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BE ALERT: ARE YOU READY?

Joel Todd 04/06/17

MARK 13:28-36

Contents

•  Introduction

•  Be alert

•  Know the times

•  Are you ready?

•  Conclusion

Introduction

•  We’ve had Jesus talk about the destruction of the temple

•  Now he is probably talking about his return

•  We don’ know when exactly it will happen

•  No one except the Father knows

•  Lesson for all the church generation: (v30) •  To be alert

•  To learn to know the times like the fig tree

•  To be ready

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Be Alert

•  Being alert is clearly important here

•  Alert/heed appears 5x:

•  1 x Take heed (v33) – βιεπω (Blepo) = to see i.e. be seeing, be looking

•  1 x Keep on the alert (v33) – αγρυπνεω (Agrupneo) = to be sleepless, wakeful

•  3 x Alert (v34, 35 & 37) – γρηγορεω (Gregoreo) = to be awake, to watch

Be Alert

Be Alert

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Be Alert

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Be Alert

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Be Alert

Be Alert

Be Alert

•  It’s easy to get bored, distracted, frustrated & lose faith!

•  In 2-3 days, Jesus asks Peter, James and John to keep watch and pray… they all fell asleep (Mark 14:32-42)

•  We need to:

•  Watch for Jesus’ return

•  Don’t fall asleep spiritually

•  Be prepared

•  Keep good relationships with the Lord and each other

•  Don’t put things off that can be done today

•  Deal with things today

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Know The Times

•  Knowing is an important theme: •  Know x4 (v28, 32, 33 & 35)

•  Learn x1 (v28)

•  Recognise x1 (v29

•  There are certain things we can learn to know (v28-29)

•  We can learn to perceive/recognise when it’s imminent

•  “Sons of Issachar, men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do” (1 Chron 12:32)

•  However, we will never know exactly when Jesus will return

Are You Ready?

•  We need to be ready like the fig tree with its leaves out ready for the summer

•  If Jesus returned tomorrow, how would you feel?

•  Honestly?

•  We can pray “your kingdom come”, but not be ready

•  If we aren’t personally ready, surely it will effect how we pray and our involvement in ushering in His return!?

•  Matthew 24:14 “The gospel of the Kingdom shall preached in the whole world… then the end will come”

•  It’s a globally connected age where this is now possible!!

Closing Thoughts

•  We are closer to Jesus’ return than we have ever been!

•  Are you ready for him?

•  Let’s get ourselves ready

•  Be alert and watch for his coming

•  Let’s be a people who understand the times and be ready for him