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LUKE 12:35-40

Intro: Jesus is here giving lessons and warnings concerning His second coming.

I. HE GIVES TO US A NEW CONCEPT OF LIFE.
        A. Every man's life governed by some concept.
                1. Success, wealth, pleasure.
                        a. We move toward these goals.
                2. We describe life-as a race, fight, ball, voyage.
                        a. The goal is always in mind as we look at the immediate.
                        b. This created my attitude toward any given situation.
        B. As a Christian my concept "looking for my Lord."
                1. Life does not end at death but at my Lord's return for me.
                2. The boundaries -of my life changed.
                        a. Life began when -I yielded to Jesus, it will end when He  returns
                           for me.
                        b. "To me - to live is Christ."
                3. Our goal isalwaysat hand, it could be now.
                        a. We have subgoals toward which we move.
                                1. Graduation, degree.
                                2. Marriage, getting a home.
                        b. They are always over shadowed by greater hope.
                4. Thus, I am never mastered by fear.
                        a. I can look at world chaos without getting drunk.
                        b. I can face the economic crisis without panic.
                5. It means my life is never disturbed, because I am always expecting  it to
                   be disturbed.
                        a. The man whoseeks never to be disturbed is the man who is  a ways
                           disturbed.
                6. It means I am never disappointed.
                        a. Should some immediate goal fail to materialize my Lord  governs
                           my life.
                        b. He knows what is best and He is coming soon.
                7. Jesus spent 40 days teaching this concept.
                        a. They never knew when to expect Him.

II. A MAN'S CHARACTER IS CREATED BY HIS CONCEPT OF LIFE. WHAT KIND OF CHARACTER IS CREATED BY
    THIS CONCEPT?
        A. Cheerful.
                1. My Lord is coming for me and He loves me.
                2. The day you see me going around sad or despondant, I have forgotten for a
                   moment. Remind me please.
        B. Diligent.
                1. If I realize that this may be my last opportunity to speak to you, that I
                   may now be interrupted by His return.
                        a. I shall desire to be more careful how I teach.
                        b. Hoping that I have thoroughly represented His truth.
                2. If you realize that your business transactions may be interrupted by His
                   return, desire to be honest.
                3. We seek to make better use of our time.
                        a. A big job to be done.
                        b. It gives a sense of urgency to all I do.
                4. We are as servants girded about, our lights burning.
                        a. Much to be done I want to be busy doing it when my Lord appears.
        C. Fearless- - no fear of death, looking for our Lord.

Ill. "BEHOLD I COME QUICKLY, EVEN SO COME QUICKLY LORD, JESUS."
        A. Any ambition or project that would cause me to respond by saying wait a little
           longer is wrong.
        B. So also is the setting of any dates.
                1. You may have figured it out accurately that He is coming November 20th.
                   Please don't tell me, I would be disappointed because I'm expecting Him
                   today.