I write both short and long studies. I closed the longer study on the Joseph Experience, started to get ready for bed, and the Lord gave me a scripture. I started to write it down and revelational understanding came to me, and also a burden to pray. For these last few days, I’ve been praying and receiving more understanding.
Luke 15:4-7 NKJV
4“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.
I’ve been taught two things concerning this scripture; the lost sheep are the unsaved or the lost sheep are people who used to serve God but don’t anymore. The sheep are always of the House of God, and never the unsaved (Matthew 25:33). We all have to agree on that according to scripture, otherwise it would be a lost goat. The second popular teaching is that these are people who were of faith and strayed. Yes, they can be, but there are more people included in this than we think!
I do recognize Luke says “sinner.” The original Hebrew writing of Luke has been found, but not yet translated. It sounds like we should be getting it this year, but until then… we’re left with Greek! If you have ever read Greek James vs Hebrew James, you know the Greeks weren’t shy about adding their doctrinal beliefs to the Word even to the point of making errors. The Corresponding Greek and Hebrew Entries says sinner means wicked, guilty, criminal. This will be important as we go through scriptures.
Who are the lost sheep?
The people that are not operating out of their giftings and call in life.
Before I continue on to what the Lord was showing me through prayer, let’s look at scripture.
Matthew 25:1-13 Original Hebrew
1“And then the heavenly kingdom will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to the path to the bridegroom and the bride. 2Five of them were foolish and five of them were wise. 3And the five foolish ones did take their lamps. 5And while the bridegroom delayed to come, all ten virgins slept for long – until the middle of the night. 6A man shouted, ‘Get up! Behold the bridegroom is coming, go out to him to the path!’ 7Then all the virgins got up and lit all their lamps. 8And the foolish ones said to the wise ones, ‘Give us of your oil, for our lamps have gone out.’ 9But the wise ones answered and said, ‘Perhaps it will not be sufficient for us, go to the sellers and buy for yourselves.’ 10But as they went to buy, the bridegroom came. And those who were ready, entered with him into the wedding and the door was shut behind them. 11And afterwards came the foolish virgins, and cried, ‘Master, master, open for us!’ 12But he answered and said, ‘Truth – I do not know who you are.’ 13Therefore you must be awake, for you do not know the day and the hour.
I’m not going to pretend like I understand why they needed to have oil lamps to get in to the party; and I’m not buying anyone else’s story on why either. Hehe The spiritual concept I understand, but the natural relatable one, isn’t so relatable.
The lamps tell us that these ten virgins were all of the House of God. Normally, people want to focus on what the oil is because they feel like it’s the key to the story. It’s not the key, because the virgins were able to buy/acquire more oil. The problem was not being awake, ready, and prepared. That makes the difference wise and foolish, as the beginning of the story says. The five wise ones were doing what they were supposed to be doing, awake and ready, while the five foolish virgins were doing whatever they wanted. That’s the theme of all of Jesus’ stories about The Kingdom of Heaven. Note two things here:
1. Jesus is talking about the Heavenly Kingdom
2. The foolish were doing whatever they wanted.
One more, Jesus’ next story, and we’ll split it up in parts. Some of the talent story, and we’ll end this week’s post. Next post will be what the Lord showed me, and then the end of the story talent story, Judgement Day.
Matthew 25:14-36 Original Hebrew
14Just like a man who went on a journey and called the servants, and handed over to them some of his gold. 15To one of them he delivered five [coins], to another two [coins], and to another one – to every one of them according to his assessment, and he went away immediately.
16And he who received five [coins] worked with them and profited five others.
17And he who received two, worked with planning and gained another two.
18But he who received one, went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s [coin].
The Holy Spirit has pointed this out to me. There are 3 types of people here:
1. The 5-coin servant who was “assessed” as being the best one, because he learned to work completely by the God-given talents and grow.
2. The 2-coin servant was “assessed” at being second best. He used, “planning” techniques to accomplish the job. That’s using his brain plus his God-given talents.
3. The 1-coin servant was “assessed” at being the worst and the least the Master could entrust to him was one. Note what he did, buried the gift inside the ground and kept the talent hidden and to himself.
If you do the word study in Greek, you can also see the same thing. Be sure to thoroughly read the etymology of the two Greek words.
We must make sure we recognize these servants are of the House of God. The Master in this story is The Lord. These people aren’t two sheep and a goat. Verse 1 says, “…the heavenly kingdom will be like…” Jesus was still telling stories of Heaven. We’ll see at the end these 1-coin people are labeled and living a Christian life.
19And after a long time the master came and wanted to hear an account from them.
Jesus said, “lone time,” because the disciples, with the exception of John, didn’t see the church age. They literally thought Jesus was coming right back while they were on Earth. Jesus knew we’d be sitting here reading this story today on special Bible paper or devises.
20So he who received the five [coins] came and gave to him five more which he gained, and he said to his master, ‘You deposited five [coins] to me, behold, you have five more which I gained.’ 21Then the master said, ‘Good and faithful servant, because you were faithful over a little money you may enter into the honor of your master, and over much (could be people rather than possessions) you will be made master.’ (verses 22 and 23 are not in this manuscript)
24Then he who received the one came and said, ‘Master, I know that you are a hard and cruel man, you reap in a place that you did not sow, and gather what you did not scatter. 25So I feared, and I hid the [coin] in the ground – now you can have your money back.’
This is a very important part of the story! The servant is calling The Master of Heaven “hard and cruel.” We have Christians who view God as hard and cruel today; and refer to it is as “tough love.” This is dishonorable. Excellent examples are Christians claiming:
– God gave me cancer to teach me a lesson
– God let me be in a car accident to get my attention, that’s why he spared my life
– God made me lose my job because possessions were too important to me
All claims of this nature are agreeing with this “fearful and guilty servant.” Though that feels tough to say, we need the truth so we can grow. I had to learn instead of blaming God, ask God, “Where did I miss it?” He will show you every red flag, so that you can grow and learn to be sensitive to His leading and guiding.
Reaping where you did not sow and gathering what you did not scatter (as in seeds) is a thief! This “guilty and fearful servant” is calling God a thief. In our modern-day life, we’re taught to do this, and even accidently sing about it, “God giveth and God taketh away.” Let’s look more into this…
John 10:10 NKJV
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
The Master of Heaven is NOT the thief, the devil and his cohorts are the thief. God….
– making you sick
– car accidents
– losing jobs
…are all steal, kill, and destroy. We are listening to a “guilty and fearful servant” describe The Father in the above scripture. We should never agree with this servant.
Now I will be the first to admit, I grew up with this very same teaching, “God is the one behind the hurt and pain teaching us lessons by trying us in the fire, so we come out gold.” Another absolute horrible thing I was taught, “God made you sick so you could go in the hospital and witness.” Lies! All lies! If the demons can convince you God is the thief, then you won’t stop them. Right? What does Paul say of satan 2 Corinthians 11:14, he transforms himself into an angel of light; deception! Good God, bad devil.
26The master answered and said to him, ‘Guilty and fearful servant! – After you had known that I reap what I did not sow, and gather what I did not scatter unto my place – 27therefore you should have deposited my money to the table of the exchangers, so that when I did come, I could have asked for my gold with the profit.
Let’s break this into two parts, “Guilty and fearful servant!”
Not responding to your call makes you guilty! Let’s go back to what we read above: The Corresponding Greek and Hebrew Entries says sinner means wicked, guilty, criminal. Jesus didn’t speak Greek to Hebrews, He spoke Hebrew and taught in Hebrew. Now, the fearful part. I myself am completely guilty of being fearful to respond to a call, not once but twice. Everyone that would have received help from me did not. That made me a “guilty and fearful servant”. I am thankful for what the blood has done for me. I was “guilty and fearful” like this servant, but there are also people who are “guilty and lazy” for not responding.
“You had known that I reap what I did not sow, and gather what I did not scatter…” The Master isn’t admitting or agreeing to being a thief. He was saying if you knew me as a thief, then I will judge you like I am a thief. We have to remember Jesus turned over the money changers’ tables. We don’t specifically know what evil they were doing. I’ve read a lot of various claims of the exchangers skimming metal off coins and improper scales. According to what I have read over the years, these people were thieves. Now you can see what The Master is saying, “You called me a thief, why didn’t you make money from the thieves?”
We have to understand this man is in trouble for not doing anything, and he accused The Master as a reason. The Bible calls satan the accuser of the brethren, even satan isn’t accusing God to His Face. Pretty bold to accuse The Master of Heaven, and yet people do on a whim. Bottom line, we have no excuse.
28Take the [coin] from him and deliver it to him who has ten.’ 29For unto whosoever has, a man will give with surplus. And he who does not have, that little which he has, a man will tear away from him. 30‘And you must cast the wicked servant into a dark pit. And there he will bear weeping and the quaking of teeth.’
This part is judgment day. Just because you leave this Earth and go to Heaven doesn’t mean everyone there is equal. I’m not suggesting we have slaves or put people below others, but according to this we will get Heavenly rewards that were taken away from someone else and keep our talents too! If we didn’t have our creativity/talents, we wouldn’t be ourselves. The more talents we earn down here, the more we will have in Heaven.
The Lord is calling You to seek Him for His plan for Your life. Next week, I’ll reveal what the Lord shared with me who the lost sheep are. Until then, Lord please speak to everyone reading this. Make their call and their talents completely clear to them. Remove all doubts and fear from our lives and give us a boldness to step out and walk in our callings and use our talents. Amen.
Christi
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