INTRODUCTION:

A.  Romans 1:14,15 - “I am debtor both to Greeks and to Barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you also that are in Rome.

B.  Paul was ready to preach and teach the gospel to the lost of the world, and I am too.

C.  Let’s notice some of the things that Paul was ready to give, and I hope that each one of us is also ready to give.

A.  I Peter 3:15 - “But sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: being ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear.”

Romans 15:4 - “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that through patience and through comfort of the scriptures we might have hope.”

B.  If we had time to study all of II Timothy, we would find Paul had many things to do and give the people.

C.  In right manner -- meekness

1.  Disposition important.

2.  Knowing the Bible has a lot to do with this ability.

3.  In John 4 - Christ interested in winning a soul. The woman tried to change the subject when Jesus rebuked her. He would not get into an argument with her. Discussion and argument different. He let her answer her own question.

A.  John 13:37 - “Peter saith unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee even now? I will lay down my life for thee.”

1.  Matthew 16:24 - “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

2.  Luke 9:23 - “And he said unto all, if any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

A.  I Peter 4:16 - “But if a man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name.”

B.  Romans 1:16 - “For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

C.  II Timothy 3:15-17 - “And that from a babe thou hast known the sacred writings which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness: that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.”

A.  Titus 3:1 - “Put them in mind to be in subjection to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready unto every good work.”

B.  II Corinthians 9:8 - “And God is able to make all grace abound unto you; that ye, having always all sufficiency in everything, may abound unto every good work.”

1.  If ready then all grace, all sufficiency will be ours.

C.  Titus 2:14 - “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a people for his own possession, zealous of good works.”

A.  Acts 17:11 - “Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the scriptures daily, whether these things were so.”

B.  One thing to attend quite another to receive instruction.

A.  II Corinthians 10:6 - “And being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience shall be made full.”

B.  I John 1:5-10

A.  Matthew 24:44 - “Therefore be ye also ready; for in an hour that ye think not the Son of man cometh.”

B.  John 5:28,29 - “Marvel not at this: for the hour cometh, in which all that are in the tombs shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment.”

C.  Matthew 25:1-10 - “wise and unwise”

A.  Acts 21:13 - “Then Paul answered, What do ye, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

B.  Hebrews 9:27 - “And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this cometh judgment.”

1.  All must appear.

C.  Time uncertain

D.  Question is NOT were you ready in the past, but, are you ready NOW? Not sometime, but NOW?

1.  II Timothy 4:6 - “For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure is come.”

A.  There are many more things that we could look at in Paul’s life and see that he was ready to go meet Jesus. He has already gone to meet the Lord, but what about you and me?

B.  We’re going to sing the invitation song for us to consider our lives with God and if we are not right with God I would pray and plead for you to come and make your life right with God as we stand and as we sing.