Bible Text: Luke 12:35-48 | “Dressed and Ready” Luke 12:35-48

Open:  L. Ron Hubbard, dressed and ready

I.        An Unlikely Wardrobe

          A.     (v35) “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning.”

                  1.      What sort of action is required?

                  2.      Colossians 3:2 “Set your minds on things that are above, not on earthly things.”

                  3.      Priorities and verse 34.  What takes the bulk of your time, energy, finances, imagination?

          B.     (v36) “Be like people waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast.”

                  1.      How do we keep the lamps trimmed and burning?  What sort of oil might we use?

                  2.      Stay focused: Colossians 3:4, “When Christ who is your life appears, you also will appear with him.”

          C.     Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother sends her to the ball

                  1.      “Put to death whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, lust, greed.”

                  2.      “Rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger rage, malice, slander, filthy language.”

                  3.      Colossians 3:12 “Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”

II.       An Unlikely Hour

          A.     (v40) “You must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

                  1.      Why I am still a Seattle Mariners fan

                  2.      Not necessarily an End Times verse: Lazarus at your gate, Levite walk-bys, 2 Timothy 4:2

          B.     (v45) “My master is delayed in coming…”

                  1.      Beats the other servants, eats and drinks and gets drunk.

                  2.      Punished most severely

          C.     (v47) “That servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will will receive a severe beating.”

                   1.      (v48) “Everyone to whom much is given, much will be required.”

                  2.      His will is not great mystery

                           a.   John 13:34

                           b.   Micah 6:8

                           c.   John 6:29

Conclusion:   (v41) Peter wants to know, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?”

                  (v37) “Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes.”