are you prepared for what cometh?

The biggest mistake Christians make is waiting to cross a bridge when they come to it.  They do not know what to do when they are challenged with adversity.  Furthermore, they don’t always know what to do when God sends His blessings.  What we usually do is what is familiar to us, those things we have seen others do despite their failure.  If you are a member of a local church your pastor will offer you classes that edify and prepare you for the inevitable things that are a part of life.  Most churches offer a midweek service for the purpose of enlightenment, these services traditionally are not well attended!
 
Ephesians 5:16 Redeem the time because the  days are evil.
 
The word redeem means to improve on your opportunities.  If you have ever been in the military or know someone that was, you will learn that soldiers spend most of their time training for the attack of an enemy.  They know what is expected of them and they have the confidence they need to engage the enemy.  Their training is so thorough that some of them can hardly wait to engage the enemy.  They are prepared for what cometh. 
 
Ephesians 4:11 God gave some apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers for the equipping of the saints.
 
God has done all He can do to prepare His people, but some of His people do not take Him serious.  So, when the enemy comes he finds little resistance, his quarry surrenders to him because they do not know how to resist him.  I once heard Kenneth Copeland repeat something the Lord told him: Son, the devil was surprised at how easy it was for him to overcome a born-again Christian!  Some of God’s people don’t know who they are in Christ Jesus because they did not submit their lives to God’s instructions.  They were hoping to cross that bridge then they came to it but didn’t know how to get across.  If your church does not know who they are in Christ Jesus, they cannot instruct you!  Find a church that believes in the power of the Holy Spirit, even if you must drive a little bit out of your way. 
 
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour.
 
Either the devil can swallow you up or he can’t, you will expose yourself to him or you will put yourself off limits.  A Christian who is sober and vigilant is one who gave himself to the Word of God long before the devourer came.  A Christian who suffers along side the citizens of the world is one who did not make time for God’s Word.  This person did not prepare themselves for the inevitable attack of the devil.  The devil does not care what you call yourself or what church you attend, to him you’re nothing more than an item on his menu.  Some Christians just hope the devil doesn’t come for them like he does others.  Other believers know he will come and so they prepare for the meeting.  When you’re equipped and prepared, you have no fear, you know the devil but more importantly you know who you are in Christ Jesus.

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