Are You or Aren’t You?

Are You or Aren’t You?

Luke 12:35-59

-Today, Jesus presents the truth of His future 2^nd coming and draws the line between those who are ready for that 2^nd coming and those who aren’t. 

I. A of the Journey (Luke 12:35-40)

A. 3 Calls to Action (35-36):

–Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their LORD, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.

• Get for the Journey – Prepare (Luke 12:35a) –Let your loins be girded about

*The Christian life starts by personally accepting the free gift of justification once and for all…that’s the ONLY way to get dressed for journey!

• Keep Busy on the Journey – Work (Luke 12:35b) –and [let] your lights [be] burning

-A servant stays busy with the Master’s instructions…are you busy with our Savior’s mission for you? Do know what it is?

• Travel like an Servant – Wait (Luke 12:36) –And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their LORD, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.

-To know God is to wait for Him in everything!

B. Result of Faithful Traveling (Luke 12:37-38)

-Blessed are those servants, whom the LORD when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

*The Master will actually come and the faithful servant.

-Turning to Christ meets every need we can conceive of!

C. for Your Journeying (Luke 12:39-40)

-And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

*Travel this journey until the Savior returns.

II. Specifics of the Journey (Luke 12:41-48)

-The concept Jesus focuses upon:

-We see at least 4 things about a person who is faithfully waiting for the return of His Master:

A. Ministers the Word (Luke 12:41-44)

–Then Peter said unto him, LORD, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all? And the LORD said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his LORD shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his LORD when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.

-Just as a steward was to make sure people in the house were fed, so are we given the task of people with the Word of God.

-A wise steward looks to make good use of God’s Word in his relationship because he realizes the Master has entrusted those relationships to Him.

B. for People (Luke 12:45)

–But and if that servant say in his heart, My LORD delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;

-A Christ-following steward cares for the needs of the people around him/her.

-Waiting for the return of Christ means loving those He’s placed in your path along the journey.

C. Determines Authenticity (Luke 12:46)

–The LORD of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

-A life that never ministers God’s Word and never cares for people reveals that that one was never truly enlisted in the stewardship of the Master…not truly a child of God….never even knew the Master and His plan for a servant.

D. Avoids of (Luke 12:47-48)

–And that servant, which knew his LORD’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

-Be careful of neglecting what God has given to you as a steward of His ministry (feeding people with his Word and caring for their needs)

III. Distinctions About the Journey (Luke 12:49-59)

A. All Must (Luke 12:49-53)

-I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

-Jesus came with a very specific message of only ONE way to reconciled to God and all must choose individually whether they will accept that gift God’s way or not.

B. Wisdom Derails (Luke 12:54-56)

-And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is. And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass. Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?

-Man loves to have things figured out, but it takes faith to trust the Gospel…human reasoning without a faith response will derail every single time!

C. Your Case Must Be (Luke 12:57-59)

-Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right? When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison. I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.

-Jesus is pointing out that we all have a case against us that we’re all guilty of (sin) and unless it’s settled, we’ll have to pay for all of eternity.

*It was settled at the !

-Payment was made in full by Jesus Christ and simply must be accepted on a personal, individual level.