LAST MINUTE LIVING? GETTING READY…
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
When my dad pastored in Indiana there was a hand pump outside. There was one big problem with the pump. It had to be PRIMED. The was a large bucket at the iron pot at the foot of the pump. There was a glass in the iron pot. You had to pour a glass of water in the top of the pump before you started pumping. You could pump all day and there was no water unless you primed the pump. Many church services are like this: SOMEONE HAS TO PRIME THE CROWD TO WORSHIP. WE should come READY! READY IS A MINDSET!
PRIORITY: Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
READY: physical, mentally, spiritually prepared, AVAILABLE, WITHIN REACH, willing for action, equipped, adaptable
PREPARE: expectant, to establish, make firm, equipped, made ready before hand, set in order.
I had a friend that would often inform me that he was waiting for his TWO MINUTE WARNING… 2 minutes before the end of the football game the referees call a time out and go to both sides of the field to give a warning there are 120 seconds left of the game. He thought God should give him 2 minutes before he died.
WE MUST LEARN AND KNOW THAT THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING TO US RIGHT NOW ARE PREPARING US TO FULFILL A WONDERFUL, BEAUTIFUL PURPOSE AND DREAM THAT GOD HAS PLANNED FOR OUR DAILY LIVES.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28 (MSG) That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
LISTEN? LISTEN AND ACCEPT GOD IS NOT ONLY PREPARING US IN OUR PHYSICAL DAILY JOURNEY --- GOD WANTS US TO GET READY SPIRITUALLY AND STAY READY.
Before any good guitar player approaches the stage, he knows his sound must have a sound check, more important than that there must be TUNING CHECKING. He must be ready.
WE OFTEN LIMIT GOD’S POWER AND LIMIT GOD’S MIRACLES BY NOT PREPARING TO RECEIVE. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE TO TRY TO ACCOMPLISH GOD’S WORK BY DEPENDING ON OUR OWN SKILLS. Then we might face the problems trying to depend on other people’s skills. God’s plans and purpose is before us. GET READY!
OFTEN THE THINGS THAT HINDER OUR PREPAREDNESS GOES BEYOND THE CHAINS THAT BIND OR HANDCUFFS. MANY ARE BOUND BY PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL RESTAINTS… THE TRAPS ARE OFTEN MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL. LIFE IS ABOUT ATTITUDES… CAN GOD? VS GOD CAN!
Mark 5:3 Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: 4 Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.
GOD’S PREPAREDNESS BRINGS ABOUT A NEW LEVEL OF FREEDOM --- GET READY FOR FREE INDEED! FREE THROUGH AND THROUGH! UN-DENIABLE FREE.
John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
JOSHUA IS PREPARING GOD’S PEOPLE FOR RECEIVING THE PROMISE. 40 YEARS OF LIMITATIONS --- GET READY!
Joshua 3:5 And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.
Joshua 3:5 (MSG) Then Joshua addressed the people: "Sanctify yourselves. Tomorrow GOD will work miracle-wonders among you."
Abandon selfishness. Destroy the remaining idols hidden in the camp. Cleanse the temple. Bring back God’s holy standards. Purify your hands and your hearts. GET READY GOD’S HAS PREPARED US FOR THIS DAY.
BIBLICAL READY IS ABSOLUTELY NOT ABOUT LAST MINUTE EFFORT. We must stay in a watch state by the word of God, prayer, obedience and a pure heart. READY IN THE BIBLE MEANS IN THE RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD BY FAITH. Ready is being aligned with God’s word and God’s will.
THE WERE 10 VIRGINS, ALL WERE CLEAN, PURE --- 5 READY, 5 NOT READY… THE DIFFERENCE WAS HAVING THE OIL… OIL REPRESENT THE HOLY SPIRIT. READY IS MUCH MORE THAN CLEAN LAMPS AND TRIMMING THE WICK.
Matthew 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
THE BATTLE OF READINESS IS ABOUT ATTITUDES, WORDS AND DEEDS! WE HAVE MANY PLAYING THE PREDICTING GAME --- (Many say: The feast of the trumpets, if that passes you have until next year?)
PAUL WARNS TIMOTHY BE READY AT ALL TIMES --- CONVENIENT OR NOT… IN SEASON OR NOT…
2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
There are spirits of darkness trying to smother the light of being prepared. Spiritual readiness must never be in last minute, frantic efforts. We must never allow our past, our family or our habits to bind us. Being ready requires patience and persistence. Pace yourself.
WE MUST STAY FOCUSED AND NOT DRIFT AWAY --- STAY READY.
Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
Hebrews 2:1 (NIV) We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.
WE MUST STAND FIRM AND BEWARE OF THE TRICKS OF OUR ENEMY.
1 Corinthians 16:13 NIV Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.
Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
JOSEPH went through years of preparation through trials. There was a dream? Joseph’s dream was a process. The end dream --- 7 YEARS FAT COWS, 7 YEARS LEAN COWS.
PAUL DECLARES WE MUST PREPARE WITH THE WHOLE ARMOR.
Matthew 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
Matthew 24:42 (MSG) 42 So stay awake, alert. You have no idea what day your Master will show up.
CONCLUSION: We must have a deeper connection with God and his word. We must realize God is preparing us by using storms, trials, difficult situations to train us for the journey ahead. We must be faithful. Preparation is a process. Preparation will come in seasons. My friends let us be READY --- PREPARED. The test will come. If we are ready we will reduce worry, fear and stress. We are in a battle, the war wages high. BE READY! BE PREPARED.
INDURATE: callous, stubborn, to harden as a rock, BEWARE OF HARD HEARTS === Ezekiel has a vision of his home land. Let us have a heart transplant.
Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
