Josh McGuire - A State of Readiness | Austin CFC | 2023-06-18
Summary
The message explores how one becomes ready to minister, drawing lessons from Moses, Joseph, and Peter. Key requirements for readiness include experiencing profound brokenness, recognizing personal sinfulness (like leprosy), and understanding that the very gifts or resources given to help others can become idols if relied upon more than God. Ultimately, Paul's letter to Timothy emphasizes being willing to suffer through trials as one serves Christ.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Recapping ministering and preparationThe speaker recaps the previous message about ministering as attending to needs and explains that preparation and Brokenness must happen before one is ready to serve.
What does Paul's letter to Timothy teach us about suffering?Using 2 Timothy 2, Josh highlights Paul's military imagery of suffering as soldiers enlisted for the cause of Christ.
The military emphasis on readinessDrawing from his military experience, the speaker explains how units revolve around aircraft readiness metrics, establishing the parallel for spiritual alertness.
Being dressed in readiness in Luke 12Josh reads from Luke 12, emphasizing Jesus' call for His servants to be dressed in readiness, keeping their lamps lit for the master's return.
Are you a spiritual quartermaster?The speaker compares support roles in the military to believers who supply others with time, prayer, and encouragement behind the front lines.
The military pay chart and faithful assignmentJosh describes how military members of different ranks and jobs make the same pay, illustrating that every assigned task in God's kingdom is important.
David and the exhausted men at the Brook BesorExamining 1 Samuel 30, Josh recounts how David insisted that those who guarded the baggage share equally in the spoils with those who fought.
Avoiding a wicked attitude toward the exhaustedThe speaker warns against despising fellow believers who are physically exhausted or given simpler tasks, reminding listeners that physical limitations do not measure readiness.
Jesus' repeated commands to keep on the alertListing numerous passages from Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Josh shows how frequently Jesus commanded His followers to watch and stay ready.
Reflections from visiting brothers on the spirit of an athlete and warriorSharing testimonies, other speakers connect the military and athletic analogies to everyday encouragement, contentment, and being in God's will.
Jesus modeled ultimate readinessA speaker highlights how Jesus prepared for thirty years and only did the Father's will, demonstrating perfect readiness throughout His life and death.
Jesus always lives to make intercessionDrawing from Hebrews 7, the message closes with the comforting truth that Jesus ever lives to intercede and is always ready to help us, no matter our failures.
