Always Faithful

Tabernacle Baptist Church Stewardship Month Series:

Found Faithful

“Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching.”

Thesis: True believers in Christ (stewards) labor diligently and faithfully as they anxiously anticipate Christ’s coming.

Semper Fidelis (Always Faithful)

Luke 12:35–48 NASB95

“Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit. “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. “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. “Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. “But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into. “You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.” Peter said, “Lord, are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?” And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time? “Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. “Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. “But if that slave says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and begins to beat the slaves, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk; the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers. “And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many lashes, but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.

Introduction:The title for this lesson comes from the Latin slogan that the Marines have adopted to reflect the core value all Marines are to hold dear: "Semper Fidelis" Always Faithful.  In using such a phrase the implication is that each Marine has made it his or her goal to at all times, in war or in peace, at home or on the field, at rest or in action, to be found in keeping with the values and standards of the Marine corps. and ready to answer their country's call.  These men and women have trained intensely and and to the point of exhaustion to prepare the minds and bodies to answer the call to action at a moment's notice, but more importantly laboring in their respective field at all times.  These men and women labor for something that is bigger than they are but not as big as the cause that believers are called to be faithful too.  There is nothing greater or more worthy of faithful, diligent service than our Great God.  He has called us to labor faithfully in wake of the absence of our Savior Who has promised to return.

Thesis: True believers in Christ anxiously anticipate His return and labor to be found faithful.

Faithful believers must watch anxiously for their Lord through diligent labor for the Lord will return at any moment. (V.35-40)

Believers anticipate their Lord's return as ancient servants who would anticipate their master's return. (V.35-36)

Believers make themselves physically ready for their master's return. (V.35)

Believers equip themselves to the best of their ability in service to their Lord. (V.35a)

The term "loins" refers to the physical body.

The term "girded", as I understand it, means to clothe oneself in preparation for service.

Believers must prepare their physical bodies for their service that they are to render to their Lord.

Believers prepare physically for intra-church activities.

They set aside time for worship.

They rest adequately.

They dress appropriately.

They set aside time for church-related fellowship activities.

Believers prepare physically for extra-church activities.

Believers set aside time for such things like visitation, nursing home, and soul-winning.

Believers set aside time for personal worship.

They set aside time to pray.

They set aside time to read the Word.

They set aside time for confession.

Believers submit themselves in obedience to the Lord. (V.35b)

Believers are light to those in darkness because God is Light. (I John 1:5)

Believers keep their lamps lit because God requires it. (John 14:15)

Believers keep their lamps lit because with their light the world would have no hope. (2 Corinthians 4:3)

Believers make themselves ready for the service they should render to their Lord. (V.36)

Believers are prepared on purpose for service to their Lord for He is coming.

Believers are found waiting for their Lord ready to serve.

They are ready.

They are in their appropriate positions.

Believers enjoy the benefits of a right relationship with their Christ and see its fruition at His coming. (V.37-38)

Alert believers are happy believers for they receive rewards from their Master. (V.37)

In some sense, the Master of the believers will serve them as reward for their service.

From what we know of the eternal state, it will consist of: removal from the pain of death, removal from the punishment of sin, removal from the wrath of God, entrance into everlasting joy and fellowship with God.

Regardless of the time, vigilant believers are happy believers. (V.38)

They are happy for they have been found faithfully serving their Lord in His absence.

They are happy because their Lord is worthy of service rendered.

Believers eagerly anticipate Christ's coming in spite of its unknown time. (V.39-40)

People do not like to be caught unawares.

They prepare for the unknown.

They buy security systems for their cars and homes.

They buy insurance for health, vehicles, home, and life.

They prepare for potential bad days.

They put money away for potential expenses.

Cities and towns prepare for hazardous weather.

If unbelievers are willing to sweat and toil to prepare for temporal things how much more should believers in Christ prepare for the glorious return of their Savior, which event is infinitely greater than anything found in this world.

Christ says that His return will take people so off guard that it will be like a thief who has plundered a house in the night.

He challenges His hearers to prepare because they now know that He is definitely coming, but don't know what time.

Faithful believers are not only happy servants but will receive promotion to greater service in reward for their diligence. (V.41-44)

Regardless of time or place, believers are responsible for their respective areas of faithful service. (V.41-42)

Peter did not recognize the corporal significance of Christ's teaching. (V.41)

Only proven servants will receive greater responsibility. (V.42)

Proven servants must demonstrate 2 qualities: faithfulness and wisdom or sensibility.

Proven servants exhibit faithfulness.

The term is used in reference to assigned work and implies that the laborer has consistently executed their tasks on time.

Believers take seriously their Lord's assignments to serve and consistently complete those tasks.

Believers consistently labor in spreading the Gospel. (Matthew 28:19)

Believers consistently labor in discipling others. (Matthew 28:20)

Believers consistently gather together for regular worship. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

Proven laborers exhibit wisdom or sensibility.

The term implies knowledge and the ability to use that knowledge in a discretionary fashion.

Believers utilize their instruction from the Lord at the right time and in the right way.

This requires familiarization through careful, diligent study of the Word. (II Timothy 2:15)

Our God demands preparation for sharing the Word. (II Peter 3:15)

Proven servants apply themselves to their Master's tasks.

Regular tasks still require diligence though one may become accustomed to their labor.

Regardless of how monotonous one might think the regular tasks of their Lord they must be diligent to complete them.

Faithful believers are happy servants and their Master promotes them to greater responsibility. (V.43-44)

These happy servants are "found" faithful in service. (V.43)

The term "blessed" also means to be happy.

One who is happy enjoys a right relationship with God because of their diligent efforts to grow in their relationship with Him.

Upon their Master's return, He finds them faithfully serving in the tasks which He has left for them to do.

The Master, of these who are diligent in service, honors faithfulness through promotion. (V.44)

Unfaithful slaves receive punishment from their Master because of unfaithfulness which led them to laxity. (V.45-48)

Self-serving, indulgent servants will receive severe punishment from their Master upon His return. (V.45-46)

These servants are servants nonetheless.

These servants have the wrong mindset.

These servants have the wrong attitude.

These servants have the wrong actions.

These servants have the wrong passions.

Disobedient servants and ignorant servants alike will receive punishment for their lack of service though at varying amounts. (V.47-48)

Each servant found in misconduct receives punishment.

Each servant received punishment based upon their knowledge.

The knowledgeable servant received punishment because of his unwillingness to do what he knew to do.

The ignorant servant was did not the same punishment because he was ignorant, though not spared.

Each servant received punishment based upon their actions.

The knowledgeable servant failed to act upon his knowledge and therefore in greater violation because he knew what was required of him and didn't act.

The ignorant servant was judged for his lack of service, though of a less severe degree compared with the knowledgeable servant.

Servants of the Lord are held to a higher standard, some given more in the abilities to serve and some less, but each has something that they can use in service to the Lord, Who requires their faithfulness.

The secular world hold believers to a higher standard.

If we fail that standard we have failed our Lord.

Live in light of the standard of faithfulness our Lord has set.

Conclusion:In 1981 Frank Garlock copyrighted a song for Majesty Music entitled "I Want to Be Faithful."  The song touches on the subject of faithfulness in all areas of life, looking to the Savior, the object of service.  It promises faithfulness during test and the promise to do one's best.  Our Lord has designated for believers what a steward is supposed to do and the expectations He has for them.  By His grace we should Witness without fear, Guard Against Greed, keep from worrying because it does not accomplish anything, and Always remain faithful in service to our Lord that we might be found faithful when He returns.  May the Lord grant us the strength and grace to be found faithful when He returns.