What Will You Be Caught Dead Doing?
Lessons & Warnings from Matthew 24 & 25.
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What Will You Be Caught Dead Doing?Sun, Jul 23, 2023 10amSUMMARY KEYWORDSJesus, talking, people, left, fear, give, hearse, read, church, servant, tribulation, heard, bible, bridegroom, parable, Matthew, judged, bad, lord, heaven, judgement, Christians
Good morning. Welcome. If you're new here among us, my name is Gene I serve here at C3 church as your pastor. And last week we talked about dying. That was fun. So I told a joke about a hearse. Right? That wasn't necessarily very funny. So today, I just want to pick up where we left off. And I want to look at some hearses. We're going to do some harsh shopping this morning. That sounds like fun, right? All right. So look at this one. We talked about death and marriage. So that's kind of the logical conclusion just buried, would you? You're afraid to laugh. Okay, so there's a Barbie movie out. So maybe you didn't get a Barbie Dream House? Right. So but you can have a Barbie Dream hearse fulfilling that last wish? Okay, would you get in this cab? I'm from New York. So that's fine. That's cool. We can do that. This one's a fun car. Guaranteed. You're going to have a great time in there and stuff at Walmart to get something talking about having a good time. Looks like these grave diggers are going to have a curry time. But that's probably Costco. Right? Do you ever go to Costco and like, that's the last thing they sell you on your way out? It's like, you're trying to tell me something. Right? So if you've been at Costco here in Florida, it's really weird. They want to sell you a casket before you leave them. Like is there something in the food? I mean, I don't know. Okay. Anyway, let's continue. So this is a Florida hearse or Hawaii hearse. So either driver is going to have a great time or they're going to bury him with it. Like that's it and I want to be buried with my surfboard. This is a North Florida hearse right there. So no more jokes about that. I'll get in too much trouble. Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer and they were too cheap to get a hearse. That's what happened there. Okay. Next question. Would you if this showed up with pizza in it, would you eat the pizza? That's the question. Now Papa John's? No, not me. But any other pizza? Yep, I'm eating it right. So I don't it's not going to stop me. And here's your pastor on a hearse. That's a weird picture. That's really me. I used to do media and I was in bands and stuff and music. And so these are my friends. They're driving a hearse. And they actually drove the hearse while I was on it. So the pastor didn't get in the hearse, because they managed to drive it about only 30 or 40 miles an hour while I was on the thing on those rough roads. So that's a real thing. I know some of you want to see me in a hearse. Right. So brings me to a story that I heard. All right. It's about a patient and a doctor and the guy, you know, he has some tests done and they're like, Okay, come back. I want to see you. I'll give you the results. You sitting in the waiting room, right? So worst ever. The doctor comes in and says, Well, we don't want to hear. I have some bad news. And then he says, I have some worse news. Because like, Okay, well, whatever. Just give me the bad news. You have 24 hours to live. look worse than that. What's the worst news? The doctor says? Well, I forgot to tell you yesterday. All right. See, they're terrible. But anyway. Thanks. Fulani. edification. That's all right. You guys helped me out. It's all good. All right. So last week, you can't take it with you. It all belongs to God. That was the theme here. And so we saw the tenant farmers, they don't get it. And then you get all the way to the widow gives everything she had. Right. So she gets it. So we talked about so we've been we've been going through these themes, and it's kind of funny for me. Maybe not you, but as I do it, because we're preaching here in chronological order, you know, and what happens is, is you just kind of following Jesus along. So you know, you're talking about marriage, money, death now judgment, right. So wow, this is, this is tough, but just I want you to think I mentioned it last week, by doing the Bible chronologically like this, you know, even if you just read the gospels, you're just following Jesus, and you're just listening to what Jesus is saying. That's it. It's not like I'm sitting here and I'm like, Ooh, let's talk. I haven't cleared out the room yet. You know, so as we clear it out that half good, I'll keep going until the rest of them leave, you know, not trying to, like, constantly talk about death or depressing things. So when we think about it, we think about it. This is just what Jesus is talking about. I'm not deviating right, I'm focusing on Jesus on packing it for you and just reading you a bunch of scriptures. And so should make a lot of people think I said it last week. It should be said again, the Bible doesn't read like most people preach. Alright, it's kind of interesting. So I'm making you guys charts. This is chronological ish. You're probably safe if you're in Matthew 24 and 25 because he's following along. Yeah, that'll probably Do it. So it's not in chronological order. Most of you who've been here before, you've heard this before. So we'll go through that quick. If you want to see the chart, it is in our app, and you can check it out if you want to nerd out with me and Lonnie. So, what's going to happen here, this is this is going to be very interesting, because I noticed all in one section. So there's no chapter breaks, right? So sometimes Jesus is just talking, and then we interrupt him, we're like, oh, we're going to do town chapter 24, not 25. And we shut it. And we just, there's a thought he's going to finish. And this is really clear. In this section, really clear you need it's like the Sermon on the Mount, I showed you Matthew 567. So you have to read straight through, because he clarifies in six, what he said in five, and a lot of people take it out of context, run with it, but you didn't let Jesus finish, you don't know what you're talking about. Right? So here, we're going to see that the other thing it's going to make some of the verse of the day, and just if we're being honest, bad, typical church teachings, there, you only hit about three or four. So get ready that you've probably heard if you've been in church definitely heard in church for a long time. And what's going to be amazing here, is that all we're going to use to clear up the problem is the text itself. It's pretty amazing. Like, yes, you're going to see a couple of times, at least, where you'll get to this teaching, and if we stop, we can run with it. We keep reading Jesus rebukes it like immediately. So it's kind of interesting. It's a good lesson today, you know, and just, you got to read larger sections of text, we have to stop interrupting the Lord with our ideas. Like even the church. pastors have to stop doing it. Everybody does. Because he has a point he's making. It's important, and we need to listen to it. So I'm going to, I'm trying to get through these two chapters in full. I'll have to paraphrase a tiny bit. If you have questions, bring the Bible study. That's what we do here. If you're new, there's no way I can really fully unpack this in like the time I'm given here. But on Wednesday, we follow up and we keep digging in deep. So if you have some questions, or there's some things I'm going to move pretty quickly. Just bring them to Bible study your email me unless it's a complaint, don't email me.
Should we laugh? No, don't email me Andy company. Matthew 24. One, let's jump in, as Jesus was leaving the temple ground. So remember, he was the woman with the two coins giving in the temple. So he's in the temple. Now, as Jesus was leaving the temple grounds, his disciples pointed out to him various temple buildings, but he responded, so they're big, and they're like, Ooh, look at these big buildings, Mark says, but not it doesn't go through. And Mark, it just says they're big buildings. But he responded, do you see all these buildings? I tell you the truth, it will be completely demolished not one stone will be left on top of another. Later Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives, his disciples came to him privately and said, Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world? Jesus told them, Don't let anyone mislead you. For many will come in My name, claiming I'm the Messiah, they will receive money, and you will hear of wars and threats of wars. But don't panic. Yes, all of these things must take place. But the end won't follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There'll be famines and earthquakes and many parts of the world. But all of this is only the first part of the birth pains with more to come. So as he continues, and I'll summarize here, he tells the disciples warns them you will be arrested, persecuted, killed, you'll be hated all over the world for my name, and many will betray you, they're going to turn away from me. Another key thing and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Okay, remember that? What did he just say about the end? But the good news about the kingdom is going to spread everywhere is his point. He talks about Daniel the book of Daniel, Daniel, the prophet spoke about the sacrilegious object. This gets a little bit confusing. If you don't know the Bible, that causes desecration desolation in the holy place. So if you're in Daniel, that's where he's drawing from. He just said that he's drawing from Daniel, they make a prediction. Now, in this context, here, what we're talking about, he's predicting the Romans coming and destroying the temple. Remember, the beginning of this whole section? Ooh, look at this tempo here. He's like, Huh? So now I'm going to predict about 40 years later it happens. It's going to get destroyed and 70 ad, Romans are going to come in and desecrate the temple. That's what he's talking about. If you really want to nerd out. In Daniel, they also talk about Antiochus. Do you remember that? So there was an earlier time a little over 100 years before Jesus, when the temple also got desecrated, so he's kind of going in at a time. So he warns like, look, those in Judea must flee to the hills, a person on the deck roof must not go in the house. But in other words, it's like just imagine an impending tidal wave like you don't have time to get your stuff. It'll be bad for pregnant woman pray it's not in the winter on the Sabbath, right. You know, you need to be ready for this. Now. He talks about a great tribulation, right? There'll be great her anguish than any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again. In fact, unless that time of calamity or that she believes in is short, and not a single person would survive. But it will be shortened for the sake of God's Chosen One. So let's look at that on the screen. Matthew 2422. In fact, unless that time of calamity, the talking about the Tribulation is short, and not a single person would survive, but it will be shortened for the sake of God's chosen ones. Who will experience the tribulation? That's the point. All right. So here's the thing. And if you really know the Bible, well, then of course, of course, because you're getting a revelation, you read chapter seven, right? There are those who have been martyred, beheaded, during the Tribulation, that's the point there. And then if you keep reading, you get toward the end, you see that? Those ones who were beheaded in the tribulation, they experience the first resurrection from the dead. There's a second one, they get to reign with Jesus for 1000 years. It's a good thing because why in the early church, people were practically lining up to get themselves because I was killed, whether it be like the Roman Colosseum, they wanted to die a glorious death, right? Because this is not it, whatever. And I'm going to rain with Jesus for 1000 years and get to experience the first resurrection. Read Revelation. So interesting. Alright, so now to keep going again, he warns about false prophets will rise up, alright, don't listen to them. If someone says again, look, there's the Messiah. Don't listen to them. He'll quote Isaiah and Joel, immediately after the anguish of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will give no light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And hit last the sign that the Son of Man is talking to himself when he says, Son of man, again, Daniel seven is coming up here in the heavens. And here he quotes it. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a mighty blast of a trumpet, no gathers chosen ones from all over the world, the farthest ends of the heaven and earth. Now, learn a lesson from the fig tree. He says, when its branches bud, and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer's near in the same way, when you see all these things, you can know that his Jesus's return is very near right at the door, I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scenes, all these things take place, Heaven and Earth will disappear. But my words will never disappear. Okay, pause. So that last part sounds like Matthew five, probably around 19, verse 1719, something like that. But here's what's happening here, because a lot of people stop and go, Wait a minute, hold on a second, there's a couple different things in here that are confusing. One, this generation will not pass away. Is he talking about the future? So when you read this stuff, it's kind of like reading Revelation two scholars will say it's a B, A, B, so he's talking about a near future, and a further future, all in the same discourse. So that's what's going on. He's going back and forth. And it's he's talking about the end times, he's also talking about the destruction of the temple. He's got 40 years to go on that one. So it's still a prophecy. Okay. What about the signs? Oh, you know, from the fig tree, right? The leaves and all this other stuff. So we're going to know, right? Like, since as he's saying, and some people will run with that we should know. We're in here, the wars. Those are the signs, of course, it's telling us we should know, right? Okay. He wants you to be prepared. It's not about a specific time because the very next line says Matthew 2436 Put it up. However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen. Not even the angels in heaven or the sun himself. Only the Father knows. Okay, so let's address something pause or hunt down the tribulation, real quick. End Times prophecy. Read that. Read that. So what are you saying? If you say, I know when it's happening. I know more than Jesus is what you're saying. That's what you're saying. So there's one common denominator all end times prophecy throughout the years. One thing, they're all wrong. One because Jesus says so and to because Jesus that that's it because Jesus says so. No one knows what that mean. But I know. You hear that run, like stop listening to them. Don't listen to any of those people. Because not because I said so. Because Jesus said so right. There will be false prophets. If someone says, Look, there's the Messiah. He's coming. I know. Don't listen to them. All right. So that's one big thing. The church does end times prophecy got to go. It's no good. No bueno. So it's disobedient? It's arrogant. Right and here's the other thing we'll talk about this the game the system. What's the idea here? I'll talk about this in the application right? If I knew and Jesus is coming back to it, I want and just be good like right before he comes back like clean up, right? Clean up your party. No doesn't work that way. Matthew 2437 When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah's day. In those days before the flood, people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. Remember that it's going to come up again. People didn't realize what was going to happen until the flood came remember this word and swept them all away? That is the way it will be when the Son of man Jesus comes. Alright, so keep this in your mind for a second if you're reading in context. Right? So who do you want to be? The ones that were left? Like no one his family are the ones that were taken away. Please say you want to be with Noah like, right? Right? That's what you want to be the one you want the ones that are left, right. Okay. Remember that? Remember the context? Matthew 2437. When the Son of Man returns, it'll be like it wasn't always there kisser continued that one that verse 40. So, when I just said two men will be working together in the field, one will be taken the other left. Two women will be grinding flour at the mill one will be taken the other left. Okay.
The idea that is the idea of a rapture, right? And so yes, Jesus is going to come back and gather all those people. He just said that that's fine. We're going to be taken up. But his ideas were going to be taken up like AFTER the tribulation. First of all, he dispelled that the first place? The other thing is this whole idea of like, the taken thing like I want to be taken. No, you don't know you do not? What did it just say? It'd be like it was in Noah's day. Right. Like when everyone was swept away and Dagon knows left, right. Okay, one will be taken the other left, being left is a good thing. Like, that's good. The other thing not so obvious. So when you're reading, you're just reading like reading comprehension skills. Like when we read the text, of course, I want to be left. When you read the Greek it gets painfully obvious, painfully, right. So if you're reading in Greek, the word aphimi, or some kind of form of that word. Now to a modern Greek speaker, it probably connotates letting something go like if you speak modern Greek, like letting something go in the Bible that when that word appears, it's usually almost always translated as forgiven, forgiven. So when you say the Lord's Prayer, that's the word under there, the word forgiven under it's aphimi. That's what Jesus is saying. And when he's talking about being forgiven, especially the tagline we don't like to say after. But anyway, so you could read it like this. You could read, one will be taken the other forgiven, and the Greek. So what it actually literally says, right, but why did they translate it this way? I don't know. Actually, I'm not really sure. Because almost every other instance it's forgiven. So there you go. I just spoil that for you. So let's continue. Matthew 2442. So you too, must keep watch. Again, for you don't know what day your Lord is coming. This is getting painfully obvious, right? All right, understand this. If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watching not permit his house to be broken into. You must also be ready. All the time. This is the point for the Son of Man will come when at least when it's least expected. So again, he clarifies. So then he gets into a teaching this is important, a faithful sensible servant, He is the one who can be given lots of responsibility he gets rewarded by his master so as Master goes away, right? This is what he wants you to think. He Master goes away. You're taking care of stuff like it's all good when his back is turned right? And then he contrasts it but one of the servants evilly thinks my master won't be back for a long while and begins beating the other servants partying and getting drunk. Are they doing and no is that the master or turn unannounced and unexpected? It will cut the server into pieces and assign them a place with the hypocrites and that place they'll be weeping and gnashing of teeth to Jesus his favorite phrase for hell? Night so remember, there's no chapter breaks interrupting Jesus here. So if you're reading along, boom, we go to Matthew 25. Keep the last thing he said about the servants in your mind. Over the next two parables. Matthew 25. One, the kingdom of heaven will be like 10 bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them are foolish. Five of them were wise. The five who were foolish didn't take enough olive oil for their lamps, but the other five are wise enough to take along the extra oil. When the bridegroom was delayed. They all became drowsy and fell asleep but midnight came. Look the bridegroom's coming. So the unwise ones get up. They're like, Oh, we don't have enough oil. So they asked us Okay, can we have some of your oil? No, we don't have enough oil. Go buy it. While they're out buying it. The bridegroom shows up they go to the wedding feast. The door's locked. They come back, you know, hello. I never knew you. They weren't ready. That's what the whole thing is all about. Keep watch. Wait for the Masters return or the bridegroom's return Jesus has returned. Now, remember what I just told you before this parable? Matthew 2514. Again, the kingdom of heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going away on a long trip. If he called together his servants and trusted his money to them while he was gone, he five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another and one bag of silver to the last dividing in proportion to their abilities. He left on the trip, so he kind of knows what's going to happen. All right. So he brings them in well, that the one with five doubles the money, the woman two doubles the money, the one with one's afraid. So he buries it in a hole, right? And so basically what happens here is that he comes back, he wants him to make an account. Well done good and faithful slave to the one that doubled the investment. Same thing happens with the two well done right? So you will be in charge you were in charge of a little good with that now much more than the servant with the one bag Master, I was afraid I know you're a harsh man harvesting crops you didn't plant and harvest or gathering crops you didn't cultivate. I was afraid he said, I would lose your money. So I hid it. Master says, if you knew I was like that, why don't you just put it in the bank, at least I could earn some interest on it, then in order to take the money from the servant and give it to the one with the 10 bags of silver. To those who use Well, what they're given, even more will be given. And then we'll have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Now, here's the thing about reading that all in context. The parable of the talents of the servants is no more about money investing than the parable right before it is about investing in oil. All right, it's about being ready for the Lord to come back. You could replace the money with anything else. Be ready for the Lord to come back. He's coming. And you will be made to give an account for what you've done. That is the meaning of the parable. And it couldn't be more clear if we just kept reading. Because then immediately he says this Matthew 2531. But when of the so when the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, all the nations will be gathered in His presence. And He will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep of his right hand and the goats at his left. So he continues I'll summarize this one you probably heard it, right? So he says to the sheep on the right. Great, you're going to inherit a place in the kingdom with me. Because when I was hungry, you fed me when I was thirsty. You gave me something to drink. Right? When I didn't have clothing, I was naked. you clothed me. When I was homeless, you're basically you welcomed me in when I was sick, you visited me in prison, visit me and they say, when did we see you like that? They go through the list again? What do we see like that? Well, when you did it to the least of these my brothers, you did it to me. Then it turns to the goats. And you don't want to be a goat turns to the go on the left. And he says, Ah, you're going to enter the eternal punishment prepared for the Satan and his demons. Because and he goes through the list again. When I was younger, you didn't feed me when it? When did we ever see you like that? They said, when you didn't give it to the least of these, you didn't give it to me. Judgment. And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. That is the meaning of the parable. Be ready for that? And so what do people do? Right? So you get I talked about these false teachers, whether it be the false and times profit, or the false like money preachers, right? They're going to take that parable, remove all the context interrupt Jesus and say, this is about money investing. You know, people like me are like, no, it's about being prepared for judgment. That's the context of that parable.
Interesting what people do to it. So today, in today's scriptures, we see that the point here, like so, basically remember how much Jesus talks about money, right? So the point here if that was your takeaway, that was bad, if the point our takeaway should be, we need to be prepared. What were all the parables about being ready because Jesus is coming back and you don't know when no one knows. Be in a state of readiness at all time. So we started the time of Jesus return, no one knows. Don't game the system. Just be ready at all times. 10 bridesmaids, three servants, right. So we've been here, Luke 19. Sounds similar just to acknowledge that it's about being ready, and then being called to make an account for what you've been doing. It's all about being ready. Why, boom sheep and the goats. That's Jesus's conclusion to these parables that talked about this before What if you write a book report, and you didn't read the end of the book, right, your conclusion would be very faulty. And that is what happens a lot in like our modern day type. preaching and teaching. They don't finish the book. They don't let Jesus do the talking. Too many humans are doing too much talking and not listening to the Lord. Very important, right? So, and this is a big one, because there's another teaching, I've heard this and it's just, it's sad. Like, maybe you've heard Christians say this or think this because I'm a Christian, I won't be judged by God. Really? Okay, we did Second Corinthians. So if you didn't listen to Jesus, you didn't hear any of that, right? He's talking to His disciples too, by the way. So maybe second Corinthians will go back there. You heard some of this last week, but I'll give you the line afterwards. We'll keep reading. Second Corinthians five, six. So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies, we are not at home with the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight, believing not by seeing, yes, we are fully confident, even we'd rather be away from these earthly bodies. For then we will be at home with the Lord. So whether we are here, in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please Him. That's our goal. For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. You will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we've done in this earthly body. lines up pretty good with exactly what Jesus said it was Paul. So note, Paul, the apostle is saying, We, me and the Christians, he's writing to wheat. Peter, we went there, if you don't believe Jesus, or Paul, maybe listen to Peter, First Peter 211. Dear friends, I warn, you might remember temporary residents and foreigners to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against our very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors, then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when He judges the world. I've seen people take that and go out and he's talking about everybody else, not me, but needed to read the rest of the letter that Peters writing to Christians. First Peter for 17, for the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God's household. And if judgment begins with us, says Peter, to the Christians, he's writing to what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God's good news. And also, if the righteous are barely saved? What will happen to godless sinners? US Peter and the Christians he's writing to so quick pause and disclaimer, breathe. Alright, so first of all, we are a Bible believing church that should be clear now not a people believing church, right? So this is it. Everything rests on that. That's what we believe in and it in its full context, not just taking what we want to hear. And it also says in Ephesians, two, we are saved by grace through our faith in Jesus Christ. That is what we believe here. We are not saved by works. Because that's what it says. But if you keep reading to verse 10, like keep going Ephesians will get diverse. We are created a new, not like our old self, we are created a new in Christ Jesus. What? For good works. Keep reading. So how does it work here? Well, I like to say if it quacks like a duck, it's a duck. That's what the Bible basically says, right? Read all the first shot. It's a tough read. So that's what's going on here. That's what's at play if I'm saved, right, and I'm a Christian, meaning baby Christ to be like Jesus, I'm going to do good stuff. And I'm going to do more good stuff than bad stuff, even though we do bad stuff, right? If we didn't do bad stuff, and we weren't going to do bad stuff, Jesus wouldn't have had to die. Okay, none of us are capable of doing that. I get it. But if we're a Christian, and we're like Jesus, we're going to be following the Lord. He says, Why do you call Me Lord, Lord, Matthew 646. And you don't do what I say. So if we're saying he's our master, right? He's our Lord. He's the one we serve. We're going to do what he says. It's just natural. Otherwise, it's like, Well, is it your Lord? I don't know. Why aren't you doing what he says? Kind of makes sense, right? So if you read first Corinthians 11, if you want to take a little note, there's a statement in there that Paul makes, which is interesting, and it kind of clears it up. He differentiates between being condemned and judged. There's a difference, right? So it's kind of like you may be scolded, but you won't go to the place where there's weeping and gnashing of teeth, right? So you're going to have to make an account, like the servants, you will be judged. Right? And furthermore, you won't be condemned. But furthermore, a part of that judgment is, were you a sheep or a goat? You know, in church, we like to talk about like, you're either a sheep or a wolf, or a sheep in wolf's clothing. Well, Jesus says they're goats. You know what I mean? You kind of look like a sheep, but you're not. And that's the point. So remember that a parable. There are a lot of goats and sheep. isn't that scary? So the question is, what will you be caught dead doing? Anything like that? Yeah, it wasn't going to be a good weekend. Jesus is not there. So listen, just, you know, funny phrase, lighten it up a little bit. You've heard the phrase, like caught with your pants down. Right? You heard that? Right. You know, like, I wouldn't be caught dead wearing that, like, so one of my friends. So she had an elderly grandmother, it was really funny. She was remarking how the lady would get her hair done. Like every day, like, every day, I was like, like, go to the place I was going to get expensive, but she didn't have much time left. She was really old. So not going to last for long, right? So she's clearing out her budget, got a reverse mortgage got done every day, right? Every day. And the reasoning was like, Alright, I'm going to look good. The whole thing. She just knew she was going to die like it any minute. And so she was like, the good bridesmaid, right? She had like plenty, I'd have a thing full of oil here. I'm going to be ready. Because he's very, very old. So she figured well can happen now. You know? And so she just makes sure she was in the state of readiness in a very funny way. Right? But she was kind of in that sense, getting it right. Just going to fashion heaven. They're going to be like, beautiful, Well done, my good and faithful servant. Right. So now, on the funny side, we don't want to be caught dead doing anything embarrassing. I was going to go through a whole bunch of things. But then I realized they all involve being naked. So I was like, we just really shouldn't do that in church, right? So we don't want to be caught doing anything. Like look up how Elvis died? It wasn't very good. It's embarrassing, right? So think about that. But the more serious point is that there will come a time when we die. And we don't know when it is, we have no clue. And along with that, there will be if you're a Christian, you need to believe this. Jesus will come back. It's a fundamental part of our belief. He will come back. And what did we see? We don't know when that is. So it's the same thing. Be prepared, the master comes back. What does he say? unexpectedly? Mean? We didn't know when it's what's taught in the parable, the bridesmaid. So we need to stop putting off that change that we plan to make. The church has a lot of what I like to kind of call procrastination Christians, procrastination Christians. And if I'm being honest with you, like, you know, like, what's the biggest senator, I've been explaining to people, there's really like, you know, three or four big ones that everybody's struggling with. And that's not really the problem. The problem isn't the sin. It's the procrastinating about it. That's the problem. That's where people like, and they get stuck. So if I do point to a problem as a pastor that I see, there are a lot of like waiting bridesmaids with not enough oil in the light. Like, they just they've dug and buried that sin, right? Like the one who's afraid they don't want to deal with it. And it's just, that's it. If you really believe this stuff, if you really believe this stuff. Gotta come out of that quick, we just we don't know. Like, it'd be really funny if I just dropped dead right now. That would be a great way to go out preaching about Jesus, and drop that as a sermon illustration. Well done. Right? Do it. Right, because I believe it's better there. Right? Am I perfect? How many times if you guys know me, you know, I like love to talk about man. Perfect. I'm not perfect. I am still I'm going to have to explain myself. I am. But maybe not as much as somebody else. Right? I know, I'm saved. So that feels good in my core, you know, we all have doubt we all play with that. It's fine. But at my core, like when it really comes down to it, that is what I believe.
That's it. I don't care. Like, I trust the Lord. They're taking care, everything's fine. You guys will get somebody else who can babble on and on and on. Whatever, I'm good, it's selfish. But anyway, procrastination. Christians. So here's the big question. What changes that you know, you know, you need to make that you've been putting off like, what changes with the Master can come back at any time do you need to make and here's the thing that like, there's this perpetual state of like, but I've got time. But I've got time. He's probably not going to come back today. Even though he just told you like, you won't know. And it's going to be like, unexpectedly. You know what that is like a surprise. You don't know. It's clear. So are you ready? like BAM comes back now like what are you going to say? Are you ready? And so again, it's like gaming of the servant like it's this party, right that people are having. And that's the analogy no is day they're all partying getting drunk, right? It's a servant. What if he just decides just get drunk? He's just, he's depicting a party. So imagine it this way, right? You're throwing a party. Right? And you figured Jesus ain't going to come back until like a week, right? Whatever. So we have plenty of time to clean all this mess up will be good, right? But what happens if he comes back right in the middle of the party? somebody's in trouble. What if Jesus came back, right? Now? Would you be a sheep or a goat? He does not give any other options. That's it. So let's look at some practical things. So what I'm going to do, we're looking at procrastinating, and we're going to get practical because a lot of people okay, so what do I do? Right? That's always the next question. So I want to relate it to a few different things. I mean, kind of like weave in and out of a bunch of concepts. Because what I'm doing it's like, almost like a shotgun approach. I'm just throwing a bunch of things out there and hoping some stuff will stick. So I'm going to relate some of these things like procrastinating to things I know about like the martial arts industry, as in the music industry. Maybe some of that will resonate with the gym, we'll talk about the gym, that might resonate, and then also church, that's the bigger picture. So there's how we're living our lives physically here, and then spiritually, and I'm just kind of kind of wrap it all up in one thing, just like that. And when you do it, you got to take a step back confuse the cameraman. Worry somebody. He's getting old. He's going to fall. Okay, so, tech task immersiveness. Alright, so you know that the task can be boring, or unpleasant. Like church? I hope not. Right. So why do people not going to this is going to be boring and unpleasant, right? So you don't make it sit, stand, kneel, sit, stand, kneel. No problem. Stop complaining, right? This is fairly easy. You can sit there and the cushy chairs you have coffee, right? So when I grew up, it was wood. And it was it was boring, and unpleasant. So maybe that's why people they think that right? They come in I've had people say things like that, like, right at church. You know, maybe it's other things I was martial, or the gym like this is going to be maybe yeah, maybe it is boring. You know, the treadmill. And unpleasant. Are you going to sweat? It's hard work. I don't want to do it. So that's why people don't do things like that. anxiety or fear. Fear of failure is a big one. What about right? The servant? That was his problem? I was afraid Well, what did you do? You didn't want to take any chances. Not that you should gamble with money, but now I've just buried it. I'm afraid I'm going to fail. I don't want to do it. People have this kind of fear around that. There's fear over going to the gym. Right? Like this have always been the funniest thing to me. Like if you would say in the martial arts, like, I don't want to go to gym, I'm going to get in shape first. I'm like, You know what I mean? Like, alright, I want to come do martial art. I got to get in shape first. I'm like, but it was I actually heard that a lot. And it always made me laugh. I'm like, No, and people probably do the same thing with church life, I come to church, I'm going to burn up. So I'm going to get good somewhere else. This week, sinners, please can't like this is where you come to try to get better, right? It's really funny spiritual gym. So you get that fear of being criticized or judged? And I get that in church. I'm not going to apologize for other churches. But yeah, you know, a lot of churches, they'll judge people unnecessarily we don't do that here. Like, accept everybody as they are. And come on, let's try better, but judgment. Right. And we are supposed to judge in a sense, I can't No time for that. But like, oh, gosh, but anyway, judgment, feeling overwhelmed. Right? So there's so much you have to do. I don't know where to start. Right. So this could be like, with Stan or something, you got a whole bunch of things going on? Which one? Do I start with? You know, so it's a feeling of being overwhelmed. Like martial arts is like that, too. You know, they're like, oh, my gosh, you know, he's tapped me out. 17 times what, you know, overwhelmed. lack of motivation, right? So not caring if it gets done or not. And we'll talk about that a little bit, in a minute. lack of motivation is not motivated, you're like, I'll just stay like this. That's fine. So now, practical things to help us get out. So this is a good one. Kind of a set of three, start small. Start small. So it's like if I'm teaching a guitar, I'm not going to be like, just like that, and then go okay, here, do it. You know, we're going to start with like, deep purple or some smoke on the waters. Only the older people like me get that one. You know, so, you know, Iron Man, we're going to play something like really simple, right? So it's the same thing with your spirituality. You can't just be like, I'm going to be a pastor, you know, not that we're great. But, or something like that. No, you're not start small. Right? The little thing so for me from New York, right? I came to church a little maybe a little over 10 years ago, where I start with bad words like that was it that was a small ticket, a swear jar, or something like that, right? Start small. I had a whole bunch of other things I had like, ah, to work on a lot. I don't I didn't start with like the tough habits. It was just it actually kind of was when you're from New York, it's really bad. I didn't realize that until I started watch my language. My biggest fear getting up on stage, it's like curse, you know. We're going to start with a small thing, focus on the easier task and make a plan. So it's like this, we're already there's, there's some kind of thing where there's a plan. And it's, I would add built in accountability to building a little accountability with those things. Like, you know, it's kind of like, I shouldn't even say this, because like, everybody quits like the diet, right? You get a personal trainer, or something like that you build in somebody who's going to say, hey, you know, you're getting fat, like not like that, especially if it's your spouse. But, you know, just somebody to help must be real serious about the same thing, because you guys aren't laughing to deal with the distractions and bad influences. So the other side of the accountability, I had to do this, I had to get new friends. I had to stop hanging out whenever I love you. But every other word out of your mouth is the F word. I love you and you bring a different woman that is not your wife to my house. Every time you come here, these are real stories. Right? Was that a good environment to be in? If I'm trying to be a Christian? Don't say yes. No, very bad. I just need some time to clear out. I talked to these people now. Because I can handle it. Right. So I built myself up enough where I'm like, okay, I can I can deal with this now, but could not find new friends, churches a great place to get them. Right. So there you go. Adjust your environment, throw it Look, don't beat yourself up. We it's very interesting how we use like this kind of masochism. And we use fear. Sometimes we use fear, and like beating ourselves up to give us an excuse to quit. We do that a lot. Alright, so I cannot forget it. I'm just not going to do it. Right? Or I'm not getting it. I'm just not good enough. Like that self pity pot people get on. That can be an excuse. We looked at both sides of the coin on fear. And I'm going to do this really quick. Because as a church, you've been here for a while you guys know this. So we don't have to go too much further into this. But just really quick, if you've never heard this, if you ever see on like Facebook or some other place, right? The Bible says fear not 365 times. Yes. I'm going to ruin another one for you today. Right? It is unbelievably untrue. If you read the Bible a lot that shouldn't resonate. Right? You hear that? And you're like, you're not. It says fear the most. The most of the time, it's saying you should be afraid. Proverbs, to fear the Lord is the beginning of all knowledge. Wisdom is Hello. And then the Proverbs like fear, fear, fear, fear. Proverbs 1416, the wise fear. If your Bible says cautious, cross it up, I give you permission, it says fear. So much like our culture's crept into even the Bible translation for the wise fear. There's a concept of something called intelligent fear. So when you're looking at a concordance, and this is how the person who made that meme should have done it, you just count and it says fear. And it happens this many times. And it gives you every single scriptural verse. And if you're crazy and OCD like me, you did it, you counted and it's just a little over 500 times the Bible says, Fear. It's a little tough because sometimes there's variant words, but just over 500 Fear not about at times. So 20% of the time is saying fear not, don't be anxious about anything, but keep reading. Right?
But then 80% of the time, it's either an example of someone being afraid, or you should be afraid. Interesting. So remember that lack of motivation we had. Here's the spiritual so I gave you some practical things. So you got some stuff you can do, right? Ultimately, the spiritual is what matters. So we want to work hand in hand. And here it is. This is what Jesus says about fear and its motivating factor, not what Facebook says about fear. So the Pharisees are trying to trap Jesus in a question Luke 12 One meanwhile, the crowds grew until 1000s were milling about and stepping on each other. Jesus turned first to his disciples and warn them. Beware of these to the Pharisees, their hypocrisy. The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed. And all that is secret will be made known to all whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light. And what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the rooftops for all to hear how stuff dear friends, don't be afraid of those who want to kill your body. They cannot do any more to you after that. But I'll tell you whom to fear. Fear God was the power to kill you. And then throw you in the hell yes, he's the one to fear. So another false teaching, "when it says fear it means 'awe'".
Does that sound like awe to you? That sounds like oh my god, right? So it's bad like it you should be afraid because he can throw you go into hell. That's what Jesus says the motivating factor is that Jesus doesn't come up with any kind of like self help program. It's not in there like step one you know when you're trying to get right with your sin guys, okay disciples, let's go, we're going to do it right we're going to do as a team is going to happen you guys going to hold and then we're going to do this we're in his program this book and we're going to get it's not their fear Now do you believe in how good well you're going there if you don't change like that's Jesus over and over and over again. But look at how the Scripture wraps everything up nicely. Whatever you whispered going to be shouted wherever you did in the dark, going to be light on it what will you be caught dead doing? That's what Jesus is saying so fear the What's his motive? It's so guys it's okay to say it's okay. So I'm just not going to apologize for him on it kind of let him do the talking. It's about being in a state of readiness and as I close ultimately this is the thing. Ultimately we should be in a state of readiness for Jesus to come ultimately, because we love him. We know who he is, and what he's done for us. And we love him. We adore him for that. That's why no, so let's just think about, like waiting for someone. You love to come home. It's like my wife and my daughter. Can't wait. They're late. I'm like, Well, you guys. Like I love them. I want to see them but how much more do I love Jesus? I want to be ready for them. I do I try to make things need to get things ready. Like hey, love you. You know give her a kiss. got me excited missed you. Because I love her. Okay, Jesus shouldn't the state of wife's on the sound today? It was very difficult, right? So like if your wife's on the soundboard I can go
happy anyway, it's just funny to me. I can see it. But dangerous spots. He is saying good things right and making jokes about her today otherwise. But it's like that, you know, if you're in a good relationship, your best friend something is somebody you miss and you're waiting for them to come home. Like geez, on this world so crazy.
Am I the only one who's like a turn on the news? I'm like, Please come back. Please. Especially before the election, can you please come back? Like just come? My the only one. The Tribulation is great. Just come back. It's better than this. So that's Oh, but you know, it's a funny thing. Like, it's like my dog, you know, like with the Not My dogs because after my dog died, like, I was like, I don't want to do this anymore. You know, they're your dogs so they keep getting dogs. So we have these like two little dogs and they're cute everything but they're so annoying. Like they're just like on me and I just don't want anyone on me especially ever dealing with the cheap right? So I'm like, Just get away and they're always like, especially this one like I don't know why she loves me but she does. Like I leave the room for like 10 seconds I come back in the dog literally goes What's the matter with you? I hate you. Loves me. I'm like are you kidding me? I can't be excited about anything that much like it's unbelievable. Boom they're excited about their masters return right? This is what it's all about. Should Shouldn't we be way more excited about Jesus is all our masters return it's going to solve no matter what you think your problem is what you're struggling with difficulties outside arguments that that that it's that's it my masters coming back sheep and goats. I'm a sheep later. Like, I'm done. It's the argument Ender over I was right. You don't even need to say it. Because we're just going to be basking in his glory. We just won't even care anymore. I'm excited about that. So if you've been here for a while, hopefully there's been some encouragement, right like let's really like think a little bit more about Jesus who he is and what he's done for us. That's like where we should be in our minds more often. Right? Nothing's problem if there's always problems stop. Like, just let me just concentrate on Jesus here. Like he's going to end all this. And nothing that I'm going through is worse than what he went through on the cross. You know? Like, nothing. That's it, keep everything in perspective, be joyful, be anticipating Jesus return. And if you do not know, Jesus, if you do not believe in Jesus, you're going to be told how you can connect with us. So that's all going to be in there. I just realized, do I have to do the announcements? That's okay. I got to talk more. They're going to be long, right? Don't worry, I'll get you out of here and time to eat. And I'll talk about that later. Anyway, you're going to be told how you can connect with us. You can connect with me, right? So our thing here is, if you're at a church, and your pastor doesn't know you, he's not your pastor, I want to be your pastor. So I will give you put it on the connection card. I want the pastor to connect with me and just give me your cell phone number. I'll text you at first. So I'm not rude all the boomers like call, they got to call, everything's a phone call. It's not a phone call. I'm busy. I work, you know. So not everyone here is retired, right? So I get that right. You don't have to say any of that with me. I'll just text you and be like, Why do you want to do call me? And we'll have a relationship. All you have questions for me. I'm good at answering questions, obviously, go to talking, talking, talking. So I'll talk and I'll answer your questions. If you have them about Jesus. If you want to recommit or baptized, say you want to talk to me, that's fine. We're going to have a meal together right afterwards, and we can talk then too. All right. So I love you guys. Let me pray for you. Lord, I thank you for this church. That is the body of Christ, everyone who came in here to hear Your word. We just love you, Lord. Please just fill us with your Holy Spirit. Remind us constantly of your glory, your greatness and what you've done for us. Let it fill us up and make us vehicles of Your grace, your mercy, your love. I asked these things in Jesus's name. Amen.