IHOPU ESCHOOL DONOVAN NEUFELDT

FORERUNNER CURRICULUM MODULE 1 SPRING 2011

People Get Ready, Jesus is Coming

I. INTRODUCTION: WHY WE MUST PREPARE FOR THE RETURN OF JESUS Jesus is coming back and it is imperative that we as His followers must be ready for his return (Matthew 24:44, Luke 12:40). Many assume this is an impetus for salvation and holiness at the time of an unexpected rapture.... and surely we must be ready in that regard in light of even how fragile life is and how we could be taken at any time through death... but what kind of readiness was Jesus really referring to? Well explore this more, as we consider that it may be a readiness related to His return to the earth, His agenda for the earth, as well as the events/ circumstances surrounding it; its not just a readiness for our own departure.

II.

MAIN POINT 1: THE BRIDE WILL BE MADE READY THROUGH PERSONAL PREPARATION IN INTIMACY, RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD. A. Explanation: In Revelation 19:7 the church is shown as ready and prepared at the time of Jesus return and the marriage supper of the lamb. Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. Rev. 19:7 1. We will be prepared through generational co-operation, love, and fatherly heart, as well as a spirit of obedience, wisdom, and justice. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. Luke 1:17 2. We need to have the oil of intimacy with God burning inside of us, just as the five wise virgins did in Matthew 25 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Matt 25:10

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3.

We will have on the white garments of righteous living and obedience. So he said to him, Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Matthew 22:12 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. Revelation 3:5 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. Revelation 3:18 Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame. Revelation 16:15

III.

MAIN POINT 2: WE PREPARE BY KNOWING HOW TO RESPOND DURING A TIME OF CRISIS. A. Explanation: People must be warned of Judgement, and the Church must gather to cry out to God with fasting, prayer, and repentance as just prophet Joel commissioned us to do when the day of the Lord is at hand. (Joel 2:1-17) 1 Blow the trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm in My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; For the day of the Lord is coming, For it is at hand... 12 Now, therefore, says the Lord, Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.... 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, Consecrate a fast, all a sacred assembly; 16 Gather the people, Sanctify the congregation, Assemble the elders, Gather the children and nursing babes... Joel 2:1-16 1. The Focus is Gods Glory, and that He would spare his people, not our own reputation, ministry, honor, money, and comfort. Let the priests, who minister to the Lord, Weep between the porch and the altar; Let them say, Spare Your people, O Lord, And do not give Your heritage to reproach, That the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, Where is their God? Joel 2:17

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2.

Judgments cause men to learn righteousness. For when Your judgments are in the earth, The inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. Isa 26:9

3.

The, gathering, prayer, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Joel 2:1-32 is connected with the restoration of all things (Acts 3:18-21; Zech 12:10-13:1; 2 Chr. 7:14; Zeph. 2:1-3)

IV.

MAINT POINT 3: CRITICAL TO THE PREPARATIONOF THE CHURCH AND THE EARTH FORJESUS COMING IS FORERUNNER MESSENGERS. A. Explanation: Forerunners are people set apart for the ministry of preparing themselves and others for
Jesus second coming through lifestyles of obedience, prayer, fasting, listening to the voice of the bridegroom, and boldly proclaiming His truth. Just as John the Baptist, Anna, and Simeon took part in preparing for the first coming. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His way. Luke 1:76 1. Forerunners will be a people of understanding who will instruct many & do exploits (Dan 11:3234; Jer. 23:18-20) The will warn, instruct, and call people to intimacy with God. Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear, And rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him. Psalms 2:10-12 3. They will help people understand who God is (good, just, loving, kind, delighting in mercy, etc.) and why He is doing what He is doing. (Joel 2:13-14; Micah 7:18; Rom 2:4; Isa 30:18-19.)

2.

V.

MAINT POINT 4: WE PREPARE BY RESISTING SIN, DECEPTION, AND APOSTASY A. Explanation: There will be great deception at the end of the age, false messiahs, heresies, betrayal,
lawlessness, and the love many once had for God will grow cold.

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9 Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My names sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. (Matt. 24:9-12) 1. Paul told us not to be deceived, warned of a great falling away from the faith, and of the man of sin demanding to be worshipped as God 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (2 Thess. 2:3-4) 2. Mockers and scoffers will mock the message of Jesus Return (2 Peter 3:3; Jude 18)

VI.

CONCLUSION: Jesus is coming back, and the massive collision of mans desire for sin, wickedness, and rebellion will collide with the righteous love and zeal in the heart of God, causing the most intense shaking we can imagine. All that hinders and opposes love will be removed, as God alone is exalted and magnified in all the earth. God, in his love, tender kindness, and mercy is raising up men and women who will prepare the church and the nations of this colossal transition. Will you consider giving your life to the knowledge of God, to the simplicity of devotion to Christ, to understanding His heart and His plans? Take up the challenge, and enter the wilderness of personal preparation now, so that on the day of your manifestation you will be burning with a message, and cause hearts to turn. Give yourself to the joy of standing and hearing the voice of Bridegroom and proclaiming His return through your lifestyle and message!

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