Every day pray that everyone you know will either become a Christian or influence others to become a Christian, and please share this online book with others - www.areyousureyouaresaved.com
Worship music - Please click the links and sing along if you know the words (You can also click skip ad to go straight to the songs) -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bDjKbMEwoU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIydtsFBiJ8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8qyzDUdVW8
For Wednesday evening services, the Lord has lead me to do a Bible study for practical Bible verses in Matthew. Please come back to these Bible lessons in order to review them and learn them. Whenever we have learned the meaning of Bible verses and think about them throughout each day, we will be in perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3). Not only that, but when we are in a situation in our daily lives and are tempted to sin, we can think back to what we have learned from the Bible and say to ourselves, "The Bible says to not do what I am tempted to say, think, do, and/or desire right now, so I am going to refuse to give in to this temptation." This is what Romans 12:2 means, and it says, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." This is also the pattern that Jesus used when the devil tempted Him to sin in Matthew 4:1-11.
Chapter 25
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW
Matthew 25:14-30
14For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15And 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. 16Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
19After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20And 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. 21His 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. (God doesn't give every Christian the same ability to reach many in order to lead them to Jesus, teach them how to live the Christian lifestyle, minister to their physical and mental needs, and give them the same amount of money in order to meet people's financial needs, but He expects every Christian to do their best with the abilities He gives them. When this happens, they will have great success in leading people to Jesus, teaching how to live the Christian lifestyle, helping physical and mental needs, and helping people financially, etc. (Matthew 25:20).)
22He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23His lord said unto him, Well done, 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. (This is the same scenerio as the previous example, but God didn't expect for this person to help as many people. This person did, however, do their best with the ability and resources God gave them, and that's what is important.)
24Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. (No matter the excuse, Christians should try to help others when the Lord gives them opportunites.)
26His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29For 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. (Like this servant, when Christians fail to serve when given the oppertunity, ability, and resources but fail to do so, the Lord can take away their oppertunity and give it to someone else.) 30And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (This may or may not mean that this particular servant went to hell, because we don't know anything else about his lifestyle. He could have been faithful in serving the Lord on past occasions but had happened to fail this time. Nevertheless, it could also mean that this servant represents those who pray or make decisions to become Christians but don't have the kind of change in their lifestyles that true Christians display. When someone is lazy and never helps others, eventhough they believe that Jesus died on the cross to erase their sins, it proves they aren't really a Christian. See James 2:14-26. If this describes you, please follow chapter 10 of this book - www.areyousureyouaresaved.com)
Even though this parable applies to the time that you invest in using your abilities to teach people the Bible and lead people to the Lord, etc., it is also very important to invest money in places like the stock market. You can have the opportunity to double and triple the money that you invested, and you can give the money that you make to God’s purposes.
If you have not prayed or made a decision to become a Christian, please follow chapter 41 of this book - www.areyousureyouaresaved.com
If you have prayed or made a decision to become a Christian, but you are not sure you are really a Christian (Hebrews 11:6, Matthew 21:18-22, 1 John 5:14, and Hebrews 11:1), please follow this website - http://chriswaug5.wix.com/howtogotoheaven