Are You Ready?

This is a very familiar story in the gospel according to Matthew. Here we find Jesus using a parable to show us how the kingdom of heaven shall be. We need to realize that there are some key points that we can use in our present situation from this parable. We have to understand that we are living in the last days. And we all need to be prepared to meet Jesus. Now I know some may say we have been hearing that for years. And the old saints use to use that as a scare tactic. But my bible tells me that there are specific things that will happen before Jesus returns. Now I’m not going to get into it now because I don’t have time to right now, maybe we’ll deal with that in another message. But our focal point here should be geared toward the need to be prepared for the coming of Jesus. There are some things we need to do in order to get ready and stay ready.

Now for those of you who feel you’re already ready hold tight, I’ll come down your street here shortly. But for those of you who are not ready I’m here on assignment from God to give you some tips to ensure that you get ready. Point #1: You have to repent of your sins and turn from your ways. David said in Psalms that we were all born into sin, and shaped in iniquity. No one is born saved or born with the Holy Ghost. We all have to undergo a change. Jesus said that we must be born again. Nicodemous asked how can a man who is grown be born again. The answer to that question is simple, we have to crucify our flesh, and allow the Holy Spirit to take residence in our lives. We are baptized with water, Jesus covers us with His blood, and we become born again, or new if you will. 1 Cor. 5:17 says, if any man be in Christ Jesus he is a new creature, old things have passed away, and behold all things have become new. So when we become new or born again, we shouldn’t be doing things that we used to do before we got delivered.

Well, I already turned down that street so let me ride in Jesus name. I’m not saying you gone be perfect instantly, but your desires should change. You mind set should begin to think differently. There is no way anybody can say that they living for Jesus, on their way to heaven, and sold out for Christ if they still dibbling and dabbing in sin. Oh God. That’s what’s wrong with the church now; folk still trying to hit and stick, shake and move, and live like the world and got the nerve to say they love God. And will tell you to mind your business when you say something they don’t like or agree with. But my bible tells me that we ought to be helpers one to another. And if I see you in error I should be able to tell you hey that ain’t Godly, we as saints shouldn’t act like that. You see we are the representation of Jesus, and our lives should reflect how much we love and appreciate Him, but instead our lives show just how self centered, self righteous and messed up we really are.

If we say we love God then we should strive to keep His commandments. Now I’m not saying we gone be perfect, but we’ll strive for perfection. As a matter of fact Jesus told the pharises when they tried to catch Him up that the greatest commandments were, that you love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, and strength. And that you love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus knew we couldn’t keep all those commandments that were written in stone and giving to the children of Israel. So he cut them down to 2. And we still have a problem keeping those 2. Let me move on. One of the things I hear all the time is we human, we all make mistakes and they quote Romans 3:23, for all have sin and come short of the Glory of God. But they overlook Romans 6:1 that says, what shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? They also overlook Galatians 6:7, be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And folk wonder why they can’t seem to get out of the rut they in, it’s because you are reaping what you are sowing. Lord have mercy. I’m still talking about the question: Are You Ready? Let me get back to the text, so we have to repent for our sins and turn from our way, to the only way, Christ Jesus. We have to be delivered. We have to let go of sin, and grab a hold to the righteousness of Jesus. Point #2: you have to ask God to give you a hunger and thirst for His word. The bible says faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. So in order to receive and build faith, you have to read, study, & meditate on God’s word. If you don’t understand the scriptures, God can send somebody your way to explain the word and make it plain and simple. The bible is the instructions on living a saved, sanctified, and filled with Holy Ghost life. It is your manual for daily operations in everything you do.