A   STATE   OF   READINESS

1. BE READY for SEPARATION
a. Abraham cooperated with God’s separation process; Genesis 12:1; Hebrews 11:8-16
b. Following Jesus brings conflict and separation among loved ones; Matthew 10:34-39
c. Your relationships and loyalties will be tested; Luke 14:20; 26-27

2. BE READY to HEAR (LISTEN)
a. Be quick to hear and slow to speak; James 1:19; Ecclesiastes 5:1-2
b. Jesus reveals mysteries of His Kingdom to those with ears to hear; Matthew 13:10-17
c. Are you listening to what Jesus is saying to His Church? Revelation 3:22

3. BE READY by WATCHING AND PRAYING
a. Watch for the Lord’s coming; Matthew 24:42-44; Hebrews 9:28
b. Wise virgins are watching and ready to go into the marriage; Matthew 25:10-13
c. Watch and pray always that you would be accounted worthy to escape; Luke 21:36

4. BE READY by PREPARING YOUR GARMENT
a. You need a wedding garment to attend the marriage feast; Matthew 22:2-13
b. Garments must be free of spots, blemishes and wrinkles; Ephesians 5:26-27; Jude 23
c. Garments must be kept from becoming defiled; Revelation 3:4-5; 16:15; 19:7-8

5. BE READY by FORSAKING IDOLATRY
a. Be ready to forsake all idolatry; Exodus 20:3-5; 1 Corinthians 10:14; 1 John 5:21
b. Forbidden things bring a curse into your house; Josh. 6:18; 7:13, 21; Num. 33:52-55
c. Those who practice idolatry are judged severely; Revelation 2:14-16; 20-22; 21:8

6. BE READY to PREACH THE GOSPEL
a. Be ready always to share the gospel wherever you are; Romans 1:15-16
b. Preaching the gospel is not an option, and it brings a reward; 1Corinthians 9:16-18
c. Share the hope of the gospel with others properly: in humility and respect; 1 Peter 3:15

7. BE READY to DO GOOD WORKS
a. Work while it is still day, because the night is coming; Matthew 20:1-2; John 9:4
b. Be eager and devoted to doing good works; 1 Timothy 6:18-19; Titus 2:14; 3:1,8
c. Every man will be rewarded according to his works; Matthew 16:27

8. BE READY by BEING ARMED
a. Be armed and ready to go possess your inheritance; Numbers 32:17-21
b. Spiritual weapons are necessary while doing God’s work; Nehemiah 4:16-18
c. Put on the whole armor of God; Ephesians 6:13-18

9. BE READY to OBEY GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS
a. Noah’s obedience and preparation saved his household; Genesis 6:14-22; 7:1,5;13-16
b. Follow God’s instructions and you will have treasure in heaven; Luke 18:18-26
c. Obedience to God’s commandments is proof of love for Him; John 14:15
10. BE READY for the “THIRD DAY”
The Biblical Definition Of The Word DAY:
a. The Hebrew word for DAY in Hosea 6:2 is “YOWM”, and is translated in several ways including these meanings: “a solar day of 24 hours; “a space of time; “an age”.
Hosea 6:2 tells us “After two days will he revive us; in the THIRD DAY He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight”.
b. The Greek word for DAY in 2 Peter 3:8 is “HEMERA”, and is translated: “the time space between dawn and dusk; “a period of time”; “an age”. 2 Peter 3:8 tells us: “One DAY is with the Lord AS a thousand years, and a thousand years AS one day”. From God’s perspective, this can be literal or symbolic; 1 DAY = 1,000 years.
c. A “day” speaks of a set period of time, not necessarily 24 hours. See Mark 14:25; 2 Peter 3:10-12; 2 Corinthians 6:2; Hebrews 4:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:5; Revelation 21:25.
d. The term “Third Day” is a biblical pattern seen in scripture. It points to an act of divine intervention which impacts salvation’s history.

God told His people to BE READY for the THIRD DAY; Exodus 19:10-15

The THIRD DAY speaks to us of RESURRECTION / RESTORATION:
The THIRD DAY of Creation points to the Resurrection; Genesis 1:9-13.
    a. The land APPEARED; it was raised up out of the water; Ephesians 2:6.
    b. LIFE APPEARED on the surface of the earth; Ephesians 2:1-3.
    c. The earth BROUGHT FORTH; John 15:1-7.
1. Abraham took a THREE DAY JOURNEY to Mount Moriah. On the THIRD DAY, Abraham looked up, saw the place in the distance and arrived there to sacrifice Isaac; Genesis 22:4-14. He saw the Lord’s provision, a “sacrificial animal”, and offered it up.
2. Jacob “fled” from Laban; he was liberated on the THIRD DAY; Genesis 31:22.
3. Moses asked Pharaoh to let him take his people on a THREE DAY JOURNEY into the wilderness to offer a sacrifice to their God; Exodus 3:18-22.
4. Jonah was THREE DAYS and three nights in the whale’s belly, even as Jesus was THREE DAYS and three nights in the heart of the earth”; Jonah 1:17; Matthew12:40.
5. On the THIRD DAY a child was delivered, brought before the king, and his life was spared; 1 Kings 3:18-27
6. Hezekiah was healed and went up to the Lord’s house the THIRD DAY; 2 Kings 20:5.
7. Esther and her people fasted for THREE DAYS; Esther 4:16. On the THIRD DAY Esther put on her royal apparel and stood before the king; Esther 5:1-2.
8. On the THIRD DAY Pharaoh made a feast for all his servants. He restored the chief butler (the cupbearer) to his position after THREE DAYS; Genesis 40:12-21.
9. At age 12, Jesus was missing from his family for THREE DAYS. On the THIRD DAY they found him in the temple; Luke 2:41-49.
10. Jesus was resurrected on the THIRD DAY; Matthew 16:21; Acts 10:40
11. “Saul” (the unconverted Jew) was blind for THREE DAYS. On the THIRD DAY his sight was restored by a disciple named Ananias; Acts 9:8-18.
12. On the THIRD DAY there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; Jesus turned the water into wine (the substance of earth became the substance of heaven); John 2:1-9.

Terri Hill