TEXT: Luke 12:37
READING: 2 Timothy 3:1-17
SUBJ: Watchfulness as a source of happiness
AIM: That we might be the more watchful as we know the presence of the Lord.
INTR: Our Lord clearly set forth watchfulness as an essential trait of the early believers in that danger lurked everywhere. How much more so is it today.
1. Spurgeon, while expressing some things that he believed about the second coming of Christ declared that the scripture seemed to be intentionally indefinite about it. Perhaps, this is to prevent such a fascination with the future that we neglect the present.
2. We cannot help but be excited at the prospect of His coming and the assurance that He is indeed coming again for His own.
3. Watchfulness is seen here as a source of blessedness (happiness)
THESIS: The charge to believers is to be watchful in all things. After all, we are in defense of the faith: (Phil 1:7 KJV) Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace. AND (Phil 1:17 KJV) ... knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.
I. Our Approach to Watchfulness
1. Consider Nehemiah: (Neh 4:9 KJV) Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them. (Against the threat of Sanballat, et al.)
2. See again: (Isa 62:6 7 KJV) I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence. {7} And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
3. For what do we watch: (Mat 26:40 41 KJV) And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? {41} Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
4. Paul names “watchings (sleepless nights)” among those things in which he suffered.
II. Who is watching?
1. Servants – see text and consider other texts
2. With regard to manner of life: (Rev 3:3 KJV) Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
3. In manner of life as we look to the second coming: (Luke 21:36 KJV) Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
4. The concerned: (Psa 141:3 4 KJV) Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. {4} Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.
5. The persevering: (Prov 8:34 KJV) Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
6. Those who are advised and aware:(Acts 20:29 31 KJV) For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. {30} Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. {31} Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
III. The Attendant Blessedness
1. The blessedness is to be realized in the assurance that our Lord gives as we are found serving.
2. Consider then: (1 Cor 16:13 KJV) Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
3. And: (Eph 6:14 18 KJV) Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; {15} And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; {16} Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. {17} And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: {18} Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
4. The charge to the watchman: (The happiness in avoiding these things)
1) Look for danger
2) Look for deception
3) Look for laxity
4) Look for dilution
5) Look for lying wonders
6) Most of all: (Titus 2:13 15 KJV) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; {14} Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. {15} These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
5. Without presumption: (Mat 24:43 KJV) But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
