Are You Prepared For Winter?

2 Timothy 4: 9-22; Matthew 24:42; Luke 12:39; Isaiah 43:19; Malachi 3:6; Luke 21:33; Matthew 5:18; James 1:5; Proverbs 4:7; James 4:2; Hosea 4:6; Luke 12:2

We are walking in today:  Are You Prepared For Winter?

 2 Timothy 4: 9-22 9) Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: 10) For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. 11) Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. 12) And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus. 13) The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments. 14) Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: 15) Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words. 16) At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. 17) Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18) And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 19) Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 20) Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick. 21) Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren. 22) The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.  God has created a special season to buffer and prepare us for winter... Fall--- Fall reminds us of what is coming.  In fact, most of the time fall flashes over and over again....make preparations.  God's creation is about the process of preparing for winter.  A winter whose wrath we can only anticipate.  The great apostle Paul was aware of the fact that winter was close at hand and that he also should be making preparations.  He writes to a young preacher friend and asked him to bring certain items, and a person before winter arrived.  Each item would serve him well in the winter that was just ahead.  The items that Paul wanted were 1)  His cloak, a cloak was a heavy woolen garment used as an overcoat.  This fact reminds us of the existence of physical winters.  2) Bring my Bibles, parchments--the books of the bible that Paul owned.  Paul was preparing for a spiritual winter.  3) Bring John Mark for he can do for me much good, Paul was celebrating a summer after an interpersonal winter.  This morning I want to talk with you about these winters that are stated and implied in Paul's request.  As he made preparations let us also make preparations.  Physical Winters--"Bring my cloak", said Paul.  No doubt he was well ware of how it felt to be exposed to the cold winds of winter.  Physical discomforts come in other experiences also.  Strained, and broken family relationships; financial problems brought on by job loss, or an economy which is sitting still under water; unpredictable illnesses; death in the family.  Bring my cloak, Paul was preparing for the time when the cold winds of winter would blow through the window and chill his bones.  Paul's one redeeming comment and so essential to this text....But the Lord stood by me! In the physical winters of life, God will stand by us all.  Again let me say, these difficulties are part of the normal life experiences of each of us gathered here this morning.  No one is exempt! we are all involved!  Build your house upon a rock, and not upon sand, so that your house will stand.  Physical winters will come.  With God's grace they are only temporary.  Paul Said: bring John Mark, for he can do me much good!  Bring my Bibles, the books of the bible--that I own.  When we came to church, Bible study, and prayer meetings we are working on our inner person and preparing for winter.  From time to time the ordinary service will turn into something special and God will bless us with new insights to life.  Their will come a time when our spirits will hurt, and will feel God no longer hears or cares.  Like Paul, we need the word to know that all the saints suffered in some kind of way.  Plus we need to have had a time of closeness with God ourselves.  The two together will sustain in our spiritual winter.  This morning we have discussed only three of the winters of life, and I am sure there are more.  The point is to take for this is, that the christian difficulties are temporary, and by the grace of God--spring comes and life goes on.  Are You Prepared For winter?!!!! Yea and Amen.
Paul asked for John Mark and his books and the parchments, he was preparing for a spiritual winter.  Are you going to bible study or doing your own?  Are you attending church every week?  What preparations are you making, fiveamprayer?!  We must have the word with us at all times, on the inside of us to restore us and continue to draw us closer to God!  Continue to be in His presence!!  Sometimes in a season He may be silent, but He is still there!  Seasons will change, but are you prepared?!    Are you prayed up, trusting in Him, reading your bible--daily?!  Be prepared!!  Matthew 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.  We must be prepared at all times!!  Luke 12:39 And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.  Things will change, but are you prepared for a spiritual winter?  Or are you caught up in wondering why and if God is still there.  All this time God has been telling us to keep our focus on Him.  To continue in our trust of Him.  Would you need such focus and trust if nothing was going to come against you?!  While in a peaceful and restful place with all things perfect, will you still need that focus and trust.  Yes!  This is not a skill or practice that we should turn on and off.  It should remain constant, because so many other things change!!  Where is your commitment?!  Only when things are good, that's when you praise Him?  Only when things are easy do you seek His word?  You must have the word on the inside of you to guide you when it seems like you are in the dark, but there is the light of the word burning on the inside.  If that is the only way out, what do you do when you are low on the word, do you lack light to escape?  God forbid!!  Get in the word, let it reside in you.  Even if you were to read the same scripture or book over and over again, God will show you more and more.  Store it all up for the winter that you may be prepared!!  You may hang up this phone with everything fine and then things change.  How can you help if you have not been through anything?  No test, no testimony!  Make ready for winter, fiveamprayer.  There are some parts of the world that are experiencing major shifts in weather patters, there will not always be a warning of the change.  We expect there to be snow in Colorado in the winter, but how about snow in the middle of summer?  Seems strange but it has happened.  That is why we must be prepared, we know not the hour or time.  Make good use of your time, seek Him, be before Him.  Something may come to distract you, but how do you get back on course if you don't know that you have taken a detour?!  The word that is on the inside of you will redirect you back on course.  As Minister Pope has said, eat the word daily and let it simmer in the crock pot and when there is a need for the word, it comes right up and speaks for you!  But what can you do if there is no word inside of you?!  The reason and point of making ready is to be prepared at all times.  Being prepared is always being ready, no cause to get ready--stay ready!!  Stay in His word.  Stay in prayer.  Stay seeking His understanding.  Stay seeking His wisdom.  This is a position of remaining, making our abode with Him.  Being unmoveable, that the cares of the world do not distract or put you off course.  Make ready, be prepared!!  He told us in this year we will see, but are you ready to see?  Are your eyes open to see, heart open to receive?!  We are living in the last days, and God is coming back for the church--you are the church!!  There has been a shift in the atmosphere, are you ready?  Are you in position?  In the storms doubt may come up, do you have a word to stand on to put it under your feet?!  Not in confusion--what did God say?  Stand in decision, that you will stand on His word.  Fiveamprayer, be suited up and ready--He has given us, His grace and mercy.  His word is that He will never leave us nor forsake us--no matter how it appears to us.  Turn away from that false evidence appearing real, the devil is still a liar!!  Sometimes God will show up to throw things off to see if we will really trust Him.  Will we really stand on His word?  Are you ready for winter?  Are you ready to see His glory?  Read His word, spend time in His presence, seek Him first and His righteousness!  Then all things shall be added unto you.  Get more word, more time with Him, be ready for winter.  Make preparations for winter in your marriage and in your singleness--encourage yourself!  Get your word out and let it work for you.  Pray without ceasing.  You may want to call yourself into a fast.  Look to He that brings us out of darkness into His marvelous light!!  Many situations just need more light--light of understanding, light of patience, light of peace.  Fiveamprayer is your light shining in your winter season?  If not then you are not prepared.  Get prepared, get in the word, get in His presence.  This is daily thing, not weekly, nor monthly, never yearly!  Isaiah 43:19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.  We have to be prepared to know ab0ut the new thing that God is doing that is springing forth.  God is a God that can bless you in season and out of season.  We have to realize that the season does not have to change for God to show up mighty in our lives!!  Your preparation with help you to trust and stand when everything else seems contrary to His word.  But we are to stand and keep standing.  His word will be fulfilled.  In spite of what others say, in spite of what it looks like, in spite of our own abilities!  There is no stopping God when He is set on a thing, unless you walk away or move out of position.  God is God and He changes not!  Malachi 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.   We must continue on, there is grace in the pit.  Be prayed up and hold to the word.  It is the only thing worth holding on to!!  We can do all things through Christ which strengthens us!  Praise Him for His goodness and His mercy!  God is always watching over us!  It is time to do a self-check we can't fall apart every time something comes up.  The devil is counting on that, why do you think so many things come against you?  Many of them are all based in fiction.  Every word that God has said is true and will come to pass--Luke 21:33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.  Matthew 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.  God is not a man, that He should lie!  We can stand on His word, and it is true!!  Fiveamprayer be prepared for winter!!  He told us that 2012 is our year of authority.  Are you walking in your God given authority?!  Tell the world, 'thou He slays me, yet will I trust Him!'  We are not to lean to our own understanding, but in all of our ways acknowledge Him and He will direct our path!  He gave us dominion, walk in it!  Walk it out.  The devil is preparing to take you out.  You must also be prepared!!  Reading the word daily and putting on the whole armor of God.  Always watching and praying.  We must be on our post!  God is preparing us for such a time as this.  This is our season and our time.  We lift up fiveamprayer, have them to know they must be prepared by the word and suited up with the whole armor of God.  Be ready!  We lift up prayer requests those known and unknown, have them to know that all that they need is found in You!  They need to make preparations to be ready to receive the overflow of blessings that God is sending their way.  While in a place of stillness, make preparation for what God has for you!  We come asking for forgiveness, for having our focus in the wrong place.  Thank You for being a God that You would cast our sins into the sea the they be remembered no more.  Thank You Lord for forgiving us with no condemnation.  Teach us Lord to forgive others, while we are in preparation for what You have for us to do and receive!  Being in preparation, others should be able to see the God in you. 

We seal this prayer in His precious blood, by His Spirit:   Are you ready and prepared for winter?

Welcome to the overflow...
Do a self check.  Is your life lining up with God?!  Be still and quiet, He is still there.  He has told us that He will prepare a way for us.  We must stay in the word and make ready to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  There is grace in the pit!  Make preparations!  God has something big for you!  That is why we can count it all joy!  Praise Him anyhow!  He is in the midst of it all!  See that God is in it--trust Him and stand on His word!  Keep your eyes on Him!  No matter what is happening in your house, on your job, in your finances--don't get caught up in in that.  Our focus is on God!  And on Him only!  He is still there and will never leave nor forsake us!  Are you making preparations?  Don't try to figure it out--why you can't feel Him or why it hasn't happened yet.  He is surrounding you with His grace and mercies.  We must not walk in complaint, look to being prepared and ready.  Thank You Lord for preparing us for our winter season.  Look at the children of Israel, they had many battles that they fought as they laid claim to their promised land.  This is not just one battle--there are many enemies to fight!  There is a new fight every day!!  His grace is sufficient!  Thank You God for preparing us!! We must pick up our word, the word that will sustain, renew, refresh us!  Don't go out with only some of the armor on...be fully suited up--prepared.  The devil is looking to see if you have made preparations.  Fiveamprayer we are to have on the whole armor of God!!  We must be prepared because the devil is roaming the earth, seeking whom he may devour.  We are fighting in the spirit, we must be prepared by the word.  The enemy has been busy, messing with marriages, children and finances.  We are waiting for a fight!  Have you ever been waiting for a fight!  You are ready to throw down!!  We must be prepared at all times, in season and out of season!  Don't get caught up in what is going on in the world.  You are not of this world, you are a citizen of heaven.  Keep God first, don't loose focus of Him!  This is a 24/7 thing!  This is not a Sunday only thing--pick up your word daily.  He gives us daily bread and brand new mercies every morning.  Be prepared for winter not just on Sundays.  Be prepared, sit still and lean not to your own understanding!  He will reveal somethings to you when you read His word.  Even if you don't understand, we can ask Him for understanding--James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.  Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.  God gives to us when we ask--James 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.  We are living in the last days, be prepared for winter!  Make ready!  Sharpen your war tools and weapons.  God has given us so many benefits and many of us are not ready.  It is time to fight!!  We have already been given spiritual weapons of mass destruction--prepare for winter.  We are living in the book of Revelation, right now!  Thank You God, He told us you will see--He is not gonna let anything sneak up on us!  The devil want to get your mind off of God and on other things.  Get ready, read His word, be suited up for battle.  Are you ready for winter.  It is not time to figure it out, trust God and make preparations with His word.  We are in a revelation season.  God is showing us more and more of who He is!!  Thank You for remembering us!  This is the fight, that we fight daily!  We must be in the word, God lets us know--Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.  We must search the scriptures, for ourselves--we have so much access with technology.  We can find Bibles on line and even on our smartphones.  Luke 12:2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.  God is reveling Himself to us!  Don't miss Him, He is there!  Do a search today during your idle time to look up a scripture on the Internet if you don't have your Bible with you.  Seek Him, while He may be found.  There are no more excuses, there are various Bibles on the Internet.  Search and seek for Him.  Are you prepared for winter?  Walk in the scriptures daily.  This daily call is also recorded, and available for 24 hours.  The word it there but are you seeking Him?!  His word is right there--seek Him and find Him!  Visit us on facebook it will encourage you.  Have a blessed day!  Thank You God!  Are you prepared?!  Do a self-check, you know what you are doing or not doing!