Parable of the talents/Passion

 

Luke 19: 12 - 27

 

  1. The Call: Gift Given, Investment made

 

Luke 19: 12-13 :  Jesus said, “ A nobleman was called away to a distant empire to be crowned king and then return.  Before he left, he called together ten servants and gave them ten pounds of silver to invest for him while he was gone”

 

Key:  two callings – The Lord to go be crowned king/the servants – to occupy

 

Obstacle – indecision about when and how to use gifts we are given (silver) 

 

Local calling – Servants are to take the call just as seriously as the Lord

 

Vineyard call: Invest yourself in God’s work now – don’t wait until He returns

 

 

2.  The Charge: be fruitful and multiply – to invest while the Lord was gone

 

Luke 19:20, 23 “ But the third servant brought back only the original amount of money and said, I hid it and kept it safe …  the king roared – why didn’t you deposit the money in the bank so I could at least get some interest on it”.

 

Key: did not look for opportunities to get a return on investment

 

Obstacle – Our own fear of failing

 

Local calling – invest your spiritual gifts in your world – with boldness/now

 

Vineyard call:  Take on more than you can handle – where God guides, he provides

 

  1. The Accounting: Reporting and results

 

Luke 19: 15 :  “ When he returned, the king called in the servants to whom he had given the money.  He wanted to find out what they had done with the money and what their profits were.”

 

Key:  the moment of reckoning was upon them – very scary, predictable

 

Obstacle – So much choice!  Where to begin?  Frozen by indecision

 

Local calling:  Do all you do with a result in mind 

 

Vineyard Call:  Be the junior partner and let God be the senior partner

 

  1. The Reward:  Good or bad, it will be given

 

Luke 19: 16,17  “ The first servant reported a tremendous gain – ten times as much as the original amount!  Well done, the king exclaimed!  You are a trustworthy servant.  You’ve been faithful in the little I entrusted to you, so you’ll be governor of 10 cities.    

 

Key:  He didn’t worry about the reward – just gain for his master  - paradox of giving

 

Obstacle – The reward is not always evident or immediate  - just the challenge

 

Local calling: Do your work as unto the Lord 

 

Vineyard call:  Know that your work in the kingdom does not go unnoticed  

 

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          Passion:  Compelling emotion – Websters 

 

2nd Def. -  The sufferings of Christ on the cross subsequent to the last supper

 

Passion Week: The Call - To seek and save the lost

                             The Charge – To redeem mankind from sin 

                             The Accounting – Death on the cross

                             The Reward – Life everlasting for all who believe

 

 

JESUS LIVED HIS LIFE ON PURPOSE, WITH PASSION, TOWARD A RESULT

 

 

      Luke 19:  26 – “ The king said  - to those who use well what they are given, even

                                  more will be given, but from those who are unfaithful,  even what

                                  little they have will be taken away.”  Promise of God to us

 

 

                                           Vineyard Action Points

 

       Passion = Action                  Action = Result                    Result = Reward

 

“NOW THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH:  BUT IF ANY MAN DRAW BACK, MY SOUL SHALL HAVE NO PLEASURE IN HIM.”  Hebrews 10:38

 

  Remember the wicked servant – “ I was afraid ”  - Fear is the opposite of Faith