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Thou Knewest...

By Phil Maxwell 12/97

His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Mt.25:26

As I have often stated, the Apostles' Doctrine included the concept of forsaking all earthly ties. The Lord Yahshua himself stated this very poignantly in Lu.14:33,"So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple." The obvious message of this is made even more clear throughout this passage in Luke 14, as well as chapter 12, and throughout the record of His teachings to the disciples.

It also was exhibited not only in the lives of the Apostles, but also in the beginnings of the Church:

Ac.2:44-45 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

Ac.4:32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

This represented a beginning to the Church, but not the perfection of it, which wasn't given to the Apostles to witness. In their last encounter with the Lord Yahshua before the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, He told them what their work was to be:

Ac.1:6-8 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Therefore, shortly after the initial outpouring of the Spirit, the door to this mighty work of God was closed. In Acts, chapter 5, is the familiar story of Ananias and Sapphira, the infamous couple who thought to hold back some of the proceeds from the sale of property from the Church they sought to join, and were struck dead. This caused great fear which prevented anyone else from joining in this unique community around the Apostles, though the work of spreading the gospel continued:

Ac.5:11-14 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomons porch. And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)

However, it is evident through many passages of Scripture that the Church which was started in the Apostles' day will be completed and perfected in the end times:

1Co.13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

Ep.4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God,unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

He.9:11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

Now, let's reason together for a moment. If there is only one Church, which there is, then surely the building of that Church must be upon a single foundation. That foundation was established by the Apostles and those first few thousand members of the early church. The building project may have ceased, but we know by faith that it will not only recommence, but will in fact be completed to perfection. It is still one Church, one Temple, one Body of Christ, and, therefore, can only be built upon one foundation.

Ep.2:20-21 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord.

Though there may be some who would so react to this point, the story of Ananias and Sapphira (Ac.5) stands as a firm warning to anyone who would try to emulate the Apostles and early Church lifestyle without having this be rooted in a genuine move of God in their hearts. Daniel warned that there would be some of these in the last days:

Da.11:33-34 And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.

And Yahshua sounded similar warnings:

Lu.14:28-35 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Judas Iscariot probably serves as a good example of this point. He followed Yahshua for three and a half years, partaking in all the miracles, power, and blessings that the other 11 did, but ultimately the truth was revealed, as it will for all.

Lu.12:2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

Now, having laid this groundwork, let us return to the beginnings of the Church, for in it we have an established foundation and framework for the completion of the same project.

These early beginnings of the Church demonstrate one of the significant differences between the historical accounts of Noah and Lot's deliverance from the destruction that came upon their generations. Through careful and faithful preparation, Noah lost nothing in the flood, but Lot, in contrast, lost nearly everything. So it was with the early Church, they forsook everything, but actually gained in the process, demonstrating the Lord's faithfulness:

Ac.4:34-35 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

Mk.10:29-30 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospels, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

Is there any reason to think that these same precepts don't apply to the latter day perfected Church? Absolutely not!

Just like Noah had both a task to do and the reason for doing so, so have the people of God in our generation. Furthermore, Noah was given very precise instructions on how to build the ark, and it is reasonable for us to make sure we have a good plan before we embark upon this building project.

An even more direct type of this can be found in the restoration of the temple accomplished after the Babylonian captivity, as documented in the OT books of Haggai and Malachi. Briefly, what happened then was that a large group of Israelites were moved to return to their homeland and rebuild the temple. They were blessed in their endeavor and managed to get the foundation restored and the building started, but violent opposition caused them to cease their work. They remained in the land, but the work they had started was virtually lost to vandalism and decay. Then a number of years later, another large group returned under Malachi, who was determined to see the temple rebuilt, and the prophet Haggai inspired the work.

In this analogy, the former group is like the Apostles and the beginnings of the Church, and we are like the latter group that actually undertook and completed the work. A quick reading of the short book of Haggai can help to fill in this picture. My point here is that God told them to rebuild His temple, but He didn't give them precise details on how to do so, though He made and fulfilled profound promises to them if they obeyed. Why didn't God give them instructions like He did Noah in building the ark? Because they already had the knowledge! This was a RE-building project!

The people who had returned to Judaea were not building the Temple because of fear, not ignorance, and I will submit to you that we are not a lot different in this generation. Here we are doing everything we can to please God except setting our hands to the one thing that we came into the faith to be enjoined in...the temple of the living God. Is this right? Listen to what God said to the Israelites:

Hag.1:2 Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the Lords house should be built.

3 Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying,

4 Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste?

5 Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.

6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.

7 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.

8 Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord.

Now, I'm not suggesting that these Israelites didn't have a plan, I'm just saying that they had the knowledge they needed to formulate a plan within the already established foundation and framework for the temple building. We have the same knowledge in regards to the perfected Church, but knowledge is not what is keeping this work from going forth. Just like the Israelites of old, we're so caught up in fears and seeking the betterment of our own lives in this world, we aren't outraged at the state of the Temple of God enough to set our hands to enjoining in the work on it. Just like them, no wonder God's blessing seems so often far removed from our every day lives!

Mt.6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

You may be saying, well OK, what is the plan? To that I say, what does it matter? Any one of us can sit down with our computerized Bibles and references and figure out the basic foundation and framework. The question is whether we want to be in the flesh or in the Spirit. In the flesh we work in the flesh to the satisfying of the flesh, or ourselves. In the Spirit we work in the Spirit to the satisfying of the Spirit, or God. If you aren't so hungry for the meat of doing God's will that you will give your whole life to the task, why bother measuring out the task?

What I propose goes beyond any natural means to accomplish. So what? So did building the ark! So did rebuilding the temple! It is Yahshua's work to finish, and He has ALL POWER in heaven and earth. The Father has through grace brought us to His Son, and now Yahshua's task is to bring us to the Father. In what manner do you suppose the Father reveals Himself to mankind? In the Temple, people, don't you get it? God Almighty is not going to reveal Himself in a Temple that lays in waste and ruin, its just that simple!

The particulars of the plan are almost irrelevant. It is the cost that counts, and that should be counted. The first and most significant cost was the sacrificial death of Yahshua, for that is how we escaped from the bondage of Babylon in the first place. Why did God bless the way of those who returned from captivity? Because they returned to rebuild the Temple! We were bought out of bondage, my friends, which means that we belong to God, not ourselves. We may have the choice as to whether or not to obey Him, but I assure you that there is a day of reckoning on the horizon. Any thoughts of ownership of your life and the things of your life are delusional. There will be no apologies rendered when the Lord takes away whatever people have cleaved to as though it were their own instead of committing it to His work.

Most are familiar with the parable of the talents, so I'll omit placing the entire text of it here, but look at the fate of the ones who have indeed been apportioned gifts from the Lord, but have cleaved to them instead of committing them to the Lord's work:

Mt.25:26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

No apologies, just take from him what he had cleaved to and give it to the one who had been faithful. This wicked and slothful servant had misplaced fear. He should have feared God more than fearing the loss of what he had. What does the Lord say to him when he makes excuses: YOU KNEW! Do we know?

The Lord bought us out of bondage to death and sin at a great price. When He comes to take account of His servants, He's not going to be satisfied with just what He's already given us. It isn't enough to just return to Judaea, we must also build the Temple!

So, what is the cost of being faithful? It is everything you have, everything you are, and everything you hope for. Is that too much? My friends, the price was supposed to be paid when you first came to God through Yahshua seeking the salvation of your soul. If we have so come to God, what are we hanging on to? Whatever it is, it isn't ours anyway, and you cannot rob God without facing His justice!

Mk.8:37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

1Co.6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are Gods.

There is a profound difference between ownership and stewardship. When we are in Christ, we are not owners, but stewards. Our lives and everything that pertains to them are His, not ours. Stewards are responsible for executing their stewardship in accordance with their masters' will, even if contrary to their own will. Faithful stewards fear their master's wrath and delight in his favor, and are motivated by these more than anything else.

2Pe.2:1 BUT there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

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

3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

It is nothing less than covetousness, which is idolatry, to entreat what belongs to the Lord as though it were ours. We surrendered our lives to Yahshua when we came to him, didn't we? Shall we now turn back?

Lu.9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Not me!

Jos.24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

We may choose now, or later, but we cannot avoid making a choice. The sooner we choose, the easier that choice will be to make.

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