HOW TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE PREPARED

Today’s Bible readings are Deuteronomy 32:28-52, Luke 12:35-59, Psalm 78:56-64, & Proverbs 12:24

 

Peter asked a question that many people need to consider. He wanted to know who this teaching about the return of Christ applied to. Jesus gave an answer that should stir all of our hearts. It is an answer that should be as an alarm for some of us. Jesus made it clear that teaching was for any who would be a faithful follower of His.

A lot of people put off the truth of preparedness because they think that it doesn’t apply to them. They try to convince themselves that Jesus is not going to come during their life. Many fall into the thinking that it doesn’t matter how you live as long as you believe. I want to say that neither of these are truth. They are lies that deceive many.

Let me ask you a quick question. If preparedness doesn’t matter then why did Jesus speak to us about it so often? If it doesn’t matter, then why does He caution us about it so many times? The fact is that it does matter. We must be ready for His return each & every day.

As I become more aware of the things going on around the globe today, I get an ever increasing feeling that He is coming very soon. He will soon gather up the church. I also get an ever increasing heaviness inside because I know that many in the church ARE NOT READY.

There are so many who have fallen asleep. They are full of bitterness. They pay attention to the world & not the things of the kingdom of God. I am asking each person reading this to consider the reality that Jesus is coming soon.

I want to share with you 3 things that will help keep you in a prepared state of mind.

1.      Continue in prayer.

Prayer really is the key to being prepared. As we pray we hear from the heart of God. Anybody who is listening can hear Jesus saying that He is soon coming. As we hear Him speak t our spirit it also motivates us to do what He His asking.

There may be sin in our lives that He is asking us to walk away from. There may be ministry that He is asking us to do. There may be forgiveness that He is asking us to extend. As you hear Him through prayer be quick to follow Him, even in the smallest of things.

Make no mistake about it; we are in a war with darkness. Prayer is the main arena in which we do our battle. The enemy has caused a great many in the church to fall asleep. As a result, we are losing the battle in many areas. As we wake up to the reality of His return it will push us into a place of great passionate prayer. This is when we will start to take ground.

Prayer is to the spirit what coffee is to the body. It is a stimulate. It causes us to be energized & focused. It keeps us awake when others are asleep. It makes us come alive when others are lethargic.

2.      Be a person of thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is important because it keeps our heart right. I have seen a great many people lose their focus by losing their thankfulness. They soon become bitter & mean. The love that they once had waxes cold. They no longer care about serving in the kingdom. They no longer care about reaching out to the hurting. They begin to find fault in everything. They constantly complain & pick at everything around them. They have no respect for their leaders. They become filled with anger & resentment. DON”T MAKE THIS MISTAKE!!!

Thankfulness is a choice. We chose each day to be a person of thanksgiving. There are many opportunities each day for us to practice thankfulness. We have to be intentional about this. Make it your aim to refuse to be a person who complains & finds fault. These are the 2 quickest things that will take us out of thanksgiving & into a critical spirit.

3.      Be a soul winner.

Nothing keeps us more focused on eternity & His return like soul winning. Be passionate about the lost keeps us sensitive to the His return. It is knowing that He will return that motivates us to share Him with others. It is keeping His return in perspective that will keep us reaching out when others stop.

These things really feed on each other. The more we stay focused on His return the more motivated we are to share Him & the more we share Him the more we will stay focused on His return. They work together as complimentary pieces.

I believe that the one things that really proves how focused we are on His return is this:  how focused are we on reaching the lost?  This one thing is the dividing line between those who are really watching & waiting & those who just say they are.

I hope that today will be a day that you consider these things that we are discussing. There are so many signs that speak in agreement with what I am saying. My prayer today is that the church will open it’s eyes to the nearness of His return. It is time for us to stable our weak stance in these 3 areas. It is time to put our hand back to the plow.

You have an opportunity to choose a new direction today. Choose wisely in Jesus name.

Pastor Richard Schlotter