Message 13: The Three Stages of Salvation & Reward and Discipline
VI. How to prepare for the Lord’s second coming
B. Preparation in service—by faithfully using our spiritual talents (gifts)—Matt 25:14–30;
Luke 19:12–26
Read Matthew 25:14–30, then pray over the following verses.
Matthew 25:14 For the kingdom of the heavens is just like a man about to go abroad, who called his own slaves and delivered to them his possessions. 15 To one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability. And he went abroad. 16 Immediately he who had received the five talents went and traded with them and gained another five….20 And he who had received the five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, Master, you delivered to me five talents; behold, I have gained another five talents. 21 His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful over a few things; I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your master.
1. According to the two parables in Matthew 25 and Luke 19, the Lord will judge us according to how faithful we are in using our spiritual talents
2. The Lord will judge us if we “bury” our God-given spiritual talents in the world (the earth)
3. We should invest our talents in the church (the bank) by coordinating with the saints for fruit-bearing and by ministering the riches given to us by God to others (the money changers)—Luke 19:23; Matt. 25:27
C. Our preparation in life and in service are not two separate things but one thing with two aspects: enjoying Christ as life while giving food to God’s household at the appointed time; this is the practice of shepherding—Matt. 24:45
Read over the outline points and verses above and use these for your prayer to spend time with the Lord in the Word in the morning. After your prayer time, jot down in your notebook one or two things that the Lord touched you with.
Later, watch the following short video podcast sometime during the day.