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BE READY!

Intro.

1.  "We are ready for any unforeseen event that may or may not occur."   (Vice President Dan Quayle, 9/22/90)

2.  Titus 3:1 - Ready: Prepared (fitness), opportune, seasonable.

3.  Are you ready (fit & prepared) to seize the opportunities before you to do every good work?

I.  READY TO PREACH THE GOSPEL - Rom. 1:15.

  A.  Some Are Not Ready To Preach The Gospel Because:

    1.  They are ashamed of the gospel - Rom. 1:16.

    2.  They are not knowledgeable in the gospel - Heb. 5:12-14; 2 Pet. 3:18; 2 Tim. 2:2.

      -Russian proverb: "There is no shame in not knowing; the shame lies in not finding out."

    3.  They think they are exempt - cf. Acts 8:4.

  B.  Some Are Ready To Preach The Gospel Because:

    1.  They love souls - 1 Ths. 2:8-9.

    2.  They love truth - Phil. 1:15, 17.

    3.  They know their time is short - Jno. 9:4.

II.  READY TO GIVE AN ANSWER - 1 Pet. 3:15.

  A.  By Preparing Your Heart - cf. Ezra 7:10

      -Indicator of your faith in God & His word.

  B.  By Preparing Your Answer - cf. Matt. 16:13-16.

    1.  Based upon evidence / truth - 16:17.

    2.  Study the body of evidence (truth) we have from God! - 2 Tim. 2:15

    3.  Certain & clear answers do exist! God's Word! Trust it!

      -"We must not let go manifest truths because we cannot answer all questions about them." (Jeremy Collier)

III.  READY TO GIVE - 1 Tim. 6:18 (free to impart; "liberal and generous" (RSV).

  A.  This Too Begins In The Heart - 2 Cor. 8:12 (inclination, readiness of mind).

    1.  8:19 - The giving shows the ready mind at work!

    2.  9:2-3, 5 - Our giving must be from generosity, not obligation!

      -Kahlil Gibran:  "Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need."

    3.  Our rich blessings should compel us to freely impart (give):

      a.  Material aid to the weak & deprived - Jas. 1:27.

      b.  Our time & talents to the work of the Lord - Jno. 9:4.

      c.  Our efforts & energies to the weak - Heb. 12:12.

IV.  READY FOR THE LORD'S RETURN - Matt. 24:44.

  A.  Those Who Are Prepared Enter Heaven - Matt. 25:4, 8-10.

    -Become a Christian & live faithfully unto death.

  B.  To Be Ready For The Lord's Return, We Must:

    1.  Watch (24:42): Cautious, active attention (cf. Eph. 5:15-16).

      -The reason: You don't know when He will return!

    2.  Ready (24:44): Prepared - cf. 1 Ths. 5:1-6.

      a.  The reason: You can't predict when it will happen!

      b.  "Do not fear death so much, but rather the inadequate life."  (Bertolt Brecht, The Mother, 1932)

    3.  Don't miss heaven because you refuse to get ready!!

Conclusion

1.  Readiness is vital to success:

  a.  Armies are defeated when they are not prepared for battle.

  b.  Marriages fail when spouses are not prepared to overcome every obstacle thrown in their way.

  c.  Churches flounder when they are not ready to live for Jesus & abide in His truth - come what may!

  d.  Souls are eternally lost when people refuse to get ready for the day of judgment!

2.  God has made all things ready for your salvation - Matt. 22:4, 8; 1 Pet. 1:5.

3.  "Are you ready for that day to come?!"