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*February 20, 1994*
*Don't Lose Track - It Could Wreck Your Train of Thought*
*Theme: Week 2; 50 Day Adventure - Dare to Dream Again*
Track God's Involvement in the Everyday - not so much to track God's involvement in the everyday, but not to lose sight of God's involvement because of the everyday.
Hymns: Ending; "Every Day With Jesus"
"Count Your Many Blessings"
Scripture Passage : Matthew 24:36-51; 25:1-46
I.
Life as Usual
A.
The Day and Hour Unknown Mt 24:36-51
Everything going along as planned-as it was from the beginning-eat, drink, marry, etc.. Except Noah.
The rest of the people weren't tracking God's involvement.
Noah was probably preaching and building for up to 100 years, but nobody caught on.
They were caught up in the day to day as the day got closer (Iowa Flood).
The Day of Christ is also coming.
The 2 men in the field and the 2 women at the mill are the same except that one is spiritually alert and the other is not.
The one is like a spy in Satan's territory awaiting the day of invasion.
One eye is on the task, the other eye on the heavens, living as a stranger here in reverent fear.
(1Pet 1:17b).
The other has both eyes on the task, absorbed by it, maybe even defeated by it.
Mary and Martha
Lk 10:38-42
Luke 10
38.
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.
39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said.
40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.
She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself?
Tell her to help me!"
41 "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things,
42 but only one thing is needed.
Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
The day and hour maybe unknown but God's promise is not unknown.
The invasion must come without warning so we must be ready.
We must not lose track of God's involvement.
The parable of the wicked servant reveals one danger of losing track.
We think Christ will never return so we ask, "Why not sin, what's the difference?"
And we take God for granted.
This is a favorite tactic of the enemy.
Another one is to convince us we are already sinners so what does more sin hurt?
But God has called us to repentance through Christ to live holy lives in anticipation of his return as a holy bride fit for his Kingship.
Dare we lose sight?
II.
Keep Watching - Keep Your Eye on the Goal
A.
The Parable of the Ten Virgins Mt 25:1-13
Ten men worked at the same job on an assembly line in an automobile factory.
Previously that week, management promoted the idea of quality circles to enhance production.
The men were encouraged to organize into two groups (for friendly competition with reward enhancement) and give their group a name for identity.
The first group of 5 men decided to call themselves the "Totals".
The second group of 5 men decided on the name "Subtotals".
Management later came by and asked the Subtotals to describe their job as they saw it.
"We're placing these nuts on these bolts" was the reply.
Management then asked the "Totals" to describe their job to which they replied, "We're helping to assemble an automobile."
You see, the "Totals" had decided to go down to the end of the assembly line and take a look at the finished product.
They had their eyes on the goal.
Needless to say, they won the competition and all got a steak dinner on management for enhanced production.
It is like this with the ten virgins.
We must keep watch, but a great deal depends on where we set our sights The five virgins without enough oil were not prepared to look ahead far enough through the night.
They only had enough oil to get to the house but not enough to stay for the party.
If our eye is on the goal we are encouraged toward its achievement.
Let's see this party through to the end, let's finish the work day so we can go home.
It also makes a difference which direction we watch - forward or backward.
The "Subtotals" lost before they started because all they could see was boxes and boxes of bolts and nuts they had to assemble.
They couldn't visualize the automobile and became discouraged with the tedium and routine of the day to day.
The five virgins without enough oil had to go back for more only to find the party started without them and they couldn't get in.
The automobile was built and rolled off the assembly line while they were still fiddling with the nuts and bolts.
What is the end product?
Is it you, is it me, our kids, others to whom we are accountable?
Perhaps it is the Kingdom of God and our part in it.
God has given us the big picture.
There will be a return of the bridegroom.
There will be a wedding banquet.
We must remain prepared and not lose heart nor lose sight because we lost hope in waiting.
2Pet 3:8-9b
2Peter 3
8.
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.
9.
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.
He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
This is where last weeks' message fits in.
We must let go of our painful past because it impedes our spiritual progress down the assembly line of God's grace.
We focus in the wrong direction on the nuts and bolts of pain rather than on the process of sanctification leading to glorification.
In the nuts and bolts of your painful past is a Mercedez rolling through the gates of heaven as a Coach for the King.
Phil 3:12-14
Philippians 3
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.
But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Bug Zapper Illustration
Phil 4:8
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-- think about such things.
Before I came here I worked as receiving manager for a WalMart Store in Iowa.
I had to move a lot of freight and it was extreme physical labor.
I got depressed and started to question what eternal value this had in the Kingdom of God and I read a book called, Your Work Matters to God, by Sherman and Hendricks and started to view my job differently.
I was able to support what I did on the basis I was helping to provide many needed necessities to people at the lowest possible cost who otherwise couldn't afford them.
I was helping to make their lives more bearable and enjoyable so mine became more bearable and enjoyable.
I was then able to endure the daily grind until God took me to a different one (smile).
Keep focused
It's like the ten virgins set out on a trip to Colorado Springs (which I understand has replaced Wheaten as the religious mecca of the U.S.).
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