Waiting For The Master

Intro

Text - Luke 12.35-36

Luke 12:35–36 NKJV

35 “Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; 36 and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately.

Title - Waiting for the Master

Background

What kind of servants await their master’s return?

This parable gives us a picture of a beautiful relationship between the master and his servant.

the master must be a good master

the servant must be a good servant

Note - people say the Bible condones slavery

the Grk word for ‘slave’ and ‘servant’ is one - DOULOS

BUT, biblical servants are far from modern day slaves

they are not abused

they are well-fed, sheltered and clothed by their masters

they are considered family

they are entrusted with the care of the household

Interestingly,

Jesus and the apostles did not abolish slavery, nor structed slaves to revolt against their masters

instead they were taught slaves to -

submit to and love their masters for the sake of Christ

return to their masters

Jesus used the master-servant relationship to illustrate the relationship between Him and His believers

Main Idea

We are the servants of God, and we are expected to be -

good and faithful servants - Matt 25.21 “21 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.’”

faithful and wise servants - Matt 24.45 “45 “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?”

Because we serve a good master - Jesus Christ!

He is a humble Master - Matt 20.27-28

Matthew 20:27–28 NKJV

27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

He is a sacrificial Master - Philippians 2.5-9

Philippians 2:5–8 NKJV

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

He set his life to be our life’s pattern - John 13.13-17

John 13:13–17 NKJV

13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

The Bible gives us two pictures of servants of God -

the servant of God who is performing his duties faithfully and wisely

the servant of God who is watching and waiting for the Lord’s return

Two Questions

Why are we waiting for Christ’s return? (our goal)

why is Christ’s coming so important to us?

note - as in His first coming, the kingdom of God was announced to come.

Are we waiting in the “right way”? (our preparation)

We are waiting for Christ’s return because we are seeking something grand and out of this world (the kingdom of God)

Note -

the parable follows the preaching about people’s needs and the kingdom of God

Life is more than food - Luke 12:22-30

Luke 12:22–30 NKJV

22 Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. 23 Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? 25 And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 26 If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith? 29 “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. 30 For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things.

life is more than food (survival or enjoyment)

man’s life has a greater purpose than that of the birds and the grass

seek first the kingdom of God - Luke 12:31

Luke 12:31 NKJV

31 But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.

We are seeking the kingdom of God!

the meaning and purpose of (your) life is in the kingdom of God!

when you seek God’s kingdom and pursue His purpose in your life - you will find that “these things” are added to you!

God has already appointed us to His kingdom - Luke 12:32

Luke 12:32 NKJV

32 “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

We are seeking that which God has already purposed to give to us!

we are not creating our own destiny, or our own purpose and meaning for life

Note -

the atheist’s existence -

by accident (evolution)

meaningless (no Creator and Designer)

the atheist creates his own purpose for existence

this pictured in many cartoon movies like -

Ratatouille

A Bug’s Life

The Ant

Some churches are NOT waiting for Christ’s return, nor the Millennium -

Kingdom Now theology - God’s kingdom is now

they believe that the kingdom of God is to be established through the Christian churches’ efforts - positioning themselves in key leadership and administrative positions on earth (government, etc.)

If we are expecting the kingdom of God, we must apply Christ’s prescriptions .

We must set our heart on the kingdom of God x Luke 12:33-34

Luke 12:33–34 NKJV

33 Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Sell and give away your earthly belongings in exchange for “money bags” full of heavenly treasures

note - not all ‘giving’ are converted into treasures in heaven

give to the right cause - the church, the people of God, the ministry!

Where your treasure is… your heart - mind, emotions, decisions - will be towards that place!

We must have our waist girded and our lamps burning! - Luke 12:35-36

Luke 12:35–36 NKJV

35 “Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; 36 and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately.

girded waist - signifies readiness to undertake hard work

kingdom work is hard work

lamps burning - passionate spirits

passion/zeal indicates our love, concern, devotion

lamps burning - also, equipped for action

we have the Word

we have the Holy Spirit

Conclusion

The kingdom of God is coming -

it will replace today’s human governments

It is inevitable

it will come to reward those who await its arrival - Rev 22:12

Revelation 22:12 NKJV

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.

The true essence of waiting for the Lord’s return is seen in how we live this life in relation to worldly things and opportunities

how we invest our time, money, knowledge, skill

how we engage our life in kingdom work

how our hearts burn with passion for the kingdom

Note - the Grk word for “waiting” is “prosdechomai”

it means - to receive something or someone in a welcoming manner

Maranatha - Aramaic for, “Our Lord, come”

Luke 12:37–38 NKJV

37 Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. 38 And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

blessed - grk macarios, happy

second watch, etc. - different times in church history when God’s servants lived faithfully and expectantly

True happiness awaits those who are waiting for the Master!

Jesus Christ will serve His servants once again!

what a picture! Even in glory our great God and Savior is a humble Master!

SONG - He’s Coming Soon