3 P's: Prepare, Proof, Purpose

3 P’s

Before we begin, I will be talking about God equipping us individually and our church collectively. I want you to be thinking about how God has prepared you, where you are, and where our church is as we go.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Can I give a testimony? Friday, heatless sauna, Gabapentin/Keppra, & heat prepared me for Doug

Preparation

God will prepare us for what he has for us.

I never took a job for a purpose, it was always is direction.

Romans 8:28–30 CSB

28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.

He has a plan, will not call anyone without supporting them. (Look harder at Romans 8:30 “30 And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.”

This idea is uplifting and encouraging, but in pratice this time of preparation can be frustrating, traumatizing, and fait defining.

“I’m trying to serve him, but it seems like He doesn’t want me.”

So many characters in the bible had a time of preparation: Moses, Aaron, David, Amos, Hosea, and most of the apostles

I think first of the story of Joseph. How dark must the years between being sold into slavery by his brothers and his brothers returning to him must have been?

While we are in a time of preparation, we must Trust - how many people in the bible tried to rush God’s timeline with disastrous results? (Abraham - Ishmael) Even when things seem bleak and it doesn’t make sense, we need to trust that God is in it.

Psalm 46:10 “10 “Stop striving, and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.””

Proving

At some point, your preparation will be done and it will be time to answer the call. This can be a joyous time as you get to pursue your purpose, but more often is a time of fear, trepidation, change.

Some people are able to immediately pursue that which God has called them to do: Think Abraham. Sometimes people run away from their call: Think Jonah. But most often people wrestle with this call, like Moses, David, and Peter did.

This is because it’s at this point that your call goes from hypothetical to reality, and it is a scary thing to completely surrender to God’s call.

However, if you can, you can begin to

Purpose

This is the time where you are working for God and on your purpose. You’ve allowed God to put his stamp on your life.

However, often this is also a time where you will transition back to Preparation as God prepares you for what He has next. This cycle is part of the sanctification process and is important for the maturation of the Christian.

This cycle is also true of the little c church.

However, we must be willing to let go of what he HAS given us to have a hand to accept what He WILL give us.

Where do you think we are as a church? Which step are we in?