Sermon Tone Analysis

Text: Mark 13:31-37; Hebrews 10:19-39

Theme: Encouraging believers to faithful living while we wait for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the early 1990's Lee Jang Rim, leader of the Dami Mission in South Korea, began predicting that the Rapture would take place at midnight on October 28, 1992.

As the date approached, tens of thousands of Christians in South Korea gathered in over 200 churches awaiting the end of the world which they believed would happen at midnight.

In one church over 2,500 expectant Christians gathered to sing hymns and wait for the rapture.

In the weeks prior to the anticipated event thousands of Korean believers sold their property, abandoned their families, quit schools and jobs and some even deserted military posts.

There were even some reported suicides.

When the rapture did not happen, one pastor simply told his church members, "Nothing has happened.

Let's go home.

Let's go back to a normal life."

There is a fascination among Christians for predicting the day and hour of our Lord's return.

Yet Jesus himself made it clear that the day of His coming is the most closely guarded secret of the universe.

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

32 “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

33 Be on guard!

Be alert!

You do not know when that time will come.”

(Mark 13:31–33, NIV84).

Are we to anticipate Christ’s Second Advent?

Yes.

Are we to watch for it?

Yes.

Jesus even told us to pray for it.

The Scriptures are very clear that the Second Coming of our Lord will happen.

It will be visible.

It will be a glorious event for those who have committed their life to Jesus.

It will be a time of anguish and gnashing of teeth for those who have not.

C.S. Lewis, referring to how the lost man will perceive the Second Coming of our Lord, wrote: When Christ returns, how awful to know that all of it was true, and that it is too late to do anything about it.

Are we to attempt to set dates of when it will happen?

NO!

The question of the moment is: "How are Christians to live in light of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ?" Jesus tells us: we are to watch!

The Bible gives us examples of the different kinds of watchers we can be.

I. WE CAN BE LAZY WATCHERS Mark 13:33-37

1. there are some believers who, early in their faith, eagerly anticipate the coming of our Lord, but as time goes by they become disinterested and ultimately do not really expect the Lord to come at all in their lifetime

a. they become lazy watchers

2. Jesus says that his return is characterized by the rich man who goes on a vacation or takes a holiday leaving his staff in charge of his large estate

a. the housekeeper asks, "When will you be coming home?" to which the master of the house replies, "I'm not really sure.

When I feel like it, I guess."

b. the housekeeper, the chauffeur, the gardener, and the cook all have their assigned duties to perform and are to continue to faithfully execute their jobs just as if the owner of the estate is there watching

1) a week goes by and there is no sign of the homeowner

2) a month goes by and then another and still there is no indication when the master of the house will return

3) a year goes by, and still the master of the house has not returned

c. the servants begin to grow lax in their duties

1) the limousine and Porsche do not get polished as frequently

2) weeds begin to sprout in the once immaculately kept lawns and gardens

3) dust collects on the fireplace mantles and bookshelves

4) the staff is forced to eat leftovers and finally TV dinners

d. finally, the staff begins to take long siestas in the afternoon believing that surely there will be enough advanced notice of the owner's return that they will have time to get the house in order

3. the staff has become lazy in their watchfulness for the master of the estate

a. when they least expect it, guess who'll be coming to dinner?

b. in Luke’s version of the Mount Olivet Discourse we read

“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap.

35 For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth.

36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”” (Luke 21:34–36, NIV84)

4. we can become lazy watchers

II.

WE CAN BE PRE-OCCUPIED WATCHERS Luke 12:16-19

1. there are some Christians who are so pre-occupied with the events, agendas, meetings and concerns of this world that thoughts of Christ’s Second Advent don’t every enter their conscious thought

2. when we are pre-occupied with an event or situation we are all but oblivious to other events taking place around us

ILLUS.

Every parent who has ever tried to have a conversation with their child during his or her’s favorite TV cartoon show knows this to be true.

3. worldly Christians are pre-occupied Christians

ILLUS.

Many well-meaning Christians think that worldliness consists only of certain sinful practices that non-Christians engage in.

Smoking, dancing, drinking, gambling, and theater-going are the "big five" that once headed the list for Baptists.

Some add other things like too much makeup on women, long hair for men, and hip-hugging jeans.

The implication is that, if you’re a Christian, and if you don't do these things you're spiritual.

Now, I'm not suggesting that our social behaviors don't matter.

Some of them are condemned by biblical principles, and indulging in others can lead to spiritual ruin.

What I am saying is that worldliness is primarily a condition of the heart rather than a code of conduct.

C. Stacey Woods calls it a "self-indulgent attitude ... toward life, the material universe, and all life's relationships."

J. Henry Jowett says, "Worldliness is a spirit ... It is a life without high callings, a life devoid of lofty ideals.

It is a gaze always horizontal and never vertical."

In other words, anything that takes priority over devotion to Christ.

4. the answer to worldly living is simple: Keep on watching because you don’t know when the owner of the house will come back

a. we should not become so preoccupied with the events, agendas, and meetings of this world that we become unconscious of his coming

5. if we are not careful we can become pre-occupied watchers

III.

WE CAN BE FAITHFUL WATCHERS

Mark 13:35 "What I say to you, I say to everyone: Watch!'"

1. the Second Coming will happen

ILLUS.

Both the Old and New Testaments are filled with promises of the Second Coming of Christ.

There are 1,845 references to it in the Old Testament, and a total of seventeen Old Testament books give it prominence.

Of the 260 chapters in the New Testament, there are 318 references to the Second Coming — one out of 30 verses.

Twenty-three of the 27 New Testament books refer to this great event.

For every prophecy on the First Coming of Christ, there are 8 on Christ’s Second Coming.

2. what does it mean to be a faithful watcher?

A. WHILE WE WATCH FOR CHRIST'S COMING WE ARE TO LIVE IN FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

(Hebrews 10:19–25, NIV84)

1. because Jesus is our Great High Priest ... "we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place."

a. because Jesus intercedes continuously for us before God we can have a confidence in approaching God

ILLUS.

Most of you have seen the movie classic, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Tin Woodsman and the Cowardly Lion have traversed many miles and come through many dangers to present their petitions before the Great and Powerful Oz.

But they approach the Wizard in fear and trembling with no assurance that he will even receive them,

b. that is the same way many believers approach God