The Partner

GET DOWN TO BUSINESS – THE PARTNER

Main Text: Matthew 25:14-30 (MSG)

REVIEW

Luke 2:41 (NKJV) - The Boy Jesus Amazes the Scholars 41 His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. 43 When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; 44 but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day's journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. 46 Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. 48 So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously." 49 And He said to them, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" 50 But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 (KJV) 11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 (NLT) 11 Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. 12 Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.

Luke 19:13 (NKJV) 13 So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, 'Do business till I come.'

Alignment Leads to Assignment

• So he sends his creation to oversee the expansion

Genesis 1:26-28 (AMP) 26 Then God said, "Let Us (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) make man in Our image, according to Our likeness [not physical, but a spiritual personality and moral likeness]; and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the cattle, and over the entire earth, and over everything that creeps and crawls on the earth." 27 So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 And God blessed them [granting them certain authority] and said to them, "Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and subjugate it [putting it under your power]; and rule over (dominate) the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and every living thing that moves upon the earth

Create, Duplicate, Dominate

Matthew 6:33 (AMP) 33 But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.

Alignment Leads to Assignment – Fulfillment Comes

• Create

• Connect

• Contribute

Matthew 6:9-13 (AMP) 9 "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father, who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 'Your kingdom come, Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

• We all have talent

New Material

Last week we learned to connection between stewardship and kingdom domains

From the time of the creation of mankind, each individual has been entrusted with resources of time and material wealth. Everything we have comes from God and belongs to Him. We are responsible for using those resources so that they increase in value. As Christians, we have additionally the most valuable resource of all – the Word of God. If we believe and understand Him, and apply His Word as good stewards, we are a blessing to others and the value of what we do multiplies. We are accountable to the Lord for the use of His resources.

• From the beginning God gives us everything we need and we are responsible for our management.

• God place Adam and Eve in the garden and gave the responsibility for management

STEWARDSHIP MENTALITY

Main Text: Matthew 25:14-30 (MSG)

14 "It's also like a man going off on an extended trip. He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities.

A. The long trip is your lifetime

B. One translation says a Talent- a talent is representative of a year's income

C. God is Lord of all, we are just stewards over it

D. A steward is someone put in control over something that doesn't belong to them

Psalm 24:1 (AMP) 1 The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness of it, The world, and those who dwell in it.

Matthew 25:15 (MSG) 15 To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities.

A. No one can say that God didn't give them anything to work with

B. The money was not earned

C. Giving based on ability

D. We are to manage what God has given us-Our stewardship must be managed

E. Take your own annual income and multiply it by 40 working years and you'll start to get a handle on the proportions we are talking about here.

F. Friends, this is the same question the Lord will one day ask of you and me, what did you do with all I gave you?

G. God is trying to promote you to another level and He wants to see how faithful you can be on the current level

H. To Whom much is giving much is required

Matthew 25:16-17 (MSG) 16 Then he left. Right off, the first servant went to work and doubled his master's investment. 17 The second did the same.

A. A very clear take away from this parable is that faithfulness on our part requires that we put the gifts and talents God has graciously given us to work in ways that please and honor Him.

B. We can also see that God not only expects us to be faithful, but also fruitful in our use of the gifts He has given.

C. To be fruitful you must be faithful, and you cannot be fruitful without being faithful

Matthew 25:18 (MSG) 18 But the man with the single thousand dug a hole and carefully buried his master's money.

A. The level that we are willing to release often is the level of my trust in Him

B. Story people in your life, we have people in our lives that we would give our last too because they are faithful and there also people we wouldn't give a dollar too

Ecclesiastes 11:1 (NLT) 1 Send your grain across the seas, and in time, profits will flow back to you.

Matthew 25:19 (MSG) 19"After a long absence, the master of those three servants came back and settled up with them.

A. If God came back today, in what condition would your account be in

B. You have an account

Philippians 4:17 (AMP) 17 Not that I seek the gift itself, but I do seek the profit which increases to your [heavenly] account [the blessing which is accumulating for you].

Matthew 25:20-25 (MSG) 20 The one given five thousand dollars showed him how he had doubled his investment. 21 His master commended him: 'Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.'

A. Remember the initial command from God was to be fruitful and multiply

B. Are you in partnership with God?

22 "The servant with the two thousand showed how he also had doubled his master's investment. 23 His master commended him: 'Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.'

A. Being fruitful isn't your part; your part is to be faithful because faithfulness is the root of fruitfulness.

B. God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

24 "The servant given one thousand said, 'Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error.

A. Excuses

25 I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.'

2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT) 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

A. So we know when fear creeps in, it's not of God

B. People often struggle with giving out of fear of lack

1 John 4:18 (AMP) 18 There is no fear in love [dread does not exist]. But perfect (complete, full-grown) love drives out fear, because fear involves [the expectation of divine] punishment, so the one who is afraid [of God's judgment] is not perfected in love [has not grown into a sufficient understanding of God's love].

Matthew 25:26-27 (MSG) 26 "The master was furious. 'That's a terrible way to live! It's criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? 27 The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest.

A. Self-preservation is not an excuse for inactivity.

B. Service always ranks higher than security.

Matthew 28-30 (MSG) 28-30 "'Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this "play-it-safe" who won't go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness.'

A. He will give the good steward more, good managers get more

B. God takes from bad stewards and gives it to good stewards

C. Money runs to management

D. Those who multiplied were rewarded

E. Maintaining is not rewarded

F. Those who multiplied were rewarded and those who maintained were cursed

Fruitfulness can be seen as the supernatural ability to bring forth a harvest; the power of God to develop the potential to bring forth seed. This is the ability given by God to be able to see His provision and favor in your life.

WISDOM KEYS

WISDOM KEY #1 - FAITHFULNESS IS A CHOICE

LUKE 16:10-13 (AMP) 10 "He who is faithful in a very little thing is also faithful in much; and he who is dishonest in a very little thing is also dishonest in much. 11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of earthly wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you? 12 And if you have not been faithful in the use of that [earthly wealth] which belongs to another [whether God or man, and of which you are a trustee], who will 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 he will stand devotedly by the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon [that is, your earthly possessions or anything else you trust in and rely on instead of God]."

Discussion Questions

1. The master's invitation "From now on be my partner" represents God inviting faithful stewards into partnership with Him. What does it mean to be God's partner in His kingdom work?
2. The message states "a talent is representative of a year's income." If God asked you today, "What did you do with all I gave you over your lifetime?" how would you answer?
3. The parable shows God gives "depending on their abilities" (v. 15). How does knowing God calibrates His expectations to your unique abilities free you from comparison with others?
4. "To be fruitful you must be faithful, and you cannot be fruitful without being faithful." Which comes first—faithfulness or fruitfulness? How does this order matter?
5. The unfaithful servant was motivated by fear of disappointing the master. How does fear of failure or fear of lack paralyze us from taking kingdom risks? What's the antidote?
6. The master condemned "living cautiously" and the "play-it-safe" approach. When is it appropriate to take risks with what God has given you? How do we balance wisdom with faith?
7. "Self-preservation is not an excuse for inactivity. Service always ranks higher than security." What area of your life is being held back by a self-preservation mindset rather than a service mindset?
8. "Money runs to management" and "God takes from bad stewards and gives it to good stewards." How have you seen this principle play out in real life or in your own experience?
9. The message emphasizes that "maintaining is not rewarded." Why does God reward multiplication but not maintenance? What does this reveal about God's nature and expectations?
10. Luke 16:10-13 teaches that faithfulness in little things proves we can be trusted with much. What "little thing" is God asking you to be faithful with right now that could lead to greater responsibility?

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