153 - Becoming a Channel of Grace#
153 - Channel of Grace
(JP Text Group - Beautiful Compilation)
Luke 12:42-48 Let’s read together:
The Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, that he will make him ruler over all that he has. But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more. Amen!
Let’s pray together first:
Heavenly Father, we especially thank you. Today is the Lord’s day, a day to commemorate the victory of our Lord Jesus. You have given us grace today. No matter what kind of fatigue, problems, or weaknesses we bring before you, I believe Jesus, you provide for us. At this moment, you grant us your strength.
You know our weaknesses, so today you want to add your strength to us, allowing each of us to become a channel of your grace, to be your faithful servants, spreading the good news of Christ to more people. Lord Jesus, lead each person today. Holy Spirit, guide and renew each of our hearts, helping us to know you more through your words. Thank you and praise you! We completely entrust the following time to the Holy Spirit. Please help each of us. In the name of Lord Jesus, we pray. Amen!
Hallelujah, today let’s greet each other, you are to become a channel of grace.
Hallelujah, many times we know Jesus is good, we know there are many abundant blessings with Jesus, but when we share with others today, they say: “No, I don’t want to believe in Jesus, this Jesus is too scary.”
People have many misunderstandings about Jesus. How did these misunderstandings arise? Because in the past, many people did not present Jesus comprehensively. They did not portray Him as the way of forgiveness, but as one full of grace and truth. Many people spoke of Jesus like the law teachers, saying that after coming to church, this cannot be done, that cannot be done. So, can I not believe?
Many people, when their family members pass away, we cannot kneel to worship, we cannot burn paper, we cannot do this or that. People have turned the church into a religion.
Jesus will never be a religion; Jesus is life. Hallelujah. If we know that He is life, each of us needs life. Amen. So today’s topic we share is called “Channel of Grace.”
Because Jesus is grace and truth. After the Lord Jesus established the church, He entrusted His church to His steward and went back. The Bible tells us clearly what He went back to do. For whom is He preparing a place? For us. No, let me say it again, for whom is He preparing a place? For me. Hallelujah, the Bible is not just for us; the Bible is for those who believe in Him; the Bible is for me.
So you know that when Jesus went back, He was preparing a place for you. Amen. This is how we should read the Bible. Hallelujah. So while we are in this world, we have become stewards of the Lord Jesus. Jesus has entrusted the whole world to us to manage. Right? Just like in the beginning in the Garden of Eden, God created everything and then gave it to Adam and Eve to manage. Today, do you know you are the steward of the world?
God has entrusted all of this to us to manage. What are we to manage today? We manage our families, our children, and we manage the possessions in our hands. These are all things we need to manage. And one more thing, we need to spread the gospel, which is to guide them with the words of Jesus to let them know the wonders of the Lord Jesus, because many people do not have life, and we know this life is Jesus.
We need to share this. First, we need to know we are stewards. Amen. So here it mentions, the Lord says, who is that faithful and wise steward? The master appoints him to manage the household, to give food in due season. Many people think this steward refers to the preacher, but that’s not entirely correct. Every child of God who believes in Jesus is a steward of the Lord Jesus. Amen.
Just now, new friends came to our home. Actually, a friend brought you here, right? So you are his steward. You need to pray for his life often, support him if he is weak. You are his steward. Hallelujah, each of us is a steward of the Lord Jesus, but do not become a condemning steward; that is very scary. We need to become a steward of grace.
Jesus went back. When will He come? The specific day is unknown. At that time, we see that both Luke 12 and Matthew 24 mention this story, letting us know that today we need to manage God’s house, which is the church. Those who believe in Jesus gather together; we are a church. So we need a steward to manage. What kind of steward is this?
First point: A faithful and wise steward is one who gives food in due season.
We know what this person needs now. For example, what does a new believer need? Who exactly is Jesus? Why should I believe in Him? What does He bring me? This is what new believers need to understand. For us, what can Jesus renew in our lives?
How can I learn to control these problems when challenges come? Overcome these problems. This is what we need to learn today. So God sends His stewards, such as the pastors and teachers of the church, to give us food in due season. So the steward does not manage his own; whose is it? It is God’s.
So God let Adam manage this world; this world belongs to God. Just like we manage our children, when children are small, we manage them, but whose children are they? They are God’s. That’s right, they are God’s. In fact, many European countries have many concepts that are quite different from ours in China. We think that when a child is born, they are mine, and I can do whatever I want. But when you get to America, you will find it’s not like that. Even though you gave birth to the child, you have management rights, but if you abuse them, the child can sue you. They say, this child belongs to the state, so if you abuse them, I will take them away and let the welfare institution manage them.
Brothers and sisters, we should have this concept: my child is God’s, and I need to manage my child with God’s way and perspective. So this church is blessed; you have brought your children here to grow up in God’s house. They hear things that are different from other children, right? So this group of children will grow up to be different people. Everything we have belongs to the Lord Jesus; we manage everything that the Lord Jesus has given us. This is called stewardship. Amen?
Similarly, whose church is it? It is God’s. It is the Lord Jesus’. Hallelujah. The Lord Jesus is the head of the church. Brothers and sisters, look, is the head important? Losing an arm is okay; what about losing a head? If you lose your head, the body cannot move. So brothers and sisters, they are equally important, right? But the head needs to be responsible for everything. So the church is the body of the Lord Jesus, and we are the members, right? We are also very precious. Hallelujah.
So a faithful and wise steward knows that the people he manages are not his own but belong to the Lord Jesus, belong to our God. So he teaches them and manages them in God’s way, letting them recognize the greatness and wonders of our God. Giving food in due season means we need to speak the truths about the church that are suitable for contemporary needs.
So how should we give food in due season? Since it mentions giving food in due season, it refers to a specific time, right? If we were living in the time of Moses’ law, what kind of message would I share when I stand on the platform? I would bring a sheep here.
Brothers and sisters, please look, when you offer sacrifices, you should find such a sheep, without blemish, without wrinkle, without disability. It should be like this. When you offer sacrifices, you should follow this standard, right? Do we need to talk about these things now? No, because we already have a perfect lamb offered before God, which is our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen, this is giving food in due season. Now, what kind of era are we in? Many people believe this is an era of grace. Almost all who believe in Jesus know this is an era of grace. So what should we speak in the era of grace? The grace and truth of Jesus Christ.
In the last days, what food do we give to brothers and sisters? It is to tell them what Jesus has accomplished for us on the cross. This last era is also called the Benjamin era, mentioned in Genesis, right? Joseph symbolizes our Lord Jesus. In the last days, when there is famine globally, Joseph began to supply food to them. Joseph was a person who gave food in due season. Amen.
So the Lord Jesus is also in that last era, letting us understand what He accomplished for us on the cross. And what this era needs is the grace of Jesus Christ. Amen. Thank you and praise the Lord. In this era of grace, what kind of food do we need to give? It is directly related to our lives.
If today our hearts are filled with the law, we will condemn people everywhere. In whatever church you are in, there will certainly be disputes. What were the priests doing at that time? If a person, for example, has a skin disease and comes before the priest, what will the priest do? If the priest has a magnifying glass, he will carefully examine from head to toe. This looks serious, right? According to the law, you need to be isolated, so you cannot stay at home; go stay in the wilderness until you are clean and can come back. Is this the message the priest conveys?
Have you ever seen someone come to Jesus, and Jesus says, “Your problem is serious; hurry up and go stay in the wilderness”? Has anyone ever said that? No matter what the problem is, no matter how serious or desperate it is, when they come before Jesus, He says, “I am willing; be clean.” Jesus healed them. So you should really be grateful that you are in such an era of grace because you are not looking for a priest; you are looking for Jesus Christ. So no matter what problems you encounter in life, I wish you would come before Jesus, believe in Him, and accept Him. Because when you believe in Him and accept Him, He will treat you as He treated those people in the Bible. You will find that Jesus always gives grace and truth to people.
When a weak person comes before Him, He will support that weak person. When a sick person comes before Him, Jesus will heal their sickness. When those who are in need come before Jesus, He will supply them. This is the Lord who gives food in due season. So brothers and sisters, He is always distributing food.
Today, if you come to believe in Jesus, you are very blessed. Because when you come before Him, He will distribute food to you, so let our hearts be filled with the grace of Jesus Christ. So we see some people often complain, are bitter, and always say others are not good. Actually, it’s not blaming them; it’s the message they received that is like that. Let’s look at a verse, Luke 6:45.
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks.
Brothers and sisters, I wish that what you speak is the words of Jesus Christ. At that time, it proves that you are filled with the grace of Jesus. So you see a person praising Jesus every day; his heart is filled with Jesus. Hallelujah. Many people ask how to be filled with Jesus? How can I have joy? Actually, it’s very simple. You just need to find the source, just like you have a water pipe at home. As long as you connect to the source and turn it on, it will continuously supply.
Let me give you an example. What does it mean to be filled? For example, today when eating rice, if you keep eating, one moment here, another moment there, what happens when you speak? That’s right, rice comes out. Right? What I’m saying is called being filled. If you continuously receive the faith of Christ every day, receive, receive, receive, when you open your mouth, grace will come out, truth will come out, life will come out.
Many people ask why they are always weak. Because you keep letting it fast, right? Can it not be weak? Today, try it; don’t eat for three days. You will be very weak, right? Even going upstairs will be very difficult. If you are full, you will have strength.
Brothers and sisters, let the words of Christ fill your heart because God is good, and Jesus Christ is good. When you let Jesus Christ fill you, you will always supply others, always bring grace and truth.
Let’s look at another verse: Psalm 28:7, it says:
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him.
Do you see how well this is written? Why praise God with a song? Why is the heart joyful? The reason is simple: because he knows the Lord is my strength, my shield; my heart trusts in Him. Then joy comes out, right? Then praise comes out. Our church’s praise is excellent, so I also believe you have such gratitude and joy in your heart. You know God is my strength; you know He is your shield, so you do not worry. You begin to express joy before Him. May you always keep the words of Christ in your heart, and you will find that you are a person who is always joyful.
Once, I went out to visit with our coworkers to an elderly person’s home. The elderly person was paralyzed, and his daughter was always serving her father. When we arrived, we saw that the daughter had a worried look on her face. Actually, when we went, we didn’t say much. I just sat there, and then she said, “You are a pastor, right?” “Hmm? How did you know?” She said, “I can tell because you are different.” I asked, “How am I different?” She said, “Because you always have a smile on your face. You have a joy that others don’t have.”
Brothers and sisters, many times it’s not about saying, “Believe in Jesus, believe in Jesus.” It’s not like that, and then he believes. It’s when you sit there, and the glory of Christ comes out; this is a life that reveals from the inside out, a kind of life that infects others. Amen? So many times, we say Jesus is really amazing. In fact, when you live out that peace and joy from within you, others will be willing to come close to you. This is why no matter where Jesus goes, there are always many people following Him. They find it quite strange; they like to touch Him and squeeze in. Why? Because Jesus is very attractive.
What kind of people come to Him, He does not reject. Unlike us, who say, “Stay away from me.” So many people see us and are quite scared. Today, if you come to seek Jesus, you are very blessed because God wants to give you His joy. Hallelujah!
Now, let’s look at our main text, which mentions: “Who is that faithful and wise steward? Because he is one who gives food in due season. When the master comes and sees the servant doing this, what happens to that servant? He is blessed.
Hallelujah, that person is blessed. We have already accepted Jesus today. We use God’s words to manage His people. When the Lord Jesus comes again, you will be blessed. You will see the rewards given to you. Then how does it say afterward? Truly, I say to you, the master will appoint him to manage what? All that he has. Brothers and sisters, if you say, “I can’t preach the gospel, what should I do?” If you teach your children well, you are also blessed.
Isn’t it simple? In the past, our teachers told us a joke. If you think you can’t preach the gospel, then have more children. That’s also a method, right? At least teaching your own children well is a good thing. In that case, you are also blessed. Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you,” “truly” in the Greek original means: it’s not up for discussion, it’s not doubtful, it’s certain. I am telling you this truly; the master will appoint him to manage all that he has.
Today, if you manage everything we have well in this world, and give them the words of Christ, of course, God will give you everything to manage. This is the reward God wants to give you. Brothers and sisters, this is what we just mentioned about being a faithful and wise steward. So what we need to share with God’s people is what Jesus Christ has done for us on the cross, not what we have done, not our own abilities, because grace refers to Jesus Himself.
Here it says, to manage all that is to be rewarded, because he knows that everything is God’s grace. Just like I know that everything belongs to the Lord, I am managing all that the Lord Jesus has given me. When we come to the kingdom of heaven, in the new heaven and new earth, we will manage all of this because you recognize that I am correct, and you believe that all of this is mine; you are still a manager. Amen.
Now let’s look at the second point: The Unfaithful Steward.
Since there is a faithful and wise steward, his opposite is the unfaithful and unwise steward. What is this kind of steward like? In verse 45: But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk.
This unfaithful steward has a problem. The first is, he thinks the master is delaying. Actually, do we believe that the day of the Lord Jesus’ return is near or far? It is very near, right? The Bible says: when you see the fig tree budding and its leaves coming out, you know summer is near. In fact, the fig tree represents Israel. When you see Israel established, you can say the Son of Man is standing at the door.
You might say, “How long has it been since they established the country?” Why is it so hard to enter that door? Maybe it’s just a step away. Isn’t it? So we all know that this day is very near. When it is near, what should we do? At this time, we need to become wise stewards, telling them the information that should be normal for this era, that the day of the Lord Jesus’ return is near, and we need to be alert. Amen!
But the Pharisees, those who do not accept Jesus, do not want Jesus to come. It’s easy to understand. Before Jesus came, the Pharisees controlled all the believers, right? They made them do whatever they wanted. They added many things outside the law.
For example, on the Sabbath, they should not walk more than two miles. The people did not walk more than two miles, but at that time, the priests would ride in a carriage or on a donkey and exceed two miles. A believer would say, “Why did you walk more than two miles?” The priest would say, “When did I walk? I didn’t even touch the ground!”
So who did they give the law to? To the believers. What about themselves? They did not follow it. So Jesus called them hypocrites. You put heavy burdens on the people, but you do not bear them at all. You make the people obey while you do not obey. This is the unfaithful steward. He thinks it’s not urgent; it doesn’t matter. So when Jesus comes, they oppose Him because after Jesus came, something happened.
In John 12:18-19: Many people went to meet Him because they heard that He had done this miracle.
Is that good? John the Baptist knew that today he was just a voice crying in the wilderness. You should follow the Messiah when you see Him. But the Pharisees were not like this. When they saw people going to welcome Jesus, they began to feel angry and jealous. They said to each other, “Look, you are wasting your time; the world is following Him.”
Brothers and sisters, shouldn’t we follow Jesus? But the Pharisees said no. Since they all went, what should we do? So they said the best way is to kill Jesus and let Him go back to heaven. Let Him go to heaven; we can manage on earth. So what is this? An unjust steward; this is an unfaithful steward.
Now let’s see what a faithful steward should be like. 1 Peter 5:2-4 mentions that we need to become a faithful and wise steward. It says:
Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly.
This is a faithful and wise steward. He does not care how others slander or attack him; he knows what he is doing is God’s stewardship. So Paul was such a person. Although many Jews opposed him at that time and almost killed him several times, Paul still spread the grace of Jesus Christ.
Paul knew what he was doing. So he said: Nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. When the Chief Shepherd appears, when Jesus Christ comes again, right? We are pastors, but there is a Chief Shepherd, who is Jesus. When Jesus comes again, they will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. Amen!
Did Paul know this? When I have finished my race and kept the faith, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness. You see, many people in the world are doing what? Aren’t they all storing their own possessions? Well, while the real estate is rising, I’ll buy more, buy a few hundred units. So what? When one day God rolls up this world like an old garment, where will your house go? I’ll save more money, deposit a few hundred million in the bank. So what? When one day Jesus rolls up this world, where will your money go?
Is it gone in heaven? So the material world will one day be completely destroyed by fire, and then we will be given an everlasting kingdom. Hallelujah!
You want to use the material of this world to gain the glorious crown, the crown that does not fade away. Hallelujah! When you use the wealth of this world to manage God’s people, to help others, you will receive that crown that does not fade away. This is a faithful and wise steward. The latter part says that this unfaithful servant has another characteristic: he beats the male and female servants.
Brothers and sisters, I heard that our church’s sisters are quite knowledgeable about the Bible. How do you understand this verse? The steward beats the male and female servants; what does this verse refer to? Is it like this: if you don’t listen, I will deal with you? Are there any such pastors? You can’t find many in the whole world, right?
What does it mean for an unfaithful steward to beat the servants? Actually, is it difficult to be a pastor? It’s too difficult. Don’t say beating; even twisting a little is not allowed. What does this verse mean? It’s very simple. What do you use to beat the male and female servants? Many stewards, in misunderstanding, are doing this, beating the male and female servants. May I ask: who do the male and female servants belong to? They belong to God. Right? So as a steward, how can you have the right to beat the male and female servants? You can only do the work of giving food in due season; how can you beat them?
So what does beating them mean in this last era? Using the law to condemn them, making them feel filthy, making them feel hopeless, and even making them feel despair. This is beating them, brothers and sisters. Let me give you an example from the Old Testament. This is in Numbers 20:10, and I believe everyone has read this verse. Let’s read it together.
Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation before the rock. Moses said to them, “Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?”
Isn’t this what Moses said? Forty years ago, when the people were thirsty and complaining, Moses prayed to God, “What should I do?” God said, “Take the rod and strike the rock, and water will flow out for the people and their livestock to drink.” Right? At that time, Moses listened to this and struck the rock, and indeed water flowed out. After about 40 years, when the people were thirsty again, God said clearly, “You shall command the rock to yield its water,” right?
But Moses, because this group of people was too disobedient, did he manage these people? Was Moses a steward? At this time, he should have been distributing water, right? But Moses was extremely annoyed by this group of people, so he began to condemn them. Look at what he said, “Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?”
So how could he make the rock yield water? He struck the rock. In the end, did water still come out? Yes, but because of this matter, God said, “Moses, Moses, you did not sanctify Me in the eyes of the children of Israel.” Wow, many people say, “Why is God so cruel? Moses just struck it twice; why can’t he enter?” Just because of this matter? It’s because he committed a very serious problem.
He should not have conveyed the wrong message at that time. That rock refers to our Lord Jesus, right? Forty years ago, Moses had already struck the rock, right? Forty years later, at this time, God said: “You shall command the rock.” No one can strike the dead and resurrected Jesus again. So Jesus can only be struck once. When He was struck once, and His blood and water flowed out on the cross, today, whatever you need, you just need to command it in the name of Jesus Christ, and He will supply it.
So what does this era need to tell the people? Today, no matter what difficulties you encounter, if you command in the name of Jesus Christ, He will supply it for you. Believe in Him, accept Him, and that’s it. Because the water has long been in the rock; you just need to command it, and it will supply. Isn’t this the message we should preach in this era?
So today, don’t say, “Lord Jesus, hurry up and go to the cross, quickly shed your precious blood to cleanse my sins.” This situation is the same as Moses striking the rock. At that time, he began to condemn his people. How did he say? “You rebels!” So were these people rebels? Yes, but today, because of God’s mercy, it has come. God no longer sees them as rebels.
Otherwise, how did these rebels enter the land of Canaan? Did the sins of the second generation become less than those of the first generation? Not at all, right? Did the second generation obey? They did not obey either, but they all entered. So it was not because of their good behavior; it was because that rock had already been struck. Amen!
Today, you are the same. Today, when you come to receive the grace of Jesus Christ, receive His healing, receive His power, it is not because your behavior is good, but because Jesus has already been struck, so His blood has flowed, and it has already flowed on the cross. Today, God wants to supply you, supplying all who believe in Him. So today, if you hear others condemning you, saying, “Ah, your behavior is too bad, so God is going to punish you!” “Ah, you are too far from God, so God is going to discipline you with sickness!” If it is like this, it is beating the male and female servants, making them feel what? Filthy.
So you find that when we often hear such messages, our hearts become very fearful, right? It’s better not to believe; it’s safer to stay away from God. The message you preach is the God of the Old Testament, under the law. How did the people respond to Moses in the Old Testament? “Moses, you go up! You let God speak to you; whatever God tells you, I will listen to you.” How clever these people were! They did not dare to go up, so they let Moses go up. Was Moses not a human?
But today, we are very happy to tell everyone that we are not under that law; we are under grace. Amen! Under grace, the shepherd has a very close relationship with God. He knows what God has given, and then he shares all that he has received. This is a faithful and wise steward.
This is the second point about beating the male and female servants. So in today’s church, if you often hear messages that are always about being beaten, please let yourself have the ability to discern. So the pulpit tells you: “Rebels! Sinners! Shameless people! In the name of Jesus, this is ineffective.” Isn’t it easy? Don’t let these beatings come upon you, so you cannot lift your head afterward. It should be supplied to you.
Another characteristic of an unjust steward is eating, drinking, and being drunk.
Not only can he not give food in due season, but he also beats the male and female servants for no reason, and he eats, drinks, and gets drunk. What does eating and drinking and getting drunk mean? Not being able to discern the time. When you eat and drink and get drunk, how can you discern the time? So Ephesians 5:14 says,
Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” Amen!
When we did not believe in Jesus, we were all asleep, all dead. Now the Lord Jesus says, “You should wake up; you should come alive; the light of Christ will shine on you, letting you see His beauty and His power.”
Verse 46 says: In an unexpected day, at an hour you do not know, the master of that servant will come and punish him severely (note: or “cut him in two”) and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
This verse is very interesting, right? He still thinks it’s okay; this method can last for a few more years. Suddenly Jesus comes and punishes him and the hypocrites together. This is mentioned in Matthew 24:50-51, where these two verses talk about the same thing, mentioning that he will be punished with the hypocrites.
Brothers and sisters, many people do not understand and say: “If we who believe in Jesus do not manage God’s people well, if we beat God’s people, will God cut us in two one day?” Here it says severely, which means to be cut in two. Does this mean to be cut in half? If so, that would be troublesome. Have you ever beaten your own child? That would be troublesome; salvation would not be stable!
Actually, this is not what it means. What is being said here? The evil servant, the unfaithful one, refers to the unbelievers, brothers and sisters. Because in Matthew 24, it mentions some things beforehand. Jesus spoke many parables, right? He said that when He comes, what characteristics will the world have? How was it in the days of Noah? How was it in the days of the Son of Man? How was it in the days of Lot? What will the last days be like?
People are marrying and giving in marriage, and in unexpected days, the Son of Man suddenly comes. Then it says, among two people, one will be taken, and one will be left behind. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one will be left behind. So do you think both women are believers? No, it is clear, isn’t it?
So when we interpret the Bible, we must look at the context. If a believer dares to treat God’s servants or God’s people like this, beating him in half, he would not be saved. This is wrong because according to the context, the evil servant refers to the unbelievers. One woman is taken, and one is left behind. I specifically checked the Greek original, and it particularly mentions another word, which means: two people in the field, one is taken, which refers to accepting one, and leaving one behind. Brothers and sisters, do you understand? How are you accepted by God? Because you believe in Him, so Jesus accepts you. Amen!
John 1 says clearly, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God.” If you believe in Jesus, Jesus accepts you, and the Heavenly Father accepts you. If you do not want to believe in Him, you will be left behind. It’s not that God does not want you; it’s not that God has to discard you; it’s because you do not want Him.
I have told many people that one day, why do we say we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven? It’s not that God does not let them in; it’s that they really cannot stand it, so they do not want to enter. Let me give you an example. Is the church on earth a model of the kingdom of heaven? I say, think about it. Today, when we invite others to come to church, they say, “I can’t go; I can’t stand it.” Sitting there for an hour listening to the sermon is too boring. I say, they cannot go to the kingdom of heaven! Someone says, “Why?”
Think about it. When we sit here listening to the sermon for an hour, their ears cannot stand it, and their butts cannot stand it. What will they do in the kingdom of heaven? That’s right; there is no time; it’s worship every day, praise every day. They will go crazy, right? If you say this praise is really great, listening to the sermon is a kind of enjoyment. Congratulations! When you get to heaven, you will enjoy even more. Amen!
It’s not that God does not let them in; they cannot stand it, so they do not want to enter. They say, “No, no, no.” So among two people in the field, one is taken, and one is left behind; among two women grinding, one is accepted, and one is discarded. So one is a believer, and one is an unbeliever. Today, it’s not about how your behavior is; it’s about whether you believe in Him. Hallelujah! There are still some very important contents behind. Verse 47 says: And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. Wow, this is a bit troublesome.
Third point: To whom much is given, from him much will be required.
The second point is about the unfaithful steward. The third point is that to whom much is given, from him much will be required. This is a very dangerous and sensitive topic that is not easy to understand, especially for those who already believe in Jesus. We often circulate a saying: “You need to be careful! This is also a condemnation; listen carefully! The unfaithful steward is coming again; you need to be careful! In the future, you will all have to give an account to God. Don’t think that what you do is unknown to God. One day, there will be a huge screen in heaven that shows all the sins you have committed in your life. It’s not just the global view; it’s from the beginning of creation to the end of the world, and everyone will see it. If you hear such a message, will you still want to enter the kingdom of heaven?
Is that the kingdom of heaven? That would be scarier than hell. You think about it; you would suffer torment every day. Oh, I made such a mistake when I was young; everyone knows it. If you are the first one to be shown, what will you do? “Lord, let me out of here; I don’t want to stay here.” But now many people are still conveying such messages. “Be careful! Ah? Don’t sin!”
We also advocate not to sin today. If we use this method, then the kingdom of heaven would indeed be scarier than hell. In hell, you would only suffer; in heaven, you would still have to endure this kind of pain. That’s not the kingdom of heaven.
Brothers and sisters, we need to have a correct understanding of God, and what else does it tell us? “Lord, look, doesn’t the Bible also say? To whom much is given, from him much will be required.” Today, if God gives you more, what happens? He will require more from you. This makes it even more dangerous.
In the past, when I heard this verse explained, I thought, “Oh, I feel a bit miserable! I believe in Jesus at such a young age; how much will God require from me in the future?” So I said, “If that’s the case, I won’t preach the gospel; I’ll just stay by the hospital and watch those cancer patients who are about to die. This is the right time; before you breathe your last, believe in Jesus, and God will let you suffer less. Look, all the previous sins are forgiven. Just like that, you believe in Jesus, and when you die, there will be no punishment. How great is that!?” At that time, I didn’t know God; this was too scary!
“You give me more, and I will require more from you.” I still didn’t know better. So for a while, I stopped going to church. I thought, “The more I hear, the more God will require from me. In the future, I will have to bear more.” But brothers and sisters, wrong beliefs lead to wrong behaviors, and life will be a mess. Because they do not understand, they will become that steward, the unjust servant, and beat people, thinking it is safer to stay away from God.
Brothers and sisters, you must remember, if the message you hear is that it is safer to stay away from God, you must have believed wrongly. Today, what is Jesus like? The closer you get to Jesus, the better you feel about Him. The more you are willing to follow Him, the more you are willing to draw near to Him. Amen! Only those under the law, under the Old Testament law, are willing to stay away from God.
This is very simple. Let me give you an example from the Bible. At that time, there was a woman caught in adultery, thrown before Jesus. They especially wanted to stone this woman to death. Jesus said, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” A very miraculous thing happened in the Bible; those people, from the oldest to the youngest, left one by one.
Brothers and sisters, why did they leave from the oldest to the youngest?
Because Jesus said a very important word, “He who is without sin among you.” Where did they put themselves? On sin, right? The older ones thought, “Oh my God! At my age, I have committed many sins. I better leave first.” Brothers and sisters, if today we constantly tell others, “Ah, you sinner, you have sinned again today, how many sins have you committed today…”
They will leave like the older ones. The young ones will also leave. The young man thinks, “Oh, the elders have left; what am I still doing here?” It’s better to leave; it’s safer. So today, many believers taught under the law are like this. They want to leave but do not dare to leave too far because they are afraid of God’s discipline. So it’s a kind of situation where they seem to be leaving but do not dare to leave. They feel that attending church is painful because they are being tossed around, but if they do not go, they are afraid of being punished by God. So it’s very painful!
You are blessed! Because you are under the New Testament, you are under the grace of Christ. Amen! You say worshiping Jesus is so beautiful. Amen! Singing hymns with Jesus is so beautiful. So I praise Jesus; I feel very comfortable. So you are increasingly willing to draw near to Jesus.
If there is a message that makes you feel, “Oh, this Jesus is so beautiful; I want to believe in Him; I want to follow Him; I am so willing!” This message is the best message. Thank you and praise the Lord. Here it raises a question:
“That servant who knew his master’s will but did not prepare himself or act according to his will shall be beaten with many stripes.”
Isn’t it true that almost all churches know this is an era of grace, yet they do not preach grace? Isn’t that a problem? He knows his master’s will but does not prepare or act according to it; that servant will be beaten with many stripes. The meaning here is very clear. Today, if we live under the law, we are often beaten by the law. Right?
We are often condemned by the law. The more you know the law, the more you are condemned. The less you know, the less your condemnation. But there is a very important thing I want to tell you: because to whom much is given, from him much will be required; to whom much is committed, of him they will ask the more. If today you understand the meaning of this verse, you will be blessed!
Brothers and sisters, do you want to become a person whom God gives much? Don’t forget that there is another sentence behind it: if God gives you much, what happens? He will require more from you. So do you still want to become a person whom God gives much? Yes, you do. Wow, your faith is really great; you don’t know the consequences, but you still want it. If according to the teachings in the law, it says, “If you give much, God will require much from you,” do you still want it? No, it’s better to have less, right?
But, brothers and sisters, but this word is really wonderful. The meaning of “but” is that it has nothing to do with the previous statement. It is a completely opposite concept, right? Although many people tell you that today God wants to give you more, God wants to require more from you. But that is under the law. Today, we are under grace. When God gives you more, God will not take it back.
Our God, since He says He gives you, He will not take it back. Many people do not understand. They say, “Pastor, God gave this earth to Adam and Eve. Isn’t our God very generous? Just for this couple, He gave them a universe to live in. What a generous and kind God, right?” But when the serpent tempted Adam and Eve, they failed. Many people say, “Why didn’t God stop them?” If God had intervened at that time, we wouldn’t have so many disasters today. Some even say, “Why didn’t God just kill the devil directly?”
Let me ask you a question: Can our God kill the devil? Why not? Some say, “If the devil is killed, what will you do?” What do you think of us? Our God is so evil? Intentionally creating a devil to come and poke you, punish you, and God just watches, waiting for you to ask me for help. If you don’t ask, I won’t help you. If you think of God like this, then He is not God; He is a tyrant.
But our God is not like this because this explanation is like that steward, isn’t it? Beating you. What is our God like? God sees us as equally precious to Him. He sees me as an independent individual. When God created man, He said very clearly, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness,” right?
So after Adam and Eve were created, they already had the image and likeness of God within them. When God gives this to them, He will not take it back. This is called a gift, right? Today, if you give someone a gift, and then you say, “No, I see your behavior is bad, give it back to me,” that is not giving. That is interfering with others, right? Since giving means what? Giving means that after you give something to someone, how they handle the issue of the gift you gave is their freedom. Amen?
God gave this world to Adam, and then Adam had the management rights of this world, right? Unfortunately, Adam gave this management right to the devil, allowing the devil to control it. So at this time, God cannot directly kill the devil; otherwise, it would not show God’s justice. So God must legally take it back, and it must be taken back in a human way.
That’s why Jesus became flesh, took on the form of a man, and came to this world to suffer so much. He had to fulfill God’s righteous law. Through this way, He took back what the devil had taken away. This is the manifestation of God’s justice. So please remember one thing: what God gives you, He will not take back. Be sure to keep this sentence in your heart. What God gives me, He will not take back.
How to explain this? Isn’t it said here? To whom much is given, from him much will be required. In fact, it is very easy to understand. It is not God who takes back; it is others who take back. Let me give you a live example. When we understand how rich the grace of Jesus Christ is, I can supply you. Right? I can supply you. This is a single channel; do you see it? I receive supply from God, and then I give it out. It’s not that we have a cycle with God, where God gives me, and then God takes it back. God gives me, and then God takes it back. It’s not like that. It’s a single channel. God continuously gives, gives, gives. After giving to me, I know, and I share with you, share with you, share with you, share with you. This is giving food in due season.
So under such a message, you are willing to become a person who is given much by God. Because the more you receive, the more you can give out. You want to give someone a glass of water; you must first have a bucket of water. If you have nothing inside, what can you give? It’s just like the words shared at the beginning. If your heart is filled with the law, you can only give others the law. You give others condemnation; this is not good, that is not good.
If your heart is filled with the grace of Jesus Christ, you will always bring joy, peace, gentleness, comfort, and encouragement to others. Hallelujah! So we are willing to receive more grace and truth from God and then continuously give it out.
To whom much is given, from him much will be required. Brothers and sisters, today as channels of grace, God has entrusted many of His graces to us, and we need to give this grace out. Just like I share and preach with you in the church, if I have nothing here, what can you take from me? You can’t take anything. Right?
I say, “Let’s sing a song and end,” because I have nothing. But if today I understand the grace of Jesus Christ, I understand a lot, I will keep giving, keep giving. You are the same; after you receive, you also need to keep giving out. That way, the grace of Jesus Christ will spread. The beauty of Jesus Christ will spread in this world. This is what Paul said: this responsibility has been entrusted to me. Because he knows the mystery of grace too much, he is eager to tell others, to speak it out.
If one day you understand the abundant grace of Jesus Christ, I wish you would listen more to the book of Ephesians; it is very important. When you understand how abundant the grace of Jesus Christ is, you will be eager to give it out. Amen. Just like today, if a company in the city says, “Today everyone come over, and each person will receive a piece of gold,” you would rush over to receive it, saying, “Hurry up, let’s go!” Right? You would be eager to tell those around you, “Hurry up, hurry up! That’s so wonderful, so amazing!” If you do not understand that value, you will not do it.
Brothers and sisters, first let you receive more of His grace from Jesus, and you will be willing to give more out. So Christians under grace have a characteristic: they are constantly filled, filled with the grace of Christ, filled with the words of Christ. Oh, I can’t help but share the gospel with others today; I feel uncomfortable. It’s not like that. If you do not share the gospel, you will be in trouble! “Lord, I really can’t find anyone today.” Isn’t it different? This person is so joyful; you hurry over! If he doesn’t go, “Oh, forget it.” If he doesn’t go, that’s his loss; you won’t be hurt. So this is under grace. We receive more from God, and then others also receive more from me.
Let’s look at the last verse, Acts 26:18. This verse we will read together:
“To open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.”
This is today’s understanding of Jesus Christ, who has more grace; his eyes are opened. He also hopes that others’ eyes can be opened, so they can recognize the beauty of the Lord Jesus together. Amen! When we tell others the gospel, it’s not that if I don’t preach, I will be in trouble. It’s because they are in darkness. We pray to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light. Jesus is the light. Hallelujah! From the power of Satan to God, do you know how many people are struggling in pain, struggling in sickness, struggling in despair? Because they are under the power of the devil, right?
What can be done? In the name of Jesus Christ, all the chains of the devil can be broken. Then it also says, they turn from the power of Satan to God, and through faith in Me, please remember, brothers and sisters, this does not refer to your behavior; it refers to your belief in Jesus Christ. If you are willing to accept the words of Jesus Christ, you will receive forgiveness of sins.
Jesus did not come to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Hallelujah! Moreover, when you accept Jesus, God no longer condemns you, and there is a huge blessing for you to receive an inheritance with all the sanctified ones. God has stored up a rich inheritance for you in heaven, and God has also stored up a rich inheritance for you on earth. When you accept Jesus, what you do begins to be blessed by God.
You no longer live as you did in the past; you bless your children every day. In the name of Lord Jesus Christ, today God’s health, joy, and peace are upon my children. You are blessing your children in the name of Jesus. Right? When you work in the company, you begin to bless this company in the name of Lord Jesus Christ because I am here; God will bless it. Your life is no longer complaining because you see the different grace of Jesus Christ. Hallelujah! In your business, you also start to bless every day in the store, saying, “In the name of Lord Jesus Christ, I bless what I do because I am a child of God. I am a channel of grace. God blesses me abundantly. I want to bless many people because I am a channel of grace.” Amen. Hallelujah!
Now, let’s pray:
Brothers and sisters, if you are willing to accept this Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior in your life, please stand up, and I can pray for you. Let’s pray together for them because this Lord is truly wonderful. I really do not want you to miss this wonderful Lord. So I would like to make a call for prayer at the end. You can pray in your heart with me like this, and if you are willing, you can also say it out loud.
Lord Jesus, I thank you. Thank you for loving me like this. I didn’t know before, but today I know. I am a sinner. Jesus, you shed your precious blood on the cross, cleansing all my sins. I am willing to become your child. I ask the Holy Spirit to come into my heart now, take control of my life, and let my life become a life filled with grace. I am willing to let everything in Christ be different. Thank you, Jesus, for loving me like this. In the name of Lord Jesus, I pray. Amen!
Hallelujah! If you have made such a prayer, congratulations! You have already become a child of God. Amen!