BE ON THE ALERT

INTRODUCTION

Good morning my brothers and sisters. Its another days journey. We praise and thank God that we are still here. Is there anybody here who will say thank you?

Doesn’t it bother when you hear the hof

Doesn’t it make your heart sick every time you hear the horrific and terrible news stories. it is cause for many to ask the despairing question: What is this world coming to? We have learned in recent weeks that the study of eschatology would answer that question by saying: “the world is coming to the end.”

SCRIPTURE READING

While most of us works overtime trying to avoid the subject altogether, I am responsible for bringing it up today by asking you if you are ready for the end? You know how we do it: we read about, sing about, and talk about it; but, are you really ready for it?

Let’s open the text

Mark 13:32–37 NASB95

“But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. “Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come. “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 on the alert. “Therefore, be on the 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— in case he should come suddenly and find you asleep. “What I say to you I say to all, ‘Be on the alert!’ ”

in the text being lifted for our consideration today, Jesus is in the last week of His earthly ministry; the cross and the grave are in His view. His disciples are giddy with glee as they anticipate reigning with Him in what they hoped would be the “Kingdom of Heaven” right down here on earth. Jesus gives them this lesson: His kingdom has aspects to it that they had not taken into consideration, and the way that they had imagined his kingdom was not broad enough. His kingdom was to an eternal one.

He went on the tell them that a lot of things will have to happen before the end of history and the beginning of eternity.

I am aware of the fact that everyone does not see the world like I do! And I defer to the idea that everybody can think like they want to think; but, are there a few believers in here that can see in the apocalyptic language today that one of these old days “King Jesus” will come riding with the clouds to bring His kingdom to reality and this present world to an end.

CENTRAL IDEA

The text is tailored to teach us that the Lord’s desire for his disciples then and now, is that they/we “BE ON THE ALERT”

POINT 1

POINT 1

GET ON THE ALERT

BECAUSE YOU DON’T KNOW EVERYTHING

do not know that day or hour

when the appointed time will com

when the master of the house is coming

I am afraid that there are too many people who are not on the alert today. I believer that the Lord let me live one more day to tell you, in the name of Jesus, to Get on the alert. Getting on the alert begins with repentance. I know that its not preached much or accepted when it is; but, it is still the indispensible requirement for salvation.

see

Isaiah 55:6–7 NASB95

Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the Lord, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.

Isaiah 55:6 NASB95

Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near.

POINT 2

BE ON THE ALERT

BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU DO KNOW

there is a day an hour

there is an appointed time to come

The master of the house is coming

Illustration:

Don’t let your guard down

POINT 3

STAY ON THE ALERT

BECAUSE IT IS SOMETHING YOU MUST DO

I am sure you are asking what is it that I must do? The master says its not enough to know, you’ve got to “Take Heed”

CONCLUSION

This Sunday is the first Sunday of the season of “Advent”. Advent can be defined as “the coming of Christ”. Christians believe in two comings or advents. We believe that the first advent occured when the Lord came down through 42 generations to save, set free, and deliver. He, then, ascended back into heaven where He currently serves as our advocate and mediator. The second coming of Christ is when He will return to the earth in all of His glory to judge the living and the dead.

And so, this season, serves to remind us that He came down and dwelled among us. He did, in fact , purchase our salvation with His own blood and defeated death and the grave for everyone who would believe in Him.

But that’s not how the story ends. This season also keeps us mindful that because He honored and performed his Word about His first coming, we can certain that He will fulfill His Word concerning His second coming.

DON’T GET CAUGHT SLIPPING i

We can get on the alert, be on the alert, and stay on the alert as we continue to

read about the end,

sing about the end,

and talk about the end.

INVITATION