THE SCHOOL OF PREPARATION

THE SCHOOL OF PREPARATION

Text: Galatians 1:16-18
Memory verse:
”nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia and returned again to Damascus.“
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭1‬:‭17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Recently, I lamented when I observed the depth of the foundation of one of our ongoing building structures. Then, the building professionals explained to me why it must be as deep as that. The height of a building determines the depth of its foundation, and that’s why a bungalow doesn’t need such a deep foundation.
Similarly, the depth of your preparation determines the level of effectiveness in your assignment. We all speak about how God used an ordinary shepherd and a stammerer to bring deliverance to the children of Israel from about 430 years of bondage in Egypt and to lead them out to the promised land. We appreciate how he confronted the then world power, Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. But do you know that Moses spent two-thirds of his years preparing for a ministry that took one-third of his lifetime? That is, he
used 80 years to prepare for a 40-year ministry!
As successful as Evangelist Billy Graham was in life and ministry, he was reported to have said that if he were to live his life again, he would give two third of it to preparation for ministry and one third to executing his ministry. Wow!
What about apostle Paul? According to our text, knowing the grave importance of adequate preparation and having received his apostolic call, he went to the desert for about three years to prepare for it. Writing about this, he said, ”… When this happened, I did not rush out to consult with any human being. Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went away into Arabia, and later, I returned to the city of Damascus. Then, three years later, I went to Jerusalem to get to know Peter, and I stayed with him for fifteen days.“ ‭‭ ‭‭(Gal‬ ‭1‬:‭16‬-‭18 NLT‬‬). The effectiveness of this preparation is seen in his preaching and exploits after his return. He preached, not as an amateur but more and more powerful, such that the Jews couldn’t refute him (Acts 9:22).
Friends, Moses, and John the Baptist also passed through the wilderness training school or the desert of preparation, even our Lord Jesus (Exo. 3:1; Mat. 3:1-5; Luke 4:1-2). If you want to go far in your calling and to have a leading edge, you also need to enroll in this school.

Prayer points
1. Father, please help me to lay a solid foundation for an effective and successful future through training in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, deliver me from impatience and the tendency to rush out without adequate preparation in Jesus’ name.

Today’s declarations
1. I know that the depth of my preparation now will determine my effectiveness in my God-given assignment.
2. To have a leading edge in ministry or my assignment, I must be enrolled in the desert school of training.

Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng