Are You Prepared?

Pastor Dave 09/04/01

Are You Prepared?

Tonight’s topic, Are You Prepared is going to cover two areas in our life.

1. Being prepared for day-to-day living (physically)

2. Being prepared for Jesus Christ’s Return (Spiritually)

To begin lets look at the steps taken by most of us to prepare for work each day.

What is done to prepare for work on a daily basis?

Duties of preparing for work usually consists of:

Preparing clean clothes

Shower/hygiene

Preparing breakfast

Prepare lunch (planning for hunger ahead of time)

Fuel car (HOPEFULLY) to avoid stress and worry later.

Listen to news to prepare for weather and road conditions.

Preparing our Homes:

Vacuum

Prepare meals

Clean the laundry

Clean dishes

Pick up the house

Clean the Yard,

Prepare the Children for school and activities

Bathing, Food, Homework etc…

Before work, whether it is leaving the house or running the house, husbands and wives prepare their homes, their Children, themselves and vehicles for the next day. By being prepared, removes fear from tomorrow’s worries. When we know that we are ready for the next day, we rest more completely and are more tolerant to surprise situations.

2 Timothy 4

1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:

2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction.

Why do we prepare for tomorrow?

To avoid the confrontations, to avoid worry, to avoid embarrassment, to avoid being fired, to have peace of mind, probably all of the above plus a few!

Financial Preparation:

Do you plan ahead financially?

Do you work enough hours to cover your debt and or bills?

Do we tithe to our Lord’s work first and foremost?

Do you put some extra money away now and then for tomorrow or for a vacation?

If you don’t plan for something to happen (ask, hope, believe and pray), it won’t happen! You have not, because you ask not!

James 4

2You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous for what others have, and you can’t possess it, so you fight and quarrel to take it away from them. And yet the reason you don’t have what you want is that "You don’t ask God for it".

Do you keep track of your bills? Do you know what is due, and when?

All these questions surround one word- “ORDER”.

When we are prepared, our life is in order! God’s Grace covers a life in order.

When we are not preparing ourselves for tomorrow’s responsibilities, and live by the seat of our pants, moment-to-moment, day-to-day, we are opening ourselves up for the enemy to move in and catch us unprepared in one of his snares.

We know that being prepared for day to day living is very important to our Lord. (2Timothy 4:2)

The world as we know it is growing more and more impatient. The world says we need everything now, now, now!

Our world is caught up in debt, starting with our Nation’s Government, on down.

We need to start preparing for not only our retirement and future, but also our family’s future. It’s time to start freeing our self from the bondage of financial debt. Start off slow and bold. Take one debt at a time, pray over it, repent of the debt, ask for forgiveness (our Lord Jesus), and then make it a family goal to work toward paying that first debt off. Once it is paid off, then start on the next, always with prayer, repentance and direction of the Holy Spirit as the starting point.

Romans 13

7 Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.

Are you prepared for an Earthquake?

This question is proposed to you because the way of the world is prepare after it’s too late.

As through experience in the State of California, the local and state emergency departments (fire/police) have predicted that they are not able to respond to individual homes until after (72hrs) usually depending upon size and magnitude of the earthquake. You should have at least 3 days worth of the following supplies for your entire family.

Here are some suggestions in regard to earthquake preparation:

1. Purchase a plastic/resin 33/39 gallon trash barrel and lid (put contents into barrel).

2. Insert 2 Flashlights/Extra Batteries inside a 1-gallon zip lock baggie.

3. Insert a 12roll pack of toilet paper/2 large towels/4 hand towels (average family)