Jeremy Utley & Bobby McDonald - Being Spiritually Prepared

Jeremy UtleyDecember 26, 201628mWatch on YouTube

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Speaker: Jeremy Utley & Bobby McDonald Title: Being Spiritually Prepared Date: 12-25-2016 Our Goal as Christians is this: To be an exact reflection of Jesus, the Son of God (Romans 8:29) We do this individually by growing in purity in our personal lives (1 John 3:2-3) We do this corporately by becoming fully functioning members of a local Church (Ephesians 4:11-16)

Summary

The speaker emphasizes that Christian preparation involves both God's work in us and our personal effort. Drawing parallels from David being prepared as a shepherd, he argues that even seemingly menial tasks are perfect preparation for God's calling. Furthermore, he advises that preparation requires praying not just for present needs, but also for the future, using the disciples' inability to cast out a demon as an example of being ill-equipped.

Outline

The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.

How does God prepare us?It is easy to despise our current circumstances and think God cannot use small, trivial tasks, but He uses them to chisel and refine us.

The example of David in the pastureDavid had the grunt job of watching sheep while his family did other things, yet that despised job was the exact preparation God needed to make him a shepherd for Israel.

Embracing menial tasks as preparationJust as the pasture prepared David to be a shepherd, our menial daily tasks prepare us for the ministry God has for us in the church, so we do not need to despise them.

Preparing for the future through prayerWe must pray not only for our present needs, but also in preparation for the future, living a lifestyle of separation from the world like Jesus did.

The disciples' failure with the demon-possessed boyThe disciples were unable to cast out a demon because they lacked spiritual resources, and Jesus explained that this kind of power requires prior prayer and fasting.

Two certain future events to prepare forWe know from scripture that we will be tested by the enemy and that Jesus is returning, so we must be actively preparing for both.

Being on guard for the return of ChristJesus warns us in Luke 21 to stay alert and pray for strength to escape or overcome the difficult things that are about to take place.Luke 21:34

What sort of people ought we to be?Knowing that the earth and all its works will be destroyed by fire, we should live in holy conduct and godliness, recognizing that only the church survives the fire.2 Peter 3:10

A growing burden to build the body of ChristJust as the people were challenged in Haggai, we should examine whether we have a true burden to build the house of the Lord rather than living in our own paneled houses.

Kindling afresh the gift of GodLike a small campfire that needs protection from the wind, we must guard our burden for the church from distractions and fan it into a flame.

Staying spiritually sharp like JesusJesus maintained His spiritual edge through constant prayer, fasting, and doing the will of God, rather than stopping when God used Him once.

Building the church in privateWe can start building the church simply by committing to pray for one person or burden in private, allowing God to use us without needing public recognition.

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Jeremy Utley & Bobby McDonald - Being Spiritually Prepared

Jeremy Utley · December 26, 2016 · 28m

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