Be Prepared

"Now I began to be a disciple. I care for nothing, of visible or invisible things, so that I may but win Christ. Let fire and the cross, let the companies of wild beasts, let breaking of bones and tearing of limbs, let the grinding of the whole body, and all the malice of the devil, come upon me; be it so, only may I win Christ Jesus!" And even when he was sentenced to be thrown to the beasts, such as the burning desire that he had to suffer, that he spake, what time he heard the lions roaring, saying: "I am the wheat of Christ: I am going to be ground with the teeth of wild beasts, that I may be found pure bread." Ignatious Ad 108

Proverbs 16:1 “The preparations of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.”

Preparation in the Bible

Moses spent 40 years in the desert preparing for what God had called him to do

Esther was placed in the court of the king “for such a time as this”

Daniel purposed in his heart, and we can see how he stayed true to God even when faced with death

Paul spent 7 years in the desert preparing for his ministry

Look at why preparation is important

Preparation is part of God’s plan

Preparation shows our dependence upon God

Preparation demonstrates that we desire to live to praise of His glory

Preparation attaches my thoughts and actions to God’s purposes and plans.

But why?

Have you ever wanted the exactly right word to say?

Everyday we face questions concerning life

is God good

why is there evil

can you trust the Bible

we are faced with questions; as a parent questions are in abundance; answers to questions are opportunities for us to show Christ, whether to our child, spouse, co worker, or parent.

The lifestyle of preparation

it is necessary

every day as a part of routine

Psalm 119:147–148 “I rise before the dawning of the morning, And cry for help; I hope in Your word. My eyes are awake through the night watches, That I may meditate on Your word.”

Psalm 1 “ But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.

purposeful with the end in mind Eph 1 to the praise of his glory

The areas of preparation

Spiritually

Prayer

Prayer, according to Scripture, is not a form of magic (the manipulation or appeasement of spiritual forces in order to bring about a desired result) nor merely a form of mental contemplation (though meditation on scriptural truth that engages in conversation with God is a form of prayer)

Romans 8:26–27 “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

Ephesians 6:18–19 “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,”

Bible Reading

Psalm 119:33–40 “Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, And I shall keep it to the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, For I delight in it. Incline my heart to Your testimonies, And not to covetousness. Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, And revive me in Your way. Establish Your word to Your servant, Who is devoted to fearing You. Turn away my reproach which I dread, For Your judgments are good. Behold, I long for Your precepts; Revive me in Your righteousness.”

Meditation

Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth, And the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”

Means to murmur, groan, sighing; does not mean to chew the cud.

Meditation upon Scripture means that we are not thinking about what I want, how I want it, and I will do to get my way.

Mentality of Preparation

Knowing that God has a purpose

James 1:2–4 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

Knowing there is nothing to Fear

2 Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Knowing that we are to be a living sacrifice

Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

Know that I need to Put on and Put off

Eph 6 put on the the armor of God

Col 3

Martyrdom of Rawlins White

Rawlins White was by his calling and occupation a fisherman,

living and continuing in the said trade for the space of twenty

years at least, in the town of Cardiff, where he bore a very good

name amongst his neighbors.

Though the good man was altogether unlearned, and withal very

simple, yet it pleased God to remove him from error and idolatry

to a knowledge of the truth, through the blessed Reformation in

Edward's reign. He had his son taught to read English, and after

the little boy could read pretty well, his father every night after

supper, summer and winter, made the boy read a portion of the

Holy Scriptures, and now and then a part of some other good

book.

When he had continued in his profession the space of five years,

King Edward died, upon whose decease Queen Mary succeeded

and with her all kinds of superstition crept in. White was taken by

the officers of the town, as a man suspected of heresy, brought

before the Bishop Llandaff, and committed to prison in

Chepstow, and at last removed to the castle of Cardiff, where he

continued for the space of one whole year. Being brought before

the bishop in his chapel, he counselled him by threats and

promises. But as Rawlins would in no wise recant his opinions,

the bishop told him plainly that he must proceed against him by

law, and condemn him as a heretic.

Before they proceeded to this extremity, the bishop proposed

that prayer should be said for his conversion. "This," said White,

"is like a godly bishop, and if your request be godly and right,

and you pray as you ought, no doubt God will hear you; pray

you, therefore, to your God, and I will pray to my God." After the

bishop and his party had done praying, he asked Rawlins if he

would now revoke. "You find," said the latter, "your prayer is not

granted, for I remain the same; and God will strengthen me in

support of this truth." After this, the bishop tried what saying

Mass would do; but Rawlins called all the people to witness that

he did not bow down to the host. Mass being ended, Rawlins was

called for again; to whom the bishop used many persuasions;

but the blessed man continued so steadfast in his former

profession that the bishop's discourse was to no purpose. The

bishop now caused the definitive sentence to be read, which

being ended, Rawlins was carried again to Cardiff, to a

loathsome prison in the town, called Cockmarel, where he

passed his time in prayer, and in the singing of Psalms. In about

three weeks the order came from town for his execution.

When he came to the place, where his poor wife and children

stood weeping, the sudden sight of them so pierced his heart,

that the tears trickled down his face. Being come to the altar of

his sacrifice, in going toward the stake. When all things were ready, directly over against the stake, in the

face of Rawlins White, there was a stand erected, whereon

stepped up a priest, addressing himself to the people, but, as he

spoke of the Romish doctrines of the Sacraments, Rawlins cried

out, "Ah! thou wicked hypocrite, dost thou presume to prove thy

false doctrine by Scripture? Look in the text that followeth; did

not Christ say, 'Do this in remembrance of me?'"

Then some that stood by cried out, "Put fire! set on fire!" which

being done, the straw and reeds cast up a great and sudden

flame. In which flame this good man bathed his hands so long,

until such time as the sinews shrank, and the fat dropped away,

saving that once he did, as it were, wipe his face with one of

them. All this while, which was somewhat long, he cried with a

loud voice, "O Lord, receive my spirit!" until he could not open

his mouth. At last the extremity of the fire was so vehement

against his legs that they were consumed almost before the rest

of his body was hurt, which made the whole body fall over the

chains into the fire sooner than it would have done. Thus died

this good old man for his testimony of God's truth, and is now

rewarded, no doubt, with the crown of eternal life.

The second part of this message is focused on the Answer of the Lord. It is hard to be used of God when our heart is far from God.

Answer of the Lord/The result of preparation

Warning: Powerful Tongue

James 3:5–12 “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.”

Is your tongue praising God, but then putting people down

Is your tongue causing division

Is your tongue being used to point people to God

How

Put off and Put on Colossians 3:1–11 “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him”

Verse 2 Set your mind on things above, meditation

Put off sinful habits verse 5

Put off sinful speech verse 8

Put on verse 10

Because we have been raise with Christ as a new creature

Praying Colossians 4:2–6“Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”

By praying for opportunities and what we ought to speak

By redeeming the time

By speaking with grace

Grace here is kindness or goodwill

If prepared do not worry about the answer, but depend upon God

Mark 13:9–11 “But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. And the gospel must first be published among all nations. But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.”

How can a person when faced with certain death know what to say? It is by both the preparation of the heart and the answer of the Lord. We know that we do not need to fear death. We know that God’s grace is sufficient for us. We know that we have the Holy Spirit that indwells us to guide, convict, and encourage us.

Take Away

Preparation takes time

Preparation takes determination

Preparation stems from our walk with God, prayer, and meditation

Preparation is necessary for us to be instruments in God’s hands.

Preparation is necessary for us to speak as we ought to speak; to answer the way that we should; to show Christ like love to others.

Are you prepared to show Christ through your answers

Is your mind filled with Scripture our your own sinful thoughts.

Are you putting off sinful speech and putting on God’s speech

The answer of the tongue is a window into your hearts meditation, intents, and orientation to God.

Esther knew that her speaking for the nation of Israel’s behalf may get her killed, but she also knew that God had her there for “such a time as this”. Her life was for God to use.

Daniel knew that he had to do right, no matter what the consequences.

The martyrs quoted this morning knew that they were bought with a price and they would glorify God for all that he had done, even in the midst of death.

As parent, God can give you the patience, wisdom, and ability to answer questions that show your kids Christ.

How are you pointing your family to Christ? Moms? is your speech filled with grace? Dad’s how do you talk to your wife, is it with respect, love, and encouraging your wife to follow Christ?

How have you point others to God this week? What about this morning?