Stay Alert

Stay Alert – Matthew 24: 36 - 44

Intro: A young pastor was preparing his sermon when his daughter came in and said, “Daddy, can we play?” He answered that he was busy and in about an hour they would play. To which his daughter answered, “When you’re finished, I’m going to give you a great big hug.” With that she turned to the door. As she reached the door, she turned around and came back and gave him a bone-crunching, back-breaking hug. Her dad said, “I thought you were going to give me a hug AFTER I finished.” To which she answered, “Daddy, I just wanted you to know what you have to look forward to!” (David Peterson, pastor of 1st Presbyterian Church, Spokane, WA)

I That story reminds us the same is true of the Advent season. It is a reminder of to what we can look forward. This Sunday we officially enter into a new church year as we do every year on the first Sunday of Advent.

A The word Advent comes from the Latin word, ADVENTUS which is translated as “COMING.” This is the word that was used to translate the Greek word “PAROUSIA” which also means “coming or presence.”

B The Greek word, PAROUSIA has been used by theologians through the years to refer to the coming of the Lord Jesus. It can be used to speak theologically as Christmas Day as well as to the 2nd coming of Christ Jesus.

C As we begin the season of Advent, we are reminded that we are living in between the past and the future. We celebrate at Christmas the birth of Christ Jesus long ago and during Advent we look forward to His return.

II VS. 36 – “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, not the Son, but only the Father.”

A The Greek word for knows is e?do. It implies “to perceive with the outward senses or to perceive with the mind.” It can also be translated as “to understand.”

B Matthew tells us that Jesus compared the idea of knowing to the story of Noah who was told that a catastrophic flood was to occur in the future and because of his faithfulness to God, he should build an ark to save his faithful family.

C VS. 40 – 41 “Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill, one will be taken and the other left.” This implies that at the PAROUSIA, the faithful will be gathered to be with God; while all the others who do not worship God and nor live faithfully will be left behind.

III VS. 42 – “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”

A The key word in this sentence is the word WATCH. The Greek word here is phulake / f??a??. This word carries a much broader meaning that just paying attention sporadically. It is very specific in its meaning.

B phulake literally means “constant watching and constant preparation for the decisive day of the appearing of Christ Jesus.”

C The watching for us as Christians is not terror-stricken fear and shivering apprehension. It should be eager expectation and anticipation like the child waiting to open presents on the coming Christmas Day.

Concl: Watching and waiting are two of the hardest things for we humans to do. Be assured that the return of Christ is sure. We must be AWAKE! AWARE! PREPARED! We do that not just by looking busy but actually BEING BUSY!

Every tomorrow has 2 handles: We can take hold of it by the handle of anxiety or by the handle of faith. My guess is the handle you grab will depend on which you think you will be: the one taken or the one left.

Either way, the return of Christ is sure. We must WAKE UP! PREPARE! Living, serving and anticipating the return with great hope and Joy!

VS. 44 – So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.”