Be Busy & Occupied NOT Lazy & Preoccupied

Busy - Occupied

Sunday 01/20/19

Series: Walking the Talk

Message – Be Busy & Occupied NOT Lazy & Preoccupied

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Be Busy & Occupied NOT Lazy & Preoccupied

What manner of persons should we be?

In keeping with our beginning focus of the year, I’m thing to teach on a parable Jesus taught about the kingdom.

Again, the take aways are the same as last week…

  1. So the first takeaway is examine yourself
  2. Second is to be prepared for His return. Too little is said about that – even by me in here, but it represented a great deal of the drive behind the diligence of the early church.
  3. Third is to be a surrendered servant.
  4. Fourth is to be a faithful servant.

These of course are not in order of importance and there is a fair amount of overlap between them but there they are… I’ll say them again…

Now we have a focus verse and a key passage.

Our ficus verse is in 2Peter 3:10-15,

“(10) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. (11) Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, (12) looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? (13) Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. (14) Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; (15) and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation.”

Jesus spoke A LOT about stewardship – in fact in many ways it could be argued that this is pretty much ALL He talked about…and the parable we will be looking at today is certainly no exception! So our key passage is found in Luke 19:11-27 NKJV

“(11) As they were listening to this, He went on to tell a parable because He was near Jerusalem, and they thought the kingdom of God was going to appear right away. (12) Therefore He said: “A nobleman traveled to a far country to receive for himself authority to be king and then return. (13) He called 10 of his slaves, gave them 10 minas (each), and told them, ‘Engage in business until I come back.’

Regardless, in this parable so far we have:

  • A Nobleman. A nobleman was a mature man who came from a good family and had a noteworthy rank in society.
  • The Nobleman in this parable was evidently “set apart” to become king over a kingdom, He left for a time for the express purpose of being crowned with authority to take up that position and rule.
    • Acts 2:32-36 NKJV ” (32) This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. (33) Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. (34) “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, “SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, (35) TILL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES YOUR FOOTSTOOL.” ‘ (36) “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” This nobleman, of course, represented Jesus while in the flesh Who was going to go away and then return with authority to reign.
    • Heb. 1:3-13 “ After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. (4) So He became higher in rank than the angels, just as the name He inherited is superior to theirs. (5) For to which of the angels did He ever say, You are My Son; today I have become Your Father, or again, I will be His Father, and He will be My Son? (6) When He again brings His firstborn into the world, He says, And all God’s angels must worship Him. (7) And about the angels He says: He makes His angels winds, and His servants a fiery flame; (8) but about the Son: Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the scepter of Your kingdom is a scepter of justice. (9) You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; this is why God, Your God, has anointed You, rather than Your companions, with the oil of joy. …(13) Now to which of the angels has He ever said: Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies Your footstool?”
    • 1Cor. 15:25-28 HCSB “ (25) For He must reign until He puts all His enemies under His feet. (26) The last enemy to be abolished is death. (27) For He has put everything under His feet. But when it says “everything” is put under Him, it is obvious that He who puts everything under Him is the exception. (28) And when everything is subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who subjected everything to Him, so that God may be all in all.”
  • The 10 slaves represent those who were His servants and therefore part of His house.
  • A Mina was no small sum, it was worth about 1/3rd of a years income for a the average man.
  • His command was to engage in business until he returned to take His position as ruler in His kingdom. > This is the Key and central verse!
      • Business means to be busy and occupied. It is derived from another word which means to GAIN by doing business which was clearly His intent.
      • To what business could Jesus have been referring
        • Forming Christ within – fruit or character change
        • Forming Christ without – be a living witness and share the gospel…be salt and light.As we read last week in Matt. 25, the parable of the 10 virgins & the talents is taught,  BOTH began with the wordsThen the kingdom of been will be likened to… and this parable started the same way.  After HE taught these two parables He immediately went into another teaching that illustrated “being ready” with the sheep bs the goats.  I believe they shed light on what is meant in our passage of Luke 19 by do business until I return”.

Here are a few examples :

  • The example of Jesus as a young man – Luke 2:41-50, HCSB “… about My Father’s business.”
  • Represent Him – 1Peter 3:8-22, HCSB “(8) Now finally, all of you should be like-minded and sympathetic, should love believers, and be compassionate and humble, (9) not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you can inherit a blessing. (10) For the one who wants to love life and to see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit, (11) and he must turn away from evil and do good. He must seek peace and pursue it, (12) because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are open to their request. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. (13) And who will harm you if you are passionate for what is good? (14) But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear or be disturbed, (15) but set apart the Messiah as Lord in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. (16) However, do this with gentleness and respect, keeping your conscience clear, so that when you are accused, those who denounce your Christian life will be put to shame. (17) For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. (18) For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring you to God, after being put to death in the fleshly realm but made alive in the spiritual realm. (19) In that state He also went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison (20) who in the past were disobedient, when God patiently waited in the days of Noah while an ark was being prepared; in it, a few–that is, eight people–were saved through water. (21) Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the pledge of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. (22) Now that He has gone into heaven, He is at God’s right hand, with angels, authorities, and powers subjected to Him.”
  • Salt & Light – bring Glory – Matt. 5:13-20, NKJV “(13) You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. (14) “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. (15) Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. (16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (17) “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. (18) For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. (19) Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (20) For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”
  • Stewardship over the gospel & callings I Cor. 9:16-17, “16  For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! 17  For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship.”
  • Col. 1:24-25, “24  I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, 25  of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God,”
  • Stewardship over gifts – 1Peter 4:10-19, “10  As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11  If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 12  Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14  If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. 16  Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. 17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 Now “IF THE RIGHTEOUS ONE IS SCARCELY SAVED, WHERE WILL THE UNGODLY AND THE SINNER APPEAR?” 19  Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.”

Blessings! 

 

I hope this teaching will challenge you and encourage you to place your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

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Blessings!

Hi my name is Mark and though I am opposed to titles, I am currently the only Pastor (shepherd/elder) serving our assembly right now.

I have been Pastoring in one capacity or another for nearly 30 years now, though never quite like I am today.

Early in 2009 the Lord revealed to me that the way we had structured our assembly (church) was not scriptural in that it was out of sync with what Paul modeled for us in the New Testament. In truth, I (like many pastors I am sure) never even gave this fundamental issue of church structure the first thought. I had always assumed that church structure was largely the same everywhere and had been so from the beginning. While I knew Paul had some very stringent things to say about the local assembly of believers, the point of our gatherings together and who may or may not lead, I never even considered studying these issues but assumed we were all pretty much doing it right...safety in numbers right?! Boy, I couldn't have been more wrong!

So needless to say, my discovery that we had been doing it wrong for nearly two decades was a bit of a shock to me! Now, this "revelation" did not come about all at once but over the course of a few weeks. We were a traditional single pastor led congregation. It was a top-bottom model of ministry which is in part biblical, but not in the form of a monarchy.

The needed change did not come into focus until following 9 very intense months of study and discussions with those who were leaders in our church at the time.

We now understand and believe that the Bible teaches co-leadership with equal authority in each local assembly. Having multiple shepherds with God's heart and equal authority protects both Shepherds and sheep. Equal accountability keeps authority and doctrine in check. Multiple shepherds also provide teaching with various styles and giftings with leadership skills which are both different and complementary.

For a while we had two co-pastors (elders) (myself and one other man) who led the church with equal authority, but different giftings. We both taught in our own ways and styles, and our leadership skills were quite different, but complimentary. We were in complete submission to each other and worked side-by-side in the labor of shepherding the flock.

Our other Pastor has since moved on to other ministry which has left us with just myself. While we currently only have one Pastor/Elder, it is our desire that God, in His faithfulness and timing, may bring us more as we grow in maturity and even in numbers.

As to my home, I have been married since 1995 to my wonderful wife Terissa Woodson who is my closest friend and most trusted ally.

As far as my education goes, I grew up in a Christian home, but questioned everything I was ever taught.

I graduated from Bible college in 1990 and continued to question everything I was ever taught (I do not mention my college in order to avoid being labeled).

Perhaps my greatest preparation for ministry has been life and ministry itself. To quote an author I have come to enjoy namely Fredrick Buechner in his writing entitled, Now and Then, "If God speaks to us at all other than through such official channels as the Bible and the church, then I think that He speaks to us largely through what happens to us...if we keep our hearts open as well as our ears, if we listen with patience and hope, if we remember at all deeply and honestly, then I think we come to recognize beyond all doubt, that, however faintly we may hear Him, He is indeed speaking to us, and that, however little we may understand of it, His word to each of us is both recoverable and precious beyond telling." ~ Fredrick Buechner

Well that is about all there is of interest to tell you about me.

I hope our ministry here is a blessing to you and your family. I also hope that it is only a supplement to a local church where you are committed to other believers in a community of grace.

~God Bless!