Taking Responsibility

Norbert Bohnert—June 10, 2023

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Today I want to talk to you about responsibility, and more specifically taking responsibility. There are many types of responsibilities—both spiritual and physical—that we have to be responsible for over our lifetime.

With the understanding that we have, that special understanding that we have, what is our responsibility today?

Sin Adam and Eve and the two trees in the Garden of Eden, Satan had a very tight grip on all of us, and on this world today as we see it all around us. Over time, in this world that we live in, there is less and less accountability for all our actions.

I'm talking about us, too, brethren, each one of us in this case. If we don't follow God's teachings we are enmity against God, which is, as we all know, our carnal mind! Everyone sins, no ifs, ands or buts! We all know that! Do not think that we can go through life with God's calling—that special calling that God gave us—and not be accountable for anything.

• What is your responsibility?
• What is your personal responsibility for the understanding that you have?
• The understanding that you are gaining in our process of conversion?

Not knowledge, but true understanding that only God can give to us!

A lot of so-called religious people can quote the Bible left and right, but do not have true understanding!

God did not choose them, He did not choose those people! He chose us, you and I, to have that understanding now, today, in our present world!

We know that Christ is coming quickly, without warning, as 'a thief in the night.' What are you and I doing in preparation of the understanding that we have gained thus far?

Remember the parable about the talents, the ten talents (Luke 19:12-26). Servants were given money at that time, and they were supposed to do something with that money that they received.

Christ equates money to overcoming in this world. Overcoming with knowledge and with that knowledge understanding. Some get more, some get less. God gives to each person whom He calls differently, according to His will, predestined for the job He sets before us.

• Are you growing in grace, knowledge and understanding?
• Are you asking for more?
• Am I asking for more?

All questions we ask on a personal basis! This is a personal question we must ask ourselves.

• Are we developing the understanding that God has given us in a right way?
• Are we utilizing to our maximum ability, the ability that we have been given?

First of all, being chosen by God and using our understanding to the utmost in our conversion process.

• Are we continually praying for more understanding, so that we are worthy to be part of God's Plan?
• Part of God's Plan that we have been set aside for; for His return?

These are all questions that we must ask ourselves on a personal note!

• Remember the good seed that fell on the good ground and the seed that fell on bad ground?
• Which seed are we?

We are responsible for the information that God gives us through His chosen apostles, proving all things that we have been taught using our Godly Spirit given to us. Not a worldly or carnal spirit or mind, but a Godly Spirit.

To grow we can be part of God's Family, because that is the ultimate goal that we are all striving for. We are responsible for our own salvation. We cannot and must not think that someone else will get us there. We must utilize the information that we have so that we can grow in grace and knowledge. We are responsible for our own salvation! We must realize that!

What is God's responsibility? Many people don't ask that question! God does have a responsibility, as well. Why?

Deuteronomy 7:6: "For you are a Holy people to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a special people to Himself above all people that are upon the face of the earth. he LORD did not set His love upon you nor choose you because you were more in number than any people, for you were the fewest of all people. But because the LORD loved you and because He would keep the oath, which He had sworn to your fathers, the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you out of the house of bondage from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Therefore, know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God Who keeps covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations" (vs 6-9).

He chose us as His chosen people! For Israel! He keeps His promises! God will never forsake us; He is there for us!

Deuteronomy 4:30: "When you are in trouble and when all these things have come upon you in the latter days, then you shall return to the LORD your God and shall be obedient to His voice, for the LORD your God is a merciful God. He will not forsake you, nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers, which He swore to them" (vs 30-31).

If you look through the whole Bible, it is 'I (God) will be here for you IFyou do this…' God will be here for us IFwe do our part! 'I will bless you, IF you do this…'

There is a stipulation that God sets before us. He gives us information that we need to have. He gives us the Holy Spirit and tells us what we are to use it for, and how we are to use it: turn from sin and keep God's statutes and what is lawful, and you will live and not die!

Ezekiel 18:21: "But if the wicked will turn from all his sins, which he has committed, and keep all My statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die."

A promise made to those who keep God's laws and commandments! If you look through the whole Bible, it is 'I will be here for you IF you do this…'

Remember the example of Paul who went through a lot. God chose him. He was an absolute sinner. He crucified people, and suddenly God turned him around! So, it is not impossible for us to grow. We need to be aware of these things and make use of the examples that have been given to us. That's how we need to live our lives. God will judge us according to our ways, so we must repent!

Verse 30: "'Thus I will judge you, O house of Israel, each one of you according to his ways,' says the Lord GOD. 'Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin."

God judges us according to our ways, how we live today—spiritually and physically!

How are we utilizing the information that we have before us?

• it is our responsibility to remember these things
• it is our responsibility to uphold what God has given us today

Remember that he has blessed us and chosen us to know and to understand!

Not everyone is given this understanding. It has been given to us! Another thing we need to know is that God does not lie! He says that He will never forsake us; God does not lie!

He's always there for us IF we look to Him! He proves His responsibility and loves us by keeping all that He has promised us! To prove this point, what He has promised we need to read about Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David. You can read these examples in the Scriptures. God is always there for us no matter what!

The promises that He kept is why we're here today, and where we have the opportunity to go! He gave us the understanding of His Word and His great plan  so we don't have to go through the terrible times and worry; God is there for us!

We know that Christ will return; God has a plan in place! Revelation is unfolding before our eyes, and we see it in world events today. We see it in the Church, the separation that we experienced, many of us, in our Church history. We see it in Europe coming together. We see it in governments, the people in power. There was no way they would even come to power, but they are in power today. God has allowed them to come to power; it's part of the Plan of God.

• look at our economy
• look at things that are going on around us
• look at the terrible things that Satan has bestowed upon mankind

We are to be ready! We are to be ready to study and be prepared, growing in grace and knowledge! That is what we're supposed to do so we can be part of God's Family.

Christ died so that we can go directly to God for forgiveness of our sins so that we may live into that future Kingdom of God IFwe do our part, IFwe take the responsibility for the knowledge and understanding that God has given to us.

We know from John 3:16 that God gave us…it's the crux of what God has done for us:

John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish, but may have everlasting life."

We can have everlasting life! That's God's promise to us, and what are we doing with the information that we have before us? It's God's responsibility to follow through with His promise. God has a responsibility the same as we do; our responsibility is also to those around us.

Deuteronomy 6:1: "Now, these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD our God commanded to teach you so that you might do them in the land where you go to possess it."

We are being taught! You didn't wake up one morning and say, 'I know it! I've got it! No problem! I've got this all under control!'

• What land are we crossing to possess?
• What knowledge are we being held accountable for?

We must be taught and we must remember what we have been taught!

Verse 2: "That you might fear the LORD your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you, and your son, and your son's son, all the days of your life, and so that your days may be prolonged."

• What are we supposed to do to get there? We're supposed to keep the  statutes and the commandments!
• What are they? They are truly shown and explained in the Bible, the Word of God!

They are very simple as we all know! We are not only to be taught, but we are to keep and act on the commandments; keep the commandments of God!

Verse 7: "And you shall diligently teach them to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up." We are to be taught:

• What are we supposed to do with it?
• Sit on it? NO!
• Wait until Christ comes? NO!
• Then say, 'I'll jump on the bandwagon when we know that things are getting bad'? NO!

We know that that is not the way we should be acting and that attitude is not right!

My parents were in the Church in 1971! They took the time to teach all of us, all six boys in the family. Now, we are responsible to teach our children the same. We are to be examples to them, That's what God wants us to be, examples! Looking back now in my Church past, how many are still there in the Church of God that you have been exposed to over your history of being in the Church? Very few! Very few! And sometimes almost none that you can remember.

It's unfortunate, but God willing, that initial seed that was planted will once again rejuvenate, germinate and they will come back to God! We can always pray for that.

Verse 8: "And you shall bind them for a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes."

What is that? Your working, and what you do you do diligently 100%; God did everything 100% in creating this earth. So we will also strive to do 100%! A Godly characteristic that we must have to be committed and do everything 100% according to the Word of God.

What is 'frontlet'? We are supposed to remember in everything we do, with everyone we speak with, every conversation that we have we're supposed to remember God.

• what He taught us
• what He has allowed us to understand

We are to be examples of God's way of life! Not a stumbling block and a bad example, but by following the fruits of the Spirit in our journey with God th Father and Jesus Christ at His right hand. God wants to be part of His Family with many promises, as we all know. We have a responsibility to grow in grace and knowledge, wisdom and understanding.

Solomon talks about knowledge, wisdom and understanding.

Proverbs 1:7: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction."

How do you fear God? First, you must prove that God is real! If we don't prove that He is real why are we sitting here if God is not real? We know that God is real, and there is no need for true Christianity if there is no God. As we read in Deuteronomy, we are responsible for passing on what we have learned from God's chosen apostles; proving all things using God's inspired words from the Bible. That's what we are to do, prove all things!

How do we prove them? Using the Word of God as our Source to prove it! It is not hidden! It is not a secret!

We are to be held accountable and responsible for our actions, our personal actions or our lack of actions. We are accountable for that! As the Parable of the Pounds reveals, our understanding can be taken away from us IF we allow ourselves to be misled and not grow in what we have been given and taught.

Remember the pounds that were given to the two servants. They utilized those pounds, utilized the resources that they had. They grew the money for their master. But the one who buried it in the dirt, put in the handkerchief, what happened? He came back and said:

You are basically a very sloughful person, you didn't want to grow in knowledge and understanding.

That person did not want to grow with his pounds. He did not want to improve his wealth. He did not act on the opportunity that was given to him. God wants us to improve to be part of His Family, the Family of God.

We must be proactive in utilizing understanding. We have to pray, pray even more so we can grow and have more understanding.

• Who was given more? Why?
• Who of the servants was give more? Why?

The reason they were given more, the two servants, was because they utilized what was given to them. They grew, their profits grew, and their wealth grew. But they had to act on it. That's what happens with the pounds, and that's what happens with God's Holy Spirit, as well!

We have to act on God's Word! We have to act on what we have been taught using the Spirit of God to guide and direct us to stir that Spirit up and act on what we know and act we have been taught!

Revelation 3:11: "Behold, I am coming quickly; hold fast that which you have so that no one may take away your crown."

We are guaranteed a crown, a spot in God's Kingdom. We are guaranteed that if we do as He says. Follow His laws, statutes and commandments.

Galatians 5:22: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control; against such things there is no law. But those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. If we live by the Spirit, we should also be walking by the Spirit…. [we have to act, stir the Spirit up] …We should not become vainglorious, provoking one another and envying one another" (v 22-26).

Because he fruits of the Spirit are God's Spirit, we know that it's perfect. There is no gray area with that. If we follow this, that's a Godly Spirit and that's what we need to do. Ask for God's Spirit so we can grow more, and develop the character and mindset of Jesus Christ and God the Father.

When it comes to salvation and taking part in God's intended family plans, it is up to us to take full responsibility, unwavering responsibility. Again, our salvation is not up to someone else. It is up to us and we must utilize what we've been given! The information that we have been given is to be used to be strengthened by God's Spirit and through God Himself.

Romans 14:12: "So then, each one of us shall give account of himself to God."

We are held accountable! We will be judged, God says:

• What did you do with the ten pounds that you received?
• What did you do with the Holy Spirit that you received, that I gave you?

God will be holding us accountable!

• Did we grow with what we received?

or

• Did we just sit on it?
• Did we have an attitude at the same time about it?
• Did we have the attitude of 'catching the train' the next time it comes around?

It doesn't work that way!

Assess the situation! Anything that happens in our lives, and many things do happen in our lives, both physically and spiritually! Assess the situation and apply what we have learned using the understanding that God has given us through His Word. That is a must, brethren! That is a must!

As Solomon said, there is nothing new under the sun! everything we need is found in the Scriptures, the Holy Word of God! The Holy Bible!

Revelation 22:19: "And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, and from the Holy City, and from the things that are written in this book. What is written?

• God's laws, statutes, commandments
• the way we are to live

IF we forget these things, IF we take them out and change anything when we talk to one another, IF we change anything in the teaching, IF we change anything, we are not utilizing what we have been given and what we have learned.

We cannot compromise! This can be life or death! Our lives depend on what we do, and we know, and we know that we have to apply it to our daily lives. We have to apply it or we will basically be erased from the Book of Life!

Revelation 20:12: "And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged out of the things written in the books, according to their works."

Will our name be in the Book of Life? It means that we can have a crown and be part of God's Family and the upcoming Kingdom of God.

"…judged…according to their works." That applies to you and me, not sitting back waiting for something to happen. They were judged by what they knew and how they utilized what they knew into action, just like the ten pounds, or the five pounds, or the one pound given to the servants. We need to utilize what we have been given.

Everything I've spoken to you today is coming from the reference and source that we have all before us: The Word of God, the fantastic book of knowledge and understanding: The Holy Bible!

We will be judged according to this book, God's book, the Word of God; judged according to our words. These are His Words right there, and we are responsible for our understanding and must be diligence servants of God!

Let us take the responsibility for what we know! Each one of us take that responsibility for what we know and have been taught. We are continuing to always be taught what God has so graciously provided for us:

• the teaching
• the calling
• the Truth
• the understanding

that we have all received! All provided by the Father and Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit working within us, based on the Holy Word of God!

Let us be responsible and apply ourselves with the opportunity that has been laid before us. We have been blessed, and let us not disappoint our ever loving God! Let us take responsibility of fulfilling God's calling, fulfilling God's purpose for us.

Let us be responsible!

Scriptural References:

• Deuteronomy 7:6-9
• Deuteronomy 4:30-31
• Ezekiel 18:21, 30
• John 3:16
• Deuteronomy 6:1-2, 7
• Proverbs 1:7
• Revelation 3:11
• Galatians 5:22-26
• Romans 14:12
• Revelation 22:19
• Revelation 20:12

Scripture referenced, not quoted: Luke 19:12-26

NB:bo
Transcribed: 6/14/23

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