Please grab your Bible and your Bulletin. We continue to study the Gospel of Luke. We have noted that Jesus Christ who is God became a human being on earth not only to die for man’s sin but taught people how to live a life.
In Chapter 11 of Luke Jesus taught about prayer, dealing with the devil, how to share truths, and the consequences of sin. In Luke 12:1-12, Jesus reminds us that God knows everything and this truth should impact our lives. Last week we noted that worrying, which is a waste of life, is due to little faith in God; therefore, we are to grow our faith.
In our passage today in Luke 12 verses 35-48, we will learn that we are not only to grow our faith in God but we are to be always ready for God’s presence. Jesus Christ could show up right now! Wouldn’t it be great if Jesus zaps us to heaven right now while at church? It could happen! Will you be ready for Jesus’ return or be left behind? Will you be excited or disappointed that you’re leaving this earth when Jesus calls?
Before reading our passage, let us pray together our commitment to God’s Word…
Read along with me Luke 12:35-48; note that Jesus is still talking to His disciples….
Jesus instructs His disciples in
v35: Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning.
What does this mean?
Jesus gives an example.
Disciples are to be ready for Jesus like servants waiting to open the front door for their Master who can return at any moment. Let’s go ahead and talk about applying this to our lives today.
This picture of Jesus standing at the front door knocking is normally associated with Revelation 3:20. This is true right now of course, Jesus is knocking at the door of your heart and mine because He desires to fellowship with us. But picture yourself on the other side of this door Jesus is knocking at; Are you dressed? Are you ready to open the door to serve Jesus? Do you have the lights on or are you in the dark, hiding from Jesus?
And look again at v39-40….
The NIV translation can be a bit misleading; a better translation is from the New American Standard Bible: “ But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into. You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.”
What was Jesus emphasizing in v39-40?
Jesus can return to earth at anytime!
Now look again at v41…..
I love Peter don’t you? He speaks for a lot of us; and like us, usually Peter gets in trouble.
What can we learn from Peter here? You see, Jesus did not really answer Peter directly, for the answer was, as we will note in a moment, Jesus was talking to everyone!
In v41, Peter was basically asking “Does this apply to me?”Peter wanted to blank out what he was hearing from Jesus! Does this ever happen to us? Perhaps even now, some of you are blanking out what Jesus is saying. Peter’s attitude and ours should be like King David who said in Psalm 25:4-5 “Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.”
Do we believe that Jesus Christ is our God who created all of us? We must always listen intently to Jesus no matter who the audience is! We can always learn from our Creator God.
v42-44: Jesus is looking for people who are faithful and wise! How faithful and wise are we for Jesus Christ right now? And again, did you note Jesus’ promise in v44? Jesus desires for Christians to be in charge of God’s Kingdom!
In v45-46, Jesus warns those who ignore God and abuses others!
Do you know anyone who ignores God?
What is the consequence of ignoring God?
Verse 46, eternal judgment and pain awaits those who ignores God. Does this apply to you and me? – Not if you and I are Believers of Christ anticipating His return. But if we are really listening to Jesus Christ, we are to be weeping and praying for those who ignore Jesus Christ.
And finally, what can we say from Jesus’ words in v47-48?
Let’s think about this for a moment: What has God specifically given to man??
God made a planet for us!
God made the universe for us!
God made every living thing for us!
God gave us life and provisions for life!
God gave us Jesus Christ for salvation from our sins!
God has given us His eternal Words!
God has given us the Holy Spirit!
God entrusts us with the Kingdom of God!
God has promised us perfection for eternity!
From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
What are we doing today with what God has given us?
