The Faithful

& Wise Servant

                                                         By Pastor F. M. Riley

                                                         April 28, 2020

     “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? 

     Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when He cometh  shall find so doing,

     Verily, I say unto you, That He shall make him ruler over all His goods,”   Matthew 24:45-47. 

Introduction

     The Lord Jesus Christ Himself explicitly warned His disciples that “false prophets” would come in among His people, claiming of course, to be true disciples of the Lord.  Read the Lord’s prophecy for yourself in Matthew 7:15-23. 

A WARNING FOR EVERY TRUE BELIEVER

     This warning of the Lord set forth in Matthew 7, was given early in the Lord’s personal ministry.   But near the end of his personal ministry He repeated this warning again, but applied it specifically to “the last days,” Matthew 24:5; 24:11; 24:24.

     Notice that our Scripture text for this study was given right

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after the Lord had given His prophecies of “end time” events  

which are to come upon mankind LEFT BEHIND on the earth following the resurrection and rapture of all true believers.  This includes the “great tribulation” which will be the most terrible time of suffering and death in all of human history, 

     In asking this question in our Scripture text, it is apparent the Lord was encouraging His disciples to live their lives in faithful devotion  to the Lord, and to His believing people. 

     Notice also that the degree of faithfulness the Lord wants of those who make the choice to be one of His disciples, is based on “giving meat [spiritual food] to the Lord’s household “in due season.”  I suggest that our readers also notice 24:48-51, which foretells the future awaiting those servants who refuse to   faithfully live for and serve the Lord.      

     Christ Jesus then sealed His prophecies with His own blood, allowing Himself to be crucified to pay for the sins of fallen mankind, and to save all who will believe.    

     Several of the Lord’s chosen apostles, then proclaimed a similar warning for the Lord’s church and people, in the epistles they were inspired of the Lord to write.    Peter was inspired of God to proclaim such a warning to the Lord’s church and believing people, laying it out quite plainly, in 2 Peter 2:1-2…….

     “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily [subtly; secretly] shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the

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 Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

     And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.”

FACING THE HARSH REALITY

     Now get the truth stated here.  Peter was giving this warning to saved people in the Lord’s churches,  2 Peter 1:1-2.  When Peter then warned, “And many shall follow their pernicious ways…,” Peter was pointing out that many saved people would receive as truth what these wicked “false teachers” were proclaiming, and thereby be deceived by them, and would then  

reject and speak evil of the truths set forth in God’s Word. 

     I am well aware that this will upset some true believers, and they will reject this as my theory, claiming that such could just

never happen to true believers.  Is that so?  How many of our readers have read Isaiah 5:20 and Micah 3:2 lately?  Such wickedness is happening all over the world today.  Sadly, some of God’s people are taking part in it, and not even realizing that they are fulfilling these prophecies of God’s Word.  Why?

     Because they will not get serious about STUDYING God’s Word.  Oh yes, they do read and study!  Books and magazines written by various men claiming to be “men of God.”  Maybe

the authors of such publications are, and maybe they are not!

     One thing I have come to know as absolute truth, after many years of serious Bible study.  If a man’s writings are consistently in harmony with God’s inspired Word, then his books and

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publications can likely be depended on to set forth the truth of God’s Word.   The Lord Jesus told His disciples, “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them,” Matthew 7:20. 

       But if a man’s writings often deviate from what the Word of God actually says and teaches, then God’s people shouldn’t waste their time reading his unscriptural trash.   The Divinely Inspired Word of God is the standard by which we believers discern truth from error.   No book or commentary written by men can ever replace the truths set forth in God’s Word.     STUDY YOUR BIBLE, and have enough spiritual sense to receive and believe what it says at face value as literal truth.

     Spiritual sense?  Take the words spoken by the Lord Himself in John 16:13 to heart.  PRAY, and depend upon the Holy Spirit of God to give you true spiritual understanding.  If you simply cannot do this, then perhaps you should bring 2 Peter 1:10-11 into your life.   

THE BLESSING OF FAITHFUL OBEDIENCE

     Our Scripture text makes is glaringly obvious that the Lord desires that his people be “faithful and wise servants.”  Why?    

     Because our Lord has great rewards awaiting those of His disciples who have faithfully lived for and served Him.  There is  a time coming when the “fruits”  of every true believer will be tested by fire.  Read it for yourself in 1 Corinthians 3, noticing especially verses 11 – 15   God’s people have been waiting for this time throughout this Dispensation of Grace.  Folks, we  believers living today are living right at the end of this age.  The

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time of the resurrectin and rapture is almost here!   Just a few more days, and every true believer will receive their rewards for faithfully living for the Lord, or for their disobedience to the Lord.   Which will it be?

     According to our text Scriptures for this study, the “wise and faithful” servant is going to be made a ruler.  Oh, yes he, or she, is!  Scripture after inspired Scripture in the prophetic Word clearly prophesies that those faithful believers saved in this present dispensation are going to rule and reign with Christ in His glorious coming Kingdom.  I suggest every reader turn and carefully read the inspired Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30, and the Parable of the Pounds in Luke 19:11-27.

     A warning!  DO NOT apply either of these parables to lost people, like many do today.  Both parables clearly state that the Lord calls “His own servants.” 

     The reward then for faithfully serving the Lord in this present life is to rule and reign with Christ in His coming glorious Kingdom.  See Rev. 5:8-10. 

     But the rewards for the “unfaithful” believer is to be shamed, and ruled over by those of God’s people who have been faithful.  Read it for yourself in Matthew 25:24-30 and Luke 19: 20-26.   

A FINAL ADMONISHMENT

     How many of our readers today are basing their beliefs strictly on what the inspired Word literally says and teaches? Romans 3:4.

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     But on the other hand,  how many of our readers are basing their beliefs on the “pernicious ways” of the “false prophets” and “false teachers” set forth in some book which they have written, in order to infiltrated the churches and the ranks of Christianity?  2 Peter 2:1-2.   

     In closing this study, remember the words of John,

 

     “Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward,” 2 John 8.

 

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Pastor F. M. Riley    francismriley34@gmail.com

 

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