Take responsibility for your own preparation

J

JohnC

Many of us here have lamented that the churches have all but quit serious Education and Training programs for Christians.... You may not even be encouraged to read your bible...

This being THE REALITY - don't wait around for anybody else to prepare you.... If you don't step up to the plate - nobody will do it for you...

Read your bible - establish a habit of bible reading.... There are AMAZING blessings in The Bible if you will just open it up and read it for yourself...

Keep a notebook for interesting scriptures and observations.... Keep notes of when God answers your questions and prayers..

Though your church may not be doing any of it... There are AMAZING preparation sources out there on the web... There are also local churches and ministries out there that are still doing these things... There are sources out there for Evangelism preparation... Bible teaching preparation... Christian Administration preparation... Showing mercy, compassion, and encouragement... Planning, preparation, and even learning the PROCESS of "Working mighty works" ....

Don't keep wishing that your church would notice... Prepare yourself...
 
In a way - yes....

The "Preparation" that the virgins were required to perform were to:
Be betrothed
Maintain their Virginity
BE in the room of waiting WHEN the bridegroom arrived...
GO with the bridegroom to the wedding...

What we often mistake is that the oil was a distraction to the FOOLISH virgins... The oil had nothing to do with whether the Bride was "Qualified" to be married or not... Once the Bridegroom arrives at the chamber - it's HIS responsibility to get the Bride to the Wedding... and so if the Virgin has no oil - it's becomes the Bridegroom's problem at that point.... The Foolish brides got all worried about oil and ran away from the Bridegroom....

Notice that in the parable - the bridegroom FOUND 5 and he TOOK 5... He TOOK 100% of the betrothed virgins he found... If he had FOUND 7 and 2 had no oil - he would have taken all 7 because the Oil was his problem at that point... That's the faithfulness of God even when we are unfaithful....

So, yes - preparation is critical, and we must take effort to prepare ourselves.... BUT - we must also recognize that we must ACT when it's time to ACT - God is going to take up the slack because that's the Faithfulness of God.... Look at David and Goliath and Samson... God worked miracles IN SPITE of a young boy with a rock and a disorderly Danite with a gooey jawbone...

Thanks
 
JohnC said:
Many of us here have lamented that the churches have all but quit serious Education and Training programs for Christians.... You may not even be encouraged to read your bible...

This being THE REALITY - don't wait around for anybody else to prepare you.... If you don't step up to the plate - nobody will do it for you...

Read your bible - establish a habit of bible reading.... There are AMAZING blessings in The Bible if you will just open it up and read it for yourself...

Keep a notebook for interesting scriptures and observations.... Keep notes of when God answers your questions and prayers..

Though your church may not be doing any of it... There are AMAZING preparation sources out there on the web... There are also local churches and ministries out there that are still doing these things... There are sources out there for Evangelism preparation... Bible teaching preparation... Christian Administration preparation... Showing mercy, compassion, and encouragement... Planning, preparation, and even learning the PROCESS of "Working mighty works" ....

Don't keep wishing that your church would notice... Prepare yourself...
Click to expand...

All good advice my brother!
 
JohnC said:
In a way - yes....

The "Preparation" that the virgins were required to perform were to:
Be betrothed
Maintain their Virginity
BE in the room of waiting WHEN the bridegroom arrived...
GO with the bridegroom to the wedding...

What we often mistake is that the oil was a distraction to the FOOLISH virgins... The oil had nothing to do with whether the Bride was "Qualified" to be married or not... Once the Bridegroom arrives at the chamber - it's HIS responsibility to get the Bride to the Wedding... and so if the Virgin has no oil - it's becomes the Bridegroom's problem at that point.... The Foolish brides got all worried about oil and ran away from the Bridegroom....

Notice that in the parable - the bridegroom FOUND 5 and he TOOK 5... He TOOK 100% of the betrothed virgins he found... If he had FOUND 7 and 2 had no oil - he would have taken all 7 because the Oil was his problem at that point... That's the faithfulness of God even when we are unfaithful....

So, yes - preparation is critical, and we must take effort to prepare ourselves.... BUT - we must also recognize that we must ACT when it's time to ACT - God is going to take up the slack because that's the Faithfulness of God.... Look at David and Goliath and Samson... God worked miracles IN SPITE of a young boy with a rock and a disorderly Danite with a gooey jawbone...

Thanks
Click to expand...
Hmm well I think the oil is important cos thats how their lamps were lit, the bridegroom took the one with the lamps the others were sitting in darkness and so missed out cos they had no oil. They couldnt see.

But your interpretation is interesting I didnt think of it that way before.
 
It's important to realize what made them "Foolish" - that they misunderstood what was Critical and what was NOT.. They put more importance on the oil than on the bridegroom.... and look where they ended up... Plenty of oil and no bridegroom...

See - one of the "games" in an ancient Hebrew wedding was for the Bridegroom to "Surprise" the bride... To come for her "At a time she did not expect".... It's a test of sorts - Will she balk and refuse to go with him because she kinda freaks out because of all the details that aren't ready... OR will she embrace "Leave your father's house and Cleave to your husband" even though she feels like some details are incomplete.....

Prepare WHILE you have time to prepare.. Take responsibility and do not neglect your own preparation....
Understand, though - that a KEY PART of your preparation must be to ready yourself mentally and emotionally to ACT when it's time to act..... That can be the hardest part of preparation....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top