Message outline: “How to be ready for the Second Coming”Luke 12:35-36, 40-44, 49-53

“How to be ready for the Second Coming”
Luke 12:35-36, 40-44, 49-53

Be watchful in the present about the future to be ready for the Second Coming

Be ready for the Second Coming by
I. Preparation for actively serving the Lord (35)
35 “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning,

II. Alertness to the potential of the Lord’s soon return (36)
36 and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.
37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.
38 If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants!
39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into.

III. Reminding yourself the Lord will come at an unexpected hour (40)
40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
IV. Taking comfort that your present faithful service will be eternally rewarded. (43-44)
43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.

The Bible says a lot about Heavenly Rewards

A. All believers will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ
Romans 14:10-12;
2 Corinthians 5:10 (NIV)
5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.  
B. This judgment will NOT determine the Believer’s Eternal Destiny
Titus 3:3-7
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--   9 not by works, so that no one can boast.  
C. This Judgment will determine the believer’s Heavenly reward
1 Corinthians 3:11-15; Revelation 22:12
D. The promise of eternal rewards.
For denying self in the Service of Christ
    Matthew 6:24-27; Matthew 19:29
For Obedience to Christ
    Revelation 2:26
For enduring persecution for Christ’s sake
    Matthew 5:11-12
For faith that expresses itself through giving and financial sacrifice.
    Matthew 6:3-4; Luke 12:33
For good works
    1 Timothy 6:18-19 (NIV)

V.  Looking to Jesus redemptive reason for His first coming (49-50)
49 “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled!
50 I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!

In facing the cross, Jesus spoke to His disciples
Mark 10:38 (ESV)
38 Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”

We are ready for the Second Coming as we Look to why Jesus Came in His first coming.
That is part of the imagery in the 12th chapter of the book of Hebrews.....

Hebrews 12:1-3 (ESV)
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2 looking to Jesus,
the founder and perfecter of our faith,
who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself,
so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

VI. By remembering the potential of division between those accepting and those rejecting Christ. (51-53)    51 Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.
52 For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three.
53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

Earlier in birth narrative of Luke 2:14
14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
The Lord Jesus gives peace with God (justification) to those who place their faith in Him.(Romans 5:1).  But that confession of faith can sometimes be a declaration of war among an individuals family and friends.

There can be division because of Jesus.

John 7:43 (ESV)
43 So there was a division among the people over him.

John 9:16 (ESV)
16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them.

John 10:19 (ESV)
19 There was again a division among the Jews because of these words.