PREPARE FOR THE JOURNEY

by Marsha Burns

As I waited before the Lord, I had a sense that we were to prepare for what’s ahead much like we would prepare for a trip. We need to take the things that are most necessary to us on the next leg of our spiritual journey.

I thought of how I would pack. When we go on a trip we don’t take the dishes and pots and pans or our furniture. We take things like money, travel plans, maps, binoculars, Bibles, changes of clothing and articles of personal hygiene, and of course, a laptop computer.

I will make an effort to apply this spiritually so that we prepare properly for the journey ahead:

First, we must have a desire to go, to take the trip, and be willing to leave things behind. We really don’t get much out of a trip when we are constantly thinking about home. Instead, we go with a sense of adventure and expectation of what we’re about to experience.

Ruth 1:16 … for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge …

Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Psalms 62:5 My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him.

Psalms 84:5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage.

Pilgrimage is defined a the highway or public road.

Isaiah 42:16 I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, and not forsake them.

God’s travel plans for us and His map:

Deuteronomy 1:33 (The Lord God) who went in the way before you to search out a place for you to pitch your tents, to show you the way you should go, in the fire by night and in the cloud by day.

Acts 2:19 I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath.

Proverbs 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Isaiah 30:21 Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left.

Money – God’s provision:

Luke 12:33 Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys.

Matthew 6:
31 "Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
32 "For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

What has He given us for the journey?

His Word!

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

His Spirit, and this is where the binoculars come in!

Luke 11:13 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

1 Corinthians 12:
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:
2 You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led.
3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,
10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

So, what about the computer? It is an instrument of communication and ministry.

Acts 6:4 "but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

Ezekiel 33:30 "As for you, son of man, the children of your people are talking about you beside the walls and in the doors of the houses; and they speak to one another, everyone saying to his brother, ‘Please come and hear what the word is that comes from the LORD.’

Change of Clothes:

Nehemiah 4:23 So neither I, my brethren, my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me took off our clothes, except that everyone took them off for washing.

Genesis 35:2b … purify yourselves, and change your garments.

Also be willing to put on a new mantle of authority.

2 Kings 2:114 He (Elisha) also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, "Where is the LORD God of Elijah?" And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.

Mantle is also defined as glory and splendor.

Romans 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Jude 1:
20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22 And on some have compassion, making a distinction;
23 but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.

Revelation 3:4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.

Summary:

We will leave the past behind and wait silently for God alone with our hearts set on pilgrimage. He will lead us and make our paths straight before us. And, He will not forsake us. We won’t worry, for God will provide the things we need as we seek first the Kingdom and His righteousness. Our provision is His Word, and His Holy Spirit. We take our ministry with us wherever we go. And our change of clothes represents repentance and staying clean before God. Let the next leg of this journey begin!

Faith Tabernacle

http://ft111.com