AWAKE, ARISE, AND TRIUMPH
Sunday – December 12, 2021, Tevet 8, 5782
A WELL OF TRUTH
TALENTS AND POUNDS
Greetings to our precious friends and partners in the gospel and welcome back to “A Well of Truth”. Before I move forward, please take a moment and share these teachings as widely as possible to expand our reach with the very best news anyone, anywhere, at anytime can ever receive. The good news is that there is a God, and He loves each and every one of us saved or not. He has a wonderful plan for every person ever born or to be born. All other plans have destruction in their end. He has provided a Savior, a Savior from the wrath to come and Hell. When we believe in our heart and declare with our mouth by faith, that He is Lord and Savior we are quickened to eternal life (resurrected) and translated from this present darkness into His marvelous light by His Grace. We are then seated with Him, in Him, at the right hand of the Father. I beg you, be reconciled to God now, move from your current state of enmity with God to being His friend.
Now, let’s move to our study for today. This study is in many ways related to our recent study of the best use of time or redeeming the time. I will talk briefly about the accounts of the talents and pounds. First the talents. Many spiritualize this with no consideration of the natural component, it is both. All of us are unique, having been given certain talents and gifts in the natural and in the spirit. What are we doing with them? First however let us consider the following passage (all in red).
Luke 16:10-13 (KJV)
10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?
13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
As you reflect on this passage think in the natural and the spiritual. If we are not faithful with the little, we have, God is not going to bring the much into our lives. Simply put, we cannot be trusted. If we won’t tithe on $100, we won’t tithe on a million dollars either. Simply put we worship mammon, the god of materialism. Money and things are not intrinsically bad unless they become an idol, one of our gods. Money and things are to be tools not only for our enjoyment but to bless people and further the Kingdom of God. Where are we focused? In the Kingdom of God, if we will love (agape) God and love people with our physical things and spiritual things there are not limits to our increase. Remember, love (agape) at its core is obedience to the Lord, a selfless lifestyle, and walking out Blood Covenant. Now let’s turn our attention to the account of the talents. These talents represent physical and spiritual assets.
Matthew 25:14-18 (KJV)
14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
The man traveling into a far country is our Lord Christ Jesus. There is going to be a day of reckoning as to what we did with what He left with us.
Matthew 25:19-21 (KJV)
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
The Lord said the same to one given two talents and had gained two more. Now what about the one who hid what the Lord had given him?
Matthew 25:28-30 (KJV)
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
I don’t think this sounds very good. Is it any wonder that we are commanded over and over to not fear? That was this person’s issue.
Matthew 25:25 (KJV)
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
I don’t know what you think about verse thirty but it does not sound at all like eternal security. This is the same as the account of the ten virgins, 5 wise and 5 foolish. When they came to the door late the Lord answered the five foolish (unprepared) virgins Matthew 25:12 (KJV) But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Now, back to the account of the talents, all three were servants, two entered into the joy of the Lord, enjoyed His strength in their lives, however, the third did not enter the joy of the Lord.
Notice the difference between the profitable servant and the unprofitable servant? The profitable servants treated the talents as their own whereas the unprofitable servant never did. Failure to take responsibility. Fear will prevent productivity in the natural and the spiritual. Love (agape) drives out fear (fear is an evil spirit). Fear is not of God.
2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Power, love (agape), and a sound mind will produce abundantly for the Kingdom of God and in our own lives. Next week, Lord willing, we will explore the account of the pounds.
2 Chronicles 20:20 b (KJV)
20 … Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
Until our next publication, as your Bible Teacher and a Prophetic Voice in your life I speak this blessing over each and every one of you, receive it, believe it, doubt it not, and speak over yourself and your family by faith in Jesus’ name!
Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)
24 The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;
26 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
PRAYERS AND QUESTIONS – please, anytime you have an issue that you want me, this ministry to pray for you, a person you love or a situation contact me. Accordingly, if you should have a question about the Bible, please do not hesitate to ask it.
PARTNERSHIP AND GIVING – Those of you who are not Partners of this Ministry and you find this ministry to be of value to you and perhaps others with whom you share it, we ask you to consider becoming Partners. A Partner is one who prays for the Ministry on a regular basis and contributes to the Ministry on a regular basis (monthly, quarterly, annually). Thank you and may the Lord be pleased with your decision.
CONTACT E-MAIL: pastordavidwood@gmail.com
BLOG: https://awakeariseandtriumphministries.org
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/awakearisetriumphministries
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/PastorDavidWood
MAILING ADDRESS: 15007 Rock River Street, San Antonio, Texas 78247-3030
MY BOOKS: https://awakeariseandtriumphministries.org/shop/
