Conversations with Pastor questions

11.29.2023

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I want to start tonight and talk about Christmas trees, decorations, and such.

Should we have a tree in our home during the Christmas season?

Is it practicing pagan rituals to decorate for Christmas?

What about Easter? Eggs? Bunnies? Easter baskets?

Let me say right up front that I have always had a Christmas tree in my home. We decorate for Christmas. We exchange gifts among the family.

We never told our kids that Santa was real. We are just really honest, and we want, as much as possible, for our children to enjoy living and to partake of what they can in cultural traditions.

For Halloween, we have usually had a fall festival of some kind for the sake of the children and for fellowship. This year, with finishing the new building and starting the school, we chose to wait until next year for a fall festival of some kind. For years we spent 7-10,000.00 on all sorts of games, blow-up games and such for people to come, but it became people going from church to church for the free stuff, and these events added nothing to our vision of Helping People Become Who God Created Them To Be.

So, you may be here or are listening online, and you are challenged with Christmas decorations as a Christian. I just want to give you something to think about.

We have had people stay away from church as long as we have a Christmas tree on campus. And maybe you are here and are challenged.

The first century Christians had to deal with similar things, so here are two passages that I believe relate to the issue of conscience and cultural issues.

Romans 14 (NLT)

Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. 2 For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. 3 Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord’s help, they will stand and receive his approval.

5 In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable.

1 Corinthians 8 (NLT)

At Christmas, I thank God that the birth of Christ is celebrated and sung about during this season, and that there is a consciousness of Jesus worldwide. I know that Jesus was not born in December, and that there are pagan gods celebrated during this time.

The months of the year are named after pagan gods. Do I name them something different because it is offensive to me? Of course not.

I try to blend in with culture where I can so I can reach them.

So with Christmas and Easter, I’ll decorate a tree. I have yet to have a devil show up at my house over it. I will celebrate Easter and enjoy as much as I can while I look to the resurrection of Jesus.

I insulate myself from harmful things by knowing who I am in Jesus. I do not want to isolate myself because of my convictions because it would not help me reach people for Jesus.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (MSG)

Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn’t just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!

QUESTIONS:

1. I have a friend who I have shared my faith with and at times I think he has wanted to accept Jesus as his savior but he has never followed through because his deceased father was an atheist. He told me that If he believes what the Word teaches us about salvation then he will have to believe that his deceased father is in hell and he cannot accept that as true. What comfort can we give to people who have loved ones who passed away without knowing Jesus and how can we lead them to Christ?

We all individually stand before God. We are a fallen sinful race, deserving of death and hell. We should not base our eternity on what did or did not happen to another person.

Yes, it is hurtful to think that someone we know and love and died may be in hell. For that, we must ask God for His grace and mercy to help us deal with the pain and loss we experience from knowing a person may be in hell.

Luke 16:19

1. The Sabbath, the 7th day we know as Saturday, was established at creation which clearly predates the law. Why do we no longer practice this Sabboth as God commanded we should do forever in Exodus 31:16-17?

After the resurrection of Christ, Christians began practicing a first day of the week sabbath, in honor and memory of our Messiah who was raised from the dead on Sunday!

1 Corinthians 16:2 (NLT)

On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once.

(Dake Study Bible Notes) Notes For Verse 2

[Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store] Collections were to be taken up on the first day of the week (Sunday), the day all early Christians observed as their day of rest and worship (Jn. 20:1,19,26; Acts 20:7)

1. What does 2 Corinthians 10:6 mean?

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 (NKJV)

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

Verse 6 is addressing false doctrine that can creep in and hinder truth.

(Dake Study Bible Notes) Having in readiness to avenge all disobedience–We stand at all times ready, so to speak, to court-martial any opposing the Gospel of Christ, after separating ourselves from them (2 Cor. 10:6). The whole picture here is that of a strong fortified city where the enemy makes his last stand; entrenching himself about the walls; raising towers and preparing engines of defense and offense upon the walls to insure victory. The fortifications, walls, towers, and castles are taken by the Gospel and the whole opposition is destroyed and taken captive.

1. From the human perspective it seems that certain prayers take a “lifetime” to be answered. How do I know what I pray on is in God’s plan for my life and when to stop praying on what isn’t?

Prayer should always be based on God’s Word. God’s Word is God’s will for us.

Colossians 1:9 (NKJV)

For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

Your word is your “will.” God’s Word is His will.

We know it is God’s will to save, heal, free, deliver, to walk in faith, in love, to forgive, to marry a believer only, for others to know Christ, etc. SO, as much as we know it, we should pray God’s will or mention His word back to Him.

John 15:7

Isaiah 55:11

Jeremiah 1:12

Matthew 24:35

1. In (2 Peter 3:9) God doesn’t want anyone to perish. Why doesn’t God reveal himself like He did for Paul, but different in each person’s life?

God has revealed Himself to us in His Word first and foremost! We do not need for Him to reveal Himself in a spectacular way when we have His Word and we have the Holy Spirit as GUIDE.

God chooses whom He reveals Himself to in a spectacular way. We should not seek these things. See first the Kingdom of God through the Word!

(Zacharias – John the Baptist’s father), Mary, Peter (Acts 10, Paul Acts 9)

1. In (2 Corinthians 6:17) God said “Come out from among them and be separate.” So where does a person belong if they don’t feel fully accepted in the church too?

This verse is talking about the need for us as believers to separate ourselves from the sinful deeds of our culture.

See 2 Cor. 6:14-18; 2 Cor. 7:1

Some people struggle with feelings of rejection and inferiority and that is a different matter. What we feel and what others think are often two different things. I had to deal with this as a young person.

1 Cor. 4:3 – JB Phillips.

“Just so you know these (#7 & #8) are not questions that I personally have but are questions a friend has asked us in their searching out of God. We are searching scripture as well but would love pastor’s take on these. My questions are:”

1. How can Christians reconcile that the scriptures were Holy Spirit inspired and not written by man (as in not written from men’s hearts but by the Holy Spirit’s)?

2 Timothy 3:16

2 Peter 1:21

(Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) Study Bible Notes) The New Testament (NT) contains four biographies of Jesus (the Gospels), one history book of the early church (Acts), twenty-one letters (Romans to Jude), and an apocalypse (Revelation). While the letters and the apocalypse contain references to historical events, the Gospels and Acts are written as straightforward historical narratives. These are the NT books about which it makes particularly good sense to ask the question, “Are they historically reliable?” Twelve lines of evidence converge to suggest strongly that the answer is “yes.”

First, we have over 5,700 Greek manuscripts representing all, or part, of the NT. By examining these manuscripts, over 99 percent of the original text can be reconstructed beyond reasonable doubt. We also discover that no Christian doctrine or ethic depends solely on one of the doubted texts. These facts do not prove that the NT is true, but it does mean we know what the original writers wrote. Without this assurance, the question of historical reliability is pointless.

Second, the authors of the Gospels and Acts were in an excellent position to report reliable information. Matthew and John were among the twelve disciples Jesus Himself chose; Mark was a close companion of Peter and Luke (who also wrote Acts) and traveled extensively with Paul. Even critical scholars who doubt the traditional attributions of authorship agree that these five books were written by followers of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, which still puts them in a good place to tell the stories accurately.

Third, these five books were almost certainly written in the first century, within sixty to seventy years of Jesus’ death (most likely in A.D. 30). Conservatives typically date Matthew, Mark, and Luke-Acts to the 60s and John to the 80s or 90s. Liberals suggest slightly later dates, typically placing Mark in the 60s or 70s, Matthew and Luke-Acts in the 80s, and John in the 90s. Even if one accepts the later dates, the amount of time separating the historical events and the composition of the five books is very short as compared to most ancient historical and biographical accounts, where many centuries could intervene between events and the books that narrated them.

Fourth, ancient Jews and Greeks meticulously cultivated the art of memorization, committing complex oral traditions to memory. Even before the Gospels or any other written sources about Jesus were compiled, Jesus’ followers were carefully passing on accounts of His teachings and mighty works by word of mouth. This kept the historical events alive until the time they were written down.

Fifth, the ancient memorization and transference of sacred tradition allowed for some freedoms in retelling the stories. Guardians of the tradition could abbreviate, paraphrase, prioritize, and provide commentary on the subject matter as long as they were true to the gist or meaning of the accounts they passed on. This goes a long way to explaining both the similarities and the differences among the four Gospels. All four authors were true to the gist of Jesus’ life, yet they exercised reasonable freedom to shape the accounts in ways they saw fit.

Sixth, the fact that these writers had distinct ideological or theological emphases does not mean they distorted history, as is often alleged. Oftentimes the very cause that a historian or biographer supports requires them to write their accounts accurately, for they know that their cause will be undermined if they are charged with bias or distortion. The first Christians had the uphill battle of promoting a crucified Messiah and His bodily resurrection. Had they been known to have falsified the details of their accounts to any significant degree, their movement would have been squelched from the outset.

Seventh, Luke’s prologue (Lk 1:1-4) closely parallels the form and content of other works of generally reliable historians and biographers of antiquity, most notably Josephus, Herodotus, and Thucydides. The Gospel writers clearly believed that they were writing historically accurate works, not fiction or embellished history.

Eighth, the so-called hard sayings of Jesus support their authenticity. If the Gospel writers felt free to distort what Jesus originally said in order to increase the attractiveness of Christianity, why would they preserve unmodified His difficult and easily misunderstood teachings about hating family members (Lk 14:26) or not knowing when He would return (Mk 13:32)? The fact that they let these teachings stand indicates their faithfulness to recount true history.

Ninth, the fact that the NT does not record Jesus speaking about many of the topics that arose after His earthly life, during the time of the early church, supports its historical accuracy. For instance, early Christians were divided over how or whether the laws of Moses applied to Gentile converts (Ac 15). The easiest way to settle the controversy would be to cite Jesus’ teachings on the matter, but the Gospels record no such teachings. This silence suggests that the Gospel writers did not feel free to play fast and loose with history by putting on the lips of Jesus teachings that could solve early church controversies.

Tenth, the testimony of non-Christian writers supports the details of the Gospels and Acts. About a dozen ancient Jewish, Greek, and Roman writers mention Jesus. Taken together, their writings attest to the basic contours of Jesus’ life. Many names of people and places, as well as the exploits of first-century political and religious leaders, are attested in other writings of the day.

Eleventh, archaeology regularly confirms details about geography, topography, customs, artifacts, buildings, tombs, inscriptions, and graffiti that are mentioned in NT—the Gospels and Acts in particular.

Twelfth, the portions of the NT that were written before the completion of the Gospels and Acts confirm the historicity of these five books. For instance, Paul, James, and Peter show multiple signs of quoting or alluding to teachings and actions of Jesus in letters they wrote before the Gospels were written. Their quotes and allusions agree with what we find in the Gospels. This indicates that the Gospels are in tune with the very earliest writings about Jesus—the NT epistles. These earliest writings were in turn dependent on the authoritative oral traditions that were passed on by eyewitnesses to Jesus’ life. Paul expresses this in 1Co 15:3-8, where he lists the beliefs he had “received” from these eyewitnesses when he became a Christian no more than two years after Jesus’ death and resurrection. These are no late, slowly developing legends he is reporting!

1. How is it that Christ was raised from the dead? And what purpose did the resurrection serve?

1 Cor. 15:12-25

The resurrection of Christ dealt with the issue of sin, all rebellion to God’s ultimate will, the curse on the earth, and guarantees all of humanity that we can experience a New birth and relationship with God once again, that we can overcome death and live in eternity with God in a glorified human body, that Satan and all enemies of God will be judged and rewarded for their rebellion to God with eternal punishment in the lake of fire, that the earth will once again be free from the curse and will along with heaven and the New Jerusalem, be the eternal home of believers (see Revelation 21 and 22).

1. What happens, after death, to people around the world that have not had the opportunity to learn about our God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit?

They will perish in hell without Jesus Christ and personally experiencing the New Birth. That is the reason that we preach the gospel and send missionaries to foreign lands.

Romans 2:12-16 (NLT)

When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had God’s written law. And the Jews, who do have God’s law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it. 13 For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight. 14 Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. 15 They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. 16 And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.

(Dake Study Bible Notes)

In cases where men have not had the law or the gospel, God will judge them on the basis of the light they have had and according to their living up to the conscience (Rom. 2:12-16).

1. Follow up: what about those in antiquity (before our Lord Jesus Christ) was born and established the new covenant with God and mankind?

Those prior to Christ’s birth who entered into the Old Covenant God that gave His people went to the righteous side of hell to await the coming of the Messiah, who preached to them in hell and brought them out of hell when He resurrected! See Luke 16/Matthew 27:51-53/ 1 Peter 4:6)

1. What are your thoughts on the new earth vs. the old earth issue? I have been reading and watching the series “Is Genesis History” and it has confirmed many of my apprehensions concerning both Darwinian evolution AND the old earth view.

There is a theory, not a doctrine called the “gap” theory, which postulates that there is a gap between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2 of an undetermined period of time. And the theory postulates that there was another social order on earth during that time consisting of both human-like beings and another social order of animals with dinosaurs, etc.

This creation was destroyed by a flood. And, this theory postulates that the Genesis account of creation is actually a recreation and setting in order of the chaos created with the “pre-Adam flood.

As to the earth’s future, I have extensive notes on this subject in my Revelation series on our website.

I have extensive notes on this subject in my Revelation series on our website.

After the millennial reign of Christ, the earth will be renovated by fire (Revelation 21 -22), the curse will be removed, and it will once again be the perfect earth God created before sin entered.

1. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one, why don’t we say Praise the Holy Spirit, like we do with Jesus and the Father?

The Holy Spirit’s role is to make Jesus real to us. He does not speak of Himself. He speak what He hears from Jesus.

John 14:26 (NKJV)

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

John 16:13-15 (NKJV)

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

Be an Owner, not just a Member or Attender!

10.25.2023

11.8.2023

The local church is a breeding ground for spiritual growth!

Are you making the most of your life with God?

Matthew 16:13-18 (NKJV)

When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” 14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”

The local church is a miniature example of the universal church all over the world.

God’s plan is that every believer not just attend, but be actively involved in the ministry of a local church!

Ephesians 4:7-16 (NKJV)

But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.” 9 (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Ephesians 4:12-16 (BBE)

For the training of the saints as servants in the church, for the building up of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come to the harmony of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to full growth, to the full measure of Christ: 14 So that we may be no longer children, sent this way and that, turned about by every wind of teaching, by the twisting and tricks of men, by the deceits of error; 15 But saying true words in love, may come to full growth in him, who is the head, even Christ; 16 Through whom all the body, being rightly formed and united together, by the full working of every part, is increased to the building up of itself in love.

Ephesians 4:12-16 (GW)

Their purpose is to prepare God’s people to serve and to build up the body of Christ. 13 This is to continue until all of us are united in our faith and in our knowledge about God’s Son, until we become mature, until we measure up to Christ, who is the standard. 14 Then we will no longer be little children, tossed and carried about by all kinds of teachings that change like the wind. We will no longer be influenced by people who use cunning and clever strategies to lead us astray. 15 Instead, as we lovingly speak the truth, we will grow up completely in our relationship to Christ, who is the head. 16 He makes the whole body fit together and unites it through the support of every joint. As each and every part does its job, he makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Ephesians 4:12-16 (NLT)

Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

Be an owner, not just a member or attender.

What part do you play here at Victory Church?

What are you called to do?

Don’t just coast, but be involved in the area of your giftings!

Victory Pathway can help you find your place and become involved.

Matthew 22:14 (NKJV)

For many are called, but few are chosen.

When you are born again, God’s plan is that you grow and find your place in the body of Christ!

You find that place by being faithful in small things!

Romans 1:1 (NKJV)

Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God.

Paul was called to be an apostle of the Gentiles from birth, but only entered into that call as he was faithful.

Faithfulness enables you to enter into God’s place for you.

The test of God’s purpose for your life is the test of faithfulness.

1 Corinthians 4:2 (AMPC)

Moreover it is essentially required in stewards that a man be found faithful – proving himself worthy of trust.

Proverbs 28:20 (NKJV)

A faithful man will abound with blessings, but he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.

 

1 Timothy 1:12 (NKJV)

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.

Rotherham:

Grateful am I to Him that empowered me.

Henry Alford:

I give thanks to Him who puts strength in me.

New English Bible:

And I thank Christ Jesus my Lord, who has made me equal to the task.

 

2 Timothy 2:2 (NKJV)

And the things you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

 

Big Things Have Little Beginnings!

Zechariah 4:10 (NKJV)

For who has despised the day of small things?

 

Matthew 25:21,23 (NKJV)

…Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter the joy of your Lord.

 

I am in ministry today because God saw my faithful heart.

God will start in a place of ministry you may not care for, just so you can prove faithful.

Same way with a church.

I started in ministry as a janitor. It was a great place of testing faithfulness. My attitude and motivations were tested in fire!

I became a pastoral staff member in 1984 for Bob Yandian at Grace Church in Tulsa.

I was tested in my loyalty, in wanting to do things differently from him, in wondering why he did or didn’t do this or that!

God wanted to see if I would be faithful when I disagreed!

I became an associate to Carl Morris in 1993. It was a great test of faithfulness in my life because I so did not do life the way he did in ministry.

The Lord challenged me: “Who are you to judge another man’s servant? To me he rises or falls.” That changed my life. I learned to do what I do to Jesus, whether I agreed or disagreed. And God rewards faithful hearts.

I pastored another man’s church for 1 year before I came here. God was testing my faithfulness. People told me I was a better preacher, and I said, “Be quiet! Never say that again!” I refused to record my messages because I refused to draw disciples to myself. God was testing my faithfulness.

I built his church up and then gave it back a year later when he came home from the mission field.

And that year of serving another man’s vision opened up my place here at Victory for the past 29 years!

You can likewise find your place in the body of Christ by choosing to be faithful!

 

Are you faithful or self-serving?

Our current generation and national mindset value comfort and entertainment over future rewards.

 

The “What’s in it for me?” attitude often rules instead of the attitude that says, “What can I do to be a blessing to others?”

Doing Jesus’ work as a volunteer with an unfaithful attitude:

• Late to commitments
• Last-minute calls to cancel commitment
• Not showing up when you’re scheduled to help
• Slackness in local church commitments, such as attending services, fellowship opportunities in Small Groups, and prayer times
• My commitment to God is not as important as other things in life.

 

Doing Jesus’ work as a volunteer with a faithful attitude includes:

• Being just as committed to what we do for Jesus as we are to our jobs! No such thing as NOT showing up unless we call and let someone know what’s up.
• Arriving early to a commitment because we’re excited to see lives impacted and changed by Jesus through the Word!
• Enthused, excited, and involved in your local church services, fellowship opportunities, and in inviting others to come with you!
• My volunteer work for Jesus is one of the most important things in my life.

 

We need balance in life, but not to the extreme of leaving God and His work out!

 

I’m just a volunteer!

 

NO! You’re a son or daughter of an Almighty God, and you have a mission to change lives!

 

Our motive for serving as a volunteer should be:

Love for God

Matthew 22:37-40 (NKJV)

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the Prophets.

 

Love for people

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (Phillips)

We look at it like this: if one died for all men, then, in a sense, they all died, and His purpose in dying for them is that their lives should now no longer be lived for themselves but for Him who died and was raised to life for them.

 

Romans 15: 1-2 (MSG)

Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status.

What do my present life and works tell God about what is important to me?

Luke 16:10,12 (NKJV)

He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much… 12 And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?

Regardless of what we do, if we are faithful, we ALL get the same pay…

Matthew 20:1-16 (NLT)

For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay the normal daily wage and sent them out to work. 3 At nine o’clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing. 4 So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day. 5 So they went to work in the vineyard. At noon and again at three o’clock he did the same thing. 6 At five o’clock that afternoon he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, “Why haven’t you been working today?” 7 They replied, “Because no one hired us.” The landowner told them, “Then go out and join the others in my vineyard.” 8 That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first. 9 When those hired at five o’clock were paid, each received a full day’s wage. 10 When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day’s wage. 11 When they received their pay, they protested to the owner, 12 “Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.” 13 He answered one of them, “Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage? 14 Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. 15 Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?” 16 So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.

 

Action Points:

1. Are you a part of the volunteer Serve Team, helping your church obey God’s plan for it?
2. What should be your motivation for helping in your local church?
3. Do you do the small, unnoticed thing with as much heart as something you do that everyone sees?