Luke 21:34-36

 Sleep is horrible for the soul. ◦ “Knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed” (Rom 13:11). ◦ “Let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober” (1 Thess 5:6).

 Luke 21 is difficult. ◦ The disciples were discussing how beautiful the temple was & Jesus says there’s coming a day when not a single stone of the temple would be left standing (vv 5-6).  “Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?” (v 7).  In Luke’s account, the disciples do not ask about the end of the world.

 At verse 8, Jesus begins to discuss the destruction of Jerusalem & he uses apocalyptic language. ◦ Unfortunately, some have interpreted his words to refer to the end of the world. ◦ But, Jesus isn’t speaking about the end of the world.  Jerusalem would be surrounded with armies (v 20).  Those in Judea are to flee to the mountains (v 21).

 But, after Jesus predicts the destruction of Jerusalem, He speaks about His Second Coming (vv 25-28).  He then tells the Parable of the Fig Tree about the destruction of Jerusalem (vv 29-33).  Then, Jesus switches back to the Second Coming & speaks this morning’s text.

 We’ll never know when that day is coming. ◦ “Ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh” (Matt 25:13). ◦ “Yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night” (1 Thess 5:2).

 You know the universal nature of that judgment that day. ◦ “Every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Rom 14:12). ◦ “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Cor 5:10).

 We need to be an anticipating people. ◦ It seems that—as a general rule—people forget the fact that Jesus is coming again. ◦ What if we trained ourselves to say, “If the Lord wills”?  “Ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that” (Js 4:15).  Saying “If the Lord wills” reminds us of the temporary nature of this life.

 We need to be ready when Jesus comes again. ◦ In this text, Jesus urges his disciples to get rid of the alcohol & the other cares of this life that prevent watching for Jesus. ◦ What in your life prevents you from watching for Jesus?

 Self-examination is warranted. ◦ “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (2 Cor 13:5).

 What do you need to do to get rid of the sin in your life? ◦ Do your sins need the light of confession?  “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed” (Js 5:15). ◦ Do you need help getting rid of that sin?  “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” (Gal 6:1- 2).

 In our text, Jesus urges prayer as a way of preparing for his coming. ◦ Prayer focuses our attention on things that really matter. ◦ Is it any wonder that Paul wrote, “Pray without ceasing”? (1 Thess 5:17).

If we understood that we need to “Watch, for Jesus is coming,” how would our lives be different?