Every leader whom God uses must first be prepared to function in that capacity. Many leaders greatly desire to function effectively, but far fewer are.

• Every leader whom God uses must first be prepared to function in that capacity. • Many leaders greatly desire to function effectively, but far fewer are willing to pay the price of being made ready for the task.

• God has a tailor-made training for each individual

• God is a God of details

• To make ready for special purpose, to make suitable

• To train for specific task

• To cultivate for fruitful reproduction

• To set the groundwork and foundation of building for construction

• To foresee problems

1. The Law of preparation in nature

A. AnimalB. Ground• rain and sun are part of ground preparation

1. The Law of preparation in nature

A. AnimalB. GroundC. Stone

2. The Law of preparation in craftsmanship

A. Skilled CraftsmanshipMechanic, Welder, Carpenter, Painter

B. Trade of Profession

Isaiah 45:9; Jeremiah 18:1-4

Lawyer, Doctor, Engineer, Teacher

Isaiah 45:9, “Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker, to him who is but a potsherd among thepotsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter,      ‘What are you making?’Does your work say,      ‘He has no hands’?

Jeremiah 18:1-4,1 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: 2 “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” 3 So I went down to the potter's house,

Jeremiah 18:1-4, I saw him working at the wheel. 4But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.

a. Dug from the ground, blasted and separated

b. Washed and soaked in water

c. Smitten and thoroughly worked by the Potter’s hand

d. Investigated for air bubbles by a thin wire

e. Perfectly centered on the wheel for shaping

f. Stretched and pulled up and down to be molded seamlessly

g. Set aside on the shelf to dry and harden

h. Undergo firing in the kiln to develop ceramic qualities

Craftsmanship demands years of apprenticeship.

How much more we Christian leaders, under the school of the Holy Spirit?

3. The Law of preparation in Scripture

A. Preparation of the people to pass over the Jordan

Joshua 1:11, “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your supplies ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you for your own.’”

3. The Law of preparation in Scripture

A. Preparation of the people to pass over the Jordan

B. Preparation of the way for the Messiah

Matthew 3:1-3, 1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

“A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”

3. The Law of preparation in Scripture

A. Preparation of the people to pass over the Jordan

B. Preparation of the way for the MessiahC. Preparation for the child

Proverbs 22:6, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”

3. The Law of preparation in Scripture

A. Preparation of the people to pass over the JordanB. Preparation of the way for the MessiahC. Preparation for the childD. Preparation of the Bride of

Christ

Revelations 19:7, “Let us rejoiceand be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has madeherself ready.”

Revelation 21:2 (NIV), “2 I sawthe Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.”

• The Church does not need mainly degreed people;

• It needs those that are trained by the Lord

Isaiah 49:1-2, 1 Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. 2 And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;

1. The LORD called me from the womb

Isaiah 49:1, Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; the LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.

1. The LORD called me from the womb

Every servant must determinewith confidence that he has indeed heard the true call ofthe Lord

2. He makes my mouth like a sharp sword

Isaiah 49:2, And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;

2. He makes my mouth like a sharp sword

•It speaks of the word ministry

of the servant of the LordEphesians 6:17, “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

2. He makes my mouth like a sharp sword

•Sharp sword means to revealthe truth

2. He makes my mouth like a sharp sword

Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soulAnd spirit, joints and marrow; it Judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart”

2. He makes my mouth like a sharp sword

•Rebuke has two kinds:Restore and revile, which one do you use more often?•Does your mouth give life or death?•What comes from it, wateror gasoline?

3. In the shadow of his hands hath he hid meIsaiah 49:2, And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;

3. In the shadow of his hands hath he hid me

• Test of internal character

• The veiling of the Lord’s servant:

a. Moses was hidden for 40 years at the backside of the desert

3. In the shadow of his hands hath he hid meb. Jesus was hidden for 30

years before he was released at the Jordan River

c. Paul was hidden for 3 years at Arabia

3. In the shadow of his hands hath he hid me

• Did they take advantage of this training or did they get impatient?

4. He also made me a polished shaftIsaiah 49:2, And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;

shaftshaft

speaks of the character of a

person

speaks of the character of a

person

is one of the arrow’s important componentis one of the arrow’s

important component

headhead speaks of the person’s ministryspeaks of the person’s ministry

If the arrow’s shaft is misaligned,If the arrow’s shaft is misaligned,

is sanding, purging, & kiln drying

is sanding, purging, & kiln drying

Polishing Polishing

MARKMARK ARROWARROW

the arrow will not hit its mark

the arrow will not hit its mark

a. Stripping of leaves;

b. Straightening using tightly secured pegs;

c. Applying of oil to soften the wood before the final sanding;

d. Receiving its tip after sanding the shaft

a.God does the choosing; we are not perfect;

b. He will stripped us of things that will not be of use;

c. He will straighten our character, our hearts, and sharpen our heads;

d. He will d. He will anointanoint us. us.

5. In his quiver hath he hid me

Isaiah 49:2, And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;

Shaft Shaft of an of an arrowarrow

Shaft Shaft of an of an arrowarrow

QuivQuiverer

QuivQuiverer

a. Responding to the calling;

b. Enduring the stripping process;

c. Persevering the straightening process

d. Polishing

f. Waiting period

Why the waiting period? The quiver experience is not less important than the stripping process.

e. Sanding

The stripping process is mainly for the external, the quiver is for the internal

God has a perfect time for everything