By the Holy Spirit with Nicole Moore and Debra Walker
December 4-5, 2015

 

Parable of the Talents

[In ancient days, a “talent” was a sum of money equivalent to a year’s wages. “Talents” in King James Version (KJV) is translated as “bags of gold” in the New International Version (NIV). For readability, we’ve used NIV here, but because we also have a connotation of “skill” for the word “talent,” we’ve taken the liberty to substitute “talents” for “bags of gold:”]

Matthew 25:14- NIV
“14 ‘Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants, and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17 So also, the one with two talents gained two more. 18 But the one who had received one went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

“19 ‘After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five talents brought the other five. “Master,” he said, “you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.”

“21 ‘His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”

“22 ‘The man with two talents also came. “Master,” he said, “you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.”

“23 ‘His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”

“24 ‘Then the man who had received one talent came. “Master,” he said, I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.”

“26 ‘His master replied, “You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

“28 ‘ “So take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken away from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” ’ ”

Note:      “Darkness, weeping, and gnashing of teeth” are used often in the scriptures as a euphemism for Hell.

 

The Question

We will be held responsible for what we’ve done with every gift we have received from our Father in Heaven – every financial gain, every skill, every personality trait, everything. When we stand before the Father on Judgment Day, will you be able to say to Him, “I used every talent You gave me.”?

1 Peter 4:10 NIV
“10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”

Did you tell everyone you could that Jesus is coming soon? What about the distant aunt, or the cashier at the store whom you always see? The lady at the coffee shop? Or the man at the gas station? Jesus is coming sooner than you think. One day soon, they won’t have a “tomorrow” on Earth.

Revelation 9:15 NIV     
“15 And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind.”

Why did you not tell them that I love them? Would you rather someone else tell them, and receive the reward that could have been yours?

Matthew 16:27 NIV
“27 For the Son of Man is going to come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will reward each person according to what they have done.” [Emphasis and some deity capitals added.]

“Reward” in this scripture can be “good” or “bad.” Will your reward be a positive one? Or will it be the recompense of the wicked who do not obey Him?

Hebrews 10:30-31 KJV
“30 For we know Him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto Me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again the Lord shall judge His people.

”31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” [Emphasis and some deity capitals added.]

Psalm 91:7-8 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
“7 A thousand may fall at your side
And ten thousand at your right hand,
But it shall not approach you.
8 You will only look on with your eyes
And see the recompense of the wicked.” [Emphasis added.]

And what if there is no one else? Are you really willing to risk that no one tells them, and they spend eternity in torment because you were too cowardly, unloving, or self-centered to tell them? What if no one had bothered to love you enough to take the time to tell you?

Matthew 28:18-20 NIV
“18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’ ” [Deity capital added.]

You have been called to show them My love. In My love I have distributed faith to all. My love is to send the gift of My Son; to extend mercy, and grace, and forgiveness through Him. But how will they know this gift awaits only their free-will choice if they are not told? I have already chosen them, for it is My desire that none perish, but they must choose Me. I will not force Myself on them. If they do not choose Me, then they have chosen to be without Me.

Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV
“8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.” [Emphasis added.]

John 3:16 KJV
“16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” [Emphasis and some deity capitals added.]

2 Peter 3:9-12 NIV
“9 The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

“10 But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed with fire and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare [some manuscripts: be burned up].

“11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming [3:12 or: as you wait eagerly for the day of God to come]. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.” [Emphasis and deity & Day capitals added.]

Matthew 12.36 NIV
“36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for every empty word they have spoken.” [Emphasis and capitals added.]

Are your words full with the way to life eternal? Or are they empty, devoid of eternal life-giving?

John 14:6 NLT
“16 Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me.’ ” [Emphasis and deity capital added.]

Show them the Father’s love; lead them to the Lord! It is not your job to convince them; that belongs to the Holy Spirit. But it is up to you to pave the way. Tell them the truth of the gospel (good news) of Christ!

1 Peter 4:8 NIV
“8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”

John 13:34-35 NIV
“34 ‘A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.’ ” [Deity capital added.]

Cry out for your family who do not know Me! Your prayers make a difference! Pray for their salvation first. Then tell them the good news. If they do not receive the gift, pray for their salvation again, daily. Do not stop praying for them. Lovingly remind them it is their choice. Remind them that by not making a choice, they are choosing Hell by default. Continue to pray. Continue to remind, in love.

James (Jacob) 5:16b New Living Translation (NLT)
“16 … The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”

Many know a testimony like this one: There was a husband and father whose salvation had been prayed for by his wife for decades and by his children for nearly as long. But through all the years of prayer and all the offers to accept the gift of salvation, he steadfastly refused. Finally one rare evening he attended a special event at church. The pastor made an alter call at the end, and to everyone’s surprise, this man literally jumped out of his seat and went forward to give his life to Christ. Afterwards, he told us that he had no intention of going forward, but at that moment it felt like someone jabbed his backsides with a hot poker. (Holy Spirit has many ways to get someone’s attention!) This man’s conversion was genuine under the power of the Spirit, and his life revolutionized for the Lord. Never give up praying!

Did you look after widows and orphans?

James 1:27 KJV
“27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” [Emphasis added.]

Did you help the hungry? the thirsty? the stranger? the naked? the sick? or the prisoners?

Matthew 25:31-46 NIV
“31 ‘When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left.

“34 ‘Then the King will say to those on His right, “Come you who are blessed by My Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited Me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you came to visit Me.”

“37 ‘Then the righteous will answer Him, “Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and invite You in, or needing clothes and clothe You? 39 When did we see You sick or in prison and go to visit You?”

“40 ‘The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of Mine you did for Me.”

“41 ‘Then He will say to those on His left, “Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite Me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after Me.”

“44 ‘They also will answer, “Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help You?”

“45 ‘He will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.”

“46 ‘Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.’ ” [Some deity capitals added.]

Did you extend My arms to them? If we are to please the Lord, this is part of the requirement He asks of us. He has given you talents to use for the Kingdom. Have you in the past? Do you presently? Will you in the future? When?

1 Peter 4:10 NIV
“10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”

Judgment Day Is Sooner than You Think

1 Peter 4:17 KJV
“17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at {begins with} us, what shall the end be of them that obey not {do not obey} the gospel of God?” [Emphasis and {notes} added.]

Prophet Brian Carn heard from the Lord on November 25, 2015, that “2016 will be a year of unusual death.” He said, “You will enter into the new year in tears and mourning.” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imMOZHv5OqA)

On the same date, November 25^th, Prophet Neville Johnson was told by the Lord, “The end of this year will usher in the changing of the guard.”

In explanation he wrote, “This November when the Lord spoke to me He strongly emphasized that the end of this year we would again see a changing of the guard and that this would have profound consequences. Batons and mantles which have been passed on will be powerfully activated in a way that would be much greater in power and authority than the former holders of these batons had experienced. The Lord also spoke to me concerning a removal of many in ministry who were not teaching holiness and sanctification and were using their ministry for personal gain. However many of the old guard who had been faithful to the Lord would be taken home.” (From the Desk of Neville Johnson by email December 3, 2015.)

Prophetess Mena Lee Grebin published on the same date, December 3^rd, that World War III has already begun. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agbLbBZVi-A&spfreload=1)

Are you ready to face your Judge?