ARE YOU Y2K COMPLIANT?
We’ve heard a lot lately about computers and the year 2000. Our bank and electric company have both written to inform us that their computers are indeed Y2K compliant. But various experts are predicting everything from a minor inconvenience to a major shut down of essential services. My own mother and sister have stored enough food and water to live for
thirty days: (150 gallons of water, 30 breakfasts, 30 lunches, 30 dinners, 30 cans of dog food, a camp stove, sleeping bags good to 40 below, flashlights, batteries, etc.) They’re ready for Y2K!
But this Sunday before New Year, the question is NOT: "Is your computer Y2K compliant?"
But rather: "Are YOU Y2K compliant?" Are you ready for the new millenium? Whatever this new period of time holds, will you be able to face it and triumph over it?
Again, some philosophers are predicting a new era of peace and prosperity; others are prognosticating only "doom and gloom." But what does the Bible, God’s infallible Word say we should be ready for? Let’s ask ourselves these questions:
In John 14:3, Jesus promised His followers: "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will
come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."
Without fear of being a false prophet, my feeling is that Jesus will come sometime in the new millenium. But since we don’t know the exact time, we must be ready always.
Mt. 24:42 "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming."
How can we be ready?
~If you have never trusted Christ as your Savior, receive Him TODAY. Only then can you be saved from God’s coming wrath.
Rom. 5:8, 9 "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him."
~If we are already followers of Christ, we can prepare by purifying ourselves (seeking to be holy, even as HE is holy.)
1 Jn. 3:3 "And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure."
Are we ready for the Lord’s return?
The Bible teaches that in the last days there will be abounding sin and severe persecution:
2 Tim. 3:1-5, 12 "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!....Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution."
Is it really possible to prepare for suffering? I believe there are a few concepts which will help:
A. Know what you believe - what is true, what is false; what is right and what is wrong.
1 Pt. 3:15 "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;"
B. Stand up for truth and righteousness NOW
Eph. 6:13, 14 "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, "
C. Entrust your future to God
1 Pt. 2:21-23 "For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an
example, that you should follow His steps: ’Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth’; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;"
Are we ready to suffer for Christ?
I believe that as the darkness increases, so will the light. True Christians will be progressing deeper and deeper into that for which we were created -
to glorify God through worship.
Col. 3:16, 17 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."
In these last days, whole-hearted worship is what God desires most.
Ps. 29:2 "Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness."
In the new year, we will be beginning a new opportunity for WORSHIP called, "pre-service praise." From 10:15-10:30 am, beginning Jan. 9th, our
worship team will lead us in a time of singing GLORY to God.
Are we ready to worship Him with all our hearts?
Jesus’ last command should be our first concern! He said: "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature."(Mark 16:15) So, we are God’s ambassadors in a foreign land.
2 Cor. 5:17-20 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God."
Remember, time is short, so invest your time, your talents and your treasures in what will accomplish MOST for the salvation of souls!
In John 9:4 Jesus warned: "I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work." Let’s use every opportunity to reach our lost world for Christ!
Eph. 5:15-17 "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is."
Are we ready to reach a lost world for Christ?
Rom. 5:1, 2 "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."
You see, the closer we are to Jesus, the more we will desire to be like Him. Heb. 13:8 says, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."
As times change, may our faithfulness remain the same!
1 Cor. 15:58 "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." Will you spend time each day in the new year getting closer to God, talking to Him in prayer, listening to Him through His Word, fellowshipping with Him, worshipping Him, obeying Him and trusting Him?
Always remember, "7 days without prayer and Bible-study makes one weak!"
However, if you do stay close to God, He will stay close to you, and His presence will enable you to be faithful. James 4:7, 8, 10 "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded....Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up."
Are we ready to stay so close to Christ that changing times will not change us?
The Bible teaches that there is true unity and false unity. TRUE UNITY is "the uniting of true born-again, Bible-believing Christians, from various denominations, into one body, which prays together, works together and encourages one another." According to Eph. 4:3-6 we should be "endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."
FALSE UNITY is "the uniting of various religions into one world church, which Rev. 17 tells us will not worship Christ, but will promote the agenda of Anti-Christ."
Question: What kind of spiritual unity can I have with people who believe that the only way to God is: Mohammed or Buddha or Confucus or Krishna, or Charles Russell or Joseph Smith, or even the Roman Catholic Church? NONE! But I have complete unity with all Christians who believe in grace alone, faith alone and the Scriptures alone - those who believe that JESUS is the only way to God!
In these last days, all believers must band together to uphold and encourage one another.
Heb. 3:13 "but encourage one another daily, while it is called, ’today,’ lest any of you be
hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."
Heb. 10:25 "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but encouraging one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching."
Are we ready for the unity of true believers?
As all earthly standards are removed, will we continue to follow God’s standard - His holy Word? We must affirm NOW that God’s way is the best way, that God’s Word is inspired and inerrant, and that "We ought to obey God, rather than man." (Acts 5:29). Listen to the Psalmist’s thoughts about COMPLETE COMPLIANCE to God’s Word:
Ps. 19:7-11 " The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward."
Be forewarned: If you are NOT compliant to God’s Word, you will lose your reward. But if you ARE, your rewards will be GREAT!
Are we ready to be completely compliant to God and His Word?
Conclusion: Now, Joy and I haven’t gone as far as my mother and sister in preparing for Y2K, - we have about one week’s worth of water and food stored up. We also have a check list of items we still need to get.
Will you check your "spiritual check list" this morning?
1. Am I ready for the Lord’s Return?
2. Am I ready to suffer for Christ?
3. Am I ready to worship God with all my heart?
4. Am I ready to reach a lost world for Christ?
5. Am I ready to stay so close to God that changing times won’t change me?
6. Am I ready for the unity of all true believers?
7. Am I ready to be completely compliant to God and His Word?
YES or NO? Are you Y2K Compliant?
A former Bible College
roommate of mine, Pastor Joe Brown, sent out a letter this week saying that the best way to be ready for the new millenium is to Y2K - YIELD 2 THE KING!
Will you yield your life to Jesus, the King right now? Then He will give you the grace to face the future unafraid!
~Pastor Jim Westervelt
gracefellowship3@earthlink.net
~CHURCH WEBSITE (new and still in progress):
http://www.ourchurch.com/member/g/graceworship/
