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Welcome to the daily blade. The word of God is described as the sword of the spirit, the primary spiritual weapon in the Christian's armor against the forces of evil. Your hosts are Joby Martin and Kyle Thompson, and they stand ready to equip men for the fight. Let's sharpen up.
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All right, back to Matthew, chapter 25. We have been studying the parable of the talents, which begins in verse 14. And we've looked at the five talent man, and he made five talents more, and he received a reward. And the master said, well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your master. The two talent man who risk it all also receives the exact same reward. Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your master. And then the parable begins to shift in a very significant way. When you get to verse 24, it says, he also who had received the one talent came forward. Now, if this parable had a soundtrack, the music would change here. Dun dun dun. And he also who had received the one talent came forward. And here's what he says, Master, you can hear the excuses beginning, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. And so I was afraid. All right, mark that down. Make a mental note. If you're driving, just put a note in your phone or whatever. I was afraid. This is the key to understanding the problem with the one talent man. I was afraid and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, have what is yours. But his master answered him, you wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have scattered no seed. Then what you ought to have done is invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from the one talent guy and give it to the one who has 10 talents. For to everyone who has, will more be given and he will have an abundance. But from the the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away and cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness, into the place where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And you say, oh, man, what happened to the one talent guy? Here's what happened. The one talent man did not have faith in the master. The one talent man put his faith in himself and he was filled with fear. This is the key to understanding the master. Jesus calls this one talent man who is filled with fear, wicked and slothful. Now I don't know if you know very many, like, slothfully lazy people, but I know a whole bunch of people who are selectively lazy that they get real busy with the external, real busy with the common day things so as to avoid what the master has called them to do. Because if I'm the attorney for the one talent guy, when the master says, you wicked and slothful servant, I'm going to say, I object. My client has been working his fingers to the bone. I mean, the other two guys that you just blessed, they took the money, they invested it in the stock market, it turned around quickly, but they haven't done anything. My client had to dig a hole, had to go get a wheelbarrow. You didn't give him a talent in like on a debit card. You know, these are shekels or denarii. So he had to go to Lowe's and get a wheelbarrow and fill it up and find a hole and dig it and put it in there and then hide it. And then when he heard that you had come back, he had to go and do all of this again. And he was busy, busy, busy, busy doing the common day things so as to avoid what the master had actually charged him to do. I've got some good and terrifying news for you. Did you know that the opposite of faith is not doubt? This is the good news. The opposite of faith is not doubt. The opposite of faith is not unanswered questions. So if you've got doubt and you've got unanswered questions, I got a really good news for you. You could make a great disciple. And you say, pastor, where do you get that idea? The disciples, they had all kinds of unanswered questions. So if you have doubts and unanswered questions, then what you do is you pick up your doubts, you pick up your unanswered questions, and you follow after Jesus by faith. And eventually, if you do that, your doubts will go away. Maybe not by next Tuesday, but one day when you enter heaven, you will have no more doubts. The opposite of doubt is not faith. Excuse me. The opposite of faith is not doubt. The opposite of faith is fear. Because faith always produces action and fear paralyzes. The Bible says that fear is not a feeling, fear is not a personality type. Paul tells Timothy, for God did not give you a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind. So let me ask you this, bro. All week, this is the thing I want you to get from Matthew 25. Whatever you do in preparation for the Return of the King. Don't waste your one and only life. Don't waste your time. Don't waste your talent. Don't waste your money. Don't waste your family. Don't waste your influence. And I believe that for many of you there is something some talent, some opportunity, some ministry, some phone call, some conversation, some investment that God has given to you in order to push back darkness and advance the kingdom. But like the one talent man, you have been wicked and slothful and you have buried that talent. And by the power of the Holy Spirit right now, I implore you by faith to go get your proverbial shovel and go dig up that talent before it's too late to start that ministry, to invite that person to church, to to share the gospel, to begin reconciliation, to fight for your marriage, to go after your prodigal son, to do whatever it is, that thing that you know God has called you to do, but you have been too afraid to do it. God has not given you a spirit of fear. He has given you a spirit of power and of love and of self control. And the good news here, the reason you can swing for the fences is because the promise, the blessing that the master gives the five talent guy and the two talent guy is not well done, good and fruitful servant. The fruit will be up to the Lord. He says, well done good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your master. Faith produces action. So go and do what he says. Amen.
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Thank you for listening to today's episode. Before you go, if you want to help, equip other men for the fight, share this podcast around and leave us a five star rating and review. Stay sharp.
The Daily Blade: Episode #12 - Joby Martin // Becoming a Fearless Faithful Servant
Release Date: January 16, 2025
Introduction
In Episode #12 of The Daily Blade, hosted by Pastor Joby Martin of the Church of Eleven22 and Kyle Thompson of Undaunted.Life, listeners are immersed in a profound exploration of faith, fear, and faithful service. Titled "Becoming a Fearless Faithful Servant," this episode delves into the biblical parable of the talents, offering actionable insights for Christians striving to apply God's Word to their daily lives.
Exploring the Parable of the Talents
Pastor Joby Martin begins the episode by revisiting Matthew 25:14-30, focusing on the parable of the talents. He meticulously breaks down the scripture to uncover deeper meanings and practical applications for believers.
Multiplying Talents (00:19 - 02:10):
Joby reviews the actions of the five and two talent servants, both of whom are commended by the master for their faithfulness:
"To everyone who has, there will be more given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away." (02:05)
He emphasizes that regardless of the amount entrusted, faithfulness in stewardship leads to divine rewards.
The One Talent Man's Downfall (02:11 - 04:30):
Transitioning to the one talent servant, Joby highlights the critical moment where fear overtakes faith:
"The one talent man did not have faith in the master. The one talent man put his faith in himself and he was filled with fear." (03:45)
Joby underscores that fear, not doubt, is the true adversary of faith. He critiques the servant's decision to bury his talent, labeling it as wicked and slothful, and explains the severe consequences of such inaction.
Faith vs. Fear: Understanding the Spiritual Battle
One of the episode's central themes is distinguishing between faith and fear, and understanding their impacts on a believer's life.
Fear's Paralysis Over Faith's Action (04:31 - 05:30):
Joby challenges common misconceptions by stating:
"The opposite of faith is not doubt. The opposite of faith is fear." (04:55)
He elucidates that while doubt can lead to questions and deeper understanding, fear immobilizes and prevents action. Citing Paul’s words to Timothy, Joby reassures listeners of the spirit of power, love, and sound mind bestowed upon believers:
"For God did not give you a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind." (05:10)
Call to Action: Cultivating a Fearless Faith
Joby urges listeners to harness their God-given talents and not let fear hinder their spiritual and everyday endeavors.
Maximizing God’s Gifts (05:31 - 06:30):
He passionately encourages:
"Don't waste your one and only life. Don't waste your time. Don't waste your talent. Don't waste your money. Don't waste your family. Don't waste your influence." (05:35)
Joby emphasizes that every aspect of a believer's life is an opportunity to advance God's kingdom. Whether it's ministry, personal relationships, or everyday tasks, he calls for proactive and fearless engagement.
Empowerment Through the Holy Spirit (06:00 - 06:30):
Reinforcing the message of empowerment, Joby reminds listeners:
"God has not given you a spirit of fear. He has given you a spirit of power and of love and of self-control." (06:15)
This affirmation serves as a motivational cornerstone, inspiring believers to overcome fear and act in faith.
Conclusion
In wrapping up, Pastor Joby Martin summarizes the essence of the episode by linking faithful stewardship with fearless action. He reiterates that faith leads to fruitful service and divine rewards, while fear leads to stagnation and loss.
"Faith produces action. So go and do what he says." (06:30)
Joby’s compelling message serves as a clarion call for Christians to embrace their roles as faithful servants, utilizing their talents to their fullest potential in service to God and others.
Closing Remarks
The Daily Blade concludes with a heartfelt invitation:
"Before you go, if you want to help, equip other men for the fight, share this podcast around and leave us a five-star rating and review. Stay sharp." (06:41)
Listeners are encouraged to disseminate the empowering message shared, fostering a community of fearless and faithful believers.
Key Takeaways
Faithfulness Over Quantity: The value of stewardship is not determined by the amount entrusted but by the faithfulness in managing what one has been given.
Fear vs. Doubt: Understanding that fear, not doubt, is the true hindrance to faith allows believers to address the root of inaction.
Active Faith: Faith is inherently active and produces tangible actions that advance God's kingdom.
Empowerment Through the Holy Spirit: Believers are equipped with a spirit of power, love, and self-control, enabling them to overcome fear and fulfill their divine purposes.
Urgent Call to Action: Every moment and resource is a divine opportunity to serve, urging believers not to delay in utilizing their God-given talents.
Notable Quotes
"The opposite of faith is not doubt. The opposite of faith is fear." — Joby Martin (04:55)
"Don't waste your one and only life. Don't waste your time. Don't waste your talent. Don't waste your money. Don't waste your family. Don't waste your influence." — Joby Martin (05:35)
"God has not given you a spirit of fear. He has given you a spirit of power and of love and of self-control." — Joby Martin (06:15)
"Faith produces action. So go and do what he says." — Joby Martin (06:30)
Final Thoughts
Episode #12 of The Daily Blade serves as a transformative guide for Christians seeking to live out their faith boldly. Pastor Joby Martin’s insightful exposition of the parable of the talents challenges listeners to overcome fear, embrace their God-given responsibilities, and actively contribute to the advancement of God's kingdom. Through engaging discussions and powerful exhortations, this episode equips men to become fearless and faithful servants in their everyday lives.