Psalm 18:32- It is God who ARMS me with STRENGTH,

And makes my way perfect.
33 He makes my feet like the feet of deer,
And sets me on my high places.
34 He TEACHES my hands to make war,
So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

 

2 Samuel 22:40- For You have ARMED me with STRENGTH for the battle;
You have subdued under me those who rose against me.
41 You have also given me the necks of my enemies,
So that I destroyed those who hated me.
42 They looked, but there was none to save;
Even to the Lord, but He did not answer them.
43 Then I beat them as fine as the dust of the earth;
I trod them like dirt in the streets,
And I spread them out.

 

 

Other ways one can be prepared is to make sure there are provsions for the journey, that there is resources available when all goes wrong, to ready yourself to expect the unexpected, to understand that not every battle will be won.  So what do you do in the event of being overcome?  What do you do when you have to turn back? What do you do when things don't go the way as planned?

 

 

We prepare for the unexpected or undesirable outcome.

 

 

Who in the bible prepared in that manner?

 

 

Let's look at Noah... God told him there was a great rain coming that would flood the earth, instead of standing around thinking it would all just blow over, he obeyed God to prepare an ark and store food for his family and all the animals that would have to wait out the flood.

 

The Ark PREPARED

Genisis 5:13 And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. 14 Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch. 15 And this is how you shall make it: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. 16 You shall make a window for the ark, and you shall finish it to a cubit from above; and set the door of the ark in its side. You shall make it with lower, second, and third decks. 17 And behold, I Myself am bringing floodwaters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die. 18 But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into the ark—you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. 19 And of every living thing of all flesh you shall bring two of every sort into the ark, to keepthem alive with you; they shall be male and female. 20 Of the birds after their kind, of animals after their kind, and of every creeping thing of the earth after its kind, two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive. 21 And you shall take for yourself of all food that is eaten, and you shall gather it to yourself; and it shall be food for you and for them.”

 

22 Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did.

 

Now I have heard many argue that to prepare is not faith... But doing anything God tells you is obedience and faith... This is what it means to have faith and works.  Not only did Noah trust God, he also did what was required to bring about the purpose. Sometimes God asks us to wait on Him, and sometimes God asks us to be prepared.  

Let's look at another example.  How about Joseph?  God gave the Pharaoh a dream that told him there would be a famine for 7 years.  He then used Joseph to interpret his dream.  He did this so Joseph would tell him to be prepared, not taken off guard. Since Joseph then listened to God and advised Pharaoh to store up grain, he not only avoided starvation, but gained the approval of the Pharaoh!

 

Genesis 41:25- ...Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do: 26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads are seven years; the dreams are one. 27 And the seven thin and ugly cows which came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty heads blighted by the east wind are seven years of famine.28 This is the thing which I have spoken to Pharaoh. God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do. 29 Indeed seven years of great plenty will come throughout all the land of Egypt; 30 but after them seven years of famine will arise, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine will deplete the land. 31 So the plenty will not be known in the land because of the famine following, for it will be very severe. 32 And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.

33 “Now therefore, let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, to collect one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven plentiful years. 35 And let them gather all the food of those good years that are coming, and STORE UP grain under the authority of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. 36 Then that food shall be as a RESERVE for the land for the seven years of famine which shall be in the land of Egypt, that the land may  NOT PERISH during the famine.”

 

Joseph’s Rise to Power

37 So the advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants. 38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?”

39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this,there is no one as DISCERNING and WISE as you. 40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” 41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”

 

In the Parable of the wise virgins, we see that they too are prepared, but the reason here is so that they are not caught off guard when their groom comes.  Often times we think of being prepared as a way to avoid disaster or being overtaken, but as the end nears we need to be moreso prepared to receive our reward and inheritance.  

 

The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins

Matthew 25:1-“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

6 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.

11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

13 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

 

So how do we prepare for receiving our reward?

 

 

By doing everything we can to be found doing his will.  By allowing Christ to perfect us and sanctify us.  By beautifying ourselves with good fruits and deeds.  By doing everything we can to get to know our husband-to-be and how to please him.  

 

 

We need to make sure we are ready for Him when He comes, that we are found being wise, not foolish.  Running the race as if to win a prize, never giving up always persevering.  Taking His talents of gold and investing them.  We are to prepare for a future that is everlasting and what we choose to do now makes all the impact in what our forever looks like...  Are you going to be unprepared, possibly missing the call or not having any reward?  Or are you going to be dilligent and be received by Jesus with open arms and a great honor?

 

Genesis 41:1-40 “The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.” 

 

Proverbs 21:20- “A prudent person foresees the danger ahead and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.” 

 

Proverbs 27:12-"Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.  How long will you lie there, you sluggard?  When will you get up from your sleep?  A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man."