in the Gospel of Luke chapter 12. And we'll be dealing with and reading from verse 35 through 59, completing this particular chapter. I understand that we'll continue on in our study. Some of these chapters are just too long and too full to cover in a week. The truth is you could spend several weeks on each chapter at times with the subject matter that is before us. For the sake of challenge, we want you to at least whet your appetite. Maybe look into it. And if we can do that in the Sunday school hour, just challenge folks to study, then we've done a relatively good job. But let's look into this chapter now, beginning with verse 35 of Luke 12. By the way, it's good to see visitors in our services this morning and glad that you're here. And we're looking for a real special day. I may have to talk real fast in the morning service, preach, because I was told we're going to eat exactly 12 o'clock. And I don't think we've been out of 12 o'clock in months, maybe years, if ever. So anyway, it'll probably do a little of that. But look for a lot of folks to come in real soon. Make the folks feel welcome when they do come in. All right. Verse 35, Luke 12. That ye are going to be girded about, your lights burning, and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord. He shall return from the wedding, that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed 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 meet, or come forth, and serve him. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. This know that if the good men 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. Be ye therefore ready also, for the Son of man cometh in an hour. or at an hour when you think not. Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all? 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? Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. But if that servant say in his heart, My Lord, delayeth his coming, shall begin to beat the men servants and maidens, to eat, and to drink, and to be drunken, the 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. And that servant which knew his Lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 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. I am come to send fire on the earth, and what will I, if it be already kindled. But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how am I straightened till it be accomplished? Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, nay, but rather division. For from henceforth there shall be five in one house, divided three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father, the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother, the mother-in-law against the daughter-in-law, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And he said also unto the people, when you see a cloud rise out of the west straightway, you say, There cometh a shower, and so it is. And when you see the south wind blow, you say, There will be heat, and it cometh to pass. You hypocrites, you can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it that you do not discern this time. Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right? When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him, lest he hail thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison. I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence till Thou hast paid the very last mite." Or as we would think about it in terms today, the very last fine in full due. And all would be paid. But in this chapter, it is a servant, steward as he is called, and then servant. That is in relation to the Lord and what He is to be doing at the coming of His Lord. This is a parable, as Peter asks, who is this parable for? And we understand that a parable is an earthly story that has a spiritual connotation about it, and it helps to lay it alongside and see the truth that is there to unfold for us. We have looked into the previous part of this chapter, the Lord warned about hypocrisy and He warned about the dangers of being caught up in this world as He gave the parable of the rich fool and so forth. And He brings it now down to a place that He's challenging us with regard to being a servant of the Lord and one who is looking for the Lord. And I want to just share these thoughts with you that we have before us in this outline today. I think it will be a blessing and a help to you and maybe clarify a few points. But I remind you about a parable that not necessarily every facet of a parable has to fit. In other words, some folks want to make every little thing something. The overall picture of the story is what we need and the Lord will give the fine details. In the setting, it does not mean that the parable is not interesting and important, but In other words, you don't want to get into that trap where you wonder, well, this doesn't sound exactly like doctrine. And sometimes you feel that way as you read through a parable. But one of the basic rules of interpretation is you never base a major doctrine on a parable. It's always on a clear, stated truth in the Word of God. But the parables are there to instruct us and to help us to appreciate and understand. There is this parable of the servant. It is in relation to a ceremony that would have been common in the day in which the writer was familiar. There were certain events that occurred in a marriage. Now, some marriages and weddings get elaborate, and others are basically simple in our society, and folks don't think a lot about it. There were certain steps to be taken and so forth. You'll notice that there is this one whose lord has gone to the wedding and there are folks in waiting for him to come back. And they are to immediately open the door to him. In other words, that's their place as a servant. And it will help us just a little bit to appreciate our privileges as a Christian this morning. But the steward is to be waiting and looking for his Lord in verses 35 through 41. And we'll find later on, and I'll deal with it a little bit more when we get to it, but certainly this does apply to a believer as a child of God. And this is identified with Jesus Christ. So I want you to understand the Lord is coming. Therefore, there's principles involved here. There are things that we ought to be doing. The servant is to be up and waiting. He's to be up and waiting. Let your wands be girded about and your lights burning. In other words, regardless of when the Lord returns, the lights are burning so that there is no question, there's no obscurity, but the darkness is dissipated and there's light that is shining. But the same now will apply as we look into this, that we as Christians, we need to be up and waiting the bidding of the Lord. Now, that does not mean that you're going to just be a slave day and night. That's not the idea. But you and I as believers always need to be conscious that Jesus Christ is coming again. And it may come at a surprising time. But we always want to be found ready. And the servant that is addressed here is to have his lawns guarded. In other words, he's to be ready and not have to get up and make preparation. Matthew gave us the parable of the wise and the foolish virgins. We find that there were some that were wise and they had preparation and they were ready. The other one had to go and try to make preparation. Well, when the Lord comes in the actual fact of Jesus Christ coming in, It's going to be too late to make provision then. This is an opportunity today. There's a privilege today to know Jesus Christ in the free pardon of sin, understanding the blood Calvary's cross was covering for our sin. And we are to be prepared that the servants to be up and waiting, and there to have their lawns girded, and there again to have their lights burning. And all preparation should be done. Wouldn't it be a precious thought this morning if we as believers could honestly say, I've done everything I'm supposed to do when the Lord comes. There's not anything left to be done. I've been faithful. Oh, it would be a precious time in the presence of the Lord for Him to say, well done, thou good and faithful servant, and enter into the joys of thy Lord. But all preparation needs to be done. And it's a good policy of life, as a believer, as a Christian, to look at life as an opportunity and try not to miss those opportunities along the pilgrim's way. But to be fully prepared, do what we can, as best we can, for the sake of our Lord, that is, to return. Second, or capital B, the Lord will return when He knocks. The admonition is be ready. Be ready to open to Him. There are, and I won't have time to go into great detail this morning, but I do want to mention that the Lord is coming again. There's basically two facets to the appearing of our Lord on earth. There is the rapture of the saints that comes when the Lord comes in the air, and we know it as the first resurrection. We looked into that in the book of Revelation recently We are told, blessed and holy is he that bore him the first resurrection. Over him the second death hath no power. But then there will be then in just a few short years, I think it's going to occur within the time frame of seven years from the time the saints are caught away in what we call the rapture until that time when Jesus Christ comes riding upon that white horse and on his thigh the name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords. It's very visible when He returns to this earth. And the Bible said that He brings folks with Him, or they come with Him, and He will rule and reign in righteousness for a thousand years. And thus we have what we call the millennial reign of Christ. But whether He comes for us as we go into death and the resurrection comes, or whether it be for those saints that now will be saved and come through the tribulation. There is going to be evangelism on earth during the tribulation period. When the Lord comes out of the clouds, if they happen to survive all of that. But the idea is that when He comes, because He will return when He knocks, be ready to open immediately. Again, I think it would be well to think of life as an opportunity to be prepared such that there will not be any surprises. There will not be anything that we would try to hide. I have found that folks are strange just like I am. Sometimes when you go in a home and people are okay until they find out that you are a preacher, then they will begin to try to cover up things and hide them. That's the way it works many times. But the truth is, the Lord already knew something was there. And if it's in your home, that's your business anyway. It's not mine. I'm a guest in a home visiting and trying to encourage folks to come to the house of God. But human nature seems to be that, well, I need to hide this. It's not appropriate. Wouldn't it be a blessing in and out if everything was appropriate for the coming of the Lord? When he knocks, that we could open and invite folks in. We had a group that came by our church years and years ago when we first started. And I never thought about them. I mean, our house was open, folks would come in, let's see what you get. I mean, that's the way it is. And they got to looking around and they found a book that was in there. It wasn't even Reese's book, but I didn't even bother telling them it wasn't her book. And they began to challenge that book that was in there. And they thought Reese was reading it, so they kind of blamed her. And I explained to them that my home was my home. There would be guests in it. And they were being critical of Reese. And I said, well, I'll tell you how it is. I said, when you get me, you get her. That's the package. That's the way it worked. They were thinking in different terms, but they were looking. But truth is, the Lord knows what's in our lives. He knows what's in our hearts, and He knows what's in our houses. And so it ought to be that when He knocks, He just opens the door. He's welcome. Everything there is appropriate for His presence. The servant found watching is blessed, according to This text, that one who does live ready, there is, I think, a reward. Regardless of when the Lord comes, they should be found waiting in verse 38 of the text that we've read. And if he should come in the second watch or come in the third watch and find them so blessed are those servants. So we're looking at a scene now where one is coming and there's others waiting in expectation. intend to ever try to set dates, but I would encourage you that I am persuaded beyond any shadow of a doubt, because of the circumstances that are prevalent across the face of planet Earth today, that Jesus Christ will soon come again. There's just too many things. The social situation has arisen so that, honestly, the political mind today, everybody's looking for us super person to cure all the world ills. And then there's a natural phenomenon that just is amazing. Earthquakes in places that you never heard of before. They tell me there's a fault down through South Texas and we had an earthquake here a while back. I didn't know there was any fault at all in Texas, but they said there was. And yet we have these things occurring on a constant and in an increased fashion. and some of the worst storms, and some of the most trying experiences physically from natural disasters that are occurring on this planet Earth. The Bible teaches that the Earth will groan in prevailing pain. I believe that it is literally the crying out of the Earth. The inanimate Earth knows its Maker, and I believe it cries out, asking the Lord to come. If we were wise, we would ask Him to come too. We see that we are to be found watching. There is an added encouragement to watch that is given. Now, it seems somewhat like the subject has changed, but really it's not. It's just giving you a little bit different picture to make you mindful. And the Lord had a way of teaching in such a way. In verse 39, He said, And this know that if the good men 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. It's the same admonition to be watchful, but it's an added admonition to be watchful here in this particular case. And I suppose if we could put the added admonition today, we'd put it in because of the hour that is upon us. If one does not know the tans, he's vulnerable. A man may begin to live careless, and we'll find out about a steward that does make the wrong choices. Some will think that they've got all kinds of time, that they're just able to turn and live like they want to, but the Lord will come suddenly. But if one does not know the times, he's vulnerable. And you and I, as students of the Word of God, need to know that this is that time frame, and it's coming upon us. And again, he will come unexpectedly as the thief would come, and we need to be watching. And he said if the good men of the house had known what hour the thief would come, that he would have watched. Well, just be admonished that the Lord is coming. That should be sufficient. And then finally, as we leave these verses, the application is now made to Jesus Christ in verse 40. And that helps us to appreciate the story that's unfolding for us. Be ye therefore ready also for the Son of Man cometh at an hour when ye think not. Now, by and large, the world's going to be sitting in darkness and thinking that somehow or another it's just going to be all right. But we as believers know it's going to be all right for us. But on the other hand, we don't want to be ignorant. We don't want to be vulnerable. We want to know that we're faithful to the Lord and watch Him when He does come. Then in verses 41 through 48, Jesus presents the parable of the faithful servant. And this is again an admonition to stewardship and faithfulness. Peter asks whom the parable is spoken for, or is for, in verse 49. That gives you some understanding here of whom is being addressed. Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all? So he'll now begin to answer Simon Peter, and he'll give us basically two divisions. And the parable is even to all, but it has a significant meaning to the believer. There will be others that will be addressed in this parable that will find themselves accountable before God, but the disciples are first of all addressed in 42-44. And we'll notice that the servant is addressed as faithful and wise. And who 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. Blessed is that servant whom his Lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing. But truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. In that parable, of course, we see it basically in the picture that is for us as a steward or a servant accountable to his Lord. But the relationship is such that that steward is elevated to a high place in that home. Sometimes he might even be elevated over an unfaithful son or a wayward son. In this particular setting, he's presented as being made overall. There's an illustration I'll use because it's a biblical illustration. In the book of First Corinthians, as the Apostle Paul dealt with that church and corrected that church, he dealt with judgment and judgments that had to be passed. Apparently there had been a great deal of conflict in Corinth in that church and it needed some instruction. Apparently there were those even in the church that had taken brothers before the unsaved royal judges and presented cases. The Apostle Paul said, this is what you ought to do. You ought to take the least esteemed in the church and make them the judges. And he pointed out, don't you understand that we will judge angels? Now, in the order of creation, angels are higher than we are. But do you realize that as a steward, as a servant to the Lord Jesus Christ, if we're found faithful, we're going to be rewarded in a sense with a measure of authority. Now, that is not something that we're to take as a matter of pride and with arrogance. but to realize that God is so good to us and so gracious to us. And we're literally going to be in places of responsibility in the kingdom. Folks sometimes want to know about heaven. And they're more looking for a heart in the cloud. But truth is that we'll have a body that is able to work and not tire. We'll be responsible. I think one of the great privileges of eternity is going to be learning something of the grace of God and appreciating the grace of God that has brought us. I've often said about 10,000 years into eternity, we might know a little bit more about grace. We might learn something. So there's opportunities. But I present to you the faithful servant that he is addressed as a faithful and wise steward. is certainly in the discipleship and the believer's realm as he addresses this. The steward is blessed and he's made good of all that the Lord has. We're told in another place that we are heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. And that almost is beyond my comprehension today to think of that great privilege, but to be a child of God and to enjoy even the things that are given to Jesus Christ that you and I are privileged to enter into. It's worth being a Christian today, folks. It's not anything that is of a low estate. Then the conditions are laid down for all the ones that are left over in verses 46 through 48. If they turn away from grace and to the world, suddenly the Lord will come and judgment will fall in verses 45 and 46. But if that servant say in his heart, My Lord, the layeth is coming, shall begin to beat the maid servants, and to eat, and to drink, and to be drunken. The Lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour when he is not aware, will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbeliever." He did not think the Lord was coming, but He is coming. I have talked with folks along this pilgrim's way, and they have made excuses. Oh, I do not have to hurry. I have plenty of time. I don't need to commit my life to Jesus Christ today. I'm young. I've got a lot of life left. But I'll tell you what, it comes suddenly. And in the case that is before us, those that have chosen to turn away from grace and turn to the world, it's going to end quickly and it will be very brief and very severe. The greater the opportunity, the greater the punishment. It's in our text. I'm often asked about punishments in eternity. I believe that there are degrees in hell. I think that those that have had the privilege of hearing the gospel over and over and over again will have to give a greater accountability than that one who might have lived in a country where it was not readily preached and maybe heard it only one time, and that in a fleeting fashion. If there is a deliberate turning away with knowledge of the Lord, then that punishment is greater. Brother Norman Towles used to make the statement, he's the home of the Lord now himself, but he's a preacher friend of mine from years back. And he used to say that if he were going to hell, he would hate to go to hell from Fort Worth, Texas. And what he meant was that some of the greatest preachers and some of the greatest schools that have ever been were in that area. The greater the privilege, the greater the accountability. And it's taught in this text. That is before us this morning. The greater the opportunity, the greater the punishment. God will be just yet in his dealings. In verse 48, the Lord said, God will never be accused. He said that he that knew not 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 shall they ask the more. And thus God will be just in all of his dealings. Then in verses 48 through 53, we have the thought that there can be a high cost to discipleship. And verses 49 and 50, first of all, the Lord speaks of the mission that he's on and the price that he's going to pay. He says, I have come to send fire on the earth, and what if it be already kindled? But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how am I straight until it be accomplished? Suppose ye that I come to give peace on earth, I tell you nay, but rather division. There is one now that has a mission here on earth, as he addresses this particular crowd this day. And he faces a work that only he can do. You have to understand that he's speaking of the accomplishment of the cross and what it will mean for the souls of men. I hope that every day of your life, somewhere you think back to the cross of Calvary and remember that Jesus Christ died for your sins according to the scriptures. Let it be fresh in your mind and your thinking. And he said, I'm straightened until it be accomplished. What he's saying is, I don't want anything to stand between me and what I have come to do. So Jesus Christ faces a work that only he can do, and it is an all-consuming effort on his part. Ultimately, who he is and what he does then will divide men from men. You see it in the story as it unfolds in the parable. Well, it will be a dividing of a house. There will be two against three, and three against two. There will be a father against a son, and so forth. A mother against daughter, and in-laws, and so forth. But the picture we want to see is that when Jesus Christ finished the work, he becomes the divider of men. And there is a separation between man and man today. It does not mean that we look down on others, not appreciates the measure of abilities that they have, but it is a divider of men. I can be in company with and get along with, try to get along with at least, an unsaved man, but there is a dividing factor between me and the unsaved. I have a promise of eternal life in Jesus Christ. I have eternal life in Jesus Christ. And the unsaved person doesn't. Whenever Jesus Christ is made known and He has accomplished the work, ultimately who He is and what He does will divide men from men. It becomes the dividing factor. And that's always the dividing factor. What do you believe about Jesus Christ? Have you received Him? Then we must discern the times, and I'll close because we need to kind of go on and get some questions answered if you have any. We must discern the times. Men are able to study nature and discern conditions. In verses 54 through 56, a cloud in the sky means rain and a south wind means heat. Sounds like South Texas, doesn't it? Only sometimes clouds don't always come from the source they ought to. But you get the picture that men, from a natural standpoint, they understand nature, but they're not discerning the times. You can know nature and not know reconciliation. But once before the judge, then judgment falls. In other words, there's no opportunity. We need to be discerning of the times and discerning of the opportunities. Now, I was privileged in my life to hear the gospel more than once, several times, in fact, to be around preaching for quite some time. But the Lord was gracious and let me live. But I've known others that were not that privileged. They died young, various things. A friend, or at least acquaintance of mine, killed in a car wreck just as a teenager, a young, early teenager. And thank God he was a Christian. But the moment he died, all opportunities gone. Once before the judge, judgment will fall.