Be Prepared! (Part 2)

6 ways to be prepared for 2024

Stay Full of the Holy Spirit!

12.3.2023

Review (Last week – 11.26.2023)

Philippians 3:13-14 (HCSB)

Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, 14 I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.

Have you changed since last year this time?

What will you be like next year this time?

The days of Casual Christianity are over. Don’t ride the fence.

Ephesians 5:8-21 (NKJV)

Walk in light, in the light of the Word of God, and refuse to walk in darkness.

Don’t be a sleepy believer, unaware of your surroundings or of the time we’re living in…

Romans 13:11-14 (NKJV)

It’s a good day to give ourselves regular spiritual checkups.

Socrates – The unexamined life is not worth living.

2 Corinthians 13:5-6 (NKJV)

6 ways to be prepared for 2024

1. Stay Full of the Word.

Four levels of Growth in the Word

Where are you with the Word?

Convert

Epistle

Disciple

Minister

2. Stay full of the Holy Ghost!

2 Corinthians 13:13 (HCSB)

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

We are born of the Holy Spirit and indwelt by Him in the New Birth.

John 4:13-14 (NKJV)

Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

Ezekiel 36:26-27 (NKJV)

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

We are baptized With the Holy Spirit by the Lord Jesus!

With this experience comes a boldness, a hunger, a personal understanding of the Word, and a new way to pray.

The baptism with the Holy Spirit opens you up to be more aware of spiritual things. There is a heightened awareness of all things spiritual.

Luke 3:16 (NKJV)

John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Acts 1:4-5 (NKJV)

And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

This is just the beginning of a lifelong relationship with the Holy Spirit that transforms and guides us.

There is one in dwelling of the Holy Spirit when you are born again, and one baptism with the Holy Spirit. But we must be filled with the Holy Spirit over and over again!

We must also stay full of the Holy Spirit!

Ephesians 5:18-19 (NLT)

Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.

Ephesians 5:18 (Wuest – The New Testament: An Expanded Translation)

And stop being intoxicated with wine, in which state of intoxication there is profligacy. But be constantly controlled by the Spirit,

To be filled with the Spirit is to be controlled by the Spirit!

Romans 12:11 (NKJV)

Not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

Romans 12:11 (AMP)

Never lag in zeal and in earnest endeavor; be aglow and burning with the Spirit, serving the Lord.

Romans 12:11 (PHILLIPS)

Let us not allow slackness to spoil our work and let us keep the fires of the spirit burning, as we do our work for God.

Romans 12:11 (MSG)

Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master,

Romans 12:11 (TPT)

Be enthusiastic to serve the Lord, keeping your passion toward him boiling hot! Radiate with the glow of the Holy Spirit and let him fill you with excitement as you serve him.

Romans 12:11 (CEV)

Never give up. Eagerly follow the Holy Spirit and serve the Lord.

2 Timothy 1:6 (AMP)

That is why I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the inner fire] that is in you by means of the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination].

Be Careful not to grieve the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 4:30 (NKJV)

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

We grieve Him by disobedience, by yielding to the flesh, by not listening to Him, and by not staying close to the Word.

John 16:13-15 (NKJV)

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

Way to foster the freshness of the Holy Spirit in your life:

1. Take time every day to read the Word and then meditate it.

2. Keep scripture in your mind when you have idle mental time.

3. Sing and worship before you pray.

4. Pray both with your mind and with your spirit by praying in the spirit.

1 Corinthians 14:13-15 (AMP)

13 Therefore, the person who speaks in an [unknown] tongue should pray [for the power] to interpret and explain what he says.

14 For if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit [by the Holy Spirit within me] prays, but my mind is unproductive [it bears no fruit and helps nobody].

15 Then what am I to do? I will pray with my spirit [by theHoly Spirit that is within me], but I will also pray [intelligently] with my mind and understanding; I will sing with my spirit [by the Holy Spirit that is within me], but I will sing [intelligently] with my mind and understanding also.

5. Forgive every offense.

6. Walk in love.

3. Stay close to family.

Colossians 3:17-21 (NKJV)

17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. 18 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them. 20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

The closest person to you in this life is your spouse.

Keep your marriage top priority.

1 Peter 3:1-7 (PHILLIPS)

In the same spirit you married women should adapt yourselves to your husbands, so that even if they do not obey the Word of God they may be won to God without any word being spoken, simply by seeing the pure and reverent behavior of you, their wives. Your beauty should not be dependent on an elaborate coiffure, or on the wearing of jewelry or fine clothes, but on the inner personality—the unfading loveliness of a calm and gentle spirit, a thing very precious in the eyes of God. This was the secret of the beauty of the holy women of ancient times who trusted in God and were submissive to their husbands. Sara, you will remember, obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. And you have become, as it were, her true descendants today as long as you too live good lives and do not give way to hysterical fears. 7 Similarly, you husbands should try to understand the wives you live with, honoring them as physically weaker yet equally heirs with you of the grace of eternal life. If you don’t do this, you will find it impossible to pray properly.

Take time to talk.

Have a date night weekly.

Keep your intimate life strong.

Stay in touch with your children!

4. Keep love in the center of how you relate to others.

Matthew 24:12 (NKJV)

And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.

Matthew 24:12 (MSG)

For many others, the overwhelming spread of evil will do them in—nothing left of their love but a mound of ashes.

My life was transformed when I learned to let love rule my actions, words, and responses to people.

John 13:34-35 (NKJV)

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Ephesians 5:1-2 (NKJV)

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

Hebrews 13:1-2 (AMP)

LET LOVE for your fellow believers continue and be a fixed practice with you [never let it fail]. 2 Do not forget or neglect or refuse to extend hospitality to strangers [in the brotherhood—being friendly, cordial, and gracious, sharing the comforts of your home and doing your part generously], for through it some have entertained angels without knowing it.

1 Peter 4:8 (AMP)

Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins [forgives and disregards the offenses of others].

(Dake Study Bible Notes)

Nine Ingredients of Divine Love:

1. Patience–love passive: no hurry; suffers long; bears, believes, hopes, and endures all things (1Cor. 13:4,7).

2. Kindness–love in action: never acts rashly or insolently; not inconsistent, puffed up, or proud (1Cor. 13:4).

3. Generosity–love in competition: not envious or jealous (1Cor. 13:4).

4. Humility–love in hiding: no parade; no airs; works then retires (1Cor. 13:4).

5. Courtesy–love in society: does not behave unseemly; always polite; at home with all classes; never rude or discourteous (1Cor. 13:5).

6. Unselfishness–love in essence: never selfish, sour, or bitter; seeks only good of others; does not retaliate or seek revenge (1Cor. 13:5).

7. Good temper–love in disposition: never irritated; never resentful (1Cor. 13:5).

8. Righteousness–love in conduct: hates sin; never glad when others go wrong; always gladdened by goodness to others; always slow to expose; always eager to believe the best; always hopeful, always enduring (1Cor. 13:6-7).

9. Sincerity–love in profession: never boastful and conceited; not a hypocrite; always honest; leaves no impression but what is strictly true; never self-assertive; does not blaze out in passionate anger, nor brood over wrongs; always just, joyful, and truthful; knows how to be silent; full of trust; always present.

Action Points:

1. Are you seeking to stay full of the Holy Spirit every single day?

2. Are you actively cultivating your relationship with your spouse and children?

3. Are you seeking to let love be the motivation in your relationships?