Introduction

• Luke 10:17-20
• Revelation 3:5

The book of life

• Mentioned 6 times in the New Testament.
• Revelation 3:5; 13:8; 17:8
• Mentioned 5 times in the Old Testament.

Matthew 10:34-36

• Jesus was in the people separating business.
• The sword indicated war or conflict.
• Luke 12:51-53
• Jesus separated people physically during the ministry on earth, and He will ultimately separate people eternally.

Matthew 25:31-46

• The final throne scene.
• Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people (Matthew 25:34).
• Hell is a prepared place for an unprepared people (Matthew 25:41).
• The final separation accomplished by Jesus (Matthew 25:46).

Luke 13:22-30

• Strive to enter the narrow door – indicates multiple paths/separation.
• Door closes eventually – final separation.
• Proximity does not equal intimacy! (Luke 13:26)

Luke 16:19-31

• Lazarus had memory after death.
• Torment begins immediately after death.

Revelation 19l 6:9-11

• The final battle of good and evil on earth.

Revelation 20:11-15

• The final throne scene.
• The book of life – dead were judged.

Revelation 21:1-8; 22:1-5

• The beauty and splendor of heaven

Consider

• In order to visibly see yourself saved, you must be able to visibly see yourself as eternally lost!!!
• There are no:
  • Weekend passes
  • No visits to see if I like it
  • No exit signs
  • No ability to change anything

My motivation

• To be eternally removed from all evil.
• To see/meet the great men and women of the Bible.
• To again see the godliest people that ever walked this earth.
• To meet the Lord and to spend eternity with Him (I John 3:2-3; I Thessalonians 4:17).

Most important question

• Matthew 7:21-23
• Revelation 3:5 – “Will erase his name from the book of life.”
• Is my name written in the book?
• Can you picture yourself listening for your name?

The parable analyzed

• Distribution of talents to the servants (Matthew 25:14-15)
• A talent was about 6000 denarii.
• A denarii was a day’s wage.
• Two doubled their talents and one hid his.
• The two that doubled their talents were happy to see the master.
• The one who hid his talent began making excuses immediately.
• The Lord’s response – “wicked and lazy” (Luke 16:19-31)
• Matthew 13:12; Mark 4:25; Luke 8:18; 19:26

Godly one talent Christians

Andrew – Peter’s brother

• John 1:29-42
• John 1:41-42 – Andrew brings his brother to Jesus.
• Andrew is mentioned 14 times. Peter is mentioned 176 times.
• John 6:5-9 – Andrew brought the boy with the lunch to Jesus.
• Matthew 19:13; Mark 10:13; Luke 18:15 – The apostles rebuked people for bringing children to Jesus.
• John 12:20-22 – Philip seeks advice from Andrew.
• Peter had constant issues with Gentiles, so he probably was not the logical person for Philip to ask.
• Andrew and Philip brought these people to Jesus.
• He brought his brother, the young boy, and the Greeks.
• That was Andrew’s talent, and he used it well.

More stories – Dorcas

• Acts 9:36-43
• The widows used one of their talents to persuade Peter when he got to Dorcas’ house (Acts 9:41 – the widows were listed separately from the saints).

More stories – Lydia

• Acts 16:11-15 – Lydia was at a prayer service on the Sabbath.
• She heard the gospel and responded.
• She helped to convert her entire household.
• She urged Paul, and prevailed upon him to stay with her family for some time.

The parable applied

• Main points – we must find and use all that we have.
• If we do not, we:
  • Lose that ability in this life
  • And are judged for it in the next life
• Diligence is rewarded, neglect is punished!
• Is it possible that you once had a God given talent that you never used, and God took it away?

Introduction

• Malachi 4:4-5

Luke 3 – John’s message

• Luke 3:1-15 – 15th year of Tiberius Caesar (14-37 AD)
• Luke 3:2-3 – John preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Mark 1:4).
• John was about to disrupt the Jewish culture in Judea like had never been seen in centuries.
• It is a tremendous mistake to tell people you won’t have to do much to become a Christian.
• You will have to change everything about how you think and see the world around you (continuous).
• How much of my time/talent/money do I give to God?
• Rather, how much of God’s stuff should I keep?

You must disrupt your comfort zone

Following Jesus will totally disrupt your view of personal accountability.

• These people were clearly and powerfully told that their old Jewish life was of little value in their new walk with Jesus (like many good people today).
• Luke 18:9-14 – The Pharisees and tax collector.
• The gospel will completely blow up your view of a “good person.”
• I Peter 4:12-19 – Judgment will begin with us.
• Ezekiel 18:4, 30-32 – I am the way I am because of how I was raised. “I will judge each man according to his works.”
• It doesn’t matter who your parents were.
• It doesn’t matter how you were mistreated or wronged in your life.
• Stop blaming your current mistakes on past events.

Righteousness works from the inside out, not outside in.

• Following Jesus cannot be just a religious ritual, or an old habit. You cannot defeat the devil with that alone (Luke 18:14).

Stop thinking that going to church occasionally will get you to heaven. That is outward, not inward.

• Galatians 2:20; 5:24 – Conversion to Christ is called being crucified.
• II Corinthians 4:16-5:24 – “The love of Christ controls us.”
• Romans 7:9-8:18 – Only following Jesus Christ can disrupt my life in a way that has value to Jesus Christ.
• Romans 8:31-39 – The end.

Judas and Peter

Repentance

• II Peter 3:9
• God doesn’t compare sins. Romans 6:20-23; Galatians 3:10
• John 21:15-19
• Judas and Peter go in separate directions in how they grieved and faced their mistakes.
  • Matthew 27:5 – Judas took matters into his own hands.
  • John 21:15-19 – Peter is restored.
• I Corinthians 6:9
• I John 1:5-2:2
• James 5:19-20

Introduction

• Proverbs 1:1-4

Make your ear attentive to wisdom

• Proverbs 1:20-22; 2:1-5
• Proverbs 2:11-22 – Wisdom will help us avoid traps.
• Proverbs 3:5-7 – Who is wiser, you or God?
• Proverbs 5:11-12
• Proverbs 6:20-26
• Proverbs 7:24-25 – It comes down to your heart. Watch your heart and attitudes.
• Proverbs 4:7 – The first rule of wisdom: Get it!

If sinners entice you, do not consent.

• Proverbs 7:6-20 – The adulterous woman tries to entice with worldly wisdom.
• Proverbs 1:10

Can a man walk on hot coals and his feet not be scorched?

• Proverbs 6:27-35
• Proverbs 8:1
• Proverbs 5:15

… as an ox goes to the slaughter …

• Proverbs 7:21-27 – There’s a big difference between the façade and the reality.
• Proverbs 5:3-11