Living Prepared for the Kingdom's Sudden Arrival
Summary
In our exploration of Luke 17:20-37, we delve into the profound and often cryptic teachings of Jesus regarding the kingdom of God and His return. The Pharisees, curious about the timing of God's kingdom, are met with Jesus' assertion that the kingdom does not come with observable signs but is within or among them. This statement challenges the expectation of a political Messiah and invites a deeper understanding of God's reign as a spiritual reality, present wherever the Spirit of God dwells. Jesus' words remind us that the kingdom is not about external power but about the transformative presence of God in our lives.
Jesus then turns to His disciples, warning them of a time when they will long for His presence. He cautions against being misled by false claims of His return, emphasizing that His coming will be as sudden and unmistakable as lightning. This imagery underscores the urgency and unpredictability of His return, whether it refers to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. or the final consummation of His kingdom. The historical context of Jerusalem's fall serves as a sobering reminder of the suddenness of divine judgment.
The narrative of Noah and Lot further illustrates the unexpected nature of God's intervention. In both stories, life continued as usual until disaster struck, highlighting the importance of vigilance and readiness. Jesus' admonition to "remember Lot's wife" serves as a poignant warning against attachment to worldly possessions and the necessity of prioritizing spiritual readiness.
Ultimately, the passage calls us to live with an awareness of the imminent return of Christ. Whether His words refer to historical events or future fulfillment, the message remains clear: be prepared. The suddenness of His coming will bring glory to some and judgment to others. As we reflect on these teachings, we are urged to examine our hearts, ensuring that we are aligned with God's kingdom and ready for His return.
Key Takeaways:
- The kingdom of God is not about external power or political dominance but is a spiritual reality present wherever the Spirit of God dwells. This challenges us to seek God's transformative presence in our lives rather than looking for outward signs. [09:06]
- Jesus warns against being misled by false claims of His return, emphasizing that His coming will be as sudden and unmistakable as lightning. This calls us to live with vigilance and readiness, aware that His return could happen at any moment. [16:21]
- The narratives of Noah and Lot illustrate the unexpected nature of divine intervention. Life continued as usual until disaster struck, reminding us of the importance of spiritual preparedness and the danger of complacency. [22:47]
- Jesus' admonition to "remember Lot's wife" warns against attachment to worldly possessions and emphasizes the necessity of prioritizing spiritual readiness over material concerns. [24:15]
- Whether Jesus' words refer to historical events or future fulfillment, the message is clear: be prepared. The suddenness of His coming will bring glory to some and judgment to others, urging us to examine our hearts and align with God's kingdom. [35:13]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:21] - The Kingdom of God Questioned
[01:00] - Days of Noah and Lot
[02:15] - Urgency of the Message
[03:00] - Prayer for Understanding
[03:48] - Apology and Uncertainty
[05:45] - The Kingdom's Nature
[07:24] - Misconceptions of the Messiah
[09:06] - Kingdom Within or Among
[10:47] - Spiritual Reality vs. Physical Presence
[12:21] - Translation Challenges
[13:12] - The King in Their Midst
[13:59] - Longing for Jesus' Presence
[16:21] - Suddenness of His Coming
[18:05] - Historical Context of Judgment
[22:47] - Lessons from Noah and Lot
[24:15] - Urgency and Readiness
[27:09] - The Rapture and Escape
[29:24] - Fleeing to Safety
[30:24] - Where Judgment Occurs
[33:36] - Eagles or Vultures?
[34:23] - Be Ready for His Return
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Luke 17:20-37
- Genesis 6:5-8 (The story of Noah)
- Genesis 19:15-26 (The story of Lot and his wife)
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Observation Questions:
1. What did Jesus mean when He said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation"? How did this challenge the expectations of the Pharisees? [06:33]
2. How does Jesus describe His return, and what imagery does He use to convey its suddenness? [16:21]
3. What were the people doing in the days of Noah and Lot, and how does this relate to Jesus' warning about being prepared? [22:47]
4. What is the significance of Jesus' admonition to "remember Lot's wife," and how does it relate to the theme of spiritual readiness? [24:15]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of the kingdom of God being "within" or "among" us affect our understanding of God's presence in our daily lives? [09:06]
2. In what ways does the historical context of Jerusalem's fall in 70 A.D. serve as a warning for us today regarding the suddenness of divine judgment? [18:05]
3. How do the stories of Noah and Lot illustrate the importance of vigilance and readiness in our spiritual lives? [22:47]
4. What does Jesus' warning against false claims of His return teach us about discernment and vigilance in our faith journey? [15:37]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you are seeking external signs of God's kingdom rather than recognizing His transformative presence within you? How can you shift your focus? [09:06]
2. Jesus warns against being misled by false claims of His return. How can you cultivate a spirit of discernment to recognize truth from falsehood in your spiritual journey? [15:37]
3. The narratives of Noah and Lot emphasize the danger of complacency. Are there areas in your life where you have become spiritually complacent? What steps can you take to be more vigilant? [22:47]
4. Jesus' admonition to "remember Lot's wife" highlights the danger of attachment to worldly possessions. Is there something in your life that you are holding onto that might hinder your spiritual readiness? [24:15]
5. How can you live with a greater awareness of the imminent return of Christ in your daily life? What practical changes can you make to ensure you are spiritually prepared? [35:13]
6. Consider the suddenness of Jesus' return as described in the sermon. How does this urgency impact your priorities and decisions? [16:21]
7. Reflect on a time when you felt unprepared for a sudden event. How can that experience inform your spiritual readiness for Christ's return? [22:47]
Devotional
Day 1: The Kingdom Within Us
The kingdom of God is not a political entity or a realm defined by geographical boundaries. Instead, it is a spiritual reality that exists wherever the Spirit of God dwells. Jesus' response to the Pharisees in Luke 17:20-21 challenges the expectation of a political Messiah and invites a deeper understanding of God's reign. The kingdom is present within or among us, emphasizing the transformative presence of God in our lives. This understanding calls us to seek God's presence and allow His Spirit to transform us from within, rather than looking for external signs of power or dominance. [09:06]
"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Romans 14:17, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you invite the transformative presence of God into your daily life, allowing His Spirit to guide your actions and decisions today?
Day 2: Vigilance in the Face of Deception
Jesus warns His disciples about the danger of being misled by false claims of His return. He emphasizes that His coming will be as sudden and unmistakable as lightning, urging His followers to live with vigilance and readiness. This call to awareness is not just about being prepared for a future event but about living each day with the understanding that His return could happen at any moment. The suddenness of His coming serves as a reminder to remain steadfast in faith and not be swayed by deceptive teachings or claims. [16:21]
"Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming." (Matthew 24:42, ESV)
Reflection: What practical steps can you take today to ensure that you are spiritually vigilant and not easily swayed by false teachings or distractions?
Day 3: The Unexpected Nature of Divine Intervention
The narratives of Noah and Lot serve as powerful illustrations of the unexpected nature of God's intervention. In both stories, life continued as usual until disaster struck, underscoring the importance of spiritual preparedness and the danger of complacency. Jesus uses these examples to remind His followers that divine judgment can come suddenly and without warning. This calls for a life of constant readiness, where one's priorities are aligned with God's will, and spiritual preparedness is a daily pursuit. [22:47]
"For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man." (Matthew 24:37, ESV)
Reflection: How can you cultivate a mindset of spiritual readiness in your daily routine, ensuring that you are prepared for God's intervention at any moment?
Day 4: Letting Go of Worldly Attachments
Jesus' admonition to "remember Lot's wife" serves as a poignant warning against attachment to worldly possessions. Her story is a reminder of the consequences of looking back and longing for what was left behind. This teaching emphasizes the necessity of prioritizing spiritual readiness over material concerns. It challenges believers to examine their attachments and consider whether they are hindering their spiritual growth and readiness for Christ's return. [24:15]
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1 John 2:15, ESV)
Reflection: What worldly attachments might be holding you back from fully embracing God's kingdom, and how can you begin to release them today?
Day 5: Living in Expectation of Christ's Return
Whether Jesus' words refer to historical events or future fulfillment, the message is clear: be prepared. The suddenness of His coming will bring glory to some and judgment to others. This calls for a heart examination, ensuring that one's life is aligned with God's kingdom and ready for His return. Living in expectation of Christ's return is not about fear but about hope and readiness, knowing that His coming will fulfill God's promises and bring about the ultimate restoration. [35:13]
"Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace." (2 Peter 3:14, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you align your life more closely with God's kingdom today, living in hopeful expectation of Christ's return?
Quotes
"The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you." Now, the first part is easy enough to understand. The Pharisees, as most of the rest of the Jews of that day expected, the kingdom of God would come by means of a military Messiah who would drive the Romans out of Israel. [00:26:54]
The Pharisees, as most of the rest of the Jews of that day expected, the kingdom of God would come by means of a military Messiah who would drive the Romans out of Israel. They expected something like giant tanks rolling down the boulevard followed by phalanxes of soldiers with steel helmets. Well, maybe, it wasn't tanks, maybe it was more of chariots coming down the boulevard followed by legions of soldiers led by the Messiah who would drive the Romans out of their country, liberating them from the tyranny of Roman occupation. [00:45:54]
Some commentators believe that this means that the kingdom of God is a spiritual reality. It's not of this world, as Jesus later said to Pilate. It is invisible. It's not external; it's internal. It has to do with the internal motives, desires, and hearts of human beings who are indwelt by the Spirit of God. So, wherever the Spirit of God indwells a human heart, there is the kingdom of God. [00:56:30]
I think Jesus is referring here to His imminent departure. After His death and His resurrection, He ascends into heaven, and He says to the disciples, "Yet a little while and I will leave you." And when that happens, of course, what are the disciples going to do? They are going to yearn for those days where they enjoyed His physical presence among them. [00:51:34]
"For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day." Now, let me ask you a trivia question. In the United States of America, where is the location that has the most lightning strikes in a year than any other place in America? You're living in it, Central Florida. [00:56:26]
What Jesus is saying is that His coming in that day will be like a flash of lightning, a lightning bolt, not a gradual turbulence that works its way slowly across the earth. But like the lightning that flashes across the midnight sky, it will be that quick, that instantaneous. And He's referring now to the Son of Man in His day. [01:08:58]
Again, Jesus is saying that this event, this colossal event, this catastrophic event will come suddenly when people least expect it. Life will be going on in normal categories. Just as Noah had spent years warning the people of the impending disaster that was to come, and they mocked him and ridiculed him as he built the means of rescue from that flood, people just kept living business as usual. [01:34:54]
Everything was normal, businesses as usual. "But on the day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven." If you don't like fire and brimstone preaching, you wouldn't exactly enjoy the preaching of Jesus. Here's where you get fire and brimstone, right here in the New Testament. "Even so it will be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed." [01:41:46]
"Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. In that night, there will be two men in one bed; the one will be taken and the one will be left. Two women will be grinding together; one will be taken, the other left. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken, the other left." [01:46:06]
The Jewish population of Israel rushed to Jerusalem because it was the safest place to be. The Christians didn't go to Jerusalem; they went to the mountains and were spared the Holocaust. At least, most of them went there. Those that listened to Jesus and fled immediately and didn't wait around for confirmation, those that were left behind were slaughtered by the Romans, while the others found refuge in the mountains. [01:44:26]
And there are many New Testament scholars who believe that the reference to the gathering of the eagles is to the assembly of the legions of Rome whose standards bore the symbol of the army, the eagle. So, if you want to know where the destruction is going to take place, watch for the eagles, watch for the Romans. [02:03:12]
Be ready. At any second, when you least expect it, expect it, because our Lord is coming. And like the lightning that flashes across the sky, it will come with such rapidity as to leave us stunned and amazed. And for many, that day will be the day of ultimate glory, but for others, the worst day in history that they could ever imagine. [02:09:30]
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