WEBVTT 00:00:01.600 --> 00:00:03.759 God, thank you for the rain this week. 00:00:04.080 --> 00:00:11.839 Lord, thank you for this church that you've planted in the ground and grown, protected and nourished. 00:00:12.400 --> 00:00:16.879 Father, I pray that your name would be held high this morning. 00:00:17.120 --> 00:00:23.359 Pray that you would get the worship, the exaltation, the adoration that you've always deserved from us. 00:00:23.920 --> 00:00:26.160 Holy Spirit, we invite you in to speak. 00:00:26.480 --> 00:00:30.719 God, as we open your eternal perfect word, show us what you would have for us. 00:00:30.800 --> 00:00:32.159 We expect you to speak. 00:00:32.399 --> 00:00:33.920 Teach us to listen. 00:00:34.719 --> 00:00:36.799 God, I pray for your blessing in this time. 00:00:37.039 --> 00:00:37.759 We love you. 00:00:37.920 --> 00:00:39.520 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:00:44.399 --> 00:00:47.520 Well, welcome to Skyline Church. 00:00:47.759 --> 00:00:48.880 My name's Adam. 00:00:48.960 --> 00:00:50.560 I'm one of the pastors here today. 00:00:50.719 --> 00:00:53.759 Would love to meet you if I haven't met you before. 00:00:54.320 --> 00:00:59.359 So I had a very significant childhood event happen to me in my teens. 00:00:59.439 --> 00:01:01.600 This only happened to me once in my whole life. 00:01:02.159 --> 00:01:05.519 Basically, at the time, I uh my family was living in Australia. 00:01:05.680 --> 00:01:08.799 My dad had gotten a job that moved us all out there for about three years. 00:01:08.879 --> 00:01:11.840 And you know, when you live in Australia, you're close to different things. 00:01:12.000 --> 00:01:14.480 Like here in the US, you're close to Canada and Mexico. 00:01:14.879 --> 00:01:17.359 Maybe you do trips there, but there you're close to New Zealand. 00:01:17.439 --> 00:01:24.480 So we do this, um, we did this like 45-minute plane ride to New Zealand, traveled around the whole thing in a camper van, it was amazing. 00:01:24.799 --> 00:01:26.079 Sweet vacation. 00:01:26.400 --> 00:01:28.959 Come home, get out of the car. 00:01:29.200 --> 00:01:34.959 I'm the first one up to my front door, unlock it, open the door, happy to be home. 00:01:35.280 --> 00:01:45.680 I look inside, and the printer, like our printer in our house, is like in the middle of the hallway, just like on its side. 00:01:46.319 --> 00:01:48.079 And I was like, what? 00:01:48.799 --> 00:01:55.920 And I walked in and I looked to the right and I looked to the left, and the whole place was ransacked. 00:01:56.239 --> 00:01:58.319 Just robbed blind. 00:01:58.799 --> 00:02:03.920 Took everything of value while we were gone for those two weeks. 00:02:04.239 --> 00:02:06.000 Every room was trashed. 00:02:06.159 --> 00:02:08.479 I ran outside, I was like, Dad, I think we've been robbed. 00:02:08.560 --> 00:02:12.080 My dad comes inside, makes everyone stay outside, clears the house. 00:02:12.319 --> 00:02:13.520 No one in there. 00:02:14.479 --> 00:02:21.919 I mean, we the bottom line is I mean, the the cops later came in, they they dusted for fingerprints, that people had worn gloves, though. 00:02:22.159 --> 00:02:24.639 Never caught them, probably never will. 00:02:25.599 --> 00:02:29.360 And at the end of the day, it was something that we just weren't ready for. 00:02:29.520 --> 00:02:32.560 We didn't have an alarm, we didn't have people watching the house. 00:02:32.719 --> 00:02:34.400 Two weeks, to be gone, two weeks is a long time. 00:02:34.479 --> 00:02:35.919 We didn't have anyone watching the house. 00:02:36.080 --> 00:02:37.439 We simply weren't ready. 00:02:37.520 --> 00:02:40.960 We lived in a nicer suburb, we simply didn't expect it. 00:02:41.439 --> 00:02:48.879 But that's part of the thing with things you don't expect is they happen just at different points in our lives. 00:02:49.199 --> 00:02:51.520 Things happen that you don't expect. 00:02:51.599 --> 00:02:56.000 Sometimes bad things like getting robbed blind, but sometimes good things too. 00:02:56.080 --> 00:03:01.120 Like imagine you're on like a sports team and somebody goes down with an injury and you're used to riding the bench. 00:03:01.360 --> 00:03:04.560 But now the coach looks at you and says, We need you. 00:03:05.199 --> 00:03:06.080 Or like a job. 00:03:06.159 --> 00:03:18.159 You've been working hard in a job, being faithful to do what you've been uh asked to do, and treating people with respect, treating customers with respect, boss and peers, and all of a sudden an opening comes and they ask you to apply. 00:03:18.479 --> 00:03:19.680 Something you didn't expect. 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:30.080 Things in life happen to us all the time that we don't foresee, we don't plan for, we don't expect, and we're either ready for them or we're not. 00:03:30.240 --> 00:03:38.800 Sometimes very consequential things come to our doorstep, bad and good, we're either ready for them or we're not. 00:03:39.039 --> 00:03:41.599 You know, the military has this idea of readiness. 00:03:41.759 --> 00:03:50.319 They even have like a rating scale for different units, like level of readiness for a mission or for an attack or for whatever unexpected thing might happen. 00:03:50.400 --> 00:03:54.000 Part of the whole purpose of a military is to be ready for the unexpected. 00:03:54.879 --> 00:03:56.879 Because things can change quickly. 00:03:57.039 --> 00:04:07.919 So all this points to the importance of being ready, being prepared, being awake for anything. 00:04:08.479 --> 00:04:19.680 And so, in the Gospel of Luke today, the Lord Jesus, we saw him kind of start a teaching a talk last week, and we're actually gonna be continuing in this same sort of teaching. 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:23.680 And Jesus wants to talk about something in more detail that he hasn't really talked about yet. 00:04:23.759 --> 00:04:28.160 But we've actually seen him mention once already that he's gonna return, that he's gonna come back. 00:04:28.319 --> 00:04:29.600 The second coming it's called. 00:04:29.759 --> 00:04:33.759 The first coming was the incarnation, Jesus born as a baby into the world. 00:04:34.079 --> 00:04:36.879 But he's already mentioned that he's gonna come again in chapter 9. 00:04:36.959 --> 00:04:44.240 He said, When I come back with the glory of God the Father and the angels, like the one who denies me, I will also deny. 00:04:44.399 --> 00:04:47.439 He only gives it a few sentences, but today he wants to talk more. 00:04:47.680 --> 00:04:50.800 Today he's gonna want to talk more about his return. 00:04:50.959 --> 00:05:03.600 And if I were to summarize what he says in Luke 12, 35 through 48, if I were to summarize what he says, I think he's just saying this readiness and responsibility lead to reward. 00:05:04.800 --> 00:05:09.759 Readiness and responsibility lead to reward. 00:05:10.639 --> 00:05:12.800 So, I'm gonna have it up here on the screen. 00:05:12.959 --> 00:05:17.279 I'm gonna take it in two pieces, this teaching of Jesus, talking about his second coming. 00:05:21.519 --> 00:05:25.519 So this is Luke chapter 12, verses 35 through 40. 00:05:25.680 --> 00:05:40.319 It says this stay dressed for action, and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. 00:05:40.560 --> 00:05:44.480 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. 00:05:44.720 --> 00:05:51.839 Truly I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. 00:05:52.399 --> 00:05:57.519 If he comes in the second watch or the third and finds them awake, blessed are those servants. 00:05:57.680 --> 00:06:05.040 But know this that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. 00:06:05.279 --> 00:06:07.040 You also must be ready. 00:06:07.279 --> 00:06:12.800 For the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect. 00:06:14.800 --> 00:06:21.600 So last week in Jesus' teaching, he's teaching in parables, you know, little short fictional stories to illustrate a point. 00:06:21.759 --> 00:06:23.600 He's going to keep using parables today. 00:06:23.759 --> 00:06:27.519 Last week he talked about riches and anxiety, but today he pivots topics. 00:06:27.680 --> 00:06:28.240 Look at what he says. 00:06:28.480 --> 00:06:30.079 We see it right here at the beginning, verse 35. 00:06:30.399 --> 00:06:36.079 Stay dressed for action, keep your lamps burning, be like men waiting. 00:06:36.319 --> 00:06:44.959 So he's basically like, hey, you know how like a master of a big household sometimes goes to a wedding feast late at night, and then the servants aren't sure when he's going to come back. 00:06:45.120 --> 00:06:49.759 But like a good servant who's doing his job is ready at the door for him to come at any time. 00:06:49.920 --> 00:06:58.720 Jesus is like, you should be like them and ready for the master, that's Jesus, to return at any point. 00:06:58.879 --> 00:06:59.839 What's he talking about? 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:01.680 He's talking about the second coming. 00:07:01.839 --> 00:07:03.199 In chapter 9, we saw it. 00:07:03.360 --> 00:07:05.040 He came once, he's going to come again. 00:07:05.120 --> 00:07:10.399 This is an extremely significant event that he hasn't talked about a whole lot yet. 00:07:10.480 --> 00:07:15.519 And his main point in this first section is he wants you to be ready for it. 00:07:16.079 --> 00:07:18.480 He wants you to be prepared. 00:07:18.720 --> 00:07:35.199 When it says second or third watch of the night, like in ancient times, this basically just meant like the morning hours, like really just obscure times in the morning, like not just coming at a time you don't expect, but maybe a really inconvenient time if he decides to come at the second or third watch, like 12 p.m. 00:07:35.279 --> 00:07:35.519 a.m. 00:07:35.759 --> 00:07:36.480 to 5 a.m. 00:07:36.720 --> 00:07:37.439 kind of thing. 00:07:37.759 --> 00:07:39.839 I have this recurring nightmare. 00:07:40.319 --> 00:07:50.879 That like one day I'm gonna wake up in the middle of the night and we're gonna be home invaded, and I'm gonna have to do like mortal combat with some guy in my living room in my briefs. 00:07:50.959 --> 00:07:52.879 It's like this recurring nightmare that I have. 00:07:53.199 --> 00:07:56.560 And then I watch UFC and I'm like, maybe that's how it's supposed to be, you know? 00:07:57.920 --> 00:07:59.600 It's this recurring nightmare. 00:07:59.759 --> 00:08:03.360 And and so what he's saying is you need to be ready for his return. 00:08:03.600 --> 00:08:05.360 But then how crazy is this? 00:08:06.720 --> 00:08:20.879 Then he goes, basically, what he says is, when I come back, the servants who I find doing what I've asked them to do, ready, I'm gonna serve them. 00:08:21.279 --> 00:08:22.879 Think about how nuts this is. 00:08:23.120 --> 00:08:35.279 The Lord Jesus says, the King of kings, the God of all creation, when he returns, verse 37 says that the master will dress for service himself and come and serve these servants at a table. 00:08:35.440 --> 00:08:37.600 But Jesus is being like, I'm gonna be your waiter. 00:08:37.840 --> 00:08:42.080 Like imagine going to Postino in town, and Jesus walks up and he's like, What are you having? 00:08:42.240 --> 00:08:43.759 It's on me for eternity. 00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:48.159 This is the picture that Jesus gives us for faithful, ready servants. 00:08:48.240 --> 00:08:56.240 That the king of all creation, the one who spoke the universe into creation, into existence, will come and serve us. 00:08:57.360 --> 00:09:11.360 You know, I I don't know of any culture that doesn't that doesn't consider the idea of an Almighty Creator God serving a table for you to be completely insane. 00:09:12.159 --> 00:09:18.320 I mean, in our culture, being served, not serving, is is the apex of existence. 00:09:18.559 --> 00:09:22.240 Accumulating enough wealth and power to be served the rest of your life rather than serving. 00:09:22.320 --> 00:09:27.679 But what we're gonna see even later in Luke is Jesus say, I came not to be served, but to serve. 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:31.120 And to give his life as a ransom for many. 00:09:31.279 --> 00:09:33.759 He will later say these exact words. 00:09:34.000 --> 00:09:45.120 The Lord Jesus, how incredible, the King of kings, who dwells in unapproachable light, wants to serve you at the end of all things, when you've lived your life and you're ready for the next life to begin. 00:09:45.360 --> 00:09:47.279 He wants to serve you. 00:09:49.039 --> 00:09:55.919 You know, this imagery of a feast at the end of all things is a common one that the Bible really likes to use. 00:09:57.600 --> 00:10:01.600 In one text, uh Isaiah, an Old Testament text, says it this way. 00:10:03.679 --> 00:10:08.399 On this mountain, the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food. 00:10:08.639 --> 00:10:15.360 A feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined. 00:10:15.519 --> 00:10:18.960 And then at the end of the Bible, Revelation 19, 9 says it this way. 00:10:19.120 --> 00:10:24.799 And the angel said to me, Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. 00:10:25.039 --> 00:10:29.759 And he said to me, These are the true words of God. 00:10:30.639 --> 00:10:39.600 This feast image is one that Jesus and even the Old Testament loves to use to describe what it will be like for those who are ready for them at the end of all things. 00:10:39.759 --> 00:10:49.919 And if you think about it, like, I don't know about you, but some of my favorite memories of my life is at table with food and drink, with people that I love, warm lighting. 00:10:50.159 --> 00:10:52.399 This is some of the best moments of life. 00:10:52.639 --> 00:11:07.279 Let alone every tear wiped away, let alone every tribe, nation, and tongue gathered at the table with you, let alone all sin and pain and agony removed, let alone that, which is also, by the way, what happens at the feast at the end of all things. 00:11:07.600 --> 00:11:09.120 This is the gospel. 00:11:09.279 --> 00:11:15.519 This is the good news of what Jesus comes to bring to those who love him, to those who have loved his appearing. 00:11:16.559 --> 00:11:18.639 And such good news it is. 00:11:19.919 --> 00:11:22.720 Such an inheritance it is. 00:11:24.960 --> 00:11:26.559 Come quick, Lord. 00:11:27.840 --> 00:11:30.399 And yet that's not the main emphasis of what he wants to talk about here. 00:11:30.480 --> 00:11:32.559 It's a sweet little sidebar. 00:11:33.120 --> 00:11:36.720 The main thing that he wants to talk about here is to be ready. 00:11:37.120 --> 00:11:39.360 This is point number one for verses 35 through 40. 00:11:39.519 --> 00:11:42.320 Be ready for the master's return at any moment. 00:11:42.639 --> 00:11:43.759 That's what he wants to talk about. 00:11:43.840 --> 00:11:46.639 He kind of goes into this like second parable, verse 39. 00:11:46.720 --> 00:11:48.159 Maybe it was a little bit confusing for you. 00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:53.120 He first talks about like being the servants, ready for the master of the house to return from a wedding feast late at night. 00:11:53.200 --> 00:12:00.480 But then he's like, look, any master of a house, if he knows when the thief is going to show up, he's going to be there for it. 00:12:00.639 --> 00:12:01.759 But he doesn't know. 00:12:01.919 --> 00:12:07.200 And so he's like, so too with you, the Son of Man is coming at a time you don't expect. 00:12:07.759 --> 00:12:09.360 You will not expect it. 00:12:09.519 --> 00:12:15.200 Jesus loves this, I mean, this idea of like Jesus coming for the second time like a thief in the night. 00:12:15.360 --> 00:12:17.840 It gets used like all the time in the New Testament. 00:12:17.919 --> 00:12:21.519 I don't know why Jesus and his apostles use this imagery all the time. 00:12:21.679 --> 00:12:23.440 I mean, I personally can relate to it. 00:12:23.519 --> 00:12:30.159 You know, when the when the thief thieves, it seemed like a group of them came and just like in the middle of the vacation and took a bunch of our stuff. 00:12:30.320 --> 00:12:32.000 I mean, it came at a time we didn't expect. 00:12:32.240 --> 00:12:38.159 I walked in the front door and I was just like, what in the walking just in complete and utter shock. 00:12:38.399 --> 00:12:41.440 Jesus is saying, that's what it's gonna be like, bro. 00:12:42.000 --> 00:12:43.759 You will not expect it. 00:12:43.919 --> 00:12:45.759 Might it come in the second or third watch? 00:12:45.840 --> 00:12:48.879 Not just at a time you don't expect, but at a time that's inconvenient? 00:12:49.120 --> 00:12:50.080 We don't know. 00:12:50.320 --> 00:12:55.120 And Jesus is saying that he wants us to be ready. 00:12:56.320 --> 00:12:58.320 He wants us to be ready. 00:12:58.559 --> 00:13:05.600 This is a in literature, this is called an inclusio, where like a segment, a passage, begins with an idea and ends with it. 00:13:05.679 --> 00:13:07.279 Think of it as like literary bookends. 00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:09.840 Basically indicates this is what this whole thing is about. 00:13:10.080 --> 00:13:13.200 What we see Jesus is be dressed, have your lamps lit, be ready. 00:13:13.360 --> 00:13:13.919 The end of the text. 00:13:14.000 --> 00:13:16.559 He's like, Son of man, it's coming at a time that you do not expect. 00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:18.639 This is what he wants to talk about. 00:13:18.879 --> 00:13:21.600 So what does it mean to be ready? 00:13:21.840 --> 00:13:25.840 Or as the Boy Scout motto likes to say, be prepared. 00:13:26.639 --> 00:13:28.799 What does it mean to be prepared? 00:13:28.960 --> 00:13:29.600 To be ready. 00:13:29.759 --> 00:13:31.519 Well, it means a couple different things, I think. 00:13:31.840 --> 00:13:37.200 Thing number one is you're awake, you're aware, you're mentally primed. 00:13:37.279 --> 00:13:42.639 This is what dressed, ready for action, lamp lit, ready to go through any kind of environment, context. 00:13:42.720 --> 00:13:45.279 It's dark, you can see, you're prepared. 00:13:45.440 --> 00:13:47.360 This is what this means to be ready. 00:13:47.679 --> 00:13:50.320 And by the way, he's talking about spiritual readiness. 00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:54.879 He's not talking about, yo, if you're a Baptist, get ready with your khakis on at all times. 00:13:55.039 --> 00:14:00.639 Or at Pentecostal, I got my prayer streamer thing in its holster, ready to praise the name, whenever Jesus comes. 00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:03.519 Or a Christian nationalist, I got my ammo belt, like whatever it is. 00:14:03.600 --> 00:14:08.399 Like, and he's not talking about physically ready, he's talking about spiritually prepared. 00:14:09.279 --> 00:14:10.720 Spiritually prepared. 00:14:10.960 --> 00:14:14.559 What that means is you you hear God's voice. 00:14:14.879 --> 00:14:20.240 When he knocks at the door and he speaks, you're listening and you can respond. 00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:25.039 And not just at the end when he comes, but at any time when he wants to speak. 00:14:25.200 --> 00:14:29.279 At any time when he knocks, and at any time when he wants to talk and direct you. 00:14:29.600 --> 00:14:31.600 This is what ready means. 00:14:31.679 --> 00:14:33.519 This is what awake means. 00:14:34.480 --> 00:14:39.759 Thing number two spiritually ready for Jesus' return means seeking to serve the master. 00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:40.960 That's what the picture is. 00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:42.080 It's servants. 00:14:42.559 --> 00:14:47.039 Jesus, he's not just the master, he's the creator of all things. 00:14:47.279 --> 00:14:52.960 The distance between creation, us, and creator, him, is infinite. 00:14:53.200 --> 00:15:04.639 And one of the things that a ready servant is willing to do is ready to serve, which is to do his will, to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, love people, our neighbor as ourselves. 00:15:04.879 --> 00:15:08.720 It's a person who's ready to serve and do what God has asked. 00:15:08.879 --> 00:15:11.120 Thing number three, it means watching for the signs. 00:15:11.279 --> 00:15:14.879 So Jesus will actually go more into this next week and in later chapters. 00:15:15.120 --> 00:15:22.159 But one of the things he says later is there's actually gonna be things that happen that are gonna signal to you it's close. 00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:24.320 And you need to watch for those things. 00:15:24.480 --> 00:15:33.440 That doesn't mean obsess over them, spend every waking hour on wild YouTube videos and charts and crazy, but you are supposed to be aware. 00:15:33.519 --> 00:15:36.159 He does want you to watch, he does want you to be ready. 00:15:36.399 --> 00:15:38.240 What does the balance of that look like? 00:15:38.399 --> 00:15:39.279 That's thing number three. 00:15:39.440 --> 00:15:40.559 Watch for the signs. 00:15:40.720 --> 00:15:43.600 And thing number four, ultimately being ready. 00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:52.159 Like if you died tomorrow, a life lived that was ready means a life that was always at God's disposal. 00:15:52.559 --> 00:15:56.639 Always ready to do what God has is asking them to do. 00:15:56.799 --> 00:15:59.120 They're focused on it, they're thinking about it throughout the week. 00:15:59.200 --> 00:16:03.919 It's not they're not a Sunday Christian, they're not just a life group Christian. 00:16:04.080 --> 00:16:06.799 Their whole life is devoted to the kingdom of heaven. 00:16:07.200 --> 00:16:10.799 They're aware, they're listening, they're ready to respond. 00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:13.039 This is what readiness is. 00:16:13.120 --> 00:16:26.960 And if you're here today and you're not sure what you believe about Jesus yet, the to be clear, the only way to even begin to be ready for Jesus to come again is to first respond to him in faith. 00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:41.600 The only way to be in a good position when the King of kings comes again in the sky in glory and the dead are raised and all sit before him in judgment is to believe in him with faith. 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:49.600 That's such that you're such that you're brought into his family, that you become one of his servants rather than someone on the outside of the house, to use his metaphor. 00:16:50.559 --> 00:16:56.320 So verses 35 through 40, be ready for the master's return at any moment. 00:16:56.960 --> 00:16:58.960 And uh but he's not done yet. 00:16:59.840 --> 00:17:00.639 He's not done yet. 00:17:00.720 --> 00:17:01.759 Let's see how he finishes this. 00:17:01.919 --> 00:17:04.000 Verses 41 to 48. 00:17:04.400 --> 00:17:05.440 Look at what he says. 00:17:07.359 --> 00:17:11.759 Peter said, Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all? 00:17:12.400 --> 00:17:21.680 And the Lord said, Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household to give them their portion of food at the proper time? 00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:25.920 Blessed is that servant, whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 00:17:26.079 --> 00:17:30.000 Truly I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:51.119 But if that servant says to himself, My master is delayed in coming, and begins to beat the male and female servants, to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him, and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. 00:17:51.839 --> 00:17:59.119 And that servant who knew his master's will, but did not get ready, or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. 00:17:59.359 --> 00:18:04.559 But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. 00:18:04.720 --> 00:18:08.240 For every one to whom much was given, of him much will be required. 00:18:08.480 --> 00:18:13.680 And from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand all the more. 00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:18.240 Point number one was be ready for the master's return at any moment. 00:18:18.400 --> 00:18:24.880 Point number two is your reward corresponds with your faith with your responsibility and faithfulness. 00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:28.079 Your reward corresponds with your responsibility and faithfulness. 00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:34.079 When I say responsibility there, I'm not talking about how much you've been entrusted with, how much influence, how much gifts, how much resource. 00:18:34.160 --> 00:18:34.799 I'm not talking about that. 00:18:34.880 --> 00:18:36.319 I'm talking about what you do with them. 00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:39.519 How responsible are you with your responsibility? 00:18:40.079 --> 00:18:41.519 Obedience, faithfulness. 00:18:41.599 --> 00:18:43.200 This is what the second point is about. 00:18:43.359 --> 00:18:46.799 So it begins with basically Peter, he's like confused. 00:18:46.960 --> 00:18:49.920 He hears the parable of the servants at the door waiting for the master. 00:18:50.160 --> 00:18:55.920 He's like, wait, Lord, are you saying this like, because like if you go earlier in chapter 12, it says Jesus is talking to his disciples. 00:18:56.160 --> 00:18:59.119 And so Peter's like, wait, is that just like for us? 00:18:59.359 --> 00:19:05.920 Like, you know, in theory, the 12 apostles or the broader group of close disciples that Jesus has? 00:19:06.160 --> 00:19:08.640 Is that is that parable for us or for all? 00:19:09.119 --> 00:19:14.720 And Jesus doesn't answer directly at first, but I think does give the answer ultimately. 00:19:14.960 --> 00:19:20.480 Because I think what Jesus actually begins to point to is to answer, quote unquote, for us. 00:19:20.559 --> 00:19:24.480 In other words, leaders, like people who love Jesus that are leaders. 00:19:24.559 --> 00:19:35.119 The parable actually begins, seems to begin to answer that question, because in 42 through 44, Jesus starts talking about what the faithful, quote unquote, manager looks like. 00:19:35.279 --> 00:19:42.480 A person who has been entrusted with the master's household, family members, people that God loves. 00:19:42.640 --> 00:19:45.599 How is the manager treating the household? 00:19:45.759 --> 00:19:49.119 So it seems to begin to be focused on leaders. 00:19:49.359 --> 00:19:55.759 And what Jesus says is blessed is the servant who is faithful with what God entrusted. 00:19:55.920 --> 00:19:59.279 Blessed is the manager, rather, who is faithful with what God entrusts him. 00:19:59.519 --> 00:20:01.920 Blessing people, caring for people. 00:20:02.240 --> 00:20:04.000 The master's family. 00:20:04.319 --> 00:20:09.279 And it's important to remember that when you believe in Jesus with faith, you're saved into a family. 00:20:09.440 --> 00:20:10.720 You're saved into a household. 00:20:10.880 --> 00:20:12.480 You're not saved into isolation. 00:20:12.640 --> 00:20:22.000 This is why in the Bible there's no such thing as a believer who starts to follow Jesus and then just walks away from all other Christian family and faith and community. 00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:23.759 This is not a thing. 00:20:25.119 --> 00:20:33.519 So basically, you need to the point here, guys, is you need to not just be ready, but you also need to be responsible with what Jesus gives you. 00:20:33.680 --> 00:20:35.680 Not just ready, but also responsible. 00:20:35.839 --> 00:20:39.839 Jesus will later tell Peter, feed my sheep. 00:20:40.079 --> 00:20:44.480 He gives him a very specific work, a very specific mission as one of his apostles. 00:20:45.119 --> 00:20:50.400 Don't just be ready, but be responsible with what the Lord entrusts to you. 00:20:50.640 --> 00:20:56.000 A faithful manager gets set over even more when the master returns. 00:20:56.240 --> 00:21:04.880 We saw this last week, this idea of differing degrees of reward, differing degrees of honor, differing degrees of glory in the next life. 00:21:05.119 --> 00:21:11.519 Putting, investing for treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy and thief does not come in and steal. 00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:19.680 We saw Jesus begin to talk about this last week, this idea of degrees of honor in heaven based on obedience and faithfulness. 00:21:20.079 --> 00:21:22.400 Based on obedience and faithfulness. 00:21:22.559 --> 00:21:24.319 Your reward corresponds to that. 00:21:24.480 --> 00:21:26.640 But then Jesus talks about the opposite. 00:21:26.960 --> 00:21:28.880 He talks about the unfaithful. 00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:42.640 So a servant who knows the master, has been given orders by the master, yet takes advantage, abuses, becomes self serving. 00:21:43.119 --> 00:21:47.440 Then Jesus switches this parable in the second section to talking about that. 00:21:47.519 --> 00:21:52.240 This is someone who's not only not ready, but irresponsible and self indulgent. 00:21:54.079 --> 00:21:56.559 I love this image that Jesus gives of drunkenness. 00:21:56.640 --> 00:21:58.480 Like this is a servant who gets drunk. 00:21:58.720 --> 00:21:59.519 Because being drunk. 00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:04.880 Is like the antithetical opposite of being ready. 00:22:05.119 --> 00:22:08.799 Like, talk about someone who can't do anything when the moment comes. 00:22:09.039 --> 00:22:14.319 Like, you know, you're not only being irresponsible, you can't help anyone in any situation. 00:22:14.640 --> 00:22:18.240 Being drunk is definitively being irresponsible. 00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:20.480 You can't care for anyone, but you can hurt them. 00:22:20.640 --> 00:22:24.960 And now look, look, just for the sake of biblical balance, Psalm 104. 00:22:25.119 --> 00:22:28.319 Why did God create wine to gladden the heart of man? 00:22:28.960 --> 00:22:33.279 We just saw the Isaiah picture of a feast of well-aged wine on his mountain at the end of all things. 00:22:33.440 --> 00:22:36.319 Think about Jesus' first miracle, the wedding at Cana. 00:22:36.400 --> 00:22:40.000 He turns like half a jacuzzi of water into wine. 00:22:40.079 --> 00:22:40.640 It's that much. 00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:41.519 It's a lot of quiet. 00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:42.720 The reason? 00:22:42.799 --> 00:22:43.839 It's time to celebrate. 00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:44.319 Okay? 00:22:44.880 --> 00:22:54.400 If some person who's legalistically driven says, whispers into your ear, hey, the Bible says alcohol's okay, but really, the best Christians don't drink any alcohol. 00:22:54.640 --> 00:22:56.559 This is the part where you whisper back. 00:22:56.880 --> 00:22:58.799 Have you heard of communion? 00:23:00.079 --> 00:23:02.079 The Bible teaches abounds with these things. 00:23:02.160 --> 00:23:13.039 He created wine, alcohol to gladden the heart of men, yet very clearly, dozen plus times, he commands us to not get drunk, to be sober of mind. 00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:15.519 The reasons for which are obvious. 00:23:15.839 --> 00:23:20.720 Do not use your freedom to self-indulge, but to love one another, Galatians will say. 00:23:41.200 --> 00:23:43.279 Drunkenness, these images from Jesus are so helpful. 00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:47.920 Like I for I love weddings, and as a pastor, I'm at a lot of weddings all the time. 00:23:48.160 --> 00:23:53.119 You know, there's like for most people, there's this era in their 20s, maybe early 30s, where you go to a thousand weddings. 00:23:53.279 --> 00:23:55.839 For me as a pastor, I go to a thousand weddings every year. 00:23:56.000 --> 00:23:56.880 And it's amazing. 00:23:57.039 --> 00:24:00.559 All these people that I love, the food is awesome, the drink is awesome. 00:24:00.720 --> 00:24:01.759 I love talking with people. 00:24:01.839 --> 00:24:02.720 It's a celebration. 00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:04.240 Like it's literally amazing. 00:24:04.400 --> 00:24:09.440 And you know, my general rule with alcohol is I'll never do more than two in a day. 00:24:09.599 --> 00:24:18.960 Just trying to follow the Bible's, you know, uh pattern for what it means to enjoy alcohol unto God in a healthy and holy way. 00:24:19.200 --> 00:24:25.440 But, you know, the thing about being a pastor at weddings is the Lord just like sets appointments for you. 00:24:25.839 --> 00:24:32.160 I like in the last 10 years, even before I became a pastor, the Lord just starts dialing up these conversations for me. 00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:40.880 Evangelistic conversations, other important conversations where people are sharing stuff with me they'd never shared with anyone, some life crisis. 00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:47.519 It's just like it feels like in half the weddings I'm in, I'm I have this really critical, life-altering conversation with someone. 00:24:47.759 --> 00:25:00.319 And as that kept happening, I was like, man, as much as I want to have one, two drinks and enjoy the time with the homies, I need to be a little more ready than I am. 00:25:00.880 --> 00:25:02.640 I need the edge. 00:25:02.880 --> 00:25:06.960 I need to be prepared for these appointments that God keeps dialing up for me. 00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:13.359 And I kind of realized, like, I felt the Spirit convicting me, like, your readiness level needs to go up at weddings. 00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:17.279 There's a time for you to have up to two, and it ain't now. 00:25:18.079 --> 00:25:21.440 The time for you, Adam, at weddings is zero to one. 00:25:22.400 --> 00:25:27.519 And it was something that the Lord just impressed upon me as a way to be ready. 00:25:27.680 --> 00:25:31.759 The exact imagery that he's talking about here, not just ready, but responsible. 00:25:31.920 --> 00:25:38.000 When God entrusts an image bearer to me going through something, we have to have an important conversation that's gonna impact their life. 00:25:38.640 --> 00:25:43.920 Man, like if Tom Brady is not gonna drink alcohol during the season, I feel like what I'm doing is at least as important. 00:25:47.680 --> 00:25:50.400 You must not only be ready but responsible. 00:25:50.640 --> 00:25:54.480 And now Jesus begins to widen the aperture a little bit, widen the applicability. 00:25:54.559 --> 00:25:55.839 It's not just a manager. 00:25:56.240 --> 00:25:58.799 Peter, Lord, are we talking about for us or for all? 00:25:58.960 --> 00:26:07.279 First it seems for us, first it seems for leaders, but now he's back to talking about servants, the unfaithful servants, some who have heard commands from the master, some who don't. 00:26:07.599 --> 00:26:11.599 The application seems to be getting a lot wider here towards the end of this parable. 00:26:11.920 --> 00:26:17.200 And so then these last three verses about when someone is not responsible. 00:26:17.440 --> 00:26:20.000 Some of y'all are like, oh, I've been waiting for these last three verses. 00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:21.279 A light beating? 00:26:21.440 --> 00:26:22.480 A severe beating? 00:26:22.640 --> 00:26:24.079 What is he talking about? 00:26:24.400 --> 00:26:26.799 So this is a really important doctrine. 00:26:27.279 --> 00:26:32.640 So what happens with this first unfaithful servant is he gets cut to pieces. 00:26:32.880 --> 00:26:34.720 Don't degrade the metaphor. 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:39.440 He gets destroyed, he gets judged and put with the unfaithful. 00:26:39.759 --> 00:26:46.880 And the one who knows the master and the master's commands, yet is still unfaithful, receives a quote-unquote severe beating. 00:26:47.119 --> 00:26:53.759 The one who doesn't know, but still is unfaithful and does what deserves a beating receives a lighter beating. 00:26:53.920 --> 00:26:55.599 What's he talking about? 00:26:56.319 --> 00:26:56.799 When? 00:26:57.039 --> 00:26:57.599 Who? 00:26:58.160 --> 00:26:59.440 When is this happening? 00:26:59.680 --> 00:27:07.839 Well, what this is, is it's a very significant doctrine that shows that there are degrees of consequence in hell. 00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:17.279 There are degrees of punishment in hell based on what you've done in your life, just like there are in heaven. 00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:27.359 Now, to be very, very clear, what the Bible is not saying here is that whether or not you get into heaven or hell is based on how obedient you've been, not good news. 00:27:27.519 --> 00:27:28.799 That is not the gospel. 00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:32.720 The gospel comes to you freely as a gift through faith. 00:27:33.519 --> 00:27:39.119 And yet, there's degrees of consequence in hell. 00:27:39.279 --> 00:27:41.839 There's degrees of reward in heaven. 00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:47.599 That's what he's talking about by a severe being, maybe someone who's heard more about Jesus, or a lighter being, someone who's heard less. 00:27:47.839 --> 00:27:49.359 This is what he's talking about. 00:27:49.519 --> 00:27:51.599 He's talking about it's based on obedience. 00:27:51.680 --> 00:27:58.079 And by the way, this role of judge, determining who gets what, how, and when, this is a role that God sits in, not us. 00:27:58.559 --> 00:28:00.480 Thank God for that, by the way. 00:28:00.640 --> 00:28:10.799 The one who actually sees every heart, who actually sees how much people have been entrusted with, who actually knows how a person's thinking, what they've come from, what they've been given, the resources that they have. 00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:13.759 There is no one who judges more justly than God. 00:28:13.920 --> 00:28:17.920 That is never a seat that you want to sit in, even though we act like we do all the time. 00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:18.720 Never. 00:28:18.880 --> 00:28:22.400 I mean, when you talk about fairness, uh I I just thought of this. 00:28:22.559 --> 00:28:25.279 My brother was on a jury the last couple weeks. 00:28:25.920 --> 00:28:29.200 And it's like, the stakes are high, bro. 00:28:29.440 --> 00:28:33.680 Like this person's getting accused of something that's gonna change their life for decades. 00:28:34.640 --> 00:28:36.559 I sure hope you're listening well. 00:28:36.720 --> 00:28:46.079 I sure hope you're focused on the evidence, and even in a situation where you're not sure what to do, man, the consequences are so high. 00:28:46.400 --> 00:28:50.400 Which is why the judge is a job that God gets. 00:28:51.039 --> 00:29:01.119 Now, when we're talking about degrees of punishment in hell, degrees of reward in heaven, what what we're talking about, maybe you're out there right now, you're like, oh, is this a thing, Adam? 00:29:01.200 --> 00:29:01.759 I never heard this. 00:29:01.839 --> 00:29:02.240 This is a thing. 00:29:02.400 --> 00:29:02.559 Okay? 00:29:02.720 --> 00:29:05.519 Orthodox Christians have believed this throughout all the centuries. 00:29:05.599 --> 00:29:13.920 There's like five, six other passages that talk about this just for hell, let alone rewards in heaven, at which there's probably 30 plus that talk about this. 00:29:14.160 --> 00:29:15.680 It's a really significant doctrine. 00:29:15.920 --> 00:29:17.519 You know what the doctrine points to? 00:29:18.240 --> 00:29:19.119 Fairness. 00:29:20.319 --> 00:29:22.960 There is no one more fair. 00:29:23.519 --> 00:29:26.640 There is no one more just than God. 00:29:29.039 --> 00:29:31.359 There is no one more righteous. 00:29:32.960 --> 00:29:39.200 And hence the main idea: readiness and responsibility lead to reward. 00:29:39.359 --> 00:29:41.359 The Bible talks about this multiple times. 00:29:41.519 --> 00:29:47.359 It's agreed upon by the vast majority of Orthodox Christians through 2,000 years of church history. 00:29:48.720 --> 00:29:50.160 And you might say, but why? 00:29:50.400 --> 00:29:52.880 Again, the answer is because he's perfectly fair. 00:29:53.039 --> 00:29:55.680 Everything is rewarded proportionately and perfectly. 00:29:55.759 --> 00:30:00.240 And I had a teacher in college, he was a hard teacher, a great teacher. 00:30:00.480 --> 00:30:10.480 And before every test, he would pray together with us, and he would pray like this Lord, please bless everyone's test score in accordance to how much they prepared. 00:30:10.799 --> 00:30:12.640 And everyone's like, ugh. 00:30:13.519 --> 00:30:15.200 That's what we're talking about. 00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:16.880 This is what we're talking about. 00:30:17.200 --> 00:30:19.599 And here's the thing that I want you to see. 00:30:21.359 --> 00:30:27.920