27 Parables of Jesus - Week 4

Jesus talks about faithful servants many times in His parables. Because servants are willing to serve. It’s their job.

But there are many kinds of servants. One is a hard worker and learns what the master is like and goes over and above what is required of him because he knows the master’s heart and how the master feels in return.

The other kind of servant also knows what the master is like; but instead of going above and beyond what the master may want he barely does what is required. And, if he thinks he can get away with it, will not perform his tasks at all.

The parable is really about what we do when nobody is looking. What is our real character like?

The second is about patience and outcome.

How long should we toil at a task that Is not producing.

The fig tree gives us an example. And though not a formula; it does say that four years is a good time line to nurture someone, with the third year being an all out effort to see if the tree will produce any fruit.

And then, it is up to God to do a new planting with that person. We can’t produce for someone else, they have to want God for themselves. We get to water and make their ground as receptive as possible, but the fruit is their own with God’s supply.

Pastor Brent

27 Parables of Jesus - Week 3

When Jesus taught in parables the people (us) could choose to think about themselves or they could say, “I know who this is talking about!”

It is so often the case that we believe it’s the other person that needs the work and we are simply the watchers to see if those people Jesus is talking to are going to change.

This week it is two contrasting messages—one about what God wants us to do with blessing and two, that we need to stay vigilant to the end.

Both messages have to do with what we do with our time and how we view what is our responsibility.

But one is about us as the absolute ruler of our lives (which we are not) and the other is a servant which is doing well but receives the warning that the enemy waits for the opening to begin his attacks.

Parables are there to make us think, not to wonder who He is talking to. In some sense, He is always talking to us.

We are His children, and He is continually teaching those who will listen.

Never take for granted that Jesus is not talking to us. Every lesson is one in which we will learn or we will have to learn later. Take the opportunity to be taught by the Holy Spirit.

Pastor Brent

27 Parables of Jesus - Week 2

As we go through the parables, some will be repeated. Take notice of how many are and what they speak about.

Anything in scripture that repeats is like something in all caps or something that is underlined. God is emphasizing His Word to us. And we need to pay attention.

In last weeks message, our last parable was spoken at the end of the “Sermon on the Mount”. There are a lot of things said at this sermon, and yet Jesus asks us to hear, with understanding, to be able to build on a firm foundation. And He also warns us that not to do so ends in destruction.

This weeks parables might contain one of the most important in Jesus’ whole teaching.

How do we gauge ourselves? By what standard are we operating from? And how do we quantify the forgiveness that we have received versus what we think others need or even if they qualify for forgiveness at all.

May we always be the woman willing to expose to herself to ridicule to thank Jesus for His love and grace. And may we never enter into the arena of telling God who deserves His mercy and adoption.

Pastor Brent

27 Parables of Jesus - Week 1

The disciples asked Jesus why He spoke in parables. And He answered them with this quote, “Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.”

“Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.”

— Jesus

Parables are not direct answers. They must be thought about, contemplated, and even, in some cases, interpreted.

So, if you don’t have an interest, or are not compelled by the speaker or the subject they become like fairy tales or the musings of someone who can’t or won’t tell you straight out what you want to hear.

We get the privilege of getting the insider’s look at the parables and yet we probably don’t consider the things Jesus said as often as we should.

Are we really driven to find out what was on Jesus’ mind when He gave insight into what the Kingdom of Heaven is like?

Compare that with what Jesus said when He told His followers that the Kingdom of Heaven is within you. I think we might want to know what is in us, or at least what should be within us.

The New Testament, especially the gospels, contain many things that Jesus said. Your interest determines your belief in Him and also, our love for Him.

It’s one thing we have control of—-how much we seek Him.

Ever on a quest,

Pastor Brent

The Glory

“And all the people answered, “Amen, Amen” with lifting up their hands: and they worshiped the great God with their faces to the ground.”

— Nehemiah 8:6

These people went from being banished from the land to having a city, with walls and gates in less than two months.

Nehemiah accepted The Burden, The Plan, withstood The Interference, went forth with the Build, and got to experience the Glory and joy of obedience and perseverance for the Lord.

Won’t you do the same?

Then, they feasted; and they were able to celebrate the feast of tabernacles once again. This had not happened since Joshua was leading the people.

What have you and I neglected to do for the Lord? This is not a law question; this is a freedom question. If we don’t remember what God has done for us: we lose perspective on what He can do.

In Nehemiah’s time they rehearsed what God had done to get them to this place. Not even just for them, but for their ancestors.

And they made a covenant with God (thank God we don’t have to) that they would not forget what He had done.

When they dedicated the wall, God visited them with great joy. And the people were lead in great singing by inspired worship leaders and songs written by David and Asaph. Then, they set themselves apart for the intention of being God’s people alone.

God is looking, seeking people who have time and honor for Him. Nehemiah did even though he had a great job far away from his former homeland.

But he accepted The Burden, The Plan, withstood The Interference, went forth with the Build, and got to experience the Glory and joy of obedience and perseverance for the Lord.

Won’t you do the same?

Pastor Brent

The Building

“So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul in fifty and two days. ”

— Nehemiah 6:15

And all of their enemies were cast down in their eyes, because they knew it was the work of God.

But we’ll find out that that didn’t stop them from trying to derail the complete work of God.

Same in our lives. People can see the change but can’t accept that it is real and happening to you. Same as if you go on a diet or work out. “Oh, it always comes back or, you won’t last.”

Why do we do that? Or allow someone else to dictate what we can or cannot do? Stop it!

God is in charge and if you have heard (like Nehemiah did) what God has said, seen and made a plan, dealt with the interference, then build. Carry on with the project according to what you know and what the Lord will reveal.

Make sure the people you let in to your confidence are worthy of your trust.

The Bible encourages us to know them that labor among us. So, make sure you do, and let them be the ones to give you Godly advice and wisdom.

Then wait for the glory of God to reveal itself as you complete what God has asked you to do. It will be glorious.

Pastor Brent

Nehemiah-The Opposition

“When Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem heard that Nehemiah and the Jews had set forth to rebuild the walls and city of Jerusalem; they all laughed them to scorn.”

— Nehemiah 2:19

Does this sound like any of your “friends” when you told them you had gotten saved?

Do you know what they all have in common? None are part of what you are doing! They have no clue what Jesus has been saying to you, or what His plans are for you.

Don’t listen!

I heard one of the most interesting things I had heard for a while. We were listening to a preacher and he was really making the point about Jesus taking our sin.

When Jesus took our sin, do you think He knew what He was doing? Did He know the severity of the sin in the world? Did God, the Father, know what He was asking of Jesus?

So, when we say we have sin and we dwell on it, we run the risk of not believing that God has taken all of my sin and as Jesus resides in me there is no room for the sin to live.

My sin nature has changed. I no longer run to or look for sin and I am abhorred when I stumble—but I don’t need to be dismayed, for that sin also has been purchased with the blood of Jesus Christ. And no one can convince me different.

Pastor Brent

Nehemiah-The Plan

As Nehemiah sets out, he already knows that he will need at least two things-protection and building materials. Because God has given him the mercy of the king already, he is bold enough to ask for both. And he receives them!

Once we have been given the burden, God will give us the plan and we need to be bold enough to ask for things to get it done.

As Nehemiah scoped out the town; a plan was formulating in his head which he was going to present to the people present and those that God had drawn in.

But don’t think this is a small, insignificant part of the vision! People need to be inspired by the vision God has given you. You need to have a clear, vivid picture; in which you present the capabilities of God and of them-the people.

And don’t stop there. Too many plans have been left on the napkins at restaurants and never followed through on because that’s all they were-just plans without a burden.

Combine the burden with the plan and God will provide the means, as He allows us to inspire like-minded people.

Pastor Brent

Rebuilding-The Burden

In Nehemiah 2, Nehemiah was serving the king and was sad in his presence.  Trouble is, you could be executed for being sad in the king’s presence.  So Nehemiah was terrified when the king noticed.

But as he answered the king he let out all of the burden the Lord had placed upon him and left it in the hand of the king.

And, with the leading of God, the king was moved to help and supply and rebuild the city and the walls around it.

So Nehemiah went to inspect the city.  He went to see the disrepair and wreckage he had heard about.

And he did so by night.  I believe for two reasons.  One, so he could look without being seen and two, so no other voices and crowds of people would distract and fill his head with their opinions.

And then, with the boldness he received from God after not being killed, he revealed his plan (God’s plan) to the people.

What in your life needs a rebuild?  What has lain in ruin and fallen into disrepair?

It’s going to take an act of faith and boldness, but God has a plan for you to rebuild.  Travel this journey with me as God starts His plan.

Pastor Brent

Jude Part 4

“In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.
In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings. But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them.
Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.
These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.”

— Jude 1:7-13 NIV

When we read Jude 1:7-13, we see a certain type of person. Leaning to their own understanding and giving themselves over to gossip and malicious talk, as well as ungratefulness, and just plain meanness.

Contrast this with how we should be living and who we should be watching for. If there is no thought about the Lord returning, or our own mortality as a time for us to face Jesus, then we have no fear or respect of God.

We simply live our lives as though there is no recompense for our actions and the future life God has for us.

Jude reminds of what the apostles said. He reminds us that they said in the last days there would be scoffers whose whole purpose is to satisfy their own desires.

They are the people creating divisions and causing us to question each other.

But we, as contrast, build each other up, praying in the power of the Holy Spirit, and longing for the return of the Lord Jesus to come and get us and bring His kingdom with Him.

It’s always sobering to know we have been left a job to do that has a time limit. Whether it’s our own death or His return, our job has a due date. How do you want to be remembered? As a faithful servant praying for the saints or a selfish hireling, only thinking of the wantonness of your desires?

Jude lays it out. The contrast is obvious.

Pastor Brent