I.
practical Preparation
A.
Jesus said that He would come quickly (Rev. 22:7, 12, 20) and that we
must live in readiness because the
end-times scenario would begin at a time that we would not expect. Matthew 24-25 are one teaching that focuses on practical
ways God’s people are to respond. How then should we live? Jesus taught on the
end times, then gave practical applications in three parables (Mt.
24:45-25:30).
44You also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming
at an hour you do not expect… (Mt. 24:44)
B.
Parable #1: Jesus’ delay is shorter than expected. The parable of the faithful and wise
servant (Mt. 24:45-51) teaches us that there will be two types of leaders who
profess to follow Christ. The
two qualities that Jesus wants His leaders to focus on are being faithful and
wise.
45Who then is a faithful and wise
servant…to give them food in due season? 46Blessed is that servant…47He will make him ruler
over all his goods. 48But if that evil servant
says in his heart, “My master is delaying his coming,’ 49and begins to beat his
fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, 50the master of that servant
will come on a day when he is not looking for him…51There
shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Mt. 24:45-51)
1.
The faithful servant worked with good motives, seeking to feed and help
God’s people. The wicked servant worked
with wrong motives that abused
his God-given authority.
2.
Jesus promised that those who diligently feed
His people will rule with Him when He returns.
C.
Parable #2: Jesus’ delay is longer than expected.
The parable of the wise and foolish virgins (Mt. 25:1-13) emphasizes the need
to cultivate intimacy with Jesus as our Bridegroom God.
1Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened
to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Now
five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3Those who
were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4but
the wise took oil…8The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us
some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ (Mt. 25:1-4, 8)
1.
Some wise leaders work hard and with good
motives, yet with a wrong spirit by
neglecting to maintain their intimacy with God. Our measure of intimacy with
God today can be lost. All ten virgin
ministries started off with oil and a shining ministry that brought light to
others.
2.
Virgins: All believers are as
virgins before God by His free righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21; 11:2).
2I
betrothed you to one husband…I present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
(2 Cor. 11:2)
3.
Lamp: Each of these virgins had a
lamp, which spoke of a ministry that brought God’s light to others (Mt.
5:15-16; Rev. 1:20; 2:5; 11:3-6; cf. Zech. 4:2; Isa. 62:1; Jn. 5:35).
4.
Bridegroom: All these ministries had
revelation of Jesus as the Bridegroom God. These are ministries that went out
to meet, or encounter, Jesus as the Bridegroom God.
5.
In this parable, Jesus’ warning is that the wise
can become foolish if they neglect to continue to cultivate intimacy with Jesus
by going out to meet Him as the Bridegroom King (Mt. 25:1).
6.
The “oil” speaks of the presence of the
Spirit touching our heart as we spend time with God (2 Cor. 1:21; 1 Jn. 2:20,
27).
7.
The foolish took their lamps (ministry), but took
no oil. In other words, they pursued ministry as their first priority,
instead of acquiring oil in their relationship with Jesus (25:3).
8.
The wise ministries took oil in their vessels
with their lamps. In other words, they pursued acquiring oil as their first priority before seeking to expand
their personal ministry (25:4).
9.
The foolish ministries recognized their mistake
in neglecting oil. Many “ministry lamps” will go out because they will lack the
spiritual vitality of the Spirit’s oil. They asked the wise to give them oil to
“bolster” their ministries. The wise understood their limitation, knowing that
their spiritual history and spiritual preparedness is not transferrable.
Christian “self-help” and “pop psychology” sermons will not meet the need of
the hour in that day. In that day, we must be a voice that pursues the truth in
our secret life and not just an echo of popular ideas.
8The foolish said to the
wise, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.” 9The
wise answered, “No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but
go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.” (Mt. 25:8-9)
10.
Jesus exhorts us to “buy oil,” to engage in the
God-ordained process of acquiring intimacy with God. We do not earn this, but invest ourselves in a costly way to receive it.
18I counsel
you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich… (Rev.
3:18)
D.
Parable #3: Jesus’ delay is harder than expected. The
parable of the faithful servant (Mt. 25:14-30) focuses on being faithful and
diligent in our life assignment even when it is small and difficult.
21Well done, good and faithful servant;
you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many
things…24He who had received the one talent…said, “Lord,
I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown…25I
was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground...” 26His
lord…said to him, “You wicked and lazy servant…” (Mt. 25:21-26)
E.
Those
responding wrongly worked with the wrong
evaluation and neglected their assignment. The message in this
parable is that we are to be faithful
(diligent) and good (godly) with a servant spirit (humility) in context to
our ministry assignment even when it is difficult (v. 24) and small (v. 21).
F.
Jesus described His servants as being tempted
with wickedness (lust) and laziness in the end times. The dramatic
increase of media (entertainment) presents a generation of old and young
believers with new temptations. The quality and quantity of media entertainment
(pornography, video games, Facebook, Twitter, sports, movies, news, talk shows,
etc.) tempts people to be preoccupied with the lives of celebrities, friends,
and strangers, etc. The besetting sin of many believers today is laziness with
its procrastination and “veg-out” mentality.
1Know this, that in
the last days perilous times will come: 2Men will be lovers
of themselves, lovers of money…3without self-control…4and
lovers of pleasure… (2 Tim. 3:1-4)
G.
Our ministry assignment (or sphere of influence)
may be small in man’s eyes, but is so important in God’s eyes that He greatly
rewards His people for being diligent in it. We must be motivated by how
important our work is in God’s eyes rather
than by how big it is in man’s eyes.
H.
The message is that God sees and rewards our
efforts and that there can be loss of reward. The essence of the fear of God is
to know that God sees and rewards what we are doing.
23Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the
Lord and not to men, 24knowing that from the Lord you will receive
the reward…for you serve the Lord Christ. (Col. 3:23-24)
I.
Conclusion: Jesus called His people
to be wise and faithful servants (message of parable #1). Then He identified being
wise with acquiring the “oil of
intimacy” (message of parable #2) and faithful
as being diligent in ministry assignments that are small and difficult (message
of parable #3).
II.
watch and pray (Mt. 24:42; 25:13; Lk. 21:36)
A.
Jesus gave us practical counsel on how to be
wise and faithful—by calling us to watch
and pray. Jesus’ main exhortation to be prepared spiritually is by watching and praying. God’s people are exhorted 20 times to watch—ten times the exhortation is
related to the end times (Mt. 24:42; 25:13; Mk. 13:9, 33, 34, 35, 37; Lk.
21:36; 1 Thes. 5:6; Rev. 16:15) and ten times to general Christian living (Mt.
26:38, 40, 41; Mk. 14:34, 37, 38; Lk. 12:38; Acts 20:31; 1 Cor. 16:13; Rev.
3:3).
42Watch therefore, for you do not know what
hour your Lord is coming. (Mt. 24:42)
13Watch…for you know neither the day nor
hour…the Son of Man is coming. (Mt. 25:13)
B.
Jesus is the best shepherd, yet His primary
exhortation was to watch and pray. He did not mention
storing water, food, or batteries, nor establishing a communication system with
shortwave
radios.
C.
Some believers pray, but do not
watch—paying attention to what is happening prophetically in the nations.
Others watch, but do not pray. Jesus
calls us to do both.
D.
God’s people need strength to escape the snare of sin and
fear so as to stand in victory (Lk. 21:36).
35For it will come as a snare on all…36Watch…and pray always that you may be
counted worthy [have strength] to escape all these
things…and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Lk. 21:35-36)
1.
Have strength: A vibrant spiritual
life leads to courage and zeal for God. The phrase be counted worthy (v. 36, NKJV) is translated as have strength in most modern
translations. An NKJV footnote offers to
have strength as an alternate translation. The idea is that we would be strengthened to respond to the Lord in a
way that is worthy of who He is.
3.
To escape: God’s
people are to be prepared spiritually
to escape the trap of falling into sin and giving way to lust, drunkenness,
fear, deception, etc.
III.
To watch
A.
To watch: This exhortation focuses
on the mind—to grow in understanding by watching the biblical signs of the
times unfold. As our understanding increases, it produces greater urgency in
us.
1.
Scripture: Watch or search out what
the Bible says about the end-time signs of His coming.
2.
Circumstances: With a heart of
faith, watch the signs progressively unfold in society.
B.
Watching includes being aware of the biblical
signs of the times as “anointed observers.”
1.
Watching what the prophetic scriptures say about
the end-time distress in the nations, people can see prophecy progressively
unfold before them.
2.
As people watch, they inevitably talk more about
what is occurring that is in line with the prophetic scriptures.
3.
Thus, they connect with more people who have a
common urgency and vision.
C.
Watching gives people urgency to talk to God—praying to release His power
into the crisis.
D.
Watching gives people urgency to talk to people—connecting more in unity
of vision.
E.
As people watch and talk about what they see,
whole communities of believers grow in their connectedness to God and each
other and are thus positioned to gain insight into what do when crisis touches
their local area.
F.
The command to watch was given to God’s people
so that they might avoid the unnecessary losses associated with a thief (Mt.
24:42-43).
42Watch therefore, for you do not know what
hour your Lord is coming. 43But know this, that if the master
of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have
watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. (Mt. 24:42-43)
G.
Paul said that we are not in darkness that the
Day of the Lord should overtake us as a thief.
2You yourselves know perfectly that the day of the
Lord so comes as a thief in the night
[the unprepared suffer unnecessary loss]…4But you, brethren,
are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief...6Therefore…let
us watch and be sober. (1 Thes. 5:1-6)
1.
A thief causes one to suffer loss of things that
could have been avoided by watching.
2.
The thief motif mostly emphasizes the element of
loss that one suffers because of an unexpected coming.
IV.
To pray
A.
To pray: This exhortation focuses
on the heart—to grow in strength from connecting with Jesus. Prayer is key to
growing in intimacy with God and living invigorated by the beauty of the King.
B.
By praying, we grow in our connection to Jesus’
heart and we release His resources into the crisis. Prayer releases a greater
measure of His power and resources into as situation or crisis—justice.
9“…ask [persistently],
and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be
opened to you. 10For everyone who asks receives, and he who
seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11If a son asks
for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks
for a fish, will he give him a serpent…? 12Or if he asks for an egg,
will he offer him a scorpion? 13If you then, being evil, know how to
give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give
the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Lk. 11:9-13)
7“…will not God bring about justice for His
elect who cry to Him day and night…8He will bring about
justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes,
will He find faith on the earth?” (Lk. 18:7-8; NAS)
C.
Our inner man is our most important aspect of
life, yet it is the most neglected prayer focus. Any who will pray for strength
in their inner man will surely receive more. Our experience of the Spirit’s
power in our heart can be increased or decreased over time.
16…to be strengthened with might through His
Spirit in the inner man… (Eph. 3:16)
D.
For free resources on Ten Prayers to Strengthen
Our Inner Man: F-E-L-L-O-W-S-H-I-P you can see http://mikebickle.org/resources/resource/3637).
E.
The Spirit empowers in small measures. Often we
cannot measure or discern the specific times when He touches us. I compare this
principle to taking vitamins for years. There is never a day when we think, “This
is the day the vitamin really helped me today.” I have taken vitamins for years,
and I cannot remember one day when “this is the day it took.”
8For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap
corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap
everlasting life. 9And let us not grow weary while doing good, for
in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. (Gal. 6:8-9)
F.
Jesus modeled what He taught in Luke 21:20-36 immediately
thereafter. In Luke 22, He engaged in earnest prayer for strength in the garden
of Gethsemane and asked His friends to stand with Him.
40He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into
temptation” 41He knelt down and prayed, 42saying,
“Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My
will, but Yours, be done.” 43Then an angel appeared to Him from
heaven, strengthening Him. 44And being in agony, He prayed
more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood…46He
said to them…, “Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.” (Lk 22::40-46)
G.
In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus exhorted His
disciples to watch and pray.
41Watch and pray, lest you enter into
temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
(Mt 26:41)
(Mt 26:41)
V.
Summary
A.
By watching and praying, we position ourselves to
receive greater insight (by watching)
to understand what God is doing and greater strength
(by praying) to love well as pressures increase.
B.
Those who grow in understanding and strength will
be strengthened to stand as overcomers who escape the snare of
lust, fear, and bitterness (Lk. 21:34-36).
C.
People who seek to love well must not be
ensnared in fear, deception, or confusion. We must watch so that we understand
the narrative and can be part of the solution, not the confusion.
D.
Multitudes will need the help of people walking
in power and courage with insight into what God is doing. Such people will be a
part of the solution rather than contributing to the confusion.
E.
People with understanding are those who have a compass while in a storm on the sea. Get
prepared in
understanding, and then prepare the unprepared so they can stand against fear
and deception.
F.
The Lord is raising up communities all over the
earth who prioritize watching and praying. They are growing in their
understanding of the biblical end-time storyline. They are seeing how the signs
are increasing with both negative and positive events and trends, and they
prioritize connecting to God.
1.
Together they will know how to respond to situations
in their local area—receiving understanding from God on what to do in practical
issues like food, provision, and protection.
2.
Being deeply connected to Jesus and like-minded believers, they will be equipped to overcome
so as to not be ensnared by fear, immorality, drunkenness, and bitterness—so
that we make right decisions in times of crisis.
G.
The command to watch and pray is a call to love
people well. People will need to be helped by those with godly resolve,
courage, and insight into what God is doing. Spiritually dull believers filled
with fear and confusion will contribute to the problems of those they love, not
to the solutions by making decisions and giving counsel that is contrary to
what the Scripture or Spirit are saying.
H.
Many individuals and local churches are called
to minister with the forerunner spirit to people —thus, they must prioritize
watching and praying.
I.
As for me and my spiritual house, we will serve
the Lord by prioritizing watching and praying.
I want to be in the midst of a community of people who prioritize watching, praying, and fellowshipping with groups all over the earth that have a similar urgency to press into Jesus.
I want to be in the midst of a community of people who prioritize watching, praying, and fellowshipping with groups all over the earth that have a similar urgency to press into Jesus.
J.
Biblical understanding equips people to
cooperate with Jesus and His leadership and to resist and expose deception and
fear. They see the big picture of where things are going. We have confidence
that He is with us.
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