Are You Concerned About The Future?
Matthew 24:42-51
Be Watchful; Be Wise; Be Warned
INTRODUCTION:
Jesus has just given His disciples information for end times. Now He is giving
inspiration for all times.
A.) See -
prophecy was not given merely to satisfy or arouse their curiosity,/ but rather to motivate them into
faithfulness & Readiness
B.) So after
giving information concerning signs of end,
signs of
the times in which we live.
things essentially -
1.) Be watchful
- v. 42,43,44
2.) Be wise -
v. 45,46,47
3.) Be warned - v. 48-51
1st Consider - Be watchful:
A.) He
likens the situation to a man who owned a house that was broken
into by a thief.
Jesus said if owner knew the hour thief was going to come he would have been ready/ he wouldn't have been caught off guard.
B.)
Likewise, Jesus
said we are to be watching constantly for
the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
1) The Bible is clear that we don’t know the hour / But we can know times and seasons ( Know the Signs - )
C) Now if your
neighborhood is being hit /
Burglars are making their rounds / You are going to be ready - bells
on door
1) watchful - neighborhood
watch programs ( Not leave house unlocked)
D) Our Car in Oregon – This is Oregon – We
were caught off Guard - You
don’t want to be caught off guard when Jesus comes !!!
E) Ever have someone just drop in worst!
/ P.J.'s on,/ hair up, House
is a
mess!!! George on Sat. am – ( Sweats
hair not combed – shaved)
1)
You don't want to be caught off guard when Jesus decides to drop in - So we need to watch & be ready!
Now when Bible
talks about being watchful - talks about certain areas.
A.) Here -
watch for His coming.
Matthew 26:41 - Watch
and pray don't enter into temptation, spirit willing but flesh is weak. Watch so don’t fall into temptation
A) Satan has holes all over the place – we need to Watch so that we don’t fall into one ( Be on Guard ) Certain things avoid / Internet
B.) 1 Corinthians 10:12 To him thinks he stands take heed or watch doesn't fall - Exhortation to Watch
against spiritual pride
1)
That
mentality where you think you have it together
C.) Acts 20:31 - Paul warning Ephesians
Elders Watch out
for false teachers. Wolves to
fleece the flock
So we
are to Watch out for temptation; spiritual pride; false teachers. Most
importantly - His coming!
A.) How are we to watch?
1.)
Matt
26:41 - watch
and pray - praying:
Prayer strengthens my spirit -
over my weak flesh
B) I am too busy to PRAY !!!!
If
you have so much business to attend to that you have no time to pray, know
this you have more business on hand
than God ever intended you should have. - D.L. Moody,
B.) 1 Cor 16:13 - watch
standing fast in the faith.
1) Key to standing fast is keeping eyes on
Jesus - Author and Finisher of
my
faith - not
the storms/ Watch standing fast
in the faith
C.) Luke 12:35 - Waist girded (readiness/
Work / fight / serve ) - Waist girded …. Lamps burning
1.)
Being
ready and letting your light shine{ Bright light in the darkness
D.) 1 Peter 5:8 - Watch
and be sober; vigilant
1.) Speaking - being awake; being in tune -
aware of what's going on - times and seasons
So
watch - pray; standing fast in faith; waist girded, lights shining, sober and
vigilant - 1st be watchful
2nd Be Wise: V. 45-47
A.) Idea
here is the master is leaving his home for a season and leaving
what
he owns into the care of a servant
B) The wise servant is one who will be faithful in his master's absence carrying out commands and wishes
1)
When the master returns the servant is rewarded for his faithfulness
Jesus said - John 14 - I am going ... place for you .. . return take ...
where I am you may be also
A.) He left and has
entrusted us with certain things
My wife goes to the Ladies retreat/ - entrusted house - kids into my hands
B)
Now
here is the question does she do that
with confidence or reservation? Make it? Be Okay?
1) Will she Comes home to a disaster? Come back
surprised still there?
C.)
Jesus
has entrusted things to each of us in His absence.
1)
Family
/ Relationships / Ministry / Work / Your Finances -
D) Question What are
you doing w/ that which Jesus has
entrusted into your hands
E.) The wise servant is one who is working while
master comes -
1.) Luke 19 - Do business until I come - occupy
May
the Lord find us so doing
Those who are faithful w/ what the Lord has given them will
be rewarded !
A) What a Joy to hear the Lord say " well done good & ......
B.) Preacher
was visiting at home of wealthy - oil tycoon
1.) Balcony - all see I own in this direction
that ...
2.) "How much in that direction? That is what matters
C.) Jesus said "Store up treasure for yourself in heaven
"
I.) How do that? Be a faithful wise servant here on earth - do what Jesus
called you to
D)Use gifts given to you & take care of those He
has entrusted into your care!
3rd - Be warned - V. 48-51
A.) As we Notice
this servant/ everyone of us be warned
/Note: he is a servant in the house of his master - but he is not being
watchful or wise
B)
Instead he is saying my master delays
his coming
1) He is not denying
the master's coming - he believes the Lord is coming - but doesn't believe
happen any time soon ( NO HURRY)
C) Note It is an evil servant
who says Lord delays his coming
1) Now word
here for evil interesting: Kakos - Something
that was once
good - now gone bad./ Used - apply instrument - goes out of tune – guitar
D)Apple once ripe - sat in barrel - now bad/ Servant
once good / now bad!!
How go bad? Lost that
watchfulness - expectancy that Jesus could come back today
A)Begins saying - my master delays his coming - he begins to go bad
B) It speaks of the
person who no longer believes in the imminent return of Christ -
How is it MANIFESTED How tell when
you begin to go bad?. 2 THINGS
A.) First,
BRUTALITY verse 49 - he begins to beat his fellow servants
B.) When I
stop believing that Jesus could come back today, quit watching for Him; it will
effect the way I treat others
1) Much
more critical of others – Judgmental { Oregon trip
C) If I don’t believe that Jesus might come today I
am going to feel a lot more liberty to react in my flesh
1) But If
you believe Jesus is coming back today
- it will affect every person you come in contact with
D.) If You believe Jesus coming back today - talk to wife differently; kids Talk with people at work in whole different manner
1) but if you
think not coming for another 5 yrs 20yrs 50 yrs it is easy to begin
beating others - being brutal towards
them
So first fruit of evil servant says Lord delays is Brutality
Second, Carnality -
eat and drink with drunkards - party!
A.)Let's go hang out in
lounge - tip a few - go dancing - partying
B.) Now
maybe you say liberty - can dance - drink -
nothing wrong with party
1.) How many of you would like to be doing any
of those things - when Lord comes back?
John said, 1 John 3:3 Whoever hope ... pure"
A.)
Four interpretations
1.) Referring to unbeliever - who is also been committed
a trust -
God has given him life - steward what does with life
a.) but he parties hardy - indulges in sin -
cast into hell
B) #2 Others saved
servant of God - who becomes lazy in serving the Lord and he simply
loses his reward in kingdom age
#3 Others - backsliding Christian - Christian who falls back
into sin lost his salvation and is condemned
#4 A professing Christian who is not one - a churchgoer
- in church with servants but really doesn't know God
a.) Jesus says sign him portion with hypocrites
- actors
Pt. Is : It
really doesn't matters which you choose. Point
is clear - Be warned not fooling around
A)I pray NONE of us - would be saying - master delays his coming
B.)
Reap what sow! Flesh
destruction / Spirit
Sow a thought - reap an action - sow an
action - reap a habit. so a habit reap a
lifestyle, sow a lifestyle, reap a destiny
E.) I pray
we would be those - sowing a lifestyle of expectancy;
of faithfulness to what Jesus has
entrusted to us
1.) In doing so we would be storing up treasure
in heaven. In due time - reap a wonderful
destiny!