such as never has been seen
in the history of the world.
00:28:50.96\00:28:53.43
We're gonna need an
unshakable and unbreakable faith
00:28:53.46\00:28:56.57
and that faith is formed now,
Jesus is saying while you wait,
00:28:56.60\00:29:00.51
pray, watch, occupy, invest,
00:29:00.54\00:29:04.10
work, reveal the
character of Jesus,
00:29:04.13\00:29:06.82
do something while I'm gone
00:29:06.85\00:29:08.52
and then time will
definitely go faster.
00:29:08.55\00:29:12.27
Now we need to go
to our third parable,
00:29:12.30\00:29:14.79
"The Parable of the Talents."
00:29:14.82\00:29:17.46
And once again we're
gonna go through this
00:29:17.49\00:29:19.26
and I'm going to
interpret it as we go along.
00:29:19.29\00:29:21.90
The Parable of the Talents
is found in Matthew 25:14-30.
00:29:21.93\00:29:26.91
Matthew 25:14-30.
00:29:26.94\00:29:30.47
It says here, "For the kingdom
of heaven is like a man,"
00:29:30.50\00:29:35.25
who do you think
that man is? It's Jesus.
00:29:35.28\00:29:39.35
"Like a man
traveling to a far country,"
00:29:39.38\00:29:41.83
where is the
far country? Heaven.
00:29:41.86\00:29:44.16
When did He travel
to that far country?
00:29:44.19\00:29:47.08
When He went to
heaven after His crucifixion
00:29:47.11\00:29:49.41
and His resurrection, right?
00:29:49.44\00:29:50.81
He went to a far country.
00:29:50.84\00:29:52.21
So it says, "The
kingdom of heaven is like a man
00:29:52.24\00:29:53.90
traveling to a far country,
who called his own servants."
00:29:53.93\00:29:58.70
Did Jesus call servants?
00:29:58.73\00:30:02.10
Did Jesus call
servants? Yes, He did.
00:30:02.13\00:30:04.96
What did He give them gifts
00:30:04.99\00:30:07.80
on the day of
Pentecost? Oh, absolutely.
00:30:07.83\00:30:09.94
So it says, "Who
called his own servants,"
00:30:09.97\00:30:13.57
what are His
servants? Church members, right?
00:30:13.60\00:30:17.05
"And delivered his goods,"
00:30:17.08\00:30:19.21
do you know what the goods are?
00:30:19.24\00:30:20.61
The gifts of Holy Spirit.
00:30:20.64\00:30:23.67
Are you catching a picture here?
00:30:23.70\00:30:26.29
Jesus comes, He goes to heaven.
00:30:26.32\00:30:31.29
He calls His
servants, the church members.
00:30:31.32\00:30:34.14
Gives them the
gifts of Holy Spirit.
00:30:34.17\00:30:35.87
Verse 15, "And to one
he gave five talents."
00:30:35.90\00:30:40.47
Are some people
more gifted than others?
00:30:40.50\00:30:43.63
Sure. "To another
two, and to another one."
00:30:43.66\00:30:50.81
So what determines whether
you've got five, two, or one.
00:30:50.84\00:30:56.93
Notice, it says, "To each
according to his own ability,"
00:30:56.96\00:31:01.28
wouldn't be a--wouldn't
it be a waste for Jesus
00:31:01.31\00:31:03.58
to give gifts to people
00:31:03.61\00:31:06.26
who did not have the
ability to use those gifts?
00:31:06.29\00:31:09.91
That would be waste.
00:31:09.94\00:31:11.33
So Jesus knows what
the capacities of each are.
00:31:11.36\00:31:13.86
So He says, "I'm
gonna give you the gift
00:31:13.89\00:31:16.39
that you can use
and you can develop
00:31:16.42\00:31:18.72
according to your ability."
00:31:18.75\00:31:22.93
To some He may--
apostles, others prophets,
00:31:22.96\00:31:25.72
others teachers,
others evangelists,
00:31:25.75\00:31:27.49
those are the gifts.
00:31:27.52\00:31:29.45
And so it says, "And to
one he gave five talents,
00:31:29.48\00:31:31.48
to another two, to another one
00:31:31.51\00:31:33.37
to each according
to his own ability
00:31:33.40\00:31:35.51
and immediately he
went on a journey."
00:31:35.54\00:31:38.85
There is the ascension.
00:31:38.88\00:31:40.65
"Then he who had
received the five talents."
00:31:40.68\00:31:44.25
By the way talents are money.
You are aware of that, right?
00:31:44.28\00:31:47.71
Talents in biblical terms were
measurement of currency, money.
00:31:47.74\00:31:52.79
But the principle here
is that He gave resources.
00:31:52.82\00:31:56.77
Financial, time, talents, as
we call them abilities etcetera.
00:31:56.80\00:32:03.59
So it says in
verse 17, "And likewise
00:32:03.62\00:32:06.75
he who had received
two gained two more also.
00:32:06.78\00:32:09.89
But he who had received one
went and dug into the ground,
00:32:09.92\00:32:14.08
and hid his Lord's money."
00:32:14.11\00:32:18.42
Is this a
believer? Is he a believer?
00:32:18.45\00:32:21.74
He hides his Lord's money.
So he claims Jesus as what?
00:32:21.77\00:32:25.45
As Lord, so this
once again is a believer
00:32:25.48\00:32:28.12
who has received gifts from God.
00:32:28.15\00:32:30.51
Now usually we think that
those who are in greatest danger
00:32:30.54\00:32:34.73
are the rich who
receive many resources.
00:32:34.76\00:32:38.31
But in this parable you have
the guy who received the least.
00:32:38.34\00:32:44.00
Who is the one who is in danger?
00:32:44.03\00:32:46.56
Notice verse 19.
00:32:46.59\00:32:49.02
It says, "After a long
time, " what is that long time?
00:32:49.05\00:32:52.17
Do you notice in all
these parables says what?
00:32:52.20\00:32:54.81
There is a delay, isn't there?
00:32:54.84\00:32:56.21
It's a long time
between the first...
00:32:56.24\00:32:58.69
coming of Jesus
and the second coming.
00:32:58.72\00:33:00.63
After a long time the
Lord of those servants
00:33:00.66\00:33:03.27
came and settled
accounts with them.
00:33:03.30\00:33:05.09
Do you know what the settling
00:33:05.12\00:33:06.49
of the accounts
is in this parable?
00:33:06.52\00:33:08.76
It's a judgment.
00:33:08.79\00:33:12.07
What is
determined in the judgment?
00:33:12.10\00:33:14.42
In the judgment
what is determined
00:33:14.45\00:33:16.03
is what your reward is gonna be.
00:33:16.06\00:33:18.84
Jesus said, "Behold, I
come quickly and my--" what?
00:33:18.87\00:33:23.56
"And my reward is with me."
00:33:23.59\00:33:26.51
Now if Jesus is
gonna bring His reward,
00:33:26.54\00:33:28.69
He must have
determined beforehand
00:33:28.72\00:33:30.38
what the reward was gonna be.
00:33:30.41\00:33:32.54
Are you with me or not?
00:33:32.57\00:33:33.97
That's why Revelation 14 says,
00:33:34.00\00:33:35.61
"He's gonna do a work
of investigative judgment.
00:33:35.64\00:33:38.22
He's gonna examine
the life of each one
00:33:38.25\00:33:39.91
to see what reward
that individual deserves.
00:33:39.94\00:33:44.13
And so it says, verse 18,
"But he who had received one
00:33:44.16\00:33:46.81
went and dug in the ground,
and hid his Lord's money.
00:33:46.84\00:33:49.32
After a long time the
Lord of those servants came
00:33:49.35\00:33:51.57
and settled accounts with them.
00:33:51.60\00:33:54.07
So he who had
received five talents
00:33:54.10\00:33:55.95
came and brought five
other talents, saying,
00:33:55.98\00:33:58.25
''Lord, you
delivered to me five talents,
00:33:58.28\00:34:00.54
look, I have gained five
more talents besides them."
00:34:00.57\00:34:02.80
In other words I
multiplied the resources
00:34:02.83\00:34:04.89
that You gave me and I
multiplied them for You.
00:34:04.92\00:34:09.14
"His Lord said to him,"
Notice His Lord said to him,
00:34:09.17\00:34:12.61
"Well done, good
and faithful servant,
00:34:12.64\00:34:15.37
you were faithful
over a few things,
00:34:15.40\00:34:17.26
I will make you
ruler over many things."
00:34:17.29\00:34:19.51
And now comes the second coming
and the ascension to Jesus.
00:34:19.54\00:34:23.38
It says, "Enter into
the joy of your Lord."
00:34:23.41\00:34:27.66
See first, He
determines what his reward is
00:34:27.69\00:34:30.33
and then He says, "Enter
into the joy of your Lord."
00:34:30.36\00:34:33.51
Verse 22, "He also who
had received two talents
00:34:33.54\00:34:37.19
came and said, 'Lord, you
delivered to me two talents,
00:34:37.22\00:34:40.67
look, I have gained two
more talents besides them.'
00:34:40.70\00:34:43.47
His lord said to him,
00:34:43.50\00:34:44.87
'Well done, good
and faithful servant,
00:34:44.90\00:34:46.49
you have been
faithful over a few things,
00:34:46.52\00:34:48.38
I will make you
ruler over many things.'"
00:34:48.41\00:34:50.43
And then He says,
"Enter the joy of your Lord."
00:34:50.46\00:34:56.37
By the way, have you ever heard
anybody in the church saying,
00:34:56.40\00:34:59.85
"I don't know
how to do anything,
00:34:59.88\00:35:03.39
the Lord just passed me by."
00:35:03.42\00:35:07.58
Everybody in church
has received a gift,
00:35:07.61\00:35:11.88
some less, some more.
00:35:11.91\00:35:15.19
But the more you get,
the more accountable you are.
00:35:15.22\00:35:20.20
Because he who is faithful,
who receives much must be
00:35:20.23\00:35:26.17
judged on the basis
of what he received.
00:35:26.20\00:35:30.07
He who received little,
God is not going to expect
00:35:30.10\00:35:32.55
an individual got one
talent to produce ten.
00:35:32.58\00:35:38.53
Notice verse 24, "Then he
who had received the one talent
00:35:38.56\00:35:43.08
came and said, 'Lord, I
knew you to be a hard man,'"
00:35:43.11\00:35:48.25
notice what view he had of Him.
00:35:48.28\00:35:50.67
"Reaping where
you have not sown,
00:35:50.70\00:35:53.34
and gathering where you
have not scattered seed.
00:35:53.37\00:35:58.11
And I was afraid, and
went and hid your talent."
00:35:58.14\00:36:02.13
Notice he knows, he
says that your talent.
00:36:02.16\00:36:03.93
"Hid your talent in the ground.
00:36:03.96\00:36:05.66
Look, there you
have what is yours."
00:36:05.69\00:36:10.37
Was this servant
right in what he said?
00:36:10.40\00:36:13.60
You reap where you haven't sown.
00:36:13.63\00:36:15.46
The fact is who
gave him the talent?
00:36:15.49\00:36:18.38
God did.
00:36:18.41\00:36:19.91
God gave him the
talent that was a sowing
00:36:19.94\00:36:22.36
and therefore God
expected him to do what?
00:36:22.39\00:36:25.10
To produce a harvest. Verse 26.
00:36:25.13\00:36:27.99
"But his Lord
answered and said to him,
00:36:28.02\00:36:30.46
'You wicked and lazy servant,'"
00:36:30.49\00:36:34.98
And I need to add
a little word here
00:36:35.01\00:36:37.87
which is really the
sense of the passage.
00:36:37.90\00:36:42.51
"You wicked and lazy servant
00:36:42.54\00:36:45.43
if you knew that I
reap where I have not sown."
00:36:45.46\00:36:48.28
See he is just
basically arguing on the basis
00:36:48.31\00:36:50.43
of what the servant had said.
00:36:50.46\00:36:53.02
"If you knew that I
reap where I have not sown
00:36:53.05\00:36:56.59
and gather where I
have not scattered seed.
00:36:56.62\00:36:59.52
So you ought to
have deposited my money"
00:36:59.55\00:37:03.22
so did the owner sow
something? Oh, yes, he did.
00:37:03.25\00:37:09.34
"So you ought to have deposited
my money with the bankers,
00:37:09.37\00:37:12.61
and at my coming
00:37:12.64\00:37:15.34
I would have received
back my own with interest.
00:37:15.37\00:37:21.89
Therefore take
the talent from him,
00:37:21.92\00:37:24.79
and give it to him
who has ten talents."
00:37:24.82\00:37:27.53
Now why would the
talent be taken from the one
00:37:27.56\00:37:29.49
and given to
the one who had ten.
00:37:29.52\00:37:33.18
That's a good
business principle.
00:37:33.21\00:37:36.25
If you for
example, had an individual
00:37:36.28\00:37:41.13
to whom you gave $5,000
00:37:41.16\00:37:45.40
and in a couple of months,
he duplicated it to 10,000.
00:37:45.43\00:37:49.34
And you had another
individual that you gave 2,000
00:37:49.37\00:37:52.60
and he duplicated it to
4,000 to whom would you give
00:37:52.63\00:37:56.46
the money that
the other guy wasted?
00:37:56.49\00:37:59.11
To the guy who produces
the greatest dividends, right?
00:37:59.14\00:38:03.53
And so this is just
sound business principles.
00:38:03.56\00:38:07.67
Verse 29, "For to everyone
who has, more will be given,"
00:38:07.70\00:38:13.24
that is to everyone who has
what the original owner gave
00:38:13.27\00:38:16.21
plus multiplied
it, more will be given.
00:38:16.24\00:38:20.67
"And he will have," what?
00:38:20.70\00:38:23.06
"Abundance, but from
him who does not have,"
00:38:23.09\00:38:25.93
that is who received the talent
and didn't do anything with it.
00:38:25.96\00:38:29.44
"Even what he
has will be," what?
00:38:29.47\00:38:32.06
"Will be taken away."
00:38:32.09\00:38:33.77
And now notice again verse 30,
00:38:33.80\00:38:36.37
"And cast the unprofitable
servant into the outer darkness.
00:38:36.40\00:38:43.68
There will be," what?
00:38:43.71\00:38:46.08
"There will be weeping
and gnashing of teeth."
00:38:46.11\00:38:52.45
How does the parable end again?
00:38:52.48\00:38:54.96
It ends by speaking
about this unprofitable servant
00:38:54.99\00:39:01.12
going to where there is
wailing and gnashing of teeth.
00:39:01.15\00:39:05.39
You know, some
people use it they say,
00:39:05.42\00:39:07.53
"Well, see that shows
that the wicked are gonna
00:39:07.56\00:39:10.41
suffer in hell
forever and they're gonna weep
00:39:10.44\00:39:14.21
and they're gonna
gnash their teeth."
00:39:14.24\00:39:15.75
You tell me where is
the word forever used there?
00:39:15.78\00:39:19.92
It simply says
that they're gonna weep
00:39:19.95\00:39:21.45
and gnash their teeth.
00:39:21.48\00:39:24.29
And it's not gonna be
primarily because of the pain.
00:39:24.32\00:39:28.05
It's gonna be primarily because
of the loss of the reward
00:39:28.08\00:39:33.11
that they could have received.
00:39:33.14\00:39:35.30
And by the way, I
underline once again
00:39:35.33\00:39:37.82
that this expression every time
that it's used in the gospels,
00:39:37.85\00:39:41.43
weeping and gnashing of
teeth is used in connection
00:39:41.46\00:39:46.47
with those who claim to
be servants of the true God.
00:39:46.50\00:39:50.37
It's used always of Jews,
00:39:50.40\00:39:52.19
it is not even once used
to speak of the Gentiles.
00:39:52.22\00:39:56.45
So once again, who is in danger
00:39:56.48\00:39:59.17
of being an
unprofitable servant?
00:39:59.20\00:40:02.57
Those who claim the
name of Jesus Christ.
00:40:02.60\00:40:06.85
These parables are
not targeted to the world.
00:40:06.88\00:40:09.17
In fact, the signs of Matthew 24
00:40:09.20\00:40:10.91
are not given
for the world either.
00:40:10.94\00:40:13.82
The purpose of the signs is for
God's people to see the signs.
00:40:13.85\00:40:16.76
Yeah, they can share
with the world and say,
00:40:16.79\00:40:18.55
"Look at all the signs."
00:40:18.58\00:40:20.06
There is
nothing wrong with that.
00:40:20.09\00:40:21.46
But the purpose of the
signs is for God's people
00:40:21.49\00:40:24.25
to be able to see
what's happening in the world
00:40:24.28\00:40:26.98
to know that Jesus
is even at the doors
00:40:27.01\00:40:29.14
by the three
analogies that are used,
00:40:29.17\00:40:31.47
so that they can then what?
00:40:31.50\00:40:33.47
They can be profitable servants.
00:40:33.50\00:40:35.43
They can prepare.
They can use their talents.
00:40:35.46\00:40:37.77
They can pray and invest
everything in the cause of God.
00:40:37.80\00:40:41.91
In other words, the parables
are continuation of Matthew 24.
00:40:41.94\00:40:45.99
Unless you study the
parables, you don't know
00:40:46.02\00:40:47.89
how to prepare for
what Matthew 24 describes.
00:40:47.92\00:40:54.06
Now let's go to a
very interesting story.
00:40:54.09\00:40:59.57
I'm not gonna
turn in my Bible to it,
00:40:59.60\00:41:01.59
but I'm gonna
give you the reference
00:41:01.62\00:41:02.99
Matthew Chapter 8,
where the expression
00:41:03.02\00:41:05.59
wailing and
gnashing of teeth is used.
00:41:05.62\00:41:08.29
Remember the
story of a centurion
00:41:08.32\00:41:09.86
who had a servant who was sick?
00:41:09.89\00:41:13.02
And he asked Jesus to
come and heal his servant.
00:41:13.05\00:41:18.74
And actually the centurion said,
00:41:18.77\00:41:21.05
"You know, you don't even
have to come under my roof.
00:41:21.08\00:41:23.56
All you have to
do is speak the word
00:41:23.59\00:41:25.35
and my servant will be healed."
00:41:25.38\00:41:29.19
Immediately after
Jesus pronounces the word
00:41:29.22\00:41:33.10
and his servant is
healed because He goes over
00:41:33.13\00:41:34.66
and discovers that a
servant has been healed.
00:41:34.69\00:41:37.55
Jesus then pronounces
some very interesting words.
00:41:37.58\00:41:39.88
He says in Matthew 8:11, 12,
00:41:39.91\00:41:43.07
"That many will come from
the east and from the west,
00:41:43.10\00:41:47.53
and they will sit with
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
00:41:47.56\00:41:51.20
at the table in the kingdom."
00:41:51.23\00:41:54.80
And then Jesus says
something very sobering.
00:41:54.83\00:41:57.87
He says, "But the sons of
the kingdom," who are those?
00:41:57.90\00:42:05.06
This guy was a Gentile.
00:42:05.09\00:42:07.24
The centurion
was a Roman soldier.
00:42:07.27\00:42:11.96
He didn't claim to
serve the true God.
00:42:11.99\00:42:14.11
He wasn't part of
the communion community.
00:42:14.14\00:42:16.06
And yet Jesus is
saying this guy is a real Jew
00:42:16.09\00:42:18.53
because He is gonna
sit there at the table
00:42:18.56\00:42:20.80
with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
00:42:20.83\00:42:22.58
So a Gentile can be a Jew,
we've already studied this.
00:42:22.61\00:42:26.44
But on the other hand, the Jews
00:42:26.47\00:42:29.76
who did not have
this kind of faith,
00:42:29.79\00:42:33.73
Jesus says that
the sons of the kingdom
00:42:33.76\00:42:37.43
will be caste out
into the outer darkness
00:42:37.46\00:42:40.15
where there is
wailing and gnashing of teeth.
00:42:40.18\00:42:44.51
Interesting once again the idea
00:42:44.54\00:42:46.85
that there's gonna
be a reversal of roles.
00:42:46.88\00:42:49.41
By the way, in the story
of the rich man and Lazarus,
00:42:49.44\00:42:51.54
we find the same thing.
00:42:51.57\00:42:53.37
You know, some people
try to use that story to say,
00:42:53.40\00:42:55.62
"How hot hell was gonna be?
00:42:55.65\00:42:57.72
And when people
go to hell to burn,
00:42:57.75\00:42:59.44
that parable has
nothing to do with that.
00:42:59.47\00:43:01.87
In the parable of
the rich man and Lazarus,
00:43:01.90\00:43:03.53
the rich man
represents the Pharisees
00:43:03.56\00:43:07.45
and Lazarus
represents the Gentiles.
00:43:07.48\00:43:12.89
And the Jews knew for sure
that what was gonna happen,
00:43:12.92\00:43:16.41
was that, you know, when
everything was set and done,
00:43:16.44\00:43:19.18
all of the Jews were gonna
go to the bosom of Abraham.
00:43:19.21\00:43:21.73
And the Gentiles were
gonna end up down there
00:43:21.76\00:43:24.06
where is the wailing
and gnashing of teeth.
00:43:24.09\00:43:25.80
They're gonna be
burning in the fires of hell.
00:43:25.83\00:43:29.28
Jesus reversed the story.
00:43:29.31\00:43:31.93
Jesus said, "Hey folks,
it was the Gentile Lazarus
00:43:31.96\00:43:36.31
who ended up in
the bosom of Abraham,
00:43:36.34\00:43:38.42
because he was
Abraham's true child,
00:43:38.45\00:43:41.05
because he had
the faith of Abraham.
00:43:41.08\00:43:43.48
But you the sons of
the kingdom will end up
00:43:43.51\00:43:48.01
where there is
wailing and gnashing of teeth,
00:43:48.04\00:43:50.07
because you
professed to be My followers,
00:43:50.10\00:43:53.30
but you were
really not My followers.
00:43:53.33\00:43:56.55
Now we need to go
quickly to the last parable,
00:43:56.58\00:44:00.96
"The Parable of the
Sheep and the Goats."
00:44:00.99\00:44:04.98
And this is speaking
about practical religion.
00:44:05.01\00:44:11.32
And this parable deals
with the sin of neglect.
00:44:11.35\00:44:15.89
In almost what we
studied so far is,
00:44:15.92\00:44:17.75
the unfaithful servant
didn't use his talents, right?
00:44:17.78\00:44:22.66
The unfaithful virgins,
00:44:22.69\00:44:25.50
they did not have an
extra provision of oil.
00:44:25.53\00:44:29.74
The unprofitable servant,
you know, he didn't feed
00:44:29.77\00:44:33.83
God's people in due season.
00:44:33.86\00:44:35.95
They didn't do certain things.
00:44:35.98\00:44:38.62
Now we're gonna talk
about the sin of neglect.
00:44:38.65\00:44:42.07
Notice Matthew Chapter 25
and beginning with verse 31,
00:44:42.10\00:44:45.97
"When the Son of
Man comes in his glory,
00:44:46.00\00:44:48.51
and all the
holy angels with him,
00:44:48.54\00:44:51.11
then he will sit on
the throne of his glory."
00:44:51.14\00:44:55.20
By the way this--I don't
have time to get into it,
00:44:55.23\00:44:57.06
but this is
talking about something
00:44:57.09\00:44:58.46
that's going to
happen after the millennium
00:44:58.49\00:45:00.53
Read Revelation 20:11-15,
you will see the same scene.
00:45:00.56\00:45:06.17
"All the nations will
be gathered before him."
00:45:06.20\00:45:08.29
When is that
that Revelation says
00:45:08.32\00:45:09.69
that all the nations will
be gathered before the Lord.
00:45:09.72\00:45:12.52
It's outside the
holy city, right?
00:45:12.55\00:45:15.57
"And he will
separate them one from another
00:45:15.60\00:45:17.93
as a shepherd divides
his sheep from the goats."
00:45:17.96\00:45:20.48
How many groups again? Two.
00:45:20.51\00:45:23.16
Are these two groups
where the goats are the atheists
00:45:27.09\00:45:31.56
and the sheep are
the Christians? No.
00:45:31.59\00:45:35.38
Verse 33, "And he
will set the sheep
00:45:35.41\00:45:38.07
on his right hand, but
the goats on the left."
00:45:38.10\00:45:40.11
By the way, in the Bible,
00:45:40.14\00:45:41.51
the left side is
the sinister side.
00:45:41.54\00:45:45.04
In Spanish it's
the word "siniestra"
00:45:45.07\00:45:47.57
where we get the
word sinister from.
00:45:47.60\00:45:49.69
It's the negative
side, the left side.
00:45:49.72\00:45:52.33
Judas was sitting at
the left side of Jesus
00:45:52.36\00:45:55.59
at the communion
table at the last supper.
00:45:55.62\00:45:58.01
"And he will set the
sheep on his right hand,
00:45:58.04\00:46:00.13
but the goats on his left.
00:46:00.16\00:46:02.59
Then the king will say
to those on his right hand,
00:46:02.62\00:46:06.23
"Come, you blessed of my Father,
00:46:06.26\00:46:08.96
inherit the
kingdom prepared for you
00:46:08.99\00:46:10.92
from the
foundation of the world.'"
00:46:10.95\00:46:12.42
Because you kept the
Sabbath and you didn't eat pork
00:46:16.14\00:46:22.49
and you became a vegan.
00:46:22.52\00:46:26.18
You tithed, is
that what he says.
00:46:26.21\00:46:29.35
Now, not that those
things aren't important.
00:46:29.38\00:46:31.03
In other places in the Bible,
those things are discussed.
00:46:31.06\00:46:34.50
But here we
have a particular sin
00:46:34.53\00:46:37.79
which God's people are guilty.
00:46:37.82\00:46:39.19
It's not the sin of commission,
it's the sin of omission.
00:46:39.22\00:46:43.84
We'll see that in a few moments.
00:46:43.87\00:46:45.89
So he says, "Come,
blessed of my Father,
00:46:45.92\00:46:47.30
inherit the
kingdom prepared for you
00:46:47.33\00:46:48.74
from the
foundation of the world."
00:46:48.77\00:46:50.14
He says, "For I was
hungry, and you gave me food.
00:46:50.17\00:46:53.94
I was thirsty,
and you gave me drink.
00:46:53.97\00:46:56.57
I was a stranger,
and you took me in.
00:46:56.60\00:46:58.58
I was naked, and you clothed me.
00:46:58.61\00:47:00.17
I was sick, and you visited me.
00:47:00.20\00:47:01.81
I was in prison,
and you came to me."
00:47:01.84\00:47:05.30
In other words, you
practice practical religion
00:47:05.33\00:47:09.12
where the rubber meets the road.
00:47:09.15\00:47:12.02
"Then the righteous
will answer him, saying,
00:47:12.05\00:47:14.24
'Lord, when did we see
you hungry and feed you,
00:47:14.27\00:47:16.78
or thirsty and give you drink?
00:47:16.81\00:47:18.78
When did we see you a stranger
00:47:18.81\00:47:20.18
and take you in or
naked and clothe you?
00:47:20.21\00:47:22.90
Or when did we see you sick
or in prison and come to you?'"
00:47:22.93\00:47:28.06
Lord, we lived in Clovis
or in Fresno in the year 2007.
00:47:28.09\00:47:35.69
You went to
heaven in the year '31
00:47:35.72\00:47:38.05
So how is that
that we did this to you?
00:47:38.08\00:47:40.48
Verse 40, "And the King
will answer and say to them,
00:47:40.51\00:47:43.64
'Assuredly, I say to
you, in as much as you did it
00:47:43.67\00:47:47.34
to one of the least of these
my brethren, you did it to me."'
00:47:47.37\00:47:51.94
Wow, now He turns
to the other group.
00:47:51.97\00:47:57.13
Also Christians, but
counterfeit Christians.
00:47:57.16\00:48:00.68
See the emphasis here is
not that they mistreated people
00:48:00.71\00:48:03.85
and kicked people around,
but they neglected to help them.
00:48:03.88\00:48:10.53
Verse 41, "Then he will also
say to those on the left hand,
00:48:10.56\00:48:13.76
'Depart from me, you cursed,
into the everlasting fire
00:48:13.79\00:48:17.02
prepared for the
devil and his angels.'"
00:48:17.05\00:48:19.47
By the way, it says
that the fire is everlasting
00:48:19.50\00:48:22.71
but it doesn't say that that
the fire burns is everlasting.
00:48:22.74\00:48:27.44
You know why the
fire is everlasting?
00:48:27.47\00:48:28.84
Because God is
the consuming fire.
00:48:28.87\00:48:31.26
The glory of God
is the consuming fire
00:48:31.29\00:48:33.37
according to the Bible.
00:48:33.40\00:48:34.91
And the glory of
God is everlasting.
00:48:34.94\00:48:37.07
That's why the
fire is everlasting.
00:48:37.10\00:48:39.65
But not what that
fire burns is everlasting.
00:48:39.68\00:48:43.22
It doesn't say that
they're gonna suffer forever.
00:48:43.25\00:48:45.34
It says that the
fire is eternal, not them.
00:48:45.37\00:48:48.87
Are you with me or not?
00:48:48.90\00:48:51.38
And so it says, verse 41,
00:48:51.41\00:48:53.50
"Then he will also say
to those on the left hand,
00:48:53.53\00:48:55.26
'Depart from me, you cursed,
into the everlasting fire
00:48:55.29\00:48:57.90
prepared for the
devil and his angels.
00:48:57.93\00:48:59.49
For I was hungry
and you gave me no food,
00:48:59.52\00:49:03.43
I was thirsty and
you gave me no drink,
00:49:03.46\00:49:07.43
I was a stranger and
you did not take me in,
00:49:07.46\00:49:10.35
naked and you did not clothe me,
00:49:10.38\00:49:12.92
sick and in prison
and you did not visit me.'
00:49:12.95\00:49:16.87
Then they also
will answer Him saying,
00:49:16.90\00:49:18.90
'Lord, when did we
see you hungry or thirsty
00:49:18.93\00:49:22.66
or a stranger or
naked or sick or in prison,
00:49:22.69\00:49:28.37
and did not minister to you?'
00:49:28.40\00:49:31.00
Then he will
answer them, saying,
00:49:31.03\00:49:32.78
'Assuredly, I say to you,
00:49:32.81\00:49:35.07
and as much as you did not do it
00:49:35.10\00:49:38.91
to one of the least of
these, you did not do it to me.'
00:49:38.94\00:49:44.75
And these will go into
everlasting punishment,"
00:49:44.78\00:49:47.49
it doesn't say
everlasting punishing.
00:49:47.52\00:49:50.68
The everlasting punishment
00:49:50.71\00:49:52.08
is that they
seized to exist forever.
00:49:52.11\00:49:54.87
Not that they're going to
be punished, and punished,
00:49:54.90\00:49:56.93
and punished and suffer forever.
00:49:56.96\00:49:59.55
The word is
punishment, not punishing.
00:49:59.58\00:50:03.58
And so it says,
"And these will go away
00:50:03.61\00:50:05.23
into everlasting punishment
but the righteous into," what?
00:50:05.26\00:50:09.22
"Into everlasting life."
00:50:09.25\00:50:12.83
What is the contrast here?
00:50:12.86\00:50:15.70
The great sin of the
goats is the sin of neglect.
00:50:15.73\00:50:20.93
Do you know that God is
gonna hold us accountable
00:50:20.96\00:50:22.48
not only for the
wrong things we did,
00:50:22.51\00:50:24.79
but for the right
things we didn't do?
00:50:24.82\00:50:28.97
Practical
religion, practical godliness
00:50:29.00\00:50:32.63
is what needs to take place
00:50:32.66\00:50:34.19
as we're waiting
for the coming of Jesus.
00:50:34.22\00:50:36.83
So let's summarize
what we should be doing
00:50:36.86\00:50:39.42
in preparation for
the coming of Jesus.
00:50:39.45\00:50:41.89
The signs say
that He's coming soon.
00:50:41.92\00:50:44.54
The analogy show that
He's even at the door.
00:50:44.57\00:50:49.19
The parables tell us
this is what you need
00:50:49.22\00:50:51.36
to be doing in the
interim while you wait.
00:50:51.39\00:50:55.81
We need to be doing
what the parables say.
00:50:55.84\00:50:57.50
Now let me synthesize.
00:50:57.53\00:50:59.77
First of all, we
need to be investing
00:50:59.80\00:51:03.51
everything in God's kingdom.
00:51:03.54\00:51:05.63
There he has the
parable that helps.
00:51:05.66\00:51:08.54
Notice what Ellen
White says about Noah,
00:51:08.57\00:51:11.71
"All that he possessed,
he invested in the ark.
00:51:11.74\00:51:14.76
Every blow struck upon the ark
was a witness to the people."
00:51:14.79\00:51:20.94
So the first thing is
to invest our resources
00:51:20.97\00:51:23.95
in the cause of God,
00:51:23.98\00:51:25.65
because only that
which we invest will survive,
00:51:25.68\00:51:28.73
the destruction that is coming.
00:51:28.76\00:51:30.19
Everything else
is gonna be burnt up.
00:51:30.22\00:51:31.85
Houses, cars, money, toys,
00:51:31.88\00:51:34.25
you name it, it's
all gonna be gone.
00:51:34.28\00:51:36.64
But what we invested
in the kingdom of Jesus
00:51:36.67\00:51:38.86
in the salvation of souls
will shine through all eternity.
00:51:38.89\00:51:42.87
Second thing that Jesus
said we're supposed to do,
00:51:42.90\00:51:44.80
time and again in
Matthew 24 and 25 is watch.
00:51:44.83\00:51:50.07
That means to be
alert, to be wakeful,
00:51:50.10\00:51:53.49
to pay attention,
don't be indifferent,
00:51:53.52\00:51:55.84
don't be
careless, don't go to sleep.
00:51:55.87\00:51:59.25
Because the thief might come
when you're not expecting him.
00:51:59.28\00:52:03.13
So if you've locked
your house a thousand nights,
00:52:03.16\00:52:07.04
lock it on night 1001,
00:52:07.07\00:52:10.20
don't become careless
and indifferent and say,
00:52:10.23\00:52:11.88
"Oh, I don't
need to watch tonight.
00:52:11.91\00:52:13.62
He hasn't come
for a thousand days.
00:52:13.65\00:52:15.53
So I don't have to worry."
00:52:15.56\00:52:18.06
He comes at the moment
00:52:18.09\00:52:19.61
to close the door
when we least what?
00:52:19.64\00:52:22.44
When we least expect it.
00:52:22.47\00:52:25.71
So we need to
be always prepared.
00:52:25.74\00:52:28.38
Jesus also said that we ought
to praise such as never before.
00:52:28.41\00:52:34.68
He says that in Mark 13:33
00:52:34.71\00:52:37.13
which is the parallel
passage to Matthew 24.
00:52:37.16\00:52:40.22
So we're supposed
to invest in the gods.
00:52:40.25\00:52:42.72
We're supposed to
watch. We're supposed to pray.
00:52:42.75\00:52:46.11
Time and again in these
chapters Jesus says, be ready.
00:52:46.14\00:52:52.91
Have your lamps trimmed.
00:52:52.94\00:52:55.64
Be awake. Be ready.
00:52:55.67\00:53:00.88
Because the Lord is
gonna close the door
00:53:00.91\00:53:03.72
at a time when
we least expect it.
00:53:03.75\00:53:08.41
Let me give you
an illustration now--
00:53:08.44\00:53:10.85
when my sister got old enough,
00:53:10.88\00:53:13.18
my mother took her
to Wisconsin Academy.
00:53:13.21\00:53:15.59
We were living in
Venezuela at that time.
00:53:15.62\00:53:18.74
And my mom said,
"I'm coming back,"
00:53:18.77\00:53:22.03
I don't remember of
such and such a day,
00:53:22.06\00:53:24.57
"and so make sure you come
and pick me up at the airport."
00:53:24.60\00:53:28.52
Okay, so, you know, we
kind of let the house go.
00:53:28.55\00:53:35.57
They didn't worry about
cleaning the house that much.
00:53:35.60\00:53:38.14
We know when she was coming.
00:53:38.17\00:53:40.65
Well, long
behold, my mom surprised
00:53:40.68\00:53:44.27
that she came
home two days early.
00:53:44.30\00:53:47.36
And when she got home,
00:53:47.39\00:53:49.55
she found the
biggest pile of dishes
00:53:49.58\00:53:51.33
I think that she has
seen in all of her life,
00:53:51.36\00:53:53.92
rivaling Mount Everest.
00:53:53.95\00:53:56.83
And house, a mess.
00:53:56.86\00:53:59.30
The carpet is not vacuumed.
00:53:59.33\00:54:00.70
She said, "This
place is a disaster."
00:54:00.73\00:54:02.35
See we said, "We
know when she's coming
00:54:02.38\00:54:05.74
and so we'll clean the
house right before she comes."
00:54:05.77\00:54:09.91
But the fact is God
wants us to be prepared now.
00:54:09.94\00:54:13.35
He wants us to be
ready all the time.
00:54:13.38\00:54:15.72
Because He can close
the door when we least what?
00:54:15.75\00:54:20.23
When we least expect it.
00:54:20.26\00:54:23.44
So we need to be ready
00:54:23.47\00:54:24.84
whether He comes
this year or next year
00:54:24.87\00:54:27.10
or in five years or in ten years
00:54:27.13\00:54:28.98
or twenty years
or hundred years.
00:54:29.01\00:54:31.43
We need to be ready
at every moment praying,
00:54:31.46\00:54:35.45
working for Jesus,
investing, helping other people,
00:54:35.48\00:54:39.09
practicing acts of practical
godliness while we wait.
00:54:39.12\00:54:43.91
Jesus said,
"Occupy until I come."
00:54:43.94\00:54:48.65
He said in the
Gospel of Luke 19:13.
00:54:48.68\00:54:53.41
You know, I've traveled
00:54:53.44\00:54:55.75
extensively in the
last several years.
00:54:55.78\00:54:59.03
In fact, since I started
flying with American Airlines,
00:54:59.06\00:55:03.04
I've flown 1.8 million
miles just in American Airlines.
00:55:03.07\00:55:09.17
I fly usually with
them, but not exclusively,
00:55:09.20\00:55:11.21
sometimes the schedule
and the price isn't right.
00:55:11.24\00:55:14.34
And so I traveled
on other airlines.
00:55:14.37\00:55:16.94
But I remember one of the
first times that I traveled,
00:55:16.97\00:55:20.77
I was going to Chile.
00:55:20.80\00:55:23.72
And I was going through Dallas.
00:55:23.75\00:55:25.12
I was gonna
have two hour layover
00:55:25.15\00:55:26.52
and then I was gonna take--
catch the connection to Chile.
00:55:26.55\00:55:30.09
Oh, it just so happens
00:55:30.12\00:55:31.49
that they postpone
the flight for ten hours.
00:55:31.52\00:55:35.36
And here I was in
the airport at Dallas.
00:55:35.39\00:55:38.38
And what was I gonna do?
00:55:38.41\00:55:40.55
I didn't have any books to read.
00:55:40.58\00:55:43.14
At that time I was totally--
a total computer illiterate.
00:55:43.17\00:55:47.05
I didn't even have a computer.
00:55:47.08\00:55:49.39
I didn't take any of
my materials to work on.
00:55:49.42\00:55:53.06
I had absolutely
nothing to do at the airport.
00:55:53.09\00:55:57.79
And some of you probably
have been at the Dallas Airport.
00:55:57.82\00:56:00.07
You know, there's
four terminals there.
00:56:00.10\00:56:03.04
And you can walk--
00:56:03.07\00:56:04.58
actually at that time
there were only three,
00:56:04.61\00:56:06.24
you know, they
just opened the fourth.
00:56:06.27\00:56:08.25
But, you know,
there's just so many shops
00:56:08.28\00:56:10.28
that you can see in ten hours.
00:56:10.31\00:56:13.26
And so I remember
twiddling my thumbs
00:56:13.29\00:56:15.38
and just walking, you
know, looking in the windows
00:56:15.41\00:56:19.32
and then I would
buy the newspaper
00:56:19.35\00:56:20.72
and I would read the
newspaper and, you know,
00:56:20.75\00:56:22.30
from cover to cover and
still time went by so slow.
00:56:22.33\00:56:28.61
Ever since that time I
decided that whenever I travel,
00:56:28.64\00:56:31.63
I'm gonna take plenty of work.
00:56:31.66\00:56:33.68
And I take my computer
and I take books to read
00:56:33.71\00:56:37.60
and I take plenty
of paper to write on.
00:56:37.63\00:56:41.22
And now if I have a layover,
00:56:41.25\00:56:44.23
I'm able to plug in my computer
and recharge it and work.
00:56:44.26\00:56:47.80
And you know what?
00:56:47.83\00:56:49.33
Time flies when I'm
busy doing something.
00:56:49.36\00:56:55.55
That's what Jesus
meant when He said,
00:56:55.58\00:56:57.86
"Occupy until I come."
00:56:57.89\00:57:01.30
The reason why His
coming appears to be so far away
00:57:01.33\00:57:04.07
is because we're sitting
down twiddling our thumbs
00:57:04.10\00:57:07.72
and we're not
doing anything for Him.
00:57:07.75\00:57:09.27
We're not active,
we're not occupied.
00:57:09.30\00:57:12.02
But if we're busy in
the business of the Lord,
00:57:12.05\00:57:15.58
time would fly by a lot faster
00:57:15.61\00:57:19.44
and we would be
bit closer to Him
00:57:19.47\00:57:21.59
and we would have a
stronger relationship with Him.
00:57:21.62\00:57:24.54
And I pray to God that,
that will be our experience.
00:57:24.57\00:57:29.21