As the days of Noah were

• Matthew 24: 36-51 READ But as the days of Noah were. 
• I had a DS in the Army that would always scream at us “let no soul cry out ‘if I had only trained’’
• The point was- if you stayed trained in your tasks, when it was called upon- you’d be ready
• The worst thing is to say ‘that’ll never happen’ Jesus is going to come back one day. 

• Not everyone will be ready-
• The truth of this discourse, directly from the mouth of our Savior is that not everyone will be ready for his return and it will result in dire consequences for those who are not ready for his return. We partly covered this last week. Jesus covers it again, we cover it again- signs last wk
• This is why it is cosmically important to sit under the word of God- It’s why I take my job seriously- 2 tim 4:22 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
• I want to Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. That’s my job!
• Colossians 1:28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.-I take it seriously to warn and teach
• 1 thes 5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. Warn, comfort, uphold, patient, 
• Many will not be ready for Christs return because they have rejected the basic scriptures that record the words of Jesus our Lord and savior that give us fair advance notice for his arrival- still nonetheless, some, to their own peril, ignore the clear words of Jesus because “my master delays his coming”- and based on these scriptures- it will not go well with them. 
• We’ve all had jobs with work we didn’t want to do- you either do it- or you fake it- cleaning, calling, filing, etc. 
• No one knows when it will happen v36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.
• We covered this last week- but it bears repeated- no one knows the day of the return
• Not even Jesus? How is that possible? He is 100% God and 100% Man. He limited himself by his humanity- He was not omnipresent in the flesh- He couldn’t be and be man at the same time. 
• Its not our job to know when- its our job to know he will- Acts 1:7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.
• There are somethings with God that are a mystery- Things that you’re not going to know until they happen- Bible says without faith its impossible to please God- SO have faith- 
• Trust that God knows, not just the end- but the process that is going to bring you to it
• You can be prepared- and you can be ready- You may not see it- but stay ready
• Night time ritual- Lock every door, check the locks, Perimeter sweep- set the alarm, chamber 
• A thief may never come into my house my whole life That’s fine. Maybe I’m wasting that 2 minutes every night before I go to bed, but I’m not going to be caught slipping. 
• It comes like a thief– 2 peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
• Don’t get caught with your pants down- Rev 16:15 “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”
• Caracalla was a ruthless emperor- So much so that he was murdered when he least expected it- relieving himself on the side of the road with his soldiers- one of them assassinated him. 
• People aren’t going to be ready- Jesus says-
• People were not ready for the flood v 37-39 READ
• Right now- people are eating, drinking, marrying and given in marriage- Life is going on
• Heres what we can get from the Genesis account The world was wicked
• from Genesis 6:5 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
• The Lord was sorry– Gen 6:6 And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart
• The earth was corrupt and violent- 6:11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
• Anecdotally- I think the world is wicked and corrupt right now. I don’t know if the Lord is sorry that he made man- but based on what I can see I could understand if he was sorry now as well. 
• People didn’t realize what was happening until the flood waters rose- They probably labeled Noah a cook-job out of touch with the times and religious zealot- Probably misunderstood
• But he was right- about the ark and everything else- in spite of what everyone else thought
• Here’s what Jesus says- 
• Some will be taken- others left 40-41 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 
• This isn’t a parable– this is a descriptor of what Jesus says is going to miraculously happen- there are going to be two people going along together, and one will be taken. 
• To the human eye- we will see, by this account- 50% will be brought unto Jesus and 50% wont. 
• Collected and received- v 31 and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
• These two go together- During this time God is collecting up and gathering those who are in christ Jesus- those who are the regenerated blood washed saints of God- he will receive us
• Which brings us to this next point- Make sure you’re ready v 42-44
• If Jesus says that he will gather all men unto him self at 50% rate based on this parable- it would behoove us to take it as seriously to ensure that we’re of the ones that are taken!
• People who do not plan ahead really bother me- You have to see it coming and be prepared for it- while driving, sitting, living, financial planning, life insurance etc. You have to be ready!
• So what do we do?
• Keep watch v 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.
• Watch! What? Keep our heads out the window? Probably not- but we should live with an expectancy of his immediate return. 
• Bosnia- Guard shack- m60, night vision goggles, back fill (bro- nothing happens) 
• James 4:13-15 READ   you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life?
• Job 14:1 “Man who is born of woman Is of few days and full of trouble.
• Realize your life is short– your life is supposed to be focused on Christ. Keep watch!
• Bring it into your speech and your thoughts- talk about it- pray about it- encourage each other
• Be prepared v 43-44 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what [h]hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

• Jesus uses a parable to help explain 45-51 READ
• There are two servants in this story just like there are two people in the field and at the grinder
• What is different here- is that Jesus uses the example of servant- one who is owned by master
• So Jesus uses this parable to illustrate a point- both of them were servant but with drastically different outcomes- 
• One is called Faithful, one is called wicked, One is doing what they are supposed to be doing, and one is not doing what they are supposed to be doing. One gets blessings, one gets destruction- two totally different outcomes for 2 servants of the same master
• The faithful and wise servant 45-47
• Faithful servant- Found doing his duties, rewarded greatly “will find so doing” he’s doing something “make him ruler over all his goods” 
• So the faithful servant, who (based on previous scripture) Kept watch- waiting for his masters return- is rewarded for his faithful attentiveness- he becomes ruler over all his goods. 
• The wicked servant 48-51. 
• Found neglecting his duties (mainly thinking the master isn’t coming) so the master surprises him, cuts him in two, and throws him in same place as hypocrites- “weeping and gnashing” 
• Totally different outcomes for 2 people that were both ‘servants’ of the same ‘master’ 
• Listen to the words of Jesus- This isn’t commentary or opinion- it is clearly laid out in this parable- The separation of these two servants is their thoughts and activities- Either believing that The master would or would not return, and doing or not doing the duties that they had been assigned regardless of the inevitable untimely return of the master. 
• They both had drastically different outcomes based on their personal decisions in regards to the demands set forth by their master (owner) of them- Who “gave them food” in due season? The master was doing his part- feeding them- but would they do their part?

How to stay ready Titus 2:11-14 READ shows us an easy way to stay on track to be ready

• 1. Be saved- If you’re not saved- you’re not ready
• Everything we talk about is dependent on Saving faith in Jesus- To believe that Jesus has saved you from the punishment of your sins against God- You must be saved to be ready. 
• Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 
• Salvation is possible for every one! 1 Timothy 2:4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
• The Bible says God DESIRES ALL men to be saved! Saved from their sins
• When Jesus comes back, to gather one of the two in the field which one do you think he’s coming for? He’s coming for the saved person! The person who is trusting Jesus for his salvation and deliverance for his sins!
• John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
• When you die, there will only be one thing that is going to gain you access to Heaven- Did you trust in Jesus for your salvation. Not what you did. What you had faith in- Only Jesus
• Your righteous acts are not what gain your salvation- only that Jesus died for your sins. ONLY 
• So you must rest in that salvation daily- that Jesus is your payment to heaven- that only. 
• You are not here to earn your way to heaven, you are here to live in a way that your way to heaven has been earned. To “bear fruits worthy of repentance” live like it!
• 2. Be obedient- if you’re not being obedient you’re not ready for Christ return
• This scripture we went through today said “Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.” What will Christ find us doing when he returns?
• It seems quip to say it- but its true- what will he find you doing upon his return?
• Sure- there’s insignificant things, worldly things, etc. But what about sinful things? 
• I don’t want to be found anywhere but in his righteousness alone- but I certainly don’t want to be found doing what I’m not supposed to be doing based on the scriptures
• Titus 4:12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,
• Sounds like a pretty good benchmark- denying ungodliness- the condition of being polluted with sin. To reject being filled with sinfulness. AND worldly lusts- the things of this world
• I want to be living a godly life- Not to EARN my salvation but because I’ve been freed from that
• 3. Be on watch- If you’re not looking you’re not ready
• Titus 2:13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 
• 2 Timothy 4:8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.2 peter 3:12 and 14 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;
• Friends, the early Church lived with an expectation of Christs imminent return. 
• So much so, and throughout history, that they gave up their possessions and jobs and waited
• The word does not teach idleness, it teaches expectancy. “two were in the field-grinding” 
• Not- Two were sitting at home watching tv. They were working- going about life
• But you have to BE ON WATCH- Plan- but live knowing that none of it may matter. 
• If you NEVER speak of Christs return or NEVER dwell on it. Or NEVER speak of it- you’re not ready- you’re not living with a daily expectation of his imminent return. 
• Speak it- remind yourself and others “Lord willing- see you Sunday” bc we do not know! 

• 4.  trusting– He will do it- 
• Titus 2:14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
• Notice the two sided nature of this scripture- “he might redeem for himself” and “zealous for good works” 
• Again- our good works are not what redeem us- It is the work of Christ, but nonetheless, we should be zealous to perform them- as we do- We trust that Christ will redeem us- 
• “He gave himself for us” what Christ did for us was his willing sacrifice to redeem us
• We must trust that he will return for us- his desire is to redeem us, not destroy us- 
• So we walk in him, trust in him, and live in him- waiting for his return. 
• Our King will return for us! Just like the Days of noah, it will come least expected

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