Luke 21:34-36

BE ALERT AND AWAKE

Jesus was preaching about the things to come:

the destruction of the temple (chapter 21:5-9)

wars, plagues, famine (21:10-11)

great persecution of faithful Christians (21:12-19)

the Return of Christ (21:25-38)

Context of our passage is the 2nd coming of Christ.

Our passage this morning is a reminder, pagpukaw, pagpaabtik, pagpahimangno kanato karon hilabina nga hapit na ang ika duhang pagbalik ni Kristo nga atong mangluluwas.

Stay Sharp. Stay Alert. Stay Watchful.

Stay Sharp - because the days are evil!

Stay Alert - for the enemy is just waiting for opportunity to attack.

Stay Watchful - for Jesus is coming again!

I want to share to you Eight Practical Applications from this passage.

I have borrowed this from the IDMC 2021 Conference shared by Pastor Edmund Chan and I felt the need for the church to hear this and be reminded of this.

Here are the 8 Practical Applications:

a. The Focus of Watchfulness Is Not Merely Upon Events — but First, Upon Ourselves

- be on guard with your hearts

be on guard is a word repeated 24x in the NT and it means watch out, pay close attention.

We must pay close attention with our hearts, the heart is regarded as the seat of feeling, impulse, affection, desire, emotions.

What is your hearts desire or affection? Is it the things of God? Things that pleases God?

Mark 14:38 NASB95

38 “Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

keep watch!

the flesh is weak, we must not be confident with our flesh. that is why we must be mindful of that and take control over our flesh or heart not the other way around.

b. Don’t Major on the Minor.

- dissipation and drunkenness - overindulgence in alcohol to the point of you being out of control and wasted.

these are trivial things symbolizes earthly pleasures, waste of time, waste of strength.

These are things that unbelievers would do and waste their time with...

but we are not called for this.

c. Don’t Be Burdened by Things That Don’t Last.

- weighted down by worries of life (anxiety, temporal concerns)

focus on the things that are eternal - Prayer, Word of God and the Commands of God, Communion of Believers, Ministry and calling.

d. Don’t Be Caught by Surprise!

- the day will not come on you suddenly like a trap

We should be paying careful attention in our living, so that we will be caught surprise.

Luke 12:35–37 NASB95

35 “Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit. 36 “Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks. 37 “Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them.

e. Beware of Addictions and the Fowler’s Snare!

- like a trap

trap - this word is repeated 5 times in the NT

snare or trap = laang, device for catching birds and animals.

addiction to wealth and success

addiction to health and to self-preservation

addiction to materialism

addiction to games and entertainment

addiction to any thing that would make us ineffective in our testimony and example.

Mark 4:19 NASB95

19 but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

2 Timothy 2:26 NASB95

26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.

people who falls to the trap of the devil is held captive by the devil to do his will.

Be Alert at the Beginnings of Temptation

We must be especially alert against the beginnings of temptation, for the enemy is more easily conquered if he is refused admittance to the mind and is met beyond the threshold when he knocks - Thomas A Kempis

f. No One Is Exempted from the Challenges Ahead!

- it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth

as long as we in this world, we will encounter challenges and trials.

we just need to remember that this will all end when Jesus comes again. Let’s hold on to him as we wait.

g. It’s Not Just about Alertness; It’s about Continual Alertness.

- keep on the alert at all times

be Spiritually alert at all times.

This means constant and consistent filling with the Holy Spirit through the Holy Word of God.

Keep alert even when you are having success, wonderfully serving the Lord and people love you and praise you for it. Remember Noah, David, Solomon..they fell in these circumstances.

(Be on Your Guard after Great Successes)

Satan is a robber: A robber will not attack a man in going to the bank, but in returning with his pocket full of money.

h. Do Not Neglect Prayer!

- praying that you may have strength

1 Peter 4:7 NASB95

7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.

Our Christian duty is to be watchful and prayerful

Go to God, Not Just Church

My friends, it is one thing to go to church or chapel; it is quite another thing to go to God - Charles Spurgeon

You can go to church but not to God.

you can be present physically, but not spiritually.

Go to God in humble prayer…this is our sacred power!

When you encounter God in prayer, you will be renewed, you will be empowered, you will be encouraged, and you will be alert!

Conclusion:

We are in a time of spiritual war, and as soldiers of the Living God, we are called to be spiritually armed and ready! Yet, our great comfort is not in our readiness and alertness, but on the alertness and watchfulness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ, the great Shepherd and guardian of our Soul!