- Parable of the Pennies
28 days ago, I put 28,900 pennies on a board to represent 80 years of life.
- How we spend them determines our reward.
- We have spent 28 pennies since that day.
- Matthew 25 God will supply us a weight on our shoulders (talent) according to our abilities.
- Some 5 some three some one
- What we do with that Talent will determine our reward for the pennies we spend.
- Not doing anything with those pennies will have great consequences where the Bible states even what we have will be taken away from us and we will be tossed out into utter darkness.
this week, how do you make your talents grow?
2. Zachaeus
Luke 19: 1 Jesus is in Jericho
A man named Zachaeus, who is the tax collector for Jericho, wants to see Jesus and climbs a tree. Jesus goes to his house and a change happens in Zachaeus life.
Historical background for the story to make sense.
Herod the Great was not yet king when Antigonus the last king of the Hasmonean dynasty hired the Parthian army to dislodge Herod. Herod fled to Rome where the senate granted him the title king over Judea He returned with a mercenary army to avenge himself against his enemies including Antigonus the last Hasmonean king.
Hew died and his son Archellaus became king so he went to rome to be appointed Judea’s followed to protest his savagery. He took control and abused the Jews and Samaritans. These two stories are the underlying story behind this parable.
Zachaeus is the power over Jericho because he supported the winning side in these struggles.
3. The Ten Minas
Luke 19: 1 – 22 Seems like the same story as last week, but with a couple of changes.
Each servant is given the same amount and it is less than last week. Last week up to 100 years salary, this week, a few months salary. Last week each one according to their own ability, this week each one is given the same amount. Man buried the mina and faced the judge according to their own words.
How do you grow?
Last week, it is God who grows and we really cannot do anything in this area, but we can plant what we have.
4. Sowing and Reaping
Galatians 6: 7 Do not be deceived. God is not mocked for whatever one sows, that he will also reap. Sow to the flesh you will reap destruction, sow to spirit will reap eternal life. Do not grow weary of doing food for in due season we will reap if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity let us do good to everyone and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Colossians 3: 23, 24 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
Romans 6: 20 – 22 For while you were slaves to sin…what fruit were you then bearing? Over which you are now ashamed for the end of those is death…Now set free from sin because you re servants of God and fruit…whose end is eternal life.
Zachaeus you used to sow for these things here, but now you are to sow for the kingdom of God.
Reward of eternal life or rulership over cities in the next life
Sow to this life, you can gain the whole world and still lose your soul. Matthew 16: 26
Still didn’t tell us how to make it grow in our lives?
don’t have time to totally do that this morning and will cover that next time, but will give you a clue to what kind of ground we need to sow into to reap an eternal harvest.
5. Abiding = eternal fruit..
John 15: 16 I have chosen you and I placed you so that you would go and you would bear fruit and your fruit would remain so that whatever you would ask the Father in My Name He would do for you.
bible is very clear that only three things remain.
1 Corinthians 13: 13 these things remain. Faith, hope and love.
1 Thessalonians 1: 3 Remembering your work of faith and the labor of love and by patient hope of our Lord Jesus Messiah.
Break those down next time we meet.
6. Sum of Judgement day.
King will return and settle accounts. Luke 19: 27 destroy my enemies in from of me.
once serving Herod brought reward and success but now the king is going to return with real reward for his friends and punish his enemies. Don’t be on the wrong side of the fence