April 20, 2024
Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,
Preparing One's Heart
Definition of Preparing: Make (something) ready for use or consideration, to be firm, be stable, be established, to be set-up, to be ready, to make arrangements.
In other words, we need to stand firm in our faith in God, be stable in our walk with God, and be ready to meet God.
Prepare
"The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord.
All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits.
Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.
The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.
When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.
A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps." (Proverbs 16:1-9)
Preparing for the Lord
to Work in Our Hearts and Lives
1. Preparing for the Lord involves repentance.
A. Repentance involves being confronted with the Word of God.
B. Repentance involves being convicted of sin.
C. Repentance involves being brought to a place of confession. (Preparing takes repentance.)
2. Preparing involves a surrendered will.
A. Surrendering our will to the truth of God's Word.
B. Surrendering our will gives way to acknowledgment of sin.
C. Surrendering our will takes trusting the Lord, (not my will but Thy will). (Preparing takes surrender.)
3. Preparing for the Lord involves faith.
A. Faith in what the Word of God says.
B. Faith in what the Lord Jesus Christ did for us.
C. Faith that will give evidence meet for repentance.
Note: Are we willing to repent, confess, and surrender?
Pastor Birch
"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." (Galatians 6:9)