GOT TO WORK
SCRIPTURE: I CORINTHIANS 12:1-16; MATTHEW 24:14-21 CONCEPT: ALL OF US HAS WORK TO DO AS CHRISTIANS
WHEN PRESIDENT OBAMA FIRST BECAME PRESIDENT, HE INHERITED A COUNTRY THAT WAS IN BAD SHAPE. THE ECONOMY WAS BAD. PEOPLE LOST A LOT OF MONEY ON THE SAVINGS AND THEIR RETIREMENT FUNDS. A LOT OF PEOPLE LOST THEIR HOMES AND MANY PEOPLE LOST THEIR JOBS. PRESIDENT BUSH, THE PRESIDENT BEFORE PRESIDENT OBAMA, MESSED OUR COUNTRY UP REAL BAD. THEY MEASURE HOW MANY PEOPLE DON’T HAVE JOBS AND CALL IT THE UNEMPLOYMENT INDEX. YOUNG PEOPLE, WHEN YOU HAVE A JOB THEY CALL IT BEING EMPLOYED. WHEN YOU ARE EMPLOYED YOU HAVE A JOB. SAY THAT. WHEN YOU ARE EMPLOYED, THAT MEANS YOU HAVE A ? SO WHEN YOU DON’T HAVE A JOB YOU ARE ?
EVERY MONTH, THEY CALCULATE SOMETHING CALLED THE UNEMPLOYMENT INDEX. THEY COUNT HOW MANY PEOPLE DON’T HAVE A JOB AND COME UP WITH A NUMBER. WHEN HE CAME INTO
THE PRESIDENCY, IT WAS VERY HIGH. MEANING A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN’T HAVE A JOB. BUT BECAUSE OF HIS HARD WORK AND GOD’S FAVOR UPON HIM AND OUR COUNTRY. THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS GOING DOWN. THAT MEANS MORE PEOPLE ARE BEING EMPLOYED. THE AMERICAN ECONOMY DOES NOT HAVE FULL EMPLOYMENT. IN OTHER WORDS, THERE JUST AREN’T ENOUGH JOBS FOR EVERYBODY. EVERYBODY CAN’T BE EMPLOYED. NOT ENOUGH JOBS. AND SOME OF THE JOBS AVAILABLE, PEOPLE DON’T HAVE THE SKILLS TO DO THEM. LIKE ENGINEERING JOBS, OR HIGHLY TECHNICAL JOBS.
THAT’S IN THE WORLD’S ECONOMY, BUT IN GOD’S ECONOMY, GOD BELIEVES IN FULL EMPLOYMENT. THEIR IS A JOB FOR EVERY BELIEVER. HE HAS GIVEN EVERY CHILD OF GOD SKILLS OR SPECIAL ABILITIES AND A JOB WHERE THEY CAN USE OR EMPLOY THOSE ABILITIES. HE GIVES THEM TO ALL OF US WHO BELIEVE AS A GIFT. LOOK AT V.1 “12 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.” DIFFERENT VERSIONS IN STEAD OF
IGNORANT SAYS, UNINFORMED, ANOTHER MISUNDERSTAND AND
STILL ANOTHER SAYS YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND. AND THAT IS GOD WANTS TO MAKE SURE ALL OF US UNDERSTANDS AND IS NOT IGNORANT OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS OR SPECIAL ABILITIES GIVEN TO US THROUGH THE HOLY GHOST.
V4 - V6 SAYS (CEV) 4 There are different kinds (DIVERSITIES) of spiritual gifts, but they all come from the same Spirit. 5 There are different ways (ADMINISTRATIONS) to serve the same Lord, 6 and we can each do different things (OPERATIONS). Yet the same God works in all of us and helps us in everything we do. 7 (KJV)But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 7 (cev)The Spirit has given each of us a special way of serving others.
THE FIRST THING WE CAN’T BE IGNORANT OF IS THAT ALL OF US HAVE BEEN GIVEN AT LEAST ONE SPIRITUAL GIFT. SOME OF US MORE THAN ONE. BUT ALL OF US HAVE BEEN GIVEN AT LEAST?. THAT’S RIGHT. THE SECOND THING THAT IS POINTED OUT IS THAT THERE ARE A DIVERSITY OF GIFTS OR THERE ARE DIFFERENT GIFTS. ALSO THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATIONS OF GIFTS OR THEY CAN BE USED IN DIFFERENT WAYS. STORE FRONT,
OR STREET STAND. IN THE MALL OR OFF A TRUCK. DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATIONS. IT ALSO SAYS THAT THEIR ARE DIFFERENT OPERATIONS. IN OTHER WORDS, EACH GIFT OPERATES DIFFERENTLY. DIFFERENT OPERATIONS. ONE GIFT OPERATES THIS WAY AND ANOTHER OPERATES THAT WAY. THEIR ARE A DIVERSITY OF GIFTS OR DIFFERENT KINDS. THERE ARE DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATIONS OR THEY ARE USED IN DIFFERENT WAYS AND THEN DIFFERENT OPERATIONS OR EACH GIFT DOES OPERATES DIFFERENTLY. THIRDLY I WANT YOU TO SEE THE END OF V7, THESE GIFTS ARE GIVEN TO EVERY MAN TO “PROFIT WITHAL”. ANOTHER VERSION SAYS FOR THE COMMON GOOD OF ALL, OR ANOTHER TO SERVE OTHERS OR ANOTHER SAYS THE HELP OTHERS. BUT I WANT TO FOCUS ON THE KJV, TO PROFIT WITHAL.
TURN TO MATTHEW 25:14. TO SUMMARIZE, THIS PARABLE IS GIVEN TO HELP US TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE. IT’S LIKE A MAN WHO WAS GOING AWAY TO A FAR COUNTRY. LIKE JESUS, WHO DIED ON THE CROSS AND ROSE FROM THE
GRAVE AND ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN. A MAN GOING INTO A FAR COUNTRY AND GAVE HIS SERVANTS TALENTS. GAVE FIVE TO ONE, TWO TO ANOTHER AND THEN ONE TO ANOTHER. WHEN HE COMES BACK HE CALLS THEM ONE BY ONE TO SEE WHAT THEY DID WITH THE TALENT OR IF YOU WILL THEIR SPIRITUAL GIFTS. THE ONE WITH FIVE CAME BACK AND SAID, I HAVE TAKEN THE FIVE AND HAVE MADE FIVE MORE. AND THE MAN SAID, WELL DONE THOU GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT, YOU’VE BEEN FAITHFUL OVER A FEW THINGS, I’M GOING TO MAKE YOU RULER OVER MANY THINGS. ENTER THOU INTO THE JOY OF THE LORD. HE SAID THE SAME THING TO THE MAN WHO HAD TWO TALENTS AND HAD MADE TWO MORE FROM THEM. BUT THE MAN WHO HAD ONE TALENT MADE EXCUSES. HE SAID HE KNEW HOW HARD THE MAN WAS AND HE KNEW THAT HE COULD HARVEST OR REAP WHAT HE HAD NOT PLANTED OR SOWN. AND THAT HE COULD GATHER THINGS THAT HE HADN’T PUT DOWN. THE MAN TOLD HIM AT LEAST YOU COULD HAVE TAKEN WHAT I GAVE YOU AND GOTTEN INTEREST OR SOMETHING EXTRA BACK WITH IT. BUT INSTEAD OF HAVING SOMETHING TO SHOW FOR IT, HE SAID, HE WAS AFRAID HE’D
MESS IT UP AND SO HE HID IT IN THE GROUND. HE DIDN’T DO ANYTHING WITH IT BUT HIDE IT. AND WHEN ASKED WHAT HE HAD DONE WITH WHAT HE WAS GIVEN, ALL HE COULD DO WAS GIVE BACK WHAT HE HAD BEEN GIVEN. AND WHEN THE MAN WHO GAVE IT TO HIM ONLY GOT BACK WHAT HE HAD GIVEN THE MAN, HE CALLED HIM IN (V26) A WICKED AND SLOTHFUL SERVANT.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE THE LORD GIVING ALL OF US GIFTS OR SPECIAL SPIRITUAL ABILITIES AND AFTER GOING INTO HEAVEN COMES BACK ONE DAY TO JUDGE EVERY MAN, WOMEN, BOY AND GIRL. HE JUDGES OUR LIVES BASED ON WHAT WE DID WITH WHAT HE GAVE US. HE HONORS THOSE WHO USE WHAT THEY ARE GIVEN AND PRODUCES MORE WITH IT OR BEARS FRUIT. BUT THOSE WHO HIDE WHAT GOD GIVES THEM AND REFUSES TO USE THEM, FOR WHATEVER REASON, ARE CALLED WICKED AND SLOTHFUL OR EVIL AND LAZY. THE SERVANT WHO DID NOTHING WITH WHAT HE HAD, HAD THE ONE GIFT HE HAD TAKEN AWAY FROM HIM AND GIVEN TO SOMEONE ELSE. USE IT OR LOSE IT.
BUT IT’S THE END OF THAT CHAPTER, THE 30TH VERSE, CAST THE “UNPROFITABLE SERVANT”, NLV - BAD, NIV - WORTHLESS, NLT USELESS SERVANT. BUT CAST THE UNPROFITABLE SERVANT INTO OUTER DARKNESS, TO A PLACE WHERE THERE WILL BE MUCH WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH OR IF YOU WILL INTO HELL’S FIRE.
WHAT’S THE POINT REV? WHEN WE DON’T USE OUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS, THE GIFTS GIVEN TO US TO PROFIT WITHAL. TO SERVE OTHERS. WHEN WE DON’T USE THEM, BUT INSTEAD CHOOSE TO HIDE THEM AND NOT USE THEM TO SERVE OR HELP OTHERS, GOD SEES US AS WORTHLESS OR USELESS, OR EVEN BAD. BUT THE KJV SAYS, UNPROFITABLE. OR NOT DOING ANYTHING WITH WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU.
TURN BACK TO I CORINTHIANS 12, AS WE PREPARE TO CLOSE. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
IN OTHER WORDS, ALL OF US WHO HAVE GIVEN OUR LIVES TO CHRIST AND BEEN SAVED, HAVE THE HOLY GHOST. AND THE HOLY GHOST IS SEEN, OR MANIFESTED THROUGH THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS WE ARE GIVEN. AND THOSE GIFTS ARE GIVEN TO US SO THAT WE CAN PROFIT OR MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS. TO HELP OTHERS AND SERVE OTHERS. WHEN WE DON’T USE THEM TO PROFIT ALL, THE WORD OF GOD SAYS THAT WE ARE UNPROFITABLE. AND WHEN WE ARE UNPROFITABLE, GOD SEES US AS BAD SERVANTS, WORTHLESS AND USELESS SERVANTS. SERVANTS WHO ARE CAST INTO OUTER DARKNESS, TO A PLACE WHERE WE CRY OR WEEP AND GRIND OUR TEETH!
WHAT’S THE POINT REV? THE POINT IS, IF YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED. IF YOU HAVE GIVEN YOUR LIFE TO CHRIST, KNOW THAT GOD DIDN’T DO IT SO THAT YOU COULD BE A GOOD PEW MEMBER AND HIDE YOUR GIFTS IN THE PEW. NO HE CALLS US ALL TO USE WHAT HE HAS GIVEN US. THESE SPECIAL ABILITIES, THESE SPIRITUAL GIFTS TO PROFIT WITHAL, OR TO HELP AND SERVE OTHERS. TELL
SOMEBODY, IN OTHER WORDS, GO TO WORK. GOD BELIEVES IN FULL EMPLOYMENT. HE’S GIVEN EVERY PERSON SPIRITUAL GIFTS. GO TO WORK. HE EXPECTS EVERY ONE OF US TO DO SOMETHING WITH WHAT HE HAS GIVEN US. HE EXPECTS US TO ADD SOMETHING TO THE KINGDOM. TO SHOW WE HAVE DONE SOMETHING FOR THE KINGDOM. TO SHOW A PROFIT, AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE. TELL SOMEBODY, YOU’VE GOT TO GO TO WORK. EVERY ONE SHALL GO BEFORE THE JUDGEMENT SEAT. WE SHALL ALL BE JUDGED. WE WILL ALL HAVE TO GIVE AN ACCOUNT OF OUR STEWARDSHIP. NO EXCUSES. NO EXCEPTIONS. NO PASSES OR WAIVERS. YOU’RE EITHER PROFITABLE OR NOT. YOU’RE EITHER A BAD, WORTHLESS, USELESS, AND UNPROFITABLE SERVANT OR ONE WHO GOD SAYS WELL DONE TO. AND GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT.
PAY NOW, OR PAY LATER. WORK NOW, OR WEEP LATER. DON’T BE IGNORANT. GOD HAS GIVEN TO ALL OF US SPECIAL ABILITIES, SPECIAL TALENTS, SPIRITUAL GIFTS. DON’T BE IGNORANT OF
THAT. HE CALLS US TO USE THEM. DIVERSITIES OF GIFTS, OR DIFFERENT KINDS. DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATIONS OR DIFFERENT WAYS TO USE THEM. AND DIFFERENT OPERATIONS OR EACH GIFT DOES SOMETHING DIFFERENT OR OPERATES IN DIFFERENT WAYS. THOSE WHO HAVE EYES TO SEE..., EARS TO HEAR... FROM THIS DAY ON, NO ONE HERE CAN EVER SAY YOU DIDN’T KNOW OR PRETEND TO BE IGNORANT OR UNAWARE. YOU WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT YOU HEARD AND LEARNED TODAY. SIT THERE IF YOU WANT THERE AND DO NOTHING. COME WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE IT. DO WHATEVER YOU FEEL LIKE DOING OR GET MAD AT ME OR SOMEBODY IN THE CHURCH AND DECIDE YOU AIN’T DOING NOTHING, IF YOU WANT TO. BUT KNOW THIS, ONLY WHAT YOU DO FOR CHRIST WILL LAST,. GOD IS A GOD OF FULL EMPLOYMENT. EVERYONE IS EQUIPPED TO DO A JOB. GIVEN ABILITIES TO DO THAT JOB AND IS EXPECTED TO GO TO WORK! GO TO WORK!
ONE DAY, GOD CALLED JESUS TO GO TO WORK. HE USED HIM TO SHOW US HOW ANYONE WHO ALLOWS GOD TO USE THEM CAN WORK. YOU SEE, THE CRUCIFIED MY JESUS. THEY HUNG HIM ON A
OLD RUGGED CROSS. PIERCED HIM IN THE SIDE AND HUNG A CROWN OF THORNS AROUND HIS HEAD. HE WAS CRUCIFIED, DEAD AND BURIED. IT WOULD SEEM THAT GOD COULD NO LONGER USE A DEAD MAN. A MAN WHO WAS OLD, A WOMAN WHO HAD BECOME FEEBLE. A CHILD WHO WAS TOO SMALL, OR A MAN OR A WOMAN WHO WAS TIRED AND WEARY. BUT LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING. GOD TOOK A DEAD MAN. A MAN WHO SUFFERED AND BLED. HE TOOK A MAN WHO SEEM DOWN AND OUT. WORTHLESS AND USELESS. HE TOOK JESUS AND TOLD HIM, GO TO WORK. GO TO WORK JESUS AND JESUS WHO WORK THE WORKS OF HIM THAT SENT HIM. JESUS WHO DRANK FROM THAT BITTER CUP. JESUS WHO LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS. JESUS WHO WAS KILLED AND THEN LAID IN A BURIED TOMB. GOD STILL EXPECTED A DEAD MAN TO GO TO WORK. AND EARLY ON A SUNDAY MORNING. JESUS GOT UP AND HE WENT TO WORK. GO TO WORK! KING OF MY LIFE, I CROWN THEE NOW.JUST ASK THE SAVIOR TO HELP YOU...