expect – Praying Pint

How are you living?

Mat 24:6-7  And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

Mat 24:8  All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

Mat 24:37  For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Mat 24:38  For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark,

Mat 24:39  and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

Mat 24:10  And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.

Mat 24:12  And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.

Mat 24:32  “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near.

Mat 24:33  So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates.

Mat 24:36  “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.

Mat 24:37  For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Mat 24:38  For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark,

Mat 24:39  and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Amos 6:3-6   O you who put far away the day of disaster and bring near the seat of violence?  “Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory and stretch themselves out on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall,  who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp and like David invent for themselves instruments of music,   who drink wine in bowls and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!

Luke 12:19    And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’

Luke 14:18   But they all alike began to make excuses.

Luke 17:26-28    Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man.  They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.  Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building,

2Ti 3:1-5  But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

Luke 21:34   “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.

Romans 13:14  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

1 Corinthians 7:29    This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short.

31  and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.

Mat 24:42  Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.

Mat 24:44  Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Mat 24:46  Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.

The world will be found in the same condition that it was in the day of the flood. When the flood came, men were found “eating and drinking, marrying and given in marriage,” absorbed in their worldly pursuits, and utterly regardless of Noah’s repeated warnings. They saw no likelihood of a flood. They would not believe there was any danger. But at last the flood came suddenly and “took them all away.” All that were not with Noah in the ark were drowned. They were all swept away to their last account, unpardoned, unconverted, and unprepared to meet God. And our Lord says, “so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” (Ryle)

The Lord Jesus Christ is coming back. His return could be today. Are you looking for it? Are you living like He is coming within the next hour? Or, are you just living each day as if tomorrow will be the same as today, buying, selling, eating, working, etc…?

What is the application of these verses to our lives today? Surely we eat, sleep, work, buy, and sell as normal living requires. Imagine knowing the exact year, month, day, and time of the return of Jesus. Would you live differently than you are now? Would you stop neglecting the Word of God? Would you be less complacent in holy living? Would you think about what it means to live so that all of your thoughts, words, and actions honor and glorify Jesus Christ? Would you think different thoughts, speak different words, and would your actions be different? As the day approaches would you eagerly be telling others about its coming? Would you be giving less and less thought to worldly and fleshly desires? Would you be more kind, generous, loving, patient, humble, honorable, thankful, joyful with anticipation, rejoicing, praising, longing, and all in preparation for the return of Jesus your redeemer and savior?

If any answer to these questions is yes, are we living awake?

Think about how much of our time is consumed by cell phones, texting, Instagram, Twitter, Google, FaceBook, Rumble, ESPN, CNN, CMBC, etc…., not to mention what we consider leisure time. How much of this time is conducted with the ever-present thought that Jesus’s return could be within the next second?

It is so easy to be consumed with the busyness of living and the worries of today that the eyes of our hearts and minds are blind to living and eagerly watching and waiting for the return of Jesus.

Will He find you watching and living in such a way that reveals this anchored in your heart and mind?

Oh, that the Holy Spirit’s leading would be desired and listened to in our lives and guide us in how to live so that Jesus Christ is honored and glorified in all of our thoughts, words, and actions should Jesus’s return be within the next second or 100 years. There should be no difference.

He who has an ear, let him hear?

34.n. “But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His”

Matthew 24:50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 25:12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

Matthew 25:30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Psalms 1:6    for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

John 10:27   My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

2 Timothy 2:19   But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,”

How many people build their (false hope and trust) in being harmless to others? They may do no heavenly good but they do no earthly harm. To many, living in peace with others and the fact that they have not been charged with doing harm has made them think they are right before God. It is one of the basic lies of satan. Note that the complacent servant who buried what he was given was cast into outer darkness and eternal torment. He was not charged with an overt offense.

“Why, for this reason, for barely doing no harm, he is consigned to outer darkness. He is pronounced a wicked, because he was a slothful, an unprofitable servant. So mere harmlessness, on which many build their hope of salvation, was the cause of his damnation! Observe this well, reader; slothful servants, who do nothing with respect to the purpose of their being sent into the world, nothing to answer the end of their birth and baptism, who are no way serviceable to the glory of God, or the good of others, will be reckoned with as unprofitable servants. A slothful servant is a withered member in the body, a barren tree in the vineyard, an idle drone in the hive, that is good for nothing.” (Benson)

Eternity in heaven is not obtained by the merits of the right or wrong of what we do. Satan loves to convince people to this way of thinking – performing your way to be right in the eyes of God. If this had any merit there would be no reason for God to send His one and only Son to die as a sacrifice for our sin. Satan would have each, so-called good person, believe that it is the sacrifice that Jesus paid on the cross “PLUS” our good works that make a person right before God and entitles a person eternity in heaven. Nothing god be further from the truth. Listen carefully, Jesus Christ alone paid the price for our sin and any hope in our salvation that is placed on and in our own goodness denies what Jesus did was enough. Belief, faith, trust, and reliance on Him alone are the message of the Gospel. There is nothing more a person can do to make themselves right before God.

Why then should we be studying His Word, being obedient, and doing good works if they add nothing to our salvation, redemption, and forgiveness? We study His Word to know Him more and more. We study His Word to understand more and more of His grace, mercy, love, and holiness. We study His Word so we might continue to grow in how we can be used for His honor and glory. We study His Word so that we are continually being transformed in what we think, say, and do so that in all things we seek and desire to honor and glorify Him alone. Any “good works” that we do are for Him alone and they are wasted if we try to keep even a small portion for ourselves.

21.d. “And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”

Romans 13:11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.

Matthew 16:3   And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.

Matthew 24:42-44    Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.  But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-3    Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you.  For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.  While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

Revelation 22:12   “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.

Revelation 22:20   He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

Matthew 25:5-7   As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.

Mark 13:35-37   Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning—  lest he come suddenly and find you asleep.  And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”

1 Corinthians 15:34  Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.

1 Corinthians 7:29-31   This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short.

2 Peter 3:13-15   But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.  Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.

Because we know the danger of the times and we anticipate the soon return of Jesus, we should be all the more energetic and committed to a right walk with God instead of a sleep-walk with God. People talk in their sleep, walk in their sleep, hear things in their sleep, and even think in their sleep (dreaming). We can do many religious or things that seem right in our own eyes and still be asleep toward God, it is important for every Christian to make sure they are truly awake and active in their life before God. (Guzik)

It is a very dangerous state of mind to be in, seemingly being awake. People who see you might even think you are awake. You do things that would give the appearance that you are awake. You say things that sound like you are awake. But in all truth and reality, you are asleep in and to things of God. When we sleep we are resting our bodies and mind. While we sleep we are not aware of things that happen or that have happened. We can wake to find a severe storm has come and gone in the night. How many times have you heard, “I slept right through it”? “Didn’t hear a thing.” We may even say that it was a good night’s sleep. We may say that we slept like a baby. Though our mortal minds and bodies need sleep and rest, our spiritual should never be in that state. From the morning to evening our spiritual awareness should never be found asleep. “Study God’s Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night…”, “but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law, he meditates day and night.” “I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.”

What are the signs of being asleep? Neglect, complacency, paying little to no attention, disregard, ignore, set aside, lazy, self-worth, self-reliance, pride, contentment, carelessness, self-contentment. When we are asleep to things of God and the Word of God we become more and more spiritually unaware. What we do, what we say, and what we think looks like those who, for all practical application, are in a comma concerning things of God and His Word. Though our fleshly bodies and minds need sleep our spiritual lives do not and should not ever be in the state of sleep. Jesus gave warnings about being found asleep when He returns. Paul gave warnings about being found asleep and gave encouraging words to stand fast, remain true, every grown in our knowledge and understanding of Jesus Christ, keeping our eyes focused on Jesus, continually be looking and anticipating Christ’s return. The day is coming. Jesus is returning. Will He find you asleep?