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THE
WORD FOR 2007 IS “WATCH” Introduction:
The New Year is here and we need a word to live by as Christians
that will help us and keep us focused no matter what happens in this
current year. That word is, “watch”! Jesus makes it very clear that He
is speaking to all, especially all of His followers or disciples. Jesus
was answering the disciples’ questions about future events, and in light
of these future events he is telling them to “watch”. The event that
Christians should watch for is the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus
tells us that no man knows the day or the hour when Jesus is returning for
us. It could be anytime. The word Jesus gives us in light of His coming is
“WATCH!” Using this passage and a couple of others, I want to suggest
to you that there are at least three ways that we should be watching for
the coming of the Lord Jesus. I. WATCH PERSISTENTLY (VV.34-36) Jesus gives an illustration. A man is taking a long journey. He gives to various members of the household different responsibilities. He tells the porter to watch. The porter was the door keeper. While the other members of the household were also to watch for the return of their master by going about their business, it was the job of the porter to be awake and looking for the return of the Master, so He could alert the others. A. With Concern (v.34) God has
intended that each Christian, after coming to Christ, live a life
patterned in good works. Ephesians B. With Concentration (v.35) The
watch Jesus talks about is to be a expectant one. We don’t know when He
is coming, but we should be about His business, doing what Jesus has told
us to do. C. With Commitment (v.36) It will
be a tragedy if Jesus catches us “napping” when he comes. This napping
or sleeping needn’t be thought of as literal. If we are caught up in our
own pleasures when Jesus comes we will be napping. If we are worrying
about our own well being when Jesus comes we will be napping. If we are
delaying serving the Lord Jesus when He comes, thinking we have plenty of
time, we will be napping. If we are concentrating on our business, our
families, and our comforts when Jesus comes, we will be napping. When
Jesus comes, I shouldn’t really be surprised.
I should be expecting Him! I should be expecting Him, because He
told me to watch for His coming! Mark II. WATCH PERCEPTIVELY
(Titus When someone is perceptive they know what’s going on. They sense and understand things. As we watch for the coming of the Lord Jesus in 2007, we are to watch perceptively. A.
God’s Grace Redeems
(Titus The
grace of God is God’s unmerited favor. You don’t deserve forgiveness
for your sins or a place in Heaven. You don’t deserve to be a child of
God. But if you have turned to Jesus Christ, believing that He died for
your sins, and trusting Him for forgiveness and eternal life, the grace of
God has touched you. (Eph.2:8-9) If you have put your faith in Christ then
the grace of God is at work in your life. B.
God’s Grace Reproves (Titus God’s grace not only saves us, but it teaches us. It teaches us: · To Deny Ungodliness. What is ungodliness? Ungodliness is anything that God wouldn’t do Himself. It is anything that is not fitting or true of God. Ungodliness is also anything that we do without God. If what I am doing is not dependent upon God or approved by God, it is ungodly! How do I go about denying ungodliness? You deny ungodliness by staying close to Jesus! John 15:4-5 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. [5] I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. · To Deny Worldly Lusts Or Desires. These
are basically anything that I do to excess. How do I deny worldly lusts? I
deny worldly lusts by allowing God’s Holy Spirit to control me. (Gal.
5:16) This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of
the flesh. ·
To Live Soberly. To be
sober is to be serious. If we live soberly we will live seriously. That
doesn’t mean that we can’t have a sense of humor. It means that we
will take our commitment to God seriously. The serious Christian lives
seriously practicing the things of God on a continual basis. Sunday
Morning attendance is only one part of the bigger commitment to Christ
that includes a daily walk with Him! (2 Pet 1:5-6) "And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue;
and to virtue knowledge; {6} And to knowledge temperance; and to
temperance patience; and to patience godliness;" ·
To Live Righteously And Godly. Our
activities should be right in the eyes of God. Our activities should be
the things that God would do if he were in our situation! (1 Cor C.
God’s Grace Brings Reliance (Titus If we
truly live lives that deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and that are
serious, righteous and godly, we will also be perceptive enough to be
looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our Lord Jesus
Christ! The “blessed hope” and “the glorious appearing” are one
and the same! The one
who is looking for the wonderful coming of the Lord Jesus will be
perceptive to live as if He is coming back at any moment. (Illus: If you
expect company, you clean up the house. If you expect Jesus, you clean up
your life and keep it clean on a daily basis. You look forward to His
coming, so you live as if he is coming.) III. WATCH PRAYERFULLY
(Mark Watching
and praying go together! Jesus commanded it here. It is also commanded in
the Epistles. Colossians 4:2 - Continue
in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; 1 Peter 4:7 - But
the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto
prayer. Why do watching and praying go together? A. Praying Helps Us Have Triumph Over Temptation. B. Praying Keeps Us Spiritually Sharp. C. Praying Performs God’s Purposes Before Jesus Returns. John 14:13-14 says, And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. [14] If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. D. God Doesn’t Want Anyone To Perish, So We Are Instructed To Pray. 1
Timothy 2:1-4 says, I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications,
prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; [2] For
kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and
peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. [3] For this is good and
acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; [4] Who will have all men to
be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. Conclusion:
The word Jesus gives us in light of His coming is “WATCH!”
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