Watching, Waiting, Dressed and Ready

WATCHING, WAITING, DRESSED AND READY September 11, 2022 WATCHING, WAITING, DRESSED AND READY The return of Christ is a great emphasis of the New Testament • It is the Future Reality of the Kingdom Of God • John 14:3 (NIV) — 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. WATCHING, WAITING, DRESSED AND READY In Luke 12 Jesus Tells A Parable About The Lord’s Return •He Owns Everything -- He Has Gone Away -- He Has Left His Stewards In Charge -- He Is Going To Return At an Unknown Time •We Watch, We Wait And We Live In Expectation •Knowing That He Is Coming Back Soon WATCHING, WAITING, DRESSED AND READY Luke 12:35–40 (NIV) — 35 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. 38 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night. 39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” WATCHING, WAITING, DRESSED AND READY Luke 12:41–44 (NIV) — 41 Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?” 42 The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? 43 It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. 44 I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. WATCHING, WAITING, DRESSED AND READY Luke 12:45–48 (NIV) — 45 But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. 46 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers. 47 “That servant who knows his master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. WATCHING, WAITING, DRESSED AND READY In V.35-36 The Message Is:  Be Dressed  Be Ready – The Lord Is Coming Back At Any Minute WATCHING, WAITING, DRESSED AND READY V. 37 It Will Be Good For Those Whose Master Finds Them Watching and Waiting When He Comes • He Will Turn The Tables And Dress Himself To Serve Them • They Will Recline At His Table • He Will Wait On Them • This Is One Of The Great Promises Of Scripture WATCHING, WAITING, DRESSED AND READY V.39 If A Homeowner Knows When A Thief Is Coming, He Will Be Ready For Him •The Point Is: V.40 You Must Be Ready -- Jesus Will Come At An Hour When You Do Not Expect Him •We Must Live In Constant Expectation That Jesus Could Return At Any Minute WATCHING, WAITING, DRESSED AND READY 2 Timothy 4:8 (NIV) — 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. •This Is The Crown Reserved For Those Who Are Longing And Looking For His Return •A Crown Of Righteousness -- What A Blessing! WATCHING, WAITING, DRESSED AND READY In V.41 Peter Asks: Who Is This Parable For Us, Or Everyone? Jesus Answers: •This Is For The Faithful And The Wise Managers •For All Those Who Are Wise Stewards Of God •For Those Who Treat The Master’s Servants Well And Make Sure They Are Fed •V.42-43 WATCHING, WAITING, DRESSED AND READY Those Ready And Waiting Are Proving Their Faithfulness And The Lord Is Looking For Usefulness In Them Regarding Their Future Assignment V.43-44 The Servants Who Are Faithful In Their Temporary Responsibilities On Earth --- Will Be Given Permanent Authority And Responsibility In Eternity WATCHING, WAITING, DRESSED AND READY V.45 But It Will Not Go Well For The Manager Who Thinks They Have Plenty Of Time •Who Beats And Mistreats The Other Servants •Who Eats, Drinks, And Gets Drunk •Who Say That They Know The Lord – But They Do Not. WATCHING, WAITING, DRESSED AND READY 1 John 3:10 (NIV) — 10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother. Ephesians 5:5–7 (NIV) — 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them. WATCHING, WAITING, DRESSED AND READY V.46 The Master Will Come Back When This Servant Doesn’t Expect Him •An Hour He Is Not Aware Of •He Will Suffer A Horrible Fate •Being Cut To Pieces And Assigned With The Unbelievers – •V.47 Jesus Said: That Servant Will Be Beaten With Many Blows WATCHING, WAITING, DRESSED AND READY V.48 The One Who Does Not Know To Expect His Return Will Be Beaten With Fewer Blows • Everyone Will Be Judged And Give an Account According To The Light And Opportunities They Were Given •2 Corinthians 5:10 (NIV) — 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. WATCHING, WAITING, DRESSED AND READY V.49 Not Peace But Division •Luke 12:49–53 (NIV) — 49 “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed! 51 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52 From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-inlaw against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” WATCHING, WAITING, DRESSED AND READY V.49-50 There Is A Baptism And Fire That Jesus Will Go Through •The Fire Is Judgment • Fire Does Two Things: Fire Destroys The Temporary, While It Hardens Or Refines The Durable • The Baptism Is His Death On Calvary To Redeem Humanity WATCHING, WAITING, DRESSED AND READY No one can sit on the fence about Jesus; decisions have to be made . these decisions will fracture people and families Barton, B. -- Life Application New Testament Commentary •In V.51 There Will Be Much Fracturing And Division • The World And Believer Are Going In Opposite Directions • Jesus Did Not Come To Bring All Humanity Under A Big Tent He Came To Bring Truth, Life, Light, Division And Separation WATCHING, WAITING, DRESSED AND READY In V.52-53 Jesus Said That The Division Will Even Impact Homes And Families WATCHING, WAITING, DRESSED AND READY V.54 Interpreting The Times •Luke 12:54–56 (NIV) — 54 He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. 55 And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. 56 Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time? WATCHING, WAITING, DRESSED AND READY V.55-56 People Know More About The Upcoming Weather Than They Do About The Signs Of The Times Regarding The Return Of Christ Especially WATCHING, WAITING, DRESSED AND READY What Is Going On In This Day We Are Living In? •How Can We Interpret These Present Times? •The Signs of Scripture Point to Christ’s Return Coming Soon WATCHING, WAITING, DRESSED AND READY The Signs Are Everywhere •#1 The Return And Rebirth Of Israel •#2 The Great Deception Sweeping Over The World •#3 Increase In Apostasy • Many People Are Going To Fall Away From Their Faith WATCHING, WAITING, DRESSED AND READY The Bible Predicts In The Last Days, "A Form Of Godliness, Although They Have Denied Its Power" (2 Timothy 3:5). • Jesus Says: “Watch Out And Don’t Be Deceived” Jesus Has Come To Set People Apart •To Consecrate Them For His Service And Kingdom •To Make Them Holy And Pure • To Ready Them Their Eternal Assignment WATCHING, WAITING, DRESSED AND READY •The Big Question Is: Where Are You At? •If There Was Ever A Time To Be On High Watch to be Ready For The Lords Return It Is Now WATCHING, WAITING, DRESSED AND READY These Times And Signs Are Unique And Important • We Must Know How To Interpret Them • So That When The Master Returns • We Are Watching • We Are Waiting • We Are Dressed And Ready WATCHING, WAITING, DRESSED AND READY The Stage Is Being Set: •The Stage Is Set For A Rebuilt Temple •The Stage Is Set For A Global Federation Of Nations •The Stage Is Set For A Political And Economic World Leader To Arise •The Stage Is Set For A Worldwide False Religion To Emerge •And The Stage Is Set For A Global Economic System WATCHING, WAITING, DRESSED AND READY He Has Gone Away •He’s Left Us In Charge As Stewards •And Whether You Are Watching,waiting, And Ready Or Not •He Is Coming Back WATCHING, WAITING, DRESSED AND READY V.57-59 What Should Be Done Now? Get Things Right Before You Face The Judge •Luke 12:57–59 (NIV) — 57 “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58 As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled to him on the way, or he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.” WATCHING, WAITING, DRESSED AND READY There’s Only One Way To Face The Future • We Must Face The Future With Christ • In His Grace And Mercy • Not In His Wrath And Judgment WATCHING, WAITING, DRESSED AND READY This Is All About You And The Lord:  Whatever Anyone Else Does Is Not The Question  You Must Be Ready Regardless  You Must Be Prepared For Whatever He Asks  You Must Be Dressed Ready And Waiting  Others May Sleep –You Must Be Watching For His Return WATCHING, WAITING, DRESSED AND READY How Could We Be Ready? We Can Live A Life That Is Accurate And Truthful According To What God Has Shown Us •Titus 2:11–13 (NIV) — 11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ WATCHING, WAITING, DRESSED AND READY We Can Be Ready Watching And Waiting Serving Him Joyfully •Luke 12:35–36 (NIV) — 35 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks, they can immediately open the door for him. •We Watch -- We Wait •We Stay Dressed And Ready •We Listen For His Coming And That Last Trumpet