1 00:00:03,440 --> 00:00:14,420 I invite you to turn with me to the Gospel Mark chapter 13, Mark 2 00:00:14,420 --> 00:00:17,460 13, and please place your finger there. 3 00:00:17,460 --> 00:00:25,620 Verse 33 if you want a little insight of what a preacher has 4 00:00:25,620 --> 00:00:29,860 to go through every week. Yes, he has to prepare and 5 00:00:29,860 --> 00:00:34,100 ensure that the text that he is dealing with is faithfully 6 00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:38,040 interpreted and faithfully and faithfully applied. 7 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:42,320 But more than that, that same preacher has to seek God for 8 00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:48,200 power, see God for power from on high, to help communicate that 9 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:56,960 truth, for it to be transformed from a lesson to a heavenly 10 00:00:56,960 --> 00:01:02,960 empowered exhortation. And so if you've ever shared 11 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:08,200 something, perhaps you felt that dependency on God, the need for 12 00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:11,960 Him to come through, for you to disappear, and for those that 13 00:01:11,960 --> 00:01:13,960 you stand before to see Christ alone. 14 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:18,000 And I ask you to join with me to seek God for that help from the 15 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:19,880 Holy Spirit. Can we do that? 16 00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:23,680 Lord? We do ask for real power that 17 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:28,320 You would subdue any distraction, any walls that have 18 00:01:28,320 --> 00:01:32,840 been built that would resist the truth capturing our hearts 19 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:36,920 completely. Lord, we know that no matter 20 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:40,280 what man does in his strength, it will be to no avail unless 21 00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:43,520 the Holy Spirit blesses it. So we do ask for the Holy 22 00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:46,120 Spirit's help. And we do ask, oh Lord, that 23 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:49,560 joy, encouragement, conviction, whatever is needed in every 24 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:52,920 heart here, You know the hearts of all men would be delivered 25 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:57,280 faithfully and powerfully. And so even at this time, may we 26 00:01:57,280 --> 00:02:01,800 hear you and You alone, and may our hearts see you and You 27 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:04,040 alone. In Jesus name we pray. 28 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:08,560 Amen. Mark 13 and let's begin actually 29 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:13,960 in verse 32, but our main focus will be verse 33 to verse 37. 30 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:19,080 But now concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not 31 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:22,480 even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 32 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:27,800 Be on guard, keep awake, for you do not know when the time will 33 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:30,240 come. It is like a man going on a 34 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:33,640 journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, 35 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:37,520 each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. 36 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:40,600 Therefore stay awake. For you do not know when the 37 00:02:40,600 --> 00:02:44,600 master of the house will come in the evening, or at midnight, or 38 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:47,560 when the rooster crows, or in the morning, lest he come 39 00:02:47,560 --> 00:02:51,840 suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you, I say to 40 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:56,680 all, stay awake. After explaining the rising 41 00:02:56,840 --> 00:03:01,080 calamities and devastations and deceptions and persecutions and 42 00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:05,200 tribulations that will pave the way for the coming of the King, 43 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:10,120 and after depicting the exact moment of the return of Christ, 44 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:14,760 the Lord Jesus concludes his thoughts, this discourse with a 45 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:19,560 strong and urgent appeal. We look here at verse 37 and 46 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:22,320 realize that what he says to these disciples, he's intending 47 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:27,040 to say to all to all people of all time who take heed to his 48 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:29,800 word. You see here Christ teaching 49 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:33,080 about the last days is not meant to simply clarify any 50 00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:35,880 misunderstandings or to sharpen your conception of the 51 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:37,840 culminating events of human history. 52 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:41,400 Obviously, what Christ is intending to do with this 53 00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:45,200 teaching is to sober us and strengthen us spiritually. 54 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:50,920 And that is why in a in a, in a brief segment of verses Christ 55 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:56,920 and rapid fire succession here is wrapping up everything with 56 00:03:56,920 --> 00:04:02,160 the repeated command to stay awake, stay awake, keep awake, 57 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:07,480 stay awake, stay awake. And that's how the ESV renders 58 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:09,000 it. But in other translations it 59 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:12,760 would be the repeated word watch or keep on alert. 60 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:16,120 This is what he wants us to do. This is the main application of 61 00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:18,519 the past few weeks. What you're supposed to take 62 00:04:18,519 --> 00:04:20,920 away from this, practically, is this very statement. 63 00:04:21,200 --> 00:04:24,760 Stay awake. But before we delve into these 64 00:04:24,760 --> 00:04:27,200 verses, it's important to clarify what the Lord means by 65 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:30,560 that statement. Obviously, Christ is not 66 00:04:30,560 --> 00:04:34,680 contending for physical consciousness uninterrupted. 67 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:40,760 What He is demanding, though, is our maintenance of a vigorous 68 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:46,160 and vigilant spiritual life. The opposite of being 69 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:50,480 spiritually awake is what? Being spiritually asleep, right? 70 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:55,040 And that condition, being asleep, is something that the 71 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:59,400 New Testament frequently warns about more than one place. 72 00:04:59,680 --> 00:05:02,000 You see it sprinkled throughout the epistles. 73 00:05:03,840 --> 00:05:06,280 And at this point you might be wondering, well then what's the 74 00:05:06,280 --> 00:05:09,880 difference? How do I know if I am 75 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:12,840 spiritually awake versus being spiritually asleep? 76 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:16,840 You might be wondering, what does that look like? 77 00:05:16,840 --> 00:05:19,640 You might be wondering what are the practical evidences of it, 78 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:22,680 and we're going to get the clarification throughout this 79 00:05:22,680 --> 00:05:25,400 message. But if I can offer a basic 80 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:29,640 understanding of it, to be spiritually asleep is synonymous 81 00:05:29,640 --> 00:05:34,240 with being spiritually inactive or unresponsive. 82 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:38,760 We all know what physical sleep does. 83 00:05:39,280 --> 00:05:43,560 Somebody who is in slumber isn't participating in anything. 84 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:49,200 Somebody who's asleep isn't aware of their environment, and 85 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:51,960 so it is with the one who is spiritually asleep. 86 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:55,560 They're dormant. There's no activity, there's no 87 00:05:55,560 --> 00:06:00,880 pulse, there's no engagement. And so it is one who is 88 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:03,880 sluggish, one who is unconcerned about matters that they are 89 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:07,440 called to attend to. And if that's the case, for 90 00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:10,360 someone who's spiritually asleep, then to be spiritually 91 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:15,560 awake, to stay awake, is the positive opposite, that you are 92 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:19,160 active, that you are engaged, that you are in touch, that you 93 00:06:19,200 --> 00:06:22,440 are aware and the very things that God has called you to. 94 00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:27,520 Now, if you're like me, then you would do this. 95 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:29,400 I'm sure that if you know that there is an important 96 00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:31,320 appointment that you have to meet the next day, then you 97 00:06:31,320 --> 00:06:33,960 might ask a family member to ensure that you wake up by a 98 00:06:33,960 --> 00:06:36,360 certain time. You don't even want to trust 99 00:06:36,360 --> 00:06:40,040 your alarm clock. And though being awakened from 100 00:06:40,040 --> 00:06:42,880 that sleep may not be the most pleasant experience, you 101 00:06:42,880 --> 00:06:46,640 appreciate the one who was faithful enough to shake you out 102 00:06:46,640 --> 00:06:49,880 of your slumber. So today, I want you to view me 103 00:06:49,880 --> 00:06:53,520 in that matter. I want you to see me as somebody 104 00:06:53,520 --> 00:07:01,280 who loves you and is willing to disturb you for no other reason 105 00:07:01,280 --> 00:07:04,080 other than to ensure that if you have come to this place, or if 106 00:07:04,080 --> 00:07:06,840 you have been spiritually asleep, that you won't sleepwalk 107 00:07:06,840 --> 00:07:12,400 out of the same room. And this message in particular, 108 00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:16,160 I'm going to be assigned the role of an alarm clock. 109 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:22,480 And it's up to you if you hit the snooze button, it's up to 110 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:23,680 you. If you want to ignore my 111 00:07:23,680 --> 00:07:28,280 efforts, that's OK, because I want to be at rest knowing that 112 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:34,760 I did my part by God's grace and power to help open some eyes and 113 00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:39,160 for others to help them stay awake and to avoid drifting into 114 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:40,520 a place where they don't want to be. 115 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:44,800 And I'm going to attempt to do that this afternoon that we are 116 00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:48,160 breaking bread to give you at least two reasons why being 117 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:52,200 spiritually awake and staying awake is not optional. 118 00:07:52,680 --> 00:07:55,840 It's absolutely crucial. So if you can remember these two 119 00:07:55,840 --> 00:08:02,400 points, you'll be OK. The first reason why staying 120 00:08:02,400 --> 00:08:05,480 awake spiritually is important is because you and I are prone 121 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:10,280 to drift into spiritual sleep. Come back with me here and look 122 00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:16,960 at verse 33. Jesus says be on guard, keep 123 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:19,640 awake for you do not know when the time will come. 124 00:08:19,640 --> 00:08:23,480 Notice that he begins his verse with be on guard and he connects 125 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:28,040 that discipline to being awake. Now the question is be on guard 126 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:31,280 for what exactly? If you're telling me to to 127 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:34,640 occupy a post and to look out for something or to be vigilant 128 00:08:34,919 --> 00:08:37,520 about something, what am I looking for? 129 00:08:38,039 --> 00:08:40,600 What am I to monitor? What am I to supervise? 130 00:08:41,240 --> 00:08:43,880 And it's not until you go to Luke's account of the very same 131 00:08:43,880 --> 00:08:45,880 teaching where you get the insight. 132 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:49,480 So look at Luke 21, the very same account, though with 133 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:52,000 different insight and details that help make this more 134 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:54,760 complete. Luke 21 in your Bibles in verse 135 00:08:54,760 --> 00:08:57,480 34. Here's the parallel teaching 136 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:05,600 from Luke's vantage point. Luke 2134 reads But watch who? 137 00:09:06,760 --> 00:09:12,000 What? But watch yourselves, but watch 138 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:15,400 yourselves, lest your heart be weighed down with dissipation 139 00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:19,800 and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that they come 140 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:23,640 upon you suddenly like a trap, for it will come upon all who 141 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:25,600 dwell on the face of the whole earth. 142 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:30,480 So when Mark says be on guard, Luke completes it by saying what 143 00:09:30,480 --> 00:09:37,360 you're watching for is yourself, which means that the greatest 144 00:09:37,360 --> 00:09:41,320 threat to your spiritual health is you. 145 00:09:43,760 --> 00:09:47,360 There are other threats, but the most prominent one is yourself. 146 00:09:49,080 --> 00:09:55,560 So there must be an effort because according to Jesus, our 147 00:09:55,560 --> 00:09:58,520 disposition is not to be careful about our inner man, but to be 148 00:09:58,520 --> 00:10:03,200 careless. So then there's a call for you 149 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:08,680 and I to again watch and be consistently aware of what are, 150 00:10:08,680 --> 00:10:13,120 what are the interactivities going on here in my bosom, in my 151 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:16,520 mind? What's my spiritual diet like? 152 00:10:17,760 --> 00:10:20,880 What kind of environments do I place myself in? 153 00:10:21,680 --> 00:10:24,040 What kind of things are influencing me for the better or 154 00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:29,000 for the worse? Jesus says be on guard, don't be 155 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:33,440 mindless, don't be careless. And notice that the Lord 156 00:10:33,440 --> 00:10:39,080 highlights some examples of what someone who fails to be on guard 157 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:42,120 to stay awake will eventually be overtaken by. 158 00:10:42,120 --> 00:10:45,440 He names three things according to Luke's version. 159 00:10:46,040 --> 00:10:49,120 The first thing is dissipation, right? 160 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:52,320 Be on guard, watch yourselves. Let's your hearts be weighed 161 00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:59,880 down with dissipation #2 drunkenness #3 the cares of this 162 00:10:59,880 --> 00:11:04,360 life. He's talking to Christians, He's 163 00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:06,360 talking to believers. Yes, he's talking to all people, 164 00:11:06,600 --> 00:11:10,280 but including his disciples. And so you can pair the first 165 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:12,320 two things together, dissipation and drunkenness. 166 00:11:12,320 --> 00:11:15,520 What's the dissipation? It's when you get a headache, 167 00:11:15,520 --> 00:11:18,320 when you get dizzy because of intoxicated intoxication. 168 00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:23,520 You could say it's a hangover. And here's the main point. 169 00:11:24,360 --> 00:11:26,920 Jesus is saying if you're not on guard, if you're not going to 170 00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:29,400 watch yourself, your heart can be weighed down by dissipation 171 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:31,800 and drunkenness. Meaning you know you are 172 00:11:31,800 --> 00:11:35,920 spiritually asleep when you pursue illegitimate pleasures 173 00:11:37,880 --> 00:11:42,960 like substances that impair your judgment, substances that make 174 00:11:42,960 --> 00:11:48,280 you lose control when you chase a high that is not permitted by 175 00:11:48,280 --> 00:11:50,760 God. And you know you are not awake 176 00:11:50,760 --> 00:11:55,240 when you crave and begin to indulge in activities that not 177 00:11:55,240 --> 00:11:57,840 only harm your body but end up harming your testimony. 178 00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:01,120 I'll never forget the time I preached at a conference many 179 00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:04,880 years ago and a young man came up to me and he came to me 180 00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:10,120 sheepishly and he heard a strong message that night and he 181 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:12,520 confessed that he was struggling to come back to the Lord. 182 00:12:12,520 --> 00:12:14,920 He knew the Lord all his life, but he was in the the worst 183 00:12:14,920 --> 00:12:16,760 place. He admitted. 184 00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:19,160 And I said, what's the main thing? 185 00:12:19,160 --> 00:12:21,520 What's holding you back from walking with the Lord 186 00:12:21,560 --> 00:12:25,800 wholeheartedly again? And he said, I'm bound by weed, 187 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:28,600 man. I, I can't, I can't live without 188 00:12:28,600 --> 00:12:30,680 a high. I can't function without it. 189 00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:36,520 It's such a part of my life. And when I began to probe and 190 00:12:36,520 --> 00:12:38,560 asked more, I says, well, where did this begin for you? 191 00:12:39,040 --> 00:12:40,920 How did this door even open up for you? 192 00:12:40,920 --> 00:12:43,720 And he told me this. He says, well, it was when I 193 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:46,640 began to hang out with some of the members of my church, 194 00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:50,440 specifically people on the worship team, because they used 195 00:12:50,440 --> 00:12:52,120 to get drunk and high all the time. 196 00:12:53,400 --> 00:12:54,880 And that's where it started for me. 197 00:12:55,920 --> 00:12:58,120 So don't think what Jesus is speaking about here concerning 198 00:12:58,120 --> 00:13:01,640 dissipation and drunkenness is irrelevant to the church. 199 00:13:02,360 --> 00:13:04,120 It is very relevant to Christendom. 200 00:13:05,720 --> 00:13:08,520 And so there's that guy that I explained to you who's bound in 201 00:13:08,520 --> 00:13:09,840 shackles. I don't know if he ever even got 202 00:13:09,840 --> 00:13:13,160 free. But let's not limit this to 203 00:13:13,160 --> 00:13:15,360 drunkenness either, because Christ is obviously giving us 204 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:17,120 one example. But it's speaking about sin 205 00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:22,320 altogether because like many truths in the Gospels, you find 206 00:13:22,320 --> 00:13:25,800 in the epistles, but expanded. And so you're there in Luke 21. 207 00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:28,400 Place your hand there. But go to Romans chapter 13 and 208 00:13:28,400 --> 00:13:31,280 look at verse 11 and you're going to see the same theme 209 00:13:31,280 --> 00:13:35,000 about sleep and how that's synonymous with spiritual 210 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:39,360 lethargy. And not just spiritual lethargy, 211 00:13:39,760 --> 00:13:48,400 but sinfulness. Romans 13 verse 11 Paul writes 212 00:13:48,400 --> 00:13:53,240 besides this, you know the time that the hour has come for you 213 00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:57,480 to wake from sleep. He's echoing Jesus, the hour has 214 00:13:57,480 --> 00:14:02,040 come for you to wake from sleep for salvation is near to us now 215 00:14:02,040 --> 00:14:05,240 than when we first believed. Now keep that in mind. 216 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:07,840 He's he's still speaking about being asleep and awakening from 217 00:14:07,840 --> 00:14:10,080 sleep. And in verse 12, the night is 218 00:14:10,080 --> 00:14:13,120 far gone. The day is at hand. 219 00:14:13,560 --> 00:14:16,640 So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the 220 00:14:16,640 --> 00:14:19,440 armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the 221 00:14:19,440 --> 00:14:24,120 daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual 222 00:14:24,120 --> 00:14:29,880 immorality and sensuality, not in quarrelling and jealousy. 223 00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:34,160 So again, we're we're still bound to that same theme. 224 00:14:34,640 --> 00:14:38,480 Wake up from sleep and Paul describes what it looks like 225 00:14:38,480 --> 00:14:42,560 when you are spiritually asleep. He brings up orgies and 226 00:14:42,560 --> 00:14:45,880 drunkenness, sexual morality and sensuality. 227 00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:49,000 Here's what shocks me. He connects these things that 228 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:52,840 are blatant and obvious and offensive with not quarreling, 229 00:14:52,840 --> 00:14:54,600 check this out. And jealousy. 230 00:14:57,160 --> 00:14:58,880 So what's the larger picture here? 231 00:14:58,880 --> 00:15:01,200 For the church? It's this. 232 00:15:01,920 --> 00:15:04,680 If I find myself no longer concerned about personal 233 00:15:04,680 --> 00:15:07,440 holiness. If I find myself in a place 234 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:14,040 continually seeking, not seeking, God to purify my heart 235 00:15:14,040 --> 00:15:14,840 and my motives. If. 236 00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:19,960 If I'm no longer mindful about my attitude towards believers 237 00:15:20,320 --> 00:15:21,920 and even unbelievers, I'm asleep. 238 00:15:22,760 --> 00:15:25,960 I'm asleep, I'm just drifting with the wind. 239 00:15:25,960 --> 00:15:28,960 If I'm just going wherever the day takes me and I'm not 240 00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:32,040 missional anymore and I'm not examining anymore. 241 00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:35,160 And of course, we're not speaking about intense 242 00:15:35,160 --> 00:15:41,720 introspection where you torture yourself, but your desires, your 243 00:15:41,720 --> 00:15:45,520 longings, your sense of sanctification. 244 00:15:45,520 --> 00:15:48,160 When you're asleep, you put your sanctification on the shelf. 245 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:54,040 And that's not the only thing that Jesus tells us can lull, 246 00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:58,120 lull us into a comatose state. Go back to Luke 21. 247 00:15:58,120 --> 00:16:00,000 What did he say? Yeah, he mentioned dissipation 248 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:03,200 and drunkenness. This is where it might hit home. 249 00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:05,720 Remember, on the alarm clock, don't hit snooze. 250 00:16:07,920 --> 00:16:14,360 Don't hit snooze on me, please. He highlights the cares of this 251 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:19,360 life. You, some of you might never sip 252 00:16:20,640 --> 00:16:26,120 any alcohol, but you might be drunk with the anxieties of this 253 00:16:26,120 --> 00:16:31,360 life. He certainly, by mentioning the 254 00:16:31,360 --> 00:16:34,880 cares of this life, is not denoting anything inherently 255 00:16:34,880 --> 00:16:39,320 sinful. He underscores things that the 256 00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:46,800 average person worries about. Money, clothes, food. 257 00:16:48,240 --> 00:16:49,400 Where am I going to go to school? 258 00:16:50,320 --> 00:16:51,800 How am I going to finish this schooling? 259 00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:56,440 Activities for the children, jobs, the economy, investments, 260 00:16:56,600 --> 00:17:02,480 safety, extracurricular activities, travels. 261 00:17:03,640 --> 00:17:07,240 It's not that the Lord denounces us for being engaged or even 262 00:17:07,240 --> 00:17:10,119 strategic about these things, but he warns that if you don't 263 00:17:10,119 --> 00:17:15,079 want yourself, if you're not on guard, these cares can choke 264 00:17:15,079 --> 00:17:18,359 you. And what they do is they 265 00:17:18,359 --> 00:17:21,000 suffocate you to the degree that you have nothing left, no 266 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:25,240 energy, no resources, nor time for any matter concerning the 267 00:17:25,240 --> 00:17:29,840 Kingdom of God. Because you see, the tricky part 268 00:17:29,840 --> 00:17:32,240 about these concerns is that we look around us and we see 269 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:35,160 everybody else involved with them and caught up in them. 270 00:17:35,400 --> 00:17:37,760 And we learned that they are unavoidable realities to our 271 00:17:37,760 --> 00:17:44,080 day-to-day life, and we end our end up underestimating how 272 00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:46,080 dangerous it is to get caught up in them. 273 00:17:46,840 --> 00:17:49,720 So here's what you have to remember as you plow through 274 00:17:49,720 --> 00:17:54,000 your life, as you plan your life, as you desire to enjoy 275 00:17:54,000 --> 00:18:00,240 life. You're a Christian, you're a 276 00:18:00,240 --> 00:18:05,720 follower of Jesus Christ. Your marching orders come from 277 00:18:05,720 --> 00:18:09,840 heaven. You live with eternity and view, 278 00:18:12,360 --> 00:18:15,840 and if you don't watch that, if you don't keep that in the 279 00:18:15,840 --> 00:18:19,960 forefront of your mind, very quickly you can make even such 280 00:18:19,960 --> 00:18:24,520 commands as this suggestive and optional, not central and 281 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:30,400 primary. So if you find yourself pulling 282 00:18:30,400 --> 00:18:35,240 away from the church, distancing yourself from the Word of God, 283 00:18:36,320 --> 00:18:39,160 no no longer visiting the presence of the Lord in the 284 00:18:39,160 --> 00:18:47,160 place of prayer, you may call it busyness, but you are falling 285 00:18:47,160 --> 00:18:49,320 asleep at the wheel and not even realizing it. 286 00:18:52,320 --> 00:18:55,520 And that's the main part of this message really, is that it 287 00:18:55,520 --> 00:18:59,760 doesn't take much for us to come to this point. 288 00:19:00,360 --> 00:19:03,640 It doesn't take an ungodly adulterous relationship. 289 00:19:04,800 --> 00:19:07,760 It doesn't really even take a major promotion. 290 00:19:08,920 --> 00:19:13,000 It doesn't require a past addiction to resurface. 291 00:19:13,600 --> 00:19:16,120 The cares of this life can do the job. 292 00:19:18,520 --> 00:19:23,000 I remember meeting somebody. I forgot when, but I'll never 293 00:19:23,000 --> 00:19:25,440 forget the conversation. And this came to mind when I was 294 00:19:25,440 --> 00:19:27,120 studying this past. He worked, he did his 295 00:19:27,120 --> 00:19:30,440 day-to-day, 9:00 to 5:00. But man, this guy tried to find 296 00:19:30,440 --> 00:19:32,720 a way to stay connected to Lord and he found one way. 297 00:19:33,440 --> 00:19:35,840 He kept his Bible in his car and he put it in a passenger seat. 298 00:19:35,840 --> 00:19:38,080 Whenever he hit a red light, he opened his Bible and read it, 299 00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:41,080 and then he waited till the next light and it came to a red light 300 00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:42,160 again. He would hope I would read where 301 00:19:42,160 --> 00:19:45,160 he first left off. Now there are things called 302 00:19:45,160 --> 00:19:48,600 audiobooks, so you don't need to do that and I'm not suggesting 303 00:19:48,600 --> 00:19:55,880 that, but just to give you a little idea of someone who 304 00:19:55,880 --> 00:19:58,400 understands that yes, there are things that I have to do in 305 00:19:58,400 --> 00:20:01,240 life, but I can do them with Christ. 306 00:20:01,240 --> 00:20:05,240 I must do them with Christ. I can never afford to stop 307 00:20:05,240 --> 00:20:08,720 walking with Him. I can never allow the things in 308 00:20:08,720 --> 00:20:11,160 this life to take me away from Him. 309 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:17,800 So Jesus tells us that it's very possible to be overtaken by even 310 00:20:17,800 --> 00:20:20,080 the cares of this life and to fall asleep because of it. 311 00:20:21,760 --> 00:20:23,600 How do I know if I'm spiritually awake? 312 00:20:23,600 --> 00:20:25,440 Then? How do I know with all the 313 00:20:25,440 --> 00:20:27,840 things that I am called to do and all the responsibilities and 314 00:20:27,840 --> 00:20:29,880 all the How do I know if I'm in the right place? 315 00:20:30,560 --> 00:20:36,880 While the Lord gives us answers at least two major ways, and one 316 00:20:36,880 --> 00:20:39,560 is found here in the very same passage in Luke, Look at Luke 317 00:20:39,560 --> 00:20:47,800 21, verse 36. But stay awake at all times, 318 00:20:48,440 --> 00:20:53,600 praying that you may have strength to escape all these 319 00:20:53,600 --> 00:20:56,320 things that are going to take place and to stand before the 320 00:20:56,320 --> 00:21:00,160 Son of Man. What does Christ expect of us if 321 00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:05,600 we are people who are awake? You're praying, you're praying, 322 00:21:06,880 --> 00:21:11,280 You're praying because you have this awesome revelation that you 323 00:21:11,280 --> 00:21:15,520 need His strength, that you depend on Him. 324 00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:21,680 And so you seek Him continually. You draw from His power, you 325 00:21:21,680 --> 00:21:27,840 inquire of Him, you include Him. So notice that Christ is 326 00:21:27,840 --> 00:21:30,880 attaching staying awake with praying. 327 00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:33,960 So how do I know if I'm spiritually awake? 328 00:21:33,960 --> 00:21:36,160 I don't know if I'm staying awake to the degree that you are 329 00:21:36,160 --> 00:21:39,520 praying. If you are weakening in prayer, 330 00:21:39,560 --> 00:21:42,400 you are falling asleep. If you have ceased to pray 331 00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:44,800 completely, you are sound asleep. 332 00:21:46,760 --> 00:21:49,360 Yes, you're busy. Yes, you're physically awake. 333 00:21:49,360 --> 00:21:51,880 Yes, you have all these things to accomplish, but spiritually 334 00:21:51,880 --> 00:21:58,160 speaking, you're sleeping. That's not the only thing that 335 00:21:58,160 --> 00:22:02,040 Christ highlights concerning what it means to be spiritually. 336 00:22:02,040 --> 00:22:06,600 We have to go back to our main text on Mark 13, Mark 13, verse 337 00:22:06,600 --> 00:22:12,960 33 and 34. Again, when there is no more 338 00:22:12,960 --> 00:22:14,640 personal communion with the Lord. 339 00:22:14,880 --> 00:22:18,160 I'm not where I'm supposed to be, but it's something else that 340 00:22:18,160 --> 00:22:21,600 we have to also be mindful of. He says be on guard, keep awake, 341 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:24,360 for you do not know when the time will come. 342 00:22:25,120 --> 00:22:28,680 It is like a man going on a journey when he leaves home and 343 00:22:28,680 --> 00:22:34,080 puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands 344 00:22:34,080 --> 00:22:38,280 the doorkeeper to stay awake. So Mark merges staying awake 345 00:22:38,280 --> 00:22:43,960 with praying, or Luke rather. And Mark now links working with 346 00:22:43,960 --> 00:22:48,480 staying awake. Working what? 347 00:22:49,280 --> 00:22:54,040 The work of the ministry and notice how specific the Lord is, 348 00:22:54,040 --> 00:22:58,160 he says each with his work, his work. 349 00:22:58,760 --> 00:23:01,360 And so it's not an exclusive type of service that the Lord 350 00:23:01,360 --> 00:23:04,600 has in mind here. No, rather one that the Lord has 351 00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:07,040 individually commissioned each of us too. 352 00:23:09,200 --> 00:23:14,800 And so if I'm awake to some degree, I'm serving, I'm working 353 00:23:14,800 --> 00:23:19,520 for the Kingdom, I'm doing something, I'm involved, I'm 354 00:23:19,520 --> 00:23:25,080 contributing, I'm active. And I know some might be 355 00:23:25,080 --> 00:23:28,400 wondering, how do I know what work I'm called to? 356 00:23:28,400 --> 00:23:30,840 I'm glad you're asking that question and there are different 357 00:23:30,840 --> 00:23:32,240 ways of answering. But I encourage you in the 358 00:23:32,240 --> 00:23:35,320 meantime, though, you're on this quest to discover your ultimate 359 00:23:35,320 --> 00:23:40,200 call, your ultimate mission. Can I suggest something, find a 360 00:23:40,200 --> 00:23:47,880 need and fulfill it because serving God will help you stay 361 00:23:47,880 --> 00:23:52,400 awake and to find a need and to occupy it is the best thing that 362 00:23:52,400 --> 00:23:54,480 you can do for yourself and for others. 363 00:23:55,920 --> 00:23:58,240 You know, I was thinking when I, when I came to this point last 364 00:23:58,240 --> 00:24:02,000 night, I was thinking about all these different examples, men 365 00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:05,160 and women of God who served God. And one of my favorite examples 366 00:24:05,160 --> 00:24:07,680 is the man David, the man after God's own heart. 367 00:24:08,160 --> 00:24:11,880 When you read about David in, in first Samuel 16, he was under 368 00:24:11,880 --> 00:24:14,120 the age of 20 for sure, because he was not at war with the 369 00:24:14,120 --> 00:24:16,960 Philistines. And he was chosen by God to be 370 00:24:16,960 --> 00:24:19,640 the next king, the succeeding ruler of the nation of Israel. 371 00:24:19,880 --> 00:24:23,480 Samuel the prophet approaches him and anoints him in the 372 00:24:23,480 --> 00:24:26,120 presence of his father, Jesse, and his siblings. 373 00:24:26,520 --> 00:24:28,800 And we're told here at the end of First Samuel 16 that the 374 00:24:28,800 --> 00:24:34,600 Spirit of God rushed upon David. And so that was a powerful 375 00:24:34,600 --> 00:24:37,560 moment. Imagine as a teenager being 376 00:24:37,560 --> 00:24:41,800 given a sure word that you will occupy the throne of Israel one 377 00:24:41,840 --> 00:24:44,840 day. And that's how First Samuel 16 378 00:24:44,840 --> 00:24:46,800 ends. And then you come to chapter 17 379 00:24:47,440 --> 00:24:49,480 and you think, OK, here it comes. 380 00:24:51,440 --> 00:24:54,400 David is summoned to the palace. Because at the same time, when 381 00:24:54,400 --> 00:24:56,600 the spirit of the Lord rushed upon David, the Spirit of the 382 00:24:56,600 --> 00:25:00,320 Lord removed himself from Saul, and a tormenting spirit came 383 00:25:00,320 --> 00:25:02,080 instead. And so he needed therapy. 384 00:25:02,720 --> 00:25:05,480 So news went around that there is this musician from Bethlehem, 385 00:25:05,480 --> 00:25:10,520 and he was able to play in such a manner that it soothed you and 386 00:25:10,520 --> 00:25:12,600 it healed you. And so they brought David into 387 00:25:12,600 --> 00:25:14,400 the courts of the king, and he played music. 388 00:25:14,400 --> 00:25:17,000 And you're thinking to yourself, OK, I see what God is doing 389 00:25:17,000 --> 00:25:18,800 here. The Lord is leading him to the 390 00:25:18,800 --> 00:25:20,080 palace. Next thing you know, he's going 391 00:25:20,080 --> 00:25:22,120 to get promoted to be a soldier maybe, and then he's going to 392 00:25:22,120 --> 00:25:24,320 get it to the throne. You can see the trajectory. 393 00:25:24,640 --> 00:25:27,720 And then all of a sudden you realize that David goes from a 394 00:25:27,720 --> 00:25:32,000 full time musician, full time therapist to part time. 395 00:25:33,680 --> 00:25:35,520 That kind of happens when you serve the Lord. 396 00:25:36,200 --> 00:25:38,480 You think you're going somewhere and then there's a set back. 397 00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:42,000 And so now he's part time and he's called from time to time. 398 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:47,760 So he's back at his father's fields and this man who's been 399 00:25:47,760 --> 00:25:52,920 anointed to be the king of Israel, we're told, was asked to 400 00:25:52,920 --> 00:25:54,480 do the following. You don't have to turn there. 401 00:25:54,480 --> 00:25:59,440 Just listen to this. And First Samuel 1717 And Jesse 402 00:25:59,440 --> 00:26:03,320 said to David, his son, take for your brothers and EFA of this 403 00:26:03,320 --> 00:26:06,880 parched grain and these 10 loaves and carry them quickly to 404 00:26:06,880 --> 00:26:10,600 the camp to your brothers. Also take these 10 cheeses to 405 00:26:10,600 --> 00:26:14,200 the commander of their thousand. See if your brothers are well 406 00:26:14,200 --> 00:26:20,640 and bring some token from them. What's David called to do? 407 00:26:21,080 --> 00:26:29,720 Deliver cheese sandwiches, Resources for his brothers. 408 00:26:29,960 --> 00:26:31,280 You know what's interesting? You read. 409 00:26:31,480 --> 00:26:33,680 You read of the several brothers who are called the World War. 410 00:26:33,680 --> 00:26:36,640 But it's not all his brothers. And he had many other brothers. 411 00:26:36,640 --> 00:26:38,240 Why didn't Jesse as the other brothers? 412 00:26:40,200 --> 00:26:42,440 I think it had something to do with David's work ethic. 413 00:26:45,120 --> 00:26:46,760 Jesse knew that he could trust David. 414 00:26:47,320 --> 00:26:50,520 That's not the main point. You would think that after you 415 00:26:50,520 --> 00:26:54,000 were anointed in the presence of your father and your brothers 416 00:26:54,000 --> 00:26:55,640 that you're going to get some kind of good treatment. 417 00:26:57,240 --> 00:27:01,240 You would expect it, right? You would expect them to say, 418 00:27:01,240 --> 00:27:04,640 OK, you're the next king. So we're going to pamper you and 419 00:27:04,640 --> 00:27:09,240 we're going to lavish you and we're going to prepare you, 420 00:27:09,800 --> 00:27:12,280 serve you. I love Jesse. 421 00:27:12,280 --> 00:27:15,160 He's like, come here, boy, I need you to deliver some stuff 422 00:27:15,160 --> 00:27:17,560 to your dad, to your brothers, and tell him that dad loves them 423 00:27:17,560 --> 00:27:23,560 and check up on them. You would think that David would 424 00:27:23,560 --> 00:27:25,560 protest. You would think that with his 425 00:27:25,560 --> 00:27:27,840 special calling in mind that he would resist. 426 00:27:28,880 --> 00:27:31,040 You would think that this man who's been destined for great 427 00:27:31,040 --> 00:27:34,600 things, for God, would reserve himself for only great things. 428 00:27:35,240 --> 00:27:38,840 But instead he gives himself to small things, menial things. 429 00:27:40,480 --> 00:27:42,600 And what I see here is an example among many of the 430 00:27:42,600 --> 00:27:45,680 attitude that is necessary to see any advancement in God's 431 00:27:45,720 --> 00:27:51,360 assignments for us. You know what, if you think 432 00:27:51,360 --> 00:27:54,480 about it even further, if David had rejected this, if he had 433 00:27:55,280 --> 00:28:01,360 resisted, he would have missed out on Goliath because it would 434 00:28:01,360 --> 00:28:06,240 be this humble obedience, this willingness to apply himself to 435 00:28:06,240 --> 00:28:10,880 where there is a need that would lead him to meeting Goliath. 436 00:28:11,200 --> 00:28:15,760 Providence and Providence doesn't work with passivity. 437 00:28:17,520 --> 00:28:19,440 Providence works with faithful activity. 438 00:28:23,000 --> 00:28:25,600 And so if you're in a place wondering, well, I know the 439 00:28:25,600 --> 00:28:28,040 Lord's asked me to stay awake and if that means to pray and 440 00:28:28,040 --> 00:28:29,400 remain in communion with them, OK. 441 00:28:29,720 --> 00:28:34,480 But if he's commanded each with his own work, a spiritually 442 00:28:34,480 --> 00:28:37,840 awake person will say, I want to work for him. 443 00:28:39,400 --> 00:28:41,360 I talked with a handful of brothers who are visiting us 444 00:28:41,360 --> 00:28:43,640 this weekend. And one of the gentlemen who 445 00:28:43,640 --> 00:28:47,440 moved to another state told me that he plugged himself into a 446 00:28:47,440 --> 00:28:49,840 church. And he said that he's serving 447 00:28:49,840 --> 00:28:50,920 there and he's ready to become a member. 448 00:28:50,920 --> 00:28:54,560 And I so appreciated his approach in the season of his 449 00:28:54,560 --> 00:28:55,600 life. He said, I walked into the 450 00:28:55,600 --> 00:28:57,600 church and he said, what's the need here? 451 00:28:59,200 --> 00:29:02,520 And without hesitation, I know how the pastors feel. 452 00:29:02,520 --> 00:29:04,240 They said, sound, the sound board. 453 00:29:04,240 --> 00:29:05,760 We need somebody on the sound board. 454 00:29:07,360 --> 00:29:10,080 No experience with the sound yet he learned. 455 00:29:11,440 --> 00:29:13,960 I don't know much about the brother, but according to Jesus 456 00:29:13,960 --> 00:29:18,920 words, I think he's awake. I think he's awake. 457 00:29:21,040 --> 00:29:24,000 We must be conscience, we must be vigilant. 458 00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:29,520 We must be aware that our default is to drift. 459 00:29:30,400 --> 00:29:33,920 Our default is to fall asleep. Our default is to allow things 460 00:29:33,920 --> 00:29:38,960 to weigh us down, to strip things away from what matters 461 00:29:38,960 --> 00:29:40,920 most, not to negate these other things. 462 00:29:42,720 --> 00:29:46,920 But in your heart, have a heartbeat that says, I want to 463 00:29:46,920 --> 00:29:49,920 stay connected to my Lord and I want to serve him in whatever 464 00:29:49,920 --> 00:29:53,080 capacity he has called me to, whatever capacity has been made 465 00:29:53,080 --> 00:29:57,160 available to me. But there's a second reason why 466 00:29:57,160 --> 00:29:58,560 we must stay awake, and it is this. 467 00:29:58,560 --> 00:30:02,120 We must stay awake because Christ's return is unexpected. 468 00:30:03,320 --> 00:30:06,080 Christ's return is unexpected. That's Mark 13. 469 00:30:06,840 --> 00:30:10,440 We read it in verse 34 already, but he emphasized on again in 470 00:30:10,440 --> 00:30:12,240 verse 35. Therefore stay awake. 471 00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:16,160 For you do not know when the master of the house will come in 472 00:30:16,160 --> 00:30:19,280 the evening or at midnight, or when the rooster crows or in the 473 00:30:19,280 --> 00:30:22,480 morning, lest he suddenly come and find you asleep. 474 00:30:22,480 --> 00:30:25,160 And when I say to you, I say to all stay awake. 475 00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:29,480 So notice here now Jesus is highlighting different time 476 00:30:29,480 --> 00:30:33,800 stamps of the day, different watches of the day, and he 477 00:30:33,800 --> 00:30:35,480 essentially covers the entirety of it. 478 00:30:36,520 --> 00:30:38,440 So since you don't know when he's going to come, it can be in 479 00:30:38,440 --> 00:30:40,200 the evening, it can be in the midnight, it can be in the 480 00:30:40,200 --> 00:30:42,440 morning. What's he trying to convey here? 481 00:30:43,000 --> 00:30:45,120 That when we are called to stay awake, we're called to stay 482 00:30:45,120 --> 00:30:48,960 awake at all times, at all times. 483 00:30:49,160 --> 00:30:51,120 Can't afford to fall asleep at any time. 484 00:30:52,400 --> 00:30:57,000 And I'm sure you've seen it. I've seen it too many times that 485 00:30:57,120 --> 00:31:00,960 there's so many who are, who are awake at one time, but because 486 00:31:00,960 --> 00:31:04,920 of a phase in life or a milestone in life, they, they 487 00:31:04,920 --> 00:31:07,360 slowly fall asleep. They were once excited, they 488 00:31:07,360 --> 00:31:10,120 were once focused, they were once energetic, they were once 489 00:31:10,120 --> 00:31:12,080 sacrificial. And then they distance 490 00:31:12,080 --> 00:31:15,120 themselves and they get quiet and then virtually shut down. 491 00:31:17,800 --> 00:31:20,160 So the Lord here is being even specifically saying, look, I'm 492 00:31:20,160 --> 00:31:24,080 telling you at all times in all seasons, make sure that you stay 493 00:31:24,080 --> 00:31:28,480 awake because you don't know when I'm coming and when I come, 494 00:31:28,720 --> 00:31:33,040 I have a desire. Yes, Jesus has desires and his 495 00:31:33,040 --> 00:31:35,640 desire is that he would find you and I awake. 496 00:31:38,440 --> 00:31:42,880 He would find us abiding in Him. He would find us serving Him. 497 00:31:45,840 --> 00:31:48,360 And what's shocking to me is that sometimes you even talk to 498 00:31:48,360 --> 00:31:50,760 individuals and yes, I understand that they're good 499 00:31:50,760 --> 00:31:52,640 hearted and they're even humble and admitting it. 500 00:31:54,280 --> 00:31:56,000 But you inquire, how's your walk with the Lord? 501 00:31:56,000 --> 00:31:58,280 And they know that they're not where they're supposed to be. 502 00:31:59,120 --> 00:32:00,920 They even look down there embarrassed to look you in the 503 00:32:00,920 --> 00:32:02,680 eyes and say, I, I, I'm weak, man. 504 00:32:02,680 --> 00:32:04,240 I'm weak. I'm, I'm distracted. 505 00:32:04,240 --> 00:32:07,440 I'm caught up in this and that. And that's fine. 506 00:32:07,440 --> 00:32:09,480 You need to be able to at least admit it. 507 00:32:09,960 --> 00:32:12,840 But with so many of those same people, they admit it, but they 508 00:32:12,840 --> 00:32:17,080 don't change anything about it. As though confession in itself 509 00:32:17,080 --> 00:32:19,120 is what's needed and required alone. 510 00:32:19,120 --> 00:32:22,640 No, you, you realize it then you say, OK, now what needs to 511 00:32:22,640 --> 00:32:24,280 change? And let me give you one of the 512 00:32:24,280 --> 00:32:28,560 most motivating verses of my own life that have helped me stay 513 00:32:28,560 --> 00:32:31,320 awake all these years. First John, turn your Bibles 514 00:32:31,320 --> 00:32:39,480 there in chapter 2, verse 28. First John 2/28. 515 00:32:46,470 --> 00:32:51,070 Remember, John is speaking to Christians in this verse and he 516 00:32:51,070 --> 00:32:55,630 says the following. And now little children abide in 517 00:32:55,630 --> 00:32:59,830 him so that when he appears, we may have confidence and not 518 00:32:59,830 --> 00:33:03,120 shrink from Him in shame that is coming. 519 00:33:05,080 --> 00:33:07,480 There's so many things to say from this verse, but one thing 520 00:33:07,480 --> 00:33:11,640 that I personally took from it is that a true spiritual leader 521 00:33:12,800 --> 00:33:17,160 will care and will call for his people, the people that God's 522 00:33:17,160 --> 00:33:22,080 entrusted to him, to remain in fellowship with Christ. 523 00:33:23,800 --> 00:33:26,160 Look at this term of endearment, little children. 524 00:33:27,040 --> 00:33:28,920 There's sensitivity that there's love there. 525 00:33:28,920 --> 00:33:32,320 There's relational language there by saying, listen, I'm 526 00:33:32,320 --> 00:33:37,600 asking you to abide in Him. I'm calling you to stay daily in 527 00:33:37,600 --> 00:33:41,400 touch with Him because I want you on that final day when He 528 00:33:41,400 --> 00:33:46,280 does come for you to have confidence and look at this and 529 00:33:46,280 --> 00:33:49,720 not shrink from shame. Why would a Christian shrink 530 00:33:49,720 --> 00:33:52,480 from shame the coming of the Savior? 531 00:33:54,760 --> 00:33:59,360 Perhaps one reason is because in that one moment they would be 532 00:33:59,360 --> 00:34:03,040 overwhelmed by the thought that they've wasted perhaps many of 533 00:34:03,040 --> 00:34:07,920 those years that they were asleep, that they have not been 534 00:34:07,920 --> 00:34:11,040 in commune with the Lord, that they have not been working the 535 00:34:11,040 --> 00:34:17,159 work that He's called them to. You know, when you think about 536 00:34:17,159 --> 00:34:21,600 sleeping characters in the Bible, you might come to some 537 00:34:21,600 --> 00:34:24,639 interesting conclusions. I think of Jonah. 538 00:34:25,639 --> 00:34:29,600 Jonah was asleep on the ship. He was running away from God's 539 00:34:29,600 --> 00:34:32,080 call for him, and he was heading in the opposite direction. 540 00:34:32,080 --> 00:34:34,520 And as he was making way to Tarshish, he was asleep. 541 00:34:35,000 --> 00:34:37,880 And what happened? God orchestrated a storm, but it 542 00:34:37,880 --> 00:34:41,360 wasn't just a storm for him. Primarily, yes, for him. 543 00:34:41,360 --> 00:34:43,600 But there was other people who were suffering in that storm. 544 00:34:44,600 --> 00:34:48,159 You had pagans, yet idol worshippers who were on that 545 00:34:48,159 --> 00:34:53,639 boat, and they were being impacted in part because the man 546 00:34:53,639 --> 00:34:56,000 of God was not where he was supposed to be. 547 00:34:56,239 --> 00:34:59,320 He was asleep. Can I tell you something? 548 00:34:59,640 --> 00:35:05,480 When you and I as Christians are sleepy, it impacts the world 549 00:35:05,480 --> 00:35:10,640 negatively. The world that needs a church 550 00:35:10,640 --> 00:35:14,320 that is vigorous and active and fruitful. 551 00:35:15,920 --> 00:35:20,560 When we fall asleep like Jonah, we do a disservice to the people 552 00:35:20,560 --> 00:35:24,720 who don't believe around us. Not just Jonah, I think of 553 00:35:24,720 --> 00:35:27,880 Samson. Samson was asleep at a critical 554 00:35:27,880 --> 00:35:30,400 point in his life, not on a boat. 555 00:35:30,640 --> 00:35:34,760 His head was laying on the lap of a vicious woman, Delilah. 556 00:35:36,880 --> 00:35:41,400 And while he was asleep, she was playing with his hair, ready to 557 00:35:41,400 --> 00:35:45,760 cut it off. And that was what was needed for 558 00:35:45,760 --> 00:35:48,960 him to remain in the power that God had called him to. 559 00:35:49,320 --> 00:35:53,160 And so as a sleeping St. What was the risk for him 560 00:35:54,120 --> 00:35:56,040 forfeiting the call of God for his life? 561 00:35:58,120 --> 00:36:02,560 So sleepy Christians not only do a disservice to the world, 562 00:36:02,560 --> 00:36:07,040 sleepy Christians also risk cancelling God's awesome plan 563 00:36:07,040 --> 00:36:11,480 for their lives. Stay sleepy long enough and you 564 00:36:11,480 --> 00:36:13,720 can miss out. That's what Samson represents. 565 00:36:15,640 --> 00:36:18,920 What about uticus? He's not as well known. 566 00:36:20,080 --> 00:36:24,640 Acts chapter 20. Paul is preaching, and he 567 00:36:24,640 --> 00:36:26,560 preaches much longer than I preach, by the way. 568 00:36:28,320 --> 00:36:32,160 And Uticus, a young man in the service, is sitting at the 569 00:36:32,160 --> 00:36:35,920 window, and what happens? He falls asleep. 570 00:36:37,120 --> 00:36:43,360 People fall asleep in church. You know, and I take comfort to 571 00:36:43,360 --> 00:36:45,600 know that people fell asleep when Paul preached. 572 00:36:50,040 --> 00:36:52,720 He falls out of the window, he dies. 573 00:36:54,600 --> 00:36:57,000 What happens? The meeting ends. 574 00:36:58,040 --> 00:37:02,080 Paul stops preaching, and we're told there that the church was 575 00:37:02,080 --> 00:37:06,840 alarmed. Sleepy Christians. 576 00:37:07,200 --> 00:37:10,920 They make a negative impact on the world. 577 00:37:10,920 --> 00:37:14,640 They do disservice. They put themselves at risk like 578 00:37:14,640 --> 00:37:17,920 Samson, but they also harmed the church. 579 00:37:20,600 --> 00:37:26,720 They don't help the church, they don't participate, they don't 580 00:37:26,720 --> 00:37:31,840 build. And I love what Paul does with 581 00:37:31,840 --> 00:37:33,760 the authority of an apostle. He raises him from the dead and 582 00:37:33,760 --> 00:37:37,640 he goes back to the sermon. It's my kind of guy. 583 00:37:42,200 --> 00:37:45,680 But as much as it is a horrible thing to think that me remaining 584 00:37:45,680 --> 00:37:49,520 asleep is a disservice of the world, it puts my call at great 585 00:37:49,520 --> 00:37:55,240 risk of being forfeited. It doesn't help the body 586 00:37:55,240 --> 00:37:59,720 believers I'm connected to. 1st John 228 always strikes my heart 587 00:37:59,720 --> 00:38:04,520 the most to disappoint my master when he comes. 588 00:38:08,840 --> 00:38:11,680 And so I want you to understand that it doesn't have to be that 589 00:38:11,680 --> 00:38:16,920 way for you because the Bible also describes another 590 00:38:16,920 --> 00:38:22,680 possibility for when the Lord arrives suddenly, and it's in 591 00:38:22,680 --> 00:38:25,680 our final text before we break bread, it's in second Peter, 592 00:38:25,680 --> 00:38:36,220 chapter one. And look at verse 10. 593 00:38:44,620 --> 00:38:48,380 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your 594 00:38:48,380 --> 00:38:52,820 calling and election. For if you practice these 595 00:38:52,900 --> 00:39:01,820 qualities, you will never fall. Peter, are you suggesting 596 00:39:02,160 --> 00:39:05,200 consistency in the Christian walk? 597 00:39:07,640 --> 00:39:13,440 Are you actually displaying a hopeful truth that I can live my 598 00:39:13,440 --> 00:39:19,840 Christian walk free from scandal, fruitlessness? 599 00:39:21,960 --> 00:39:24,880 Yeah, he says if you practice certain qualities, you will 600 00:39:24,880 --> 00:39:27,960 never fall. But notice verse 11. 601 00:39:27,960 --> 00:39:33,920 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an 602 00:39:33,920 --> 00:39:39,120 entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior 603 00:39:39,680 --> 00:39:42,880 Jesus Christ. What a difference from John's 604 00:39:42,880 --> 00:39:46,840 words. So abide in him so that you can 605 00:39:46,840 --> 00:39:49,440 have confidence and not shrink from shame. 606 00:39:49,760 --> 00:39:52,800 And here's Peter, and he says, listen, if you practice certain 607 00:39:52,800 --> 00:39:57,800 qualities, if you through your life not win your election, not 608 00:39:57,800 --> 00:40:01,960 win your salvation, but confirm it, what does he say? 609 00:40:02,280 --> 00:40:05,120 In this way? There will be richly provided 610 00:40:05,120 --> 00:40:10,360 for you an entrance. You know, Paul speaks about 611 00:40:10,800 --> 00:40:15,360 barely being saved, that all your work's burned to ash, but 612 00:40:15,400 --> 00:40:18,800 you escape the fire. That's not that's not what Peter 613 00:40:18,800 --> 00:40:22,560 is trying to describe. He's talking about those gates 614 00:40:22,560 --> 00:40:28,840 swinging wide open. And it being a celebratory, 615 00:40:28,840 --> 00:40:33,240 exciting encounter with Christ, no awkward conversation needs to 616 00:40:33,240 --> 00:40:43,160 happen, just straight to embrace and rejoicing and reward for 617 00:40:43,160 --> 00:40:46,000 who? For those who are awake. 618 00:40:46,800 --> 00:40:49,080 And if you want an idea of again, what it looks like to be 619 00:40:49,080 --> 00:40:52,040 awake, Peter describes it in great part. 620 00:40:52,720 --> 00:40:55,000 And so look there. Let's look at the verses before 621 00:40:55,000 --> 00:40:56,640 this. I wasn't planning to, but it's 622 00:40:56,640 --> 00:40:59,560 worth it since we're there. Look at verse five of the same 623 00:40:59,560 --> 00:41:02,240 text. For this very reason. 624 00:41:02,240 --> 00:41:06,440 Make look at this language. Please look at this language for 625 00:41:06,440 --> 00:41:10,600 this very reason. Make every effort to supplement 626 00:41:10,600 --> 00:41:13,560 your faith. Does that sound like a sleepy 627 00:41:13,560 --> 00:41:17,240 Christian? No, only somebody who's awake 628 00:41:17,240 --> 00:41:20,520 can make every effort to supplement. 629 00:41:21,040 --> 00:41:23,280 OK, I'm saved. Praise God, you're saved. 630 00:41:23,400 --> 00:41:25,800 What do I do now? You make every effort to 631 00:41:25,800 --> 00:41:31,000 supplement that faith that saved you, to add to it, to grow in 632 00:41:31,000 --> 00:41:34,440 it, to strengthen in it. Make every not some effort. 633 00:41:34,840 --> 00:41:38,800 This is the reason why you live now to supplement your faith. 634 00:41:39,200 --> 00:41:40,440 Now what do I supplement it with? 635 00:41:40,480 --> 00:41:43,840 With virtue. And virtue with knowledge. 636 00:41:43,840 --> 00:41:46,840 Knowledge is important. Come to Bible study. 637 00:41:47,520 --> 00:41:53,800 You'll get more knowledge and knowledge with self-control, and 638 00:41:53,800 --> 00:41:57,960 self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with 639 00:41:57,960 --> 00:42:02,280 godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and 640 00:42:02,280 --> 00:42:05,320 brotherly affection with love. Now look at this in verse eight. 641 00:42:05,320 --> 00:42:10,480 First, these qualities are yours and are increasing. 642 00:42:11,480 --> 00:42:16,360 They keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the 643 00:42:16,360 --> 00:42:19,280 knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 644 00:42:20,800 --> 00:42:22,960 That's what it looks like when you and I are awake. 645 00:42:24,200 --> 00:42:27,560 We supplement and we increase. Here's what it looks like when 646 00:42:27,560 --> 00:42:29,920 you're asleep, verse 9. For whoever lacks these 647 00:42:29,920 --> 00:42:35,080 qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten 648 00:42:35,080 --> 00:42:37,640 that he was cleansed from his former sins. 649 00:42:41,400 --> 00:42:46,560 So you and I have a have a chance today to recalibrate and 650 00:42:46,560 --> 00:42:50,720 to refocus and to tell the Lord, Lord, I want to be awake no 651 00:42:50,720 --> 00:42:52,280 matter what season of life I'm in. 652 00:42:52,920 --> 00:42:55,120 And Lord, if it means to be prayerful and means to be 653 00:42:55,120 --> 00:42:57,360 working, then give me the grace to do it. 654 00:42:59,760 --> 00:43:04,720 And today, if you are asleep, Christ is willing to help you 655 00:43:04,720 --> 00:43:08,800 wake up. If you know yourself, if you 656 00:43:08,800 --> 00:43:12,360 know that you have been weighed down by sin or even by the 657 00:43:12,360 --> 00:43:15,640 anxieties of this life to the point that it has completely 658 00:43:15,640 --> 00:43:18,400 crippled you, Christ is here to help you. 659 00:43:18,400 --> 00:43:21,160 He's going to help you. And he can even give you the 660 00:43:21,160 --> 00:43:24,080 wisdom he can give you the he can, he will be able to shine 661 00:43:24,080 --> 00:43:30,400 light upon how you, yes, busy dad, yes, you mom, husband, 662 00:43:30,400 --> 00:43:36,000 wife, student, businessman, He's ready to help you because every 663 00:43:36,000 --> 00:43:39,360 command he gives, he gives the grace to fulfill it every in any 664 00:43:39,360 --> 00:43:42,320 command. And so I invite you today to 665 00:43:42,320 --> 00:43:45,200 respond to this truth and to say, Lord, please help me wake 666 00:43:45,200 --> 00:43:47,200 up. And Lord, not just to wake up, 667 00:43:47,200 --> 00:43:49,960 but to stay awake. He's able to do that. 668 00:43:50,600 --> 00:43:53,280 Oh, I wish I can say more, but we have to break bread together. 669 00:43:53,480 --> 00:43:55,800 But at this time, I want to invite you to respond to that 670 00:43:55,800 --> 00:43:59,160 very same truth. I'm, I'm asking you if you're in 671 00:43:59,160 --> 00:44:01,520 a place where you need to humbly confess to the Lord. 672 00:44:02,000 --> 00:44:06,000 Lord, I know that if you were to find me where I am today, that 673 00:44:06,000 --> 00:44:09,480 I'm more likely to shrink from shame instead of know that 674 00:44:09,480 --> 00:44:12,400 there's going to be a richly provided entrance. 675 00:44:14,320 --> 00:44:15,920 Place me where you need to place me, Lord. 676 00:44:16,920 --> 00:44:18,800 Save me from these things. Oh God. 677 00:44:20,120 --> 00:44:21,720 That is what we ask from you, Lord. 678 00:44:22,520 --> 00:44:28,440 We ask that as your people, Maranatha Bible Church, would be 679 00:44:28,440 --> 00:44:33,160 vibrant, would be alive, would be fragrant with the fruits of 680 00:44:33,160 --> 00:44:35,840 the Spirit. And we ask, Lord, that you would 681 00:44:35,840 --> 00:44:39,640 protect us from anything that would cause us to doze off, to 682 00:44:39,640 --> 00:44:41,840 slip into sleep, and to stay there. 683 00:44:44,080 --> 00:44:47,400 And Lord, as we even prepare not to partake of this bread in this 684 00:44:47,400 --> 00:44:53,120 cup, we ask that the revelation of our forgiveness, salvation 685 00:44:54,240 --> 00:45:00,840 freely given, would stir us to worship you, to love you, and to 686 00:45:00,840 --> 00:45:03,600 serve you. Again, we ask these things in 687 00:45:03,600 --> 00:45:06,200 Jesus name, Amen. Amen. 688 00:45:08,080 --> 00:45:09,720 The praise team is going to come up at this time. 689 00:45:09,720 --> 00:45:12,640 We're going to sing and then we're going to partake together. 690 00:45:17,160 --> 00:45:19,040 I want to let you know today that as we're about to break 691 00:45:19,040 --> 00:45:21,320 bread, if you're not a follower of Jesus Christ, this is 692 00:45:21,320 --> 00:45:25,320 reserved for Christians. And so we humbly ask that you 693 00:45:25,560 --> 00:45:28,960 reserve yourself from participating, but you're free 694 00:45:28,960 --> 00:45:30,920 to obviously stay and remain in the service. 695 00:45:31,480 --> 00:45:35,480 I just want to exhort you and and challenge you that you can 696 00:45:35,480 --> 00:45:39,560 participate in this wonderful feast upon one premise, and 697 00:45:39,560 --> 00:45:42,440 that's you acknowledging your need for a Savior, and that 698 00:45:42,440 --> 00:45:46,200 Savior is Jesus Christ. If you have never at any point 699 00:45:46,200 --> 00:45:49,200 repented of your sins and believed on him to be your 700 00:45:49,200 --> 00:45:52,840 salvation, I want to use this opportunity to give you a chance 701 00:45:52,840 --> 00:45:57,360 to do that, to realize that you have no hope of eternal life, no 702 00:45:57,360 --> 00:46:00,320 hope of attaining salvation apart from what he's done for 703 00:46:00,320 --> 00:46:01,720 you. That's what these Christians are 704 00:46:01,720 --> 00:46:03,440 ready to do. As a church, we're going to 705 00:46:03,440 --> 00:46:05,760 gather, and essentially why we're here is to celebrate the 706 00:46:05,760 --> 00:46:09,080 fact that we have been redeemed graciously. 707 00:46:10,600 --> 00:46:13,600 We have been forgiven by him, not by our own merit, not by our 708 00:46:13,600 --> 00:46:15,800 own efforts, what he has done alone. 709 00:46:16,280 --> 00:46:20,000 And so at this time, I, I, I call you to examine your own 710 00:46:20,000 --> 00:46:24,320 heart and to ask yourself if you truly know him. 711 00:46:24,760 --> 00:46:28,320 And if you don't, you can, you can speak to him and you can 712 00:46:28,320 --> 00:46:30,160 give him your sins. You can give him your 713 00:46:30,160 --> 00:46:32,280 allegiance. And you can leave here a changed 714 00:46:32,280 --> 00:46:34,080 man. You can leave here a changed 715 00:46:34,080 --> 00:46:36,480 woman believer. As we sing these songs, you're 716 00:46:36,480 --> 00:46:38,280 reflecting upon what he has done for you. 717 00:46:38,960 --> 00:46:41,400 You're rejoicing the fact that it's his performance that has 718 00:46:41,400 --> 00:46:43,480 sealed your redemption, not your own. 719 00:46:44,120 --> 00:46:46,440 But at the same time, you're also confessing here that you're 720 00:46:46,440 --> 00:46:50,480 1 body with the church and that you are walking in the calling 721 00:46:50,480 --> 00:46:52,840 of the gospel. And if you find yourself in a 722 00:46:52,840 --> 00:46:55,120 place where you're saying, I know that I'm walking in 723 00:46:55,120 --> 00:46:58,200 conscious, unrepentant sin, repent of it. 724 00:46:58,840 --> 00:47:00,640 Turn from it. Give it up. 725 00:47:01,880 --> 00:47:04,080 If you know that you ever reconciled with a brother or 726 00:47:04,080 --> 00:47:07,880 sister, Christ would be more pleased with you to reconcile 727 00:47:07,880 --> 00:47:11,240 than to partake, to make that emergency protocol. 728 00:47:12,120 --> 00:47:16,760 And so this is a time for all of us to pause, to remember, to 729 00:47:16,760 --> 00:47:20,720 rejoice if needed, to repent so that we can eat this in a way 730 00:47:20,720 --> 00:47:23,920 that would be worthy unto Him. Can we stand and sing and 731 00:47:23,920 --> 00:47:24,880 rejoice in the Lord?