Believers' Responsibility
It is our responsibility to believe what the Bible says and then act upon it; this is
called faith. We have to stop speaking what the devil is doing, and begin to speak
what God has done. We are told in II Corinthians 10:3-5 “ for though we walk in the
flesh, we do not war after the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal,
but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. Casting down
imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God,
and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ”.
Mankind fell into sin and then began to blame others for where they were (Genesis
3:6-13) which says “and when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and
that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she
took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also to her husband with her, and he
did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were
naked, and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they
heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day and
Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the
trees of the garden. And the Lord God called to Adam, and said to him, where are
you? And he said, I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was
naked, and I hid myself. And He said, who told you that you wee naked? Have you
eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded you that you should not eat? And the man
said, the woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did
eat. And the Lord God said to the woman, what is this that you have done? And
the woman said, the serpent beguiled me, and I did eat”. Adam blamed Eve and
Eve blamed the devil, they never took responsibility for what they had done. The
same thing is going on in the world today, people blame their families, many saying
the come from a dysfunctional family, and that is why they do what they do.
When David realized his sin, he took full responsibility, admitted he was wrong, and
asked God to forgive him (Psalms 51:1-12) “Have mercy upon me, O God,
according to Your loving kindness; according to the multitude of Your tender
mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and
cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgression; and my sin is ever
before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight;
that You might be justified when You speak, and be clear when You judge. Behold I
was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, You desire
truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You shall make me to know wisdom.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shal be whiter than
snow. Make me to hear joy, and gladness, that the bones which You have broken
may rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out my iniquities. Create I me a
clean heart, O God and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your
presence; ad take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your
salvation; and uphold me with Your free spirit”. This we should do as well, I John 1:
9 says “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.
Many people want to add God and the benefits of Christianity to their life without
acknowledging their personal sin and guilt. But confession and repentance must
come before receiving forgiveness. Like David, we must take full responsibility for
our actions, and confess them to God before we can expect him to forgive us and
continue His work in us.
God told Moses to speak to the people telling them “I call heaven and earth to
record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and
cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your seed may live. That you may
love the Lord Yahweh your God, and that you may obey His voice; and that you may
cling to Him for He is your life, and the length of your days; that you may dwell in the
land which the Lord Yahweh swear to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to
Jacob, to give them. And Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel”
(Deuteronomy 30:19-31:1).
Jesus says in Matthew 12:33-37 “either make the tree good, and it’s fruit good; or
else make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by its fruit. O
generation of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the
abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of
the heart, brings forth good things; and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings
forth evil things. But I say to you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they
shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by your words you shall be
justified, and by your words you shall be condemned”.
Remember that there is death and life in the power of the tongue, and it is our
responsibility to speak right things. Job says “you shall decree a thing, and it shall
be established to you; and the light shall shine upon your ways”. Take your
responsibility and decree what God says.
Paul says in Romans 6:16, and 8:5-8 “know you not, that to whom you yield
yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey; whether of sin
to death, or of obedience to righteousness? For they that are after the flesh, do
mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of
God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh, cannot please God”.
Our responsibilities as a believer is to “renew our minds” (Romans 12:1-2), “I
beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your
bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world, but be you transformed by the renewing of your
mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable and perfect will of
God”. Paul is speaking to believers here. We also see in III John 2 which says
“beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as
your soul prospers”. This is the will of God for us, but we have a responsibility to let
our soul prosper. Our soul is our mind, will and emotions. We renew our minds by
the word of God; the Bible says “faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of
God” (Romans 10:17).
Jesus tells us that we have a responsibility to use the talents that He has given to us
(Matthew 25:14-30), “for the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far
country, who called his own servants, and delivered to them his goods. And to one
he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to every man according to
his several ability; and immediately took his journey. Then he that had received the
five talents went and traded with the same and made them other five talents. And
likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had
received one went and dug in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time
the lord of those servants comes, and reckons with them. And so he that had
received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying; lord, you delivered
to me five talents; behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said
to him, well done, you good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few
things, I will make you ruler over many things; enter you into the joy of your lord. He
also that had received two talents came and said, lord, you delivered to me two
talents; behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said to him,
well done; good and faithful servant, you have been faithful over a few things, I will
make you ruler over many things, enter you into the joy of your lord. Then he which
had received the one talent came and said lord, I know you that you are a hard
man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not spread.
And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the earth; lo, there you have that is
yours. His lord answered and said to him, you wicked and slothful servant, you
knew that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not scattered. You
ought therefore to have put my money to the bankers and then at my coming I
should have received mine own with interest. Take therefore the talent from him,
and give it to him which has ten talents. For to every one that has shall be given,
and he shall have abundance, but from him that has not shall be taken away even
that which he has. And cast you the unprofitable servant into outer darkness; there
shal be weeping and gnashing of teeth”.
The master divided the money among his servants according to their abilities. No
one received more or less than he could handle. If he failed in his assignment, his
excuse could not be that he was overwhelmed. Failure could come only from
laziness. The talents represent any kind of resource we are given. God gives us
time, gifts, and other resources according to our abilities, and He expects us to
invest them wisely until He returns. We are responsible to use well what God has
given us. The issue is not how much we have, but how well we use what we have.
The parable describes the consequences of two attitudes to Christ’s return. The
person who diligently prepares for it by investing his or her time and talent to serve
God will be rewarded. The person who has no heart for the work of the kingdom will
be punished. Those who bear no fruit for God’s kingdom cannot expect to be
treated the same as those who are faithful.
We are saved by grace, but we are required to do good works (Ephesians 2:10) “for
we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has
before ordained that we should walk in them”. And in I Corinthians 3:8-15, which
says “now he that plants and he that waters are one; and every man shall receive
his own reward according to his own labor. For we are laborers together with God;
you are God’s husbandry, you are God’s building. According to the race of God
which is given to me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and
another builds thereon. But let every man take heed how he builds thereupon. For
other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any
man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble.
Every man’s work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it, because it
shall be revealed by fire, and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If
any man’s work abide which he has built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If
any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss, but h himself shall be saved;
yet so as by fire”.
Remember that Jesus gave to us the keys of the kingdom and told us that
whatsoever we bind on earth shall be bound, and whatsoever we loose on earth
shall be loosed in heaven. We have a responsibility to use our authority (Mark 16:
15-18), says “and He said to them, go you into all the world, and preach the gospel
to every creature. He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that
believes not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe. In My
name shall they cast out devils, they shall speak with new tongues. they shall take
up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay
hands on the sick, and they shall recover”.
Look at the examples in the early church, it was said of them that “they turned their
world upside down”.
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: September 23, 2009
It is our responsibility to believe what the Bible says and then act upon it; this is
called faith. We have to stop speaking what the devil is doing, and begin to speak
what God has done. We are told in II Corinthians 10:3-5 “ for though we walk in the
flesh, we do not war after the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal,
but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. Casting down
imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God,
and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ”.
Mankind fell into sin and then began to blame others for where they were (Genesis
3:6-13) which says “and when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and
that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she
took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also to her husband with her, and he
did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were
naked, and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they
heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day and
Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the
trees of the garden. And the Lord God called to Adam, and said to him, where are
you? And he said, I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was
naked, and I hid myself. And He said, who told you that you wee naked? Have you
eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded you that you should not eat? And the man
said, the woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did
eat. And the Lord God said to the woman, what is this that you have done? And
the woman said, the serpent beguiled me, and I did eat”. Adam blamed Eve and
Eve blamed the devil, they never took responsibility for what they had done. The
same thing is going on in the world today, people blame their families, many saying
the come from a dysfunctional family, and that is why they do what they do.
When David realized his sin, he took full responsibility, admitted he was wrong, and
asked God to forgive him (Psalms 51:1-12) “Have mercy upon me, O God,
according to Your loving kindness; according to the multitude of Your tender
mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and
cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgression; and my sin is ever
before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight;
that You might be justified when You speak, and be clear when You judge. Behold I
was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, You desire
truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You shall make me to know wisdom.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shal be whiter than
snow. Make me to hear joy, and gladness, that the bones which You have broken
may rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out my iniquities. Create I me a
clean heart, O God and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your
presence; ad take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your
salvation; and uphold me with Your free spirit”. This we should do as well, I John 1:
9 says “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.
Many people want to add God and the benefits of Christianity to their life without
acknowledging their personal sin and guilt. But confession and repentance must
come before receiving forgiveness. Like David, we must take full responsibility for
our actions, and confess them to God before we can expect him to forgive us and
continue His work in us.
God told Moses to speak to the people telling them “I call heaven and earth to
record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and
cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your seed may live. That you may
love the Lord Yahweh your God, and that you may obey His voice; and that you may
cling to Him for He is your life, and the length of your days; that you may dwell in the
land which the Lord Yahweh swear to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to
Jacob, to give them. And Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel”
(Deuteronomy 30:19-31:1).
Jesus says in Matthew 12:33-37 “either make the tree good, and it’s fruit good; or
else make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by its fruit. O
generation of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the
abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of
the heart, brings forth good things; and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings
forth evil things. But I say to you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they
shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by your words you shall be
justified, and by your words you shall be condemned”.
Remember that there is death and life in the power of the tongue, and it is our
responsibility to speak right things. Job says “you shall decree a thing, and it shall
be established to you; and the light shall shine upon your ways”. Take your
responsibility and decree what God says.
Paul says in Romans 6:16, and 8:5-8 “know you not, that to whom you yield
yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey; whether of sin
to death, or of obedience to righteousness? For they that are after the flesh, do
mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of
God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh, cannot please God”.
Our responsibilities as a believer is to “renew our minds” (Romans 12:1-2), “I
beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your
bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world, but be you transformed by the renewing of your
mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable and perfect will of
God”. Paul is speaking to believers here. We also see in III John 2 which says
“beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as
your soul prospers”. This is the will of God for us, but we have a responsibility to let
our soul prosper. Our soul is our mind, will and emotions. We renew our minds by
the word of God; the Bible says “faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of
God” (Romans 10:17).
Jesus tells us that we have a responsibility to use the talents that He has given to us
(Matthew 25:14-30), “for the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far
country, who called his own servants, and delivered to them his goods. And to one
he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to every man according to
his several ability; and immediately took his journey. Then he that had received the
five talents went and traded with the same and made them other five talents. And
likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had
received one went and dug in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time
the lord of those servants comes, and reckons with them. And so he that had
received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying; lord, you delivered
to me five talents; behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said
to him, well done, you good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few
things, I will make you ruler over many things; enter you into the joy of your lord. He
also that had received two talents came and said, lord, you delivered to me two
talents; behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said to him,
well done; good and faithful servant, you have been faithful over a few things, I will
make you ruler over many things, enter you into the joy of your lord. Then he which
had received the one talent came and said lord, I know you that you are a hard
man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not spread.
And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the earth; lo, there you have that is
yours. His lord answered and said to him, you wicked and slothful servant, you
knew that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not scattered. You
ought therefore to have put my money to the bankers and then at my coming I
should have received mine own with interest. Take therefore the talent from him,
and give it to him which has ten talents. For to every one that has shall be given,
and he shall have abundance, but from him that has not shall be taken away even
that which he has. And cast you the unprofitable servant into outer darkness; there
shal be weeping and gnashing of teeth”.
The master divided the money among his servants according to their abilities. No
one received more or less than he could handle. If he failed in his assignment, his
excuse could not be that he was overwhelmed. Failure could come only from
laziness. The talents represent any kind of resource we are given. God gives us
time, gifts, and other resources according to our abilities, and He expects us to
invest them wisely until He returns. We are responsible to use well what God has
given us. The issue is not how much we have, but how well we use what we have.
The parable describes the consequences of two attitudes to Christ’s return. The
person who diligently prepares for it by investing his or her time and talent to serve
God will be rewarded. The person who has no heart for the work of the kingdom will
be punished. Those who bear no fruit for God’s kingdom cannot expect to be
treated the same as those who are faithful.
We are saved by grace, but we are required to do good works (Ephesians 2:10) “for
we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has
before ordained that we should walk in them”. And in I Corinthians 3:8-15, which
says “now he that plants and he that waters are one; and every man shall receive
his own reward according to his own labor. For we are laborers together with God;
you are God’s husbandry, you are God’s building. According to the race of God
which is given to me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and
another builds thereon. But let every man take heed how he builds thereupon. For
other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any
man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble.
Every man’s work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it, because it
shall be revealed by fire, and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If
any man’s work abide which he has built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If
any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss, but h himself shall be saved;
yet so as by fire”.
Remember that Jesus gave to us the keys of the kingdom and told us that
whatsoever we bind on earth shall be bound, and whatsoever we loose on earth
shall be loosed in heaven. We have a responsibility to use our authority (Mark 16:
15-18), says “and He said to them, go you into all the world, and preach the gospel
to every creature. He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that
believes not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe. In My
name shall they cast out devils, they shall speak with new tongues. they shall take
up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay
hands on the sick, and they shall recover”.
Look at the examples in the early church, it was said of them that “they turned their
world upside down”.
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: September 23, 2009
