Being Authentically Ready In The Last Season

Secular -

A pastor and a deacon were standing by the side of the road holding up a sign that said, "The End is Near! Turn Around Before It’s Too Late!"

A driver sped by, leaned out the window, and yelled, "Leave us alone, you religious fanatics!"

A moment later, the pastor and deacon heard a loud splash.

The deacon turned to the pastor and said, "Do you think we should have just made a sign that said 'Bridge Out'?"

Historical/Cultural Context -

This Gospel is written by Matthew, also known as Levi who was a former tax collector. It was most likely written between AD 50-60. Matthew left everything behind to follow Jesus. Matthew wrote primarily to Jewish believers—people who knew the Old Testament well. Matthew had one goal: to prove that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah, the King of Kings, and the fulfillment of God’s promises. Connecting the Old Testament prophecies to the life of Christ, proving that every word God spoke was coming true in Jesus. The key themes of the Gospel include Jesus as King, The Kingdom of Heaven, Fulfillment of Prophecy and discipleship.

Biblical Text -

Matthew 24:32–51 NKJV

“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

-[Prayer]-

Life Principle - Christ’s Return Is Certain. Make Sure You Are Doing What He Asks You To Do & Not Sitting On Your Laurels.

Life Point- Recognize The Season

Exegetical -

Matthew 24:32–35 BSB

Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branches become tender and sprout leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you will know that He is near, right at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.

Homiletical -

Last week the we talked about how the disciples wanted to know about His second coming and what that would be like. Jesus continues here but He is about to change His discourse of what our response should be and in typical Jesus fashion He is going to do it using parables, or stories.

The first thing out of His mouth is “learn this parable” some translations say lesson from the fig tree. Remember this culture is way closer to an agrarian culture than we are today. So they would be familiar with the growth an life cycle of a fig tree.

Figs start to produce near the summer. He relates the end times with the fig tree. You don’t exactly when it will produce but you do know it is soon and it is close.

“So also, when you see all these things, you will know that He is near, right at the door”

All what things?

What we talked about last week.

False prophets with false gospels will arise

The love of many will grow cold

There will be war amongst the nations

famines, pestilence, and earthquakes

lawlessness will abound - When we look at the world and political landscape this is coming closer and closer.

The abomination of desolation will stand in the Holy Place. Meaning the temple. Well right now there is no temple which is why you hear that the temple must be rebuilt in order for this prophecy to come to pass.

Did you know there is a religious sect of the Jews who have everything ready. All the instruments and the livestock to begin sacrifices again. The second they can build a temple they are ready to go.

Now the scripture says this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened.

Then someone is going to say, “well hasn’t a generation already come and gone?”

In human terms, but what is a generation to God?

2 Peter 3:8 BSB

Beloved, do not let this one thing escape your notice: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.

God’s perception of time is vastly different than ours. So no this generation or you could say dispensation is not over with. We are still a part of the time of God’s saving grace through Jesus Christ.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but Jesus’ words will never pass away.

This brings attention to the fact that Jesus is infinite. His words that He has spoken will come to pass just as He spoke them.

If we trust in Jesus then we can be sure that these things will come to pass. This should produce a fervor in our hearts to see people saved from their sin. It should produce joy unspeakable that we are saved from our sin and that we have an advocate with the Father who helps us in our time of need.

There are times when our fervor in prayer and the excitement of His coming grows colder. Starts to slow down. In those times we need to study God’s Word in conjunction with prayer asking God to restore to us that fervor and the joy of our salvation. Will you do that today?

Life Point - The Readiness Of Your Heart

Exegetical -

Matthew 24:36–44 NKJV

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Homiletical -

Again Jesus says of the exact time, no one knows but the Father. But he tells us what it will be like in the world.

It will be like the days of Noah. The world, in general, will not be paying attention. They will be going about their daily lives. People will still be partying and marrying and starting families right up until the time of His return. Just like the people did when Noah entered the Ark.

They didn’t know anything was about to happen and then all of a sudden out of nowhere, at least to them, the flood came and destroyed them. So it will be with His coming.

Then two men will be in the field, one is taken the other is left. Two women will be working at the mill, one will be taken the other left.

These are simple people, doing their work and living their lives yet when He comes people will be raptured and taken

He then tells them a parable about a thief who came and broke into the master’s house and had he known he would have watched and not allowed that calamity to come upon him.

The next part says therefore.

Therefore what? Therefore everything he just said above about the signs of the times and the ending that is coming. That we should be ready for His coming; and know that His coming will be at an hour and a time that we don’t expect. It will be sudden.

Readiness is not just a one time event but something that should be continual as we move throughout our lives here on earth.

Life Point - The Responsibility Of The Believer

Exegetical -

Matthew 24:45–51 NKJV

“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Homiletical -

He goes directly from the warning to His servants to who then is wise. What does that servant look like?

What was Jesus’ final command?

Matthew 28:19 NKJV

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

This servant does the will of the master which is to do Christ’s command. Go and make disciples. So church, that means you go and make disciples!

The church is the only organization that is not supposed to be you pay your dues and you get privileges. It is supposed to be you serve by making new disciples not by coming in here every Sunday and sitting on your blessed assurance. Membership in the Kingdom of God means serving others.

Notice in our parable that is what the good servant does. He takes care of the other servants and feeds them in due season.

There is going to be a day when Jesus comes and He may say to you well you made it; or He may say to you, Well done my good and faithful servant. Which do you want to be?

He says that the servant that is doing His will, will be rewarded with more to do good with. Not for Himself, but for others.

But, and this is a big but, He finds that His servant is evil and begins to abuse others, neglect them and saying it’s been two-thousand years where is the promise of His return?

Then when the time comes he will find out that the master won’t be happy with Him. It will be sudden for He was not looking at the signs of the times.

This is the religious folks who like 2 Timothy 3:5 tells us, have a form of Godliness but deny the power thereof. Of such we are told to run away from them.

Now I don’t mean to meddle. Oh let’s be honest yes I do. If we are Christians in name only, and not truly born again. How many people do you think will never come to Christ because of religious people who are twice dead, undone, naked and ashamed and religious but don’t know God?

Make sure you’re not one of those today. Make sure He knows you intimately. From the inside to the outside.

Life Principle– Recognize The Season We Are In. Make Your Heart Ready. Take Up Your Responsibility Before God.

Call to Action – altar call….