Watch | Ignorance is No Excuse
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· 16 viewsWe are in the last of the last days, but the day and the hour are not for us to know. What is for us to know then? We are to know if we are ready for that day?
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Time is running out o’sinner. Time is running out o’Christian. Are you ready? Are you ready for the end? Are your ready for eternity? Are you read for that great Judgment Day? There is but one way to be ready, Jesus Christ! There is but one way to be obedient and faithful.
For the sinner that needs Jesus, do not let another invitation pass without accepting Christ as your Lord and Savior. For the Christians that is lethargic and out of the perfect will of God, let not another invitation pass without coming to the altar, bending the knee, and confessing your apathy before God Almighty, repenting, and leaving a newly rededicated and revived child of God.
Focus Passage: Mark 13:28-37
Opening Passage: Mark 13:28-31
28 “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: as soon as its branch has become tender and sprouts its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So you too, when you see these things happening, recognize that He is near, right at the door. 30 Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.
Outline
Ignorance was no excuse for the disciples (vv. 28-31)
Ignorance was no excuse for the disciples (vv. 28-31)
The disciples were to focus on God’s Word - ‘Now learn the parable from the fig tree...’
Why did Jesus speak in parables? This question has already been addressed earlier within the Gospel of Mark. This answer is two-fold: First, He spoke in parables to hide spiritual truths from the lost. Secondly, He spoke in parables to reveal spiritual truths to His disciples.
The disciples were given spiritual truths to discern the times - ‘…as soon as its branch has become tender and sprouts its leaves, you know that summer is near...’
The disciples were told to look for the signs, when you see these things happening (Mk. 13:1-27). They were told the time is near, recognize that He is near, right at the door.
The disciples were warned that the time was near - ‘…Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place...’
Which ‘time’ was Jesus speaking of through within the verse? There ware two possibilities in which season He addressed: the first being the possibility that would come, which was the destruction of Jerusalem, which was orchestrated by Nero, and took place in A.D. 70 (vv. 5-23). The second possibility was that of the singular event, the Day of the LORD (vv. 24-27). Truly this text makes more since if Jesus were speaking of the destruction of the temple in A.D. 70, being that speaks of, ‘this generation’.
The disciples were given spiritual truths for all generations
Spiritual Truth (1): The present heaven and earth will pass
We know that the purification process will be through fire.
2 Peter 3:10 (NASB 2020) 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be discovered.
Revelation 21:1 (NASB 2020) 1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.
Spiritual Truth (2): God’s holy Word will remain
Ignorance is no excuse for the Christian today (vv. 32-33)
Ignorance is no excuse for the Christian today (vv. 32-33)
32 But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. 33 “Watch out, stay alert; for you do not know when the appointed time is.
Ready or not, judgment is coming
As Jesus warned the disciples of coming judgment during their day, He warns Christians of all ages of a future “Great Day” of Judgment.
Amos 5:18–20 (NASB 2020) 18 Woe to you who are longing for the day of the Lord, For what purpose will the day of the Lord be to you? It will be darkness and not light; 19 As when a man flees from a lion And a bear confronts him, Or he goes home, leans with his hand against the wall, And a snake bites him. 20 Will the day of the Lord not be darkness instead of light, Even gloom with no brightness in it?
Great spiritual truths of the Day of God’s judgment
It is an appointed day and hour - ‘…about that day or hour...’
It is a day that no one knows - ‘…no one knows, not even the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father alone...’
1 Thessalonians 5:2 (NASB 2020) 2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night.
2 Thessalonians 2:2 (NASB 2020) 2 that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit, or a message, or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
It is a day of humility before God (cf. Zephaniah. 1:7)
Zephaniah 1:7 (NASB 2020) 7 Be silent before the Lord God! For the day of the Lord is near, Because the Lord has prepared a sacrifice, He has consecrated His guests.
It is a day near all generations and of great judgment (cf. Zephaniah 1:14-16)
Zephaniah 1:14–16 (NASB 2020) 14 The great day of the Lord is near, Near and coming very quickly; Listen, the day of the Lord! In it the warrior cries out bitterly. 15 That day is a day of anger, A day of trouble and distress, A day of destruction and desolation, A day of darkness and gloom, A day of clouds and thick darkness, 16 A day of trumpet and battle cry Against the fortified cities And the high corner towers.
A needed response to be ready for the Day of Judgment
The Christian is to be alert - ‘…Watch out, stay alert...’
The Christian is to pray that they do not fall into temptations
How does one remain alert? How does one keep falling into temptation of apathy and lethargy? It is through the act of prayer. As Paul writes to the churches of Ephesus and Colossi
Ephesians 6:18 (NASB 2020) 18 With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints,
Colossians 4:2 (NASB 2020) 2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;
This is why the interpreters of the KJV write, Take ye heed, watch and pray.
The Christian is to realize their position - ‘…for you do not know when the appointed time is...’
Be assured, Jesus will return (vv. 34-36)
Be assured, Jesus will return (vv. 34-36)
34 It is like a man away on a journey, who upon leaving his house and putting his slaves in charge, assigning to each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay alert. 35 Therefore, stay alert—for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning—36 so that he does not come suddenly and find you asleep.
Jesus’ physical absence is temporary - ‘…It is like a man away on a far journey...’
Jesus gave His church, His bride with responsibility (Carrying the Gospel)
Jesus left His church with power to accomplish this responsibility - ‘…putting his slaves in charge...’
Jesus left His church with orders to accomplish this responsibility - ‘…assigning to each one his task...’
Jesus reminds His church to remain diligent and alert - ‘…commanded the door keeper to stay alert...’
Jesus reminds His church not to be caught sleeping on the job - ‘…stay alert—for you do not know when the master of the house is coming…so that he does not come suddenly and find you asleep...’
It is my fear that many within the church today, maybe even here at Central Baptist, are doing just that, sleeping on the job. How embarrassing it will be when the LORD returns to find those who are His servants and His children, warming pews rather than warming hearts with His Gospel. All the while stating they do their part and care knowing within their heart, they share not.
Be Alert (v. 37)
Be Alert (v. 37)
37 What I say to you I say to all: ‘Stay alert!’ ”
Our call comes from Jesus - ‘What I say...’
Jesus’ call is for all - ‘…I say to all...’
Jesus’ cries out, “Be Alert” - ‘…Stay alert’
Conclusion
Time is running out o’sinner. Time is running out o’Christian. Are you ready? Are you ready for the end? Are your ready for eternity? Are you read for that great Judgment Day? There is but one way to be ready, Jesus Christ! There is but one way to be obedient and faithful.
For the sinner that needs Jesus, do not let another invitation pass without accepting Christ as your Lord and Savior. For the Christians that is lethargic and out of the perfect will of God, let not another invitation pass without coming to the altar, bending the knee, and confessing your apathy before God Almighty, repenting, and leaving a newly rededicated and revived child of God.
