Live For Jesus Today, He is coming Back One Day

NOVEMBER 29, 2020 STUDY NOTES MATTHEW 24:45-51 BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES LIVE FOR JESUS TODAY, HE IS COMING BACK ONE DAY INTRODUCTION Today’s message will conclude our study of Matthew 24, some of you may be glad Because you may not have agreed with my view or you think our study was not that important Time will tell us how important it is, in fact, I believe that time is already telling us that it is I also believe that time is telling us that the view we presented is also correct Many do not believe that America as a nation is identified in prophecy, and probably not But the lifestyle of the average American is found in prophecy (Mt. 24:37-42; 2 Tim. 3:1-5) The decisions of American government are found in prophecy and described in times past The things that American government now approves have been judged by God in the past American government continues to put its approval upon ungodliness and unrighteousness America will not escape the judgment of God because of its choice of lifestyle (Rom. 1:18-32) America is helping prepare the world for the events leading up to the return of Christ The events that Jesus said we are to watch for and be prepared for (Matthew 24) Where is our world today according to prophecy? (Revelation 3:17) Where is the truth of the return of Christ in America today and in our world today? Consider the thinking of our world today, what the average person says by the way they live In our world today the thinking is, God is dead according to the way most are living In the daily vocabulary of too many God is damned instead of praised Hell is a byword, used with so many different meanings, that it no longer has meaning If hell is a real place, it is the place to go because of the friends that have already gone there Heaven is only a joke St. Peter is waiting at the gate to tell you whether you can enter or not If there is a future judgment, don’t worry about it, God understands It has been so long since Jesus said that He would return that it can’t be true, it’s a joke Christian it is time to listen to Peter, 2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (Jesus will fulfill His promise, He is coming back one day) In the previous verses of Mt. 24 Jesus taught us to watch and be ready for His return In the last verses of this chapter He tells us how-to live in-order to be ready for His return Jesus closes out Matthew 24 with a comparison of the faithful and unfaithful To be prepared for His return we must be a faithful servant unto God until Christ returns Our next study will be the book of Philippians, read it, it is a good follow up of Matthew 24 In Philippians, Paul has in mind our faithfulness and the return of Christ, Php 1:10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; (Live for Jesus today, He is coming back one day) If we don’t understand how important it is to understand the events of the return of Christ Then we will not understand how important it is to watch and be ready And we will not understand how important it is to be faithful unto Christ until He returns A FAITHFUL SERVANT Mat 24:45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? 1 Jesus has a question for us, He wants us to give an answer, not just by word, but by action “Who then” connects us with the previous verses, who then is going to be ready for His return? The one who is “Faithful,” which means being “devoted to service,” a dependable servant How great is the need in America for a faithful servant, including all who serve others? 1Co 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. A “steward” was an administrator, a trustee, a minister, a city, or state official Wow, where are the faithful government officials of today? What is happening among the church leaders of today, too often we hear of unfaithfulness We must pray for all “stewards,” pray that they will be “faithful,” we need “faithful servants” A “faithful” servant is also a “wise” servant, wisdom is a gift from God, Eph 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: (Paul’s prayer is that God “may give unto you”) The “spirit of wisdom” is necessary for every step of our life, for every decision we make We need to know how to do the right thing at the right time and at all-times Jesus said, a “wise servant,” the word “servant” designated one who was born as a slave A good choice of words when referring to the relationship of a Christian to Christ All are physically born into slavery to sin, bound to Satan through the sinful nature (Rom 5:12) Christians are spiritually born into loving service to Christ (1 John 5:4) We are bound to Christ through the new spiritual nature (Rom 8:16) Through the new birth, we are willing to commit our daily life to Christ We are to live daily with a desire to obey Him (Galatians 2:20) The church of today needs “faithful and wise servants” living for the return of Christ whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, The word “ruler” means “to make somebody something,” that’s what Christ does for believers Christians should be studying and working toward that W D Degree, Mat 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Faithful service for the Lord today will earn the reward of service unto Christ throughout eternity Our service unto Christ includes serving others, which is the “Joy” of the Christian life “J-o-y” has been described as, Jesus first, yourself last, and others in-between We have a responsibility toward others until Jesus returns (James 2:8) James said, “you do well,” that’s the W D Degree, “well done thou good and faithful servant” to give them meat in due season? “Due season” means at the proper time, at the appropriate or opportune time We are to give those in need food and nourishment anytime it is needed (James 2:15-16) Food and supplies are not all that they will need, the need is not limited to physical sustenance The world has a daily need of spiritual nutrition, the spiritual diet is of utmost importance Those who are spiritually hungry need bread, Jesus said, Joh 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. (That bread is the cross of Calvary) We need to provide milk for the newborn, they need the “milk of the word” to grow spiritually, 1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: Spiritual growth requires meat, Heb 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 2 Too many Christians are spiritually immature, still a spiritual baby, Heb 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. New-born Christians are spiritually immature and need the teaching of God’s Word Some who have been Christians a long time are still spiritually immature All Christians need a daily diet of “strong meat,” Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. From the study of the milk and the meat of God’s Word we are prepared to live daily Christians must be involved in sincere Bible study until Jesus comes again (2 Timothy 2:15) Learning to live daily according-to the teaching of Christ, which we learn from Bible study Leading others to live for Christ, Jesus said, all faithful service will be rewarded (1 Cor 3:14) A PREPARED SERVANT Mat 24:46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. People often say to you, “have a blessed day,” what is a “blessed” day? “Blessed” is based upon being in a right relationship with God “Blessed” means having God’s favor upon your life, “Blessed” is a God-given satisfaction of life A “blessed day” is being satisfied with life regardless of the circumstances you face Living for Christ every day and serving Christ every day, will be a “blessed day” To be “blessed” is different from being “happy,” happiness is based upon “happenings We are not always happy with the happenings of our life, but Christians are still “blessed” The “happenings” of our daily life are often called luck, luck does not always come our way The “blessed” servant of God is the one who is filled with the joy of Jesus Christians are “blessed” because we serve Christ regardless of what “happens” And regardless of what happens, a faithful servant continues to serve God whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. What Paul said in Philippians 2:12-16 helps us to understand this verse As servants of Christ we must always be obedient servants, Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. We are not saved by works, but a sincere salvation experience will work “Your own salvation” is a motive for faithful service, God saved “me,” He gave “me” a new life Jesus is coming back for “me,” I must serve Him today because He will come for “me” one day “Fear” is right thinking toward God, reverence, respect, to honor God through faithful service “Fear” is living with a sense of accountability toward God “Trembling” is the results of fear, but not a lack of courage or physical fear The thought is not what if I serve God, but what if I don’t serve God? The concern is not limited to self, it is concern for others, what if they don’t hear about Jesus? And they may not hear about Jesus unless I tell them A “trembling” thought is, what if they hear and reject Jesus? That is why Jesus must find us as a faithful witness for Christ when He returns (Mt 28:18-20) BEING PROMOTED Mat 24:47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. “Verily” is a strong affirmation of the truth of what is being stated Meaning that what Jesus is saying, is of utmost importance 3 The master will set the faithful servant over all his possessions, over all his property He will have the opportunity of serving in a higher and more responsible place But what about the unprepared servant? AN UNPREPARED SERVANT Mat 24:48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; “Evil” is the opposite of that which is good, evil service is useless and of no benefit All servants stand accountable to God, both the evil and good servant Accountability before God is often found in scripture, listen to Peter, 1Pe 1:17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: “AND” connects with, 1Pe 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. The one who will judge us is “the Father,” He is the one who is judging, who evaluates all, according to who--how--why Who you are is according to your decision, you make the choice of who you are going to be “How” is also according to your choice of lifestyle, what kind of life are you living daily? “Why” is also a matter of your own personal will What are the true desires and motives of your life? Our behavior speaks louder than our words, a life speaks louder than the lips The way you treat others is an explanation of the true desires of you heart Jesus explains His meaning of “evil,” the “evil servant” is a “selfish servant” He is selfish, seeking pleasure and power for self, seeking personal gain He will deceive others in-order to get what he wants, and he thinks he has time to do it The “heart” is not the physical organ pumping blood through our body “Heart” is used in scripture to refer to the center of the personality It is the “heart” that controls the intellect, emotions, will, and desires of our life The heart of the evil servant is not set upon the return of Christ His mind tells him not to worry about the coming of Jesus, you have plenty of time left Peter describes it, 2Pe 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 2Pe 3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. One good reason for the delay of the return of Christ is, 2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Today is the day to be a faithful servant for Christ, the lost need Jesus before He returns We must be faithful today because there are many who are unprepared for the return of Christ UNPREPARED ATTITUDE--Mat 24:49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The unprepared servant will oppress and bully others as they fulfill their own selfish desires Instead of nourishing, caring, protecting others, they will take advantage of them Their attitude is to live it up today, the “Master” is not going to come today I must take advantage of the time that “I” have today, I must live for “me” today Just like those in the day of Noah, unaware of the coming judgment (Mt 24:37-39) READY OR NOT--Mat 24:50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 4 Just as He promised, His coming will be totally unexpected, just as He said (Mt 24:40-44) Just as Jesus said, no one will know the hour of His return, listen to how many times He said it: But of that day and hour knoweth no man (36) Ye know not what hour your Lord doth come (42) In such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh (44) And then in the next chapter, Mat 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. We do not and will not know the day nor the hour, yet Jesus tells us to watch and be ready Jesus knows us, He knows what we would do if we knew the day and hour of His return Most churches in America are not filled-to capacity on any given Sunday But what if America knew for sure that Jesus was going to come on a certain Monday Even Coronavirus would not keep people out of church the Sunday before TOO LATE--Mat 24:51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. This is not literal but a symbol of divine judgment upon the wicked It is terminology standing for the severe punishment awaiting those who reject Jesus The lost have a place assigned, they have a destiny already determined They are not all hypocrites a hypocrite pretends to believe and to have faith Many people today say they don’t want to go to church because there are hypocrites there Tell them to go ahead and come next Sunday, one more won’t hurt The best place for a hypocrite to be on Sunday is in church The worst thing for a Christian who goes to church on Sunday is to be a hypocrite on Monday Today there are those who are open and honest about their unbelief, they are not hypocrites They publicly display their unbelief by their words and their way of life (American lifestyle) That is why it is so important for faithful servants to publicly display their belief in Jesus All who are not of true faith will be judged and enter-into the same eternal state Atheist, skeptics, hypocrites, unsaved good neighbors, will all spend eternity together in Hell Hell is the place of wailing and crying, loud expression of grief, wretched and hopeless “Gnashing of teeth” is a picture of anguish and suffering, it is found 7 times in the NT It is found 6 times in Matthew (8:12; 13:42, 50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30) It is found one time in Luke, Luk 13:28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. (Be sure you see and understand what they are going to see) “Hell” is not a meaningless by-word, it is not slang language, it is a Biblical truth It is never true to say that something “hurts like hell'; nothing hurts like hell “Hell” is a real place where real people will go, and they will spend an eternity in anguish Listen to Luke, his reference to the “Kingdom of God” will be at the return of Christ Adding to the agony of hell will be the sight of those who are with Christ in His Kingdom CONCLUSION The truth of hell is why it important to study, to believe in, and to live for the return of Christ? Scripture reveals that your belief concerning the return of Christ will impact your behavior, 1Jn 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. Jesus told us to be watching, to be ready, to be faithful, faithfully serve Jesus until He comes So why should we be watching, why should we be ready, why should we be faithful? Because the “King is Coming,” listen to the song 5