Four Steps for Preparation by Brother Curtis Hansen

         There are couple of places we will look at in the Bible regarding the subject of this sermon. The first scripture will be in the book of Joshua chapter 1 verse 2. Tonight's message is about getting prepared to be used by God. When you become born again, you are baptized in Jesus name, when you receive the Holy Ghost, you haven't arrived in your walk. You have just found yourself on the starting line. There are steps you will need to take to prepare yourself for God's use. Let us look at verse 2. 

        2 Moses my servant is dead, now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give them, even to the children of Israel.

        As the book of Joshua begins, Moses had just died outside of the promised land, and the instruction God gives to Joshua was Arise. Arise means prepare for your calling. Be awake. When the Israelites were going over the Jordan river, it was requiring preparation. 

        Now we should turn to the Gospel of Luke chapter 12. We will read verses 35 and 36.

        35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;

        36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he comes and knocks, they may open unto him immediately.

        There is a similarity in this scripture selection like there is in Joshua. Jesus is asking us to be prepared when he comes at the door. In your walk, God is with you, will wait for you, and help in your preparedness. He will help you. He won't do it for you. Doing the preparation is on you and I. Those who are preparing, God is looking to strengthen those whose hearts are seeking him. There are many steps to prepare yourself waiting for the bridegroom to knock on the door.

        The first step is personal examination. Your life needs to be sin free. Keep your life, your spiritual temple clean. Keeping these clean involves confession of sin not to just your pastor, but also to God. True confession will usually lead to a trial. God uses all types of vessels but will not use a dirty vessel. Look up Matthew chapter 23 verse 26. Keep yourself honest with God.

        The second step is to keep your eyes open. One of the most misunderstood terns of leadership is vision. Vision is not just looking into the future. God is the only one who can see into the future. Vision is seeing God move in your present situation. Vision is about getting in what God is doing and be a part of it. Make time to look up Psalm 105.

        The third step is to keep your heart grateful. Thankfulness is what really helps your testimony. It keeps you humble in life. You need to recognize what are blindspots and deficiencies. A thankful person will see a blessing in everything no matter how small. Focus more on God's provisions rather than your problems. Too many people don't do that, but they really traffic in cynicism. Cynical people at their very core are people filled with self interest. It is really easy to slip into cynicism. 

        The fourth step is to keep your purpose firm. You are planned for God's pleasure. We are formed for God's family, shaped for service, made for a mission by God. It is our job in preparation to use our talents and abilities to be used of God. This moment you should understand what you are called for. If you are not humble, you will never receive criticism or correction correctly. The correction from God is done with love.