Ten Servants
Dear Christian friends,
In Luke chapter 19, Jesus told a parable — known as the “parable of the pounds” — about a nobleman who went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom. Before he left, he called ten servants, giving each a pound (about three months wages), telling them to put the money to work until he returns. Meanwhile, his subjects hated him, and sent a delegation after him to say, “We don’t want this man to be our king.”
The nobleman did return as king, and called his servants to him, to find out what they did with the money. The first said, “Your pound has earned ten more.” “Well done, my good servant!” his master replied. “Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.” The second came and said, “Sir, your pound has earned five more.” His master answered, “You take charge of five cities.”
Then another servant came and said, “Sir, here is your pound; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.” His master replied, “I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?”
Then he said to those standing by, “Take his pound away from him and give it to the one who has ten pounds.” “Sir,” they said, “he already has ten.” He replied, “I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them–bring them here and kill them in front of me.”
In this parable, the nobleman clearly is Jesus. He will ascend into heaven and later return to earth as King of Kings. Most of the inhabitants of the earth have rejected Him as King and will be cast into Hell. The servants are those who at least profess Him as King. The nobleman gave each a task to do–to take a pound and invest it. Two of the servants obeyed him and were rewarded. The third disobeyed, causing the nobleman to get very angry at him and take away the one pound he had been given. In a similar parable related in Matthew 25, the wicked servant shows himself to be a “false believer” and is cast into outer darkness.
This wicked servant clearly had a wrong concept of his master, i.e., God. He saw God as harsh, as unreasonable in his demands, as someone who cannot be pleased. In his great commentary written three centuries ago, Matthew Henry wrote, “He thought that it was reaping where he did not sow; whereas really it was reaping where he had sown. He had no reason to fear his master’s austerity. This was a mere sham, a frivolous groundless excuse for his idleness…If he durst not trade for fear of losing the principal, yet that would be no excuse for his not setting it out to interest, where it would be sure. Whatever may be the pretenses of slothful professors, the true reason of it is a reigning indifference to the interests of Christ and his kingdom. They care not whether religion gets ground or loses ground, so long as they can but live at ease.”
When Jesus left this world, He gave us a task. It was not to make money. It was the Great Commission: to take the gospel to all the world, making disciples of all nations. Like the wicked servant, many professing Christians are disobedient to the One they call Lord. Their excuse: “I was afraid.” But the real reason is slothfulness, an “indifference to the interests of Christ.” If you were afraid to invest the money, at least you could have put it in the bank and earned interest. If you were afraid to tell people about Jesus, at least you could have left gospel tracts in phone booths and mailed them with your bills.
Jesus said, “You shall receive power, after the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto me” (Acts 1:8). “He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant” (2 Corin. 3:6). Jesus has given us everything we need to be successful in the task He has given us. The question is, do we care about seeing Christ’s kingdom advance? Will we obey Him like the righteous servants, or disobey like the wicked servant?
SOS-San Francisco
San Francisco is certainly one of the most influential cities in the world, along with New York, Los Angeles and a few other places. So far, its influence has been almost totally for evil. While most San Franciscans have heard something about Jesus, many still do not have a clear understanding of the gospel message. Also, there are thousands of children, immigrants and tourists here who have never heard the gospel. This city is the third most popular tourist destination in the world.
So for the sixteenth year we are sending out an “SOS” — a call for Christians to “preach the Word of God urgently” (2 Tim. 4:1) to the people of San Francisco. God also wants to use this outreach to shake us from our spiritual apathy and lukewarmness and give us a new excitement about serving Jesus. Those who think Christianity is boring have never been to SOS-San Francisco.
We have scheduled two special guests for this year’s outreach. Chuck Girard has been writing and singing Christian music for over twenty years. Today he travels around the world, ministering in the areas of worship, spiritual warfare, and evangelism.
Ray Comfort preaches regularly on the streets of Los Angeles and teaches evangelism to Christians around the world. He has written over twenty books, including Hell’s Best Kept Secret. His teaching on the use of the law to produce true conversions has had tremendous influence around the world. His teaching has been distributed widely through the ministries of Bill Gothard, David Wilkerson and John Wimber.
We have printed 2500 posters and 20,000 bulletin inserts to let Christians know about this outreach. Please help us get this literature to churches, Christian bookstores, and Christian schools in your area. You can give it out at Christian concerts and other events. Also, talk with your pastor and Christian friends and encourage them to get involved. Set aside the week of June 30 – July 8 to attend the SOS outreach and bring a friend.
We have enclosed a registration form with this letter. If you register by May 15, you will receive a free SOS T-shirt. On Saturday July 1 we will have a noon worship rally at Union Square, Powell and Geary St. The outreach will conclude on Saturday July 8 with a noon rally at United Nations Plaza, 7th St. and Market. Free housing is available during the outreach. Bring a sleeping bag and foam pad. If you prefer, we can send you names of hotels in the area. See the bulletin insert enclosed with this newsletter for more outreach details.
DON’T DELAY. SEND IN YOUR SOS REGISTRATION FORM TODAY!
SOS Video
If you’ve never been to an SOS outreach before, let me say that the fellowship with other believers, the times of worship and personal ministry, and the times of outreach all make it an incredible and unforgettable experience. We have prepared a video of last summer’s outreach. The video contains 50 minutes of highlights from the outreach, a shortened 7 minute version, and our
11 minute SOS- San Francisco video, which is edited and narrated in a more professional manner for showing to churches and other groups. This video shows many different kinds of outreach and thousands of people hearing and responding to the gospel in San Francisco.
Ministry Needs
Once again we want to thank you for your prayers and support for this ministry. Our expenses are always greatest in the spring as we prepare for SOS-San Francisco. Also, consider supporting a worker for SOS. Many Christians would like to participate in the SOS outreach but cannot afford the registration and meal costs.
We still have openings for two Christians to live in our ministry house. This house is not for new believers but for those who are ready for evangelism ministry. We are looking for soldiers who will endure hardship and persist in God’s calling to evangelize the San Francisco Bay Area.
We witness every Friday night and Saturday afternoon. On Friday we meet at 7:30 PM at Vineyard Christian Fellowship, 1098 Harri son St. at 7th St., room 219. Call us for information about our Saturday outreaches. Throughout the spring, we will be scheduling “Church on the Street” outreaches at 5th St. and Market on Satur day afternoon with various local churches. Call us for the out reach schedule. Please help us bring the gospel to those who are perishing. Please pray that we would continue to get permits for these outreaches, as well as those scheduled for SOS week.
Our Tape of the Month is Hell’s Best Kept Secret by Ray Comfort. Also, many of you have never read my book You Shall Be My Witnesses: How to Reach Your City for Christ. This 140 page book tells the story of SOS Ministries and contains teachings to help you reach your community for Jesus. If you’ve already read the book, you may want to get one for a friend.
On Saturday May 27, five to ten thousand Christians are expected to join together for the March for Jesus–taking praise, prayer and proclamation to the streets. Call us for meeting time and place. Over 500 such marches are scheduled the same day in cities around the U.S. and in 80 nations world wide, with over a million Christians participating.
Please continue to pray for us as we prepare for SOS-San Francisco. We need God’s wisdom in putting everything together. Pray that He will guide us in every area of the planning. God bless you all. Don’t forget to order SOS posters and bulletin inserts, and to send in your registration form by May 15 to get a free T-shirt.
Yours in His love,
Larry Rosenbaum
