Join us at 6 PM EST. . .be blessed by this outline.
President Abraham Lincoln once said:
“I will prepare and some day my chance will come.”
Whitney Young Jr., civil rights leader once said:
“It is better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have one than to have an opportunity and not be prepared.”
# 1 Be prepared for battle
Ephesians 6:13 MSG
“Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.”
Preparation is a mental decision because it becomes a practical reality.
Joshua 7:13 NLT
“Get up! Command the people to purify themselves in preparation for tomorrow. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Hidden among you, O Israel, are things set apart for the Lord. You will never defeat your enemies until you remove these things from among you.”
How do you purify yourself for battle?
1. Enter into His presence
2. Read our instruction manual/battle plan daily
3. Repent immediately when we realize we’ve done something wrong
4. Eliminate any doubt about the outcome of our mission Romans 8:31
5. Receive your forgiveness
6. Determine who will be in the foxhole with you.
7. Get out in front of your battle by praising God.
Joshua 3:5
“For tomorrow, Jehovah will do wonders among you.”
The price for success is always paid in advance of your victory. . .never after the fact.
2. Be prepared for a live of righteousness.
1 Peter 2:24
“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”
Proverbs 4:18 AMP
“But the path of the [uncompromisingly] just and righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines more and more (brighter and clearer) until [it reaches its full strength and glory in] the perfect day [to be prepared].”
2 Timothy 4:2 NLT
“Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.”
3. Be prepared to move outside your comfort zone.
Romans 1:13
“Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.”
Psalm 119:66 NLT
“I believe in your commands; now teach me good judgment and knowledge.”
Proverbs 4:7
“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”
Do you read your Bible on a daily basis?
Do you take notes on what you’ve read?
Does the Holy Spirit bring things to your remembrance as you read and/or take notes?
Are you reading any book any than the Bible at this very moment?
Is the book motivational, inspirational and/or practical?
Are you taking notes as you read this book?
Is the Holy Spirit stirring things in you as you read the book?
4. Be prepared by following His instructions.
Deuteronomy 8:11-16 MSG
“Make sure you don’t forget God, your God, by not keeping his commandments, his rules and regulations that I command you today. Make sure that when you eat and are satisfied, build pleasant houses and settle in, see your herds and flocks flourish and more and more money come in, watch your standard of living going up and up—make sure you don’t become so full of yourself and your things that you forget God, your God, the God who delivered you from Egyptian slavery; the God who led you through that huge and fearsome wilderness, those desolate, arid badlands crawling with fiery snakes and scorpions; the God who gave you water gushing from hard rock; the God who gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never heard of, in order to give you a taste of the hard life, to test you so that you would be prepared to live well in the days ahead of you.”
2 Timothy 3:17 ERT
“Using the Scriptures, those who serve God will be prepared and will have everything they need to do every good work.”
Matthew 22:29 TLB
“But Jesus said, “Your error is caused by your ignorance of the Scriptures and of God’s power!”
5. Be prepared to exercise His gifts.
John 14:26 AMP
“But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you.”
Romans 12:6-8 AMP
“Having gifts (faculties, talents, qualities) that differ according to the grace given us, let us use them: [He whose gift is] prophecy, [let him prophesy] according to the proportion of his faith; 7[He whose gift is] practical service, let him give himself to serving; he who teaches, to his teaching; 8He who exhorts (encourages), to his exhortation; he who contributes, let him do it in simplicity and liberality; he who gives aid and superintends, with zeal and singleness of mind; he who does acts of mercy, with genuine cheerfulness and joyful eagerness.”
1 Corinthians 14:26 MSG
“So here’s what I want you to do. When you gather for worship, each one of you be prepared with something that will be useful for all: Sing a hymn, teach a lesson, tell a story, lead a prayer, provide an insight. If prayers are offered in tongues, two or three’s the limit, and then only if someone is present who can interpret what you’re saying. Otherwise, keep it between God and yourself. And no more than two or three speakers at a meeting, with the rest of you listening and taking it to heart. Take your turn, no one person taking over. Then each speaker gets a chance to say something special from God, and you all learn from each other. If you choose to speak, you’re also responsible for how and when you speak. When we worship the right way, God doesn’t stir us up into confusion; he brings us into harmony. This goes for all the churches—no exceptions.”
Luke 12:47 NLT
“And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished.”
6. Be prepared to assume a leadership role.
1 Peter 3:15 NIV
“But in your hearts revere 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.”
Ezekiel 38:7 GWT
“‘Be prepared! Be prepared, you and all the soldiers assembled around you. You will be their leader.”
# 7 The Soil Must Be Prepared For The Seed
Matthew 25:13 in The Living Bible says:
“So stay awake and be prepared, for you do not know the date or moment of my return.”
Harold Herring