The power of readiness. – By Pastor George Lehman
When you’re thirsty it’s too late to think about digging a well.
It’s a daily discipline = Readiness. Most of our crises’ are caused by being unprepared.
Readiness is: – a state of being fully prepared for something; willingness to do something; promptness; eagerness; you are not caught by surprise.
Forewarned is forearmed. Be ready before the crises hit!
Many Christians want to become deeply spiritual and committed and be more alert…after the crises, failure or problem has struck. If you were ready you would handle it better.
1 Peter 1:13 (Amp) – So *brace up your minds; be sober (**circumspect, morally alert); set your hope wholly and unchangeably on the grace (divine favor) that is coming to you when Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is revealed.
*brace = a support / make things stronger
**circumspect = cautious
Readiness is the responsibility of every child of God.
Quote: “A stitch in time saves nine”.
There are four steps to ensure you a life of readiness – 8 “P’s”:
Plan Purposefully – What you must do to be ready.
Prepare Prayerfully – What needs to be done?
Proceed Positively – Doing what makes you ready.
Pursue Persistently – Don’t stop doing it. Stay in a place of readiness
In life we need to go through various tests. Like at school or university, a new job application. These tests determine that a person knows their subject.
We need to regularly take ‘spiritual readiness tests.’
Galatians 6:4 (NIV) – Each one should test his own actions. Them he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else.
So, we can live boldly, courageously, and victoriously everyday and also so that we will be ready for eternity.
Paul said this, as an example to us:
1 Corinthians 11:1 (LB) – And you should follow my example, just as I follow Christ’s.
Paul would not say it if it were not possible.
He understood the “power of readiness”.
Acts 21:13 (Amp) – Then Paul replied, “what do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart like this? For I hold myself in readiness not only to be arrested and bound and imprisoned at Jerusalem, but also [even] to die for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
He was ready to die for his faith. (How ready are you?)
Romans 1:15 (Amp) – So, for my part, I am willing and eagerly ready to preach the Gospel to you also who are in Rome.
He was ready to preach and be used by God.
Peter put it this way:
1 Peter 3:15 (Amp) – But in your hearts set Christ apart as holy [and acknowledge Him] as Lord. Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you but do it courteously and respectfully.
What a lesson in readiness for us to follow.
Some of the factors that contributed to Paul’s readiness.
Paul made sure he was ready by being victorious in self-denial.
1 Corinthians 9:27 (NIV) – No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
I want to be ready and not found wanting when Jesus returns.
He made sure he was ready regardless of the cost.
Philippians 3:7-8 (NIV) – 7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.
Being ready to please God he severed all earthly loyalties that would keep him from following God.
1 Corinthians 15:33 (NIV) – Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.
When you live a life that is ready daily, you are sure to end well (Finish).
Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV) – 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 4:7 (NIV) – I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
There is another important aspect to being ready.
Living ready daily to be ready.
Jesus speaking:
Matthew 24:44 (NIV) – So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
Here’s a great warning Jesus wants us to know about living ready.
Matthew 25:1-13 (NIV) – “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ 9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 11 “Later the others also came. ‘Sir, Sir,’ they said, ‘Open the door for us!’ 12 “But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’ 13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
How you’re living today determines where you live after you die.
There is a great blessing and a real comfort to those who understand and apply…”The power of readiness”.
Matthew 25:34 (NIV) – “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
Revelation 22:14 (NIV) – “Blessed are those who *wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.
*wash their robes = those who get themselves ready
Revelation 14:12-13 (NIV) – 12 This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God’s commands and remain faithful to Jesus. 13 Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”
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