4th June, 2022.

PREPARE FOR OPPORTUNITIES

Eph 6:15 and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; KJV

Years back, while in the seminary, I studied my bible hermeneutics( interpretation) manual after the exam. I passed the exam so there was no need to read it like someone preparing for examination. However, on a weekend, I just picked it up casually and I read a portion where the "discrepancy" in the account of timing of Jesus' crucifixion was recorded in Mark (15:25) and John's Gospel(19:14-15) was explained. Though it is not a discrepancy, it is just the context of account as regards the timing that differs. That weekend, I could have done other things than reading but I have a reading culture that I've established over the years. The following sunday, we were paired in church to go out for evangelism. Myself and my evangelism partner picked a corner of the street and we engaged a Muslim boy. I preached the Gospel to this young man and he paid rapt attention. After the message, I asked if he was ready to give his life to Christ. He replied by saying "I have a question for you." I indulged him. I was surprised when he asked me why there's a descripancy in the record of the timing of Jesus' crucifixion in Mark and John's Gospel. Immediately, I smiled and thanked God for preparing me ahead. I didn't know that the reading I did days before was in preparation for that evangelistic assignment. In a nutshell, I answered him convincingly and he was surprised meeting someone like me. He didn't ask that question because he wanted to learn but because he wanted to disgrace me and my partner with false knowledge. My partner told me she wouldn't have answered the way I did if she were alone because it was a bomb.

There is power in prior preparation. A wise man said, "proper prior preparation prevent poor performance". In life, opportunities will come. It could be an opportunity to share the Gospel with an unbeliever or an opportunity to showcase your skill in a particular area or field of expertise. Failure occurs when unpreparedness meets with opportunities but success happens when preparation meets with opportunity. In the story of David's conquest over Goliath, I saw in that event preparation meeting with opportunity. David was a shepherd boy who mastered the use of sling and stone. He may have used it to hunt animals but it is obvious that he had a mastery of that uncommon weapon. Also, while tending his father's flock, he killed a lion and bear. His life in the wilderness was a preparation for the great opportunity that led to his enthronement. Goliath wasn't much of a threat to him though he was to other soldiers of high rank. While the army commanders saw a great threat in Goliath, David saw an opportunity too good to miss. He used the weapon he had mastered during his preparatory phase to fight and conquer. God doesn't use unprepared men no matter how urgent the need may be. The deliverance of Israelites from Egypt was important and urgent yet God couldn't use Moses until He was prepared for 40 years. Jesus waited 30 years in preparation for a ministry of three and half years. In destiny, no man rises above his level of preparation.

Some are praying for blessings and miracles they're not prepared for. If God gives you your dream spouse and settle you in marriage, are you prepared for the responsibilities that comes with marriage? What do you know about parenting? Have you built muscles to tolerate your spouse and children? You know as I always say, anyone who is not prepared to take "nonsense" is not ready for marriage. God may not launch us into certain dimensions of power and glory until we're prepared. Preparation is so crucial that it is demanded of us to prepare for the coming of the Lord(Mt.24:42-44). For whatever God intend to do with your life, there are different stages of preparation. God can take you through His own preparation and at other times, you can be led to take initiative in preparing yourself for a great task ahead. How many books have you read in that area of interest and expertise? Lack of preparation can limit you. Adequate preparation positions you to feature on a bigger platform in destiny. Are you prepared?