The Last Instructions of Jesus Finale | The Great Awareness Church

[applause] you know, thank you guys. That was beautiful. >> Amen. >> I mean, just beautiful.

Um, there were names in that song, different names [music] of of God. And that's not all the names that there are in scripture of God. And uh my heart, the reason this church is even started was that everyone would have a a better relationship with Jesus. Like the whole purpose is to help you grow into a better relationship with Jesus.

Wherever you're starting from and wherever you're at, Jesus wants you to go deeper. He wants you to go a little farther. Okay? And it's just every week I'm going to try my best to bring the word in a in a uh fashion that's going to help you grow um to be more uh like Jesus and help you grow more.

And so >> let me lift that up now. Um heavenly father, Lord, I just pray you're so beautiful and and there's all those names speak of different characteristics of your as of of your your power and your glory. And I just pray that everyone here just just embrace the calling, the tug that you have on them uh to grow them a little bit deeper um from wherever they're starting and wherever they're at. And I just pray that you'll work through me to do that today, Lord, in Jesus name.

Amen. >> Amen. >> So, we've been in this series, you know, the last instructions of Jesus before he comes again. Um and this is the final week.

It's been a good It's been a good series, right? It's been been some good stuff. Um, and the pre the premise of it is this. He's coming soon.

I truly believe he's coming soon. >> Um, and that we have to get our relationship stronger. Okay. And that there's no downside >> if he he tries because getting our relationship stronger is good.

Amen. >> For us as, you know, husbands, children, you know, everything. And so, um, that's [snorts] really been the premise. And each of these seven letters had lessons.

And if you'll go back through them, whether you go online, they're all saved online on our website, okay? Or whether you get the book and and go through them, they're good to to go back and and review and and see what God has for you, okay? In fact, I encourage you to bring a notebook, you know, bring a bring a pad of paper and and take notes, you know, for the stuff um that that we teach on Sunday because it's good stuff you can take into your week and and take into your quiet time.

Um so, how do we get from where Jesus was talking 60 years after he came back in these letters um to to a a bride that Jesus wants to come back to for Okay. Um, and we're going to talk today, we're going to wrap up this series with three parables, okay? And three steps. And um, we're going to be in Matthew 24 and 25 mostly, okay?

In [sighs and gasps] Matthew 24 and 25, Jesus, they're on the Mount of Olives, him and his disciples, they come up to him and they say, "Hey, what's it going to be like when you come back?" Okay, they it's basically Jesus's end times discourse. you know, um, prior to the seven letters, he dictated this is what he he laid out. In the first half of 24, he kind of describes what's going to happen from then until now.

Wars and rumors of wars and all these things that we're seeing, you know, and and then he describes us coming back. But then about halfway through 24 through about halfway of 25, he goes into three parables about how we should be living at that time when he's coming back. And I think it's interesting that he took half of his end times discourse here in Matthew 24 and 25 to talk about how we should be living to Jesus. It's very important, you know, how we are in relationship to him at that time when he comes back.

It's not as much about your works. It's it's about the relationship. And what you're going to see here is a couple things he's telling us to do. So, we're going to start Matthew 24:42-51.

And I'm going to read now. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore, you also be ready, for the son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Okay, so that's a warning. He's going to come back. We're not going to expect it when he comes back. Okay?

Um we might feel like it's close, but we don't know exactly when. It could be this week, next month, next year, 10 years, 20 years. We just don't know. Um, but it's going to happen.

It is going to happen. And it is going to happen at a time we don't expect. So then he goes into three parables. Verse 45.

Who then is a faithful and wise servant whom his master made ruler over his household to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find him so doing. Assuredly I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.

But if that evil servant says in his heart, "My master is delaying his coming," and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites, there shall be weeping and nashing of teeth. Every time I see in scripture weeping and nashing of teeth, it's usually around hell. Okay?

Um, and [clears throat] all of these three parables have the same thing. There's a master or somebody who goes away and then he comes back. And it's how he finds these people when they come back that that determines the story. Okay, so this first parable, he says it very clearly up front.

Who then is faithful and wise servant? It's all about faithfulness. Okay, being faithful where he has you right now today. Okay, that's wherever you're at.

Whatever your story is, this is where you're at right now. Okay? And you're to be faithful right where you're at. Okay?

You don't have to be a preacher. You don't have to be anything other than who you are right now. Okay? And and then seeking that relationship with God in your work, in your family.

You want to point people to that relationship and use the gifts that God has given you, okay? To point people there. my friend Gary. Um, I've known him since high school, okay?

So, 40, 50 years. And he was that guy, he got saved a few years ago, but he was that guy that would invite people to parties. He always had parties at his house, you know, big parties. He and he was an inviter.

He would just invite people. Since he got saved, that cat invites um people like every week to church. I mean, he's he's a constant inviter. He's just now he's inviting them to church instead of inviting them to parties.

But that's a giftedness of his. He's just an inviter. That's just who he is. And so he invites people and and and and he's being faithful in what he's been called to do whether he realizes it or not.

Okay? And he's growing and he's he and he's he's a young Christian and he's growing. But man, that's beautiful. And he's on Facebook.

He's always talking and he's just always inviting people. Um so what gifts has God already given you? Okay. you've got a beautiful voice.

You know, everyone in this room has gifts, okay? And and whatever those are, just start using them, okay? Be faithful there in your in our families, in our workplaces, in our sphere of influence. Okay?

Jesus wants us in this first parable, he tells us to be faithful. Okay? So, have integrity with what God has already given you. Then you'll be ready for bigger things.

Okay? Second parable is is in Matthew 25. It's the next verses. Matthew 25 1-13.

And we've studied this parable once before a couple weeks back, but now we're going to read it from this end times kind of discourse here. And uh I'm going to read it's the one of the uh wise and foolish virgins. Okay. Then the kingdom of heaven and I'm reading 25 verse one.

Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to 10 virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them. But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. Again, bridegroom left is delayed and then he comes back. At midnight, a cry is heard. Behold, the bridegroom is coming.

Go out to meet with him. Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, "Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out." But the wise answered, saying, "No, lest there should not be enough for us and you, but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourself."

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding, and the door was shut. Afterward, the the other virgins came also, saying, Lord, Lord, open up to us. But he answered and said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, I do not know you. Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

This one speaks to us being ready. Okay, the first one was being faithful. This one speaks to us being ready for when he comes. We don't want to miss the uh wedding supper of the lamb.

Okay, we don't want to miss that because we're off living for ourselves and we're off being distracted and and frantic. And that is the work of the devil right now, right? He's trying to get us so distracted. the algorithms that keep you you scrolling through this stuff, you know, it's it's it's all part of a plan to keep you from that relationship with Jesus.

So, how [clears throat] do we get ready? We talked about this in the faithful church, but you want to center yourself on Christ, which is abiding. Okay? You want to start your day, start your your week, you know, you you want to center yourself on abiding.

So, tomorrow when you wake up in the morning, man, just pray, get in sync with God, and then head into your day. >> [cough] >> something you can do every day. Okay? Then obey whatever he tells you to do.

When you're in prayer, he'll guide you. He'll he'll tell you to, you know, maybe call your cousin Louie, you know, and you got to call cousin Louie. You just you just do what he tells you to do because you don't know what's going on in cousin Louis's life. You don't know what's going on in your friend's life.

Okay? But but he does and he'll use you for that. And then love him and love others, right? So it's abide, obey, and love.

Love him, love others. Go into your day loving on others, aware of his presence where he is working and just join him. You just join him where he's working. Opportunities will come up almost every day for you to touch someone's life, even if it's with just holding a door or just saying something nice to them.

Most people live lives of quiet desperation, man. No one pays them any mind. Okay? And and most people are are are desperate for just a touch, you know, just a word, a good thing.

and be aware of wherever he's working and just join him. So it's centering our lives on Jesus is really our only real responsibility. Okay? If you do that, let Jesus flow through you so that the love is flowing into him, into the people that you're meeting.

Okay? Do that and he'll tell you what to do next. He has a plan for your life. >> You just want to trust him.

Okay? The final parable is the parable of the talents, which you've probably heard preached on before, but it's actually an end times parable. Okay. Um, and this is Matthew 25 14 through 30.

Hold on. Wet the whistle. My kids shake their head. All right.

Matthew 25:14. For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents and to another two and to another one. To each according to his own ability and immediately he went on a journey again.

Master goes off on a journey. Jesus is on his journey right now. He'll be coming back. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them and made another five talents.

And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground and hid his lord's money. After a long time, the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, "Lord, you delivered to me five talents.

Look, I have gained five more talents besides them." His lord said to him, "Well done, good and faithful servant. You are faithful over a few things. I'll make you ruler over many things."

I really want to hear that from God when I get up there. Well done, your good and faithful servant. enter into the joy of your Lord. He also who had received two talents came and said,"Lord, you delivered to me two talents.

Look, I have gained two more talents besides them." His Lord said to him, "Now listen." He tells him the same reward. Okay?

Got one got five, one got two. They both doubled, but they both got the same reward. One had gained five. One had only gained two, but he was given less.

Okay? It doesn't matter who. Some are more talented than others. Some have done.

As long as you're faithful with what God has given you, that's all that matters. Okay? And listen to his his thing. He also who had [clears throat] received the two talents came and said, "Lord, you delivered me two.

I've gained two more." His lord said to him, "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things. I'll make you ruler over many things.

Enter into the joy of your Lord." The exact same uh thing. Then he who had received the one talent came and said, "Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid.

I was afraid." and went h where was I? And hid your talent in the ground. Look there you have what is yours.

But his lord answered and said to him you wicked and lazy servant. You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers and at my comm coming I would have received back my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to the him who has 10 talents.

For to everyone who has more will be given and he will have abundance. But from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken from him and cast an unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and nashing of teeth. This one speaks to us being working.

Okay? So, it was be faithful. It was be ready. And now we're supposed to be working.

We're not supposed to, oh, Jesus is coming. Go off by land somewhere and hunker down for seven years and and take take ourselves out of the game. Okay? we're supposed to be in the game because there's people who need to hear what we have to say.

Okay? >> Every one of us has experienced something different and we can talk to them to the people that God puts in our place the way he made us and that can resonate more with people. Glenn can resonate with people that I can't. Josh can resonate with people that I can't.

Okay? And so and so we have to be working. We're not supposed to be slack and lazy living only for ourselves. And you see a very self-absorbed, you know, kind of kind of society here in America, right?

We're really self-absorbed, you know, and and that's not supposed to be us. We're supposed to be diligent with what God has given us. Now, you can still enjoy your life. This doesn't mean you can't, you know, whatever.

My kids will say, "I I live pretty large. I I have a a good life. I I I live well, right? But I'm diligent every day."

And it starts with with Christ as that priority. Okay? You you have to have balance. First priority must be Jesus, not us.

If we put Jesus first, >> trust him, do what he says, and love others, then you'll have a good life, a really good life. >> Okay? And so, here's the deal. I'm more of a teacher probably than a preacher.

Okay? Um, but you can count on me as pointing you to Jesus and growing you to be more like him. You can count on that every week when I come. Okay?

Every sermon is going to be a truth that's hopefully going to grow you and you can count on that. Okay? >> Can you get me when I sit down here, Gabe? If I sit down real quick, can you follow me?

So, I want to wrap this series up. Can you guys hear me? >> Y. >> Okay.

I want to wrap this series up. Three steps. Okay. Um, to be the bride you were meant to be.

Okay. The first step is we've got to put God in his place. Okay. High and lifted up.

>> Amen. >> He has to be in that place. Okay. The disciples came to Jesus and they said, "Hey, they they prayed their whole lives."

Okay. But something about the way Jesus prayed was different. And so they came to him and they asked him, "Show us how to pray. Teach us how to pray."

Okay? And what does he say? He does the Lord's Prayer. How does it go?

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Jesus starts off always acknowledging God's place of where he is. He's high and lifted up. That word hallowed means revered, holy, consecrated.

Okay? Um honored and and so that's key to everything we do every day is make sure we put God in his place. Okay? It's [clears throat] not about us.

>> It's about Jesus. And that takes all the pressure off of us. Really, man, it's hard being the king of the world. You know, thank God someone else has that job.

and and we can just we can just wake up and count on him to help us with that day. >> The second thing is you must bring your stuff, your junk into the light. Okay? I I can't I can't stress this enough.

You've got to lay it down before him. Okay? Everyone in America, I think, has some damaged backstory. Everyone that whether it's divorce, whether it's abuse, whether it's, you know, drugs, alcohol, whatever it is, everyone's got a backstory.

There's no one who's lived just everything was perfect their whole life all the way going up. There was death. There was something that was traumatic and everyone's got a backstory. And Jesus can heal that.

>> Amen. >> He can heal that hurt. But you have to lay it out in front of him. Does he know the hurt already?

Yes. But it's on us to bring it in front of him >> so that he can heal it. The thing that's in the dark can keep you in the dark. Satan can use it to keep you in bondage.

Okay. But if you bring it into the light, there's nothing Satan can do. He can't. He has no power in the light.

Okay. And so >> there's power and healing by bringing things into the light. And then the devil has no place. Okay?

So we got to put God high and lift it up and then bring your stuff into the light. And this I've done this myself and and it it was over the course of years. And every time I I'd bring one thing into the light, then that freed up and I realized I had another hurt underneath that hurt that I didn't know I had. And then and then I took that hurt and then oh my [clears throat] gosh, I'm still damaged over here.

And and [snorts] you know, and it took years of that. And and but each time you're getting more free and you're getting more, you know, just it's and it's so beautiful that Jesus will do that for everyone who's here. >> I mean, that's just beautiful, you know. Third, so God on his throne, bring your junk into the light.

Okay? And then the third is abide, obey, and love. Abide, center on him, okay? [clears throat] Um, every day, get that oneness going.

Okay? Obey. It's so simple. Just do what God tells you to do, right?

We, man, what's my future like? Just do what God tells you to do. You don't have to have it all figured out, you know? That's great.

you young couple, you don't have to have it all figured out yet. Okay? Um, [laughter] >> just trust. >> Just trust.

And then love. Love God and love others. Okay? If you do this, you will bear much fruit.

>> Amen. >> And you will have that precious thing, love, joy, and peace. Okay? Making people work today.

>> Um, Amen. We good. Okay. So, as Gabriel and um Kelsey, you okay?

Yeah. As Gabriel and Kelsey come forward with their beautiful voices. All right. I want you guys to think about the stuff that I've shared.

Okay? If there's one thing on your heart that maybe you want to bring in front of him, okay? If there's one thing that you can take like, "All right, next week I'm gonna do this one thing." Just just focus on one thing that'll get you closer in your relationship to Jesus next week.

Okay? Just try to do one thing. Just think through, >> you know, the different things I've just shared. Think through the hurts underneath.

Think about how you can put God on [clears throat] his throne more. Think about how you can um you know uh lay it down more. Okay? Just think of one thing that you want to put in it.

And if it's something you want to put and lay it down right here, we can do it right here. Okay? It's a beautiful place to do it. We have people that can pray with you.

I'm up there. Um Lordis and Nathan [clears throat] even can can help with [music] that. But but man, let's leave it down here, okay? [music] Let's let's put down fears and worries and junk and and rise up from here and go into our days with joy because we serve an awesome king, okay?

And we have the answer. When [music] he comes, the world is going to be freaking out. and we're going to be those people with the answer that can help guide and and lead people to a deeper relationship with him. So, I just want to encourage you to do that and um and and [music] I'll pray us and we'll go into this time.

Heavenly Father Lord you're just so beautiful. [music] And uh oh, you're so good. Lord, I just [music] pray that anyone here who just has that tug on their heart that they'll come and lay it down. Lord, I just pray that your Holy Spirit will [music] move here.

I pray that you will uh work in their hearts, Lord, and that um they'll figure out that one thing you want them to do this week, Lord. Have them just be still with you [music] and ask you what you want them to do this week, and that they'll [music] come up with that thing to do to to to grow that relationship further. And it's in Jesus name I pray. Amen.

>> Amen.