From the recording 77 Lessons of Life #23-33
Lyrics
Lesson 31 of 77
The Reward of the Good and Faithful Servant
{See Lessons 26, 27, 30, 32, 35, 41}
By Lawrence DeMetrius
Yahweh created mortals to glorify HIM on earth and endowed them with various abilities to do so. As HE is the ONE WHO grants it, Yahweh is fully aware of the measure of faith and ability imparted to each of HIS earthly subjects. THE LORD distributes these talents at the discretion of the Holy Ghost. Regarding God-given talents given unto mortals Apostle Paul writes,
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
[Rm 12:6-8]
Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will.
[I Cor 12:4-11]
…When He <Christ> ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
And He <Christ> gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some pastors and teachers:
<Why?> For the perfection of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ:
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:
<Why?> That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and from, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
But speaking the truth in love may grow up into Him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ:
From Whom the whole Body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the Body unto the edifying of itself in love.
[Eph 4:8, 11-13]
While it is true that all mortals are endowed with some type of unique God-given ability, it is also true that repentance is not required to operate these gifts. Apostle Paul writes,
For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
[Rm 11:29]
In order for one’s gifting to be effectively utilized in the service of THE LORD, they must be wholeheartedly devoted to HIM and HIS rule. This requirement is not new to any generation of Yahweh worshipers as it has always been this way. In his dialogue with the fallen king Saul, the High Priest Samuel said,
…Hath THE LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of THE LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
<Why?> For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
[I Sam 15:22, 23a]
Per Apostle Paul, it is impossible to serve Yahweh without first acquiring the ability to properly do so, by becoming spiritually born-again through Christ the Word and the Holy Ghost. He writes,
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.
And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
[Rm 8:5-10]
The Lord Jesus said,
No man 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.
[Mt 6:24]
But the hour cometh, and now is when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship HIM.
God is a Spirit: and they that worship HIM must worship HIM in spirit and in truth.
[St Jn 4:23, 24]
He <Christ the Word> came unto His Own, and His Own received Him not.
But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name:
Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
[St Jn 1:11-13]
If ye continue in My word then are ye My disciples indeed;
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
[Jn 8:31, 32, 36]
Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
[Mt 5:19]
Upon obtaining spiritual renewal, sufficient knowledge and understanding of the Holy Scriptures, and a certain degree of spiritual maturity, Yahweh expects HIS born-again sons to produce according to the measure of faith and several abilities imparted unto them by the Holy Ghost. This idea is expressed by Christ per The Parable of the Talents wherein He expounds upon the productivity of one’s life, the fruit produced thereby per their God-given ability and the appointed time at which they will be compensated therefore. The Lord Jesus said,
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.
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.
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.
And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
[Mt 25:14, 15, 29, 30]
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father.
[Jn 14:12]
I am the Vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit:
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit: so shall ye be My Disciples.
[Jn 15:5, 8]
To reiterate, this rule is a universal rule that applies to all mortals as all are initially created to reverence and obey Yahweh. King Solomon writes,
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep HIS commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
<Why?> For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
[Eccl 12:13, 14]
In regard to the great day of compensation for all spirits Apostle John writes,
And I saw a great white throne, and HIM that sat on it, from WHOSE FACE the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is The Book of Life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This Is the Second Death.
And whosoever was not found written in The Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
[Rev 20:11-15]
Having this knowledge, all earthly servants are admonished to redeem their mortal lifetime wisely, by prioritizing the accomplishment of Yahweh’s will in their lives and the world at large. In so doing, they secure The Reward of the Good and Faithful Servant. Apostle Paul writes,
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of THE LORD, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in THE LORD.
[I Cor 15:58]
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