SERMON SEEDS
Q22 – THE WEEK OF JUNE 4, 2018
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LUKE 12:35-40 – ON THE WATCH
Watching is something which we as Christians are told to do! Ephesians 6:18, Colosians 4:2, Hebrews 12:2, Philippians 3:20
Every one of the verses that I just quoted are from the Epistles, the letters of Jesus' followers. However, our Lord Jesus also told us that we should be on the watch!
Our Lord Jesus promised to return. John 14:3
One of the passages in which Jesus tells us to be watching is the passage which is Luke 12:35-40.
We, as Christians, are looking forward to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in an event known as the rapture. This will be the removing of the church before the great Tribulation. At the end of the Tribulation, Jesus will come to earth. Before the Tribulation Jesus will come in the air. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Jesus could be coming for us at any time, and not only by way of appearing in the clouds to take us home on the family plan, but way of death. We aren’t guaranteed another breathe in this life, that’s why we must always be ready!
It is for this reason that we need to be reminded of such passages as the one before us this morning. We should be anticipating, looking forward, watching for his coming. We should be ON THE WATCH!
AN ACTIVE WATCH Vss. 35-36
Vs. 35 - We are told first, to have our loins girded.
And most of us say, "Huh", what does that mean?
The men of that day wore long, flowing, robes. I imagine that these were comfortable when a person was relaxing or walking at a leisurely pace. When there was serious work to be done, however, these loins could certainly hinder the progress of the worker. The long, flowing robes would certainly get in the way. The equivalent today would be trying to do a major house cleaning in an evening gown or trying to fix the car wearing a tux!
Today, if we are wearing dress clothes and are called upon to work, we would simply, if able, change our clothes. In Jesus' day, a person who was wearing the long, flowing robes who was called upon to work would gird up his loins. He would gather the robes and tuck them into what we would call his belt. This would allow him to move freely. Someone who had his loins girded, was ready for work.
If you are a Christian who is waiting for his Lord to come, you are not expected to be in a casual mode, or a dressed-up mode, but in a work mode! This is to be an active watch, not a leisurely one! The Lord Jesus has left us with work to do till he comes.
Becoming a Christian costs nothing. Ephesians 2:8-9
Living the Christian life the way God wants you to live, will cost you everything.
1 Peter 1:15-16, Luke 9:23-24, Romans 12:1-2
The first part of the active watch means your loins are girded. You are working while you are waiting for your Lord to come.
The second part of this active watch is that your lamps are burning bright. This means the lights are on.
We are expecting the Lord Jesus at any time. This means we are to be expecting his arrival. The houses of our lives should be well lit.
If we have the lights on, we will see any dirt that's needs attention before He arrives. 1 John 1:5-7
There is another way that we have the lights on in anticipation of Jesus coming. When we are expecting company, we put on the porch light, so people can see to get here.
When Jesus comes back, we want our friends and loved ones to also be ready for his coming. In order for them to be ready, they need to come to know Christ as well. So right now, we are to have the lights on so they can see to come to Christ. Matthew 5:14-16
How do you make your light shine?
By living a life that's different.
By having hope during hopeless times.
By inviting others to join you at church and special events where the Gospel will be shared.
By being ready to share the message of salvation. 1 Peter 3: 15
The active watch for the coming of the Lord Jesus means you're in a work mode - your loins girded.
The active watch for the coming of the Lord Jesus means the lights are on - your lamps are burning bright.
The active watch for the coming of the Lord Jesus means your ready to open the door.
Vs. 36 - Have you ever had people arrive before you were ready for them?
The picture in Verse 36 is of a man coming back from a wedding. His servants are to be all ready for him to arrive, no matter what the hour, so they can quickly open the door and let him in!
When Jesus comes back, it will be too late to work for him.
When Jesus comes back, it will be too late to witness for him.
When Jesus comes back, it will be too late to clean up my life.
Whatever I want to do in preparation for Jesus' coming needs to be done before He comes. And just as the servants did not know when their master was coming back, we do not know when our Lord is coming back. Whatever needs to be done in preparation for the Lord's coming, needs to be done now!
The active watch means that I have my loins girded - I'm working.
The active watch means that I have my light burning - I'm witnessing.
The active watch means I expect Jesus at any moment - I'm ready.
THE ALERT WATCH Vss. 38-40
This watch is very similar to the active watch.
When I am alert, I'm on the ball, I'm functioning. I am in anxious anticipation.
Vs. 38 - I have waited up for the arrival of my children when they have come for a visit. The lights were on, their bed made, and I was in the chair, asleep! But the moment they walked in, I was awake! I was alert.
Jesus is saying, even if I arrive in the middle of the night, the second or third watch of the night, between 9 - 3, I want you to be alert!
Vs. 39 - There is an illustration here. If a man knows a thief is on the way, he is ready for him!
That's why thieves don't send greeting cards which say,
"Hi, I'm a thief, I'm going to arrive to rob you on Thursday night at 11:45 P.M. The thief wants to surprise you. So, if you are in an area vulnerable to crime, you are required to be ready for the thief at all times.
Vs. 40 - The Lord Jesus tells us to be ready, because He is coming at a time when we don't think he is coming. People make predictions about when Jesus is coming, but He'll come when people are not expecting Him. That's why we must be alert! And remember, he could come for you today! Titus 2:11-13
THE AWARDED WATCH Vs. 37
Vs. 37 - When we have guests, we usually serve them! When Jesus comes, He will reward us, if we have been faithful to Him!
The Son of God's nature is that of a servant. Luke 22:26-27
And what did Jesus do the night before He was crucified?
He washed the feet of the disciples.
He took on the form of a servant!
Even now, the Lord is in Heaven, and He is serving.
He is High Priest - Hebrews 4:14-16
He is our advocate. - 1 John 2:1-2
When Jesus comes back, He will be king!
We will all bow down and worship Him!
But, he will also reward his faithful servants!
In spite of who He is, He will still serve.
There will be no doubt about who is Lord, who is King, who is God! He will still serve those who have been faithful.
And if he takes us home by means of death, we will be on Heavenly Sabbatical until Jesus unites our spirits with our resurrection bodies.
2 Corinthians 5:8-10
Let us be able to say with the the Apostle Paul 2 Timothy 4: 6-8
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2 SAMUEL 22
PRAYER OF A GRATEFUL KING
David, at the end of his life, could look back with gratitude to God for all He had done in David’s behalf.
DAVID’S RESOURCE – Vss. 1-3 – God
DAVID’S Requests – Vss. 4-7 – For help in times of trouble
GOD’S RESPONSE – Vss. 8-20 – With Almighty power
GOD’S REWARD – Vss. 21-28 – According to David’s righteousness
Psalm 51:1-3 - Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
DAVID’S RELIANCE – Vss. 29-33 – On God
DAVID’S RESULTS – Vss. 34-46 – Victory
DAVID’S REJOICING – Vss. 47-51 – In God’s help
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1 KINGS 16:29-34 – THE DAYS OF ELIJAH
GOOD (FAITHFUL) SERVANT FOR BAD TIMES #1
The days in which Elijah the Prophet lived were bad times. Yet Elijah the Prophet stood as a good, faithful servant during those miserable days. Because we live in bad times as well, we need to learn from Elijah how to be faithful despite the circumstances in which we live. First, let’s see just how bad the times were in “The Days of Elijah”.
A SPLIT KINGDOM
A PARADE OF WICKED KINGS OF ISRAEL
THE WORST OF THEM ALL – AHAB
TIME FOR A FAITHFUL SERVANT
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PSALM 28 – WHEN OPPOSED
MY PLEA – Vss. 1-2
MY PROBLEM – Vss. 3-5
MY PRAISE – Vss. 6-7
MY POWER – Vs. 8
MY PRAYER – Vs. 9
ACTS 11:24 ETC. – A GOOD MAN
I want us to consider what it means to be a good man or a good woman according to the Scriptures.
A GOOD MAN IS FILLED - Acts 11:24
For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
In the early church, Barnabas was Mr. Encouragement.
We meet him first in Acts 4:36-37
It was Barnabas who helped Paul get established in the church at Jerusalem. Acts 9:27
When Gentiles started to get saved, it was Barnabas, Mr. Encouragement that was sent to investigate.
Acts 11:19-23
It was also Barnabas, realizing that these new Christians needed a teacher, who recruited Paul into a teaching ministry. Acts 11:25-26
It was also Barnabas who went with Paul on the first missionary journey, and it was Barnabas who helped rehabilitate Mark, after Mark's initial failure in ministry.
Barnabas was indeed a good man, and in Acts 11:24, we see two things that helped make him a good man. Barnabas was a good man because, first of all, He was filled with the Holy Ghost.
The Holy Ghost was promised by the Lord Jesus. John 14:16-18, John 16:12-14
The Holy Spirit lives inside of every Christian. Romans 8:9
When Barnabas was filled with the Spirit, he was simply doing what God wants every Christian to do. God wants every Christian to be under the influence of the Spirit. See Ephesians 5:18-21 and Galatians 5:22-23
A person who is filled with the Holy Spirit can not help being a good man or woman.
May I recommend to you that to be filled with the Spirit you should:
And being filled with the Spirit is a continual process.
Barnabas was filled with the Spirit and He was a good man.
Barnabas was also filled with faith. Hebrews 3:12-13, 11:1-2, 6, 12:1-2
A GOOD MAN FOLLOWS - Psalm 37:23
The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.
How we spend our time is of the utmost importance. Psalm 90:12, Ephesians 5:15-17
A GOOD MAN IS FAITHFUL - Micah 6:8
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
From the beginning God has wanted the things mentioned in this verse to be true of his followers. These are good things that make a good man or woman. They don't save a person, only faith in Christ does that. But these things found in a believer will please God. And notice each one of these things is not something to be done sporadically, but continually and consistently over a lifetime.
· DO JUSTLY
The believer should do whatever is right.
If it's in business or work, a believer should have ethics that all his business dealings are above board.
If it's in the neighborhood, a believer should have the reputation of doing what's right, even if it hurts financially.
If it's in the home, Mom or Dad should have the reputation with their kids of doing what is right. In fact it is better for a parent to change his or her mind, rather than not do what is right.
· LOVE MERCY
Some of the toughest people in the world can show mercy once in awhile. And some can show mercy in a grudging sort of way.
However we are to love mercy. And to love mercy means that we want to show kindness to people who may or may not deserve it.
In Psalm 136 there is a phrase referring to God is repeated in every verse, and his mercy endureth forever. If this is the character of our God, let us endeavor to show mercy to people whenever we can.
· WALK HUMBLY WITH GOD
There are many great men in the Bible, but two that stick out in my mind are Enoch and Noah. They had something in common.
They walked with God.
To me, walking humbly with God means that I know that I need God's guidance.
Walking humbly with God means that I know that I need God's help.
Walking humbly with God means that I know that I need God's fellowship.
A GOOD MAN IS FRUITFUL - Luke 6:45
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
The words that come out a person's mouth are fruit of sorts.
It can be good fruit or bad.
A good person has good words proceeding out his mouth. Proverbs 10:19, 15:1-2, 25:11-12, Ephesians 4:29
What comes out of the mouth is an indication of what is in the heart. So if we are going to have fruitful coming out of the mouth we must watch the heart!
Proverbs 4:23 - Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
The good news is as I keep my heart under the control of the Holy Spirit what is coming out of lips will be fruitful.
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2 CORINTHIANS 5:8-11a – LOOKING AHEAD
WE ARE CONFIDENT
Vs. 8 - We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
WE ARE CONCERNED
Vs. 9 - Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
WE ARE COGNIZANT (AWARE)
Vs. 10 - For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
We know that we must all appear before the “Judgment Seat of Christ”.
WE ARE COMPASSIONATE
Vs. 11a - Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men;
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ETERNALLY HIS – REVELATION 21-22
THE BACK OF THE BOOK #19 (REVELATION) (Last Lesson)
“The subject of eternity piques people’s interest as no other theme in Scripture. People intuitively know that there is a more fulfilling existence beyond this life because the transitory events on earth do not satisfy. But to affirm the reality of eternity requires, not intuitive speculation, but a source that transcends mankind itself. God has affirmed throughout Scripture that all believers will live forever. In the last two chapters of Revelation God provides mankind with an overview of what eternity will be like.” David Levy, Revelation: Hearing The Last Word, (Bellmawr, NJ, The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, Inc. 1999), p. 252
The Millennial reign of Christ is described in Revelation 20, as well as the final rebellion against God led by Satan and the “Great White Throne Judgment” of the resurrected unsaved dead. Now our text directs us to the last period of time, the Eternal State, where those of us who are saved will be eternally His!
PLACE – 21:1-2
PROCLAMATION – 21:3-8
PREVIEW – 21:9-21
PREEMINENCE – 21:22-23
PEACE – 21:24-27
PARADISE – 22:1-5
We will reign with God for all eternity! Hallelujah!