Do you realize, now that it’s August - summer is essentially 2/3 over & done?
Have you done all you need to do this summer?
Will you do all you want to do this summer? Hardly!
-the days are getting longer, & we’re going to soon see colored leaves
& time just seems to march along at a steady pace
-life is expiring -
-whether you are in the stage of counting off grades in school
-whether you are in the stage of counting more grey hair
-or less hair of any color
-whether you are in the stage of counting more spots & wrinkles
-whether you are in the stage of counting grandchildren
-or great-grandchildren
-life is expiring
-& not only is life showing signs of winding down
-history itself is declaring that there will be an end
-there are global environmental concerns - that could end this world
-there are global political conflicts - that could end this world
-there are even economical & resource limitations - adding to the mix
-now, we can envision overcoming these issues
-but from what we know from predictions in Bible prophecy
-this world has limited time left
Mark 13:28-31
"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 29 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door.
What things happening?
Jesus had been teaching His disciples:
Mark 13:5-8
Jesus said to them: "Watch out that no one deceives you. 6 Many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and will deceive many. 7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 8 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.
I don’t know how far along we are in the labor & birthing process
-as Jesus describes it, of the end times
-we have plenty of wars & rumors of war, & nations are against nations
-we have had plenty of natural catastrophes - as Jesus said would happen
Has labor begun for this world to birth the end times?
The end has still to come - but all this reminds us, there is an end
-& the more we see things happening,
-like North Korea building up nuclear weapons
-& selling them to possible terrorist nations
-like Iran, threatening to destroy & eliminate Israel
-& the leader who threatened, or promised to do this
-has just been re-elected
-learn a lesson from the fig tree - know that the end is near - right at the door
-& even if it’s a long time off compared to our lives
-well, even then, you know your life isn’t that long
We think of things being here tomorrow
-we have a nice church, nice homes, nice hunting camps,
-a nice school, hospital, or business where you work
-maybe, you have a nice car or truck
-it all could be gone tomorrow - or a few years
-it will all be gone in enough years from now
-so that at some point, people will not even know you
-or your wonderful things ever even existed
People were marveling at the wonderful, grand temple
Mark 13:1-2
As he was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!"
2 "Do you see all these great buildings?" replied Jesus. "Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down."
All these wonderful things that we live our lives for, will fall apart with time
-our lives fall apart
-our world will fall apart
-time marches on
-the only thing that will last is the Word of God
Mark 13:28-31
"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 29 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. 30 I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
Permanence, is only found in the Word of God
Everything else is temporary & time is a reminder that it is
So, what should we do with our time?
How should we spend this precious commodity - our seasons?
The only thing of lasting value, is God’s Word
-which contains God’s plans & God’s program for our lives
-God’s Word contains directions for what’s best & eternally valuable for us
-as we follow what’s in the Bible & we follow God’s plan for our lives
-we’re able to tie into something of lasting value - & eternity
But, the problem that we all tend to have
-is we live our own lives - indifferent to God’s plans
-time goes on & we neglect God’s directions & purpose for our lives
e.g. How many of you wake up to an alarm clock - at least sometimes?
What happens if you don’t set your alarm when you go to sleep?
-you’re likely to miss something important
-you’ll sleep through an important deadline - or be late for work
-people will come to your house, maybe, & you’ll be sleeping!
-there are times where you need to be awake & alert
Well, Jesus is getting us to wake up ourselves
& be ready for the passage of time
-time is running out - our lives are running out
-frankly, you don’t know what you have left for life or for this world
Mark 13:26-37
"At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.
28 "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 29 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. 30 I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
32 "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. 34 It's like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.
35 "Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back — whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!'"
Jesus encourages us to “keep watch”
-when things grind to a close for our lives or for this world
-we don’t want to be sleeping
-& I’d say, the message is - we don’t want to spend any of our time
-between now & the end, sleeping - of course - spiritually sleeping
What does it mean to be spiritually asleep?
-I really want you to try to answer that for yourself
What did Jesus mean here - 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping.
What do you think spiritual sleep is? What would it be for you?
-Jesus is here talking about being a servant & keeping watch
-rather than sleeping
-are we actively serving Christ?
-are we watching for Christ - are we looking forward to His return?
-to any extent that we aren’t - we’re sleeping
Since the Word of God is the only thing that’s permanent
-we need to actively stay connected to it
-are you regularly having a quiet time of prayer & Bible study?
-if you don’t have that time regularly, you’re sleeping
For further considerations of what it means to be spiritually awake
& not asleep - look at Romans 13:
Romans 13:11-14
And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
The time has come - the time is now to serve the Lord & live for Him!
-it’s not sometime in the future
You could say, being awake for the Lord, is having our view on eternity
-having salvation in view - our salvation is nearer - the return of Jesus
-living for God with our motivation & perspective - being the Lord
-we need to be alert to the things of the Lord - rather than this world
-we need to focus on living for eternity
-that’s watching for Christ
Another way of sleeping, is when we are living for sin
-living for the ways of the world & the ways of our sin nature
-that is spiritual sleep
-if your motivation for living is to please your sinful desires
-if your motivation for living is for this current world
-you’re not awake!
Realize - it’s time to get up spiritually!
It’s time right now - to live for & to live entirely for the Lord
-in service to the Lord
-in living as you’re excited for Him to return
-because you are living for His Word & eternity - rather then this world
1 Thessalonians 5:4-11
But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
So, what does it mean for you, to be spiritually sleeping?
Are you doing what God calls you to do as for service?
Are you looking forward to His return?
Are you calling on the Holy Spirit & His Word
-to give you strength to be self-controlled against the sin nature?
Are you regularly communicating with the Lord?
Are you in fellowship with God everyday?
Are you in fellowship with God’s people?
And, it’s good to ask this of our church as well
Are we as a church, really awake?
Are we watching & seeking to be ready for the Lord?
Are we serving the Lord?
Or, are we just maintaining the status quo & getting by from week to week
Jesus explained that we’re to be light to this dark world
How bright are we?
How bright is the RCBC to this community that we are suppose to serve?
We need to be challenged to wake up!
Ephesians 5:8-16
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:
"Wake up, O sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you."
15 Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
I don’t want to rush the season - but we do have to look ahead
Sometimes, we need to put on the alarm so we wake up in time
-that’s what we’re trying to do this morning
August has started - a lot of things come to a slow down in the summer
-but in just a month, a new season is upon us
-let’s be awake as people of God
-let’s be awake as a church serving the Lord
There are some important considerations in what this all entails for all of us
-as individuals & as a church
-& as far as our church is concerned, I’d like to invite you to consider
-how will you be involved in the Lord’s work here at the RCBC this fall?
-there will be an opportunity for you
-for everyone who’s willing to wake up
& to be actively serving the Lord
-from AWANA to the nursery
-from a men’s or women’s Bible study to a home group
-from being an usher to working on the computer or sound
-from Children’s church & Sunday School to the music ministry
-from cleaning & grounds, to serving in a hostess ministry
Where will you serve?
In these days ahead - let’s consider what & how we serve God
Let’s take stock of our urgency of the times
Today, now, is the right time to be ready for Jesus to return!
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