Prepare to Meet Thy God! prepare to meet your God, “I overthrew some of you, As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were like a firebrand plucked from the burning; yet you have not returned to Me, says the LORD. Therefore thus will I do to you, O Israel; because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel!“ {Amos 4:11,12}

The Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-3) Ten Virgins represent those who are in the Kingdom of Heaven Five wise virgins prepared Five foolish virgins unprepared They knew what they needed. They were prepared and watched. Thought they were safe, until it was too late. Thought others were too zealous.

Others can’t prepare for you Reminded of proper way to gain more oil –“And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.‘ 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.’” {Matthew 25:8,9} The Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-3)

Must watch and be prepared Must plan for the unexpected –“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” {Matthew 25:13} The Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-3)

We Must Be Prepared “So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” {Hebrews 9:28} “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” {2 Timothy 4:8}

Unexpected Event “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” {Matthew 24:37-39}

Proper Preparation— Be in God’s Kingdom born again,“Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” {John 3:3} “born again?”How can one be “born again?” born of water and the Spirit, –“Jesus answered, Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” {John 3:5}

The New Birth Physical Birth Two agents –Mother –Father Spiritual Birth Two agents –Water –Spirit In both cases, both elements must be present!

“Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” {Romans 6:3,4} The New Birth

Newness of Life— A Child of God “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” {Galatians 3:26-29}

Justification by Faith Comes by Obedience to God “Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” {Matthew 7:21} Justified by Obedient Faith Noah Noah (Hebrews 11:7) Abraham Abraham (Hebrews 11:8)Naaman (2 Kings 5)

No longer under the tutor … Galatians 3:24-29 Why? “For ye are all children of God…” How? “By faith in Christ Jesus.” “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Justification by Faith Comes by Obedience! Paul elaborates…

Must Be a Child of God to Be Prepared to Meet God! Are You God’s Child?

To Be Prepared We Must Live Faithfully and Watch We must live faithful lives The five foolish virgins were in the kingdom— but they were not faithful – “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” {Revelation 2:10}

Be Faithful and Grow… We must add to our faith … – “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.” {2 Peter 1:5-9}

Virtue Moral duties –“Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” {James 1:27}

Knowledge Spiritual growth in studying God’s word –“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” {2 Timothy 2:15}

Temperance Self-control Christians must be able to master their emotions and appetites. –“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” {James 4:7}

Patience Contentment With what we have and the present situation –“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” {James 1:2-4}

Godliness Spirit of reverence—building on sound doctrine (respect for God and His will) Spirit of good conversation (upright, good living) –“But reject profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.” {1 Timothy 4:7,8}

Brotherly Kindness Kindness toward our brothers and sisters – “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.” {Romans 12:10} Kindness and goodwill toward all men – “You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.‘ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” {Matthew 5:43,44}

Charity Love (agape) –“And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” {John 17:26} The love God had for us –“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” {John 3:16}

Are We Prepared to Meet God? “Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble.” {2 Peter 1:10} If we continue to grow in these things, we will be prepared If you are not a child of God, you can not even hope to be prepared.