#1434 Luke 21 Part 7 The Violation Of Dissipation

 

34 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

37 And every day he was teaching in the temple, but at night he went out and lodged on the mount called Olivet. 38 And early in the morning all the people came to him in the temple to hear him. Luke 21: 34-38 ESV

Luke 21: 34-38 Watch Yourselves 

…37As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. 39And they were oblivious, until the flood came and swept them all away. So will it be at the coming of the Son of Man.… Matthew 24: 37-39

MacArthur - Vigilant anticipation (ED: AKA "VERTICAL VISION") of the Lord’s return produces the fear that leads to holiness and virtue in believers, since it motivates separation from worldliness and sin. Mēpote (so that) introduces a result clause that expresses the expected outcome of vigilantly anticipating the second coming. Those who eagerly watch for the Lord’s return will not have their hearts ... weighted down (See Luke 18-24 MacArthur New Testament Commentary) - Precept Austin

But watch yourselves - Other versions have it as, "Be on guard", be prepared, be anticipating, and I would add in this must be introspection, checking yourself. Am I more concerned with the temporal than that which can't be measured, if so, than I am more foolish than I supposed. When God told Noah of coming judgment, Noah prepared, he built an ark for 120 years, for that long he was preparing and anticipating while everyone mocked him. They saw the ark, they thought they gave good commentary, "where's enough water to float this thing?" They laughed, nothing happened for a long time, so they went back to eating, drinking, feasting, marrying, celebrating as if nothing was going to change, then 120 years after the warning from God, it rained and the stores beneath the earth's crust burst forth. The whole world drowned except for those inside the ark. 

Be on guard, (prosecho - command to continually be on guard which necessitates continual dependence on the Holy Spirit to obey) so that (purpose clause) your hearts (kardia) will not be weighted down (bareo) with dissipation (kraipale) and drunkenness (methe) and the worries (merimna) of life - In light of the truth that all that Jesus has predicted will come to pass perfectly, He gives a warning to His disciples, but it is a warning which applies not just to the disciples in the first century but disciples throughout the interval of time as we anticipate His return. Note that the command be on guard does not mean to be on the the lookout for signs, but with the command in Lk 21:36 to keep alert, Jesus' point is that we are to continually be alert. And He explains why this is imperative -- otherwise we will begin to be weighed down with the things that affect those in this world, who are living for this world. Jesus is calling for an "other worldly" mindset. Peter predicted that worldly minded people would scoff at the idea that Jesus is returning writing

Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts (CF "DISSIPATION AND DRUNKENNESS"), 4 and saying (NATURALLY THEY WILL SCOFF FOR THEY WANT TO BELIEVE THEY WON'T BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR EVIL LIFESTYLES), “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” 5 (PETER EXPLAINS HOW ILLOGICAL THEIR REASONING IS -- THEY HAVE IGNORED THE DESTRUCTION OF THE WORLD BY A GLOBAL FLOOD) For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, 6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. (2 Peter 3:3-6+ - Precept Austin 

…5Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Can’t you see for yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you actually fail the test? 6And I hope you will realize that we have not failed the test. 7Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not that we will appear to have stood the test, but that you will do what is right, even if we appear to have failed.… 2 Corinthians 13: 5-7

…39Why should any mortal man complain, in view of his sins? 40Let us examine and test our ways, and turn back to the LORD. 41Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven:… Lamentations 3: 39-41

Lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkeness - Dissipation is defined as the descent into drunkeness and sexual decadence, debauchery. It is also used to describe the squandering of money, energy and resources. We live in a day when industry is taking a back seat to entertainment. Sadly, every gift, every moment of free time, every resource will have to be accounted for. Even before the fall, work was a mandate, the mandate to Adam and Eve was to work and to keep the garden and to be fruitful and multiply. Work was a beautiful exercise of  our gifts and resources to the glory of God reflected in those made in His image. After the fall it became more difficult, grievous at times, but work itself should never be frowned upon, it is a blessing and left over vestige of what was noble in us. Christians, of all people, should be the most industrious. I spent most of my life hating my work, being lazy, thinking that entertainment was the height of living, basically honoring myself, and when that wasn't enough I turned to the bottle, the pipe and then the needle, escapism. Some turn to materialism, mostly manifested in consumerism. Some fantasize and romanticize everything, living in an artificial world, consumed by their looks, consumed with what others think about them, or always trying to be something that they are not. They have either never had or have lost any eternal perspective.  

Dissipation (2897)(kraipale) is used to describe excessive wine drinking and the carousing and drunkenness that ensues as well as next days symptoms of hangover including headache, nausea, etc. This word can also to dizziness, staggering, clouded thinking, and similar consequences related to excessive alcohol intake. It describes drunken behavior without moral restraint. BDAG says it is "unbridled indulgence in a drinking party." Vine says it is "the giddiness and headache resulting from excessive wine-bibbing, a drunken nausea." - P A

1Woe to the majestic crown of Ephraim’s drunkards, to the fading flower of his glorious splendor, set on the summit above the fertile valley, the pride of those overcome by wine. 2Behold, the Lord has one who is strong and mighty. Like a hailstorm or destructive tempest, like a driving rain or flooding downpour, he will smash that crown to the ground. 3The majestic crown of Ephraim’s drunkards will be trampled underfoot.… Isaiah 28: 1-3

…10I was not including the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. 12What business of mine is it to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?… 1 Corinthians 5: 10-12

V. 34b That day come upon you suddenly like a trap - You don't know when your time will end, but when you die you will face God, and if He comes back before you die, you will face God. This is not a call to live a life that earns you peace before your Creator, for no man can do such works except One. It is a call to examine yourself, see that you are a sinner as the God of all that was ever made claims you to be, and look to the cross of His Son Whose works the Father has found acceptable unto the deliverance of repentant sinners. The fruit of true repentance will always follow in those who truly believe, because the Holy Spirit is alive in them, convicting them and convincing them unto all good works. 

…26Otherwise, Christ would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 Just as man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28so also Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await Him.… Hebrews 9: 26-28

V. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth - There is a lot of talk about races, and maybe the media has confused some of you, but God doesn't look at it that way. There is no good race, none, all came from Adam, all die in Adam. We are all of the same blood, sinners, and all must face the judgment. The only difference is Christ, being born again in Him. Judgment is coming, as certain as death and over all the earth just like in the times of Noah.

…3and seven pairs of every kind of bird of the air, male and female, to preserve their offspring on the face of all the earth. 4For seven days from now I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and I will wipe from the face of the earth every living thing I have made.” 5And Noah did all that the LORD had commanded him.… Genesis 7: 3-5

…25Nor is He served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands. 27God intended that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.… Acts 17: 25-27

V. 36 But stay awake at all times - Be alert, be ready. Of Christ's return no one knows the hour or the day, and it is easy to get caught up in routine, the ordinary, and then be devastated at the first sign of trouble. Men stand tall when things go well, and my wife and I were talking about this, that when things are good we often mistakenly think that that has to do with us. 

12Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was not at all inclined to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity. 13Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong. 14Do everything in love.… 1 Corinthians 16: 12-14

…4So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 6For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.… 2 Timothy 4: 4-6

…6That is why the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged as men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. 7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and sober, so that you can pray. 8Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.… 1 Peter 4: 6-8

…7Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 8Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in your faith and in the knowledge that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.… 1 Peter 5: 7-9

V. 36b Praying that you may have strength - Another thing men forget when things go well, and then cannot remember as they are being crushed under the weight of earthly anxieties. This should be a daily ongoing thing, the fact that God extends to us the right, the glory of such intimacy, we should go often and lay our thoughts before Him with the guidance of His word. 

Praying (deomai) that you may have strength (katischuo) to escape (ekpheugo) all these things that are about to take place - Praying is present tense calling for continual prayer (and/or an attitude that is ready to pray at all times), which calls for continual depend on the Holy Spirit. Recall the context -- Jesus is speaking of the last days, specifically the "last of the last days," the days that precede the DAY of His true "triumphal entry." Paul warned "that in the last days difficult (hard to bear, troublesome, perilous, violent dangerous, savage) times (kairos) will come." (2Ti 3:1+). The last days will require Spirit energized perseverance in prayer, continually seeking God's face that we might remain sober minded and alert. Continually praying will give spiritual strength so that we may escape all these things that are about to take place. Perseverance in prayer will enable perseverance in persecution, "so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. (1Jn 2:28+)

Paul linked the verb agrupneo and the cognate of deomai (deesis) in his exhortation to the saints at Ephesus in the context of (1) being Spirit filled (Eph 5:18+) and (2) aware of ongoing spiritual warfare and the need to "fight on one's knees!" Imagine the "spiritual warfare" in the last of the last days! Prayer will need to be a priority!

With all prayer and petition (deesis) pray at all times in the Spirit (THE ONLY WAY TO PRAY "IN THE SPIRIT" IS TO BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT!), and with this in view, be on the alert (agrupneo) with all perseverance and petition (deesis) for all the saints, (Ephesians 6:18+) - Precept Austin

V. 36c To escape all these things that are going to take place - Worldwide Tribulation and the final judgment when Christ returns. 

John MacArthur comments "Throughout the New Testament saints are instructed to continue in the faith and warned not to turn back (e.g., Matt. 24:13; John 8:31; Col. 1:21-23; Heb. 3:6, 14; Heb 10:39). Two promises are given to those who faithfully persevere. First, they will escape all these things that are about to take place; that is, the future and eternal judgments associated with Christ’s Second Coming in power and glory (1 Th. 1:10; 1 Th 5:9). The believers of the church age will be raptured before the tribulation begins and thus escape the future judgments (cf. Rev 3:10) (Ed: See this sermon for why MacArthur favors a pre-trib rapture - scroll to middle of page); those alive during the tribulation will be protected from the outpouring of God’s wrath on unbelievers. Second, having escaped divine judgment, they will stand before the Son of Man, receiving acceptance, approval, and welcome from Him. No one can do so in his own strength." (See Luke Commentary) - PA quoting J Mac