Training For Readiness

Training For Readiness Training For Readiness Michael Morse / General CrossFit / Ready; Second Coming; Faithfulness / Luke 12:35-48 Introduction 1. Readiness is something that requires training to achieve it a. Crossfitness is essentially training for readiness in a plethora of physical exercises or to use the body in multiple of ways without exhaustion b. Different jobs require training and drilling in readiness - it cannot be achieved by just deciding to do it i. Police Officers ii. EMS iii. Firefighters iv. Boxers, MMA - other type sports v. Military vi. Scuba diving vii. Snorkeling viii.Drumming or other instruments c. We exercise and practice and repeatedly perform functions so that our body is used to the requirement put upon it for the task at hand 2. Spiritual Crossfitness requires us and calls on us to to be ready also - ready for the return of Jesus a. We arent just ready for it though - we must train and execute and practice the discipline to be ready and prepared for His return b. In Luke this morning we will see Jesus explaining the need to be ready and how we can achieve the readiness He calls for. › SLIDE Luke 12:35-37 CSB 35 "Be ready for service and have your lamps lit. 36 You are to be like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once. 37 Blessed will be those servants the master finds alert when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will get ready, have them recline at the table, then come and serve them. › SLIDE Luke 12:38-40 CSB 38 If he comes in the middle of the night, or even near dawn, and finds them alert, blessed are those servants. 39 But know this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." › SLIDE Luke 12:41-44 CSB 41 "Lord," Peter asked, "are you telling this parable to us or to everyone?" 42 The Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and sensible manager his master will put in charge of his household servants to give them their allotted food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that servant whom the master finds doing his job when he comes. 44 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. › SLIDE Luke 12:45-46 CSB 45 But if that servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and starts to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 that servant's master will come on a day he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unfaithful. › SLIDE Luke 12:47-48 CSB 47 And that servant who knew his master's will and didn't prepare himself or do it will be severely beaten. 48 But the one who did not know and did what deserved punishment will receive a light beating. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be expected. › SLIDE Be Ready › SLIDE Luke 12:35-37 CSB 35 "Be ready for service and have your lamps lit. 36 You are to be like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once. 37 Blessed will be those servants the master finds alert when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will get ready, have them recline at the table, then come and serve them. 1. Properly Dressed a. Be ready for service - some versions translate - let your loins be girded › SLIDE If you arent dressed you arent ready i. The dress of those days - was long flowing robes or manly dresses (longer than skirts or kilts) - the clothing dropped to the ankles. This long flowing clothing made fast quick movement a bit more difficult. ii. To gird your loins would be to grab the cloth at the ankles and pull up together to tuck in under your belt 1. Yes this resulted in giant diaper looking fashion but allowed for more freedom of movement (arent you thankful some fashions dont come back?) 2. One who had girded their loins in such a fashion could run, work, run, fight, perform any function without restricted movement b. One would gird their loins - to be ready for action › SLIDE There are many things we are exhorted and commanded not to put our lives into but here this is something worth us putting our lives into - being ready for service - His service! 2. Properly Prepared a. Have your lamps lit i. Small dish - hold some oil and a wick that must be trimmed to be lit and stay lit ii. The language of this passage is having your lamps lit ALREADY 1. Your lamp is to be lit and burning - already 2. Your lamp is to remain lit and burning continuously a. The parable of the 10 virgins from Matthew 25:1-13 has the same point as here in Luke b. Luke just tends to be more condensed and to the point › SLIDE To be properly prepared and ready - your lamp must already be lit and burning b. The lamp lit already provides us with the proper illumination also › SLIDE Psalm 119:105 CSB 105 Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path. i. One may be ready to serve - by girding their loins up but lack the illumination to serve Him well ii. The light of God's word burning brightly before us - His Spirit and His word dwelling in us to light our lamps and illuminate our lives for Him 3. We are to be a people waiting in readiness and anticipation a. Dressed ready for service prepared with burning lamps to light our way - waiting with eager anticipation for the return of our Master i. We should be waiting with anticipation - eagerly looking out and watching the arrival and return of our Master from the wedding banquet 1. It was designed to teach one simple truth - watchfulness for His return 2. It was not intended as a timeline or order of events at His coming ii. For the return can happen anytime b. This is not a picture of the Lamb's wedding feast (we arent missing that) that is not the point here. The point is the servants of the house waiting for their master to come i. When He knocks they - we would be ready to open the door at once for Him › SLIDE Revelation 3:20 CSB 20 See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. › SLIDE Stay Ready Luke 12:38-40 CSB 38 If he comes in the middle of the night, or even near dawn, and finds them alert, blessed are those servants. 39 But know this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." 1. It is sometimes easy to get ready - but to stay ready requires a different exercise - patience and perseverance. a. It is entirely possible to get dressed and be ready - but then to lose the readiness because of delayed arrival i. How many dating or married couples go through this? Getting ready for a night out, or even ready to leave after church service? ii. As the minutes tick by after we are ready - we tend to set things down, perhaps take off a jacket or coat - maybe we start scrolling social media or getting busy with something to distract us - but all those things take away from our readiness b. Jesus says blessed are those servants the Master finds alert at His arrival i. His arrival can be anytime - middle of the night or even near dawn ii. If He arrives and finds them alert - those servants are blessed 1. Second watch 9:00 PM - 12:00 AM 2. Third watch 12:00 AM - 3:00 AM 3. No matter which watch - the servants would be waiting and expecting - ready for the master's arrival 2. There is rest for us when the master arrives a. Look at the promise from Jesus - there will be rest when I come i. We put aside our rest to remain ready now and we will have rest at His arrival and coming ii. He will then get ready - gird His loins up 1. We will recline at the table then 2. He himself as our master will then serve us! › SLIDE Jesus is ready to serve those who wait for Him to come b. The rest is given from the Master for those who live a life ready and alert for His appearing 3. Remain ready for He is coming when we do not expect a. Jesus says know this - pay attention and learn from this - the homeowner doesnt know when the thief is going to break in i. If the homeowner had known when the thief was coming - He would have definitely been alert ii. But there is a lull of peace and quiet - that causes Him to be complacent and it dulls the alertness iii. The longer it goes without happening the more it is believed to be unlikely - until it happens and there is a flood of if I had just known, if I had only stayed vigilant, ready and prepared b. Jesus says you also be ready - because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect i. Jesus will come unexpectedly and the only way to not be caught unaware or caught off-guard is to be like the one expecting the thief. › SLIDE 1 Thessalonians 5:2 CSB 2 For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. › SLIDE 2 Peter 3:10 CSB 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed. › SLIDE Revelation 3:3 CSB 3 Remember, then, what you have received and heard; keep it, and repent. If you are not alert, I will come like a thief, and you have no idea at what hour I will come upon you. ii. Live with constant and unwavering readiness - fully expecting everyday and every hour to the time when He shall return › SLIDE Continue to stay ready by always expecting Him and staying alert no matter the time or hour › SLIDE Do Your Work › SLIDE Luke 12:41-44 CSB 41 "Lord," Peter asked, "are you telling this parable to us or to everyone?" 42 The Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and sensible manager his master will put in charge of his household servants to give them their allotted food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that servant whom the master finds doing his job when he comes. 44 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 1. Continue working while the Master is away a. The faithful and sensible manager - steward is the one whom the Master has in charge while He is away - to tend to the necessary work and duties i. Peter asked Jesus - are you speaking to us or to everyone 1. Us 12 or everyone listening? ii. Jesus provides and answer in parable contrasting the faithful and unfaithful servants b. Jesus essentially states I am speaking and encouraging readiness to all who want to be ready and live in readiness. › SLIDE Part of training for readiness is faithfully doing the work i. Working, stewarding and managing what has been entrusted by the Master While the cat is away the mice will play? What happens when the boss is away? c. Also notice the example given - deals with people and not things i. The steward's main responsibility concerns people - it is people whom the Lord is concerned over in the work - not things 2. Who is the one who is put as a steward to manage? a. Jesus answers who the faithful worker and steward will be or is b. This is Peter, the Apostles and anyone else who acts in accordance - doing the work when the master comes i. We are all stewards of some allotment given to us by our Master ii. Jesus again - says blessed is the one who the master finds working c. Peter may not be doing this - but I cannot help and connect this statement to the one He made in John's Gospel › SLIDE John 21:18-19 CSB 18 "Truly I tell you, when you were younger, you would tie your belt and walk wherever you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie you and carry you where you don't want to go." 19 He said this to indicate by what kind of death Peter would glorify God. After saying this, he told him, "Follow me." › SLIDE John 21:20-22 CSB 20 So Peter turned around and saw the disciple Jesus loved following them, the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and asked, "Lord, who is the one that's going to betray you?" 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about him?" 22 "If I want him to remain until I come," Jesus answered, "what is that to you? As for you, follow me." i. Peter looking and comparing to others or looking to make sure others are doing what they should be - are you speaking to us or everyone Lord - I find myself saying that in my heart - are you speaking to me or everyone? 1. Until you do what the Lord asks what does it matter what He is asking anyone else? 2. The one who is working hard to please and be faithful to the one whom called Him is too busy to see and be concerned with what others are doing › SLIDE Blessed is that servant whom the Master finds doing THEIR job d. The one faithfully doing their job is the one whom He will put in charge of all his possessions i. This is looking forward to the Millenial Reign of Christ ii. Where those faithful in small things will be managers over big and many things (Parable of the Talents) iii. Training for readiness - watching, waiting and working › SLIDE A faithful and wise steward lives in readiness for the master's return › SLIDE Avoid Negligence › SLIDE Luke 12:45-46 CSB 45 But if that servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and starts to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 that servant's master will come on a day he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unfaithful. › SLIDE Luke 12:47-48 CSB 47 And that servant who knew his master's will and didn't prepare himself or do it will be severely beaten. 48 But the one who did not know and did what deserved punishment will receive a light beating. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be expected. 1. Negligence comes from faithlessness a. The faithless servant says in his heart my master is delayed - and will continue to be delayed i. This servant has decided that there is plenty of time because of the passing of so much time already ii. He has stopped living in readiness with watchful anticipation 1. I have time, its not yet time, he hasnt come yet - I have all the time or at least plenty of time › SLIDE There is nothing more detrimental to finishing our work than the thought that we have plenty of time 2. This may not have come out of the mouth - but is evident when lingering about working and responsibilities › SLIDE John 17:4 CSB 4 I have glorified you on the earth by completing the work you gave me to do. a. We should not leave a task assigned undone that ought to have been finished before night falls › SLIDE John 9:4 CSB 4 We must do the works of him who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work. b. Imagine not correcting the bitterness , allowing the sun to go down on our anger - perhaps permanently c. We would like God to find us at peace with one another b. Faithlessness in the masters return brings negligence to the servant i. Abusing those who belong to His Master 1. As if he a servant is above other servants (same position - under the master) 2. Indulgence or lack of self-control 3. Intoxicated ii. Jesus is warning about becoming cynical in His return just because of delay › SLIDE 2 Peter 3:9 CSB 9 The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance. 1. The delay comes from desiring to save more and bring all to repentance 2. Negligence leads to unexpected events a. The master will return at an hour not expected b. Unexpected Consequences i. He will be cut in two and assigned a place with the unfaithful 1. Unreliable servant unfaithful - some translations say with the unbelievers 2. It is possible to call Jesus Lord and remain unfaithful and unbelieving a. Part of training for readiness is being dressed and prepared › SLIDE Luke 6:46 CSB 46 "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and don't do the things I say? › SLIDE Matthew 7:21 CSB 21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. ii. The one who knew the Master's will and didnt do it will be beaten severely iii. The one who didnt know the Master's will but still acted wrongly - will be beaten less severely 1. I do not believe that Luke 12:46-47 teaches that unfaithful believers lose their salvation › SLIDE - He remains faithful even if we are faithless 2 Timothy 2:11-13 CSB 11 This saying is trustworthy: For if we died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us; 13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself. › SLIDE - heaven depends upon Christs work and our faith in Christ - not on our own good works Ephesians 2:8-9 CSB 8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift-9 not from works, so that no one can boast. 2. I do believe the Lord will separate the faithful believers from the unfaithful believers a. The faithful will be rewarded and the unfaithful will lose their rewards › SLIDE 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 CSB 13 each one's work will become obvious. For the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one's work. 14 If anyone's work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned up, he will experience loss, but he himself will be saved-but only as through fire. c. To those entrusted with much - much will be required - this is why we must be ready and avoid neglecting His return or our responsibility as His servants God's judgment will be fair. It will be based on what the servants know of God's will. This is not to suggest that the more ignorant we are, the easier time we will have at the Judgment Seat of Christ! Conclusion Train for readiness - waiting, watching, working, and welcoming › SLIDE Revelation 16:15 CSB 15 "Look, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who is alert and remains clothed so that he may not go around naked and people see his shame." Do not be embarassed or ashamed at His coming, do not be caught off guard and unprepared at His coming - be ready by training to be ready for His return. Those who know Christ - are clothed with His robes of righteousness covering and erasing sin - prepared for the coming judgment with a declaration of righteousness in Christ - their lamps are lit by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit who regenerates those who believe in Jesus as their savior to new life. And we join together as His church - busy working in our individual calling along side one another as we eagerly await and anticipate His return. Today we partake of communion which is one way we remind ourselves of His great sacrifice and also His promised return › SLIDE Communion › SLIDE 1 Corinthians 11:23-24 CSB 23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, "This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." › SLIDE 1 Corinthians 11:25-26 CSB 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. Page . Exported from Logos Bible Software, 1:20 PM October 3, 2020.