The Parable of the Watchful Servants Mark 13:34-37 34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. 35 “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’” Must keep watch! “Watchfulness” is the state of being Alert and Attentive Especially to potential danger or opportunity! I - ”Watch For Him” PRIDE “Pride can lead to overlooking potential risks and ultimately lead to devastating consequences” "Sin will always take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay and cost you more than you want to pay” TOOLS Hebrews 10:25 “And let us not neglect our meeting together as some people do, but encourage one another especially now that the day of his return is drawing near” Going To Fast! Matthew 6:34 “So don't worry about tomorrow, For tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today.” “We cannot control the future” — it belongs to God. 1 Corinthians 5:12 “In a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” II - ”Strengthen Your Faith in Jesus” Philippians 2:12-13 ”Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” for it is God who operates in you III - Keep A Lifestyle of Worship & Prayer! “You can’t afford to not pray” Prayer is a necessity not a luxury! “Fear of hell cannot save anyone because heaven is for those who love God, not just those who fear hell” IV - “Don’t Be Spiritually Sleeping” Your greatest threat to your Spiritual Health is YOURSELF! If we are not careful these worries or cares in our World can choke us to the place where we are no longer effective in the Kingdom of God. You live with eternity in your view Keep that in the forefront of your life V - “You Stay Awake, By Serving God” Tommy Barnett said; “See a need and fill it, find a hurt and heal it” 1 Samuel 17:17-19 “Take now for your brothers an ephah of this roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread, and hurry with them to your brothers in the camp. And take these ten cheeses to the commander of their unit. See how your brothers are and bring back some assurance from them”. To see any advancements to God’s assignments sometimes it begins with the small things 1 John 2:28 “And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He shall appear we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.” Jonah He slept through the storm of his own disobedience, running from God's call until the waves woke him up. Samson He slept in the lap of compromise, letting his strength slip away while Delilah toyed with his destiny. Eutychus He fell asleep during the Word and fell from the window—but even in death, God's mercy raised him back up. 2 Peter 1:5 “Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone” “The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ! Stay awake to your calling, grow in your faith, and you won’t fall—because those who remember what Christ has done will be welcomed into His Kingdom. The Parable of the Watchful Servants