Sermon for 8/7/22 "Are We Ready?" 13 Minutes

Luke 12:32-40

This morning I'll be reading Luke chapter 12 verses 32 through 40. And I'll be reading from the Holman Christian Standard Bible. Luke 12:32-40 In these verses,,, Jesus is continuing teaching on His journey to Jerusalem. He's reminding them that they need to be ready. And this morning,,, we will hopefully each answer the question,,, "Are We Ready?"

Luke 12:32–40 (HCSB) 32 Don’t be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Make money-bags for yourselves that won’t grow old, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 35 “Be ready for service and have your lamps lit. 36 You must 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 Those slaves the master will find alert when he comes will be blessed. I assure you: He will get ready, have them recline at the table, then come and serve them. 38 If he comes in the middle of the night, or even near dawn, and finds them alert, those slaves are blessed. 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 that you do not expect.” God bless the reading and the hearing of your word this morning. Let us pray: Dear Lord,,, as we begin this morning,,, with everyone here today and all that are listening and watching by video,,, we ask that you open our ears to hear and our hearts and minds to receive the message that you have for us today,,, In Jesus' name I pray,,, Amen. ----------------------------------------------------------- Last week I posted a sermon from Luke 12:13-21 and how this parable that Jesus told about the “rich fool”,,, which is the way my study Bible titles this parable,,, to show us that we need to have our “Priorities” in the right place,,, or we will be focusing on the wrong things in life.

Jesus told this parable so that we can all see that this is foolish behavior,,, and yet,,, we see it from so many people today.

We get up on Monday morning and go to our jobs,,, work hard all week,,, making a paycheck,,, paying bills out of it,,, saving for something we want,,, whether it’s a new car,,, new house,,, clothes,,, vacation,,, retirement,,, whatever it may be!

There isn’t much thought put into our future beyond this life,,, even though they are our most important thoughts,,, or,,, at least they should be.

Like the “rich man”,,, (that Jesus called a “fool”),,, we spend our time selfishly thinking of today without any thoughts of our future that really matters.

Our “Priorities” are in the wrong place and need to be changed.

When our focus changes to a heavenly perspective instead of a worldly perspective,,, it changes our outlook on life,,, and the way that we see things around us.

We will begin to see people that need help and act upon that sight,,, not just passing on by.

It changes our outlook so that we see things more in line with the way that Jesus saw things while He was here on earth.

Jesus wanted that for this man so long ago,,, and He wants it for us as well today!

This morning we will look at these verses in Luke 12:32-40,,, and see how they help us in our walk with God this week.

----------------------------------------------------------- Verse 32 says: 32 Don’t be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights to give you the kingdom.

Jesus tells the disciples not to fear.

He compared them to a defenseless flock of sheep,,, sent out into an unfriendly world.

They had no visible means of support or defense.

Yet these disciples are destined to inherit the kingdom with Christ.

They would one day reign with Him over all the earth.

In view of this,,, Jesus encouraged them not to fear,,, because if God had such glorious honors in store for them,,, then they shouldn’t worry about the dangers that they come across on their journey.

It would all be worth it in the end!

----------------------------------------------------------- Verses 33 and 34 say: 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Make money-bags for yourselves that won’t grow old, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

To make them even more defenseless,,, Jesus told them,,, Sell your possessions and give to the poor.

(Luke talks more on this this subject in chaps. 16 and 19.)

This is also what the early church did (Acts 2:44–45; 4:32–37).

Jesus’ point was that if His followers had a treasure on earth they would think about it.

But if they had a treasure in heaven,,, which is safe from theft and decay by moths,,, and were “rich toward God”,,, they would be concerned with matters pertaining to the kingdom,,, instead of worrying about earthly matters that don’t last,,, nor do they help us when we leave this world,,, instead,,, we spend a lot of time worrying over things that one day we will see,,, were never important to begin with.

----------------------------------------------------------- Verses 35 through 38 say: 35 “Be ready for service and have your lamps lit. 36 You must 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 Those slaves the master will find alert when he comes will be blessed. I assure you: He will get ready, have them recline at the table, then come and serve them. 38 If he comes in the middle of the night, or even near dawn, and finds them alert, those slaves are blessed.

Jesus taught that the disciples should be ready because the Son of Man will come at a time when they will not be expecting Him.

The parable describes a scene in which several servants were waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet.

The point was that they had to remain constantly vigilant so that the master would be able to come into the house whenever he might arrive at home.

If they are watching (v. 37) and ready (v. 38), their master will serve them.

Whether he comes in the middle of the night,,, or just before dawn,,, Jesus says,,, and finds them alert,,, those slaves are blessed.

Just as we will be blessed,,, if we are ready!

----------------------------------------------------------- Verses 39 and 40 say: 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 that you do not expect.”

Jesus changes the picture by telling about a home owner whose house was broken into while it was unguarded.

The coming of the thief was entirely unexpected.

Because if the home owner had known,,, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into.

The lesson is that the time of Christ’s coming is uncertain,,, no one knows the day or the hour when He will appear.

When He does come,,, those that have laid up treasures on earth will lose them all,,, because as someone has said, “A Christian either leaves his wealth,,, or,,, goes to it.”

If we are really watching for Christ’s return,,, we will do all that we can to lay up treasures in heaven,,, where no thief can reach them. -----------------------------------------------------------

Jesus gave these words to the ones that followed Him during His time on earth to remind them that they should always be ready.

Luke wrote these words of Jesus so that we can use them as a guide for our life today.

What we do with these words when we lave here will be up to each one of us.

Jesus has warned us,,, but we can ignore that warning,,, of course,,, that is not what Jesus intends for us to do.

Jesus intends for us to listen to His words,,, follow His directions,,, and truly,,, “Be Ready” just as He wants us to be.

That was His purpose for everything that He went through while He was here.

Jesus’ birth,,, life,,, death,,, resurrection,,, and ascension into heaven where He sits at the right hand of God interceding for us today,,, was all done with our best interests in mind.

God wants what is best for us,,, but it will not be forced upon us.

Just as Jesus gave them this warning while He was here,,, He is still warning us today.

But it’s our choice to make,,, so my question as we end this part of the service this morning,,, “Are We Ready?”

Do we take these words with us when we leave and use them each and every day,,, so that we can truly be ready,,, for that day,,, when Jesus comes back,,, again!

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