Spiritual readiness

[Chad]

SPIRITUAL READINESS
A.W. Tozer

When the Bible says that God is calling a special people out of the nations to bear the name of His eternal Son, I believe it - and His name is Jesus! Our pious forefathers believed in spiritual preparation, and they said so. They saw themselves as a bride being prepared to meet the Bridegroom. They regarded this earth as the dressing room to outfit themselves for heaven. The evangelical church has come through a period when nearly everyone has believed that there is just one prerequisite to readiness: being born again.

We have made being born again almost like receiving a pass to a special event-when Jesus returns we whip out the pass to prove our readiness. Frankly, I do not think it will be like that. I do not believe that all professed believers are automatically ready to meet the Lord. Our Savior Himself was joined by Peter and John and Paul in warning and pleading that we should live and watch and pray, so to be ready for Jesus' coming.

 

[Gracealone]

Being Born again ,Chad, is only the firm foundation to begin our walk on, not the end .
Hope I never left that impression when I ask ,Are you born again?

Until that is a firm yes, we cannot take advantage of, or even offer hope to anyone, of the blessings in store for those who have been.
The mercy, the grace , the promises of God.
Our walk starts at the cross, or we have no walk.
Nothing but a fearful contemplation of the words, "Depart from me! I Never knew you."

Jesus Got right to the point with Nicodemus..... "You must be born again.

I believe that is a good example.

 

[Copper25]

The Awareness

SPIRITUAL READINESS
A.W. Tozer



Frankly, I do not think it will be like that. I do not believe that all professed believers are automatically ready to meet the Lord. Our Savior Himself was joined by Peter and John and Paul in warning and pleading that we should live and watch and pray, so to be ready for Jesus' coming.

Honestly, all professing believers professing and shouting Christ is my Lord believe not in him to the point where they have excepted His Lordship over them in their lives, they lack a sense of submissiveness that is needed, whether it is due to pride, lust of the world, or spiritual slothfulness, many unfortunately are not ready and are not trying to be because they choose to be void of the truth that is unleavened and untainted by man. This is why there is such a mass scale fall back or apostasy in the faith right now, why many are being subdued and overcome of the world and we know that 2 Peter 2:19) "of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage." Shall one be entangled in the worldly elements and still be ready or prepared spiritually pleasing unto the Lord, I think not. It all boils down to where one's loyalty is placed and what master they serve, whether it be Christ or... something or someone else which is a foundation of sand. Only with the foundation of our Lord Jesus Christ can we prosper, by obeying him and heeding him very closely.

Matthew 7:24-25) Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

Matthew 7:26-27) And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

As we can see, those that keep the word and the sayings of Christ shall prosper even when hard times come but when hard times come for those who did not keep his sayings and who had their house built on sand, the house fell and the fall was great!

Revelation 22:12) And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Revelation 3:11) Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.