Mills Memorial Baptist Church
Sunday Evening Worship - 10/4
  • My Father Planned It All
  • Close to Thee
  • Luke 21:25–36
    Last Sunday evening, we looked at the first part of this chapter and Jesus’ warning concerning the destruction of Jerusalem.
    He told His disciples that the city they admired would one day be surrounded by armies.
    He told them there would be judgment.
    He told them there would be suffering.
    And history records that those words came to pass.
    But when we come to verse 25 tonight, Jesus starts looking beyond Jerusalem.
    He begins talking about signs in the sun, moon, and stars.
    He talks about distress among the nations.
    He talks about things coming upon the earth.
    And then He talks about the Son of man coming in power and great glory.
    So the scope gets much bigger here.
    Jesus is directing His disciples beyond the destruction of Jerusalem and toward His return.
    And one of the difficult things about waiting for something Scripture says is coming is that ordinary life does not stop while you wait.
    You still have work to do.
    Bills still come due.
    Families still need your attention.
    There are appointments to keep.
    There are decisions that have to be made.
    There are responsibilities that do not go away.
    And sometimes those things feel much more pressing than something Scripture says is still ahead.
    That’s what makes this passage so practical.
    Jesus is talking about enormous events.
    He talks about distress among nations.
    He talks about fear on the earth.
    He talks about signs in the heavens.
    He talks about His own return.
    But when He turns to His disciples, He doesn’t tell them to spend their lives trying to figure out the exact day.
    He tells them how to live while they wait.
    Because Christ’s return is absolutely coming, we should not let fear or the cares of this life keep us from living ready for Him.
    In these closing words, Jesus gives us four responses that should shape the life of every believer who is waiting for His return.

    I. Look Up

    vv. 25–28
    Jesus says in verse 25, “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars.”
    He goes on to describe “distress of nations, with perplexity.”
    He speaks of “the sea and the waves roaring.”
    Then verse 26 says, “Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.”
    There is nothing mild, or calm about the picture Jesus is giving them.
    He is describing a world that is shaken.
    People are afraid.
    Nations are distressed.
    There’s uncertainty everywhere.
    And then Jesus says something that kinda sounds surprising.
    Verse 28 says, “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads.”
    The world is frightened by what it sees.
    Jesus tells His people to lift up their heads.
    Ask first of all we see…

    A. A Fearful World

    Verse 26 says, “Men’s hearts failing them for fear.”
    Now… Jesus is not making light of frightened people.
    He is describing events that really will be frightening.
    The Christian response is not to just pretend that frightening things are not frightening.
    We are to remember something the world does not know.
    We know where history is going.
    That doesn’t mean we understand every detail.
    It doesn’t mean we never feel concern.
    It doesn’t mean we never wonder what’s going to happen next.
    But we do know that history is not out of control.
    The world may see chaos and wonder where any of it is headed.
    The believer knows that God has already told us where history ends.
    There is a King coming.
    Titus 2:13 says that we are
    Titus 2:13 KJV
    13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
    Christian hope does not mean everything around us feels peaceful.
    It means we know Who is coming.

    B. A Glorious King

    Verse 27 says, “And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”
    That language takes us back to Daniel 7.
    Daniel saw “one like the Son of man” coming with the clouds of heaven.
    Daniel says that He was given dominion, glory, and a kingdom.
    Jesus takes that title and applies it to Himself.
    Now think about where Jesus is when He says this.
    He is in Jerusalem.
    His enemies are questioning Him.
    The religious leaders are plotting against Him.
    His arrest is coming.
    His trial is coming.
    His crucifixion is coming.
    From the human side of things, it looks like His enemies are gaining ground.
    But Jesus knows the end before they ever put a nail through His hands.
    They may reject Him now.
    They may mock Him.
    They may beat Him.
    They may crucify Him.
    None of that changes who He is.
    And none of it stops the kingdom He says is coming.
    The One who is rejected will one day return in power and great glory.
    Jesus is not speaking like a defeated man trying to convince Himself things will work out.
    He is speaking like the King who already knows the end.

    C. A Nearing Redemption

    Then verse 28 says, “Look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”
    Don’t wor worry it’s not saying eternal redemption comes later.
    It doesn’t not mean we are not redeemed now.
    Ephesians 1:7 says,
    Ephesians 1:7 KJV
    7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
    If you’ve trusted Christ, you have been redeemed.
    Your sins have been forgiven.
    You belong to Him.
    But Romans 8:23 speaks about something we are still waiting for.
    Romans 8:23 KJV
    23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
    There is a final completion still ahead.
    We have been saved from the penalty of sin.
    We are being delivered from its power in our lives.
    And one day we will be delivered from its presence altogether.
    That is why Jesus tells His people to look up.
    The coming of Christ does not only mean that this present world is coming to an end.
    For the believer, it means the work Christ began in us will be complete.
    The battle with this flesh will be over.
    The grief sin has brought into this world will be over.
    Death will be over.
    Separation will be over.
    We will be with Christ.
    So “look up” is not a shallow command to just cheer up.
    Jesus is giving His people a real reason for hope.
    Your redemption draweth nigh.
    Then he gives an illustration to tell them to…

    II. Trust His Word

    vv. 29–33
    Beginning in verse 29, Jesus gives a very simple illustration.
    He says, “Behold the fig tree, and all the trees.”
    Verse 30 says, “When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.”
    They knew exactly what He meant.
    When the trees begin to bud, you know the season is changing.
    You may not know exactly what tomorrow’s weather will be.
    You may not know the exact day everything will turn.
    But you can tell summer is near.

    A. Recognize the Season

    There are good Bible teachers who believe that the fig tree here as a picture of Israel.
    Scripture certainly uses fig-tree imagery in connection with Israel in other places.
    I don’t think we need to spend much time arguing that point tonight.
    But notice Jesus said, “the fig tree, and all the trees.”
    Jesus Himself explains the immediate lesson here.
    When the trees begin to put forth leaves, you know the season is near.
    Then verse 31 says, “So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.”
    Jesus wants His people to recognize what is happening without becoming consumed with speculation.
    There’s a difference between watching for Christ and trying to force every headline into a prophecy chart.
    There is a difference between being spiritually awake and constantly needing to guess what happens next.
    Jesus doesn’t give His disciples a calendar.
    He just tells them to pay attention.
    Next He warned them to…

    B. Expect the Kingdom

    Verse 31 says, “Know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.”
    Notice that word, “know.”
    Jesus is giving them something solid.
    History is not drifting without direction.
    This world is not heading toward some unknown conclusion that caught God by surprise.
    God is moving history toward the fulfillment of what He warned in His Word.
    When the world feels unstable around us, that matters!
    It matters when nations are troubled.
    It matters when people all around us are afraid.
    It matters when things seem to be changing faster than we can understand them.
    God has not lost control.
    His kingdom is coming.

    C. Rest in His Promise

    Then Jesus says in verse 33, “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.”
    Think about that for a moment.
    Everything we can see feels permanent.
    The ground beneath our feet feels permanent.
    The sky above us feels permanent.
    The world we live in feels permanent.
    Jesus says even those things will pass away.
    But His Words will not.
    Isaiah 40:8 says,
    Isaiah 40:8 KJV
    8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: But the word of our God shall stand for ever.
    First Peter 1:25 says,
    1 Peter 1:25 KJV
    25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
    There are things about prophecy we may not completely understand.
    There are passages good men have disagreed about.
    There are questions we may never fully settle until the Lord comes.
    But we never have to wonder whether Jesus will keep His Word.
    He will.
    That is the foundation under everything else in this passage.
    We can look up because He has spoken.
    We can guard our hearts because His warning is true.
    We can watch and pray because His promise is certain.
    Jesus will keep His Word.
    The third warning Jesus gives here is to…

    III. Guard Your Heart

    vv. 34–35
    Verse 34 is where Jesus brings all of this very close to home.
    He says, “And take heed to yourselves.”
    I want you to notice something.
    He’s been talking about nations.
    He’s been talking about signs in the heavens.
    He’s been talking about things coming upon the earth.
    And then He says, “Take heed to yourselves.”
    Before we become too occupied with watching everything happening around us, Jesus tells us to pay attention to our own hearts.
    Then He tells us a few things to guard our hearts against…

    A. Against Indulgence

    He says, “Lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting.”
    The word carries the idea of excess.
    It is the danger of becoming consumed with appetite and pleasure.
    A person can become so occupied with satisfying our own flesh that spiritual things begin to dull.
    Seeing He wants us to guard our hearts…

    B. Against Intoxication

    Then Jesus says, “and drunkenness.”
    That warning is straightforward.
    Anything that dulls the mind and takes control of our life runs directly against the watchfulness Jesus is calling for.
    But then He names something that probably reaches far more of us.
    He warns is to guard our hearts…

    C. Against Distraction

    He says, “and cares of this life.”
    That may be the easiest danger in the verse to overlook.
    Surfeiting … ooo that just sounds sinful.
    Drunkenness oh yeah, that sounds sinful.
    But “cares of this life”?
    That can sound almost respectable.
    We think of…
    Our Work.
    Family.
    Schedules.
    Responsibilities.
    Appointments.
    Bills.
    Projects.
    Things that simply have to get done.
    And many of those things are not wrong at all.
    Some of them are things God expects us to take care of.
    But Jesus says even the cares of this life can weigh down the heart.
    I’ll tell you! Lately our life has felt like one thing right after another.
    Michelle needed to make a trip to see her grandmother in Georgia.
    We have been trying to get ready for vacation.
    Then there’s is church life.
    There are pastoral responsibilities.
    There’s s homeschooling.
    There are soccer practices and games.
    There are volleyball practices and games.
    And none of that is bad.
    Most of it needs to be done.
    But I’ve noticed how easy it is to start living from one task to the next.
    You finish one thing and immediately start thinking about the next thing.
    Oh, You’re re not walking away from God.
    You’re not deliberately ignoring spiritual things.
    You’re just busy.
    And after a while, if you’re not careful, your mind can become filled almost completely with this life.
    That is what makes Jesus’ warning so searching.
    He says the cares of this life can weigh down the heart.
    That may be where some of us are tonight.
    Oh, yes, You love God.
    You believe the Bible.
    You believe Jesus is coming again.
    But if we looked back over the last seven days, how much of our thinking had anything to do with eternity?
    It may not be rebellion.
    It may just be … distraction.
    Luke 8:14 uses very similar language.
    Jesus speaks there about seed that is choked
    Luke 8:14 KJV
    14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
    The seed is not removed.
    It is choked.
    Something else crowds it.
    That can happen in our hearts too.
    Sometimes the greatest danger is not one terrible decision.
    Sometimes it is simply letting earthly concerns crowd everything else out.
    Work begins to fill the mind.
    Money begins to fill the mind.
    Problems begin to fill the mind.
    Health concerns begin to fill the mind.
    The schedule begins to fill the mind.
    And none of those things are unimportant.
    But none of them is ultimate.
    Jesus says, “Take heed to yourselves.”
    Do not let this life become so heavy that you forget the life that is coming.

    IV. Watch and Pray

    v. 36
    Jesus finishes this section with two very simple commands.
    Verse 36 says, “Watch ye therefore, and pray always.”
    He doesn’t tell them to panic about what’s coming.
    He doesn’t tell them to guess about what’s coming.
    He tells them to watch.
    And He tells them to pray.
    So if we are going to watch and pray we are going to have to…

    A. Stay Awake

    1 Thessalonians 5:6 KJV
    6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
    Watching means spiritual alertness.
    It means living conscious of Christ.
    It means remembering that this world is not all there is.
    Jesus is coming!
    You can be physically awake and spiritually asleep.
    You can go to work.
    You can come to church.
    You can pay the bills.
    You can keep the schedule.
    You can get a lot accomplished.
    And still let your heart grow dull to eternal things.
    Jesus says, “Watch.”
    Stay awake spiritually.
    Keep eternity in view.

    B. Stay Dependent

    Then He says, “and pray always.”
    I think those two commands belong together.
    Watching without prayer can easily turn into self-confidence.
    Prayer reminds us that we need God.
    And there is a connection here with what Jesus has just said about the cares of this life.
    He says those cares can weigh down the heart.
    1 Peter 5:7 KJV
    7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
    The answer to the cares of this life is not pretending we don’t have them.
    It’s learning what to do with them.
    Take them to God.
    That burden you cannot fix tonight, take it to God.
    That family concern you keep turning over in your mind, take it to God.
    That financial pressure, take it to God.
    That decision you don’t know how to make, take it to God.
    That thing you are afraid might happen, take it to God.
    Do not carry every care until your heart is weighed down by it.
    Pray.
    And then…

    C. Stay Ready

    Jesus says, “that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.”
    That’s where the whole passage has been headed.
    To stand before the Son of man.
    Prophecy is not ultimately about a chart.
    It’s not ultimately about knowing which event comes before another event.
    It’s not ultimately about being able to win an argument about the end times.
    Eventually all of those questions give way to Christ Himself.
    One day we will stand before Him.

    Conclusion

    Jesus began this passage talking about things happening in the heavens and upon the earth.
    He talked about the sun.
    He talked about the moon.
    He talked about the stars.
    He talked about nations.
    He talked about fear.
    But He ends with you standing before Him.
    That’s where prophecy becomes personal.
    One day there will be no more waiting.
    There’ll be no more wondering how much longer.
    There’ll be no more trying to figure out where this event or that event fits.
    There will just be Christ.
    And I think that is the question this passage leaves us with.
    Are we ready to stand before Him?
    For those of us who are saved, maybe the problem is not that we have stopped believing Jesus is coming.
    Maybe we just don’t think about it very much.
    Life gets full.
    The schedule fills up.
    The responsibilities are real.
    The concerns are real.
    The work needs to be done.
    And before long, the return of Christ can move to the edge of our thinking.
    Jesus says, “Take heed to yourselves.”
    Don’t let this life become so heavy that you forget the life that is coming.
    Don’t let fear control you.
    Don’t let the responsibilities in front of you become all you can see.
    His Word has not changed.
    He is coming.
    And when He comes, our redemption will be complete.
    So look up.
    Trust what He said.
    Guard your heart.
    Watch and pray.
    And live today conscious of the fact that one day you will stand before the Son of man.
    And if you are not saved tonight, being ready don’t mean becoming religious enough to impress Him.
    The One who is coming in power and great glory is the same Jesus who, in just a few chapters here in Luke, will go to the cross.
    He will die for sinners.
    He will be buried.
    And He will rise again.
    You cannot make yourself ready to stand before Him by your own goodness.
    You must come to Him by faith.
    The King who is coming is also the Saviour who gave Himself for you.
    And you can trust Him tonight.

      • Titus 2:13KJV1900

      • Ephesians 1:7KJV1900

      • Romans 8:23KJV1900

      • Isaiah 40:8KJV1900

      • 1 Peter 1:25KJV1900

      • Luke 8:14KJV1900

      • 1 Thessalonians 5:6KJV1900

      • 1 Peter 5:7KJV1900

Mills Memorial Baptist Church
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989-843-6433
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