Partnership for Kingdom Advance (2)

11 March 2012

1. Introduction

• Parable of Kingdom : Luke 19:11-26
• (v11) Purpose of the teaching = to correct the disciples thinking and expectations.
• They expected kingdom to come immediately – expected positions of honour and privilege soon.
• Noble man = man of high ranking birth = Jesus.
• Far Country = Jesus ascent into heaven (to come shortly) – to receive kingdom and return.
• Servants = Followers of Jesus Christ – called to love, serve Him in this world.
• Parable is prophetic – Jesus has yet to return.
• Servants all given the same = 10 minas = 3x months wages.
• (v13) Servants are all commissioned to “occupy till I come” = Trade = be busy for the Kingdom.

= Command to trade and to gain increase for the kingdom.

= Make disciples, change society.

• (v15) Masters Return = addresses two groups of people:

(i) Servants – what reward?   (ii) Citizens who rejected his reign.

2. Key Insights from Parable

(i)   God  invites everyone to be great in His Kingdom

· Mt.5:19 “Least in the Kingdom … great in the Kingdom”

· Greatness and reward are two major themes in Jesus Sermon on the Mount.

· Key theme of teaching is the journey to greatness and how to get there.

· God has planted the desire for greatness in your heart – it is a God given longing.

· Jesus taught that there is a range of glory and greatness in the Kingdom.

· Some will be called least and some will be called great.

· Our rewards in eternity will differ. (1 Cor.15:41-42).

· Rev. 19:5 Praise to God all you his servants and those who fear him small and great.

· God invites us to greatness and to reward without regard to external achievements.

· Mt. 5:19

            Greatness is connected to inner heart attitudes – intimacy and obedience.

            Greatness is connected to the type of influence with have on others.

3. God gives Every Person an Assignment to fulfil

· Lk 19:13 “…Occupy until I come”.

· Occupy = to trade = to be busy or proactive in Kingdome affairs.

· Life on earth is like a 70 year internship that prepares us for ministry in the age to come (Ps.90:10).

· Your preparatory assignment = 70years+ assigned on earth (Eph 3:20).

Your primary assignment = 1000 years assignment on earth after Jesus returns.

· In your 70 years internship on earth you face two issues you must choose –

(i) Will I love Jesus and live in His family?

(ii) Will I function in Jesus Government for 1000 years and all eternity?

· The choices you make now determine your ministry assignment in the age to come.

· Key issues: Jesus affirmation: “Well Done” (Luke 19:17). Not approval of men.

4. Rewards in Millenium and in Eternity are at stake

· Lk. 19:15 “When he returned … called his servants to Him that he might know how much every man had gained by trading”.

· Rewards are held out for faithful service.

· Mt.16:27 “For the son of Man will come … then He will reward each man according to His worth”.

· Two great hopes of believer Jesus will come – He will reward.

Jesus teachings is full of references to rewards = ‘treasures in heaven’.

· External rewards = external expression of internal love for Jesus.

                                    = tangible physical expression of inner response to Jesus.

· We will be rewarded openly for things that cannot be seen now. (1 Cor. 4:5)

5.   Rewards in Millennium include Ruling with Christ

· Lk 19:17 “Faithful in very little … have authority over ten cities”

· Millenium = 1000 years period when Jesus rules on earth.

· The Kingdom of heaven will be openly manifest worldwide.

· The Kingdom of heaven will affect every sphere of life.

· It will be a period of blessing and restoration initiated by Jesus at His coming.

· The earth will be progressively restored. Ps 72:11

· All the earth will be saved; worship Jesus and base the gut upon Bible.

· Jesus as King of Kings will govern in partnership with two types of kings.

(i) Kings of Earth – non resurrected bodies.

(ii)Resurrected Kings (those that come forth in the first resurrection).

• Those saints who overcame will reign with Jesus (Rev. 5:10), (Rev. 2:26-27).
• It will take time for restoration to take place – progressive over 1000 years.
• Many are called (invited) but few are chosen (commissioned) Mt.22:14.
• During that period – faithful servants will rule the affairs of the nations – authority to rule, to determine action, to appoint people, train and manage people.

6. The Basis for Reward – Service/Intimacy with Christ

1 Cor. 3:13-14 - Every man’s work will be evaluated with reward in mind. Loss is a real possibility.

Basis for Reward

· Opportunity given             (Mt. 21) Servants in vineyard.

· Intimacy                (Mt. 25:1-13) Virgins with lamp (ministry) and oil.

· Capacity                (Mt. 25:14-30) Servants, talents, different capacity.

· Productivity           (Lk.19:11-26) Servants rewarded differently.

· Heart Motivation   (Mt. 28:45-51) Servants attitude, 1 Cor. 13.

7. Partnership can increase Productivity

· Lk. 19:23 “Why did you not put my money in the bank … gain interest”

· Most people have limited capacity, talent.

· What we accomplish on our own is small!

· What we accomplish together is great!