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LUKE 12:35-40

"SERVANTS WAITING ON THEIR LORD"

Intro: We all possess some concept of life on the whole. This affects my attitudes and
       actions. Expressed often times by figure-race, voyage, quest, pilgrimage,  warfare.
       In each figure a goal at the end. -The ultimate is the inspiration for the  immediate.

I. THE IDEAL CONCEPT OF LIFE, "MEN WHO WAIT FOR THEIR LORD."
        A. The moment I accept Jesus Christ as my Lord, the boundaries of my life are changed.
                1. The old boundaries used to be birth-death.
                2. The new - New birth - His coming.
                        a. When I came to Jesus - when He comes for me.
                        b. "For to me to live is Christ."
                                1. That's when life really started.
                                2. Those things before, experiences, values, ambitions, I 
                                   count as loss.
                        c. "Looking for that blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our great
                           God and Savior Jesus Christ."
                        d. "For our citizenship is in heaven..."
        B. This means that my goal is imminate.
                1. It may be attained any moment.
                2. I must not become too involved in the passing things of this life.
                        a. Ready to leave any project in a moments notice.
                        b. My immediate goals always subservient to the eternal.
                        c. I should have no desire that He postpone His coming till I attain
                           some goal.
                3. "Men looking for their Lord."
                        a. This is my attitude.
                        b. I am waiting for God's disturbance.
                                1. Such a man is never disturbed.
                                2. Should you ever see me disturbed, I have lost for a moment
                                   the consciousness of the eternal.
                        c. I am only a servant, my Lord controls my life.
                                1. He may change my orders at any time.
                                2. I hang loose.
                                        Good wind for kites. - I go fly a kite. The work of
                                        years seems to go down the tube.
                4. The Lord spent the 40 days between His resurrection and ascension training
                   them in this concept.
                        a. He might appear any moment.
                                1. While walking down the road discouraged.
                                2. After a night of fruitless toil.

II. HOW DOES THIS CONCEPT AFFECT MY ATTITUDE?
        A. I have great peace in a world of turmoil.
        B. I cannot be disappointed.
        C. There is a certain excitement about all I do.
        D. It keeps me from despair.

III. HOW DOES THIS CONCEPT AFFECT MY ACTIONS?
        A. It makes me more diligent.
                1. If while I am preaching I realize my Lord might interrupt my message by
                   His "parousin" what a difference in my preaching.
                2. If while in the midst of a business transaction He should appear to call
                   me away from the material to the eternal, I want my business to conform to
                   His will.
        B. It keeps me cheerful. My Lord is returning soon it may be today
        C. It gives me dedication to my task.
                1. He does not desire half-hearted service.
        D. It gives me hope.
        As I look at worlds agonies our apparent ineffectiveness to cope or help. Things
        getting worse not better a Cry with Habakkuk, "Lord, you're doing not I come quickly I
        am working, I'm winding things up."