Luke 12:35-59 Living in the Last Days.doc

Intro: These are exciting times that we are Living in – Definitely Living in the Last Days . Read the Papers - Evident

  1. Recent economic collapse in Russia could bring us closer to the Ezekiel 38 scenario –
  2. Where this Country from utter most parts of North aligns itself w/ Arab Nations such as Iran / Turkey / Syria comes into invade Israel
  3. Right now it seems that the country – in which Ezekiel Was talking about is Russia - Rosh. -
  1. We know that over that last several yrs that Russia has sent scientist & a ton of weapons to Iran / including Nuclear Warheads
  1. Why would an economic collapse spark such an invasion? OIL -

 

Another indication that we are Living in Last days – widespread build up of Nuclear Weapons – So many Nations armed

  1. In the book of Rev. & in Ezekiel we read of mass destruction described during the Tribulation / destruction that parallels the effects of Nuclear Bombs

B) Recently there were reports of – the United Nations seeking to institute a

International Criminal Court System –

    1. ( No Jury – just 18 judges absolute authority –making way for the absolute authority - that antichrist will have )
  1. Then there is the Description that Jesus gave of the last days – LIKE THE DAYS OF NOAH.
  1. Days of Noah marked by increased violence & Moral Depravity
  1. We see the affects of such Moral Depravity in our Nation today –
  1. Horrific pornographic report – our Pres.

Listen to these Statistics – Top Disciplinary problems in Public schools in the 1940 vs the 1990 - 50 yrs time span

  1. 1990

Talking out of turn DRUG ABUSE

Chewing gum ALCOHOL ABUSE

Making noise in class PREGNANCY

Running in the Halls SUICIDE

Cutting in line RAPE

Dress code Violations ROBBERY

Littering ASSAULT

TIMES HAVE DEFINITELY CHANGED !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

As we Consider this passage today we want to note 5 things concerning living in LIGHT OF OUR LORDS RETURN

1st – Marks of the prepared servant

2nd – Blessings for those who will be found Prepared

3rd Marks of the Person who is not prepared

4th Judgement on those who are not prepared

5th The Difficulties that can go along w/ being a READY SERVANT

 

1st - MARKS OF THE PREPARED SERVANT – 3THINGS v.35-40

A) v.35 WAIST GIRDED – Long robes – awkward – work or to run

Pull the robe up & tie it w/ a sash

  1. The idea of having your waist girded had to do w/ Readiness FOR SERVICE !!!!!
  1. Free to move & work – not encumbered – not weighed down by stuff

1Kings 18: 46 Then the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins & RAN ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

Ephesians 6:14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth,

  1. Ready for battle – Ready to serve – not caught off guard or unprepared

A young man applied for a job as a farmhand. When asked for his qualifications, he said, "I can sleep when the wind blows." This puzzled the farmer, but he took a liking to the young man and hired him.

A few days later, the farmer and his wife were awakened in the night by a violent storm.

They quickly began to check things out to see if all was secure. They found that the shutters of the farmhouse had been securely fastened. A good supply of logs had been set next to the fireplace. The farm implements had been placed in the storage shed, safe from the elements.

The tractor had been moved into the garage. The barn had been properly locked. All was well. Even the animals were calm.

It was then that the farmer grasped the meaning of the young man's words, "I can sleep when the wind blows."

Because the farmhand had performed his work loyally and faithfully when the skies were clear, he was prepared for the storm when it broke. Consequently, when the wind blew, he had no fear. He was able to sleep in peace.

1Jn. 3:3 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

HOPE =

 

 

2nd thing – Lamps Burning: In those days lamps consisted of little bowls of w/ oil in them - & a wick that they would light

  1. Now the only way to keep your Lamps burning was to have a constant supply of oil - Oil is symbolic of H.S.
  2. Ephesians 5:18 – Be continually being filled
  3. Lamps speak of WITNESS - LIGHTS SHINNING IN A DARK WORLD

Matt. 5:14 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 "Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

  1. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

D.L. Moody: "A blind man in a great city was found sitting at a street corner with a lantern beside him. Someone went up to him and asked him why he had the lantern, since he was blind and the light of if was the same to him as the darkness. The blind man simply replied, 'So that no one may stumble over me.'" He wanted to be scene

  1. Jesus says keep your lamps burning – WITNESS GOING STRONG
  1. Burning up for God – not in the sense of BEING FRYED – not BURNING OUT - BURNING BRIGHTLY
  1. Often Pray – Lord – pour into me – pour me out !!!

 

Col. 1:29 Paul spoke of Laboring for the Lord – word Labor speaks of working to the point of Exhaustion

  1. At the end of a day I like to feel – EMPTY – SPENT –
  2. Next day – get up – Lord fill me a fresh / water my heart as I study your word – fill me w/ your spirit.
  1. FILL MY TANK

 

3RD – WAITNG & Watching –

V.36 -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. 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.

39 "But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.

40 "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

  1. In that culture weddings would often take place at night - & the servants needed to be ready – waiting for Master to return w/ new Bride

    2. B) House lit – ready to serve !!!!! Problem was they didn’t know when the

    Master was to going to come – 2nd or 3rd watch

  2. Bible says that No man knows the day or the Hr. of the coming of the Lord- RAPTURE
  1. Don’t know the time – but we can know the seasons

54 Then He also said to the multitudes, "Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, 'A shower is coming'; and so it is. 55 "And when you see the south wind blow, you say, 'There will be hot weather'; and there is.

  1. "Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time?
  1. Jesus saying you guys can look at the charts & tell when it is going to rain or be – sunny –
  1. DISCERN THE WEATHER / DISCERN PROPHETIC CLIMATE

LESSONS FROM THE TITANIC

In its day, the Titanic was the world's largest ship, weighing 46,328 tons, /882 1/2 ft long with 3 anchors weighing more than 10 tons each.

It employed a crew of 400, a hotel staff of 518 and could carry 2,433 passengers. The 159 furnaces burned 650 tons of coal a day.

The ship had a complete gymnasium, heated pool, squash court and the first miniature golf course -- all below deck.

Its lavish appointments included opulent dining rooms with 24-hour service, orchestra on the promenade deck, palm courts and gilded Turkish baths.

Several millionaires were on the passenger list.

 

But, on April 14, 1912, the "unthinkable" happened to the "unsinkable". Near midnight, the great Titanic struck an iceberg, ripping a 300 ft hole through 5 of its 16 watertight compartments. It sank in 2 1/2 hours killing 1,513 people. Why did so many die? Reasons: the crew disregarding the danger of the weather, & warning signals –

there were not enough lifeboats on board, and the radio operator of the nearby California was off duty. (adapted from USA Today, Sept. 4, 1985)

Waiting & Watching speaks of EXPECTATION / ANTICIPATION - COULD BE TODAY .

  1. Now Jesus is giving to us a concept of life which should be the concept of life of every child of God.
  2. A persons concept of life is extremely important, because it determines his attitude, and his actions.
  1. People express their concepts of life with various figures of speech. Life is a journey. Life is a race. Life is a war. Life is a party.
  1. Jesus said; your concept of life should be: life is like a servant waiting for his lord. That 's what your life should be about
  1. Like a servant who is waiting & watching for his lord, for his lord may appear unannounced at any time.
  1. Therefore you should be living your life, with the anticipation of our Lord coming at any moment.

 

Younger – waiting for my dad to come home & play ball- is it time yet ?

Look out the window his car -

  1. Expectation & a Readiness / UNEXPECTED TIME
  2. Jesus keying in on the unexpectedness of his coming says – if you knew when the thief was coming - Be ready
  1. Phone rings – Local thief – Are you & Denise going to be Home – I was thinking of dropping in around 8pm
  1. If I know that I am ready – Baseball bat in hand –
  2. Don’t get caught off Guard !!!!!!!! BE READY !!!!!!!

    3.  

    2nd thing we want to note is – Blessing that go along w/ being prepared

    41 Then Peter said to Him, "Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all people?"

    42 And the Lord said, "Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? 43 "Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.

    44 "Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has.

    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.

  3. On the night that Jesus partook of the Passover w/ His Disciples we read where He girded himself w/ a towel - washed feet.
  4. On that night Jesus declared I will not eat of this meal again w/ you until I we are together in my Fathers Kingdom!!!!!!!!
  5. Blessing of SEEING JESUS – SERVED BY JESUS

Then there is the blessings of Rewards & Responsibility

A) Rewarded for what we have done affect we had. - Crowns /

B) Pastor & Bus Driver - Bus Driver –Great REWARD – Pastor small –

Confused -

  1. Lord said – simple – every time you preached the people slept – He drove the Bus people prayed !!!!

C)Some people have the idea that HEAVEN IS GOING TO BE

BORING / ( young people Jr. High) clouds & Harps

D) Sometimes it is Hard to fathom - Eternity -

  1. Paul said couldn’t describe !!!!

 

CONSIDER THIS ANALOGY

  1. John 14 – Jesus said that I have to go but I will come again – In my Fathers house are many mansions - I am going to prepare a place for you.

    2. 1) MANSION – what think of - SPACE - 10 –20,000 SQ. FEET / &

    LUXURY -

  2. Contrast that w/ what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5 about our Bodies - Tents
  1. 1 Person pup tent – small – confined – basic – in comparison no Luxury what so ever – NONE

Jesus says right now you exist in a tent – but I am preparing a mansion in Heaven for you - New Body – Blown you away !!!!!
  1. RECENTLY Spoke at COUPLES RETREAT – Palm springs Hilton

    2. 1) Days Inn / Comfort Inn kind of folks - Pastor says - get together for dinner on Sat. night – Eddie & Dawn & his Asst. / His wife/ us

  2. TALKING – 4 COUPLES - Checking in – Tomorrow night – dinner in your room - ( I looked at him funny – 8 people around the Bed.)
  3. I Understood when we came to our Room – Pres. Suite – bigger than our first Apartment !!!!!

1) Eddie & Dawn who also got a nice room – called I think we got your room. - HOW MANY ROOMS YOURS HAVE

We have such a limited concept of what the Lord has for us in Eternity –

A) But Paul says – UNDESCRIBABLE -

 

 

 

 

 

3rd Marks of the person who is not ready - 2 things BRUTALITY & CARNALITY

45 "But if that servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' & begins to beat the male & female servants, & to eat and drink & be drunk,

  1. If I don’t think the Lord is going to be coming – come down on people

B) If you knew Jesus was coming today – how treat wife / Husband / kids

    1. FRIENDS
  1. Not lashing out / but showing love !!!!!

2ND CARNALITY - Partying / hitting Pachinga / Casinos – messing around in immorality

  1. What do you want to be doing when Jesus RETURNS ?

 

4TH THING TO NOTE – Judgement on those not ready v.46-48

46 "the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

47 "And that servant who knew his master's will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

  1. "But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.

 

  1. Now there has been a lot of debate over what is meant in v. 46 & the phrase and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
  2. Does it mean that person is cut off – TOTALLY -
  3. We don’t have time today to break down all of the possibilities of what this verse could mean – nor do we need to

    4. 1) The Point is this - WHAT JESUS IS DESCRIBING IS SERIOUS & YOU WANT TO AVOID THIS .

  4. V. 48 & 49 indicate there is a responsibility for our Knowledge – to whom much is given much is required !!!!!

 

 

 

 

5th final – Difficulties in being a ready servant – v. 49-53

  1. "I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!

Now There are those who see this as His fiery indignation of God's wrath that is to be poured out upon the earth......

A) BUT this does NOT fit the context of the ministry of Jesus

B) We read earlier in LUKE 3:15-16 Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not,

16 John answered, saying to all, "I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

 

C) We read in ACTS 1:4-5; 8 4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me;5 "for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

D) Then we observe in ACTS 2:1-3 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.

3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.

E) I believe that Jesus is here talking about the fire of the Holy Spirit

That PURGING and PURIFYING fire of the Holy Spirit

F) He wished it were here for them but - BUT - The Spirit would NOT be sent upon the disciples UNTIL Jesus had finished the work of the Father

John 16:7 "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

 

50 "But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished! Speaking of the Cross

51 "Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division.

52 "For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three.

53 "Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."

 

LIVING FOR THE LORD CAUSE DIVISON

  1. Family Friends -
  2. Worth it

 

Final note - 58 "When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, make every effort along the way to settle with him, lest he drag you to the judge, the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.

  1. "I tell you, you shall not depart from there till you have paid the very last mite."
  1. Jesus says here that when you have a legal matter – w/ someone ideally you want to settle it before gets to court
  1. ESPECIALLY if you know you are GUILTY – You don’t want to end up in Prison - Avoid at all cost !!!!
  1. So You look for a way to settle w/ Him – make a deal -

C) The Bible says that Before we Know Christ – ENEMIES W/ God -

    1. He is the JUDGE – we are GUILTY in our SINS

D)JUDGEMENT AWAITS – NO WAY OUT - MAKE A DEAL

E) NO DEALS - EXCEPT THIS ONE

 

READY FOR THIS ? The Lord says I send my son – He pays the price He takes the punishment – you can become a Child –

A) He does it all - All you have to do is Confess & Believe in Him

He is the only way – YOUR PROVISION

  1. BELIEVE = CLING TO TRUST IN RELY UPON !!!!!

Lets say you run a stop sign smash the car of wealthy Millionaire

  1. 80,000 dollar – Rolls Royce
  2. Take to Court – Sue all you have / Insurance Company dropped you
  3. Here is the Deal – I will pay for the Car – You come live at the mansion