“Those Who Were Ready”

1. “Those Who Were Ready” And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut (Matt. 25:10).

2. Ready To Hear Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil. Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God.For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few (Eccl. 5:1-2). So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath (Jas. 1:19).

3. Ready To Hear Christ While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” (Matt. 17:5). It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life (Jn. 6:63). But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (Jn. 6:68).

4. Ready To Hear the Word of God Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God (Acts 13:7). So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Rom. 10:17).

5. Ready To Preach the Gospel So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith” (Rom. 1:15-17).

6. Paul’s Charge: Preach the Word! 1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry (2 Tim. 4:1-5).

7. Ready To Preach the Saving Gospel And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mk. 16:15). For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe (1 Cor. 1:21).

8. Ready To Every Good Work Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work (Tit. 3:1). Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work (2 Tim. 2:21).

9. Responsibility of Every Christian For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them (Eph. 2:10). Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works (Tit. 2:14). This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men (Tit. 3:8).

10. Good Works: Good for You & Others Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven (Matt. 5:16). Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation (1 Pet. 2:11-12).

11. Ready Always To Give An Answer But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect (1 Pet. 3:15). Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone (Col. 4:6). Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15). If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God (1 Pet. 4:11).

12. Ready To Give Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share (1 Tim. 6:18). Distributing to the needs of the saints… (Rom. 12:13). Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need (Acts 4:34-35). Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all (2 Cor. 9:13).

13. Ready To Die From my youth I have been afflicted and close to death; I have suffered your terrors and am in despair (Ps. 88:15). Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 21:13). For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive (1 Cor. 15:22). And as it is appointed for men to die once… (Heb. 9:27). Better to go to the house of mourning Than to go to the house of feasting, For that is the end of all men (Eccl. 7:2).

14. Ready for the Coming of Christ 42Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him (Matt. 24:42-44).

15. Ready for the Coming of Christ 1Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am (Jn. 14:1-3). So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him (Heb. 9:28).

16. Unexpected Coming No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father (Mk. 13:32). But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare (2 Pet. 3:10). Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief (1 Thess. 5:1-4).

17. Are You Ready? And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut (Matt. 25:10).