WEBVTT

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 How many remember that game as a kid or played as a kid, you know, hide and seek?

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 You know, I think that's one of those timeless games that seems to stand the test of time.

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 And one of the things there with that, it's a game that the kids play,

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 but it's a game that involves one seeking those who are trying to hide,

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 and the participants only have a set time to be prepared, you know,

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 before the seeker comes looking for them.

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 And, you know, it's pretty standard that they would call out something, ready or not, here I come.

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 You know, and I want you to understand, as we look this morning,

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 Jesus is telling his disciples that you best be ready because he is coming.

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 And to be ready when he comes, because the reality is you're either going to be ready or you're not.

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 And Jesus here today, we're going to see, instructs his disciples, even for us today,

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 that we need to be ready and watching for his coming.

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 For his return.

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 You know, it's promised.

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 He was very clear.

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 John chapter 14, he says that he will come again and receive them unto himself.

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 You know, he was very clear about what was going to take place.

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 He had set that forth very clearly in the word of God that we'll find.

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 It's by his words that we understand this promise,

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 because he says his words will not pass away, but will stand forever.

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 You know, we looked and finished up there last week here in the Gospel of Mark

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 about Jesus declaring that his word will stand true.

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 And we're going to see as Jesus challenges us here today in Mark chapter 13.

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 So if you found Mark chapter 13 this morning, let's stand and honor the reading of the word of God here together.

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 As we begin, we'll pick up here in verse 32 in our text here today.

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 If you want to follow along in your Bible.

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 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, know not the angels which are in heaven,

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 neither the Son, but the Father.

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 Take ye heed, watch and pray.

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 For you know not when the time is.

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 For the Son of Man is a man taking a far journey, who left his house and gave authority to his servants,

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 and every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.

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 Watch ye therefore, for you know not when the master of the house cometh,

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 at even, or at midnight, or at the cock crowing, or in the morning,

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 lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

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 And what I say unto you, I say unto all, watch.

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 Let's pray.

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 Heavenly Fathers, we just come before you this morning.

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 Lord, we're thankful for your word.

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 We're thankful that you give us what we need to know in order to watch,

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 and what we ought to be watching for.

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 Lord, to have our eyes upon the right things, our eyes upon you,

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 upon your promise of your coming.

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 Lord, we pray just have your hand upon each heart, each life here today.

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 Lord, you know the struggles, the trials of life that people bring in.

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 Lord, we all face different things, Lord, but you know the needs.

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 You know how to meet that need.

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 But Lord, help us above all that no one would leave here today not ready for your return.

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 Lord, we pray just have your will and your way in hearts and lives here today,

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 and we just give you all the praise in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 May we be seated.

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 You know, as we look here in Mark chapter 13, this chapter has been one where Jesus has been

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 answering the disciples' questions about what and when of the future,

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 the plans for the kingdom that were going to come.

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 You know, and it's natural to want to know when to be ready for what's ahead.

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 I mean, by nature, I mean, we want to know that.

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 Even next year, you know, people are asking, you know, what's in store for next year?

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 You know, people will be looking and assuming and desiring certain things to take place in the coming year.

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 You know, we all have a desire to know what's ahead and what's going to happen and when it's going to happen.

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 But we notice here that Jesus answered to them.

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 They wanted to know when the kingdom was going to be established.

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 And Jesus said, hold on, you're missing the point.

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 The point is not to know the day or the hour.

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 The point is to be ready.

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 To be ready for what's coming.

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 Because we know not the day or the hour.

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 We know not the time.

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 We know not those things.

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 And he makes it very clear.

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 He simply, he says to watch.

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 You know, we can look today as to be ready.

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 Be on the ready for what's going on.

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 You know, be ready because the day and the hour is not going to be published.

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 It's not going to be proclaimed.

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 You're not going to get a Facebook notification or emergency management notification ahead of time.

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 It's going to be on us suddenly.

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 I want you to understand he tells us that nobody even knows the hour.

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 And it's important to know that only God knows the time that it will take place.

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 It's a place and time appointed by him.

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 You know, we understand this is very similar as Jesus' first coming was put forth.

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 When?

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 Exactly at the time appointed by God.

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 When he comes again for the saints, it's by the time appointed.

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 We don't know, just like nobody knew exactly the day or the hour Jesus was going to come into the world.

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 Nobody knew exactly the timing of what was going to happen.

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 They knew that it was promised that he was coming, but they did not know the day or the hour.

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 Just as the second, when he comes for his saints, we don't know the day and hour that's going to take place of his return.

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 But we see here that Jesus is telling them and he's giving them this information that we're to take heed to understand the proper response.

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 Jesus says, you guys don't need to know all the things you think you need to know.

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 You know, and I don't know about you, I was thinking about this, you know, sometimes life is better if you don't know.

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 Because you know what happens if we know too much?

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 We start worrying about stuff we can't control anyways.

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 You know?

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 God's sparing us a lot, really, if you consider, that we don't know all the details.

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 Because sometimes it's better that life just comes at you as it comes.

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 The joys along with the sorrows.

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 Because if you knew great joys were going to come, it would kind of ruin the joy.

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 The same thing, great sorrows sometimes.

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 It's better you don't know until you're faced with it.

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 Because all you do is worry about it.

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 We can't worry about those things.

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 And Jesus here is telling the disciples to watch.

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 To take heed.

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 You know, notice in our text here in verse 33, he says this,

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 Take ye heed, watch and pray.

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 Take ye heed.

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 This word heed means to be ready.

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 To understand what he's telling them.

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 It involves being alert to the responsibility of being ready.

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 And what it involves, he uses that term watch.

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 Watch is important to understand.

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 Because, you know, a watch is not the thing you have on your wrist sometimes.

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 You know, some people still use them.

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 You know, an actual watch.

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 And some have a fancy watch that does all sorts of things.

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 And gives them all sorts of details they don't need to know anyways.

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 Because all they do is worry about it.

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 I didn't get my circle closed today.

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 Or somebody else far away closed their circle and they get the notification.

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 You know, it's like...

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 They worry about all sorts of things.

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 It's not the watch on your wrist that Jesus is talking about.

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 It's not watching a screen or watching something like just seeing.

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 Watch here is actually a military type term to be prepared.

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 To be standing guard.

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 To be in your place and prepared.

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 To stand watch is what he's referring to.

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 And to be placed...

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 It's a place you're supposed to be attentive to what's happening.

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 You know, we use this even today.

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 When one is placed on watch, they're not to be distracted from the task of observing all that is occurring.

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 And standing faithfully.

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 Keeping their eyes and ears open.

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 Being alert to what's happening.

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 You know, watching is important.

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 And we're going to find here, I think Jesus talks about three things he attaches that equip us in our watching.

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 Because the first one we find here this morning, he tells us to watch and pray.

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 To watch and pray.

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 You know, we understand here the first area here.

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 He says unto them, watch, watch, watch.

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 This term watch is used four times here in this passage.

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 It goes all the way through and it concludes with a simple thing.

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 Watch.

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 Be prepared.

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 Be ready.

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 It's what he's telling them.

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 But this first area of watch and pray.

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 You know, verse 33 makes it very clear there.

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 Of this, he says to watch and pray.

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 Watch and pray.

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 It's our connecting point on the watch.

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 When we watch, we're to be alert and not asleep.

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 You know, oftentimes it's easy to get weary on watch.

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 You know, like I said, this is a military term.

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 And some of you may have ever had to stand guard duty or stand watch.

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 You know, sometimes standing watch is not easy.

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 Because your job is to be alert and attentive to what's happening.

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 But sometimes it's easy to get distracted.

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 Or to be tired.

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 Or to be drawn away and paying attention to something else you're not supposed to pay attention to.

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 And we see those things that come about in standing watch.

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 But he says to be alert.

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 And one of the best ways to be attentive spiritually is to keep in contact with the headquarters.

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 You know, one of the things you do on watch is check in.

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 You can look at this.

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 When Jesus says watch and pray, he's saying, hey, you better keep checking in regularly.

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 Because it's going to not only help you, but it's going to help you stay focused.

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 To watch and pray.

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 To be connected with him.

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 Regular check-ins help you stay alert.

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 You know, it's not easy.

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 Especially as the time draws on.

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 You know, as Jesus was just a little later, we find that Jesus uses this same analogy directly with his disciples once again.

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 You know, over in the book of Matthew.

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 We find over here in Matthew chapter 26.

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 If you remember, Jesus is getting ready.

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 He's just hours from being crucified on the cross.

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 And he's in a garden.

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 And he, look here in verse 40 of Matthew 26.

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 And he says this,

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 He cometh unto the disciples and findeth them asleep.

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 And he saith unto Peter,

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 What could ye not watch with me one hour?

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 Jesus is using that same illustration, that same factor in that.

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 To watch.

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 But notice what he says.

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 Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation.

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 The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

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 You know, that's just as true today as it was when Jesus said it to Peter.

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 Because if we're to be ready, we need to understand the necessity of praying, of being connected with the Lord.

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 To understand the importance of it.

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 Because we may be willing, but the flesh has other things and other plans sometimes.

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 You know, you can have a desire to do something, but not have the physical capabilities to accomplish it.

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 We need to grab a hold of what Jesus is saying here.

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 To pray and to have that stand watch and to be attentive with prayer.

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 Stay connected with Him.

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 And He makes this application practically to Peter and the other disciples when He brings them to this point.

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 Because prayer keeps us from the temptations of life.

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 It keeps us from being distracted.

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 You know, just as checking in on watch keeps you from being distracted, prayer keeps us from being distracted as we wait for the Lord.

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 To keep on focus of the things He desires.

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 You know, this is something I think Peter really grabbed a hold of from this.

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 He understood, you know, sometimes some of us are harder headed than others.

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 But you know, sometimes certain things connect.

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 You know, look over in the first Peter chapter 4 for a moment.

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 Notice what Peter writes here to us and reminds to us.

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 He says, but the end of all things is at hand.

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 You know what he's telling them?

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 Be ready.

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 He's repeating the same message that Jesus told them.

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 He said, be ready.

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 He said, be ye therefore sober and watch unto prayer.

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 That word sober is being in the right mind, thinking the right way, having the right understanding in our minds.

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 You know, sober is something of our thought process to have it focused correctly.

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 You know, we need to take heed to the warning this morning also as the adversary is doing everything he can to keep you from thinking and doing the way you ought.

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 You know, a little later, Peter writes there in 1 Peter chapter 5.

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 He says this, he says,

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 Humble yourselves therefore unto the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you.

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 Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil, is a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour.

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 When you stand watch, you're on watch for protection.

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 You're on watch from the enemy.

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 You're protecting from those things that are going to come that want to overtake.

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 You know, today we live in an age where we have to be attentive to what's happening.

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 Things come at us today.

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 The one thing about our generation, I think, that's distinct from some in the past,

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 the speed in which things come to us.

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 I mean, I'm old enough to remember when the speed of things coming to you, you had to wait at least till the 5 o'clock news.

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 And if it happened after 10 o'clock at night, you generally didn't hear about it till the next morning.

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 And that was fast.

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 You know, you look back and you get to a generation before mine,

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 and it was like if it didn't come in the morning paper, you didn't hear about it.

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 And the thing is, a lot of people didn't get the paper.

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 I mean, sometimes news came pretty slow.

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 But today we need to be even more attentive, more connected, because things are coming at a faster pace.

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 The faster something comes, the harder it is to deal with it, isn't it?

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 Because sometimes you're not even finished dealing with one thing and something else is trying to bully over.

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 We need to watch.

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 We need to be diligent.

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 We need to pray.

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 Jesus tells us if we're going to be ready, we need to watch and pray.

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 Our watching should cause the right actions.

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 Because look here in verse 34 this morning of the text.

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 He says this.

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 He says,

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 You know, we're to watch and to produce.

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 You know, work.

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 The purpose of work is to produce something.

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 You know, when we do something and we work, there ought to be a production behind it.

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 There ought to be an outcome.

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 There ought to be something that comes from the work.

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 You know, I want you to understand, as we watch, we are to be servants of the living God.

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 If you're saved and born again, you're born into God's family.

00:15:52.040 --> 00:15:57.500
 And God tells us that because of that, we ought to be obedient in following Him.

00:15:57.500 --> 00:16:03.980
 It's important to understand this concept because it's an example Jesus gives here,

00:16:04.220 --> 00:16:08.500
 is that of a businessman that departs to conduct business away,

00:16:08.500 --> 00:16:13.720
 and He leaves His household, and He leaves His servants in charge of His house.

00:16:14.500 --> 00:16:16.139
 They each have an instruction.

00:16:16.340 --> 00:16:18.860
 They each have something they're responsible to accomplish,

00:16:19.799 --> 00:16:21.460
 something they're supposed to get done.

00:16:22.600 --> 00:16:24.080
 You know, that sounds pretty familiar, doesn't it?

00:16:24.740 --> 00:16:27.879
 You know, that's a concept we can grab a hold of even yet today.

00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:31.620
 You know, we have responsibilities that are given to us.

00:16:31.620 --> 00:16:41.919
 But the master leaves his house with the expectation that his servants will faithfully work the task that they've been given.

00:16:43.120 --> 00:16:44.700
 You know, that they're busy doing.

00:16:44.840 --> 00:16:50.820
 Part of the watch was to watch and to produce, to be doing what you ought to be doing.

00:16:51.120 --> 00:16:52.399
 Do you see the picture here?

00:16:53.600 --> 00:16:55.539
 Because notice what He tells us here.

00:16:55.919 --> 00:16:56.320
 He says,

00:16:56.320 --> 00:16:58.000
 For the Son of Man.

00:16:58.500 --> 00:16:59.640
 Who's Jesus talking about?

00:16:59.700 --> 00:16:59.960
 He says,

00:17:00.040 --> 00:17:01.540
 Jesus is talking about Himself.

00:17:02.120 --> 00:17:02.460
 He says,

00:17:02.520 --> 00:17:03.560
 I'm going to go away,

00:17:03.780 --> 00:17:08.039
 and I'm going to leave my servants to accomplish what I've given to them to do.

00:17:08.720 --> 00:17:10.720
 To accomplish that task.

00:17:11.320 --> 00:17:12.480
 To be watching.

00:17:12.840 --> 00:17:13.779
 To be producing.

00:17:13.980 --> 00:17:16.100
 To be functional at what they're doing.

00:17:16.799 --> 00:17:19.860
 He left His house in the hand of the servants,

00:17:20.340 --> 00:17:21.539
 each to their work.

00:17:22.779 --> 00:17:25.620
 Until He returns at the time that they don't know.

00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:28.439
 He doesn't know.

00:17:28.659 --> 00:17:30.599
 Didn't tell them when He was going to return.

00:17:30.720 --> 00:17:30.980
 He said,

00:17:31.099 --> 00:17:31.399
 Work.

00:17:31.740 --> 00:17:32.259
 Produce.

00:17:32.480 --> 00:17:32.960
 Be ready.

00:17:33.319 --> 00:17:33.799
 Watchful.

00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:35.799
 Be busy.

00:17:36.200 --> 00:17:39.539
 You know, this word house here can relate to many things,

00:17:39.639 --> 00:17:43.480
 but I think in the Scripture you can relate this very directly to the local church.

00:17:44.439 --> 00:17:46.379
 Being God's church, it's His house.

00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:50.720
 The house which Jesus left is the assembly of the saints of the living God.

00:17:51.279 --> 00:17:53.500
 You know, a church is not just broad.

00:17:53.500 --> 00:17:55.899
 A church has to have people that are gathering together.

00:17:56.319 --> 00:18:02.539
 The word itself demands physical gathering.

00:18:03.859 --> 00:18:06.579
 It's the only context that's used in Scripture.

00:18:06.980 --> 00:18:07.759
 His house.

00:18:09.079 --> 00:18:10.279
 Now we understand that,

00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:12.179
 yeah, He has many churches.

00:18:12.539 --> 00:18:13.879
 The Bible talks about that.

00:18:14.779 --> 00:18:19.259
 But you know, each of us that gather together as a local church have a responsibility.

00:18:19.259 --> 00:18:23.400
 We all have the same responsibility.

00:18:25.339 --> 00:18:29.519
 Maybe in different locations, but it's the same responsibility.

00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:32.799
 There's no difference in responsibility.

00:18:33.059 --> 00:18:34.839
 There's no difference in command to watch.

00:18:36.740 --> 00:18:37.700
 Watch and to work.

00:18:38.279 --> 00:18:39.339
 Watch and prepare.

00:18:39.779 --> 00:18:41.319
 Watch and produce.

00:18:41.319 --> 00:18:48.539
 You know, 1 Timothy is Paul's talking to young Timothy there in 1 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 15.

00:18:48.980 --> 00:18:49.299
 He says,

00:18:49.379 --> 00:18:53.899
 But if I tarry long that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God,

00:18:54.159 --> 00:18:57.720
 which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

00:18:57.720 --> 00:19:03.620
 You know, one of the things for to be watchful and working is to guard the truth.

00:19:04.680 --> 00:19:11.079
 To be doing those things that God has commanded, following what He has told us to do.

00:19:11.440 --> 00:19:15.420
 And He gives each one in the church a responsibility.

00:19:16.839 --> 00:19:23.559
 Because the church was established with His disciples as He taught and prepared them for the task for which they were going to be given.

00:19:23.559 --> 00:19:26.220
 We see here that He gives each one a task.

00:19:26.419 --> 00:19:27.879
 Each servant has a task.

00:19:28.440 --> 00:19:30.519
 Look there in our text, what He tells them there.

00:19:30.919 --> 00:19:31.419
 As He said,

00:19:31.539 --> 00:19:34.879
 And He left his house and gave authority to His servants.

00:19:35.159 --> 00:19:43.119
 The authority is the means by which they were to work.

00:19:44.799 --> 00:19:47.039
 The authority involves power.

00:19:47.679 --> 00:19:49.200
 It involves the means.

00:19:49.200 --> 00:19:52.980
 It involves what is required to accomplish the task.

00:19:53.559 --> 00:19:56.599
 You'll find when you read this same account in Matthew,

00:19:56.700 --> 00:20:03.619
 He kind of spreads it out a little more and gives some more details of all that Jesus said at this time.

00:20:03.720 --> 00:20:09.919
 And He talks about Jesus giving people talents and being responsible for them.

00:20:10.299 --> 00:20:14.599
 And that picture is the same here that we find that Mark gives.

00:20:14.599 --> 00:20:20.059
 You know, to work until they are to be faithful, to accomplish until the Master returns.

00:20:20.059 --> 00:20:22.059
 He gives authority.

00:20:22.059 --> 00:20:22.460
 He gives authority.

00:20:22.919 --> 00:20:26.879
 You know, that authority involves something because I believe it's very clear in Scripture.

00:20:27.339 --> 00:20:33.460
 1 Corinthians chapter 12, that when you're saved, God gives you what you need to serve Him.

00:20:35.119 --> 00:20:39.139
 God gives you gifts to do and to work and to serve Him.

00:20:41.019 --> 00:20:46.139
 You know, the one thing we've got to get out of our mind that's a common thing today is people think you're saved to sit.

00:20:46.140 --> 00:20:52.320
 No place in the Scripture, when you read this, He says to watch.

00:20:52.680 --> 00:20:53.960
 Watch is not sitting.

00:20:55.540 --> 00:20:56.780
 Watch isn't active.

00:20:58.400 --> 00:20:59.680
 It's participatory.

00:21:01.040 --> 00:21:03.640
 It's being involved, being attentive, being alert.

00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:06.540
 You know, 1 Corinthians chapter 12 and verse 7 says,

00:21:06.680 --> 00:21:11.140
 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit with all.

00:21:11.140 --> 00:21:14.120
 You know, down in verse 11 of that same passage,

00:21:14.220 --> 00:21:18.580
 But all these worketh the one, the self, same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

00:21:18.920 --> 00:21:23.800
 In other words, God gives everybody responsibilities and He gives them the means to do it.

00:21:25.460 --> 00:21:28.540
 You know, I want you to understand, we don't all serve the same way.

00:21:29.800 --> 00:21:34.840
 You don't all serve with exactly the same responsibility or the same place.

00:21:34.839 --> 00:21:39.159
 But if you're saved and you're born again and you're part of a church, you ought to be serving.

00:21:39.659 --> 00:21:41.279
 And a church is where you ought to serve.

00:21:42.679 --> 00:21:44.099
 That's part of that authority.

00:21:44.220 --> 00:21:47.079
 The authority was given to the church, the local church.

00:21:47.159 --> 00:21:48.519
 It wasn't given to generic.

00:21:48.839 --> 00:21:51.639
 It wasn't given to whoever wants to have it.

00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:53.220
 It was given very specifically.

00:21:53.699 --> 00:21:58.299
 And when we understand that, we see how Jesus is telling His disciples here

00:21:58.299 --> 00:22:01.220
 that what was going to task, it was going to be before them.

00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:03.399
 They're worried about when He's going to come again.

00:22:03.400 --> 00:22:06.320
 They had like a horse, you know, with blinders on.

00:22:06.640 --> 00:22:09.800
 You know, oftentimes when we look at the disciples, you think of kids.

00:22:11.360 --> 00:22:11.620
 You know?

00:22:12.440 --> 00:22:15.540
 As kids grow up, you know, and especially, you know, the little ones,

00:22:15.580 --> 00:22:18.600
 as they get, you know, four, five, six years old, man, they get pretty blinded.

00:22:20.420 --> 00:22:22.360
 You try to distract them with something and it's like,

00:22:22.400 --> 00:22:24.140
 nope, this is what I want, this is what I want, this is what I want.

00:22:25.320 --> 00:22:25.759
 You know?

00:22:26.519 --> 00:22:28.740
 I need the cookie, I need the cookie, I need the cookie.

00:22:28.740 --> 00:22:34.980
 The disciples got blinded by the blinders of just looking at what they wanted to see.

00:22:35.259 --> 00:22:37.200
 And we have to be careful that we don't do the same.

00:22:37.539 --> 00:22:40.960
 Because sometimes we think, well, this is the part I like, so I'll take that

00:22:40.960 --> 00:22:42.640
 and I'll forget about the stuff I don't like.

00:22:44.460 --> 00:22:46.400
 But to serve Him involves all of it.

00:22:47.859 --> 00:22:48.740
 That's part of the responsibility.

00:22:49.640 --> 00:22:51.140
 It's just like standing watch.

00:22:51.900 --> 00:22:54.460
 If you've ever stood watch, there's some good things about it

00:22:54.460 --> 00:22:55.799
 and there's some horrible things about it.

00:22:57.220 --> 00:22:58.779
 But the problem is you get both.

00:22:59.000 --> 00:22:59.860
 You don't get a choice.

00:23:01.220 --> 00:23:03.779
 Because if you're going to fulfill the task, both are involved.

00:23:04.079 --> 00:23:04.720
 Both are there.

00:23:04.819 --> 00:23:07.140
 Every believer is given work to do.

00:23:07.700 --> 00:23:09.500
 You know, when you become a child of God,

00:23:09.559 --> 00:23:12.980
 you receive a gift to use in service for the Master.

00:23:13.819 --> 00:23:16.559
 You know, think about Ephesians chapter 2 and verse 10.

00:23:16.559 --> 00:23:17.220
 He says,

00:23:17.220 --> 00:23:33.079
 Now, I want to make something clear because we have people today who try to promote that,

00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:35.640
 well, I do good works to please Him.

00:23:35.720 --> 00:23:38.799
 I want you to understand there's no nothing you can do to please God

00:23:38.799 --> 00:23:41.200
 until you first call upon Him as Savior.

00:23:41.200 --> 00:23:44.840
 You can please Him as a faithful servant,

00:23:45.259 --> 00:23:49.180
 but you cannot please Him as one that doesn't recognize Him for who He is.

00:23:49.960 --> 00:23:52.640
 You cannot earn yourself a place in heaven.

00:23:54.160 --> 00:23:57.120
 But if you're going to heaven, Jesus says you ought to be involved.

00:23:58.380 --> 00:24:00.779
 There ought to be some good things that you are doing.

00:24:01.920 --> 00:24:04.819
 The good work that Jesus has for us.

00:24:06.299 --> 00:24:09.539
 As a matter of fact, those that do not serve or are unwilling

00:24:09.539 --> 00:24:11.859
 need to get with the Lord about that

00:24:11.859 --> 00:24:15.720
 because, you know, James illustrates this for us in a practical way.

00:24:15.799 --> 00:24:17.859
 Look over to the book of James chapter 2.

00:24:18.599 --> 00:24:22.099
 James chapter 2 puts this, I believe, in a very practical context

00:24:22.099 --> 00:24:26.519
 because this is that idea you didn't get saved to sit.

00:24:28.319 --> 00:24:29.200
 Notice what he says.

00:24:29.259 --> 00:24:31.480
 Yea, a man may say, thou hast faith.

00:24:31.579 --> 00:24:33.379
 You know, there's many who say, I believe.

00:24:33.859 --> 00:24:37.200
 But, you know, when it says, I believe, but I only want to do it my way.

00:24:37.519 --> 00:24:38.200
 You know what they're saying?

00:24:38.200 --> 00:24:40.640
 And my faith is all I have.

00:24:40.880 --> 00:24:45.860
 You know, I have something that's verbal or intelligent in my mind,

00:24:45.940 --> 00:24:47.440
 but it doesn't play out.

00:24:48.860 --> 00:24:51.019
 We're saved unto good works.

00:24:52.019 --> 00:24:54.180
 Notice what James is telling us here.

00:24:54.519 --> 00:24:56.100
 He says, and I have works.

00:24:56.400 --> 00:24:58.380
 Show me thy faith without thy works.

00:24:58.440 --> 00:24:59.380
 That's a great question.

00:24:59.380 --> 00:25:04.640
 Because if you really believe something, it will involve actions around it.

00:25:06.040 --> 00:25:07.480
 It'll involve priorities.

00:25:07.840 --> 00:25:13.300
 If you believe something to be true, you will take and change priorities to put it as a priority.

00:25:13.820 --> 00:25:15.000
 To put it first.

00:25:15.460 --> 00:25:17.000
 To put it where it ought to be.

00:25:17.620 --> 00:25:18.440
 You know, he says this.

00:25:18.500 --> 00:25:21.360
 He says, and I will show thee my faith by my works.

00:25:21.600 --> 00:25:24.700
 Now, I want you to understand, James isn't saying I'm working to get saved.

00:25:24.700 --> 00:25:30.660
 James is saying, I want you to know that I'm saved because I'm doing the works that God's told me to do.

00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:33.220
 I'm active.

00:25:34.259 --> 00:25:35.279
 I'm involved.

00:25:36.819 --> 00:25:38.519
 To be a part of those things.

00:25:38.640 --> 00:25:43.140
 Simply, it's not faith or works, but faith that leads to action.

00:25:43.640 --> 00:25:44.000
 Work.

00:25:44.259 --> 00:25:46.019
 The work that God has assigned.

00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:48.940
 You see, has given you the authority to do it.

00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:49.980
 What does this mean?

00:25:50.420 --> 00:25:52.599
 You know, that's a great question when it comes to authority.

00:25:52.960 --> 00:25:56.099
 The idea of authority here is capacity and strength to accomplish.

00:25:56.500 --> 00:25:58.860
 In other words, if God gives you a task, something to do,

00:25:58.920 --> 00:26:02.599
 he says, I'm going to give you what is needed to accomplish the task.

00:26:03.759 --> 00:26:05.019
 I'm going to equip you.

00:26:05.079 --> 00:26:06.099
 I'm going to prepare you.

00:26:06.319 --> 00:26:08.059
 I'm going to give you what's required.

00:26:08.160 --> 00:26:12.940
 It's to be accomplished in and through his house, the assembly of the saints.

00:26:13.319 --> 00:26:15.900
 Notice he leaves his house with his servants.

00:26:16.360 --> 00:26:18.579
 You know, Colossians chapter 3 and verse 21.

00:26:18.799 --> 00:26:19.880
 Look at this with me.

00:26:19.880 --> 00:26:21.400
 This morning over in Colossians 3.

00:26:22.300 --> 00:26:24.440
 Colossians 3 and verse 24 says this,

00:26:24.520 --> 00:26:27.420
 Knowing that the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance,

00:26:27.560 --> 00:26:30.100
 for ye serve the Lord Christ.

00:26:30.380 --> 00:26:33.440
 In the New Testament, you'll find oftentimes it's serve.

00:26:33.920 --> 00:26:39.200
 You go back in the Old Testament, it speaks a lot about those who served the Lord.

00:26:40.980 --> 00:26:42.200
 Joshua was very clear.

00:26:42.320 --> 00:26:43.820
 Choose this day whom you will what?

00:26:44.580 --> 00:26:44.940
 Serve.

00:26:45.520 --> 00:26:48.480
 You know, in light of this, there's a few questions we need to ask.

00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:50.839
 Especially, you know, we're getting to get into a new year,

00:26:50.900 --> 00:26:53.440
 and it's always a good time to ask questions at the beginning of a year,

00:26:53.519 --> 00:26:57.200
 because for some reason we think a little differently about what's to come.

00:26:57.279 --> 00:26:58.319
 We think about change.

00:26:58.380 --> 00:27:00.500
 We think about what the last year's been.

00:27:00.579 --> 00:27:02.259
 We think about what it is to go forward.

00:27:03.940 --> 00:27:05.319
 You know, something that we ought to ask,

00:27:05.319 --> 00:27:08.279
 if you're saved, what is it that the Lord wants you to do?

00:27:08.579 --> 00:27:09.539
 Where are you to be involved?

00:27:11.079 --> 00:27:11.859
 What's your part?

00:27:13.819 --> 00:27:16.299
 Because we already know clearly He didn't save you to sit.

00:27:16.460 --> 00:27:18.139
 He didn't save you to hold space.

00:27:18.359 --> 00:27:19.419
 He saved you to serve.

00:27:19.960 --> 00:27:21.419
 You know, maybe you know what you ought to do,

00:27:21.480 --> 00:27:23.579
 but the next question that follows up, are you doing it?

00:27:25.559 --> 00:27:27.339
 Because that's still another question, isn't it?

00:27:27.500 --> 00:27:28.859
 Because the Bible makes it very clear.

00:27:28.939 --> 00:27:31.200
 We can know to do something and choose not to do it.

00:27:31.339 --> 00:27:32.099
 That's pretty clear.

00:27:32.099 --> 00:27:34.559
 Have you ever asked somebody, you know, when you confront somebody about something,

00:27:34.619 --> 00:27:35.759
 well, I know what I should have done.

00:27:37.699 --> 00:27:38.639
 What's really the problem?

00:27:38.719 --> 00:27:40.179
 It wasn't knowledge or information.

00:27:41.559 --> 00:27:42.879
 It was choice and action.

00:27:44.799 --> 00:27:47.059
 I know what I should have done, but I wanted to do,

00:27:48.059 --> 00:27:49.279
 you can fill in the blank.

00:27:51.159 --> 00:27:53.500
 To go their own direction, to do their own thing.

00:27:53.759 --> 00:27:56.939
 The third question you can consider as we get ready to go into a new year,

00:27:57.000 --> 00:27:58.799
 are you willing to ask Him if you don't know?

00:27:59.099 --> 00:27:59.919
 Maybe you need to ask Him,

00:27:59.919 --> 00:28:01.740
 is there something new you want me to do?

00:28:02.099 --> 00:28:04.219
 Something different.

00:28:05.519 --> 00:28:06.919
 Something in addition to.

00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:08.939
 You know, God does that.

00:28:09.000 --> 00:28:11.619
 He sometimes adds responsibilities.

00:28:12.099 --> 00:28:14.119
 You know, as you grow and mature, that's a reality.

00:28:16.039 --> 00:28:19.740
 You know, as a young man, you're responsible to train yourself,

00:28:20.059 --> 00:28:21.199
 to be what you ought to be,

00:28:21.419 --> 00:28:23.240
 but then God gives you a wife,

00:28:23.299 --> 00:28:25.000
 and now you've got a whole new set of responsibilities.

00:28:25.539 --> 00:28:27.500
 And you find out all the ones you didn't know about.

00:28:27.500 --> 00:28:31.640
 And all the expectations you didn't know about sometimes.

00:28:32.019 --> 00:28:34.500
 You know, and sometimes I get, you know,

00:28:34.839 --> 00:28:37.920
 sometimes it's good not to enter in not knowing certain things

00:28:37.920 --> 00:28:39.579
 and to grow and mature as you go through.

00:28:39.900 --> 00:28:42.839
 But we have to grow, and sometimes responsibilities change.

00:28:44.519 --> 00:28:46.279
 Sometimes we have additional ones.

00:28:46.279 --> 00:28:50.539
 Because one day, the important thing we need to keep in mind

00:28:50.539 --> 00:28:52.420
 is your work will be assessed.

00:28:53.079 --> 00:28:54.039
 Don't you like assessments?

00:28:54.379 --> 00:28:54.799
 Sit down.

00:28:54.980 --> 00:28:56.879
 Let's talk about your work last year.

00:28:57.180 --> 00:28:58.559
 You know, the reality is one day,

00:28:59.559 --> 00:29:03.779
 if you're a believer, the Bible tells us we're not going to be judged for our sin,

00:29:03.839 --> 00:29:05.480
 but we will be judged for our works.

00:29:05.480 --> 00:29:10.900
 Because if you're saved, your sin is now under the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:29:12.839 --> 00:29:15.839
 The Bible says it's removed as far as the east is from the west.

00:29:16.019 --> 00:29:17.940
 But he tells us that we get a different judgment.

00:29:19.480 --> 00:29:21.720
 He says we're going to be held account for what we do.

00:29:23.360 --> 00:29:25.059
 That's what Jesus is talking about here,

00:29:25.140 --> 00:29:28.120
 that his servants had authority and given a task.

00:29:29.180 --> 00:29:31.980
 1 Corinthians chapter 3 and verse 13 says,

00:29:31.980 --> 00:29:34.460
 Every man's work shall be made manifest,

00:29:34.720 --> 00:29:36.000
 for the day shall declare it,

00:29:36.240 --> 00:29:38.120
 because it shall be revealed by fire,

00:29:38.180 --> 00:29:41.079
 and fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

00:29:41.299 --> 00:29:47.539
 1 Corinthians here is not speaking to people who don't know Christ.

00:29:48.039 --> 00:29:48.440
 Context.

00:29:48.500 --> 00:29:50.620
 Always remember, context in Scripture is important.

00:29:52.039 --> 00:29:53.279
 Who is it written to?

00:29:55.339 --> 00:29:56.380
 You know, have you ever heard somebody say,

00:29:56.440 --> 00:29:58.500
 well, all the promises of the Bible are mine?

00:29:58.559 --> 00:29:59.740
 I tell them, I hope not.

00:29:59.980 --> 00:30:01.660
 God's made some promises to the wicked.

00:30:01.660 --> 00:30:03.660
 I'm glad that under the blood of Jesus,

00:30:03.800 --> 00:30:04.860
 I don't have to deal with it.

00:30:05.000 --> 00:30:07.920
 I'm thankful his promise as a believer is a different accountability.

00:30:08.380 --> 00:30:11.560
 We've got to be thankful because he will judge what sort it is.

00:30:12.759 --> 00:30:16.300
 He tells them here to understand in the picture

00:30:16.300 --> 00:30:19.740
 and to give authority to his servants and every man to his work.

00:30:20.080 --> 00:30:22.140
 We're to be ready by watching and praying,

00:30:22.320 --> 00:30:23.360
 watching and producing.

00:30:24.580 --> 00:30:27.540
 But I think one thing here that oftentimes we forget also

00:30:27.540 --> 00:30:28.940
 that we're commanded to protect.

00:30:29.720 --> 00:30:31.180
 We're to watch and protect.

00:30:31.180 --> 00:30:32.200
 Notice that next phrase.

00:30:32.299 --> 00:30:33.560
 He gives something to the porter.

00:30:35.259 --> 00:30:36.920
 The porter is the gatekeeper.

00:30:38.620 --> 00:30:41.799
 The porter is the one that controls access to the household.

00:30:43.160 --> 00:30:45.519
 There's a responsibility as the porter

00:30:45.519 --> 00:30:48.700
 that's different from even the other servants.

00:30:48.700 --> 00:30:53.960
 His responsibility as the porter is to guard the house,

00:30:53.960 --> 00:30:56.259
 to make sure what's coming, what's going,

00:30:56.380 --> 00:30:58.940
 and things are right, things are going the way it ought to go.

00:31:00.620 --> 00:31:03.299
 He commanded the porter there in verse 34,

00:31:03.680 --> 00:31:06.420
 and commanded the porter to watch, to watch.

00:31:06.480 --> 00:31:09.620
 He commanded the porter to watch, to be attentive to danger

00:31:09.620 --> 00:31:12.860
 until the master returns.

00:31:12.859 --> 00:31:17.199
 You know, the porter or gatekeeper would have been part of what you might say

00:31:17.199 --> 00:31:18.599
 the security of the house.

00:31:18.599 --> 00:31:20.699
 But when we watch, we have to protect.

00:31:21.839 --> 00:31:23.679
 There's some things we need to protect.

00:31:25.659 --> 00:31:29.819
 God gives us some things that we must protect and grab a hold of.

00:31:30.099 --> 00:31:32.639
 2 John chapter 1 and verse 10 says,

00:31:32.640 --> 00:31:35.100
 If they're coming in into you that bring not this doctrine,

00:31:35.220 --> 00:31:36.900
 receive him not into your house,

00:31:37.340 --> 00:31:38.960
 neither bid him God's speed.

00:31:39.320 --> 00:31:42.300
 You know, the principle here that we can apply from this

00:31:42.300 --> 00:31:44.540
 in context is like,

00:31:44.700 --> 00:31:46.640
 if somebody's bringing crazy doctrine,

00:31:46.880 --> 00:31:48.259
 it needs to be dealt with.

00:31:49.640 --> 00:31:50.820
 Doctrine contrary.

00:31:51.600 --> 00:31:54.259
 It's necessary to protect sound doctrine.

00:31:54.880 --> 00:31:57.100
 Not let falsehoods creep in.

00:31:57.680 --> 00:31:59.920
 You know, Paul, when he was writing to young Timothy there

00:31:59.920 --> 00:32:01.440
 in 1 Timothy chapter 4,

00:32:01.440 --> 00:32:02.200
 he says,

00:32:02.340 --> 00:32:05.120
 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times

00:32:05.120 --> 00:32:07.120
 some shall depart from the faith,

00:32:07.220 --> 00:32:10.480
 giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.

00:32:10.600 --> 00:32:11.720
 I hope you're paying attention.

00:32:11.840 --> 00:32:13.700
 There's a lot of doctrines of devils

00:32:13.700 --> 00:32:15.840
 and seducing spirits running around today.

00:32:16.140 --> 00:32:18.180
 And the danger with it is they're subtle.

00:32:18.460 --> 00:32:21.100
 You know how you identify them?

00:32:21.160 --> 00:32:24.120
 The first thing you do is you start looking at what they mean

00:32:24.120 --> 00:32:24.900
 by what they say,

00:32:24.980 --> 00:32:26.620
 because the problem is they use the same language.

00:32:26.980 --> 00:32:28.320
 You know, language is important

00:32:28.320 --> 00:32:30.519
 because not only is language important,

00:32:30.519 --> 00:32:32.639
 what a word means is important.

00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:34.920
 You know, I kind of learned that one time,

00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:35.920
 but you know, it's interesting.

00:32:36.139 --> 00:32:36.839
 When we write,

00:32:37.200 --> 00:32:39.299
 when our government officials write laws,

00:32:41.139 --> 00:32:41.579
 I don't know,

00:32:41.639 --> 00:32:43.039
 most people probably don't realize

00:32:43.039 --> 00:32:44.319
 at the end of every law,

00:32:44.420 --> 00:32:47.180
 if there's a word that has a specific meaning in the law,

00:32:47.339 --> 00:32:49.059
 they give a definition at the end.

00:32:49.059 --> 00:32:54.460
 How is this word used in this context?

00:32:54.679 --> 00:32:55.759
 Why do they do that?

00:32:57.119 --> 00:32:58.319
 Because you know what people do?

00:32:58.379 --> 00:33:01.059
 If you don't give the definition to a word of what it means,

00:33:02.059 --> 00:33:03.659
 what do people do with that?

00:33:03.720 --> 00:33:06.659
 Well, I think it means whatever.

00:33:06.940 --> 00:33:09.379
 They might use the same word with a different meaning.

00:33:11.539 --> 00:33:14.779
 The seducing spirits today use biblical terms

00:33:14.779 --> 00:33:15.980
 with different meanings.

00:33:15.980 --> 00:33:18.000
 When you start defining terms,

00:33:18.099 --> 00:33:18.759
 you'll find out.

00:33:18.860 --> 00:33:20.680
 Oftentimes, well, they're the same.

00:33:20.799 --> 00:33:22.460
 Well, no, let's define terms

00:33:22.460 --> 00:33:23.380
 and see what that means.

00:33:26.160 --> 00:33:27.259
 How is that applied?

00:33:27.400 --> 00:33:28.299
 What does that look like?

00:33:28.360 --> 00:33:29.900
 How does the Bible describe it?

00:33:30.099 --> 00:33:31.880
 Let me just give you a commonplace one

00:33:31.880 --> 00:33:34.279
 that we've had for millennia.

00:33:35.240 --> 00:33:36.660
 Let's just look at the term baptism.

00:33:37.079 --> 00:33:38.940
 When you say somebody was baptized today,

00:33:39.059 --> 00:33:40.160
 there's some of their definitions,

00:33:40.380 --> 00:33:41.539
 somebody threw some water on them.

00:33:41.539 --> 00:33:44.539
 That's not the same definition.

00:33:47.359 --> 00:33:50.759
 The word in Scripture clearly expresses immersion,

00:33:51.139 --> 00:33:53.059
 and there's other things associated with it

00:33:53.059 --> 00:33:55.220
 in the New Testament that deal with authority

00:33:55.220 --> 00:33:56.740
 and deals with the candidate.

00:33:57.940 --> 00:33:59.599
 You know, not just anybody can be baptized.

00:34:01.359 --> 00:34:03.379
 There's some prerequisites to baptism.

00:34:03.380 --> 00:34:06.740
 It's called salvation.

00:34:08.039 --> 00:34:09.579
 Baptism doesn't save you.

00:34:09.660 --> 00:34:10.700
 It's supposed to be a picture.

00:34:12.460 --> 00:34:14.480
 It pictures the death, burial, and resurrection

00:34:14.480 --> 00:34:16.740
 of Jesus Christ, what He did for you.

00:34:18.059 --> 00:34:20.740
 It's a picture of what's already happened inwardly

00:34:20.740 --> 00:34:23.820
 as an outward expression to everybody else.

00:34:23.900 --> 00:34:25.480
 It's a testimony to everybody else

00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:28.440
 that says, I've been changed by what Jesus Christ did.

00:34:28.440 --> 00:34:32.019
 You don't come up out of the water any different

00:34:32.019 --> 00:34:32.740
 than you went in.

00:34:33.780 --> 00:34:35.619
 Because if you weren't changed before you got there,

00:34:35.679 --> 00:34:37.039
 you're no more changed when you come up.

00:34:37.599 --> 00:34:39.139
 Baptism, different terms.

00:34:39.800 --> 00:34:41.440
 Salvation, people have different terms.

00:34:43.119 --> 00:34:45.480
 Defining terms is important

00:34:45.480 --> 00:34:48.480
 because notice what he says, verse 2.

00:34:48.579 --> 00:34:50.179
 It says, speaking lies and hypocrisy,

00:34:50.280 --> 00:34:52.280
 having their conscience seared with a hot iron.

00:34:52.539 --> 00:34:53.880
 You know, you have crazies that say

00:34:53.880 --> 00:34:55.200
 they made covenants with God

00:34:55.200 --> 00:34:57.200
 that they're going to live to be 120 years old.

00:34:57.199 --> 00:34:59.559
 I mean, there's all sorts of lunatics out there.

00:34:59.919 --> 00:35:01.199
 Forbidding to marry and commanding

00:35:01.199 --> 00:35:03.059
 to abstain from meats with God created

00:35:03.059 --> 00:35:04.679
 to be received with thanksgiving of them

00:35:04.679 --> 00:35:07.179
 that which believe and know the truth.

00:35:07.439 --> 00:35:09.480
 You know, the porter is to guard the truth.

00:35:09.779 --> 00:35:11.619
 The truth is our responsibility.

00:35:12.659 --> 00:35:15.259
 1 Timothy chapter 4, verse 13 says this,

00:35:15.319 --> 00:35:17.099
 till I come, give attendance to reading,

00:35:17.219 --> 00:35:19.000
 to exhortation, to doctrine.

00:35:19.399 --> 00:35:20.619
 You know, one thing you'll hear people say,

00:35:20.679 --> 00:35:21.579
 doctrine divides.

00:35:21.719 --> 00:35:22.359
 Yes, it does.

00:35:22.360 --> 00:35:26.920
 Doctrine divides the same way

00:35:26.920 --> 00:35:30.539
 a Webster's dictionary separates words.

00:35:32.260 --> 00:35:35.900
 How it's defined separates.

00:35:36.360 --> 00:35:38.640
 Just like the term we're using this morning, watch.

00:35:38.860 --> 00:35:40.780
 The context of the definition

00:35:40.780 --> 00:35:42.579
 in which you're using changes everything.

00:35:42.860 --> 00:35:45.099
 Because if you use a modern definition of watch

00:35:45.099 --> 00:35:46.240
 that most people would assume,

00:35:46.340 --> 00:35:46.760
 it would be saying,

00:35:46.840 --> 00:35:48.599
 Jesus says, sit on the sidelines, watch.

00:35:48.800 --> 00:35:49.980
 That's not what it means, does it?

00:35:49.980 --> 00:35:53.119
 That's not how the term is used.

00:35:53.219 --> 00:35:54.199
 That's not the context

00:35:54.199 --> 00:35:55.519
 of the definition of the word.

00:35:55.800 --> 00:35:57.980
 He didn't tell you to sit and to observe.

00:35:58.380 --> 00:36:00.119
 He said to be attentive and to work.

00:36:01.099 --> 00:36:02.000
 To be busy.

00:36:03.480 --> 00:36:04.780
 To be paying attention.

00:36:05.920 --> 00:36:07.019
 Definition is important.

00:36:08.639 --> 00:36:10.360
 It says this in verse 16.

00:36:10.500 --> 00:36:11.679
 It says, take heed to thyself

00:36:11.679 --> 00:36:13.579
 and unto the doctrine, continue in them.

00:36:13.900 --> 00:36:16.079
 For in this thou shalt save thyself

00:36:16.079 --> 00:36:17.460
 and them that hear thee.

00:36:17.460 --> 00:36:19.960
 I'm just going to give another application here.

00:36:19.980 --> 00:36:23.039
 I'm going to talk to the guys for a moment.

00:36:23.119 --> 00:36:25.139
 Guys, you are the gatekeeper to your house.

00:36:27.400 --> 00:36:29.320
 You are the porter to your household.

00:36:30.820 --> 00:36:32.179
 You have a responsibility

00:36:32.179 --> 00:36:33.800
 to protect those within it.

00:36:34.000 --> 00:36:35.599
 That's a God-given responsibility

00:36:35.599 --> 00:36:37.000
 that applies down.

00:36:38.639 --> 00:36:40.360
 You know, Jesus makes it clear

00:36:40.360 --> 00:36:41.619
 one day he's going to come

00:36:41.619 --> 00:36:44.539
 and the question is,

00:36:44.579 --> 00:36:45.860
 is he going to find you watching

00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:46.900
 or find you sleeping?

00:36:46.900 --> 00:36:50.340
 Look at verse 35 in our text.

00:36:50.539 --> 00:36:51.340
 Watch ye therefore,

00:36:51.500 --> 00:36:53.860
 for ye know not when the master of the house

00:36:53.860 --> 00:36:55.660
 cometh at evening or at midnight

00:36:55.660 --> 00:36:57.340
 or at the cockcrowing or in the morning.

00:36:58.460 --> 00:37:01.039
 Lest coming suddenly he finds you what?

00:37:02.639 --> 00:37:03.039
 Sleeping.

00:37:03.639 --> 00:37:05.019
 You know, Jesus makes it clear

00:37:05.019 --> 00:37:05.920
 and he says unto them,

00:37:05.980 --> 00:37:07.019
 look at verse 37,

00:37:07.019 --> 00:37:08.619
 and what I say unto you,

00:37:08.699 --> 00:37:11.800
 I say unto all.

00:37:13.800 --> 00:37:15.059
 That's where Jesus takes

00:37:15.059 --> 00:37:17.019
 what he's speaking directly to the disciples

00:37:17.019 --> 00:37:18.139
 and makes it,

00:37:18.440 --> 00:37:20.039
 now he moves it from personal

00:37:20.039 --> 00:37:20.820
 just to them,

00:37:21.019 --> 00:37:21.639
 to everybody.

00:37:21.920 --> 00:37:23.420
 And he ends it simply with,

00:37:24.079 --> 00:37:24.679
 watch.

00:37:24.960 --> 00:37:25.599
 Be attentive.

00:37:25.800 --> 00:37:26.619
 Be in your place.

00:37:27.000 --> 00:37:27.139
 You know,

00:37:27.179 --> 00:37:29.019
 what can we take away from all this?

00:37:29.280 --> 00:37:29.460
 You know,

00:37:29.500 --> 00:37:30.159
 simply this,

00:37:30.259 --> 00:37:31.139
 Jesus is coming

00:37:31.139 --> 00:37:32.239
 whether you're ready or not.

00:37:32.480 --> 00:37:33.400
 He says he's going to return.

00:37:33.660 --> 00:37:34.619
 It's not an if,

00:37:35.440 --> 00:37:36.900
 it's a when.

00:37:37.079 --> 00:37:38.099
 The question is,

00:37:38.139 --> 00:37:38.840
 are you going to be ready?

00:37:39.099 --> 00:37:40.019
 The good news is,

00:37:40.079 --> 00:37:40.760
 if you aren't ready,

00:37:40.820 --> 00:37:41.400
 you can be.

00:37:41.599 --> 00:37:42.420
 That's the good part.

00:37:43.420 --> 00:37:44.500
 Because there's still time.

00:37:46.260 --> 00:37:47.340
 If you are ready,

00:37:47.400 --> 00:37:48.160
 you ought to be praying,

00:37:48.340 --> 00:37:48.780
 producing,

00:37:48.900 --> 00:37:50.400
 and protecting for the master

00:37:50.400 --> 00:37:52.700
 who could return at any time.

00:37:53.019 --> 00:37:53.200
 You know,

00:37:53.220 --> 00:37:53.680
 this morning,

00:37:53.760 --> 00:37:55.500
 I don't know where this message

00:37:56.280 --> 00:37:58.420
 might land upon your heart and mind,

00:37:58.420 --> 00:38:00.180
 but today the most important part

00:38:00.180 --> 00:38:01.340
 is to be ready first.

00:38:03.400 --> 00:38:04.920
 If you don't know Christ as your Savior,

00:38:05.079 --> 00:38:05.740
 I'd encourage you,

00:38:05.800 --> 00:38:06.599
 the day would be the day

00:38:06.599 --> 00:38:07.539
 that you call upon him.

00:38:07.579 --> 00:38:08.500
 Make sure of that.

00:38:10.500 --> 00:38:11.519
 Because without that,

00:38:11.579 --> 00:38:12.460
 you'll never be ready.

00:38:12.700 --> 00:38:14.300
 That's the first step of preparedness.

00:38:14.800 --> 00:38:15.579
 It's a security.

00:38:16.139 --> 00:38:17.579
 If you don't know the Lord as your Savior,

00:38:17.700 --> 00:38:19.500
 I invite you to come to him today.

00:38:20.860 --> 00:38:22.019
 But if you're saved,

00:38:22.099 --> 00:38:23.059
 if the Lord's showing you

00:38:23.059 --> 00:38:24.740
 that you're not ready for his return

00:38:24.740 --> 00:38:26.320
 by doing what you ought to be doing,

00:38:26.559 --> 00:38:28.180
 to ask him what ought you to be doing,

00:38:28.180 --> 00:38:29.320
 and if you already know

00:38:29.320 --> 00:38:30.039
 what you ought to be doing,

00:38:30.119 --> 00:38:31.240
 you ought to step up and do it.

00:38:31.420 --> 00:38:31.559
 You know,

00:38:31.599 --> 00:38:32.440
 that sounds simple,

00:38:32.440 --> 00:38:33.480
 but you have a choice

00:38:33.480 --> 00:38:35.980
 of what you're going to do.

00:38:36.159 --> 00:38:37.500
 Are you going to stand the watch?

00:38:37.700 --> 00:38:38.960
 Are you going to sit and watch?

00:38:39.179 --> 00:38:39.920
 Are you going to do

00:38:39.920 --> 00:38:42.240
 what God has asked you to do?

00:38:43.380 --> 00:38:43.619
 You know,

00:38:43.639 --> 00:38:44.059
 this morning,

00:38:44.119 --> 00:38:45.380
 if the Lord's spoken to you,

00:38:45.500 --> 00:38:47.119
 I want you to consider

00:38:47.119 --> 00:38:48.280
 being serious with him

00:38:48.280 --> 00:38:48.519
 and saying,

00:38:48.599 --> 00:38:48.740
 Lord,

00:38:48.820 --> 00:38:49.619
 what is my part?

00:38:49.860 --> 00:38:51.000
 If you don't know him as Savior,

00:38:51.079 --> 00:38:51.880
 I encourage you to come.

00:38:51.960 --> 00:38:52.720
 We have somebody show you

00:38:52.720 --> 00:38:53.320
 from God's Word

00:38:53.320 --> 00:38:54.159
 how you can know.

00:38:55.619 --> 00:38:56.480
 The Bible says

00:38:56.480 --> 00:38:58.000
 it isn't a hope-so salvation,

00:38:58.179 --> 00:38:59.340
 it's a know-so salvation.

00:38:59.340 --> 00:39:02.480
 It's something that can be settled,

00:39:02.780 --> 00:39:05.360
 and I hope it's settled with you today.

00:39:06.700 --> 00:39:07.340
 If not,

00:39:07.420 --> 00:39:08.200
 you can get it settled.

00:39:09.440 --> 00:39:10.539
 But maybe you're here today

00:39:10.539 --> 00:39:12.100
 as we look to go into a new year,

00:39:12.180 --> 00:39:13.280
 and God has spoken to you

00:39:13.280 --> 00:39:13.860
 about saying,

00:39:14.380 --> 00:39:16.600
 are you working?

00:39:16.740 --> 00:39:17.260
 Are you serving?

00:39:17.340 --> 00:39:18.019
 Are you producing?

00:39:19.720 --> 00:39:21.220
 With what I'm giving you to do,

00:39:21.360 --> 00:39:22.620
 because it's a responsibility

00:39:22.620 --> 00:39:24.620
 to each of us.

00:39:24.740 --> 00:39:26.000
 If he were to return today,

00:39:26.000 --> 00:39:29.179
 what would he find with you?

00:39:30.500 --> 00:39:31.380
 His head's bowed

00:39:31.380 --> 00:39:32.559
 and eyes are closed this morning.

00:39:33.539 --> 00:39:34.639
 I want you to consider

00:39:34.639 --> 00:39:35.280
 very importantly

00:39:35.280 --> 00:39:36.599
 between you and the Lord today.

00:39:36.860 --> 00:39:38.099
 Not between you and the preacher,

00:39:38.420 --> 00:39:40.119
 you or the person next to you,

00:39:40.300 --> 00:39:41.079
 but between you

00:39:41.079 --> 00:39:42.599
 and the Lord Jesus Christ

00:39:42.599 --> 00:39:43.840
 who one day is going to return.

00:39:44.139 --> 00:39:45.239
 One day you'll give account.

00:39:45.519 --> 00:39:46.280
 It'll be account

00:39:46.280 --> 00:39:47.340
 of how you've served him

00:39:47.340 --> 00:39:48.519
 because you've trusted him

00:39:48.519 --> 00:39:49.039
 as Savior.

00:39:49.920 --> 00:39:50.980
 Or it'll be an account

00:39:50.980 --> 00:39:52.440
 of everything in your life,

00:39:52.500 --> 00:39:53.360
 including your sin.

00:39:53.639 --> 00:39:54.500
 I trust you're prepared.

00:39:54.920 --> 00:39:55.539
 Heavenly Fathers,

00:39:55.539 --> 00:39:56.599
 we come before you today.

00:39:56.719 --> 00:39:57.599
 Lord, we just thank you

00:39:57.599 --> 00:39:58.619
 and praise you for the day,

00:39:58.699 --> 00:39:59.980
 for the opportunities we have

00:39:59.980 --> 00:40:01.779
 as we meet together here.

00:40:01.860 --> 00:40:02.860
 Lord, you know each heart,

00:40:02.920 --> 00:40:03.340
 each life.

00:40:03.440 --> 00:40:03.980
 Lord, as we get ready

00:40:03.980 --> 00:40:05.199
 to move into a new year,

00:40:05.480 --> 00:40:06.759
 a great time to consider

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 continuing to watch,

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 to do our part

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 and to be a part.

00:40:10.579 --> 00:40:11.340
 Lord, I pray that you'll save

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 your hand upon each heart

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 here today.

00:40:12.940 --> 00:40:13.940
 Lord, you know each one.

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 Lord, you know we can hide

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 from one another,

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 but we cannot hide from you.

00:40:19.039 --> 00:40:20.199
 Lord, I pray that your spirit

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 would just work mightily

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 in each one today

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 as we consider

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 the challenge

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 from your word.

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 And Lord, we just ask it

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 all in your precious name.

00:40:31.439 --> 00:40:31.799
 Amen.

00:40:31.800 --> 00:40:33.260
 And Lord, we just pray

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