Regaining our Focus on Diligence

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• By Rev. Devadosan Sugirtharaj
• Posted 11/01/2020
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Focus on Second Coming (Advent) Sermon Series

Regaining our focus on diligence

Luke 21:29-36

Rev Dr Devadosan Sugirtharaj

Introduction

• Second coming of Christ is slowly fading or underestimated in the life and mission of the church. Though the church overall professes in faith on the second coming of Christ, it changes its tone on eternal life and death.
• However, as the church, we need to focus on the second coming (advent) of Jesus Christ before we meditate on the first coming (advent0 of Jesus Christ happened on this earth. When we focus on second coming of Christ, then our lives and decisions will be made from the perspective of eternity
• In the next four months, we will study on this topic to prepare our hearts and lives for the second coming of Christ, and also committed to the gospel ministry. Jesus said: Behold I am coming. Rev.1:7

Word Study

• Hebrew word: Charuwts: It means with diligence, care, speed, watch and earnestly
• Greek word: Spoudazo-  It is used for  use speed, be prompt, to make effort, earnest.
• Diligence is used in the Bible in order to be careful, watchful and making effort for meeting the Lord as he is coming back soon.

Context of the text

• When Jesus talked about the destruction of the temple and of the city of Jerusalem, he discussed persecution and signs of his own  coming. In the end of this discourse, he emphasized how to be diligent in our lives.

1. Be diligence means to Be careful in your lives. Luke.21:29-35
   • 29 Then He spoke to them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. 31 So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.34 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with [h]carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth
   • Jesus warns us to be careful in what we say or do. The cares of this life may overwhelm our lives and we may neglect the spiritual side of our lives. Our focus in life is on living our lives and then can be shifted away from listening to God and observing what he is doing.
   • When we worry about our lives and its needs and are anxious about it, we sometimes forget that we are called for eternal life and we shift our focus to live carefully and diligently. We are called to make a difference but not conform with this world.
   • Matthew 6:33:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
   • 1 Peter 2:21:21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for [a]us, leaving [b]us an example, that you should follow His steps:
   • Biblical Example: The parable of faithful servants and evil servants. Luke.12:35-48: verse 48b: For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.
   • Sermon illustration: Once a woman who was deathly sick. A neighbor came to visit her and he asked her whether she wanted to live or to die. She said, "I just want whatever pleases God."The neighbor said, "Well, what if God were to refer the matter to you, which would you choose?"She said, "If God were to refer the matter to me, I would just refer the matter back to Him." That lady had her priorities in the right order. It would be better to die in the will of God than to live outside of the will of God.

2. Be diligence means to be watchful and prayerful in your lives. Luke.21:36-37

• 36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may [i]be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”37 And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet. 38 Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.
• Jesus used the term watchful from the soldier’s perspective. Be watchful means to keep oneself awake and guard. That means that we must quickly observe and act in time to ward off the threat. Be prayerful means we continue to talk with God and watch and listen what he guides or instructs in our daily lives
• In this time of life expectations and anxieties, we should be alert and watch what God is doing in this world and continue to commit in prayer so that we may listen and discern to God how to lead our lives daily and faithfully.
• 1 Corinthians.9:24-27:24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may [a]obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize [b]is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
• Philippians.4:6:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
• Biblical example: Jesus warned the disciples to be watchful and pray. Matthew. 26:36-46: Vs.37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”
• Sermon Illustration: In his 1904 book, Quiet Talks on Prayer, Dr. Samuel D. Gordon wrote: “You can do more through your praying than through your personality.You can do more than pray after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed.”Most of us try to do things through the force of our personalities. We persuade. We maneuver. We push. We sweet-talk. We urge. We hint. We arm-twist. But we forget that we can do much more through prayer than through personality.

Questions for Discussion

1. How does the second coming of Christ shape your life today?
2. Why does Jesus warn us of spiritually dulling lifestyles? How can the worries and anxieties of this life shift your attention from eternal life to this world?
3. Why does Jesus want us to be watchful and pray? How is your life committed to prayer? Reflect on your commitment to prayer in your daily life, family life and church?