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.
00:13:42.18\00:13:44.52
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. '
00:14:24.39\00:14:28.83
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
00:14:39.61\00:14:42.11
'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... "
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While those foolish
ones went out to buy...
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"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.
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Afterwards the other
virgins came also saying:
00:15:01.90\00:15:05.30
'Lord, Lord... open to us. '
00:15:05.53\00:15:07.84
But he answered and said:
00:15:08.07\00:15:11.17
'Assuredly I say to you
00:15:11.41\00:15:14.68
I do not know you. '
00:15:14.91\00:15:18.45
Watch,
therefore... " Jesus says...
00:15:18.78\00:15:22.35
for you know
neither the day nor the hour
00:15:22.58\00:15:25.52
in which the Son
of Man is coming. "
00:15:25.55\00:15:27.26
Now most of us... This is
so rich in symbolic meaning
00:15:28.56\00:15:34.56
and most of us know
what these symbols stand for.
00:15:34.60\00:15:37.27
But what I'd like to
do is to review these
00:15:37.30\00:15:39.97
because someone that's
watching may not be aware.
00:15:40.00\00:15:42.87
So let's just go
over all of the symbols
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in this particular parable.
00:15:45.71\00:15:47.84
Who is the bridegroom?
00:15:48.08\00:15:49.94
Jesus... our Lord Christ Jesus.
00:15:50.38\00:15:54.12
Who is the bride? The church.
00:15:54.25\00:15:56.72
And in scripture
the church is presented
00:15:56.85\00:16:01.56
as a virgin - a
virtuous woman who's not been
00:16:01.69\00:16:04.49
defiled by other relationships.
00:16:04.53\00:16:07.03
And scripture also promises
that Christ is going to return
00:16:07.83\00:16:13.74
for a bride who
has prepared herself
00:16:13.87\00:16:16.94
and who has fulfilled her
purpose in giving the message
00:16:17.07\00:16:21.24
of salvation - the
good news, the gospel -
00:16:21.48\00:16:24.55
to all of the
nations of the world.
00:16:24.68\00:16:26.95
Who are the virgin bridesmaids?
00:16:27.28\00:16:30.92
They are church members.
00:16:32.22\00:16:35.36
And in His parable
Jesus distinguishes
00:16:36.49\00:16:41.36
between two
classes of believers.
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He doesn't call
them good and bad.
00:16:45.80\00:16:48.67
He doesn't call
them virgins and harlots.
00:16:48.90\00:16:52.54
He calls them all virgins.
00:16:52.77\00:16:55.98
He presents five of
the attending as being wise
00:16:56.41\00:17:01.28
but five of these
virgins are foolish.
00:17:01.52\00:17:05.29
They are two
different classes of believers
00:17:05.52\00:17:10.09
in the gospel of grace.
00:17:10.43\00:17:12.96
Now what does
the lamp symbolize?
00:17:13.29\00:17:16.36
The Word of God.
00:17:16.70\00:17:18.43
"Thy Word is a lamp to my
feet and a light to my path. "
00:17:18.77\00:17:22.27
Right? And in scripture
what does oil symbolize?
00:17:22.40\00:17:26.27
The Holy Spirit. We know
this from Zechariah chapter 4
00:17:26.51\00:17:30.58
and by inference in
this particular parable
00:17:30.81\00:17:34.62
the character that the
wise virgins have developed
00:17:34.85\00:17:40.39
by His influence.
00:17:40.52\00:17:42.42
What does the flask -
the vessel that held the
00:17:42.56\00:17:46.39
additional oil...
what does that represent?
00:17:46.43\00:17:48.53
Those receptacles
represent our hearts.
00:17:48.86\00:17:53.07
And what does the
midnight hour symbolize?
00:17:54.07\00:17:57.91
Gross darkness.
Midnight is the darkest hour.
00:17:59.11\00:18:03.51
And it is a time of
great spiritual darkness
00:18:03.75\00:18:07.38
that has settled in
and covered the world.
00:18:07.62\00:18:11.12
It is also a time when
these ten weary virgins
00:18:11.45\00:18:17.49
would be the most drowsy.
00:18:17.53\00:18:20.00
It's a time when you think
of gross spiritual darkness.
00:18:20.23\00:18:24.03
It's a time of error
and heresies and delusions.
00:18:24.27\00:18:29.47
Now the slumber and the
sleep that settled over all
00:18:29.84\00:18:34.88
represents a certain
spiritual weariness and apathy.
00:18:35.04\00:18:40.28
And the wedding
represents the infinite union
00:18:40.75\00:18:44.89
which faith forms
between Christ, our bridegroom,
00:18:45.12\00:18:50.19
and His people.
00:18:50.33\00:18:51.79
The parable truly is
rich in symbolic meaning.
00:18:52.23\00:18:55.93
But let's look at
these ten virgins.
00:18:56.90\00:19:00.60
I used to read this
parable, and I almost...
00:19:00.64\00:19:03.61
I remember thinking when I
first really started studying
00:19:03.94\00:19:06.94
this how sometimes we
can read through something
00:19:06.98\00:19:10.98
and if we haven't
spent time in deep study
00:19:11.21\00:19:13.98
we can kind of
lump it into categories.
00:19:14.98\00:19:17.39
I used to think of this more
like the sheep and the goats
00:19:17.42\00:19:20.36
type categories,
00:19:20.49\00:19:21.69
but that's not
what it's all about.
00:19:21.82\00:19:23.39
So let's look at
what the ten virgins -
00:19:23.53\00:19:26.76
the church
members - have in common
00:19:26.90\00:19:29.80
then we're going to
examine the critical difference.
00:19:30.23\00:19:33.74
It's a sobering study.
00:19:33.87\00:19:36.00
I have to tell you that I've
been doing some heart searching
00:19:36.14\00:19:39.04
even in preparation for this
00:19:39.27\00:19:41.58
because every
member of the church -
00:19:41.91\00:19:45.41
male and female - are represent-
ed in one of these two groups.
00:19:45.55\00:19:49.98
As we consider what
the virgins have in common
00:19:50.42\00:19:54.29
and then what divides them
into the two separate groups
00:19:54.62\00:19:58.53
of wise and foolish
please realize that Christ
00:19:58.66\00:20:03.63
was describing every individual
who calls himself a Christian.
00:20:03.67\00:20:09.54
As I said, in this
parable He's not comparing
00:20:10.27\00:20:13.84
unbelievers and believers.
00:20:13.98\00:20:15.78
He's not talking about separat-
ing the sheep and the goats
00:20:15.91\00:20:19.68
at the end of time.
00:20:19.91\00:20:21.38
All of these virgins
are among the sheep...
00:20:21.62\00:20:25.49
His professed followers.
00:20:25.62\00:20:27.59
He's talking about
two classes of believers
00:20:28.12\00:20:30.96
making a division among
these professed Christians.
00:20:31.09\00:20:37.10
The bottom line is He's
talking about you and me.
00:20:37.23\00:20:42.17
And this message should
cause us to search our hearts
00:20:42.50\00:20:45.71
with deep introspection
00:20:45.94\00:20:48.51
because we each belong
to one of the two groups.
00:20:48.74\00:20:51.05
So let's look at
what they have in common.
00:20:51.38\00:20:53.62
First, Christ
calls them all virgins.
00:20:53.85\00:20:56.35
Both the wise and the unwise
- the wise and the foolish -
00:20:56.69\00:21:01.46
profess the Christian faith.
00:21:01.59\00:21:03.96
All are baptized
members of the church,
00:21:04.09\00:21:06.83
partakers of communion.
00:21:07.03\00:21:09.33
All of their names
are on the church records.
00:21:09.46\00:21:13.03
All the virgins have
lamps in their hands.
00:21:13.27\00:21:16.54
Both the wise and the
unwise have their Bibles.
00:21:16.87\00:21:19.84
They have
knowledge of the scripture.
00:21:19.97\00:21:22.08
They're familiar
with the Word of God.
00:21:22.21\00:21:24.48
They are beneficiaries
of deep Bible study.
00:21:24.61\00:21:27.88
They all have a
profession of a pure faith.
00:21:28.12\00:21:31.75
The doctrines that they
hold to are essentially correct.
00:21:31.99\00:21:36.12
But please notice this:
00:21:36.46\00:21:38.89
by calling all
the attendants virgins
00:21:39.13\00:21:43.37
Jesus presents each of the ten
00:21:43.50\00:21:46.90
as previously encountering
00:21:47.24\00:21:50.97
an experience
with the grace of God.
00:21:51.11\00:21:54.94
All had heard the good
news of salvation by grace.
00:21:55.94\00:21:59.35
All had responded
to accept Christ's
00:21:59.48\00:22:01.78
atoning sacrifice on the cross.
00:22:02.02\00:22:04.29
They'd each received
the grace of justification
00:22:04.42\00:22:09.62
by faith... the
first stage of salvation.
00:22:09.76\00:22:13.23
All of these virgins
professed to be watching
00:22:13.66\00:22:18.90
and waiting for
Christ's second advent.
00:22:19.03\00:22:21.94
Symbolically this means
the ten virgins maintained
00:22:22.37\00:22:26.17
religious
activities. Bibles in hand...
00:22:26.31\00:22:29.08
offering their
prayers at prayer meeting
00:22:29.21\00:22:31.55
while confidently
awaiting His appearance.
00:22:31.58\00:22:34.22
But both the wise and
the foolish become wearied
00:22:35.18\00:22:40.59
from the long
wait in the darkness.
00:22:40.72\00:22:43.49
All become complacent.
00:22:43.73\00:22:46.03
Even the wise grow weary
and they find it difficult
00:22:46.16\00:22:50.17
to resist the
drowsiness of the flesh.
00:22:50.20\00:22:53.30
To stay awake; to stay alert;
00:22:53.44\00:22:57.14
to stay at peak
performance all the time.
00:22:57.27\00:22:59.34
Let me ask you this:
00:22:59.47\00:23:01.04
do you believe any of us
walk as closely as we should
00:23:02.08\00:23:05.31
to the Lord? Hmmm.
00:23:05.35\00:23:08.38
Do you remember what it was
like when you were first saved?
00:23:08.82\00:23:12.22
The zeal you had? The
love you had for Christ Jesus?
00:23:12.35\00:23:17.36
You know, not all
of our love has abated
00:23:18.73\00:23:24.07
but we have left our
first love... many of us.
00:23:24.20\00:23:28.07
Not all of our passion
00:23:29.64\00:23:32.17
to witness has ceased,
00:23:32.31\00:23:37.21
but it has
cooled off, hasn't it?
00:23:38.15\00:23:41.72
Secondly, at the midnight
hour a shout pierces the air.
00:23:42.15\00:23:45.69
"Behold... behold...
the bridegroom cometh!
00:23:45.92\00:23:51.03
Go out and meet Him. "
00:23:51.46\00:23:53.93
All hear the midnight cry
00:23:55.06\00:23:57.67
and all of the
virgins are taken by surprise.
00:23:57.90\00:24:01.04
They're startled
from their lethargy.
00:24:01.27\00:24:04.37
They arouse, and all
begin to prepare their lamps.
00:24:04.51\00:24:08.54
What does that tell you? The
lamps have been unattended...
00:24:08.78\00:24:12.81
all of the lamps
for quite some time.
00:24:12.95\00:24:15.35
They had to have
their wicks trimmed
00:24:15.58\00:24:17.52
so that they
could burn brightly.
00:24:17.65\00:24:19.49
Up until this point,
what difference do we see
00:24:19.72\00:24:23.36
between them? We don't!
00:24:23.39\00:24:25.69
They all look pretty
much alike, don't they?
00:24:25.83\00:24:28.06
So let's dig a little deeper.
00:24:28.40\00:24:30.33
When the five foolish
virgins lit their lamps
00:24:30.67\00:24:35.37
they discovered
their lack of oil.
00:24:35.60\00:24:39.17
It was a sad revelation
00:24:39.61\00:24:43.28
to these five foolish ones
00:24:43.41\00:24:47.02
because they saw that
their wicks began flickering
00:24:47.15\00:24:51.92
and sputtering and smoking.
00:24:52.05\00:24:55.52
Then - ah-haa - they see
that the five wise virgins
00:24:55.86\00:25:00.80
have brought additional oil.
00:25:00.93\00:25:02.70
So they petition the wise:
"Oh, give us some of your oil...
00:25:03.03\00:25:07.17
our lamps are going out. "
00:25:07.30\00:25:09.00
But their anguished and
despondent cry is in vain.
00:25:09.34\00:25:14.74
The wise - knowing that it
was impossible to give of their
00:25:15.28\00:25:20.08
supply - sent the foolish ones
off to look for another source
00:25:20.12\00:25:25.25
of the necessary oil.
00:25:25.39\00:25:26.89
Now you know, at first glance
that sounds just a little bit
00:25:27.02\00:25:29.56
selfish, doesn't it?
00:25:29.59\00:25:30.99
"What? You mean you're not going
to share your oil with me? "
00:25:31.13\00:25:34.30
But you see... What
does the oil represent?
00:25:35.60\00:25:39.10
The Holy Spirit.
00:25:40.34\00:25:42.34
It is impossible...
absolutely impossible...
00:25:42.67\00:25:48.31
for man to share the Holy Spirit
00:25:49.24\00:25:52.25
or the character development
that He has influenced.
00:25:52.28\00:25:57.35
Man can provide the lamp.
00:25:58.59\00:26:01.46
I can give you a Bible.
00:26:01.69\00:26:03.46
But man cannot transmit
the oil - the Holy Spirit -
00:26:04.76\00:26:09.00
or the character development
obtained by His influence.
00:26:09.13\00:26:12.73
There is no
community supply of oil...
00:26:13.50\00:26:17.67
not even if you're
in the remnant church.
00:26:18.01\00:26:20.54
Only God can supply
the oil of the Holy Spirit.
00:26:20.88\00:26:25.71
So when the time of testing came
00:26:25.95\00:26:28.72
the foolish realized
their superficial preparation
00:26:28.95\00:26:34.76
was inadequate.
00:26:34.89\00:26:36.59
Without the all-essential
oil they were unprepared
00:26:36.93\00:26:42.53
to meet the bridegroom.
00:26:42.66\00:26:45.03
In a frenzied panic they
go out and search for the oil.
00:26:45.37\00:26:48.20
Now when Jesus told us
the parable He didn't explain
00:26:48.44\00:26:52.91
whether or not
they found any oil.
00:26:53.04\00:26:55.24
What do you think?
00:26:55.58\00:26:57.25
Do you think the marketplace
was open after midnight?
00:26:57.58\00:27:01.68
If God is the only
supplier of the oil -
00:27:02.92\00:27:05.85
the Holy Spirit - can
we pray for the Spirit
00:27:06.02\00:27:10.06
after probation closes?
00:27:10.19\00:27:12.03
No. The answer is found in
Revelation 22 and verse 11.
00:27:12.83\00:27:18.10
This is heaven's pronouncement.
It's heaven's message,
00:27:18.33\00:27:24.37
heaven's declaration,
immediately before Christ goes
00:27:24.61\00:27:28.74
to retrieve His bride.
00:27:28.78\00:27:30.48
And Revelation 22:11 says this:
00:27:30.81\00:27:33.75
"He who is unjust
let him be unjust still;
00:27:34.08\00:27:38.85
he who is filthy
let him be filthy still;
00:27:39.19\00:27:43.06
he who is righteous
let him be righteous still;
00:27:43.39\00:27:47.00
he who is holy let
him be holy still. "
00:27:47.23\00:27:52.43
Heaven has made a declaration:
00:27:52.87\00:27:54.94
"Time is up...
probation has closed.
00:27:55.17\00:27:57.54
Jesus is coming! "
00:27:57.67\00:28:00.04
The marketplace is closed
just prior to the midnight cry.
00:28:00.51\00:28:05.08
The time to pray for
the gift of the Holy Spirit
00:28:05.31\00:28:08.88
has expired. God
has already determined
00:28:09.12\00:28:13.12
who belongs to His family.
00:28:13.25\00:28:16.12
And once probation closes
00:28:16.46\00:28:19.09
it's too late to
acquire the character traits
00:28:19.23\00:28:23.57
that will fit us for heaven.
00:28:23.60\00:28:25.40
You know, there's a
time that comes in every life
00:28:25.63\00:28:28.44
when change is impossible.
00:28:28.47\00:28:30.74
For most of us, it could be
a sudden and unexpected death.
00:28:31.17\00:28:35.41
For those of us who live to
see Him coming in the clouds
00:28:36.24\00:28:39.78
it will be His second coming.
00:28:40.02\00:28:42.25
Now continuing in the parable
00:28:43.32\00:28:45.15
the bridegroom arrives and
He ushered all who were ready
00:28:45.39\00:28:48.69
into the wedding hall
00:28:48.82\00:28:50.13
shutting the door to
the reception behind Him.
00:28:50.36\00:28:55.56
Listen to what I'm about to say:
00:28:56.67\00:28:58.80
when the door is shut
it is shut for eternity.
00:28:59.23\00:29:05.14
He then says as
they come - the foolish -
00:29:09.38\00:29:15.42
pleading: "Oh Lord... Lord!
00:29:15.45\00:29:19.35
Open up to us. "
00:29:19.49\00:29:21.39
But they invoke
His name in vain.
00:29:21.62\00:29:24.19
And He says: "Assuredly
00:29:24.53\00:29:27.40
I say to you I
do not know you. "
00:29:27.56\00:29:31.43
The saddest of all tragic words
00:29:31.67\00:29:35.07
that could fall
on a human's ear.
00:29:35.20\00:29:37.31
The bridegroom
rejected these bridesmaids
00:29:38.61\00:29:42.78
because they
were strangers to Him.
00:29:43.01\00:29:47.85
He did not know them.
00:29:49.58\00:29:51.95
He had no special
relationship with them
00:29:52.19\00:29:55.26
so He refused to open the door.
00:29:55.59\00:29:58.53
It was not that they were
just a few minutes too late.
00:29:58.89\00:30:02.16
Those who stood on
the outside of the door
00:30:03.26\00:30:06.60
banging, they did not
bang and beg for entrance
00:30:06.63\00:30:12.67
because of a heartfelt love
00:30:12.81\00:30:15.14
and because of a heart
that could not be happy
00:30:15.48\00:30:18.68
if they were closed
out from His presence.
00:30:18.71\00:30:21.18
No! What they were
banging on the door
00:30:21.52\00:30:24.69
to gain entrance
because they didn't want
00:30:24.72\00:30:28.49
to be left out in
that utter darkness...
00:30:28.62\00:30:32.26
in utter devastation.
00:30:32.49\00:30:34.23
They knew what
their end would be.
00:30:34.36\00:30:37.63
The door that
was open for so long
00:30:37.87\00:30:41.40
had finally been shut at last.
00:30:41.54\00:30:45.94
It is closed and secured tightly
00:30:47.38\00:30:51.38
to shut in the wedding party
00:30:51.61\00:30:55.58
and to shut out
the wedding crashers.
00:30:55.92\00:31:00.12
Much like when the door
of the ark shut in Noah -
00:31:01.19\00:31:06.13
righteous Noah -
and his small family.
00:31:06.36\00:31:10.03
Do you think that
when the flood waters came
00:31:10.37\00:31:14.14
don't you know that there
were people banging on the door
00:31:14.37\00:31:18.67
of the ark saying: "Let us in!
00:31:18.71\00:31:20.54
You preached and prophesied
for decades and we didn't listen
00:31:20.78\00:31:24.48
but let us in... we see it now.
00:31:24.61\00:31:26.85
There is going to be a flood. "
00:31:26.98\00:31:28.92
But they didn't do it...
They weren't banging on the door
00:31:29.28\00:31:33.29
because they had this great
desire to have a relationship
00:31:33.32\00:31:36.99
with the Lord... they
just didn't want to die.
00:31:37.03\00:31:39.79
We see as we look at
this parable man cannot
00:31:41.93\00:31:45.67
distinguish between
the wise and the foolish
00:31:45.70\00:31:48.50
until the crucial moment
00:31:48.77\00:31:51.61
when the real
distinction becomes apparent.
00:31:51.74\00:31:54.54
Only one thing distinguishes
these two groups of virgins.
00:31:54.98\00:32:00.55
The only two types of church
members according to our Lord
00:32:01.08\00:32:04.85
and Savior Jesus: the
wise had oil in their vessels.
00:32:04.89\00:32:10.49
The Holy Spirit
was in their hearts.
00:32:10.73\00:32:13.13
The foolish had no oil...
00:32:13.46\00:32:16.10
no Holy Spirit in their hearts.
00:32:16.56\00:32:19.70
It was not a visible
difference to the human eye.
00:32:21.47\00:32:25.07
But God looks on the
heart and He sees who's opened
00:32:25.41\00:32:30.35
their hearts to be filled
with the Spirit and to be led
00:32:30.48\00:32:34.15
by the Spirit to
develop the character of Christ.
00:32:34.28\00:32:37.62
He sees who has put on the
robe of Christ's righteousness
00:32:37.95\00:32:43.39
and has been fitted
with their wedding garments
00:32:43.63\00:32:46.26
and is prepared for the
wedding supper of the Lamb.
00:32:46.49\00:32:49.43
These are the wise
ones who slumbered.
00:32:49.76\00:32:54.67
Slumbered and slept are two
different words in the Greek.
00:32:55.60\00:32:59.14
The wise slumbered, indicating
that they got heavy eyelids.
00:32:59.57\00:33:05.18
They became drowsy.
00:33:05.51\00:33:07.35
They fell into a
spiritual stupor.
00:33:07.48\00:33:11.15
Slumber can best be understood
as spiritual lethargy.
00:33:11.59\00:33:17.29
How many of the wise slumbered?
00:33:18.16\00:33:20.60
All.
00:33:21.13\00:33:22.56
Are we wise
virgins? Are we slumbering?
00:33:22.80\00:33:26.50
God knows also who did not
open their hearts to be led
00:33:26.87\00:33:31.37
by the Holy Spirit. These
are the foolish who slept.
00:33:31.41\00:33:35.74
That word in the
Greek indicates a deliberate
00:33:36.08\00:33:41.08
conscious act of
lying down to rest.
00:33:41.32\00:33:45.05
Not somebody who
is really watching.
00:33:45.39\00:33:47.99
They were
consciously lying down to rest
00:33:48.46\00:33:52.36
indicating spiritual neglect
and a carnal indifference
00:33:52.59\00:33:57.53
to spiritual things.
00:33:57.77\00:33:59.90
But the foolish had their hearts
filled with a false security
00:34:01.00\00:34:06.21
and when they
heard the midnight cry
00:34:06.44\00:34:09.68
theirs was a tragic awakening.
00:34:09.81\00:34:13.31
They were unprepared
and had no reserve of oil.
00:34:13.75\00:34:17.92
They had refused or neglected
00:34:18.45\00:34:22.76
God's gracious
gift of the Holy Spirit
00:34:22.89\00:34:27.40
and consequently had
no character development
00:34:27.73\00:34:32.67
influenced by Him and
obtained through the imparted
00:34:32.80\00:34:37.87
righteousness of Christ within.
00:34:38.21\00:34:40.68
They had made a promising
start, but without the Spirit
00:34:40.81\00:34:45.31
they could not
endure to the end.
00:34:45.55\00:34:48.68
The crisis of the
bridegroom's coming
00:34:48.92\00:34:52.35
symbolically reveals
the virgins' experience
00:34:52.49\00:34:56.36
with the things of God -
their relationship to Him -
00:34:56.49\00:34:59.69
and their true character.
Only one difference...
00:34:59.93\00:35:03.57
one difference separates
the foolish from the wise:
00:35:03.90\00:35:08.97
the lack of the all-
essential oil - the Holy Spirit.
00:35:09.40\00:35:15.41
Why is the oil so necessary
00:35:16.21\00:35:19.18
for our preparation
to meet our bridegroom?
00:35:19.31\00:35:21.88
Why is the Holy Spirit essential
to the life of a true Christian?
00:35:22.02\00:35:26.65
Why do we need the Holy Spirit
to enter the kingdom of God?
00:35:26.99\00:35:30.83
We know the Spirit brings
the oil of illumination to our
00:35:31.26\00:35:34.30
lamps... our
understanding of the Bible.
00:35:34.30\00:35:37.07
Paul tells us in the
second chapter of I Corinthians.
00:35:37.20\00:35:41.64
He says: "These
are spiritual words;
00:35:41.87\00:35:44.54
they're spiritually discerned.
00:35:44.67\00:35:47.71
And God has given you
the Spirit so you may know
00:35:47.94\00:35:51.85
what He has
freely given to you. "
00:35:51.98\00:35:54.85
And speaking of the
Holy Spirit in John 16:3
00:35:55.18\00:35:58.35
Jesus says: "But He, the
Spirit of Truth, when He comes
00:35:58.49\00:36:02.36
He will guide
you into all truth. "
00:36:02.49\00:36:04.79
But... but...
listen to what I'm saying:
00:36:05.13\00:36:10.07
This is hard to accept.
00:36:10.20\00:36:11.93
Even this does not
sufficiently explain the dilemma
00:36:12.17\00:36:16.57
between the wise and the foolish
00:36:16.71\00:36:18.64
because both of them
have the lamp of profession.
00:36:18.87\00:36:22.78
They're both holding on
to essentially the same true
00:36:23.01\00:36:27.35
doctrines.
They're both sitting here.
00:36:27.48\00:36:31.02
They've had deep Bible study.
00:36:31.05\00:36:33.79
So let's consider the difference
that the Holy Spirit made in the
00:36:34.12\00:36:38.76
lives of the wise virgins
00:36:38.79\00:36:42.63
and then we'll begin to
understand a little more
00:36:42.86\00:36:46.00
what's wrong with
these foolish virgins.
00:36:46.13\00:36:48.84
Please turn in your
Bibles to Ephesians chapter 3.
00:36:49.07\00:36:53.01
Ephesians chapter 3. We're going
to have to go a little rapidly.
00:36:53.14\00:36:57.15
Ephesians chapter 3.
The five wise virgins
00:36:58.45\00:37:02.98
possessed the Holy Spirit
00:37:03.42\00:37:06.05
and they were more than
merely united with the church.
00:37:06.39\00:37:10.93
They were united with the Lord.
00:37:11.16\00:37:13.53
He lived within their hearts
by the power of the Holy Spirit.
00:37:13.76\00:37:17.77
Let's read Ephesians 3
beginning with verse 14.
00:37:17.90\00:37:21.54
Paul writes to the
Ephesians saying this:
00:37:21.97\00:37:25.41
"For this reason I bow my
knees to the Father of our Lord
00:37:25.64\00:37:28.48
Jesus Christ from whom the
whole family in heaven and earth
00:37:28.51\00:37:31.78
is named. " Now here's
the reason he's praying:
00:37:31.81\00:37:34.92
"That He would grant you
according to the riches of
00:37:35.05\00:37:38.69
His glory to be
strengthened with might... "
00:37:38.72\00:37:42.32
with dunamis power...
00:37:42.46\00:37:44.83
How? "through His
Spirit in the inner man. "
00:37:44.96\00:37:50.23
Do you want power
for the Christian walk?
00:37:50.57\00:37:54.04
You have to have
the Spirit day by day.
00:37:54.27\00:37:57.47
You have to be
filled with the Spirit.
00:37:57.61\00:38:00.11
He also said: "So that... "
00:38:00.54\00:38:05.21
He wants the Spirit in
you "so that Christ may dwell
00:38:05.35\00:38:10.49
in your hearts through faith. "
00:38:10.72\00:38:13.86
Jesus doesn't
dwell in us bodily.
00:38:14.19\00:38:16.62
He dwells in us by
faith through the Holy Spirit.
00:38:16.76\00:38:21.86
"And so that you, being
rooted and grounded in love,
00:38:22.30\00:38:26.33
may be able to
comprehend with all the saints
00:38:26.37\00:38:29.24
what is the width and length
and depth and height to know
00:38:29.37\00:38:32.34
the love of Christ
which passes knowledge
00:38:32.47\00:38:35.21
that you may be filled
with all the fullness of God. "
00:38:35.34\00:38:40.42
You see it is
only by the Holy Spirit
00:38:40.58\00:38:43.15
that Christ can dwell
in us - His living temples.
00:38:43.39\00:38:47.92
Only by the Holy Spirit.
00:38:48.26\00:38:51.49
And Christ in us
is our hope of glory.
00:38:51.73\00:38:55.03
Now turn to
Galatians chapter 5 please.
00:38:55.46\00:38:58.90
Again we're looking at the wise.
00:38:59.90\00:39:02.44
And Galatians chapter 5 shows
that the wise walk in surrender
00:39:02.67\00:39:07.91
depending upon the Spirit.
00:39:08.04\00:39:10.38
Being led by the Spirit.
00:39:10.51\00:39:12.61
And as we read these scriptures
I pray that each one of us
00:39:12.65\00:39:15.85
examines our heart and
says: "Am I like the wise? "
00:39:15.98\00:39:20.76
Galatians 5 and verse 16.
00:39:21.09\00:39:23.39
Paul says: "I say then
walk in the Spirit and... "
00:39:23.83\00:39:29.76
parenthetically, as a result...
00:39:30.60\00:39:32.67
"if you walk in the Spirit
you shall not fulfill the lusts
00:39:32.80\00:39:37.57
of the flesh. " See,
only a Spirit-empowered walk
00:39:37.61\00:39:41.28
can help us overcome
the tendencies of the flesh
00:39:41.51\00:39:44.58
which Paul now goes on to list.
00:39:44.81\00:39:46.55
But we will skip down to
the good part... Galatians 5:22.
00:39:46.78\00:39:50.95
He says: "But the fruit of
the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
00:39:51.12\00:39:54.56
longsuffering,
kindness, goodness,
00:39:54.79\00:39:57.26
faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control.
00:39:57.39\00:40:00.13
Against such there is no law.
00:40:00.26\00:40:03.26
And those who are Christ's...
" Those who are wise virgins...
00:40:03.50\00:40:08.94
"have crucified the flesh... "
00:40:09.27\00:40:13.27
They have died to self.
00:40:13.51\00:40:15.78
"crucified the flesh
with its passions and desires.
00:40:15.91\00:40:19.21
If we live in the
Spirit... " and we do...
00:40:19.55\00:40:22.22
"let us also
walk in the Spirit. "
00:40:22.65\00:40:24.95
You see, the wise, having
received Christ as their Savior
00:40:26.15\00:40:30.59
and the imputed
righteousness of His record -
00:40:30.63\00:40:34.96
you know, imputed means it's
something that's been credited
00:40:35.20\00:40:38.07
to us... it's that
first stage of salvation -
00:40:38.20\00:40:41.90
justification by
faith which is an act of God
00:40:42.04\00:40:46.74
We have nothing... I mean
this is just God doing this...
00:40:46.88\00:40:50.28
They had received that
but they had also experienced
00:40:50.51\00:40:55.58
the second stage of salvation
which is sanctification
00:40:55.72\00:41:01.42
by faith. They
made Jesus not only
00:41:01.56\00:41:06.06
Savior but Lord of their lives.
00:41:06.29\00:41:09.83
They surrendered control.
00:41:10.00\00:41:12.67
And by the Holy Spirit
Christ living in their hearts
00:41:12.90\00:41:16.57
through faith, they received
His imparted righteousness.
00:41:16.71\00:41:21.01
Something was
poured into their hearts,
00:41:21.34\00:41:23.55
into their minds, as
they allowed the Holy Spirit
00:41:23.68\00:41:26.65
to empower them. To
influence their conduct
00:41:26.98\00:41:31.35
and subdue their sins.
00:41:31.59\00:41:33.69
The Spirit-empowered
sanctification process
00:41:34.02\00:41:36.59
made all the difference.
00:41:36.76\00:41:38.39
It was more than their
records that were changed.
00:41:38.73\00:41:41.26
Their hearts were transformed
00:41:41.30\00:41:42.93
through the sanctifying
influence of the Holy Spirit.
00:41:43.06\00:41:46.67
Paul in II Thessalonians
2:13 and Peter in I Peter 1:2
00:41:47.50\00:41:51.91
both speak of
salvation through sanctification
00:41:52.14\00:41:56.95
by the Spirit.
Sanctification is a work of God.
00:41:57.08\00:42:02.02
Now turn quickly to
John chapter 14 because
00:42:02.28\00:42:04.62
Jesus here shows us
how this work begins...
00:42:04.75\00:42:09.56
how God begins to
work in our hearts.
00:42:10.96\00:42:13.40
John chapter 14.
We're going to look at some
00:42:13.53\00:42:15.80
familiar scriptures and
look at it a little differently.
00:42:15.83\00:42:18.33
The wise allowed God to
work in them to will and to do
00:42:18.57\00:42:21.67
His good pleasure.
Walking in joyful obedience
00:42:21.70\00:42:25.87
that was motivated by love and
empowered by the Holy Spirit.
00:42:26.01\00:42:29.74
John 14 and verse 15.
00:42:30.01\00:42:32.31
Jesus said: "If you love
Me, keep My commandments. "
00:42:32.55\00:42:36.62
God's biddings are
always His enablings.
00:42:36.99\00:42:40.79
So Christ continues now to
explain how He will empower
00:42:40.92\00:42:45.96
us to keep His
commandments. Look at this.
00:42:45.99\00:42:49.06
He says: "And I
will pray the Father
00:42:49.20\00:42:52.70
and He will give
you another Helper... "
00:42:52.93\00:42:55.97
Allos parakletos in the Greek
00:42:56.10\00:42:59.07
meaning He's going to send
someone to be your advocate,
00:42:59.21\00:43:02.91
your comforter, your counselor,
the One who walks beside you.
00:43:03.04\00:43:06.48
"who is just exactly like Me. "
00:43:06.51\00:43:11.29
This isn't... You're not
trading off a Mercedes Benz
00:43:12.39\00:43:16.76
for a Volkswagen or I'm
going to give you another car.
00:43:16.89\00:43:19.83
No, it would be
allos. Means, if you say
00:43:20.16\00:43:23.77
"I'm going to give you another
car" and you had a Mercedes
00:43:23.80\00:43:26.80
then "I'm going to give you one
that is exactly like it in every
00:43:26.94\00:43:30.74
detail... exactly like it. "
00:43:30.87\00:43:33.98
So He says: "I am sending Him
00:43:34.31\00:43:37.41
that He may abide
with you forever. "
00:43:37.55\00:43:39.91
Verse 17: "The Spirit of Truth
whom the world cannot receive
00:43:40.05\00:43:43.69
because it neither
sees Him nor knows Him.
00:43:43.72\00:43:46.02
But you will know Him
for He dwells with you
00:43:46.15\00:43:48.99
and will be in you. I
will not leave you orphans;
00:43:49.12\00:43:51.86
I will come to you. "
00:43:51.99\00:43:54.00
He was saying: "I will
live in your hearts by faith
00:43:54.30\00:43:59.07
through the Holy
Spirit who I am sending
00:43:59.20\00:44:02.87
who will empower you
to walk in obedience. "
00:44:03.00\00:44:06.81
Now turn quickly to Titus.
00:44:07.04\00:44:09.24
That's back in Paul's T
section. I and II Thessalonians,
00:44:09.38\00:44:12.85
I and II Timothy, then Titus.
00:44:12.98\00:44:14.98
We're going to
look at Titus chapter 2.
00:44:15.22\00:44:18.09
Titus chapter 2.
00:44:19.59\00:44:22.02
We know that the wise
00:44:22.46\00:44:24.46
experienced an
inward transformation
00:44:24.49\00:44:27.13
performed by the Holy Spirit.
00:44:27.36\00:44:30.00
Titus chapter 2, and
verse 11 is where we'll begin.
00:44:30.23\00:44:34.24
"For the grace of God that
brings salvation has appeared
00:44:35.84\00:44:40.38
to all men... " And
what does grace teach us?
00:44:40.51\00:44:44.05
"teaching us that denying
ungodliness and worldly lusts
00:44:44.28\00:44:48.15
we should live
soberly, righteously, and godly
00:44:48.38\00:44:50.99
in the present age.
Looking for the Blessed Hope
00:44:51.12\00:44:53.82
and glorious appearing
of our great God and Savior
00:44:53.96\00:44:56.89
Jesus Christ who
gave Himself for us... "
00:44:57.03\00:45:00.90
Why? "that He might redeem
us from every lawless deed
00:45:01.10\00:45:05.97
and purify for
Himself His own special people
00:45:06.00\00:45:09.67
zealous for good works. "
00:45:09.80\00:45:12.21
Now turn a couple of pages over
to Titus chapter 3 and verse 5
00:45:12.54\00:45:16.75
'cause this is where Paul
explains how this purification
00:45:16.78\00:45:20.98
process happens. He says:
00:45:21.02\00:45:24.02
"It's not by works of
righteousness which we have done
00:45:24.15\00:45:27.89
but according to
His mercy He saved us
00:45:28.12\00:45:31.99
through the washing of
regeneration and renewing
00:45:32.13\00:45:34.83
of the Holy Spirit. "
00:45:34.86\00:45:36.40
Sanctification
is the work of God.
00:45:36.83\00:45:40.24
Yes, it requires our cooperation
but it is the work of God
00:45:40.27\00:45:43.87
through the Holy Spirit.
00:45:43.91\00:45:45.77
Now let's turn
to Romans chapter 8.
00:45:46.01\00:45:48.58
Romans chapter 8.
00:45:48.81\00:45:51.48
Turn quickly 'cause
we're nearly out of time.
00:45:51.71\00:45:53.88
Roman 8 where Paul
explains that the wise
00:45:54.32\00:45:58.02
received the spirit of adoption
and they were led by the Spirit.
00:45:58.15\00:46:03.59
Romans 8 and verse
13 is where we'll begin.
00:46:03.73\00:46:07.86
"For if you live according to
the flesh... " What's going to
00:46:08.36\00:46:11.47
happen? "you will
die. But if by the Spirit
00:46:11.50\00:46:15.47
you put to death... "
Two people are working...
00:46:15.70\00:46:18.97
two agencies are working here.
00:46:19.11\00:46:20.58
If by the
Spirit - by His power -
00:46:20.84\00:46:23.41
you, cooperating with Him,
put to death the deeds of your
00:46:23.55\00:46:27.12
flesh... You
can't do it on your own;
00:46:27.15\00:46:28.98
you can't do it
without His power...
00:46:29.12\00:46:30.45
but He's not going to do
it without your cooperation.
00:46:30.59\00:46:33.02
God does not
force His will on you.
00:46:33.46\00:46:35.52
"If by the Spirit you put
to death the deeds of the body,
00:46:35.86\00:46:38.66
you will live. For as many
as are led by the Spirit of God
00:46:38.79\00:46:43.53
these are the sons of God. "
00:46:43.67\00:46:45.70
In contrast we can deduce if
you are not led by the Spirit
00:46:45.93\00:46:49.94
you are not a child of God.
00:46:49.97\00:46:51.77
And he goes on
in verse 15 to say:
00:46:52.21\00:46:54.31
"For you did not receive the
spirit of bondage again to fear
00:46:54.34\00:46:57.15
but you received the spirit
of adoption by whom we cry out
00:46:57.18\00:47:00.38
'Abba, Father'
and the Spirit Himself
00:47:00.52\00:47:04.35
bears witness with our spirit
that we are children of God
00:47:04.49\00:47:09.62
and if children then heirs...
heirs of God and joint-heirs
00:47:09.76\00:47:12.99
with Christ if
indeed we suffer with Him
00:47:13.03\00:47:16.16
that we may also be
glorified together. "
00:47:16.20\00:47:18.90
Do you see why the
Holy Spirit is so important?
00:47:19.33\00:47:22.80
Now, keep your
Bibles open to Romans 8.
00:47:23.24\00:47:26.47
We're coming back
there in just a second.
00:47:26.51\00:47:27.98
The wise had the Holy Spirit
00:47:28.11\00:47:30.35
who is the source of
all spiritual virtues,
00:47:30.48\00:47:33.35
and the love and the light of
Christ shines out through them.
00:47:33.68\00:47:38.39
God's love had filled them,
00:47:38.62\00:47:40.66
and they loved God with all
of their heart, soul, mind, and
00:47:40.89\00:47:44.66
strength and they love their
neighbor as they love themself.
00:47:44.69\00:47:47.20
This kind of unselfish
love isn't possible for humans
00:47:47.50\00:47:52.80
without the Holy Spirit.
00:47:53.03\00:47:55.07
Thank God for the
promise of Romans 5:5
00:47:55.40\00:47:58.27
that says God pours out His love
into our hearts by the power
00:47:58.51\00:48:03.88
of the Holy Spirit
who He has given to us.
00:48:03.91\00:48:06.31
It is as the Holy
Spirit - the Spirit of God -
00:48:06.45\00:48:10.05
enters us that we
can draw on that essence
00:48:10.19\00:48:15.22
of God. God is love.
00:48:15.36\00:48:17.63
And one of my favorite verses...
We won't turn there but
00:48:17.76\00:48:20.40
oh I love this verse!
I Thessalonians - for you
00:48:20.53\00:48:24.00
who are taking notes -
I Thessalonians 3:12-13
00:48:24.03\00:48:27.44
which says this: "May
the Lord make you increase
00:48:27.67\00:48:31.61
and abound in love to
one another and to all
00:48:31.74\00:48:34.31
just as we do to you
00:48:34.54\00:48:36.31
so that He may establish your
hearts blameless in holiness
00:48:36.54\00:48:41.55
before our God and
Father at the coming of our Lord
00:48:41.68\00:48:44.65
Jesus Christ
with all His saints. "
00:48:44.69\00:48:47.42
Did you catch that?
I did it too quickly.
00:48:47.59\00:48:49.99
"May the Lord make you
increase and abound in love... "
00:48:50.43\00:48:53.50
Who's doing the work? God.
00:48:53.63\00:48:55.33
"so that... "
Here's the reason...
00:48:56.26\00:48:58.67
"so that He may
establish your hearts
00:48:59.00\00:49:03.74
blameless in holiness. " Do
you catch what Paul is saying?
00:49:03.87\00:49:09.08
As we grow in love
00:49:09.78\00:49:12.48
we grow in holiness.
00:49:12.61\00:49:14.85
But we've got to open
our hearts to the Holy Spirit
00:49:15.08\00:49:18.35
as the wise did so that
this love can be imparted to us.
00:49:18.49\00:49:23.86
The wise were clothed with the
robe of Christ's righteousness,
00:49:24.33\00:49:27.36
fitted with the wedding garment.
00:49:27.50\00:49:29.20
Their names were
in the Book of Life.
00:49:29.33\00:49:34.87
Now in contrast,
the five foolish virgins
00:49:35.20\00:49:38.64
lacked all the
essential ingredients.
00:49:38.77\00:49:40.71
They lacked the oil.
00:49:40.84\00:49:42.11
They were united with the
church but not with the Lord.
00:49:42.38\00:49:44.75
Their names were on
the church records but not
00:49:44.88\00:49:47.48
in the Book of Life.
00:49:47.72\00:49:49.38
The foolish were
attracted to the truth.
00:49:49.52\00:49:51.62
Perhaps they even taught
Sabbath School or had a degree
00:49:51.75\00:49:54.32
in religion but they failed
to recognize that even deep
00:49:54.36\00:49:58.13
Bible study is no
substitute for the Holy Spirit.
00:49:58.16\00:50:01.33
The foolish were familiar
with the theory of truth.
00:50:01.66\00:50:04.63
They had outward conformity
00:50:04.87\00:50:07.20
but their hearts
were not transformed.
00:50:07.24\00:50:10.01
You've got your finger
there in Romans 8. Let's look at
00:50:10.24\00:50:12.44
verse 9. Paul, writing to
the Romans, sums it up this way:
00:50:12.47\00:50:16.44
"But you are not in
the flesh but in the Spirit
00:50:17.35\00:50:21.35
if indeed the Spirit
of God dwells in you. "
00:50:21.58\00:50:25.19
But... listen up foolish ones:
00:50:26.82\00:50:29.56
"Now if anyone does not
have the Spirit of Christ
00:50:29.59\00:50:33.50
he is not His. "
00:50:33.63\00:50:37.17
You know, Paul further
describes these foolish ones
00:50:37.40\00:50:39.87
in II Timothy 3:1-5
00:50:39.90\00:50:41.80
saying that they had
"a form of godliness"
00:50:41.94\00:50:45.04
but they denied its power.
00:50:45.17\00:50:47.48
They attended
church, gave offerings,
00:50:47.71\00:50:50.01
but they refused to
receive the Holy Spirit.
00:50:50.25\00:50:53.52
They were cultural Christians.
00:50:53.75\00:50:56.28
They did not walk in obedience.
00:50:56.42\00:50:58.12
They were
carnal and backslidden.
00:50:58.39\00:51:01.16
They didn't have
enough love to obey.
00:51:01.39\00:51:03.96
Remember when Jesus said:
00:51:04.19\00:51:05.39
"If you love Me,
obey My commandments? "
00:51:05.43\00:51:07.13
That was John 14:15.
Well in verse 23-24 He says:
00:51:07.40\00:51:10.83
"If anyone loves Me,
He will keep My word.
00:51:10.97\00:51:12.93
My Father will love
him, and We will come to him
00:51:13.17\00:51:16.27
and make Our home with him. "
00:51:16.40\00:51:17.91
But now in contrast:
"He who does not love Me
00:51:18.04\00:51:21.24
does not keep My
words. " Consequently,
00:51:21.38\00:51:24.65
we can assume that the Father
and the Son won't make their
00:51:24.78\00:51:27.18
home. We just read it. If
you don't have the Holy Spirit,
00:51:27.22\00:51:31.69
you don't belong to Him.
00:51:31.72\00:51:33.19
We don't have time to
turn but I'm going to read
00:51:33.89\00:51:36.32
to you... Hmmm... Let
me read quickly from Jude.
00:51:36.46\00:51:40.96
Jude verse 3.
There's only one chapter.
00:51:41.86\00:51:44.50
Listen to this solemn warning:
00:51:46.40\00:51:50.24
"Beloved: while I was
very diligent to write to you
00:51:51.34\00:51:54.31
concerning our common salvation
I found it necessary rather
00:51:54.34\00:51:57.28
to write to you
exhorting you to contend
00:51:57.31\00:52:00.58
earnestly for the
faith which was once for all
00:52:00.72\00:52:04.02
delivered to the saints.
For certain men have crept in
00:52:04.05\00:52:07.16
unnoticed who long ago were
marked out for condemnation.
00:52:07.19\00:52:10.76
Ungodly men, who
turn the grace of our God
00:52:10.99\00:52:15.16
into lewdness... "
Saying: "You're saved by grace.
00:52:15.30\00:52:20.24
You can do whatever you want. "
00:52:20.37\00:52:21.74
"and by so doing they deny
the only Lord God and our Lord
00:52:22.07\00:52:26.27
Jesus Christ. " Now
here comes the warning:
00:52:26.31\00:52:28.58
"But I want to remind
you though you once knew this
00:52:28.71\00:52:32.15
that the Lord, having saved the
people out of the land of Egypt,
00:52:32.28\00:52:35.95
afterward destroyed
those who did not believe. "
00:52:36.08\00:52:40.62
Not once saved always saved.
00:52:40.99\00:52:43.22
"The angels who did not
keep their proper domain... "
00:52:43.46\00:52:45.96
"The angels He even
gave up and reserved them. "
00:52:49.16\00:52:54.60
The foolish had experienced
God's grace in the first stage
00:52:54.77\00:52:59.87
of salvation...
justification by faith...
00:52:59.91\00:53:02.48
but they did not in the
second... the sanctification.
00:53:02.51\00:53:07.75
Some of them were undoubtedly
very active in ministry.
00:53:08.18\00:53:12.02
But even service will not
compensate for the lack of
00:53:12.35\00:53:16.09
the Spirit. Jesus
said in Matthew 7:21-23
00:53:16.12\00:53:19.66
"Not everyone who
says to Me 'Lord, Lord'
00:53:19.79\00:53:21.86
shall enter the
kingdom of heaven. "
00:53:22.00\00:53:23.57
But who will enter?
"He who does the will of
00:53:23.80\00:53:26.57
My Father. Many will
say to Me in that day
00:53:26.60\00:53:29.97
'Lord, Lord... have we
not prophesied in Your name?
00:53:30.11\00:53:32.21
Cast our demons in Your name?
00:53:32.34\00:53:34.08
And done many
wonders in Your name? '
00:53:34.41\00:53:35.98
And then I will declare
to them: 'I never knew you.
00:53:36.01\00:53:39.28
Depart from Me you who
practice lawlessness. ' "
00:53:39.41\00:53:42.72
What does I John 3:4 say?
00:53:42.85\00:53:45.82
I John 3:4 says that
whoever commits lawlessness
00:53:45.95\00:53:48.89
commits sin. Sin is lawlessness.
00:53:49.02\00:53:51.03
The breaking of God's law.
00:53:51.16\00:53:52.76
And we know what
are the wages of sin?
00:53:52.89\00:53:55.30
Eternal death, but the
gift of God is eternal life.
00:53:55.63\00:53:59.33
Did you know? Some of
the foolish virgins...
00:53:59.93\00:54:05.94
Turn to Galatians 3. I
am going to take the time.
00:54:06.17\00:54:08.71
I don't know...
We're not even...
00:54:09.14\00:54:11.95
I need about 5 more minutes.
00:54:11.98\00:54:13.92
But I have to let you
see Galatians chapter 3.
00:54:14.12\00:54:17.02
Paul writes to the
Galatians and says:
00:54:18.79\00:54:20.92
"Oh foolish Galatians...
" You foolish virgins...
00:54:21.06\00:54:24.79
Galatians 3 verse 1:
00:54:25.23\00:54:27.00
"Who has bewitched you
that you should not obey
00:54:27.40\00:54:31.07
the truth before whose
eyes Jesus Christ was clearly
00:54:31.10\00:54:34.20
portrayed among
you as crucified?
00:54:34.24\00:54:36.24
This only I want
to learn from you:
00:54:36.57\00:54:39.21
did you receive the
Spirit by the works of the law
00:54:39.54\00:54:42.71
or by the hearing of faith? "
00:54:42.94\00:54:45.05
Are you so foolish?
Having begun in the Spirit
00:54:45.18\00:54:48.25
are you now trying to be
made perfect by the flesh?
00:54:48.38\00:54:54.26
And he goes on.
Here's his punch line
00:54:54.49\00:54:57.39
in chapter 5 verses 4 and 5.
00:54:57.53\00:54:59.66
Oh listen to this:
"You have become estranged
00:55:00.73\00:55:04.80
from Christ you who
attempt to be justified by law.
00:55:04.83\00:55:08.40
You have fallen from grace. "
00:55:08.64\00:55:12.74
You've fallen... the
foolish have fallen from grace.
00:55:13.51\00:55:17.45
Their names were blotted out.
00:55:17.58\00:55:19.41
They lacked the one
essential qualification:
00:55:19.55\00:55:22.62
the oil. Jesus is coming soon!
00:55:22.75\00:55:26.25
He's coming unexpectedly.
00:55:26.29\00:55:28.82
We're not going
to know the hour.
00:55:29.06\00:55:31.63
Are we prepared?
Do we have the oil?
00:55:31.86\00:55:34.96
It's not too late.
That's the good news.
00:55:35.30\00:55:38.73
Jesus said in Luke
chapter 11 and verse 9
00:55:39.17\00:55:43.14
that this lesson is two-fold
if you look at the parable.
00:55:43.27\00:55:46.47
It's two-fold. One: you
must have the Holy Spirit.
00:55:46.81\00:55:50.38
Jesus says: "Ask and
it will be given to you;
00:55:50.61\00:55:53.52
seek and you will find.
00:55:53.65\00:55:54.88
Knock, and the door
will be opened to you. "
00:55:55.02\00:55:57.09
God is so anxious to
give you His Holy Spirit.
00:55:57.42\00:56:02.72
We must ask for and receive
00:56:02.86\00:56:05.96
His Spirit by faith and
we must surrender control
00:56:06.09\00:56:08.86
of our lives to the Holy Spirit.
00:56:08.90\00:56:10.90
And the second
lesson of the parable
00:56:11.33\00:56:13.13
is that we must be watchful.
00:56:13.27\00:56:16.20
Watch, for our salvation is
nearer than we first believed.
00:56:16.47\00:56:20.38
Watch! We're not
children of the night.
00:56:20.71\00:56:22.64
We're children of the day.
00:56:22.88\00:56:24.95
Awake and cry out
for the Holy Spirit
00:56:25.18\00:56:27.82
and God will
gladly... gladly give you
00:56:28.05\00:56:32.25
of this all-essential oil.
00:56:32.39\00:56:35.29
We've got to guard
the precious relationship
00:56:35.72\00:56:40.50
that we have with the Lord.
00:56:40.63\00:56:43.26
I'm telling you: every day
you should be praying for grace.
00:56:43.90\00:56:48.17
You should never even
get out of bed till you pray
00:56:48.50\00:56:51.41
to be filled
with the Holy Spirit.
00:56:51.44\00:56:53.98
We have got to stand in
grace, to grow in grace,
00:56:54.31\00:56:58.91
to find our strength
in God's grace. Amen!
00:56:59.08\00:57:03.69
Watch...
00:57:04.72\00:57:06.15
for we are face to
face with eternity.
00:57:06.29\00:57:11.06
Oh how we need
God's Holy Spirit! Amen!
00:57:11.53\00:57:15.96
And He is more
anxious to give it to you
00:57:16.00\00:57:18.57
than you are to receive it.
00:57:18.70\00:57:20.47
Watch! We know
neither the day nor the hour
00:57:20.70\00:57:25.81
when the Son of Man is coming.
00:57:25.84\00:57:28.68
We must watch!
00:57:28.81\00:57:31.95