In Matthew 24, Jesus delivered to his disciples his basic teaching on the end of the age. It involved wars and rumors of wars, nation against nation and kingdom against kingdom, famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in many different places. He warned them that believers would be hated for His name’s sake, betrayed even by family and other so-called Christians. Because iniquity (lawlessness) would abound the love of many shall grow cold. Into this atmosphere the Antichrist will be able to set up his systems of control and abomination. After listing the judgments that would come because of the sin of mankind, Jesus gave them seven survival clues which were designed to help believers go through the judgments.
The sixth strategy is to be faithful.
Jesus said, “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord has made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.” – Matthew 24:44-46
Some think this scripture is just talking to pastors, but it includes the entire body of Christ. If you are a Christian, you have been baptized into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13) . Some are ears, some are eyes, some are a mouth, some are feet, etc. All must function for the body to be healthy. All of us have been given some gift to minister to the body of Christ. We are responsible to use that gifting. We are responsible to be baptized in the Holy Ghost, so we can better minister to the body. The purpose of the Holy Spirit’s baptism is not to just give you a thrill, although it may, but to enable you to minister “meat in due season”! Many in the Body of Christ have grown spiritually obese, that’s because there are so many pew sitters and those who are always receiving but never give out. Jesus promises blessing to those servants that are active with the gifting He has given them. His coming will be like the parable of the talents, found in Matthew 25:15 –
14 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” – Matthew 25:14-29
The days of judgment are soon upon us – many believe they have already begun. What should our reaction be? Some will try to hide, some will choose to deny it, some will react with despair but, what did Jesus tell His disciple to do?
First, we should make the decision to get active in following Jesus and use whatever talent He has given us. Second, we should pray that God would reveal to us what our talents are. Third, we should begin doing the simple things we can all do – be kind, be forgiving, be long suffering, be honest, do unto others as you have them do to you, etc. None of these things is beyond any one of us. Fourth, obey the prompting of the Holy Spirit – remember “the Holy Spirit is given to those who obey Him”.- Acts 5:32
Remember, in the end we win!
“Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” – Revelation 12:10,11
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