What Are You Watching?

In his Olivet Prophecy, found in Matthew 24, it's also found in Mark 13 and Luke 21, Jesus Christ took time to privately instruct His disciples, His closest disciples. We're going to review a little bit of what He told them, but more specifically, we're going to pay attention to what He told them about to watch. What did Christ mean? What exactly were they to watch? We can watch many things in life. How were they to watch? We need to know the answers. We need to know the answers to these questions because you and I also need to watch. In today's message, we'll briefly review the Olivet Prophecy. I understood you spent a little time there last Sabbath with Mr. Moody. I was glad to hear that. We'll briefly review the Olivet Prophecy and then give careful attention to Christ's critical instruction about watching. You see, it's important that we understand what we need to watch because it is a matter for our salvation. And the title of the sermon is, What Are You Watching? What Are You Watching? So we'll begin then in Matthew chapter 24. We learn what led Jesus Christ to share His prophecy about the end time. Matthew 24 verse 1, it reads, Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and his disciples came up to show him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said to them, so you can imagine the disciples are showing all these different buildings. And there's some websites you can go to online. They have a lot of photographs and YouTube videos, reconstructions of that beautiful temple that Herod oversaw. And it's absolutely astounding. And so as they were looking at some of these things, the disciples showing Jesus perhaps to them how wonderful they are, how beautiful, how well made they are, verse 2, Jesus said to them, Do you not see all these things? Do you not see all these things? Assuredly I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another that shall not be thrown down. Now, although it doesn't say so, but my guess is that the 12 disciples must have been shocked by his words to see this immense stone structure, huge blocks. This temple was the pride and joy of all the Jews. Surely God would not allow his temple to be destroyed, even though they would have known it had happened before. And again, the temple is not a typical building. Its construction even today would be considered as something absolutely stunning and amazing. Referring to the New Testament study Bible, according to Josephus, according to Josephus, the stones of the temple were white and strong. He said they were 50 feet long, 24 feet wide, and 16 feet thick. Now, I'm not sure how wide is this room, but I keep remembering. I'm going to start carrying a tape measure in my car, because usually I come across things like this inscription. I'll measure out a wall in the living room. I believe my house is 35 feet wide, and so some of those stones are wider than that. My mind tries to wrap around some of these things, and it's a trick. Now, recent archaeological research, because Josephus did write back in the times of the destruction of the temple in 70 AD, he was around then, and he saw it. More recent archaeological research places larger stone lengths, and they have found some in the ground down deep below in archaeological excavations. Some of those stones, the larger stones, are 41 feet long, 15 feet wide, and 11 feet thick, and they weigh 570 to 630 tons.

So they're bigger than some of our pickup trucks, and much heavier, too. The box trailer, the box on semi-trucks, if you pass them, you'll see the trailers are measured 53 feet long. So that gives you a sense of how close 41 feet long might be in some of these stones. So you get the sense. I'm telling you that to give you a sense of why the disciples wanted to know when were these things going to happen. You can imagine, as I guess, they were probably shocked. Well, then, of course, about 40 years later, it happened. The temple was torn down, was destroyed. Now, after they returned the Mount Olives to the Mount of Olives, the 12 questioned Jesus about what he said. They wanted to know more. They are as interested in prophecy as we are, and they wanted to know more. And so he answered their questions, and it's here, as we continue to read, that he began to foretell what would come at the end of the age. And so continuing now, verse 3, we pick up the narrative. Now, as he said on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. So it's just the 12. This wasn't out to a huge group, the masses. They came to him privately, saying, Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age? And Jesus answered and said to them, Take heed that no one deceives you, for many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled, for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For a nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Here's the beginning. Now, these things here in these verses 3-8, 4-8, they correspond to the first four seals described in Revelation 6-1-8. You might jot that down for your later study. They correspond to Revelation 6-1-8, where we see the opening of the first four seals. Now, false Christ, as Jesus said, will come and deceive many. And it has happened throughout history. Even back in the time of Paul, he was warning them then about antichrist. There are already false christs about at that time. It has happened. It continues to happen, and it will happen. It troubles wars, famine, plagues, earthquakes. Some of us have experienced these things, and they are happening. It will continue to happen, and so it has done throughout history. And yet Christ has not returned. Many have claimed he has, through the centuries, but he has not. Now, verse 8, however, if you notice again, verse 8 says that all these events are the beginning of sorrows.

It's interesting what that means. The word translated as sorrows is a Greek word pronounced o-deen, and it's simply spelled o-d-i-n, o-deen. And it means the sorrows or the pain related to childbirth. I've only noticed that from a distance, so to speak. Birth pangs, labor pains, travail, of that sort. The Revised Standard Version, using that meaning in this verse, says all these things are but the beginning of the birth pangs, is what the Revised Standard Version says. And so what it means is these troublesome events that Christ has listed, it means they will increase in number and intensity, much as a woman's labor pains do as the upcoming birth of the child draws near.

These things will increase in number and intensity then as you draw near to the end of the age. That is, much travail will increasingly occur prior to the birth of the new age of God. There's one way of understanding this. Continuing in verse 9, still in chapter 24, Jesus said, then they would deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for my namesake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.

Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world, as he witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. And some of the things Christ mentions here corresponds to the fifth seal being opened in Revelation 6, verses 9-11.

Again, for your notes, that's Revelation 6, 9-11. And so God's faithful servants, we can see what is foretold will be persecuted. They'll be persecuted as conditions worsen and as people become more fearful, as people become more hostile. Going on to verse 15, therefore, when you see the abomination of desolation spoken by Daniel the prophet, and well, that's in Daniel 12, verse 9-13, when you see the abomination of desolation spoken by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place, whoever reads, let him understand, and let those who are in Judea at that time flee to the mountains. Well, let's turn back to Daniel, chapter 12, verse 9-13, because it does help us to understand some of the time lengths we're being referred to here, the length of time.

Daniel 12, verse 9-13 holds your place here in Matthew 24. Daniel 12, verse 9-13, Daniel 12-9 reads, and he said, Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed to the time of the end.

Referring to the time of the end, verse 10 continues, Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly, and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand. Of course, we want to be among the wise. And from the time, verse 11, from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be 1,290 days, three and a half years. Blessed is he who waits and comes to the 1,335 days. But you go your way till the end, for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.

Referring, it would seem, to Daniel's, to the hope of Daniel and all this of the resurrection. This abomination of desolation always causes us concern, but based on what Scripture tells us, the abomination of desolation refers to the world dictator, to the world dictator referred to as the Beast. You can find that in Revelation 13. This world dictator, the Beast, will be deceitful, he'll be cruel, and he will be empowered by Satan.

Now, if we flip over to 2 Thessalonians, chapter 2, verse 3 through 4, 2 Thessalonians, chapter 2, verse 3 through 4, we'll read what Paul has to say about that. Paul adds this information. 6 Thessalonians, chapter 2, verse 4. Paul writes, let's see, not soon to be shaken, let no one deceive you by any means, for that day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worship, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

Talk about a false Christ. This is the ultimate it would seem. Now, for Christ's words to be fulfilled, we understand what Scripture suggests here is that an altar will be rebuilt in Jerusalem on Temple Mount, we believe. An altar will be rebuilt, and sacrifices will again be instituted before the return of Christ. Of course, that hasn't happened yet. There are Jewish groups over there and others that would like that to happen, and it has not yet happened, though. Now, let's go back to Matthew 24.

Again, we're just reviewing some main parts of the Olivet Prophecy as we head to focus on what it means to watch. Continuing in verse 21, Jesus said, As we read from Daniel, this great tribulation would be the three and a half year period that starts with the seeding of the abomination of desolation, a three and a half year period. This terrible time will require God's faithful to hold fast to God. Dropping down now to verse 29, This verse corresponds to Revelation 6, verse 12-17, in the opening of the sixth seal, and the signs in the skies which announce, which warn, of the immediate coming of the day of the Lord.

Verse 30, Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

And he will send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together his elect from the four winds from one end of heaven to the other. And so during this day of the Lord, many more people will die. This day of the Lord, we believe, time sequence may well coincide with the final year of the Great Tribulation.

But God will reveal, he has to reveal himself to humanity, that at that time will be totally defiant. Many will refuse to repent. Many will refuse to accept that he is God, and that all must live in submission to him. But the good news is that Christ's return, his faithful servants, will be gathered unto him at the time of the resurrection, the first resurrection.

Now having told his disciples of the times of sorrows and of the terrible events to come at the end of the age, if you want to learn more, keep coming to services because between now and through the end of the fall holy days, there's going to be a lot of people speaking, filling in the details, I'm sure. And we can keep up our own reading, the Bible, and other literature. We have from the church, some of it's out here in a lobby, don't mean to make an advertisement out but inquiring minds want to know, and we need to review these things, and so we do not forget nor neglect. And so Jesus earned, uh, excuse me, warned the people then, his disciples then, and he warns us now. He urges us to watch. Now Christ's message to be watching is vital. We need to be doing it. But sometimes we could get confused, I wonder if maybe we don't quite know what we're to be watching. And so now we will give special attention to Christ's instruction about watching. We already know terrible things are going to keep happening. They're happening now. Is that what we are to be watching? Well, Christ's first instruction about watching appears in the short parable here, chapter 24. It appears in verses 42 through 44. So scan down and with your eyes and you'll see it, verse 42 through 44. And here Jesus told his disciples, again speaking to these 12 privately, watch therefore for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming, but know this that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready. In other words, be prepared for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. And sometimes we thought we knew in the past, but we didn't and we don't know. He is coming at an hour you do not expect. The Greek word for watch here is Gregorio. It looks like Greg, G-R-E-G-O-R-E-U-O. And it means to keep awake. To watch means to keep awake. Literally or figuratively, it means to stay awake, to be vigilant, to be prepared. You see, thieves don't announce when they're coming. They don't send you a text message. By the way, I'm going to be here between the hours of one or two in the morning. No. We have to be ready. They don't announce they're coming. And so the master of the house must always be prepared. He's got to be vigilant for the visit of the thief. Christ's coming tribulation is certain. Christ's tribulation, the great tribulation, Christ's coming, the day of the Lord is certain, but we don't know exactly when. Therefore, as the masters of our house, our houses, our lives, we must be vigilant to make good choices so that we will always be prepared for Christ's return. We do that by remaining faithful, repentant, and diligent in seeking first the kingdom of God. I'm going to speak more about this in a bit. Now, the second parable continues right after the first in verses 45 through 51. A second parable about watching. And here Jesus contrasts a faithful servant with an unfaithful servant. Verse 45, Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household to give them food and do season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.

He knows, too, those good works of faith. He serves others. He rightly believes, does what God says. Because he is a faithful servant, his master will entrust him with responsibility over all his goods. Might we say over all things? That might be a hint towards the inheritance of salvation. And so, a point here, we can expect a similar reward when we remain faithful to God in Christ.

Now, on the other hand, on the other hand, the unfaithful servant told himself, or rather, I can imagine him convincing himself into believing that his master would not be returning for a long time. In other words, the unfaithful servant decided he had plenty of time to live as he wanted to live. He did not need to be so fastidious with being faithful. He had time to get it right later. He may have thought that. He had time later to repent. I'll repent tomorrow.

Or maybe somehow he thought to make himself appear to be a faithful servant just before his master returned. That's dangerous thinking. And so he lorded over the other servants and gave into his own fleshly lust, his own fleshly appetites. We could understand this to mean that the unfaithful servant pleased himself, not God. He made others serve him and rejected God's law and ways.

We could see that he did not watch because he did not truly respect and honor his master.

But he gets caught. He gets caught in being unfaithful. In being caught in his sin, he was justly punished by his master. The weeping and naysing of teeth would seem to hint at the second death of the unrepentant.

Now let's turn to Mark chapter 13. Mark chapter 13. Mark has his version of the Olivet prophecy, his account of what Christ said. Mark 13, verses 32-37 is where we find Mark's account of Christ's instruction about being watchful. And we do find some additional points to add to what we've already seen in Matthew. And so in verses 32-33, Mark includes how Jesus prefaced his parable by emphasizing that only the Father knows the exact time of Christ's return. Only the Father knows. Jesus said, verse 32, but of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven nor the Son, but only the Father. And he said, take heed, watch, and pray, for you do not know when the time is. Now it's interesting the word watch here in verse 33 in Mark's account is a gripneo, A-G-R-Y-P, A-G-R-Y-P-N-E-O. It means to be sleepless. Don't sleep.

We should also note that here Jesus combined the action of watching with praying. Watching includes praying. In other words, the meaning seems to be we should never sleep spiritually speaking. Don't let ourselves grow dull-headed sleepy-eyed when it comes to our spiritual lives, to staying close to God, but always watching and praying, meaning to maintain a close relationship with God. Now the parable itself then begins in verse 34, after this preface about the time. Only the Father knows. Verse 34, the parable then goes like this, it is like a man going to a far country who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch, meaning stay awake, therefore for you do not know when the master of the house is coming. In the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, and they start crowing pretty early, or in the morning, you have to be aware. Don't be sleepy. Verse 36, less coming suddenly, he finds you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all, watch. So Mark does give us some additional insights in his account about watching. One, to watch means that Christ's disciples must not fall asleep spiritually. They must be awake as to their spiritual situation. They must be alert to the conditions of the world around them. They must be diligent in their service to God. They need to be busy doing the right things. Second, Jesus' warning is to all disciples, not just to the twelve. But to all disciples, including those yet to come, including us. He said, all that I say to you, I say to all, watch. And third, while those of the world are asleep spiritually, you might say they're dead asleep spiritually, Christ's disciples must remain spiritually awake and ready for his return. And now, we'll turn to Luke. Let's turn to Luke, chapter 21. Luke's account of Christ's instruction about watching. Luke 21, and we'll begin here in verse 34-36. Luke 21, verse 34-36. In Luke's account, a little bit different from Mark's and Matthew's, but when we put them together, they build up more information, a fuller picture of what we need to be doing to watch. In Luke's account, we again find Christ's admonition to watch and pray, again emphasizing our need to never be asleep spiritually and to keep that close relationship we must have with God. But it's interesting, in Luke's account, instead of a parable, Luke records Christ's direct instruction to his disciples. No stories, just what he said, straight to the point. And so that's what we read here, beginning in verse 34, Luke 21. Jesus said, But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch, be sleepless therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass and to stand before the Son of Man. And so again, we find Christ's direct instruction and warning to his disciples. Jesus warns us, he warns us not to be weighed down, the idea of being burdened, not to be burdened by three things. On the one hand, it is carousing and drunkenness, on the other hand, don't be weighed down by the cares of life, carousing and drunkenness, and the cares of life. These things suggest two approaches toward life that jeopardize our spiritual readiness. These things suggest two approaches towards life that jeopardize our spiritual readiness. The words carousing and drunkenness suggest an approach toward life that is burdened with indulging one's fleshly appetites.

Taken literally, Christ warns us to avoid intoxication. Don't get drunk. It's also a warning against gluttony. It's a warning against drinking to excess. Today, we would need to expand that to drug abuse in all so many ways.

But the more figurative and expansive meaning in these words warns us to watch out that we don't overly indulge the flesh. That can mean overindulging in a number of worldly distractions. That can mean overindulging in entertainment, technology, social media, much more. Whatever would keep us out of focus where our focus needs to be.

You know, there are probably more entertaining diversions and distractions available to us now than any other time in human history. How much I kicked myself, I'll be honest with you, I kicked myself. How much time do I waste in a day, sometimes, in distractions? In the end of the day, I have to sit and do like I was taught to weigh and see if I earned my keep that day. And some days, I allow myself to be distracted by things that really don't matter. Overindulging our flesh rather than feeding upon God's word, being faithful to do good works, that will deaden us spiritually. It'll deaden us spiritually. And that can lead us to become apathetic, apathetic and careless about our future and about salvation, about our calling. We must not do that. We must not do that. Now, on the other hand, the phrase, the cares of life, alludes to an approach towards life that is burdened with excessive worry, excessive anxiety. Now, we know we have to plan for tomorrow. We have to have jobs, we have to take care of our needs, we have to take care of ones we love or responsible for. We must do that. But we're not to be worrying excessively, anxiously fretting constantly. With that, we should hold our place here. And let's look at Luke 12, verse 22. Luke 12, 22, 23. We remember, I believe, what Christ says here. Luke 12, 22, 23.

He said, Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life. Again, he's talking about excessive worry, being excessively anxious. Do not worry about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. Life is more than food. The body is more than clothing. And that makes perfect sense if you understand the real reality that is about God and the salvation we want to receive. Let's also look verses 29 through 30. Still in Luke 12, verses 29 through 30. Jesus said, Do not seek what you should eat, or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nation of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. God's already aware of what we need. He's already in the process of making sure we have our needs covered. Let's also look a few pages back, Luke chapter 9. Luke 9, verse 23 through 25. We are not to worry excessively about saving our physical lives. Sometimes people get caught up in that. Sometimes I've known people get caught up in that survivalist mentality. We are not to worry excessively about saving our physical lives and our livelihoods, but to be faithful to God. Luke 9, verse 23.

Then he said to them, If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it. But whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. In these powerful words, verse 25, For what profit, what gain is it to a man if he gains the whole world and is himself destroyed or lost? We have to keep the right focus. And so Luke's account gives us several more points about what we need to watch. We must watch our fleshly appetites and worldly influences do not weigh us down, do not hinder us spiritually. We also watch out that we're not burdened down by our own anxious cares.

That's easy to slip into when we see so much and watch and hear so much of the world, and it's tumult right now. Instead, I believe we know where we must keep our focus. We must stay focused on our calling to God's kingdom, to salvation, to avoiding the judgment that is coming upon the world. We need to deal with the true reality of life and not those things that can easily distract us. So it is that we must take to heart Christ's clear warning about our need to watch, to guard ourselves, to stay awake spiritually. Jesus Christ is telling us to live a life of spiritual alertness. That much is pretty clear from these three accounts. We're to be living a life of spiritual alertness. But how do we do that? Where do we start? What do we do? How do we do that? If we turn back to 2 Peter chapter 3, Peter helps us to find some answers on how do we live a life that's more spiritually alert. It's more spiritually watchful. In 2 Peter 3 verse 10 through 18, Peter directly addresses the question of how followers of Jesus Christ are to be living a watchful spiritual life now. Knowing the day of Christ's return will come suddenly unexpectedly to the world which will not receive him, Peter asks this critical question. He asks this question takes it's a long one, but he asks this question to help us really think about what we're doing, about what we really want. Verse 10, but the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. We've heard that phrase. 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. So many things we worry about now. What's going to happen? Ashes? It'll be done. Verse 11, therefore, here comes the question, therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness?

That's the big question. What manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for in 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? If we know what's coming, and if we know what's going to happen to those who refuse to repent, it makes it pretty clear, rather black and white as it would, of what we need to be doing, what we need to decide. What manner of lifestyle, then, should we live? What manner of person should you and I be?

Now, we should know because we've been reading Christ's instruction here, and most of us here made a commitment to be faithful and submissive to God. But verse 13, verse 13, continuing here, "'Nevertheless,' Peter says, we, according to his promise, look for,' RSV, Revised Standard Version, says, "'wait for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.'" And that's what we're looking toward. "'Therefore,' Peter says, beloved," he loved the brethren, "'beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent.'" That means be fully alert. "'Be found by him in peace, without spot and blameless.'" Referring to without the spot of sin. Don't let ourselves or hands stay dirty because of sin. He's referring to our need to be constantly practicing repentance, to be constantly seeking God's forgiveness. Continuing in verse 15, "'And consider that the long suffering of our Lord is salvation.'" We also have time. We have time to make changes starting now. "'The long suffering of our Lord is salvation, as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, in which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also to the rest of Scriptures.'" And Peter's right. They were doing it then. They were taking things Paul was saying, and the other apostles were writing, preaching, and twisting it, contorting it, so that it would fit their fleshly desires, their concerns. And it still happens today. We have to be careful. You know, even now, people who claim to be followers of Christ, there are churches out there splitting up, breaking up because of the various transgender agendas. Churches have been around for hundreds of years, or suddenly fracturing because of the disagreement. And they're both quoting from Scripture to make their case.

And so people who claim to be followers of Christ, but are not, really, they twist God's holy Scripture to claim that God blesses same-sex marriage. He cannot. He created marriage. He didn't create it like that. They twist Scripture to say that God blesses a woman's choice to abort her child for just any reason at any time. God cannot bless that. Some twist Scripture to say that God blesses the transgender lifestyle. He cannot. He cannot bless lives lived in sin. For all these folks, all these people, like all sin, He asks people to repent, to repent of sin. Do not live these lifestyles contrary to God and His holy, just, and perfect law. You see, God does love all people, and He does desire all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. That's what we're told in 1 Timothy 2, verse 4. And yet Scripture tells us that God cannot bless practices and lifestyles that are contrary to Him. Such lawless lifestyles and practices are sinful no matter how much people want to twist and contort God's holy Scripture. Truth is truth. We must be watchful and alert to be ever faithful to God in His truth and be able, then, to avoid the contorted lies of this world. Let's continue a little more here with Peter, 2 Peter 3, verse 17. Peter says, You therefore beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked. If we're not watching, it'll be easy for us to fall asleep and get sucked into some of this twisted ideas that people claim are righteousness, are godliness, our standard must be God's Scripture without the twisting. And Peter adds, verse 18, But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and to Him be the glory both now and forever. God and Christ are not changing. Amen. And so, yes, we must be paying attention to world events, including the latest attacks that Satan and his world are waging against God and His truth. Yes, we must be alert to how the world events correlate to God's prophetic warnings about increasing troubles at the end of the age so we will not be caught unaware of Christ's return. And at the same time, and at the same time, we're watching what's going on out there. And more importantly, we must be watching our hearts and minds so that we remain steadfast and faithful with God.

We must guard ourselves against the ways of Satan, against his world, and certainly against our own carnal human nature. We must remain faithful to God's calling and to the commitments we make at baptism. And when we fall to temptation and we sin, then we must be prepared to repent and seek God's forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ as often as we need. And we need to do it quite a bit sometimes. And ultimately, we must watch with diligence to see that we live a godly life, to walk in light, not in darkness. In that regard, let's now turn to 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, verse 1 through 11. We read a few of these scriptures in our sermonette. 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 1 through 11. 1 Thessalonians 5, 1 through 11, here Paul exhorts Christ's followers. He exhorts us to be faithful to our calling and to guard against spiritual darkness and so be found worthy of receiving salvation. Here Paul writes, verse 1, But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you, for yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. That's a popular theme, isn't it? For when they say peace and safety, then sudden destruction comes upon them as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. We've read about that. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this day should overtake you as a thief. You are the sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, meaning death and sleep and death, we should live forever with Him. Therefore, comfort each other and edify each other just as you are also doing.

Very stirring words.

Very important words to be put into action.

God has blessed us, incredibly so. He has blessed us with an understanding of the times to come at the end of the age. And so, yes, we must be guarding our hearts and minds. Brethren, we must guard our house. We must guard our house. What would we do if we knew that a thief were coming to our house?

What would you do? Are you prepared right now? What would you do if you knew a thief were coming? We do if we knew a thief were coming to our house, the very heart of our home, some night, sometimes in don't know when.

Well, here's what I think I would do.

I think we would do this. I think we would keep our lights on.

I think we'd keep our lights on outside and inside, wouldn't you? I think we would lock and guard all the entrances, all the doors, all the windows, so that nothing could get in or out of our house without us knowing it.

I think we would stay close to our brethren so we could rally quickly to each other's help and need.

What else would we do to guard our house?

I think we would not be burdened or distracted by other things, but alert and prepared as best we could to defend our house.

And most importantly, we would pray earnestly for God's protection because God is our best defense and God is our strength.

To be watchful is to be faithful. To be watchful is to be faithful.

Again, we must be alert to what's happening in the world, yes, but more importantly to what is happening within us. Watch our spiritual condition. Watch our faith and trust in God.

Colossians 3, verse 1 through 7. Colossians 3, 1 through 7. It's absolutely vital that we guard our hearts and minds and resist the temptations and sinful ways to which we died and die at baptism. Colossians 3, verse 1. Paul writes, If then you are raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, for Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God, set your mind on the things above, not on things on the earth. For you died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore, put to death your members which are on the earth, fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desires, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things, the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. Here Paul echoes what he wrote in Ephesians 5-8.

Ephesians 5-8.

Ephesians 5-8.

Paul writes, Ephesians 5-8, For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord, walk as children of light. That's our marching orders.

Once we have committed ourselves to God and received the indwelling of His Holy Spirit, we are no longer of the darkness, no longer sons of disobedience, but children of light.

And so with God's help, we must watch, guard ourselves, watch and guard ourselves against that which would steal us away back into the darkness. What is that? Satan, the world, and our own carnal nature. We must watch and guard against it.

In closing, let's read one final scripture. 1 Corinthians 16, verse 13-14. 1 Corinthians 16, verse 13-14. Here Paul summarizes the main point that we can take away with us today. This is the main point we can take away with us today. 1 Corinthians 16-13. Watch, stand fast in faith, be brave, be strong, let all that you do be done with love. If with God's help we do these things, then we will endure. We will endure to the kingdom and to salvation.

And so, brethren, we need to ask ourselves, what are we watching?