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The Parable of the Man Taking a Far Journey
Introduction:
Text - Mark 13:34-37.
This lesson is one of preparation. The final thought Jesus thrusts forth
is "Watch". He noted that things to be done had been assigned, and when
the traveling man came back, he better not find any sleeping on the job.
I. Left His house
A. What is the house of Christ? I
Timothy 3:15 "But if I tarry long,
that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house
of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of
the truth."
1. Who is in charge of it? Ephesians
5:23 "For the husband is the head of
the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour
of the body." Colossians 1:18
"And he is the head of the body, the church: who
is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might
have the preeminence."
2. How, if he is not here? Paul said he was writing Timothy
for this purpose I Timothy 3:14 "These
things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:"
Verse 15, the why - "...that thou mayest know
how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God..."
a. It is through the written word that we receive knowledge,
understanding, and authority
II Timothy 3:14-17
"14. But continue thou in the things which thou
hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned
them; 15. And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which
are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ
Jesus. 16. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17. That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good
works."
b. The commandments of God were written I
Corinthians 14:37-38 "37. If any man
think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the
things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. 38. But
if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant."
c. The Bible is the only way for us to know what is authorized
I Peter 4:11 "If
any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister,
let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things
may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for
ever and ever. Amen."
B. He will came back to His house and give it to the Father
I Corinthians 15:24 "Then
cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even
the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and
power."
1. What He claims will be spotless Ephesians
5:26-27 "26. That he might sanctify
and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27. That he might
present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or
any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."
II. To every man his work
A. Christ expect us to be doing what we can for the
betterment of the Kingdom according to the abilities we have been given
Matthew 25:14-30
B. We will give an answer for all things done II
Corinthians 5:10 "For we must all appear
before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things
done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or
bad."
1. There are no secrets with God Psalms
139:1-9
III. Watch - do not be sleeping
A. The Lord will come II Peter
3:9-10 "9. The Lord is not slack concerning
his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward,
not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
10. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which
the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall
melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall
be burned up."
1. Every eye will see Him Revelation
1:7 "Behold, he cometh with clouds;
and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds
of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen."
a. Every tongue will confess Him Romans
14:11-12 "11. For it is written, As
I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall
confess to God. 12. So then every one of us shall give account of himself
to God."
b. You would not want to be as the unprepared five virgins
Matthew 25:1-13
B. Christians should not be resting, they should be working
I Corinthians 15:58 "Therefore,
my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the
work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain
in the Lord."
1. Christians WAKE Up Romans
13:11-14 "11. And that, knowing the
time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation
nearer than when we believed. 12. The night is far spent, the day is at
hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on
the armour of light. 13. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting
and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the
flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof."
C. The time will come when least expected I
Thessalonians 5:1-9 "1. But of the
times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as
a thief in the night. 3. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then
sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child;
and they shall not escape. 4. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that
that day should overtake you as a thief. 5. Ye are all the children of
light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
7. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are
drunken in the night. 8. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting
on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
9. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our
Lord Jesus Christ."
Conclusion:
Christians need to be working, watching, and remaining
faithful unto death to receive that crown of righteousness.
Copyright 2001 by Brian
Yeager may be reproducted for non-commercial purposes at no cost to others.
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