7-12-09
Some pa
rables deal with the time of Christ's stay upon the earth. However, the parables speak in greater volume when it comes to Christ's ABSENCE and RETURN.The Parables I will be dealing with today will concern the things that are taking place during His absence and the events that will happen just before His coming to set up His Kingdom upon this earth.
Some parables take in the whole event of His ABSENCE. They will mention Him as going away, while grasping the event of His return as well in the same parable.
For example...
Mark 13:34-37 Speaks of the HOUSE OWNER who went away on a journey. Collectively He put His servants in charge of carrying on the household tasks and commanded the doorkeeper to stay on the alert. Jesus was applying this parable to all His disciples,not making any distinction between the servants and the doorkeeper. They were all responsible to KEEP WATCH while He was gone (V 37). He described Himself as the Owner of the house, who was going to leave for a time (ie. His ascension). They were told to watch through the night. The night was a representation of Christ's ABSENCE. (ie the owner who went on a journey). The book of Romans also describes the night as the Lord's absence a time when we are to be ever watchful.
"And this do, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed. The NIGHT is almost gone, and the day is at hand. Let us therefore lay aside the deeds of DARKNESS and put on the armor of light. Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealously. BUT put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regards to its lusts". Romans 13:11-14
Jesus told them and every generation after them to watch. The watches He mentions are to prevent spiritual drowsiness and negligence. They were to watch for His return. The Roman watches were as follows:
The 1st watch was "the evening watch". This was from 6 to 9 p.m.
The 2nd watch was "the midnight watch" which was from 9 p.m. to midnight;
The 3rd watch was "the rooster crow" midnight to 3 a.m.
The 4th and final watch was "dawn" and was from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m.
Mark, in his gospel used this Roman watch system and rightfully so, because his gospel addresses a Roman audience. So, in this parable we have both the ABSENCE of Christ, mentioned by the fact that "The Owner went on a journey". And also His RETURN mentioned by the fact that they were to "keep watching", because they didn't know what time "The Owner of the house was going to RETURN".
WHAT'S YOUR TALENT
In this next parable- the Parable of "THE TALENT"... Christ, is seen as going on a long journey, indicated by the fact that the slaves had sufficient time to trade what had been entrusted to them by the Slave-Owner.
All of God's servants will be rewarded according to the opportunities or talents the Lord has given them. God has given each of us according to our own abilities and we are responsible to make interest -if you will - on them. This opportunity begins from the moment we confess Jesus as Lord, up until the time we are called home or Raptured. We are responsible for making interest on the Lords TALENTS, in order to receive rewards at the Bema seat of Christ (Rapture). 1 Cor. 3; 2 Cor. 5:5
Matthew 13, in the parable of the sower, states that some bring forth 30, some 60, or a 100 fold. Each believer is responsible for the amount of talents the Lord entrusted him with. In other words, if God gave you 30 talents or (abilities) then He sees in you the ability to make 30 more. This is no different then the person with the ability to make 100 in the eyes of God.
There is no difference in the approach with our gifts! It is the Holy Spirit who decides what GIFTS you receive when you become a believer. The Lord Jesus Christ, is the one who decides what ministry you will have and God the Father, decides the degree or effect of that ministry...
The God-head is completely involved with our mission. So what I mean by this is - Let's say two believers have the same gift(s). Both have been given the same ministry, but God had given them differing effects.
The effects cause each of these believers to utilize their ministries in such a way as to produce either 30, 60 ,or 100 fold. If the ministry was a pastors position, then possibly one might have been given the ability to reach a multitude of people, while the other, (with the same gift(s) and effects) has only a small local church that he/she pastors.
Each one gives a 100% into their calling! The question is - Does the one reaching a multitude look better in the Lord's eyes? Or does he/she receive more rewards? the answer is an unequivocal NO!!! Why? Because the one who was given the 30 or 60 fold ministry gave a 100% of his ability-
God rewards us according to what we are able to do, not punishing us for something that is not within our makeup...
So whatever your/our gift(s) are, we need to utilize them a 100%. If it is teaching, then teach with all your heart... If it is exhortation, then exhort and encourage the way you would want someone to do to you, when the chips are down... If it is the gift of giving, then give till it hurts, because the gifted giver will constantly and consistently be given back more from the Lord in order to keep giving still more.
The giver, has been given a very important task, because they are those that help ministries to stay alive, so that they may continue the work that God has called them to do- such as teaching- the gift of teaching is invaluable- what most do not realize is the amount of time that goes into study in order to edify the body of Christ..
So whatever your gift and or talents- Do it HARDILY as unto the Lord!!!!
Since the time of His absence, while He is away on His journey, He has given us talents in order to go and make interest on them until He comes back and then He will reward us for the efforts we put into His work. This refers to all believers from the time of His absence when He ascended into heaven.
A BIG key, is that what ever we do, we must do it in faith and with a pure motive...
NO COUCH POTATO'S NEED APPLY
Next, we come to "The parable of the Minas". This parable explains the PURPOSE of His ABSENCE, and at the same time gives us an assurance of His coming back again.
"A certain nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself and then return" (Lk.19:13).
Here the certain nobleman was Jesus, himself. His followers thought that the kingdom was going to be set up immediately, So Jesus said, "the certain nobleman had to go to a distant country and be appointed King and then He would return".
Before He left He called 10 of His servants and gave them ten minas each, which was equivalent to three months wage. They were told to invest the money while he was gone, in order to receive reward when He returned.
The other group that didn't want Him to reign over them were the religious leaders who constituted the Nation of Israel.
One of the so-called servants did nothing with the minas that was entrusted to him. This was to reveal that he actually belonged to the group that didn't want the king to reign over them. He really didn't believe He was going to return.
The parable points out that Christ had to go away for a time to become King. He had to die for mankind's sin.. This was accomplished by His death, resurrection and ascension into heaven.
Once this was accomplished He would come back and set up His Kingdom, but until then His followers are to keep themselves occupied with carrying on His business and at His return he would reward all who have FAITHFULLY served Him. He will reward them according to what they have been entrusted with. His purpose was to be appointed king, to receive His Kingdom and to reveal all those who are His at His coming.
Once again,this message exhorts the believer to put their gifts and talents to good use... Don't be a spiritual slacker!!!
GATHERING IN THE HARVEST
Now in the parable of "the seed that was cast into the ground". The most prominent lesson in here is the absence of the Owner from His field until the time of the harvest. When He returns he finds that the fruit of His sowing had penetrated into the ground and brought forth THE BLADE, THE EA
R, and then THE FULL CORN which is now ready to be sickled and brought into the barn.
The Bible says, " that He waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and longs patiently for it."
WHOSE INVITED
In the parable of "the marriage supper" the king and his son do not see the guests until the invitation has been accepted and they are all seated at the feast (Matt. 22:2).
And in Luke 14, The guests take their seats, choosing their own places before the host came in.
In both of these parables it seems to suggest that the present time is the time for giving and accepting the invitation, (the Gospel) and for the seating arrangement for the guests (ie according to their works done in faith).
In the parable of the "GOOD SAMARITAN" we can also see Christ's absence and return being suggested. We see Him taking a journey (albeit through his death) and then the mention of his return in verse 35 "And on the next day he took out two Denali and gave it to the innkeeper and said, "Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, "WHEN I RETURN" I will repay you.'
During the time of the Lord's absence those whom the Lord has saved are to be cared for by His servants. Christ gives us the means to supply their needs.
We are to seek out the lost and restore the fallen brother. We are to do this not at our own expense but His, verse 35 says, "When I return I WILL REPAY YOU." No care that is shown to wounded travelers will go unrewarded. Christ will repay every deed that has been done in His name through faith.
WERE YOU SLEEPING
Several other parables speak of Christ's as the ABSENT MASTER (Mrk.13:34-37,Lk.12:35-48,and Matt.24:42-51).
In these particular parables, Christ suddenly returns to His household, but only to find that He has not been expected. In Mark 13:36 for instance some are found sleeping during His absence.
In Luke 12 and Matthew 24 the wicked slave who says in his heart "My master will be a long time in His coming' and began to beat the slaves, both men and women,and to eat and drink and get drunk" Instead of doing the Lords will. These are not truly His servants as Jesus explains "the Master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect, and at a hour he does not know, and will CUT HIM IN PIECES, AND ASSIGN HIM A PLACE WITH THE UNBELIEVERS."
As someone has once said "unkindness to the Lord's people and fellowship with the ungodly are two marks of HYPOCRITES"
But there is a bright side to these two parables, there are some slaves that are found to be faithful and wise. They having been left in charge of their master's household and were found giving their "fellow-servants their rations at the proper time", so that when He returns "they immediately opened the door to Him when he comes and knocks."
Jesus said "Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks". Luke 12:36
It is very important to notice the word "LIKE" in Luke 12:36, because everyone in His household PROFESSED to expect the masters return, but only the FAITHFUL lived like it.
In Mark 13 Christ's absence is in the night and also in the parable of the ten virgins. Christ's absence is referred to as being in the night. When the disciples were out on the water rowing it began to storm and they were having a hard time, the Scriptures says, "It was now DARK, and Jesus had not yet come to them".
CALLING ALL VIRGINS
In the parable of the "Ten Virgins" they were all sleeping, but when they were woken up by the MIDNIGHT cry, there was a separation that took place".
The wise and the foolish, the wise virgins prepared for a night season, they counted on a dark time before Christ would return. The foolish however were not prepared they only professed to be part of the Lords people, but time proved different.
John's disciples in Matthew 9:15 were told by the Lord, " That there would come a time when the children of the bridegroom would mourn because the bridegroom would be taken from them". So this speaks of Christ's absence.
Luke 12 and Matt. 25 speak of the return of the bridegroom.
These parables clearly depict Christ's absence:
1. The seed cast into the ground, the sower is absent until the Harvest.
2. The wedding feast and the great supper. The King's Son or host not
being present till the guests are assembled.
3. The good Samaritan leaving the wounded man at the inn.
4. The man absent in a far country taking a journey.
5. The household. The Lord or bridegroom is absent.
6. The ten virgins. The bridegroom is seen on his way.
7. The talents and the pounds. The master is absent for a long time.
These parables show the attitude and duties of the believers during the time of Christ's absence.
During this time we are to :
1. Bear fruit.
2. invite people to the feast (preach the gospel).
3. Tend to the wounded that Christ brings to us.
4. Keep watching for His return.
5. Care for our fellow servants (ie. using your gift's and talents)
6. Have our lamps trimmed in preparation for His return (allow the Holy Spirit to guide you).
7. Investing our talents.
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