Adequate preparation for His coming.

Adequate preparation for the appearing of Christ.

2 Timothy  4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:  4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Our Lord Jesus Christ shall appear during the imminent rapture to take home His faithful followers of all ages, living and dead 

John  14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

1 Thessalonians  4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.  4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.  4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.  4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

The blessed Holy Spirit reveals what His faithful followers must be doing till He comes.

1. After being biblically saved and  sanctified, they must be living with eternity in view.

Colossians  3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.  3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.  3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

2. They must be living a lifestyle of a glorious church.

Ephesians  5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;  5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,  5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

3. They must be living godly lifestyle free from all ungodliness and unrighteousness.

Titus  2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,  2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;  2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

4. They must be occupied in getting others prepared for Christ’s coming.

1 Peter  5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:  5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;  5:3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.  5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

5. They must abide in Christ and His kingdom.  They must not stay away because of deceitfulness of riches and transient things.

1 John  2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

6. They must continually be purifying themselves with the precious blood of Jesus to remain pure as Christ.

1 John  3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.  3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.  3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

7. They must overcome to ensure their names are not removed from the book of life.

Exodus  32:33 And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.

Revelation  20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Revelation  3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

God’s grace will be sufficient for you to do all these effortlessly.

2 Corinthians  9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

Let us pray.