DID YOU MAKE A PROFIT SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 25:14-28

CONCEPT: WE ARE TO USE WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN US (OUR

CAPACITY) AND MAKE A PROFIT FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD

INTRO: TALK ABOUT THE 25TH CHAPTER. THREE PERICOPES

OR BIBLICAL PASSAGES. FIRSTLY TEN VIRGINS WHO

HELP US TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING

SPIRITUALLY AND POSITIONALLY READY. WE MUST KEEP

OURSELVES FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. IT IS THE LIGHT

WE NEED TO SEE AND BE SEEN. SECONDLY, WE MUST BE

IN PLACE. WE MUST FIND OUR PLACE IN GOD AND THEN

REMAIN THERE, PREPARED AND WAITING FOR THE COMING

CHRIST.

SECONDLY, IT SPEAKS ABOUT THE PARABLE OF THE TEN

TALENTS. I'LL EXAMINE THIS PART MORE DEEPLY IN A

MOMENT. BUT THEN THIRDLY, WE ARE GIVEN AN ACCOUNT

OF HOW GOD SEES WORKING AND SERVING THE LEAST AND

THE JUDGEMENT THAT AWAITS THOSE WHO REFUSE TO

MINISTER UNTO THE LEAST OF THESE OUR BROTHERS AND

OUR SISTERS.

STEWARDSHIP: ABOUT HAVING DONE, WHAT YOU NEED TO

DO. (TEN VIRGINS)

AND ALSO DOING WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. (TALENTS)

ALSO, WHAT WE ARE DOING, WILL DETERMINE WHAT WILL BE

DONE TO US (THESE)

GOD CALLS US TO RECEIVE AND ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT WE

HAVE BEEN GIVEN 3 T’S. TIME, TALENT AND TREASURE.

EACH OF US HAS BEEN GIVEN TALENTS. CAPACITY. WHAT

WE ARE ABLE TO DO WITH OUR 3 T’S. DIFFERING BASED

ON OUR FAITH AND THE WILL OF GOD, BUT ALL GIVEN

SOMETHING WE CAN DO WELL, ACCORDING TO THE DESIGN

AND PLAN OF GOD AND THE 3 T’S.

WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN THIS CAPACITY - 3 T’S, IN ORDER TO

FULFILL OUR DESTINY AND PURPOSE IN GOD. NONE OF US

IS ALLOWED TO SQUANDER OR HIDE OR GIFTS AND TALENTS

(OUR CAPACITY). WE SHALL BE JUDGED ON THE BASIS OF

HOW WE HAVE USED OUR CAPACITY AND MADE A PROFIT

FOR GOD. PROFIT? THAT’S A BUSINESS TERM REV. THAT’S

FINANCIAL, NOT SPIRITUAL RIGHT. GOD ISN’T EXPECTING A

PROFIT. GOD IS NON-PROFIT. RIGHT?

WELL LET’S SEE. WHAT IS PROFIT? THE DIFFERENCE

BETWEEN THE AMOUNT EARNED AND THE AMOUNT SPENT

IN OPERATING SOMETHING. THE ADVANTAGE OR BENEFIT.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT GOD GAVE YOU

AND WHAT YOU ARE ABLE TO GIVE BACK TO GOD? ARE YOU

A BENEFIT TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD. WHAT BENEFIT DO

YOU GENERATE FOR GOD? ARE YOU AN ADVANTAGE OR

DISADVANTAGE?

ARE YOU A PROFIT OR A LOSS? DO YOU HAVE MORE TO GIVE

BACK TO GOD THAN HE HAS GIVEN YOU. ARE YOU MAKING

A DIFFERENCE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD? HOW? ARE YOU

ONLY WARMING A PEW OR ATTENDING CHURCH WHEN YOU

CAN? ARE YOU SIMPLY TIPPING GOD AND GIVING HIM A

PART OF WHAT YOU HAVE LEFT? ARE YOU LEADING FOLK

TO GOD AND SEEKING TO BE FISHERS OF MEN? DO YOU

COME TO CHURCH TO WORSHIP GOD IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH

AND ALLOW HIM TO GIVE YOU POWER TO SERVE HIM WITH

GLADNESS AND LIVE A LIFE OF HOLINESS AND PURITY?

DID YOU MAKE A PROFIT? IF GOD WAS TO COME FOR US

TODAY AND LINE US UP AND ASK US ONE BY ONE, SHOW

ME WHAT YOU HAVE DONE WITH WHAT I HAVE GIVEN YOU?

WHAT WOULD YOUR RESPONSE BE? WOULD YOU BE ABLE

TO SHOW THAT YOU RECEIVED WHAT HE GAVE YOU AND

YOU INCREASED IT, MAYBE EVEN DOUBLED IT. TURNING FIVE

OPPORTUNITIES INTO TEN OR MULTIPLYING TWO TALENTS

INTO FOUR ACTS OF SERVICE. WHAT WOULD YOU BE ABLE

TO SHOW AS YOUR PROFIT? WOULD YOU BE LIKE THE ONE

WITH FOUR OR TWO TALENTS? OR WOULD YOU BE LIKE THE

ONE WHO HID HIS TALENT IN THE EARTH. HID YOUR MONEY

FROM GOD. HID YOUR TIME, TALENT AND TREASURE FROM

GOD. HID YOUR CAPACITY FROM THE LORD.

MAKING EXCUSES. BEING AFRAID AND ACTING LIKE THAT'S A

REASON THAT GOD WILL RESPECT. TELLING GOD WHAT HE

ALREADY KNOWS AND ACTING LIKE HE'LL GIVE YOU A PASS

BECAUSE YOU'RE UNFAITHFUL OR UNWILLING TO TRUST

HIM. HOPING HE'LL OVERLOOK OUR UNPROFITABILITY. BUT

REV. THE GUY WITH THE ONE TALENT, HE DIDN'T WASTE IT,

SOMEONE MIGHT SAY. HE STILL WAS ABLE TO PRODUCE IT.

YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT, HE PRODUCED IT; BUT HE WASTED THE

PROFIT HE COULD HAVE MADE. HE WASTED IT BY NOT USING

IT. HE WASTED IT BY BEING AFRAID OF WHAT OTHERS MIGHT

THINK OR AFRAID OF TAKING A RISK.

COMING OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE AND WALKING BY

FAITH AND NOT BY SIGHT. WHO WANTS TO WALK ON WATER,

WHEN ITS SO LIKELY THAT WE MIGHT FAIL. WHO WANTS

TO LAY HANDS ON THE SICK, WHEN IT'S POSSIBLE THEY

MIGHT NOT BE OUTWARDLY HEALED. WHO WANTS TO SPEAK

UP FOR THE LORD, WHEN ITS LIKELY I MIGHT BE JUDGED

OR OSTRACIZED BY MY FRIENDS. WHO WANTS TO TELL

SOMEBODY ABOUT JESUS AND RISK BEING SEEN AS A HOLY

ROLLER. WHO WANTS TO TAKE THE CHANCE TO WITNESS TO

SOME LOST SOUL AND RISK BEING REJECTED OR RIDICULED.

IN THIS WORLD, NOT MAKING A PROFIT, ALLOWS TWO

RESULTS. EITHER YOU BREAK EVEN OR YOU TAKE A LOSS.

BREAKING EVEN MEANS YOU ONLY GOT BACK WHAT YOU

PUT OUT. YOU ONLY EARNED ENOUGH TO COVER WHAT

YOU SPENT. YOU BROKE EVEN. BREAKING EVEN IN THE

WORLD, IS OFTEN SEEN AS A GOOD OUTCOME, COMPARED

TO TAKING A LOSS. NO BODY WANTS TO TAKE A LOSS. IN

THE WORLD, WHEN IT COSTS YOU MORE THAN YOU EARNED,

THAT'S A LOSS. WHEN YOU GET BACK LESS THAN WHAT YOU

PUT OUT. THAT'S A LOSS.

BUT KNOW THIS, IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD. GOD IS NOT

LOOKING TO BREAKEVEN. BREAKING EVEN WITH GOD IS

NOT ACCEPTABLE. GOD IS A GOD OF PROFIT. GOD WOULD

PROBABLY BE A CAPITALIST IN THE SCHEME OF THINGS

FROM A SPIRITUAL POINT OF VIEW. WHY? GOD EXPECTS

TO MAKE A PROFIT. GOD HONORS THOSE WHO MAKE A

PROFIT. HE REWARDS THOSE WHO MAKE A PROFIT. AND HE

PUNISHES THOSE WHO DON'T. THE MAN IN OUR TEXT BROKE

EVEN. ALL HE HAD WAS WHAT HE STARTED OUT WITH. ALL

HE INVESTED, WAS THE TIME AND ENERGY NECESSARY

TO HIDE IT. HE GOT BACK ENOUGH TO EQUAL WHAT HE

STARTED WITH. BUT WITH GOD, THAT WAS SEEN AS WICKED

AND SLOTHFUL.

WHY? BECAUSE THERE IS NO FAILURE IN GOD. THERE IS

NO LACK IN GOD. GOD IS A GOD OF MORE THAN ENOUGH.

HE IS JEHOVAH JIREH. GOD OUR PROVIDER. WITH GOD,

ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE, IF WE ONLY BELIEVE. IN THE

PARABLE OF THE SOWER, WE LEARN:

THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO GENERATE 10, 20, EVEN A HUNDRED

FOLD RETURN. BUT IT IS BASED ON THE SOIL YOU PLANT

OR INVEST YOUR GIFTS AND TALENTS IN. IF YOU'RE TRYING

TO PLANT YOUR SEED (GIFTS AND TALENTS) IN HARD AND

UNBROKEN SOIL. IN A PLACE WHERE IT CAN'T BE RECEIVED,

IT IS NOT GOING TO BEAR FRUIT. IF YOU TRY TO PLANT

YOUR SEED OR INVEST YOUR CAPACITY IN A PLACE THAT

IS SHALLOW. IMMATURE AND NOT CULTIVATED. IN A

PLACE WHERE ALL YOU GET IS PEACHES AND CREAM, AND

SWEETNESS WITHOUT CONVICTION.

WHERE YOU ONLY GET WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR, BUT

NOT WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW, THEN IT'LL SEEM TO MAKE

A PROFIT, BUT WHEN THINGS GET HOT AND TRIBULATION

CHALLENGES YOUR INVESTMENT. IT WILL BECOME QUICKLY

EVIDENT THAT IT WASN'T PLANTED IN THE RIGHT PLACE.

OR IF YOU INVEST IT AMONGST THE TARES OR WEEDS. IF

YOU PLANT IT AMONGST FOLK WHO CAN'T BE TRUSTED

OR WHO DON'T HAVE YOUR BEST INTEREST IN MIND. IT'LL

GROW, BUT IT WILL BE DESTROYED BY THOSE YOU SOUGHT

TO INVEST YOUR GIFTS AND TALENTS AMONGST. THEIR

ENVY WILL KILL YOUR INVESTMENT. THEIR JEALOUSY AND

THEIR UNFORGIVING SPIRIT WILL PREVENT YOU FROM BEING

PROFITABLE.

BUT THE BIBLE SAYS, IF YOU PLANT YOUR SEED, IF YOU

INVEST YOUR CAPACITY, YOUR GIFTS AND YOUR TALENTS

IN GOOD GROUND, THE BIBLE SAYS THAT SOME WILL BRING

FORTH EVEN A ONE HUNDRED FOLD RETURN. THAT'S WHY

GOD PUNISHES THE PERSON WHO ONLY BREAKS EVEN.

HE DOES IT BECAUSE HE IS ABLE TO DO EXCEEDINGLY

ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL WE COULD EVER ASK OR THINK. HE

CAN MAKE A WAY OUT OF NO WAY.

GOD HAS THIS CRAZY KIND OF MATH THAT DOESN'T MAKE

SENSE. GOD CAN TAKE TWO FISH AND FIVE LOAVES AND

FEED OVER FIVE THOUSAND AND HAVE A MAJOR PROFIT

LEFT OVER. HE CAN TAKE WATER AND TURN IT INTO WINE.

GOD CAN TAKE ONE SEED AND TURN IT INTO A HUNDRED.

GOD CAN TAKE ONE AND CHASE A THOUSAND AND TAKE TWO

AND CHASE TEN THOUSAND. GOD'S GOT THIS CRAZY MATH.

HE CAN TAKE TWELVE MEN AND SAVE MILLIONS.

THAT'S WHY GOD CHASTISED AND PUNISHED THE

UNPROFITABLE SERVANT, BECAUSE WE CAN'T HELP MAKING

A PROFIT IF WE GIVE IT TO JESUS. IF WE LET THE LORD

GUIDE US AND DIRECT US. IF WE SURRENDER WHAT WE

HAVE INTO THE MASTER'S HANDS.

DON'T WORRY ABOUT FAILURE. ITS NATURAL TO HAVE

SOME FEELINGS OF ANXIETY WHEN WE TAKE A RISK. BUT

YOU CAN'T BE SO AFRAID THAT WE STOP TRUSTING IN GOD.

SOMETIMES THINGS MIGHT LOOK LIKE FAILURE BUT DON'T

YOU EVER COUNT GOD OUT. SOMETIMES IT MIGHT LOOK

LIKE ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS ARE WASTED AND THAT WHAT

YOU TRIED TO CREATE OR WHAT YOU TRIED TO ACCOMPLISH

CAME TO NO END OR SEEMINGLY WAS ALL WASTED.

BUT DON'T FORGET, GOD IS ABLE. HE MAY ALLOW YOU TO

BE TROUBLED ON EVERYSIDE, BUT DON'T BE DISTRESSED,

YOU MIGHT EVEN GET PERPLEXED, BUT DON'T DESPAIR.

YEAH, THE WORLD MIGHT EVEN PERSECUTE YOU, BUT

DON'T FORGET HE PROMISED NEVER TO LEAVE YOU NOR

FORSAKE YOU. AND THAT'S RIGHT, SOMETIMES, ITS GOING

TO EVEN GET SO BAD THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE CAST

DOWN, KNOCKED DOWN, SEEMINGLY WIPED OUT. BUT DON'T

FORGET, GOD PROMISED THAT YOU WON'T BE DESTROYED.

HOW CAN YOU MAKE THAT STATEMENT. WELL, THEY TELL

ME HE WAS WOUNDED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS, HE WAS

BRUISED FOR OUR INIQUITY AND THE CHASTISEMENT OF

OUR PEACE WAS UPON HIM; BUT WITH, BUT WITH, BUT WITH

HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED.

COME ON REV. MAKE IT PLAINER THAN THAT, OK. JESUS

WALKED THIS EARTH AND AS AN ENTREPRENEUR, A

CARPENTER'S SON, HE WAS ABOUT BUSINESS, HIS FATHER'S

BUSINESS. HE GOT 12 PARTNERS TO INVEST THEIR LIVES

INTO THE BUSINESS AND MADE A GREAT START. HAD A

LOT OF CUSTOMERS AND CLIENTS. BUT BECAUSE OF THE

MARKET CONDITIONS, HIS COMPETITION, THE SCRIBES AND

THE PHARISEES, THE SADDUCCEES AND THE JEWS; THEY

CONSPIRED TO DESTROY HIS BUSINESS AND TO KEEP HIM

FROM MAKING A PROFIT.

THEY LIED ON HIM AND THEY SET HIM UP. THEY EVEN

INFILTRATED HIS BUSINESS AND TOOK ONE OF HIS

PARTNERS TO DESTROY HIS BUSINESS, THROUGH

INDUSTRIAL ESPIONAGE, THEY CUT A DEAL ON THE

SIDE TO KEEP HIM FROM MAKING A PROFIT. AND THEN

THEY GOT JESUS WHERE THEY WANTED HIM AND THEN

PUBLICLY HUMILIATED HIM. STRIPPED HIM OF HIS DIGNITY

AND SHAMED HIM. BEFORE THOSE WHO WOULD BE HIS

CUSTOMERS AND CLIENTS. AND THEN THEY KILLED HIM AND

SEEMLY THE ENTERPRISE HE HAD ESTABLISHED. AND IT

LOOKED AS IF THEY NOT ONLY TOOK AWAY HIS PROFIT; BUT

IT SEEMED AS THOUGH THEY MADE HIM TAKE A LOSS. POOR

JESUS, HIS PARTNERS SAID. HE AND HIS BUSINESS ARE

FINISHED, HIS COMPETITORS SAID. BUT DIDN'T I TELL YOU TO

NEVER COUNT GOD OUT. REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS,

IT AIN'T EVER OVER UNTIL GOD SAYS ITS OVER.

AND WHEN IT SEEMED LIKE HIS BUSINESS WAS DESTROYED,

WHEN IT APPEARED AS THOUGH ALL OF HIS WORK WAS IN

VAIN AND THAT IT WOULDN'T PRODUCE A PROFIT, THAT'S

WHEN GOD. THE SOVEREIGN KING. GOD THE ONE WHO

GIVES THE POWER TO GET WEALTH. GOD THE EVERLASTING,

TRUE AND LIVING LORD OF ALL. THAT'S WHEN HE TURNED

A LOSS INTO A PROFIT. HE TURNED BANKRUPTCY INTO A

DYNASTY. HE BROUGHT TO LIFE A DEAD ENTERPRISE, RIGHT

BEFORE THEIR EYES. CAUSE EARLY, I SAID, EARLY. EARLY

AFTER EVERY ONE HAD GIVEN UP ON MAKING A PROFIT.

EARLY, AFTER EVERYONE HAD ACCEPTED THE LOSS. THAT'S

WHEN GOD TURNED THINGS AROUND. THAT'S WHEN GOD,

MADE A WAY OUT OF NO WAY. THAT'S WHEN GOD TOOK

THAT INVESTMENT THAT THE WORLD SAID FAILED AND

TURNED IT INTO AN ETERNAL, EVERLASTING, RESURRECTED

AND DIVINELY PROTECTED PROFIT & GOING CONCERN.

GOD MADE A PROFIT. ONE THAT'S STILL PAYING DIVIDENDS

AND GENERATING RETURNS UNTO ALL WHO WOULD BELIEVE.

HE’S GOT THE BIGGEST FRANCHISE IN THE WORLD. I SEE HE

OPENED UP ONE HERE ALONG TIME AGO AND ITS STILL IN

BUSINESS. STILL MAKING A PROFIT. A GOING CONCERN. HE

HAS A FRANCHISE SYSTEM THAT’S MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN

SAFEWAY, BIGGER THAN BURGER KING, MAKING MORE THAN

MCDONALDS. GOD SENT THE PROPHET TO MAKE A PROFIT

AND TO SHOW US THE WAY. JUST TRUST HIM. TRUST HIM.

ONLY TRUST HIM. ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE... IF YOU ONLY

BELIEVE. BELIEVE GOD CAN TAKE WHAT YOU HAVE, YOUR

CAPACITY, YOUR GIFTS AND YOUR TALENTS AND GENERATE

A PROFIT FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD. YEAH. YEAH. YEAH

YEAH! SAY YEAH!

ANYBODY HERE MAKING A PROFIT FOR GOD! ANYBODY,

OPERATING A LOSING BUSINESS, MANAGING THE WRONG

FRANCHISE AND DESIRE TO MAKE A PROFIT FOR GOD.