Waiting and Watching on the Lord
By Pastor Joel – Open Heaven Christian Church
In Luke chapter twelve Jesus teaches the disciples to let their lights burn as one waiting with expectation for the Lord to come knocking at the door at anytime.
Luke 12
35Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; 36And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
Jesus explains that the blessed ones are those who were found watching.
37Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. 38And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
Jesus continues his teaching by addressing the importance of watching and waiting for His return with an analogy about a house being broken up because the person was not ready at the hour the Lord’s return.
39And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. 40Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
Peter was uncertain about who Jesus was referring to in his teaching so he asked the Lord if this teaching about being ready also applies to everyone else besides the disciples. Jesus explains to Peter that he was speaking about a “faithful and wise steward” implying his followers who will be blessed if the Lord will find them watching and preparing for the Lord’s return.
41Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all? 42And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? 43Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 44Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
The Lord continues to expound about those who were not ready at his coming. Jesus also explains that those who were not ready and watching for the Lord to return would find themselves as unbelievers.
45But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; 46The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
The Lord emphasizes about those who were not watching and ready were not aware of the will of the Lord and were not prepared for the coming of Christ. Because they were not watching and prepared for the Lord’s return they were doing things that were contrary to the will of God. These servants that were unprepared were “beaten” with many stripes. The word many stripes signifies – (many, much, great blows).
47And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
These “often blows” are the Lord’s way of correcting his servants because God does not anyone to perish. Scriptures teach that whom the Lord loves he scourgeth meaning (To scourge, to whip, to flog).
Hebrews 12:6 “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.”
The Lord was teaching the disciples that God will correct them if they were not preparing for the Lord’s return, and this correction form God may include events in life that are not pleasant to our carnal man. The carnal man has a mind of its own and always thinks contrary to the will of God because the carnal mind is enmity against God and His will.
Romans 8:7 “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.”
When a servant of God strays from the doctrines of Christ they will begin to experience chastisement from God in their life. These blows vary depending of the severity of the errors or sins committed.
Luke 12:48 “But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.”
In the Acts of the Apostles we find a man who committed fornication and laid with his fathers wife was turned over to Satan for the destruction of his flesh in hope that he would repent and confess his sin to the Lord so that the Lord would forgive him and his spirit would be saved when the Lord returns.
1 Corinthians 5
1It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. 2And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, 4In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
In the book of Timothy we learn of a man called Alexander which did much evil toward Paul by coming against his teachings. The Apostle Paul states that the Lord reward him of his evil deeds. Paul also warns Timothy about this man to make him aware of the fact that he was not walking in truth because he “withstood” the teachings of the Apostle Paul.
2 Timothy 4:14-15
“14Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: 15Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.”
In 1st Timothy chapter one Paul mentions two men that he delivered unto Satan, one of them was this “Alexander” who was committing blaspheme.
1 Timothy 1:20 “Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.”
Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit realized that these two men needed to be taught not to blaspheme. When the Apostle Paul delivered them to Satan these men would suffer great blows in their life so they can learn not to pervert the way of the Lord and repent of their sins.
In Acts chapter thirteen Paul is on a missionary trip to Cyprus and confronts a man called Elymas who was a sorcerer who tried to interfere with the work that God had Paul doing. This sorcerer Elymas who was under the power of Satan to withstood Paul did not succeed, Paul under the direction of the Holy Spirit spoke a sever judgment upon him and he was struck blind in the presence of all. This was a blow to both Satan and his messenger.
Acts 13
4So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. 5And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister. 6And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus: 7Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. 8But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. 9Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, 10And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? 11And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. 12Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.
In verse twelve we learn what Paul did was a doctrine which brought judgment from God to stop an enemy of righteousness. This too was a blow to Satan and his messenger.
The Apostle Paul was watching and waiting on the Lord, and these men who withstood him suffered sever blows so that they might repent of their evil.
The Lord takes his word very seriously and no one should ever undermine what the Holy Spirit wants to accomplish or they too will suffer blows which are the judgments of God to correct anyone.
CONCLUSION
Believers are expected to adhere to the word of God in truth and sincerity or they will experience correction from the Lord.
Unbelievers who oppose the Lord and his word will also face judgment from God based on the severity of their deeds.
Galatians 6
6Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. 7Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
When believers sow seeds of righteousness, they reap righteousness and everlasting life. When one sows seeds to their flesh, they reap corruption. The Lord resist the proud and gives grace to the humble.
James 4:6 “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”
Matthew 23:12 “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”
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