Welcome to Spring
Camp Meeting 2014.
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What a blessing to be
here at Camp Meeting, isn't it?
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Amen! Boy, did you hear that
hearty amen for you at home?
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I tell you what: we
wish that you were here.
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We understand that circumstances
come up and you can't make it
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here, but there's a blessing
- isn't there? - being here
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in person at Camp
Meeting? Amen again? Amen! Amen.
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And what a tremendous theme.
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What does it say on
the backdrop behind me?
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The second
coming: in in-depth look.
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The second
coming: an in-depth look.
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And I like the
text on this side.
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If the camera could
just set it: Revelation 1:3.
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What does that say?
Let's read it together.
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"Behold He is coming with clouds
and every eye will see Him. "
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Praise the Lord. What a
tremendous hope we have -
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don't we? - of
Christ's soon return,
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and I just pray we
all will be found faithful
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to that end. This morning's...
actually it's afternoon now...
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this afternoon's message is
brought to us by Shelley Quinn.
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She and her husband
J.D. are tremendous friends
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of Jill and myself and
I know to you all as well.
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And I know that she'll be...
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The Holy Spirit, you
know, He's the One that gives us
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this message. And I know that
she's the vessel that God is
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using to pour out
His blessing upon us.
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And the title of
her message today is:
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Parable of the Ten Virgins.
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But before she brings
us the message we have
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Pastor C.A. Murray.
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We like his music, don't we?
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Pastor C.A. Murray is bringing
us our music this morning -
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this afternoon... excuse me -
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and it's entitled Almost Over.
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But before he comes I just want
to offer a short word of prayer.
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Father in heaven, Lord,
we're just so thankful...
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thankful for what You are
doing, Lord, around the world
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especially through 3ABN.
I thank you for each person
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that is here today. Lord,
we're just all looking forward
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to Your soon return. We
want to be found faithful
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to that end. Lord, we
pray for a special blessing
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upon our sister Shelley Quinn
as she brings us the message
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today. Lord, just pour
Your words through her,
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Lord, that as we
listen we wouldn't just listen
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but that we would
be doers of Your Word.
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And in Jesus'
name we pray, Amen.
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Numerologists tell us
that there are about 6,000
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Negro spirituals.
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And most of the Negro
spirituals - the preponderance
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of them - had to do
with freedom from sin
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and freedom from slavery.
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And in the Negro
spiritual they equated both.
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Freedom from sin was
freedom from slavery.
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Freedom from slavery
was freedom from sin.
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And the old slave
couldn't read, couldn't write,
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but he realized that
something important would
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happen when Jesus came again.
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Sin would be over...
slavery would be over.
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And so the spirituals
took many, many forms.
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But they realized
that if they held on
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the thing that gave them hope
is that one day it would soon
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all be over.
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And so many of the songs
looked forward to what we call
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the eschaton or the perusia
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or the second coming...
whatever term you want to use.
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But the burden was
that one day soon if we
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just hold on it's
all going to be over
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and we're going to
see Jesus face to face.
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Some see the Lord
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but they don't see Him right.
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They play all day
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and they sleep all night.
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And I thank God
it's almost over...
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almost over...
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almost over
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my Lord...
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and I thank God
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it's almost
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over.
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Sister, if
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your heart is warm
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snow and ice
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will do you no harm.
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But I thank God
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it's almost over...
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almost over...
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almost over
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my Lord.
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And I thank God
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it's almost
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over.
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Oh brother, better mind
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how you step on the cross.
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Your foot might slip
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and your soul get lost.
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But I thank God
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it's almost over...
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almost over...
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almost over
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my Lord.
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And I thank God
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it's almost over.
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And when we get to heaven
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we'll able for to tell
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how we shunned
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the gates of hell.
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And I thank God it's
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almost over...
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almost over...
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almost over.
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And I thank God
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it's almost
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over.
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Amen!
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C.A. - what a
beautiful song! Amen!
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And what beautiful
faces. How good it is
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to see all of your
smiling faces here.
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It is exciting... Camp
Meeting is always exciting
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but it is especially
exciting when we have
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these big-themed events.
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And can you think of
anything more magnificent
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than studying the
second coming of Jesus Christ?
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Let's have another prayer.
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Heavenly Father, we
come in the name of Jesus
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thanking You for this time,
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thanking You for, Lord, the
messages that You have given
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to so many
people to share with us.
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Father, I thank you for this
message and what You taught me
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as I studied this.
And Lord we ask now
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please just get
me out of the way.
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I pray in the name of
Jesus that Your Holy Spirit
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will speak through me.
And I pray, Father, that
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You will give each and
every one of us in this room
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ears to hear what the
Holy Spirit has to say.
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Oh Lord, we don't
want to be foolish virgins.
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Please, Lord, we look
to You depending upon You.
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And we thank you
in Jesus' name, Amen.
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You know, Matthew 24 and 25
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those two chapters are
Jesus' fullest explanation
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of the second coming.
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But I want to set this up
by saying that in Matthew 23
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what we find... This records
Jesus' last occasion to speak
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and teach to the
multitudes at the temple of God.
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And what He did was He
rebuked the religious leaders
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because what they had done
was set aside the Word of God
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to set forth
their own traditions.
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And they were useless teachings
and they were hindering
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the spiritual
progress of the people of God.
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So Jesus leaves the temple
and get this scene in your mind:
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with this last scathing
indictment He says to the
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religious leaders "I
say to you your house
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is left to you desolate.
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For I say to you you
will not see Me again
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until you say:
'Blessed is He who comes
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in the name of the Lord. ' "
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And then what He did, leaving
the temple never to return again
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Jesus and His disciples
went to the Mount of Olives.
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The sun was setting.
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This is an evening setting.
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The sun was setting over
the mount but it was also
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setting figuratively
over Jesus' earthly message.
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This was going to
be His last true time
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with His disciples.
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So taking every
last precious moment
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to teach them, He shared
the signs of His coming -
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His second coming -
and then He told about
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what we should be
doing in preparation for
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His uncertain timing.
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Matthew 24 and 25
are a single discourse.
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You know when the Bible was
written there were no chapters
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and verses. So Matthew 24 and 25
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go together as Jesus'
final message to His disciples.
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And this awesome message
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was given there on
the Mount of Olives.
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He concluded the prophecies.
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You've already heard
some of those of Matthew 24.
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He concluded this in Matthew 24
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with a parable that
warned against postponing
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the preparation... of your time
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in expectation of
His second coming.
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And then what He did
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was launch into other parables
that are continued in Matthew 25
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giving us the
parables of The Ten Virgins,
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The Sheep and the Goats,
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The Talents, and talking about
also the lesson of what you do
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unto... for the least of
these you're doing unto Me.
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So our focus this hour
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is to take an in-depth look
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at the parable
of The Ten Virgins.
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So please open your
Bibles to Matthew 25...
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Matthew chapter 25.
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Our Savior frequently taught
in parables because these were
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stories that illustrated a
practical spiritual lesson.
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And His final
sermon was no exception.
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Sitting on the Mount of
Olives as He was overlooking
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the city of Jerusalem,
the small company of disciples
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saw a torch-lit
marriage procession in progress
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where the bridesmaids were
leading the groom to the bride.
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So seizing the moment
He began to teach them
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this parable on the ten
virgins and it was drawing on
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the familiar
customs of Jewish weddings.
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In the Eastern culture the
bridegroom - the bridegroom -
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came late at night. And he
was attended by his groomsmen.
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And the bridesmaids always came
out with lamps in their hands.
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They were long sticks that
had a dish and then a wick.
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There were no streetlights,
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so the bridesmaids always
waited and then they would
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light their lamp and
go meet the bridegroom
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and bring him to the bride.
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Now, let's read
Matthew 25 verses 1 through 13.
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This is a short
but very solemn message
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to the members of
the remnant church.
00:13:42.28\00:13:44.56
Verse 1 begins:
"Then... " He's referring back
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to Matthew 24... it's
part of the same discourse...
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He says: "The kingdom of heaven
shall be likened to 10 virgins
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who took their lamps and
went out to meet the bridegroom.
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Now 5 of them were
wise and 5 were foolish.
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Those who were
foolish took their lamps
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and took no oil with them.
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But the wise took oil in
the vessels with their lamps.
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But while the bridegroom
was delayed they all slumbered
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and slept, and at
midnight a cry was heard
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'Behold, the bridegroom
cometh; go out to meet him. '
00:14:24.49\00:14:28.88
Then all those virgins
arose and trimmed their lamps.
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And the foolish said to the wise
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'Give us some of your oil
for our lamps are going out. '
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But the wise answered saying
00:14:39.72\00:14:42.14
'No, lest there should
not be enough for us and you.
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But go rather to those who
sell and buy for yourselves. '
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And while they went out... "
00:14:49.55\00:14:51.76
While those foolish
ones went out to buy...
00:14:51.96\00:14:54.67
"the bridegroom came
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and those who were ready
went in with him to the wedding
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and the door was shut.
00:15:00.11\00:15:01.53
Afterwards the other
virgins came also saying:
00:15:02.03\00:15:05.36
'Lord, Lord... open to us. '
00:15:05.66\00:15:07.88
But he answered and said:
00:15:08.18\00:15:11.21
'Assuredly I say to you
00:15:11.51\00:15:14.72
I do not know you. '
00:15:15.02\00:15:18.48
Watch,
therefore... " Jesus says...
00:15:18.88\00:15:22.38
for you know
neither the day nor the hour
00:15:22.68\00:15:25.55
in which the Son
of Man is coming. "
00:15:25.66\00:15:27.27
Now most of us... This is
so rich in symbolic meaning
00:15:28.65\00:15:34.57
and most of us know
what these symbols stand for.
00:15:34.71\00:15:37.33
But what I'd like to
do is to review these
00:15:37.43\00:15:40.00
because someone that's
watching may not be aware.
00:15:40.10\00:15:42.93
So let's just go
over all of the symbols
00:15:43.13\00:15:45.70
in this particular parable.
00:15:45.81\00:15:47.87
Who is the bridegroom?
00:15:48.17\00:15:49.99
Jesus... our Lord Christ Jesus.
00:15:50.49\00:15:54.15
Who is the bride? The church.
00:15:54.35\00:15:56.75
And in scripture
the church is presented
00:15:56.95\00:16:01.59
as a virgin - a
virtuous woman who's not been
00:16:01.79\00:16:04.52
defiled by other relationships.
00:16:04.62\00:16:07.09
And scripture also promises
that Christ is going to return
00:16:07.93\00:16:13.78
for a bride who
has prepared herself
00:16:13.98\00:16:16.98
and who has fulfilled her
purpose in giving the message
00:16:17.18\00:16:21.27
of salvation - the
good news, the gospel -
00:16:21.57\00:16:24.59
to all of the
nations of the world.
00:16:24.79\00:16:26.97
Who are the virgin bridesmaids?
00:16:27.37\00:16:30.96
They are church members.
00:16:32.30\00:16:35.39
And in His parable
Jesus distinguishes
00:16:36.59\00:16:41.40
between two
classes of believers.
00:16:41.60\00:16:45.63
He doesn't call
them good and bad.
00:16:45.93\00:16:48.72
He doesn't call
them virgins and harlots.
00:16:49.02\00:16:52.57
He calls them all virgins.
00:16:52.87\00:16:56.01
He presents five of
the attending as being wise
00:16:56.51\00:17:01.30
but five of these
virgins are foolish.
00:17:01.60\00:17:05.32
They are two
different classes of believers
00:17:05.62\00:17:10.13
in the gospel of grace.
00:17:10.53\00:17:12.97
Now what does
the lamp symbolize?
00:17:13.37\00:17:16.42
The Word of God.
00:17:16.82\00:17:18.47
"Thy Word is a lamp to my
feet and a light to my path. "
00:17:18.87\00:17:22.31
Right? And in scripture
what does oil symbolize?
00:17:22.51\00:17:26.30
The Holy Spirit. We know
this from Zechariah chapter 4
00:17:26.60\00:17:30.62
and by inference in
this particular parable
00:17:30.92\00:17:34.64
the character that the
wise virgins have developed
00:17:34.94\00:17:40.42
by His influence.
00:17:40.62\00:17:42.46
What does the flask -
the vessel that held the
00:17:42.66\00:17:46.41
additional oil...
what does that represent?
00:17:46.51\00:17:48.58
Those receptacles
represent our hearts.
00:17:48.98\00:17:53.12
And what does the
midnight hour symbolize?
00:17:54.18\00:17:57.96
Gross darkness.
Midnight is the darkest hour.
00:17:59.23\00:18:03.54
And it is a time of
great spiritual darkness
00:18:03.84\00:18:07.40
that has settled in
and covered the world.
00:18:07.70\00:18:11.16
It is also a time when
these ten weary virgins
00:18:11.56\00:18:17.50
would be the most drowsy.
00:18:17.60\00:18:20.00
It's a time when you think
of gross spiritual darkness.
00:18:20.30\00:18:24.07
It's a time of error
and heresies and delusions.
00:18:24.37\00:18:29.52
Now the slumber and the
sleep that settled over all
00:18:29.96\00:18:34.92
represents a certain
spiritual weariness and apathy.
00:18:35.15\00:18:40.32
And the wedding
represents the infinite union
00:18:40.86\00:18:44.93
which faith forms
between Christ, our bridegroom,
00:18:45.23\00:18:50.23
and His people.
00:18:50.43\00:18:51.83
The parable truly is
rich in symbolic meaning.
00:18:52.33\00:18:55.99
But let's look at
these ten virgins.
00:18:57.03\00:19:00.64
I used to read this
parable, and I almost...
00:19:00.74\00:19:03.66
I remember thinking when I
first really started studying
00:19:04.06\00:19:06.98
this how sometimes we
can read through something
00:19:07.08\00:19:11.00
and if we haven't
spent time in deep study
00:19:11.30\00:19:14.02
we can kind of
lump it into categories.
00:19:15.08\00:19:17.41
I used to think of this more
like the sheep and the goats
00:19:17.51\00:19:20.38
type categories,
00:19:20.58\00:19:21.72
but that's not
what it's all about.
00:19:21.92\00:19:23.41
So let's look at
what the ten virgins -
00:19:23.61\00:19:26.77
the church
members - have in common
00:19:26.97\00:19:29.84
then we're going to
examine the critical difference.
00:19:30.34\00:19:33.77
It's a sobering study.
00:19:33.98\00:19:36.05
I have to tell you that I've
been doing some heart searching
00:19:36.25\00:19:39.08
even in preparation for this
00:19:39.38\00:19:41.63
because every
member of the church -
00:19:42.03\00:19:45.44
male and female - are represent-
ed in one of these two groups.
00:19:45.64\00:19:50.01
As we consider what
the virgins have in common
00:19:50.51\00:19:54.31
and then what divides them
into the two separate groups
00:19:54.71\00:19:58.56
of wise and foolish
please realize that Christ
00:19:58.76\00:20:03.67
was describing every individual
who calls himself a Christian.
00:20:03.77\00:20:09.59
As I said, in this
parable He's not comparing
00:20:10.39\00:20:13.89
unbelievers and believers.
00:20:14.09\00:20:15.81
He's not talking about separat-
ing the sheep and the goats
00:20:16.01\00:20:19.70
at the end of time.
00:20:20.00\00:20:21.43
All of these virgins
are among the sheep...
00:20:21.73\00:20:25.53
His professed followers.
00:20:25.73\00:20:27.61
He's talking about
two classes of believers
00:20:28.21\00:20:30.99
making a division among
these professed Christians.
00:20:31.19\00:20:37.15
The bottom line is He's
talking about you and me.
00:20:37.35\00:20:42.23
And this message should
cause us to search our hearts
00:20:42.63\00:20:45.76
with deep introspection
00:20:46.06\00:20:48.54
because we each belong
to one of the two groups.
00:20:48.84\00:20:51.09
So let's look at
what they have in common.
00:20:51.49\00:20:53.66
First, Christ
calls them all virgins.
00:20:53.96\00:20:56.37
Both the wise and the unwise
- the wise and the foolish -
00:20:56.77\00:21:01.47
profess the Christian faith.
00:21:01.67\00:21:03.99
All are baptized
members of the church,
00:21:04.19\00:21:06.86
partakers of communion.
00:21:07.16\00:21:09.38
All of their names
are on the church records.
00:21:09.58\00:21:13.08
All the virgins have
lamps in their hands.
00:21:13.38\00:21:16.58
Both the wise and the
unwise have their Bibles.
00:21:16.98\00:21:19.89
They have
knowledge of the scripture.
00:21:20.09\00:21:22.12
They're familiar
with the Word of God.
00:21:22.32\00:21:24.53
They are beneficiaries
of deep Bible study.
00:21:24.73\00:21:27.91
They all have a
profession of a pure faith.
00:21:28.21\00:21:31.77
The doctrines that they
hold to are essentially correct.
00:21:32.07\00:21:36.15
But please notice this:
00:21:36.55\00:21:38.90
by calling all
the attendants virgins
00:21:39.20\00:21:43.43
Jesus presents each of the ten
00:21:43.63\00:21:46.96
as previously encountering
00:21:47.36\00:21:51.00
an experience
with the grace of God.
00:21:51.20\00:21:54.99
All had heard the good
news of salvation by grace.
00:21:56.06\00:21:59.37
All had responded
to accept Christ's
00:21:59.57\00:22:01.80
atoning sacrifice on the cross.
00:22:02.11\00:22:04.32
They'd each received
the grace of justification
00:22:04.52\00:22:09.66
by faith... the
first stage of salvation.
00:22:09.86\00:22:13.24
All of these virgins
professed to be watching
00:22:13.74\00:22:18.95
and waiting for
Christ's second advent.
00:22:19.16\00:22:21.97
Symbolically this means
the ten virgins maintained
00:22:22.47\00:22:26.22
religious
activities. Bibles in hand...
00:22:26.42\00:22:29.11
offering their
prayers at prayer meeting
00:22:29.31\00:22:31.58
while confidently
awaiting His appearance.
00:22:31.69\00:22:34.25
But both the wise and
the foolish become wearied
00:22:35.28\00:22:40.62
from the long
wait in the darkness.
00:22:40.82\00:22:43.50
All become complacent.
00:22:43.80\00:22:46.04
Even the wise grow weary
and they find it difficult
00:22:46.24\00:22:50.21
to resist the
drowsiness of the flesh.
00:22:50.31\00:22:53.36
To stay awake; to stay alert;
00:22:53.56\00:22:57.19
to stay at peak
performance all the time.
00:22:57.39\00:22:59.39
Let me ask you this:
00:22:59.59\00:23:01.09
do you believe any of us
walk as closely as we should
00:23:02.17\00:23:05.35
to the Lord? Hmmm.
00:23:05.45\00:23:08.40
Do you remember what it was
like when you were first saved?
00:23:08.90\00:23:12.26
The zeal you had? The
love you had for Christ Jesus?
00:23:12.46\00:23:17.37
You know, not all
of our love has abated
00:23:18.81\00:23:24.11
but we have left our
first love... many of us.
00:23:24.31\00:23:28.11
Not all of our passion
00:23:29.74\00:23:32.22
to witness has ceased,
00:23:32.42\00:23:37.25
but it has
cooled off, hasn't it?
00:23:38.26\00:23:41.74
Secondly, at the midnight
hour a shout pierces the air.
00:23:42.24\00:23:45.71
"Behold... behold...
the bridegroom cometh!
00:23:46.01\00:23:51.06
Go out and meet Him. "
00:23:51.56\00:23:53.94
All hear the midnight cry
00:23:55.19\00:23:57.73
and all of the
virgins are taken by surprise.
00:23:58.03\00:24:01.08
They're startled
from their lethargy.
00:24:01.38\00:24:04.42
They arouse, and all
begin to prepare their lamps.
00:24:04.62\00:24:08.59
What does that tell you? The
lamps have been unattended...
00:24:08.89\00:24:12.84
all of the lamps
for quite some time.
00:24:13.04\00:24:15.39
They had to have
their wicks trimmed
00:24:15.69\00:24:17.54
so that they
could burn brightly.
00:24:17.74\00:24:19.52
Up until this point,
what difference do we see
00:24:19.82\00:24:23.37
between them? We don't!
00:24:23.47\00:24:25.72
They all look pretty
much alike, don't they?
00:24:25.92\00:24:28.12
So let's dig a little deeper.
00:24:28.52\00:24:30.37
When the five foolish
virgins lit their lamps
00:24:30.77\00:24:35.41
they discovered
their lack of oil.
00:24:35.71\00:24:39.22
It was a sad revelation
00:24:39.72\00:24:43.31
to these five foolish ones
00:24:43.51\00:24:47.05
because they saw that
their wicks began flickering
00:24:47.25\00:24:51.95
and sputtering and smoking.
00:24:52.15\00:24:55.54
Then - ah-haa - they see
that the five wise virgins
00:24:55.95\00:25:00.83
have brought additional oil.
00:25:01.03\00:25:02.75
So they petition the wise:
"Oh, give us some of your oil...
00:25:03.15\00:25:07.21
our lamps are going out. "
00:25:07.41\00:25:09.05
But their anguished and
despondent cry is in vain.
00:25:09.45\00:25:14.77
The wise - knowing that it
was impossible to give of their
00:25:15.37\00:25:20.12
supply - sent the foolish ones
off to look for another source
00:25:20.22\00:25:25.27
of the necessary oil.
00:25:25.47\00:25:26.90
Now you know, at first glance
that sounds just a little bit
00:25:27.10\00:25:29.57
selfish, doesn't it?
00:25:29.67\00:25:31.03
"What? You mean you're not going
to share your oil with me? "
00:25:31.23\00:25:34.30
But you see... What
does the oil represent?
00:25:35.73\00:25:39.16
The Holy Spirit.
00:25:40.44\00:25:42.39
It is impossible...
absolutely impossible...
00:25:42.79\00:25:48.36
for man to share the Holy Spirit
00:25:49.36\00:25:52.28
or the character development
that He has influenced.
00:25:52.38\00:25:57.37
Man can provide the lamp.
00:25:58.68\00:26:01.48
I can give you a Bible.
00:26:01.78\00:26:03.48
But man cannot transmit
the oil - the Holy Spirit -
00:26:04.84\00:26:09.04
or the character development
obtained by His influence.
00:26:09.24\00:26:12.78
There is no
community supply of oil...
00:26:13.62\00:26:17.70
not even if you're
in the remnant church.
00:26:18.10\00:26:20.58
Only God can supply
the oil of the Holy Spirit.
00:26:20.98\00:26:25.76
So when the time of testing came
00:26:26.06\00:26:28.76
the foolish realized
their superficial preparation
00:26:29.06\00:26:34.79
was inadequate.
00:26:34.99\00:26:36.63
Without the all-essential
oil they were unprepared
00:26:37.03\00:26:42.57
to meet the bridegroom.
00:26:42.77\00:26:45.07
In a frenzied panic they
go out and search for the oil.
00:26:45.48\00:26:48.25
Now when Jesus told us
the parable He didn't explain
00:26:48.55\00:26:52.96
whether or not
they found any oil.
00:26:53.16\00:26:55.29
What do you think?
00:26:55.69\00:26:57.28
Do you think the marketplace
was open after midnight?
00:26:57.68\00:27:01.72
If God is the only
supplier of the oil -
00:27:03.02\00:27:05.89
the Holy Spirit - can
we pray for the Spirit
00:27:06.10\00:27:10.08
after probation closes?
00:27:10.28\00:27:12.06
No. The answer is found in
Revelation 22 and verse 11.
00:27:12.92\00:27:18.15
This is heaven's pronouncement.
It's heaven's message,
00:27:18.45\00:27:24.42
heaven's declaration,
immediately before Christ goes
00:27:24.72\00:27:28.79
to retrieve His bride.
00:27:28.89\00:27:30.50
And Revelation 22:11 says this:
00:27:30.90\00:27:33.77
"He who is unjust
let him be unjust still;
00:27:34.17\00:27:38.87
he who is filthy
let him be filthy still;
00:27:39.28\00:27:43.09
he who is righteous
let him be righteous still;
00:27:43.49\00:27:47.00
he who is holy let
him be holy still. "
00:27:47.30\00:27:52.49
Heaven has made a declaration:
00:27:52.99\00:27:54.97
"Time is up...
probation has closed.
00:27:55.27\00:27:57.59
Jesus is coming! "
00:27:57.79\00:28:00.00
The marketplace is closed
just prior to the midnight cry.
00:28:00.60\00:28:05.13
The time to pray for
the gift of the Holy Spirit
00:28:05.43\00:28:08.90
has expired. God
has already determined
00:28:09.20\00:28:13.15
who belongs to His family.
00:28:13.35\00:28:16.14
And once probation closes
00:28:16.54\00:28:19.12
it's too late to
acquire the character traits
00:28:19.33\00:28:23.60
that will fit us for heaven.
00:28:23.70\00:28:25.46
You know, there's a
time that comes in every life
00:28:25.76\00:28:28.47
when change is impossible.
00:28:28.57\00:28:30.79
For most of us, it could be
a sudden and unexpected death.
00:28:31.29\00:28:35.44
For those of us who live to
see Him coming in the clouds
00:28:36.34\00:28:39.80
it will be His second coming.
00:28:40.10\00:28:42.28
Now continuing in the parable
00:28:43.41\00:28:45.18
the bridegroom arrives and
He ushered all who were ready
00:28:45.48\00:28:48.73
into the wedding hall
00:28:48.93\00:28:50.16
shutting the door to
the reception behind Him.
00:28:50.46\00:28:55.61
Listen to what I'm about to say:
00:28:56.78\00:28:58.85
when the door is shut
it is shut for eternity.
00:28:59.35\00:29:05.17
He then says as
they come - the foolish -
00:29:09.49\00:29:15.44
pleading: "Oh Lord... Lord!
00:29:15.54\00:29:19.37
Open up to us. "
00:29:19.58\00:29:21.43
But they invoke
His name in vain.
00:29:21.73\00:29:24.22
And He says: "Assuredly
00:29:24.62\00:29:27.45
I say to you I
do not know you. "
00:29:27.65\00:29:31.47
The saddest of all tragic words
00:29:31.77\00:29:35.10
that could fall
on a human's ear.
00:29:35.30\00:29:37.36
The bridegroom
rejected these bridesmaids
00:29:38.73\00:29:42.80
because they
were strangers to Him.
00:29:43.11\00:29:47.88
He did not know them.
00:29:49.69\00:29:51.97
He had no special
relationship with them
00:29:52.27\00:29:55.29
so He refused to open the door.
00:29:55.69\00:29:58.56
It was not that they were
just a few minutes too late.
00:29:58.97\00:30:02.23
Those who stood on
the outside of the door
00:30:03.38\00:30:06.65
banging, they did not
bang and beg for entrance
00:30:06.75\00:30:12.72
because of a heartfelt love
00:30:12.92\00:30:15.19
and because of a heart
that could not be happy
00:30:15.59\00:30:18.70
if they were closed
out from His presence.
00:30:18.80\00:30:21.23
No! What they were
banging on the door
00:30:21.63\00:30:24.70
to gain entrance
because they didn't want
00:30:24.80\00:30:28.50
to be left out in
that utter darkness...
00:30:28.70\00:30:32.29
in utter devastation.
00:30:32.59\00:30:34.28
They knew what
their end would be.
00:30:34.48\00:30:37.69
The door that
was open for so long
00:30:37.99\00:30:41.44
had finally been shut at last.
00:30:41.64\00:30:45.99
It is closed and secured tightly
00:30:47.48\00:30:51.41
to shut in the wedding party
00:30:51.71\00:30:55.63
and to shut out
the wedding crashers.
00:30:56.03\00:31:00.14
Much like when the door
of the ark shut in Noah -
00:31:01.35\00:31:06.16
righteous Noah -
and his small family.
00:31:06.46\00:31:10.09
Do you think that
when the flood waters came
00:31:10.49\00:31:14.19
don't you know that there
were people banging on the door
00:31:14.49\00:31:18.73
of the ark saying: "Let us in!
00:31:18.83\00:31:20.57
You preached and prophesied
for decades and we didn't listen
00:31:20.87\00:31:24.52
but let us in... we see it now.
00:31:24.72\00:31:26.87
There is going to be a flood. "
00:31:27.07\00:31:28.96
But they didn't do it...
They weren't banging on the door
00:31:29.37\00:31:33.33
because they had this great
desire to have a relationship
00:31:33.43\00:31:37.02
with the Lord... they
just didn't want to die.
00:31:37.12\00:31:39.82
We see as we look at
this parable man cannot
00:31:42.04\00:31:45.71
distinguish between
the wise and the foolish
00:31:45.81\00:31:48.56
until the crucial moment
00:31:48.87\00:31:51.66
when the real
distinction becomes apparent.
00:31:51.86\00:31:54.58
Only one thing distinguishes
these two groups of virgins.
00:31:55.08\00:32:00.58
The only two types of church
members according to our Lord
00:32:01.18\00:32:04.88
and Savior Jesus: the
wise had oil in their vessels.
00:32:04.98\00:32:10.50
The Holy Spirit
was in their hearts.
00:32:10.80\00:32:13.15
The foolish had no oil...
00:32:13.55\00:32:16.16
no Holy Spirit in their hearts.
00:32:16.67\00:32:19.74
It was not a visible
difference to the human eye.
00:32:21.59\00:32:25.13
But God looks on the
heart and He sees who's opened
00:32:25.53\00:32:30.37
their hearts to be filled
with the Spirit and to be led
00:32:30.57\00:32:34.18
by the Spirit to
develop the character of Christ.
00:32:34.38\00:32:37.64
He sees who has put on the
robe of Christ's righteousness
00:32:38.04\00:32:43.42
and has been fitted
with their wedding garments
00:32:43.72\00:32:46.28
and is prepared for the
wedding supper of the Lamb.
00:32:46.58\00:32:49.47
These are the wise
ones who slumbered.
00:32:49.87\00:32:54.72
Slumbered and slept are two
different words in the Greek.
00:32:55.71\00:32:59.17
The wise slumbered, indicating
that they got heavy eyelids.
00:32:59.67\00:33:05.20
They became drowsy.
00:33:05.61\00:33:07.37
They fell into a
spiritual stupor.
00:33:07.57\00:33:11.19
Slumber can best be understood
as spiritual lethargy.
00:33:11.69\00:33:17.33
How many of the wise slumbered?
00:33:18.25\00:33:20.63
All.
00:33:21.24\00:33:22.62
Are we wise
virgins? Are we slumbering?
00:33:22.92\00:33:26.55
God knows also who did not
open their hearts to be led
00:33:26.99\00:33:31.42
by the Holy Spirit. These
are the foolish who slept.
00:33:31.52\00:33:35.78
That word in the
Greek indicates a deliberate
00:33:36.18\00:33:41.12
conscious act of
lying down to rest.
00:33:41.42\00:33:45.08
Not somebody who
is really watching.
00:33:45.48\00:33:48.03
They were
consciously lying down to rest
00:33:48.54\00:33:52.37
indicating spiritual neglect
and a carnal indifference
00:33:52.67\00:33:57.59
to spiritual things.
00:33:57.89\00:33:59.94
But the foolish had their hearts
filled with a false security
00:34:01.11\00:34:06.26
and when they
heard the midnight cry
00:34:06.56\00:34:09.72
theirs was a tragic awakening.
00:34:09.92\00:34:13.35
They were unprepared
and had no reserve of oil.
00:34:13.85\00:34:17.95
They had refused or neglected
00:34:18.55\00:34:22.78
God's gracious
gift of the Holy Spirit
00:34:22.98\00:34:27.42
and consequently had
no character development
00:34:27.82\00:34:32.72
influenced by Him and
obtained through the imparted
00:34:32.92\00:34:37.92
righteousness of Christ within.
00:34:38.32\00:34:40.72
They had made a promising
start, but without the Spirit
00:34:40.92\00:34:45.34
they could not
endure to the end.
00:34:45.64\00:34:48.70
The crisis of the
bridegroom's coming
00:34:49.00\00:34:52.38
symbolically reveals
the virgins' experience
00:34:52.58\00:34:56.38
with the things of God -
their relationship to Him -
00:34:56.58\00:34:59.70
and their true character.
Only one difference...
00:35:00.00\00:35:03.61
one difference separates
the foolish from the wise:
00:35:04.01\00:35:09.03
the lack of the all-
essential oil - the Holy Spirit.
00:35:09.53\00:35:15.46
Why is the oil so necessary
00:35:16.32\00:35:19.21
for our preparation
to meet our bridegroom?
00:35:19.41\00:35:21.91
Why is the Holy Spirit essential
to the life of a true Christian?
00:35:22.11\00:35:26.68
Why do we need the Holy Spirit
to enter the kingdom of God?
00:35:27.08\00:35:30.85
We know the Spirit brings
the oil of illumination to our
00:35:31.35\00:35:34.32
lamps... our
understanding of the Bible.
00:35:34.42\00:35:37.11
Paul tells us in the
second chapter of I Corinthians.
00:35:37.31\00:35:41.68
He says: "These
are spiritual words;
00:35:41.98\00:35:44.59
they're spiritually discerned.
00:35:44.79\00:35:47.74
And God has given you
the Spirit so you may know
00:35:48.04\00:35:51.88
what He has
freely given to you. "
00:35:52.08\00:35:54.87
And speaking of the
Holy Spirit in John 16:3
00:35:55.27\00:35:58.37
Jesus says: "But He, the
Spirit of Truth, when He comes
00:35:58.57\00:36:02.38
He will guide
you into all truth. "
00:36:02.58\00:36:04.83
But... but...
listen to what I'm saying:
00:36:05.23\00:36:10.13
This is hard to accept.
00:36:10.33\00:36:11.97
Even this does not
sufficiently explain the dilemma
00:36:12.27\00:36:16.63
between the wise and the foolish
00:36:16.83\00:36:18.67
because both of them
have the lamp of profession.
00:36:18.97\00:36:22.83
They're both holding on
to essentially the same true
00:36:23.13\00:36:27.38
doctrines.
They're both sitting here.
00:36:27.58\00:36:31.04
They've had deep Bible study.
00:36:31.15\00:36:33.81
So let's consider the difference
that the Holy Spirit made in the
00:36:34.21\00:36:38.77
lives of the wise virgins
00:36:38.87\00:36:42.68
and then we'll begin to
understand a little more
00:36:42.98\00:36:46.04
what's wrong with
these foolish virgins.
00:36:46.24\00:36:48.87
Please turn in your
Bibles to Ephesians chapter 3.
00:36:49.17\00:36:53.04
Ephesians chapter 3. We're going
to have to go a little rapidly.
00:36:53.24\00:36:57.19
Ephesians chapter 3.
The five wise virgins
00:36:58.55\00:37:03.02
possessed the Holy Spirit
00:37:03.52\00:37:06.08
and they were more than
merely united with the church.
00:37:06.48\00:37:10.94
They were united with the Lord.
00:37:11.24\00:37:13.56
He lived within their hearts
by the power of the Holy Spirit.
00:37:13.86\00:37:17.82
Let's read Ephesians 3
beginning with verse 14.
00:37:18.03\00:37:21.59
Paul writes to the
Ephesians saying this:
00:37:22.09\00:37:25.45
"For this reason I bow my
knees to the Father of our Lord
00:37:25.75\00:37:28.51
Jesus Christ from whom the
whole family in heaven and earth
00:37:28.62\00:37:31.83
is named. " Now here's
the reason he's praying:
00:37:31.93\00:37:34.94
"That He would grant you
according to the riches of
00:37:35.14\00:37:38.71
His glory to be
strengthened with might... "
00:37:38.81\00:37:42.35
with dunamis power...
00:37:42.55\00:37:44.85
How? "through His
Spirit in the inner man. "
00:37:45.05\00:37:50.27
Do you want power
for the Christian walk?
00:37:50.67\00:37:54.09
You have to have
the Spirit day by day.
00:37:54.39\00:37:57.52
You have to be
filled with the Spirit.
00:37:57.72\00:38:00.15
He also said: "So that... "
00:38:00.65\00:38:05.24
He wants the Spirit in
you "so that Christ may dwell
00:38:05.44\00:38:10.52
in your hearts through faith. "
00:38:10.82\00:38:13.88
Jesus doesn't
dwell in us bodily.
00:38:14.28\00:38:16.66
He dwells in us by
faith through the Holy Spirit.
00:38:16.86\00:38:21.91
"And so that you, being
rooted and grounded in love,
00:38:22.41\00:38:26.39
may be able to
comprehend with all the saints
00:38:26.49\00:38:29.28
what is the width and length
and depth and height to know
00:38:29.48\00:38:32.38
the love of Christ
which passes knowledge
00:38:32.58\00:38:35.24
that you may be filled
with all the fullness of God. "
00:38:35.44\00:38:40.44
You see it is
only by the Holy Spirit
00:38:40.67\00:38:43.18
that Christ can dwell
in us - His living temples.
00:38:43.48\00:38:47.95
Only by the Holy Spirit.
00:38:48.35\00:38:51.51
And Christ in us
is our hope of glory.
00:38:51.81\00:38:55.08
Now turn to
Galatians chapter 5 please.
00:38:55.58\00:38:58.96
Again we're looking at the wise.
00:39:00.00\00:39:02.47
And Galatians chapter 5 shows
that the wise walk in surrender
00:39:02.77\00:39:07.95
depending upon the Spirit.
00:39:08.15\00:39:10.42
Being led by the Spirit.
00:39:10.62\00:39:12.60
And as we read these scriptures
I pray that each one of us
00:39:12.74\00:39:15.89
examines our heart and
says: "Am I like the wise? "
00:39:16.09\00:39:20.77
Galatians 5 and verse 16.
00:39:21.17\00:39:23.42
Paul says: "I say then
walk in the Spirit and... "
00:39:23.92\00:39:29.83
parenthetically, as a result...
00:39:30.72\00:39:32.73
"if you walk in the Spirit
you shall not fulfill the lusts
00:39:32.93\00:39:37.61
of the flesh. " See,
only a Spirit-empowered walk
00:39:37.71\00:39:41.32
can help us overcome
the tendencies of the flesh
00:39:41.62\00:39:44.61
which Paul now goes on to list.
00:39:44.91\00:39:46.57
But we will skip down to
the good part... Galatians 5:22.
00:39:46.87\00:39:50.99
He says: "But the fruit of
the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
00:39:51.23\00:39:54.58
longsuffering,
kindness, goodness,
00:39:54.88\00:39:57.29
faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control.
00:39:57.49\00:40:00.14
Against such there is no law.
00:40:00.34\00:40:03.30
And those who are Christ's...
" Those who are wise virgins...
00:40:03.61\00:40:08.99
"have crucified the flesh... "
00:40:09.39\00:40:13.33
They have died to self.
00:40:13.63\00:40:15.83
"crucified the flesh
with its passions and desires.
00:40:16.03\00:40:19.24
If we live in the
Spirit... " and we do...
00:40:19.64\00:40:22.24
"let us also
walk in the Spirit. "
00:40:22.74\00:40:24.99
You see, the wise, having
received Christ as their Savior
00:40:26.29\00:40:30.68
and the imputed
righteousness of His record -
00:40:30.71\00:40:35.01
you know, imputed means it's
something that's been credited
00:40:35.31\00:40:38.13
to us... it's that
first stage of salvation -
00:40:38.33\00:40:41.95
justification by
faith which is an act of God
00:40:42.15\00:40:46.78
We have nothing... I mean
this is just God doing this...
00:40:46.98\00:40:50.32
They had received that
but they had also experienced
00:40:50.62\00:40:55.61
the second stage of salvation
which is sanctification
00:40:55.81\00:41:01.46
by faith. They
made Jesus not only
00:41:01.66\00:41:06.09
Savior but Lord of their lives.
00:41:06.39\00:41:09.89
They surrendered control.
00:41:10.10\00:41:12.70
And by the Holy Spirit
Christ living in their hearts
00:41:13.00\00:41:16.61
through faith, they received
His imparted righteousness.
00:41:16.81\00:41:21.05
Something was
poured into their hearts,
00:41:21.45\00:41:23.58
into their minds, as
they allowed the Holy Spirit
00:41:23.78\00:41:26.67
to empower them. To
influence their conduct
00:41:27.07\00:41:31.39
and subdue their sins.
00:41:31.69\00:41:33.73
The Spirit-empowered
sanctification process
00:41:34.13\00:41:36.63
made all the difference.
00:41:36.84\00:41:38.43
It was more than their
records that were changed.
00:41:38.83\00:41:41.32
Their hearts were transformed
00:41:41.42\00:41:42.98
through the sanctifying
influence of the Holy Spirit.
00:41:43.18\00:41:46.71
Paul in II Thessalonians
2:13 and Peter in I Peter 1:2
00:41:47.61\00:41:51.94
both speak of
salvation through sanctification
00:41:52.24\00:41:56.97
by the Spirit.
Sanctification is a work of God.
00:41:57.17\00:42:02.06
Now turn quickly to
John chapter 14 because
00:42:02.37\00:42:04.65
Jesus here shows us
how this work begins...
00:42:04.85\00:42:09.57
how God begins to
work in our hearts.
00:42:11.04\00:42:13.42
John chapter 14.
We're going to look at some
00:42:13.62\00:42:15.85
familiar scriptures and
look at it a little differently.
00:42:15.96\00:42:18.37
The wise allowed God to
work in them to will and to do
00:42:18.67\00:42:21.70
His good pleasure.
Walking in joyful obedience
00:42:21.80\00:42:25.93
that was motivated by love and
empowered by the Holy Spirit.
00:42:26.13\00:42:29.79
John 14 and verse 15.
00:42:30.10\00:42:32.36
Jesus said: "If you love
Me, keep My commandments. "
00:42:32.66\00:42:36.66
God's biddings are
always His enablings.
00:42:37.07\00:42:40.83
So Christ continues now to
explain how He will empower
00:42:41.03\00:42:45.97
us to keep His
commandments. Look at this.
00:42:46.07\00:42:49.13
He says: "And I
will pray the Father
00:42:49.33\00:42:52.75
and He will give
you another Helper... "
00:42:53.05\00:42:56.00
Allos parakletos in the Greek
00:42:56.20\00:42:59.10
meaning He's going to send
someone to be your advocate,
00:42:59.30\00:43:02.94
your comforter, your counselor,
the One who walks beside you.
00:43:03.15\00:43:06.59
"who is just exactly like Me. "
00:43:06.62\00:43:11.32
This isn't... You're not
trading off a Mercedes Benz
00:43:12.55\00:43:16.78
for a Volkswagen or I'm
going to give you another car.
00:43:16.98\00:43:19.84
No, it would be
allos. Means, if you say
00:43:20.24\00:43:23.83
"I'm going to give you another
car" and you had a Mercedes
00:43:23.93\00:43:26.84
then "I'm going to give you one
that is exactly like it in every
00:43:27.04\00:43:30.78
detail... exactly like it. "
00:43:30.98\00:43:34.01
So He says: "I am sending Him
00:43:34.41\00:43:37.44
that He may abide
with you forever. "
00:43:37.64\00:43:39.95
Verse 17: "The Spirit of Truth
whom the world cannot receive
00:43:40.15\00:43:43.70
because it neither
sees Him nor knows Him.
00:43:43.80\00:43:46.04
But you will know Him
for He dwells with you
00:43:46.24\00:43:49.02
and will be in you. I
will not leave you orphans;
00:43:49.22\00:43:51.87
I will come to you. "
00:43:52.07\00:43:54.00
He was saying: "I will
live in your hearts by faith
00:43:54.40\00:43:59.13
through the Holy
Spirit who I am sending
00:43:59.33\00:44:02.91
who will empower you
to walk in obedience. "
00:44:03.11\00:44:06.86
Now turn quickly to Titus.
00:44:07.16\00:44:09.29
That's back in Paul's T
section. I and II Thessalonians,
00:44:09.49\00:44:12.87
I and II Timothy, then Titus.
00:44:13.07\00:44:15.02
We're going to
look at Titus chapter 2.
00:44:15.32\00:44:18.11
Titus chapter 2.
00:44:19.69\00:44:22.04
We know that the wise
00:44:22.54\00:44:24.47
experienced an
inward transformation
00:44:24.57\00:44:27.16
performed by the Holy Spirit.
00:44:27.46\00:44:30.04
Titus chapter 2, and
verse 11 is where we'll begin.
00:44:30.34\00:44:34.29
"For the grace of God that
brings salvation has appeared
00:44:35.95\00:44:40.42
to all men... " And
what does grace teach us?
00:44:40.62\00:44:44.08
"teaching us that denying
ungodliness and worldly lusts
00:44:44.38\00:44:48.18
we should live
soberly, righteously, and godly
00:44:48.48\00:44:51.01
in the present age.
Looking for the Blessed Hope
00:44:51.21\00:44:53.84
and glorious appearing
of our great God and Savior
00:44:54.04\00:44:56.93
Jesus Christ who
gave Himself for us... "
00:44:57.13\00:45:00.93
Why? "that He might redeem
us from every lawless deed
00:45:01.23\00:45:06.00
and purify for
Himself His own special people
00:45:06.10\00:45:09.72
zealous for good works. "
00:45:09.92\00:45:12.24
Now turn a couple of pages over
to Titus chapter 3 and verse 5
00:45:12.64\00:45:16.78
'cause this is where Paul
explains how this purification
00:45:16.88\00:45:20.99
process happens. He says:
00:45:21.10\00:45:24.04
"It's not by works of
righteousness which we have done
00:45:24.24\00:45:27.92
but according to
His mercy He saved us
00:45:28.22\00:45:32.03
through the washing of
regeneration and renewing
00:45:32.23\00:45:34.87
of the Holy Spirit. "
00:45:34.98\00:45:36.44
Sanctification
is the work of God.
00:45:36.94\00:45:40.26
Yes, it requires our cooperation
but it is the work of God
00:45:40.37\00:45:43.98
through the Holy Spirit.
00:45:44.01\00:45:45.82
Now let's turn
to Romans chapter 8.
00:45:46.12\00:45:48.62
Romans chapter 8.
00:45:48.92\00:45:51.50
Turn quickly 'cause
we're nearly out of time.
00:45:51.80\00:45:53.91
Roman 8 where Paul
explains that the wise
00:45:54.41\00:45:58.06
received the spirit of adoption
and they were led by the Spirit.
00:45:58.26\00:46:03.61
Romans 8 and verse
13 is where we'll begin.
00:46:03.81\00:46:07.88
"For if you live according to
the flesh... " What's going to
00:46:08.48\00:46:11.52
happen? "you will
die. But if by the Spirit
00:46:11.62\00:46:15.50
you put to death... "
Two people are working...
00:46:15.80\00:46:19.00
two agencies are working here.
00:46:19.20\00:46:20.63
If by the
Spirit - by His power -
00:46:20.94\00:46:23.44
you, cooperating with Him,
put to death the deeds of your
00:46:23.64\00:46:27.15
flesh... You
can't do it on your own;
00:46:27.25\00:46:29.01
you can't do it
without His power...
00:46:29.21\00:46:30.48
but He's not going to do
it without your cooperation.
00:46:30.68\00:46:33.05
God does not
force His will on you.
00:46:33.55\00:46:35.55
"If by the Spirit you put
to death the deeds of the body,
00:46:35.95\00:46:38.67
you will live. For as many
as are led by the Spirit of God
00:46:38.87\00:46:43.59
these are the sons of God. "
00:46:43.79\00:46:45.75
In contrast we can deduce if
you are not led by the Spirit
00:46:46.05\00:46:49.99
you are not a child of God.
00:46:50.09\00:46:51.81
And he goes on
in verse 15 to say:
00:46:52.31\00:46:54.34
"For you did not receive the
spirit of bondage again to fear
00:46:54.44\00:46:57.18
but you received the spirit
of adoption by whom we cry out
00:46:57.29\00:47:00.42
'Abba, Father'
and the Spirit Himself
00:47:00.62\00:47:04.38
bears witness with our spirit
that we are children of God
00:47:04.58\00:47:09.66
and if children then heirs...
heirs of God and joint-heirs
00:47:09.86\00:47:13.00
with Christ if
indeed we suffer with Him
00:47:13.10\00:47:16.23
that we may also be
glorified together. "
00:47:16.33\00:47:18.96
Do you see why the
Holy Spirit is so important?
00:47:19.46\00:47:22.86
Now, keep your
Bibles open to Romans 8.
00:47:23.36\00:47:26.49
We're coming back
there in just a second.
00:47:26.60\00:47:28.02
The wise had the Holy Spirit
00:47:28.22\00:47:30.37
who is the source of
all spiritual virtues,
00:47:30.57\00:47:33.39
and the love and the light of
Christ shines out through them.
00:47:33.79\00:47:38.42
God's love had filled them,
00:47:38.72\00:47:40.67
and they loved God with all
of their heart, soul, mind, and
00:47:40.97\00:47:44.67
strength and they love their
neighbor as they love themself.
00:47:44.77\00:47:47.20
This kind of unselfish
love isn't possible for humans
00:47:47.60\00:47:52.85
without the Holy Spirit.
00:47:53.15\00:47:55.12
Thank God for the
promise of Romans 5:5
00:47:55.52\00:47:58.30
that says God pours out His love
into our hearts by the power
00:47:58.60\00:48:03.91
of the Holy Spirit
who He has given to us.
00:48:04.01\00:48:06.34
It is as the Holy
Spirit - the Spirit of God -
00:48:06.54\00:48:10.09
enters us that we
can draw on that essence
00:48:10.29\00:48:15.24
of God. God is love.
00:48:15.44\00:48:17.66
And one of my favorite verses...
We won't turn there but
00:48:17.86\00:48:20.40
oh I love this verse!
I Thessalonians - for you
00:48:20.60\00:48:24.04
who are taking notes -
I Thessalonians 3:12-13
00:48:24.14\00:48:27.48
which says this: "May
the Lord make you increase
00:48:27.79\00:48:31.65
and abound in love to
one another and to all
00:48:31.85\00:48:34.36
just as we do to you
00:48:34.66\00:48:36.34
so that He may establish your
hearts blameless in holiness
00:48:36.64\00:48:41.57
before our God and
Father at the coming of our Lord
00:48:41.77\00:48:44.69
Jesus Christ
with all His saints. "
00:48:44.79\00:48:47.46
Did you catch that?
I did it too quickly.
00:48:47.67\00:48:50.03
"May the Lord make you
increase and abound in love... "
00:48:50.53\00:48:53.53
Who's doing the work? God.
00:48:53.73\00:48:55.37
"so that... "
Here's the reason...
00:48:56.38\00:48:58.71
"so that He may
establish your hearts
00:48:59.11\00:49:03.77
blameless in holiness. " Do
you catch what Paul is saying?
00:49:03.97\00:49:09.10
As we grow in love
00:49:09.88\00:49:12.50
we grow in holiness.
00:49:12.70\00:49:14.88
But we've got to open
our hearts to the Holy Spirit
00:49:15.18\00:49:18.37
as the wise did so that
this love can be imparted to us.
00:49:18.57\00:49:23.89
The wise were clothed with the
robe of Christ's righteousness,
00:49:24.40\00:49:27.39
fitted with the wedding garment.
00:49:27.59\00:49:29.25
Their names were
in the Book of Life.
00:49:29.45\00:49:34.92
Now in contrast,
the five foolish virgins
00:49:35.32\00:49:38.67
lacked all the
essential ingredients.
00:49:38.87\00:49:40.74
They lacked the oil.
00:49:40.94\00:49:42.16
They were united with the
church but not with the Lord.
00:49:42.47\00:49:44.79
Their names were on
the church records but not
00:49:44.99\00:49:47.51
in the Book of Life.
00:49:47.81\00:49:49.41
The foolish were
attracted to the truth.
00:49:49.61\00:49:51.64
Perhaps they even taught
Sabbath School or had a degree
00:49:51.84\00:49:54.34
in religion but they failed
to recognize that even deep
00:49:54.45\00:49:58.16
Bible study is no
substitute for the Holy Spirit.
00:49:58.26\00:50:01.39
The foolish were familiar
with the theory of truth.
00:50:01.79\00:50:04.68
They had outward conformity
00:50:04.98\00:50:07.25
but their hearts
were not transformed.
00:50:07.35\00:50:10.05
You've got your finger
there in Romans 8. Let's look at
00:50:10.36\00:50:12.49
verse 9. Paul, writing to
the Romans, sums it up this way:
00:50:12.59\00:50:16.47
"But you are not in
the flesh but in the Spirit
00:50:17.45\00:50:21.39
if indeed the Spirit
of God dwells in you. "
00:50:21.69\00:50:25.23
But... listen up foolish ones:
00:50:26.91\00:50:29.66
"Now if anyone does not
have the Spirit of Christ
00:50:29.69\00:50:33.53
he is not His. "
00:50:33.73\00:50:37.20
You know, Paul further
describes these foolish ones
00:50:37.50\00:50:39.90
in II Timothy 3:1-5
00:50:40.00\00:50:41.84
saying that they had
"a form of godliness"
00:50:42.04\00:50:45.08
but they denied its power.
00:50:45.28\00:50:47.50
They attended
church, gave offerings,
00:50:47.80\00:50:50.05
but they refused to
receive the Holy Spirit.
00:50:50.35\00:50:53.54
They were cultural Christians.
00:50:53.84\00:50:56.31
They did not walk in obedience.
00:50:56.51\00:50:58.16
They were
carnal and backslidden.
00:50:58.47\00:51:01.17
They didn't have
enough love to obey.
00:51:01.47\00:51:03.99
Remember when Jesus said:
00:51:04.29\00:51:05.41
"If you love Me,
obey My commandments? "
00:51:05.51\00:51:07.16
That was John 14:15.
Well in verse 23-24 He says:
00:51:07.47\00:51:10.87
"If anyone loves Me,
He will keep My word.
00:51:11.07\00:51:12.97
My Father will love
him, and We will come to him
00:51:13.27\00:51:16.31
and make Our home with him. "
00:51:16.51\00:51:17.96
But now in contrast:
"He who does not love Me
00:51:18.16\00:51:21.27
does not keep My
words. " Consequently,
00:51:21.47\00:51:24.69
we can assume that the Father
and the Son won't make their
00:51:24.89\00:51:27.21
home. We just read it. If
you don't have the Holy Spirit,
00:51:27.31\00:51:31.73
you don't belong to Him.
00:51:31.83\00:51:33.20
We don't have time to
turn but I'm going to read
00:51:33.97\00:51:36.35
to you... Hmmm... Let
me read quickly from Jude.
00:51:36.55\00:51:41.01
Jude verse 3.
There's only one chapter.
00:51:42.05\00:51:44.55
Listen to this solemn warning:
00:51:46.53\00:51:50.28
"Beloved: while I was
very diligent to write to you
00:51:51.45\00:51:54.36
concerning our common salvation
I found it necessary rather
00:51:54.46\00:51:57.33
to write to you
exhorting you to contend
00:51:57.43\00:52:00.60
earnestly for the
faith which was once for all
00:52:00.80\00:52:04.04
delivered to the saints.
For certain men have crept in
00:52:04.14\00:52:07.19
unnoticed who long ago were
marked out for condemnation.
00:52:07.29\00:52:10.77
Ungodly men, who
turn the grace of our God
00:52:11.07\00:52:15.22
into lewdness... "
Saying: "You're saved by grace.
00:52:15.42\00:52:20.28
You can do whatever you want. "
00:52:20.48\00:52:21.79
"and by so doing they deny
the only Lord God and our Lord
00:52:22.19\00:52:26.33
Jesus Christ. " Now
here comes the warning:
00:52:26.43\00:52:28.62
"But I want to remind
you though you once knew this
00:52:28.82\00:52:32.17
that the Lord, having saved the
people out of the land of Egypt,
00:52:32.37\00:52:35.98
afterward destroyed
those who did not believe. "
00:52:36.18\00:52:40.66
Not once saved always saved.
00:52:41.07\00:52:43.25
"The angels who did not
keep their proper domain... "
00:52:43.55\00:52:45.99
"The angels He even
gave up and reserved them. "
00:52:49.28\00:52:54.66
The foolish had experienced
God's grace in the first stage
00:52:54.89\00:52:59.91
of salvation...
justification by faith...
00:53:00.01\00:53:02.50
but they did not in the
second... the sanctification.
00:53:02.60\00:53:07.78
Some of them were undoubtedly
very active in ministry.
00:53:08.29\00:53:12.05
But even service will not
compensate for the lack of
00:53:12.45\00:53:16.11
the Spirit. Jesus
said in Matthew 7:21-23
00:53:16.21\00:53:19.68
"Not everyone who
says to Me 'Lord, Lord'
00:53:19.88\00:53:21.92
shall enter the
kingdom of heaven. "
00:53:22.12\00:53:23.60
But who will enter?
"He who does the will of
00:53:23.90\00:53:26.60
My Father. Many will
say to Me in that day
00:53:26.70\00:53:30.02
'Lord, Lord... have we
not prophesied in Your name?
00:53:30.22\00:53:32.25
Cast our demons in Your name?
00:53:32.45\00:53:34.10
And done many
wonders in Your name? '
00:53:34.50\00:53:36.01
And then I will declare
to them: 'I never knew you.
00:53:36.11\00:53:39.32
Depart from Me you who
practice lawlessness. ' "
00:53:39.52\00:53:42.75
What does I John 3:4 say?
00:53:42.95\00:53:45.84
I John 3:4 says that
whoever commits lawlessness
00:53:46.04\00:53:48.93
commits sin. Sin is lawlessness.
00:53:49.13\00:53:51.04
The breaking of God's law.
00:53:51.24\00:53:52.78
And we know what
are the wages of sin?
00:53:52.98\00:53:55.36
Eternal death, but the
gift of God is eternal life.
00:53:55.76\00:53:59.37
Did you know? Some of
the foolish virgins...
00:54:00.13\00:54:05.99
Turn to Galatians 3. I
am going to take the time.
00:54:06.29\00:54:08.76
I don't know...
We're not even...
00:54:09.26\00:54:11.98
I need about 5 more minutes.
00:54:12.08\00:54:13.96
But I have to let you
see Galatians chapter 3.
00:54:14.22\00:54:17.05
Paul writes to the
Galatians and says:
00:54:18.88\00:54:20.96
"Oh foolish Galatians...
" You foolish virgins...
00:54:21.16\00:54:24.82
Galatians 3 verse 1:
00:54:25.32\00:54:27.01
"Who has bewitched you
that you should not obey
00:54:27.51\00:54:31.10
the truth before whose
eyes Jesus Christ was clearly
00:54:31.20\00:54:34.26
portrayed among
you as crucified?
00:54:34.36\00:54:36.27
This only I want
to learn from you:
00:54:36.67\00:54:39.24
did you receive the
Spirit by the works of the law
00:54:39.64\00:54:42.76
or by the hearing of faith? "
00:54:43.06\00:54:45.07
Are you so foolish?
Having begun in the Spirit
00:54:45.28\00:54:48.27
are you now trying to be
made perfect by the flesh?
00:54:48.47\00:54:54.28
And he goes on.
Here's his punch line
00:54:54.59\00:54:57.40
in chapter 5 verses 4 and 5.
00:54:57.60\00:54:59.68
Oh listen to this:
"You have become estranged
00:55:00.82\00:55:04.85
from Christ you who
attempt to be justified by law.
00:55:04.95\00:55:08.44
You have fallen from grace. "
00:55:08.74\00:55:12.79
You've fallen... the
foolish have fallen from grace.
00:55:13.60\00:55:17.48
Their names were blotted out.
00:55:17.68\00:55:19.45
They lacked the one
essential qualification:
00:55:19.65\00:55:22.64
the oil. Jesus is coming soon!
00:55:22.84\00:55:26.27
He's coming unexpectedly.
00:55:26.37\00:55:28.84
We're not going
to know the hour.
00:55:29.14\00:55:31.64
Are we prepared?
Do we have the oil?
00:55:31.94\00:55:35.03
It's not too late.
That's the good news.
00:55:35.43\00:55:38.78
Jesus said in Luke
chapter 11 and verse 9
00:55:39.28\00:55:43.18
that this lesson is two-fold
if you look at the parable.
00:55:43.38\00:55:46.50
It's two-fold. One: you
must have the Holy Spirit.
00:55:46.90\00:55:50.40
Jesus says: "Ask and
it will be given to you;
00:55:50.70\00:55:53.55
seek and you will find.
00:55:53.75\00:55:54.91
Knock, and the door
will be opened to you. "
00:55:55.11\00:55:57.13
God is so anxious to
give you His Holy Spirit.
00:55:57.53\00:56:02.75
We must ask for and receive
00:56:02.95\00:56:05.97
His Spirit by faith and
we must surrender control
00:56:06.17\00:56:08.91
of our lives to the Holy Spirit.
00:56:09.01\00:56:10.94
And the second
lesson of the parable
00:56:11.45\00:56:13.19
is that we must be watchful.
00:56:13.39\00:56:16.26
Watch, for our salvation is
nearer than we first believed.
00:56:16.57\00:56:20.43
Watch! We're not
children of the night.
00:56:20.83\00:56:22.69
We're children of the day.
00:56:22.99\00:56:24.99
Awake and cry out
for the Holy Spirit
00:56:25.29\00:56:27.85
and God will
gladly... gladly give you
00:56:28.15\00:56:32.27
of this all-essential oil.
00:56:32.47\00:56:35.31
We've got to guard
the precious relationship
00:56:35.81\00:56:40.51
that we have with the Lord.
00:56:40.71\00:56:43.31
I'm telling you: every day
you should be praying for grace.
00:56:44.01\00:56:48.22
You should never even
get out of bed till you pray
00:56:48.62\00:56:51.45
to be filled
with the Holy Spirit.
00:56:51.55\00:56:54.00
We have got to stand in
grace, to grow in grace,
00:56:54.40\00:56:58.96
to find our strength
in God's grace. Amen!
00:56:59.17\00:57:03.70
Watch...
00:57:04.80\00:57:06.17
for we are face to
face with eternity.
00:57:06.37\00:57:11.09
Oh how we need
God's Holy Spirit! Amen!
00:57:11.60\00:57:16.02
And He is more
anxious to give it to you
00:57:16.12\00:57:18.62
than you are to receive it.
00:57:18.82\00:57:20.51
Watch! We know
neither the day nor the hour
00:57:20.81\00:57:25.84
when the Son of Man is coming.
00:57:25.94\00:57:28.72
We must watch!
00:57:28.92\00:57:31.99