Be Faithful

Carpe Diem: (seize the day) used to urge someone to make the most of the present and give little thought to the future.

NOTE: This is taken from book 1 or the Roman poet Horace’s word Odes (23 BC). (Quintus Horatius Flaccus)

A More literal translation could be “pluck the day [as it is ripe]” The full meaning is carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero, which means “seize the day, put very little trust in tomorrow (the future). Now, Horace is not ignoring the future, but rather not to trust that everything is going to fall into place for you and taking action for the future today. Basically have a plan.

Mark 13:32–37 ESV

32 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. 35 Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”

Man Wins 'Ultimate Couch Potato' Contest

In January 2010, Jeff Miller, an independent businessman from Rogers Park, Illinois clinched his third consecutive Ultimate Couch Potato title Monday morning at Chicago's ESPN Zone. "It's all about determination," said Miller, who watched TV sports programming for 72 straight, sleepless hours.

Miller, 26, bested three other competitors (all men) and pushed himself beyond the Guinness World Record for nonstop viewing. (ESPN's TV-marathon rules mirror Guinness'— no sleeping, no leaving the chair except for thrice-daily bathroom breaks and hourly, five-minute stretches.) The venue controlled the remote from the time the four contestants first reclined on New Year's Day, and 72 hours later Miller sat alone. His superior sluggishness earned him a new recliner, a $1,000 gift card toward the purchase of a television, money for one year for his cable/satellite bills, $1,000 in ESPN Zone credit, and the Ultimate Couch Potato trophy, adorned with an actual spud just like the trophies he won in 2008 and 2009.

"Most people have no idea what it takes to win. They don't understand the endurance it takes to stay awake and control bodily issues. Jeff is uniquely qualified. He's an expert."

BIG IDEA: Don’t Be a Spiritual Couch Potato

WE must WATCH, WAIT, and WORK.... till Christ Returns

Three Parables that illustrate this kind of life.

The Wise and evil Servants

The Wise and Foolish Bridesmaids

The Talents

Note: Almost every decade there has been some false prophets come along who claim to have figured out precisely when the Lord will return.

Note: Jesus emphatically denies the possibility of such knowledge: “Concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father alone.” (36) Jesus makes this point known repeatedly in the text.

All three of the following parables make it abundantly clear that it is impossible for anyone to know the day or the hour of His return. Yet people will continue to try and prophecy the second coming. Why?

Matthew 24:6 ESV

6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.

Jesus tells us not to be alarmed or caught off guard when these things take place. Jesus is not giving us a timeline to figure out His return and at the same time he is not trying to frighten us regarding His return.

He is urging everyone to remain faithful until His return.

What does it look like to remain faithful?

NOTE: This is also a call to be watchful. This is a military term used to express a scout or someone who stands watch. What are we to watch for. We are to watch out for the evil one who wants to destroy our lives and give us the feeling that because Christ is delayed in coming that we can live how ever we want to live.

Do you know what keeps more people out of heaven than anything else? The sense of comfortability. This means that they assume they have lots of time to get things in order before Christ returns.

A Tale of Two Servants

(Matthew 24:45,48) The true character of the evil servant in this story is quick to manifest when the master is called away fro a season. He tells himself that the master is not going to return anytime soon. That belief removes any sense of accountability from his mind, and he takes full advantage of His freedom.

Matthew 24:45–51 ESV

45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 47 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know 51 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

WHY DOES THE BIBLE SPEND SO MUCH TIME TALKING ABOUT CHRISTS RETURN?

WHY DOES IT MATTER HOW I SPEND MY TIME UNTIL CHRIST RETURNS?

1. In light of the future we must live in faithful Obedience.

WATCHING

Day 1 every Marine is taught to live a life worthy of a Marine. They're also taught to hold one another accountable to that standard of excellence.

If the Marine next to you is falling asleep in class, you must have the moral courage to wake him up and motivate him to stay awake. If you are caught sleeping in class at boot camp, not only do you get in trouble for laziness, but the Marine to your left and to your right get in trouble for lack of moral courage because they should have corrected you when you were in the wrong.

2 Peter 3:8–10 ESV

8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

*Christ’s return is IMMINENT

Imminent: ready to take place: happening soon, often used of something bad or dangerous seen as menacingly near.

Cultural Note: We must be careful about placing our confidence in past successes or religious monuments rather than in continual faithfulness to the Lord.

James 5:8–9 ESV

8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.

NOTE: Nothing stands in the way of the Lords immediate return, and we are taught repeatedly in scripture that we should be READY! What does this mean? It means we should be busy, obedient, loyal, fully prepared, like the wide and faithful servant in this parable - “for you do not know when your Lord is coming.”

*Christ’s Delay is not a License to Sin

The Bible makes it abundantly clear that Salvation is by Grace alone, through faith alone. Ephesians 2:8-9 or John 14:6 The meant a person puts their full faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone to save them of their sins, he or she is not safe and secure in the Salvation and Grace of God.

Paul makes the statement of in Galatians 3:3 of those who have been secured by the spirit is it possible for them now to be perfected by the flesh? If you are saved by faith then it is through that faith that you are maintained and secured. We call this security of the believer.

To say that we must obey God’s word or live a godly life to maintain our Salvation is saying that Jesus’ death was not sufficient to pay the penalty of sin and death. Jesus death was absolutely sufficient, past, present, and future.

Does this mean that we can live any way we want to since we are saved? This is a Hypothetical and bad question. Simply because the Bible teaches us that Christians will not live “any way he wants to.” Christians are new creations (2 Cor. 5:17). Christians demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), not the acts of the flesh, this means that Christians will not continue to willfully and purposefully live in sin.

Eternal security of the believer is not a license to sin. Rather, it is the security of knowing that God’s love is guaranteed for those who trust in Christ. Romans 6:15-23 Paul asks the question of “how could anyone continue to live in sin after fully understanding the grace they have through Christ’s death on the cross. How could anyone understand God’s amazing love and then throw it back in God’s face. 1 John 3:6 tells us that “no one who lives in him keeps on sinning.”

NOTE: So the evil servant is evidently not a true believer. He is thrown into the place called Gehenna or Hell. Jesus has used the illustration before of weeping and gnashing of teeth. This is a picture of endless sorrow, and agonizing regret.

So How do we make sure we are READY?

Watch and Pray

1 Peter 5:8 “Tells us to be sober minded and watchful because our enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking to devour us.” The word watch refers to a night watchman, meaning to guard at night. We must be even more vigilant than in the daytime. In the daytime we can see the danger coming but at night everything is different. There may be no indication of enemy attack until it happens. (story of Jungle warfare training). We are all easily distracted by the World.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN PERSECUTED FOR YOUR FAITH?

DOES YOUR OWN FAMILY PERSECUTE YOU FOR YOUR FAITH?

Push Back Against the Darkness

Paul reminds us in Ephesians 6:12 that our battle is not against flesh and blood..... We are also told in Romans 12:2 that we are not to be conformed to the world but transformed by the renewing of ourmind. Pushing back against Satan and his evil ways starts with a daily awareness of where the battle is really taking place. Secondly, we must daily be renewing our minds through His word. Now you will be prepared when the fight comes. (Most Christians are not prepared to face the battle)

Daily Becoming More Like Christ

2 Peter 3:11-14 tells us that we should be living holy and godly lives when he returns..... So then, my friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless and blameless, and at peace with Him. If you have a real sense of his imminent return then it will impact the way you live and will cause you to want to purify your life.

The Ten Bridesmaids

2. Do not delay or put of faithfulness the Bridegroom is Coming.

WAITING

Matthew 25:1-13

There are 10 bridesmaids in a wedding, this is an unusually large wedding party. So, here Jesus is describing here is a grand wedding feast, suggesting that these are eminent families, and it is a highly import occasion. But the wedding feast is interrupted with a problem of enormous proportions that no bride would ever want. The bridegroom has not arrived yet to the wedding feast. The Bridesmaids have fallen asleep and their ceremonial lamps are burning out.

Half of the girls came without extra oil for their lamps. Without the proper lamps they could not perform the on simple function they were supposed to do.

At midnight the wedding is punctuated by a late arrival of the bridegroom. The following scenario would seem very odd to the 21st century audience but not so much to his disciples.

The process of engagement and marriage was a long and lengthy process. It took place in three phases. The first phase was the promise of marriage, usually formalized by the contract. (usually made between the two parents sealed by some sort of payment.) Phase 2 began with the public exchanging of vows and gifts between the couple. The betrothed couple were now committed to the marriage relationship. The marriage was not fully consummated until after phase 3 the wedding feast. This could possibly have come as much as a year after the betrothal period often lasting several days. Only after the wedding banquet did the couple live together.

What the parable describes is day 1 of the wedding feast. The Bridegrooms arrival would symbolize the beginning of the wedding feast. The bridesmaids would come out and meet him and escort him throughout the streets of the city or village to his destination with oil fueled lamps or torches. (It was scheduled after sunset for the convenience of those travelling)

But in this case the bridegroom was late - very late. We are told that the reason for the delay must have been something significant. When the bridegroom arrived he was not willing to wait another minute for the ceremony. The guests had stayed despite the delay. All was ready except for the five foolish bridesmaids who had left the premise in search of more oil.

Keeping a burning lamp was their inexcusably thoughtless of them not to bring the oil in the first place. Keeping a burning lamp was their only duty. This negligence may have even been worse than the man in Matthew 22:11-14 who showed up without his wedding clothes. As soon as it was known that the bridegroom was coming the bridesmaids woke from their sleep and try to go out an buy more oil. However, it was too late. While they were out the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with Him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut.........................

What do we learn from this parable? They should have been ready, they knew that He was coming. They finally returned and begged to be let into the wedding but the bridegroom was resolute.

The bridegrooms words should shudder us to our bones.... “I do not know you.” (v12)

Luke 13:24–28 ESV

24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ 28 In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out.

IS BEING FAITHFUL JUST ABOUT CHANGING OUR PRIORITIES?

So, a shift in priorities is not a bad thing, however, if we are just checking the box and have not generated a true heart change our priorities will get out of whack again. We must learn to love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. This starts with the four “B’s” “Be in the Word,” “Be in Prayer,” “Be in Fellowship,” and “Be with your corner man.”

If any one of these is lacking you will find your spiritual life falling back into old habits. Many people will try and do one of these possibly even two, but past that they fall out.

*We Must Keep the Main thing the Main Thing

What is the main thing? We must continually live in the present light of future certainties.

Cultural Connection: The main purpose of Biblical Prophecy is to motivate us to a greater sense of holy living in the hear and now. (You are all in preparation for Eternity, this is the process of Sanctification, being made holy)

1 John 3:3 ESV

3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

All of the parables we have looked at today have one main focus, to encourage us to live for Him in the hear and now. Christian culture has had the tendency to do one of two things. We either start naval gazing in the past. We look at what we did or experienced way back when. How many Christians have you heard when someone asks about their testimony the only part they can give you is way back when they said a prayer and asked Jesus into their life? You have little talk about what they have done since that point in their life. Should our testimony not reflect a whole life lived out for the glory of God.

The second thing we tend to do is look into the future for Christ’s return. What happens then is the fruit we should be bearing for the kingdom dies. We stop serving, we stop being generous, we are just biding our time till Christ returns.

The Talents

3. The King say’s Invest your Life in Me

WORKING

Now you have the parable of the Talents that is artfully braided together to give us a complete understanding of what it means to be faithful as we wait for Christ’s return.

The parable of the virgins is a lesson about patiently waiting for Him. The parable of the talents is a reminder that we must keep diligently working while we look for Him.

This parable commends faithful work and planning.

In this story a rich man travels to some faraway place. He appoints three servants until he returns. Two of them put the money to work and were able to double their portions. The third buried his treasure and gained nothing for the master.

The kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.

And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, “Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.” His lord said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.” He also who had received two talents came and said, “Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.” His lord said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.”

Then he who had received the one talent came and said, “Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.”

But his lord answered and said to him, “You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.

Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. “For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matt. 25:14–30)

MacArthur, John F.. Parables (p. 134). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.

Anytime the subject of the Lords return is brought up it is always encouraged to be watchful and expectant. This parable brings to light what we are to be doing while we wait, we are to prepare for the day of the Lords return through faithful work.

The previous two parables showed that expectation must be tempered with patience. This parable reminds us that whether Christ returns early or late, He should fin us busy at work for Him.

So, you have this wealthy man who goes on a journey. He clearly represents Christ. He appoints servants to take charge of his affairs, and they of course are expected to act as faithful stewards of their master’s resources. They are given full power of attorney to manage the wealth they have been entrusted with.

NOTE: A talent is not a coin or currency but a unit of weight - quiet a heavy amount… The large gold menorah in the tabernacle weighted a talent. A Greek talent weighted about sixty pounds, a Roman talent about seventy. These would have been talents of gold or silver, so a talent was no small sum. Even a single talent would be an immense fortune.

So, each man was given responsibility in keeping with his character and ability. The first servant was clearly the most skilled and trustworthy of the three, so he was entrusted with the most - and the master’s assessment of his character proved to be accurate.

Two of the three men faithfully fulfilled what the Lord had asked them to do. Notice that upon receiving the talents they immediately went out and invested what had been entrusted to him. Notice the stress is on the enthusiasm with which they went and invested what had been given to them. Not knowing how much time they had, they wanted to Carpe Deum (seize the day). Both servants doubled their value.

But, the third servant did nothing but bury his masters money in the ground. He tried to justify what he did by not taking a financial risk. He may have even envisioned a scenario where the market would take a downward turn and he would look like a hero for having saved his portion.

Notice: They were each honored for the amount of faithfulness not proportionally based on the size of the profit they earned. That is exactly how scripture describes the day of judgement when “Each on will receive his own reward according to the labor - not according to the results.

Notice: The Master is grateful and generous. He rewards them with expanded authority, increased opportunity and a place of joy and favor. Their reward clearly pictures heaven. Heaven is not a place of eternal boredom and tedious inactivity; it is filled with exaltation and honor, expanded opportunities for service, and the greatest joy of all - endless fellowship with Christ Himself.

UNFAITHFUL SERVANT DEFLECTS JUDGEMENT

Claiming that he was paralyzed with fear of his masters own character and reputation revealed him to be a ruthless, demanding, and unethical man, reaping profits from the labors of others. It was a classic case of blame shifting and an ungodly slander against the kindness of the master. None of it was true. The real problem was the faithless servants own lazy and wicked heart. In reality this man lacked a fear of God and respect for His master.

PROBLEM WITH THE FAITHLESS SERVANT

Indifference (he just didn’t care about what he had been given)

Disobedient (Lacked a fear of God)

Self-willed (He was more concerned about himself)

WHAT ARE THE CORDS THAT TIE THE THREE PARABLES TOGETHER?

Speak to the inevitability of Christ’s return.

They Call us to be ready.

They contrast faithfulness and unbelief; wisdom and foolishness; preparedness and indifference.

Notice: That no one here models a half-hearted carnal Christian of lukewarmness. Because Jesus ruled out that such a person exists.

Matthew 12:30 ESV

30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

You are either with him or against Him

James 4:4 ESV

4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

You are either a friend of God or His enemy

CLOSING

Some Christians treat the church like heaven’s waiting room. We act like Jesus puts us on the schedule to meet him in heaven, tells us to show up early, and then makes us wait forever in a room full of strangers we have no intentions of speaking to. Churches were never meant to be collections of isolated people, but that is what many of them have become. The church is supposed to be God’s people working and living together to share his love with the world.

So, What are we to do with all of this. How do you change from being a spiritual couch potato to a spiritual giant for the Kingdom of God. It’s simple but not easy!

Rather than fearing what is to come, be faithful till Christ returns.

Rather than fearing the dark, be lights as we wait and watch.

What does Jesus say when the Dow Drops 700 points?

I think this is a continual reminder that this world is not our home. Matthew 6:19-24 “Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on this earth where moth and rust destroy, and thieves break in and steal, but instead store up treasures in heaven.....”

The downturn in the stock market and the money we have saved for retirement really doesn’t change anything of importance to God. Here is the problem, the world is broken. Many people try to do the right thing while others don’t even try. All of the struggle with selfishness and greed continue to consume this broken society.

There are moments in time that we forget our world is broken and we spend our time trying to fix everything and make it work out right.

It is never a bad thing to be reminded that we are not home yet.

It’s time to get of the spiritual couch and grow into a WATCHFUL, WAITING, and WORKING spiritual giant for the Kingdom of God. Don’t waste the time you have been given, every breath, every second, every day, draws closer to His return.