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John 10:3
The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. (niv)
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1 Corinthians 15 58
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (niv)
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Matthew 25:14-30
“ Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them.To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more.So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more.But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.“ After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five.‘ Master,’ he said,‘ you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’“ His master replied,‘ Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’“ The man with two bags of gold also came.‘ Master,’ he said,‘ you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’“ His master replied,‘ Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’“ Then the man who had received one bag of gold came.‘ Master,’ he said,‘ I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’“ His master replied,‘ You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.“‘ So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags.For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (niv)
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Ezekiel 33:2-9
“ Son of man, speak to your people and say to them:‘ When I bring the sword against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman,and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people,then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not heed the warning and the sword comes and takes their life, their blood will be on their own head.Since they heard the sound of the trumpet but did not heed the warning, their blood will be on their own head. If they had heeded the warning, they would have saved themselves.But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone’s life, that person’s life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.’“ Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.When I say to the wicked,‘ You wicked person, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not do so, they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved. (niv)
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Matthew 24:45-47
“ Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time?It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. (niv)
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Acts 20:29-31
I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. (niv)
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Luke 12:36-40
like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak.But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” (niv)
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Colossians 3:24
since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (niv)
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Ezekiel 3:17-21
“ Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.When I say to a wicked person,‘ You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sin; but you will have saved yourself.“ Again, when a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before them, they will die. Since you did not warn them, they will die for their sin. The righteous things that person did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.But if you do warn the righteous person not to sin and they do not sin, they will surely live because they took warning, and you will have saved yourself.” (niv)
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Matthew 16:19
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (niv)
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1 Corinthians 12 4-1 Corinthians 12 31
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body— whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free— and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.Now if the foot should say,“ Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.And if the ear should say,“ Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.If they were all one part, where would the body be?As it is, there are many parts, but one body.The eye cannot say to the hand,“ I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet,“ I don’t need you!”On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty,while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it,so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way. (niv)
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Revelation 3:7
“ To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. (niv)
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Luke 19:12-17
He said:“ A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return.So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas.‘ Put this money to work,’ he said,‘ until I come back.’“ But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say,‘ We don’t want this man to be our king.’“ He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.“ The first one came and said,‘ Sir, your mina 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.’ (niv)
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Romans 12:4-8
For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. (niv)
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1 Corinthians 3 5-1 Corinthians 3 10
What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe— as the Lord has assigned to each his task.I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.For we are co- workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. (niv)
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Colossians 4:1
Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven. (niv)
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Romans 13:6
This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. (niv)