TEXT: Mark 13:32-37
32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
34 For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:
36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
— PRAYER —
Watch, Pray, and Work, Part 2
Billy Graham said, “Bible teaching about the Second Coming of Christ was thought of as ‘doomsday’ preaching. But not anymore. It is the only Ray of hope that shines as an ever brightening beam in a darkening world.”
The Bible Knowledge Commentary says, “Because no one knows when that time, the appointed time of God’s intervention, will come, Jesus repeated His admonition, Be on guard! and added, Be alert!. The Parable of the Absent House Owner, unique to Mark, reinforces the call to constant vigilance and defines it as a faithful fulfillment of assigned tasks. Before going away on a journey the Owner put his servants (collectively) in charge of carrying on the work of his house. He gave each one his own task and ordered the doorkeeper who controlled all access to the house to keep watch. Jesus applied this parable to His disciples without distinguishing between the doorkeeper and the other servants. They all are responsible to keep watch, to be alert to spiritual dangers and opportunities because no one knows when the Owner of the house, who indirectly represents Jesus Himself, will return. The night represents the time of the Owner’s absence. He could return at any time, so they should be constantly watching in view of the danger that when the Owner, Jesus, comes suddenly, He should find them sleeping (spiritually negligent), not watching for His return. Such vigilance is the responsibility not only of the Twelve but also of every believer in every generation during this present Age. Believers should be watching and working in light of the certainty of His return, though its time is unknown except to the Father.”
In our last message, we began looking at the Parable of the Door-Keeper, or the Parable of the Master’s Household, to give us guidance on what we ought to be doing as we await the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. By the grace of God, we ought to be faithful and busy up until the Master’s return. We each have a job to do in the midst of the Lord’s physical absence.
Jesus begins this parable with three commands that we ought to obey. The first is, “Take ye heed.” This phrase means to look at or to pay attention. Jesus wants us to be paying attention to Him, His commands, and His example. We are to be His representatives on this Earth. If you sent someone to represent you before a certain authority, you would want them to conduct themselves in a certain manner. Likewise, Jesus wants us to conduct ourselves in a certain manner in the world because the world is looking at us to see what Jesus is like. If we are to follow Jesus’ example, we must pay attention to Him.
However, many of us have our eyes on worldly pursuits, on political leaders, or personal advancement. We aren’t ready for Jesus’ return, nor are we interested in getting ready. We’ve fixed our eyes on everything else but Jesus Christ. Who are you paying attention to today? Who has your ear? Who has your eye? More importantly, who or what has captured your mind? Do you say with John, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus”? Or, are you saying, “Come, Lord Jesus, but only after I finish doing what I want to do”?
We can’t experience the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ to get through this life unless we take heed to what Jesus is telling us. If we take heed to the messages being sent by the world, the flesh, and the devil, we will end up unsatisfied, worried, depressed, and frustrated. This world is unable to satisfy our deepest longings. And we shouldn’t waste time pursuing happiness and fulfillment where it can’t be found. Instead, as members of the Master’s Household, let’s take heed to the Master of the House, Jesus Christ. Though it may seem He has gone on a long journey, He is always with us, He will never forsake us, and one day He will return to take us to the place He has prepared for us.
Frances J. Crosby wrote:
Watch and pray that when the Master cometh,
If at morning, noon, or night,
He may find a lamp in every window,
Trimmed, and burning clear and bright.
Watch and pray, nor leave our post of duty,
Till we hear the Bridegroom’s voice;
Then with Him the marriage feast partaking,
We shall evermore rejoice.
Watch and pray, the Lord commandeth;
Watch and pray, ’twill not be long.
Soon He’ll gather home His loved ones,
To the happy vale of song.
Now, if you are not a believer in Jesus Christ, I urge you to trust in Him because He is coming again and you do not want to be left behind. Here is how you can place your faith and trust in Him for Salvation from sin and the consequences of sin.
First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”
Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
Now that is bad news, but here’s the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will.
Romans 10:9 & 13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved… For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead, and you want to trust Him for your Salvation today, please pray with me this simple prayer: Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. I am sorry for my sins, and today I choose to turn from my sins. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. I trust Jesus Christ as my Savior and I choose to follow Him as Lord from this day forward. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.
If you just trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, and you prayed that prayer and meant it from your heart, I declare to you that based upon the Word of God, you are now saved from Hell and you are on your way to Heaven. Welcome to the family of God! Congratulations on doing the most important thing in life and that is receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door.” Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
God loves you. We love you. And may God bless you.
Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in over twenty-five foreign countries. He is the author of over forty books including the Essence Magazine, Dallas Morning News, and Amazon.com national bestseller, Letters to Young Black Men. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry.
He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts/podcasts, which include: The Prayer Motivator Devotional, The Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message, the Prophet Daniel’s Report, the Second Coming Watch Update and the Soul-Winning Motivator, among others.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, a Master’s degree in Religion, a Master of Divinity degree, and a Master of Theology degree from Liberty University’s Rawlings School of Divinity (formerly Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary). He is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry degree.
He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica since 1987. God has blessed their union with seven children.
BCNN1 WP 