“The Urgency of Getting Ready”

Matthew 3:1–12 ESV

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’ ” Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

“The Urgency of Getting Ready”

Text: Matt. 3:1-12

Introduction: And I'm bringing you a love that's true So get ready, so get ready

I'm gonna try to make you love me too

So get ready, so get ready 'cause here I come

(Get ready 'cause here I come) I'm on my way

(Get ready 'cause here I come)

These are the lyrics to a 1966 classic hit by the Temptations. I chose these lyric for impact purposes for this particular message so that it is understood how urgent it is to be ready. The state of being prepared is important to every believer. Jesus through what He did for us at Calvary has given us an eternal morning of rising up to get ready for. All around the world, every morning that the Lord allows us to rise, we are in getting ready mode. We get ready for work, school, and whatever daily routines that are a part of daily living. In our text today, John is God’s chosen spokesman to help Israel and the world see the urgent need for salvation. Salvation is God’s gift to humanity through the person Jesus Christ. Because of its urgency, let’s examine three things that is important about readiness.

Preaching helps us Get Ready

There is an urgent need for the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the word of God that prepares our hearts and minds and reveals God’s love and plan for humanity. Our lives are strengthen through the adherence and application of the word. Sound biblical doctrine and teaching supported by the word builds our character and enhances readiness into and for kingdom building communities. Paul reminds us that there is no adequate substitute for the preaching of the gospel. For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 1 Cor. 1:21. The world needs the saving message of the Gospel of Christ.

Practicing what is preached assists us in getting ready.

It is not automatic or easy to live under the complete rule of God. This is why it is important to put what we have heard into action. We need good sound preaching and teaching that leads to repentance and encourages us to change our attitudes and mind set to be willing to follow instructions found in the word of God. The Bible instructs us to relinquish those things that cause us to rebell and disobey God. Good sound preaching prepares us to become disciples of Christ. That my friend is the end result that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is intended to produce. The Psalmist cried, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Promoting what is preached and practiced help others to become ready.

Many churches and religious entities falter because there is no promoting of what the church practices. These practices are outline in the Bible and not built on traditions and cultural practices that hinder the perfect unity of Christ. Christians damaged by false teaching will be ineffective, so leaders are to ensure the members are prepared. Our focus should not be on conformity to selfish ambitions. The word of God is the guide to lead us to a deeper relationship with God and one another. We will be in the training and teaching mode for as long as it takes Christ to come again. It will be at this time when all things will be set in order and He will lead and guide us according to His fathers will. Until then our job as leader, preachers, teachers, and followers must continue to practice what the word of God says, and this happens to be done through preaching and teaching. To downplay the importance of preaching and teaching will be the demise of every physical structure. Unless the Holy Spirit is allowed to operate and we put forth our best effort to follow, readiness will continue to a missing ingredient. Are you ready. Are you practicing what is preached and taught? Are you using what you have learned to promote readiness or are you promoting you own form of readiness because you are defiant and refuse to conform to the biblical mandates for readiness.

Closure: “Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” The urgency of getting ready is upon us. I am ready to hear Him say; I revealed to you a love that is true and unfailing. So get ready, cause I am soon to come. I am on my way, get ready cause here I come. He is coming like a thief in the night, every eye is going to see Him, every tongue will confess that He is Lord to the glory of God.