Partnership for Kingdom Advance

4 March 2012

1. Introduction

The central theme of Jesus teaching and ministry was The Kingdom of God.
Kingdom = sphere or realm where the will of God is done, where people yield to the King and give their lives to fulfilling His will.
Col.1:3 “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the Son of His love”.
God calls all believers to greatness, to success in His Kingdom. What is success?
Parable of Talents – Parable of Kingdom and how to be great, how to be successful.
Mt. 24-25 Context is End Times – Jesus gives 3x parables.
(1) Servants – their motives. (2) Virgins – intimacy. (3) Servants – their faithfulness.

2. Parable of the Talents – Mt. 25:14-30

(1) Overview

Parable of the Kingdom of God – Practical and Prophetic.
King = Jesus – travelling to a far country (heaven).
Servants of King = believers, those who are Born Again Christians.
Distribution of Talents = all believers receive gifts, opportunities to serve.
Servants traded = we all have opportunity to be successful in advancing the Kingdom.
King settled accounts = there is a time coming where our life is evaluated with the issue of reward in view.

(2) God invites every person to be great in the Kingdom

….. whoever desires to be first among you let him be your slave.

(3) God gives to every person an assignment to fulfil (Mt.25:15)

(v15) God gives every believer an assignment that will lead to greatness.
His assignment is based upon the capacities He gave us mentally, physically, emotionally and financially.
God will reward us according to how we have fulfilled our assignment.

(4) For most believers their God given assignment is small (Mt.25:15)

(v15) To another ‘one talent’ – “few things” v23.
Many people feel frustrated at the limitations they seem to have.
The world defines success = People – recognition; positions of power; possessions.
God invites us to greatness and to success without regard to outward success.
Don’t grieve over what you do not have – use what you do have!
1 Cor. 3:14 “If anyone’s work which he has built on endures, he will receive a reward”.
Success in the Kingdom is based on being great in eyes of God and receiving His approval not great in the eyes of men.

(5) God plans to reward all believers for their service in the Kingdom

(a) “Few Things” v21, 23

(b) “Many Things” v21, 23

The reward means a change from few things now, to many things in millennium.
Our assignment in the millennium is based upon how fulfilled our assignment is now.

Ruler = to appoint to a position in millennial Kingdom of responsibility and authority.
God sets before us rewards that are eternal – we must qualify for them.
People do not value these because they do not understand them.
These rewards are in the age to come Mt 16:27.

(d) Enter the Joy

Believers will experience great joy ruling in partnership with Jesus.
We will be closely involved with Him in what He is doing in the nations.
“Well done” = He values our efforts to serve Him.
Serving the Lord is often difficult, with opposition, pressures, and set-backs.
His approval and His reward motivate us to persevere with right motives.
Col.3:23-24 “Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not unto men…”

(e) God calls us to focus on three areas

(i) “Doing Good” v21, 23

· What motivates you to do what you do?

· Good =18= to wonder at, to think highly of, excelling – Mt.22:37.

· Called to Love the Lord your god with all your heart, …, love your neighbour as yourself”.

· Love = (i) Heart connected to God

(ii) Develop relationships with people

(ii) Being Faithful in Assignment v21, 23

· God gives you an assignment specific to you and your responsibility is:

o Discover assignment

o Prepare self – develop skill, knowledge.

o Persevere in fulfilling what God called you to do.

(iii) Developing Servant Heart v21, 23

· Servant heart sees God and people as being important.

· Servant heart treats people with kindness and generosity.

· Servant heart means laying down personal agenda to fulfil will of God.

(f) Partnership is more productive than preservation Mt.25:27