BE PREPARED
Last week I talked about the importance of being in the moment. It's important to not dwell on the past or worry about the future but to be here now and enjoy the moment. But being in the moment doesn't mean we don't prepare. Being prepared is important; especially when it comes to doing the Lord's work. Let's see what the bible has to say about being prepared.
1) God has prepared.
In Eph. 2, Paul mentions the fact that we have been saved by grace through faith and this wasn't from ourselves, it's the gift of God. Paul adds that we are not saved by our works. However, in vs. 10 we see that although we aren't saved by our works, we are saved to do good works-works that God has prepared for us.
Eph. 2:10, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." God has made preparations for us; he has his itinerary laid out for us to follow. And he will show us what he wants us to do.
But we need to be prepared to do what he has prepared for us to do. When we make a commitment to follow Christ we do so with the understanding that we will be expected to do good works. And God wants us to be prepared to receive that work. That's why we need to be prepared to grow in Christ. The more we grow the more he'll show.
But if we don't want to be part of that process or we are dragging our heels he won't reveal; why would he? God has in mind what he wants us to become but that doesn't mean we will go the way he wants us to or develop at the speed he wants us to. He gives us everything we need to advance but we still have to utilize the tools and take advantage of the opportunities to get where we need to be.
It works that way in life. Say you start a new job and you're doing well. Your boss sees potential in you and realizes you could really go places within the company. So, he gives you opportunities to prove yourself. He gives you more important jobs to do and he gives you promotions. But what if somewhere along the way you start slacking off or doing something unethical. Now you won't continue to advance.
You could-you have the potential to and the opportunity to-but you decided to not live up to your potential when you started making compromises. There may be different reasons for that but the point is that we don't always live up to our potential.
It's no different when it comes to our spiritual walk. We have the potential for great things but we're either lazy or inconsistent or we lack confidence; whatever. God wants to help us through all that and enable us to do the work he has prepared for us but we have to be willing participants.
We first have to care to be prepared. Once we care then we can get to work dealing with the things that are causing us to be unprepared.
2) Why aren't we prepared?
We're not growing.
Heb. 5:11-14, " We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil."
"Ought to be" is a key phrase here because otherwise you could think that they're trying but just maturing at a slower rate. But with the writer saying this it shows that they could be and should be further along but they're not. It's not that the writer is saying they all should be official teachers, but that they should be far enough along to be able to teach others the elementary truths of the faith.
Unfortunately, though, they were still in a position to be learning the elementary truths-not because they were incapable but because they were unwilling. If we don't really try to overcome our character defects and sins and we don't care to grow in the faith and serve the Lord then we will not be prepared for the Lord's work.
God wants us to move along and grow in our understanding of things. 1st Pet. 3:18 says we are to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Earlier in chapter 2:2 Peter said we need to crave pure spiritual milk so that we would grow up in our salvation. If we don't feed on spiritual things then we won't grow up.
We can't expect to become sanctified, we can't expect to become like Christ, if we're not doing what we need to do to get there. We will not be prepared to do the work of Christ if we just stay at the surface. We need to go deeper; we need to move from the outer fringes toward the core so we can be stronger in the faith and prepared to take on the work God has prepared for us to do.
We're fighting and quarreling.
1st Cor. 3:1-6, "Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere men? What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow."
Paul had to address these Christians as ones who had more of the world in them than Christ in them. Paul had given them milk before and they still needed milk now. The Corinthians were divided, arguing and picking favorites. Some liked Paul more than Apollos and vice versa. Paul highlights that they were acting like mere men rather than like Christians.
When we fight and argue with each other we're acting like babies. The topic these guys were fighting over was not only unimportant-it was senseless. The Corinthians were allowing divisions to take place over foolishness. Paul explains that it doesn't matter who preaches and who teaches because they were working together for one purpose and goal and that was to grow in Christ.
When people start arguing and working against each other growth doesn't happen-destruction does. Satan wants to divide and conquer. God wants us to work together and stand strong. Fighting and arguing will prepare us for damage and ruin. This will surely cause us to remain unprepared.
Working together, having discussions instead of arguments, agreeing to disagree if we're not able to resolve the debate-these are all mature responses. And it's these types of responses that show that we're prepared to go forward.
We're caught up in sin and falsehood.
Sin and falsehood will keep us from being prepared. 2nd Timothy 2:20-21, "In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work."
Paul had been talking about a couple people in the church, Hymenaeus and Philetus, who had wandered away from the truth and were spreading falsehood. So Paul's words here indicate that the church needs to be cleansed from such as this. We need to be careful not to entertain false teachings and philosophies. This will not prepare us for the true works of God. When we listen to falsehood we start going in the opposite direction; dismantling any preparedness we had established thus far.
But Paul also brings it to a personal level in talking about cleansing oneself from the ignoble (shameful, dishonorable, immoral) things. In Vs. 19 Paul said that everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness. In Vs. 22 Paul teaches us to flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace. So the verses that surround our passage indicate that we need to get rid of ungodliness so we can be prepared to do godly works.
Sin keeps us stuck and unproductive. Sin stifles us; it debilitates us. Sin puts up a barrier that prevents us from going any further. Instead, we start going backwards. Sin causes us to lose ground.
Again, as entertaining falsehood causes us to tear down what has been built up, so does sin. Sin will take apart in a short time whatever growth and preparedness had been established to that point.
But, we can come to our senses and start to turn things around and become prepared all over again.
3) How do we get prepared?
Get the word in.
2nd Tim. 3:16-17, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
If I'm equipped then I'm prepared. All the things mentioned here help to get me prepared-being taught, being rebuked and being corrected. If I'm thinking or doing something wrong then I won't be prepared. And being trained in righteousness means I'm being prepared to do righteous works.
But how does God's word do all this? Obviously we've been looking at verses that talk about being prepared. God's word teaches us what to avoid and what to cling to. It teaches us what to chase after and what to chase away. The bible shows me what holds eternal value and what holds temporary value; as well as showing me what holds no value at all. God's word tells me what is destructive and what is productive.
If I allow the word to judge me and correct me and change me then I will be prepared for the good works God has waiting for me.
Get our minds ready.
In my sermon last week about being in the now, I shared that even though we need to be here now we can still look ahead. We look ahead to our future inheritance in heaven but we don't just sit back and wait, we need to do things now. And I shared 1st Peter 1:13-16 regarding what we are to be about doing while we wait.
1st Pet. 1:13-16, "Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy."
Paul says we need to prepare our minds. My mind needs to be prepared before I can be active in doing the work of the Kingdom. Here I'm told some things that prepare my mind for action. Being self-controlled is having a mind that's trained for action. Being under self-control enables me to be focused and ready to do what God wants me to do.
Fixing my hope on the grace of Christ is part of preparing my mind because focusing on my future hope enables me to stay focused on my present task. I know that my work won't be easy but it's not in vain; it's accomplishing the purposes of God. Paul says not to conform to the evil desires of the past.
This goes with Romans 12:2 which tells us to no longer conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Preparing our minds happens as we renew our minds. We renew our minds by no longer obsessing about the things of the world and the evil desires we once had.
Instead, we dwell on the spiritual things and whatever falls into the category of what Paul mentioned in Phil. 4:8: whatever is noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy. This gets our minds ready.
Get our armor on.
Many times in the OT God's people are called to prepare for battle; prepare for war. Under the new covenant we are called to prepare for battle too.
Eph. 6:10-20, "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should."
Satan is against us and wants to destroy us. He has weapons and tactics and a game plan. He is prepared so we need to be prepared for him. And putting on the armor of God will prepare us to take him down and win the battle. We will stand firm when we are grounded in the truth. We won't be taken captive by fine sounding arguments and falsehood when we are convinced of the truth. We will be prepared to defend the faith against all the lies and deceptions Satan throws at us.
We put on the breastplate to protect our emotions. We guard against making emotional decisions or allowing our emotions to dictate our actions. Our feet are fitted with the readiness to go where God wants us to go and do what God has prepared in advance for us to do. We hold out the shield of faith so the arrows of the enemy don't penetrate and destroy.
The helmet of salvation protects our minds so they can always be ready for action. We go forth in the strength and perseverance of the Spirit, with the word of God as our weapon. And we pray. We pray for God to show us how we need to be prepared and we pray the same for our fellow Christian. Being armored up and ready for battle is being prepared for God's work.
4) Be prepared to prepare.
I am called to prepare.
Eph. 4:11-16, "It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."
The work of the pastor is to teach and preach and counsel and help so that the people of the church can be prepared to do what God wants them to do. I am called to try to motivate people to serve and use the gifts God has given them. I am called to try to motivate people to overcome the obstacles that prevent them from being prepared. I am called to help people to stay prepared and growing and flourishing.
This is what God wants from me. I need to be prepared to prepare. But, I can't make anyone do God's work. I can inspire, motivate, encourage and set the example, but you still have to decide to do the work God has prepared in advance for you to do.
And I have to be willing too. I have to be willing to do the work that God prepared in advance for me to do. But it's not just me who needs to be prepared to prepare; it's you too. I'm not the only one who's called to prepare people.
You are called to prepare.
Isa. 40:3, "A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God."
This was fulfilled when John the Baptist came to prepare the way for Jesus.
Matt. 3:1-3, "In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ ”
When John was born his father Zechariah prophesied about him.
Luke 1:76-79, "And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace."
John the Baptist was called to go before the Lord to prepare. We are called to go after the Lord to prepare. But the mission is the same-tell people about salvation through Jesus; to give them that knowledge that they can be forgiven. So we get prepared to share our story; to share our knowledge of the one we follow.
In my sermon on Jesus being the Christmas light I shared Acts 26:18 where Jesus told Paul what his mission was. Jesus was sending Paul to share the gospel with the gentiles, to open their eyes so they could be turned from darkness to light. That's what we need to be prepared to do for others. We need to be prepared to share.
1st Pet. 3:15-16, "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander."
We never know when the opportunity to share our faith will come. So, we need to be prepared because sometimes the opportunities will come when we least expect them to or when they are least convenient. But when they come we need to be ready to share the reason for our hope in Christ.
We share where we were when we were hopeless and how we realized that Jesus was the one who had all the answers and how he was the one who would fulfill us. We share how he has never lied to us, let us down, led us astray or left us alone.
When we are in the word we can be prepared to give answers and reasons how Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. We can explain why Jesus is the Savior. We can talk to people about why Jesus came. We need to be prepared to prepare others.
To go to the place Jesus prepared.
Jesus is preparing a place for us. John 14:1-3, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."
That's what we're looking forward to. God has prepared works for us and Jesus is preparing our place for when we're done. So, when we are prepared to do what God wants us to do and share the gospel we are helping more and more people come to Christ so Jesus can stay busy preparing places in heaven. Be prepared.
