Be Prepared

Be Prepared

RHCC

Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me

Revelation 3:20

He said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself

Genesis 3:10

&Holy Week AD 33 – The Last week of Jesus’ earthly ministry 

• Jesus was prepared for His journey to Jerusalem.
  • Before arriving, His body was prepared for burial – anointed with oil
  • Colt/Donkey for the Triumphal entry
  • Lodging in Bethany
  • Upper room for the Passover meal (last supper)
  • He tried mightily to prepare His disciples for what was about to happen.

Jesus has been staying outside of Jerusalem in Bethany with his disciples. I want to take you to Wednesday –  Wednesday, April 1^st 33AD, Jesus, with His followers, comes back into Jerusalem.  They find the fig tree withered from the day before. Jesus goes to the temple, teaches, confronts some of the Jewish leaders.  He has a busy day. On leaving the city and on the way back the Bethany Jesus gives His great Olivet Discourse on Mount of Olives. 

Matthew 21:20, Mark 11:20, Luke 20:36, John 12:20

One of the stories He gives is the Parable of the 10 Virgins, which is our scripture lesson this morning.  If you will turn in your bibles to Matthew 25 versus 1 through 13.

& “Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

& Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps.

& Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’

& Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’

& But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’

& And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut.

& Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’

& Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.

Matthew 25:1-13 NASB

& ADRN Testimony

• Introduce ADRN

Our vision is to serve Christ by establishing a church network in the Greater Austin area that will meet the emotional, physical and spiritual needs of those affected by disaster. We will accomplish this vision by building a communication infrastructure that will enable and empower the Body of Christ to organize, mobilize, connect, prepare, train and respond quickly in the event of a disaster, great or small.

Luke 10:25-37 – Parable of the Good Samaritan

• Orientation on April 14^th – get to know ADRN, and find your calling. It’s free and it is here, which is pretty special!
• Introduce the concept of “Being Prepared”
  • Being Prepared for our Relationship with God (our attitude)
  • Being Prepared for our Relationship with our neighbors (producing fruit)
  • Being Prepared to Defend our Faith (or put another way, be prepared for battle) (putting on the full armor of God)
• Memorial Day Floods
• VBS Story
• Training
• October Flood Story
  • What Possible Good could come out of this awful event?

Story of the Roman General

A Roman general was leading his legions toward the enemy in a swampy country. He knew that the next day’s battle would be fought on a certain plain because it was the only dry, flat place for miles. He pushed his army all night, marching them through a frightening and formidable swamp, so that they reached the battle site before the foe and could claim the high ground. In the aftermath of victory, the general called his troops together and asked them, “Brothers, when did we win the battle?” One captain replied, “Sir, when the infantry attacked.” Another said, “Sir, we won when the cavalry broke through.” “No,” said the general. “We won the battle the night before—when our men marched through that swamp and took the high ground.”

We are To Prepare for God’s Purpose in our Life, and for His Coming:

“Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.  For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.

Matthew 24:42-44

& Preparation is a two 2-part Process

• Vertical – Prepare yourself for a Relationship with God through Jesus
• Horizontal – Prepare yourself for a Relationship with Our neighbors

& Vertical – Prepare yourself for a Relationship with God through Jesus

…“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment.

Matthew 22:37-38

Prepare your heart for happiness

       Be “Attitudes”

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

“Blessed are the gentle (or meek), for they shall inherit the earth.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

(Salt and Light – Salt Preserves, salt makes things takes better, salt makes you thirsty!)

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5:3-12 NASB

& Horizontal – Prepare yourself for a Relationship with Our Neighbors

…‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 22:39-40

Be Prepared to Produce Fruit

Fruit of the Spirit:

But the fruit of the Spirit is

love,

joy,

peace,

patience,

kindness,

goodness,

faithfulness,

gentleness,

self- control; 

against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Galatians 5:22-24 NASB

& Where the Horizontal and Vertical Meet we must be prepared for Battle

Be Prepared for Battle.  

Full Armor of God:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the word of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Ephesians 6:10-17

Plutarch asked, “Why do the Spartans punish with a fine the warrior who loses his helmet or spear but punish with death the warrior who loses his shield?” Because helmet and spear are carried for the protection of the individual alone, but the shield protects every man in the line. The group comes before the individual.

& Intersection

Interesting, that when the horizontal (Relationship with God) and the vertical (relationship with others) come together, the form a cross.  But we need our Shield of Faith to really be prepared to serve God in battle.  That Shield of Faith just so happens to be your Heart! 

& “One more thing” Before you go, KNOW

…. ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’….

Matthew 22:39-40

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,

Matthew 28:19

….and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

Acts 1:8

Before you GO and do for Jesus, you need to KNOW the King.  I want to read you a part of a sermon by an old Texas preach – Dr. Lockridge.

The Bible says my King is the King of the Jews. He’s the King of Israel. He’s the King of Righteousness. He’s the King of the Ages. He’s the King of Heaven. He’s the King of Glory. He’s the King of kings, and He’s the Lord of lords. That’s my King.

I wonder, do you know Him?

My King is a sovereign King. No means of measure can define His limitless love. He’s enduringly strong. He’s entirely sincere. He’s eternally steadfast. He’s immortally graceful. He’s imperially powerful. He’s impartially merciful.

Do you know Him?

He’s the greatest phenomenon that has ever crossed the horizon of this world. He’s God’s Son. He’s the sinner’s Savior. He’s the centerpiece of civilization. He’s unparalleled. He’s unprecedented. He is the loftiest idea in literature. He’s the highest personality in philosophy. He’s the fundamental doctrine of true theology. He’s the only one qualified to be an all sufficient Savior.

I wonder if you know Him today?

He supplies strength for the weak. He’s available for the tempted and the tried. He sympathizes and He saves. He strengthens and sustains. He guards and He guides. He heals the sick. He cleansed the lepers. He forgives sinners. He discharges debtors. He delivers the captive. He defends the feeble. He blesses the young. He serves the unfortunate. He regards the aged. He rewards the diligent. And He beautifies the meek.

I wonder if you know Him?

He’s the key to knowledge. He’s the wellspring of wisdom. He’s the doorway of deliverance. He’s the pathway of peace. He’s the roadway of righteousness. He’s the highway of holiness. He’s the gateway of glory.

Do you know Him? Well…

His life is matchless. His goodness is limitless. His mercy is everlasting. His love never changes. His Word is enough. His grace is sufficient. His reign is righteous. And His yoke is easy. And His burden is light.

I wish I could describe Him to you. Yes…

He’s indescribable! He’s incomprehensible. He’s invincible. He’s irresistible. You can’t get Him out of your mind. You can’t get Him off of your hand. You can’t outlive Him, and you can’t live without Him. Well, the Pharisees couldn’t stand Him, but they found out they couldn’t stop Him. Pilate couldn’t find any fault in Him. Herod couldn’t kill Him. Death couldn’t handle Him, and the grave couldn’t hold Him.

Yeah! That’s my King, that’s my King.

Amen!

& It all goes back to the Cross and the Empty Tomb

To truly be prepared, you have to know Jesus, you have to dig into His word. You need to have your HEART, SOUL and MIND ready.

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;

2 Timothy 3:16

Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 1:13 

but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;

1 Peter 3:15

preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.

2 Timothy 4:2

Most importantly, you need to have Jesus, you need to accept Him.

& Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.

Revelation 3:20

This is a picture of the Lord Jesus at the heart’s door of the sinner. It is a glorious picture. The English artist, Holman Hunt, attempted to put this concept on canvas. He pictured Christ standing at a door. When he first painted the picture, he invited his artist friends to criticize. One of them said to him, “Holman, you have left off a very important part of the door. You left off the handle of the door.” Hunt replied, “This door is a picture of the human heart, and the handle of the door is on the inside.” This is the picture of Christ we have in Revelation. He stands at the door and knocks. He will not crash the door.  The Lord Jesus has moved heaven and hell to get to the door of your heart, but when He gets there, He will stop and knock. You will have to open the door to let Him in.

Are you prepared to open that door?  Are you prepared to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

Are you prepared for Him to come today?