Meeting God Prepared
To receive blessings from God, it is essential to prepare adequately, both physically and spiritually, before meeting Him.
E.A. Adeboye emphasizes the importance of preparation before meeting with God, drawing parallels to students preparing for exams. He highlights how some miss out on blessings during gatherings due to lack of preparation, engaging in distractions, or attending out of routine. Adeboye stresses the need to seek God, cleanse oneself, and approach His presence with thanksgiving and faith to receive His blessings. Just as God required His people to prepare before His visit in Exodus, Adeboye encourages believers to prepare adequately in advance for any spiritual encounter, removing hindrances like unbelief and unforgiveness.
Text
MEMORISE: 'Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.' (Amos 4:12)
READ: Exodus 19:9-13
When two students go far an examination, and at the end of the day one passes with distinction, while the other fails woefully, their performances reveal their level of preparedness. Have you also wondered why at a meeting of God's people, some are blessed while others are not? A key factor here is how prepared they were. Some people coming to the Holy Ghost Service has become a routine, or ceremony. Some attend reluctantly. Some others use it as a forum for social meetings, to see old friends or do business. No wonder some are left out.
Even during the service, there are those who move about, talking away. Some sleep while the message is going on, while others have no expectation whatsoever. All this further accounts for why some cannot receive what God has released to them. Preparation is very important before God. In fact, in our reading, God required His people to set themselves apart for Him and physically cleanse themselves two days before His visit. God does not expect anything less today.
For you to maximize any program, be it regular or special, prepare adequately days in advance. Seek the face of God concerning exactly what you want him to do for you. Ask him to cleanse you from any sin and remove everything that could constitute a hindrance to your requests, such as unbelief, unforgiveness and strife.
On the day of the program come into God's presence with thanksgiving. Also come in faith and with high expectations to receive your requests. Listen carefully, shun all distractions and flow with every part of the service. Release your faith and receive every word of knowledge relating to your desire. You shall not go unrewarded. Resolve from today to prepare to meet with God at least two days before the appointment.
ACTION POINT
Draw up five preparatory steps you will take before attending
a program, to afford you maximum benefit.
Sermon Outline
- I. Introduction
- A. Importance of preparation before God
- B. Examples of unpreparedness in God's presence
- II. The Importance of Physical and Spiritual Cleansing
- A. God's requirement in Exodus 19:9-13
- B. The need for spiritual cleansing today
- III. Steps to Maximize Any Program
- A. Seek God's face concerning your requests
- B. Ask for cleansing from sin and hindrances
- C. Come into God's presence with thanksgiving and faith
- IV. Receiving Your Requests
- A. Listen carefully and shun distractions
- B. Release your faith and receive every word of knowledge
- V. Conclusion
- A. Resolve to prepare to meet God at least two days before the appointment
Key Quotes
“Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.” — E.A. Adeboye
“For you to maximize any program, be it regular or special, prepare adequately days in advance.” — E.A. Adeboye
“You shall not go unrewarded.” — E.A. Adeboye
Application Points
- Seek God's face concerning your requests before attending any program or service.
- Ask for cleansing from sin and hindrances to receive your requests.
- Come into God's presence with thanksgiving and faith to maximize your experience.