Matthew 5: 14 “You are the light of the world, a city set on a hill cannot be hid.”

The charcteristics of a heavenly city:

Residential  areas- where we live in our communities.

Attitude –  our attitude should reflect the light In our house, our bodies are the dwelling place of God and so we are blessed by putting God at the centre of our lives,

“Set your minds on things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3: 2, 3

Emotions – We feel how God feels about sin and our message is in earnest because we want people to be saved from eternal death.

God calls us to take out this message about Jesus’ “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not  perish, but have eternal life.” John 3: 16

It’s the parable of the pounds, being actively involved in mission.

Areas of commercial  trading: business parks, and shopping malls, banks and supermarkets.

Areas in cities of deprivation, run down dwellings; broken down after years of neglect.  These are the times when we worry, fearful and doubt.  Proverbs 25: 28

In our special Relationship through Jesus’ death the cross, he took upon himself all that separates us from God. The times when we look to ourselves and worry often about things that we have no control over, that is, unless we look to Jesus in prayer and through faith expect the Lord to act on our behalf.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 1: 3. 2: 10.

Jesus understood that the people expected the kingdom of God would suddenly appear so, he told them this parable that spoke of  a delay due to the nobleman having to go to a far country to receive a kingdom and then return. (Parable of the pounds Luke 19: 11-27)

We know that the delay Jesus was referring to was his death, resurrection and ascension, he was going to his Father’s kingdom where he was before he was born as one of us.

“I have glorified thee on earth, having accomplished the work which thou gave me to do, and now, Father, glorify thou me in thy own presence with the glory which I had with thee before the world was made.” John 17: 4, 5.

During his absence he gave instructions to his disciples to be about his business, until he returned which would be sometime during their lifetime.

The nobleman called 10 of his servants and gave them £!0 to trade with. They were sent out with the message of “Repent, the kingdom of God is at hand,” But the citizens of the city made it known to the nobleman that they did not want him to reign over them. Those in authority the leaders of the Sanhedrin had decided that Jesus was not the promised Messiah, so they accused him of blasphemy and handed him over to the Romans to pass sentence upon him.

When he returned having received the kingdom, Jesus hoped that he would return and be recognised as their Messiah by the citizens, having listened to the witnesses of his servants, of his resurrection that fulfilled King David’s prophesies and other prophesies.

He called his servants to give an account of their trading. They had each received £1 the first servant said, “His £1 has made £10. The nobleman said, “Well done, because you have been faithful in very little, you shall have authority over 10 cities.” The second £5 and was congratulated and given authority over 5 cities. Then another came and said, that he had hidden his pound in fear of making a loss. The nobleman responded saying, “ You knew what I expected of you and  therefore,  you should have invested in the Bank and gained interest.” So, the master took from him the pound and gave it to the one who had the £10.

The disciples who were successful witnessing their faith were given authority to reign with Jesus over 10 congregations. The second their witness was 50% less were given authority to reign with Jesus over 5 congregations. The one who held back from witnessing their faith in Jesus, they should have contributed to a mission outreach.

The church is still trading with the currency of the gospel of Christ our Saviour and redeemer. The interest gained, fruit of the gospel being those who come to faith accepting Jesus as their Saviour.

Jesus said, “I tell you, that everyone who has more will be given; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. But for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them before me.”

The seriousness of what we are about in determining the future of a person’s eternal life, is made known in this parable.

Jerusalem the heavenly city that one day will light up the whole earth and universe.