Preparation
John the Baptist prepared for 30 years for an 18 month ministry.
What if all the things the Lord promised you were still supposed to happen, but you quit preparing because it seemed like it never would?
That would be tragic.
It isn't too late to get back in the race.
Matthew 21:28“But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’
29“He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went.
30“Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go.
31“Which of the two did the will of his father?”
Philippians 3:10that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
11if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
12Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
13Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
14I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
The Lord is going to vindicate all faith. He is going to do it speedily. He is going to turn it all around.
The faithful will rejoice. Those who quit will gnash their teeth. Don't quit.
Matthew 25:13“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
14“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.
15“And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.
16“Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.
17“And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.
18“But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money.
19“After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20“So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’
21“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
22“He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’
23“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
24“Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed.
25‘And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
26“But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.
27‘So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.
28‘Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
29‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.
30‘And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
What if all the things the Lord promised you were still supposed to happen, but you quit preparing because it seemed like it never would?
That would be tragic.
It isn't too late to get back in the race.
Matthew 21:28“But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’
29“He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went.
30“Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go.
31“Which of the two did the will of his father?”
Philippians 3:10that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
11if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
12Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
13Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
14I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
The Lord is going to vindicate all faith. He is going to do it speedily. He is going to turn it all around.
The faithful will rejoice. Those who quit will gnash their teeth. Don't quit.
Matthew 25:13“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
14“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.
15“And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.
16“Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.
17“And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.
18“But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money.
19“After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20“So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’
21“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
22“He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’
23“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
24“Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed.
25‘And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
26“But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.
27‘So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.
28‘Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
29‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.
30‘And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
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