Welcome to Anchors Of Truth,
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live from the
3ABN Worship Center.
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Hello friends, welcome
to the 3ABN Worship Center
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where we are capping
off a five part series
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here at our Anchors Of Truth.
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Pastor Wintley
Phipps has, for some reason,
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I know that it was
not human, it was divine,
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to be able to communicate
four powerful messages now,
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and to cap it off
with a wonderful entitled,
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The Second Coming of Jesus.
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Very, very regular in the
title, but I can guarantee you
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this message is going
to be anything but regular.
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Can we say amen to that?
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We have been
blessed this morning.
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And I know that this afternoon
the Lord is not going to
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withhold His blessings from us.
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Wherever you're joining us
from, thank you for tuning in
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to this network that
believes in going and growing,
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preparing the world for
the soon coming of Jesus.
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So how fitting this message
that will be brought to us
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by Elder Wintley Phipps.
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He is world
renowned for so many things.
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Not only is he a dynamic
speaker, but he is a musician,
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a minister of music
with about 25 recordings.
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He has been around the world.
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He also is the CEO and founder
of the U.S. Dream Academy.
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He once
pastored on Capitol Hill,
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the Seventh-day Adventist
Church in Washington D.C.
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And that also has allowed him,
by God's grace, to be involved
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with the last six
Presidents of the United States.
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And still today he
has influenced in lives
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of individuals that we
only see and only meet.
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But to God be the glory.
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The Lord never puts you where
He does not plan to use you.
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And we know that
it's not by his influence,
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but by God's divine plan
that this man has been anointed
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to touch so many lives.
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He is a wonderful singer.
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And we have
been blessed by that.
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But more than the
persons he knows is the Person
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that knows him; and
that is Jesus Christ.
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He has been speaking
about revealing, reflecting,
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and also knowing Jesus.
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Having the character of
Christ is the most important
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preparation that anyone can make
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as we look forward to
the second coming of Jesus.
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The signs are important, but
the signs will do nothing but
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frighten you if you don't have a
relationship with Jesus Christ.
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And so we're going
to be blessed by music.
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Two of my favorite
songs; Jesus is Coming Again,
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and one that I had the
privilege of recording also;
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Until Then.
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And I cannot wait to hear that.
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So to give him all the
time that he is going to need,
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let's invite the presence
of God to continue with us.
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And after the word of
prayer, the next voice that
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you will hear will be
that of Elder Wintley Phipps.
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Let's pray together.
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Gracious Father in
heaven, what a blessing it is
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to know that You not only
call us, but You qualify us.
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And Your manservant has done
what You've called him to do;
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to speak to him,
through him, and for him.
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Anoint him once again, Father,
as he brings to us the message
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that You delivered
from Your table of grace.
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And may Your children,
Your servants, and even those
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looking for Jesus,
find in this message
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the joy of having a one
to one relationship with You
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that we may be ready;
for the signs foretell
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that the coming of our
Lord is not far distant.
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So use him today, Father,
to urge us to preparation.
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We pray in Jesus' name
and for His sake, amen.
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In our local audience, can
you welcome Elder Wintley Phipps
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with a hearty amen.
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Why stand ye gazing there
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up into the sky?
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Be not discouraged, for
we have brought good news.
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This same Jesus,
whom we do magnify,
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soon He will come
again for all to glorify.
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He is coming again,
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He is coming again.
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Son of the Father,
He is coming again.
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On Calvary He
claimed my destiny.
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Lord, I humble myself
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to Thee.
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Lord, I want to see Your face;
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just help me be strong.
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I know You will return;
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I know it won't be long.
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He is coming again,
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He is coming again.
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Son of the Father,
He is coming again.
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On Calvary He
claimed my destiny.
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Lord, I humble myself
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to Thee.
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Lift up the trumpet,
and loud let it ring;
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Jesus is coming again.
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Cheer up, ye
pilgrims, be joyful and sing;
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Jesus is coming again.
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Coming again, coming again;
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Jesus is coming again.
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Coming again, coming again;
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Jesus is coming again.
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Let us pray.
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Father, as we
open Your Holy Word,
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I ask that You would cleanse
me of all unrighteousness.
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Fill my life with Your Holy
Spirit's presence and power.
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Speak to me,
through me, and for me.
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And I promise You, Lord, I
will always give You the honor,
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the glory, and the praise.
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In Jesus' name I pray, amen.
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Praise the Lord.
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If you have your
Bible's with you,
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you can join me by
turning to the book of Matthew.
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And we'll read
beginning with verse 1.
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The book of Matthew chapter
25, beginning with verse 1.
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The Word of God says...
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May God add a blessing to
every reading of His Word.
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These ten young virgins, said
Jesus, clothed in white linen
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were waiting anxiously
for a wedding procession.
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Each held in their hands
a lamp, a lamp that was lit.
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All of them had
lamps that were lit.
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At their side, however, they
carried flasks, little vessels,
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that held extra oil.
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As the hours passed, those
waiting to celebrate the wedding
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became impatient
because of the delay.
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And we are told that
everyone fell asleep,
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unaware that their lamps
had begun to flicker and go out.
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But suddenly at midnight,
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in the deepest,
darkest hour of the night;
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midnight, when
every heart had faltered
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and every soul was asleep;
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midnight, that fabled
hour of crisis and trial;
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midnight, that hour that
is every parent's nightmare;
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midnight...
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The Bible says that at
midnight a cry was made
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rousing the resting
maidens from their sleep,
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"The bridegroom has arrived.
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Let us go out to meet him."
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All ten maidens spring to
their feet in time to hear
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the happy couple singing
their song of love and promise.
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They leap to their
feet intending to join
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the triumphant
procession as it passes by.
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Instinctively and carefully,
they begin to fill their lamps
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with oil.
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The Bible says that
all of the virgins rose
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and trimmed their lamps.
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Which means they
all adjusted their lamps
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and made ready to light them.
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But five of the virgins realized
their flasks, which were
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suppose to have that extra oil,
in fact have no oil in them.
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You see, they had
not made preparation
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for an emergency of this nature.
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They did not
anticipate such a lengthy delay.
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And so in the dark of night,
their failure is made apparent
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and their lack of
judgment is exposed.
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The bridegroom has
returned, and they are unready.
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Those five foolish virgins,
they had time and extended
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probationary opportunity,
but they were living
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with a presumption of readiness.
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As they realized
the folly of their ways,
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they began to
partition their companions to
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share a little bit
of their oil with them.
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"We cannot," said their friends.
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"We cannot share
any of our oil with you.
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We have already
filled our lamps.
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We have already used the
extra oil we had prepared
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and set aside.
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And there is no more
oil left in our flasks.
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Hurry," they said, "perhaps
you can go and try and buy
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some from those who might sell."
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Seven Eleven, perhaps.
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Wal-Mart, maybe.
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As politely as they
could, the five wise virgins
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were saying to the
five foolish virgins,
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"Our preparation
is not transferrable."
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"Hurry," said the five
virgins to their friends,
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"run and try to buy some oil,
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and meet us back at
the bridegroom's house."
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And so they went, said
Jesus, to buy their oil.
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You know, brothers and sisters,
I have a special respect
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for people who
have to stay ready.
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I have a special respect for
firemen, for first responders.
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Because more than
anyone I know, these are people
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who have to live in
a state of readiness.
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When they sleep, you
might as well say they sleep
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with one eye one.
00:16:25.11\00:16:27.02
When they lay down,
their clothes are laid out,
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their equipment
primed and ready.
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If they grab a bite to eat,
their radios are in their hands.
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They are always ready to go.
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Now from the reading of
the text, it seems to me
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that the five foolish
virgins could not find any oil
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at that hour of the night.
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So they decided that they would
show up at the wedding anyway.
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But by the time they
reached the bridegroom's house,
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they found that
the door was shut,
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the windows were shuttered,
their probation had closed.
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They knocked and pleaded
with the celebrants inside
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to open the
door and let them in.
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Instead, they heard the voice of
the bridegroom saying to them,
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"Who are you?
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And from whence have you come?
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I cannot open the door to you,
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for I know you not."
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Now brothers and sisters, on
the surface this may seem like
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just another sad
parable about five virgins
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left out in the cold,
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five virgins
standing alone in the dark.
00:17:45.96\00:17:48.76
Just another depressing
story about five foolish virgins
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dressed up with no place to go.
00:17:54.24\00:17:56.84
And yes, it is true,
this narrative told by Jesus
00:17:57.24\00:18:02.31
is one of the most serious
warnings in all of Scripture.
00:18:02.51\00:18:07.62
It is true, it is a warning
directed, not at the world,
00:18:08.12\00:18:15.22
but at those who claim
to have surrendered to the
00:18:15.69\00:18:19.19
lordship of Christ.
00:18:19.23\00:18:21.43
It is a warning directed
to all who see themselves
00:18:21.83\00:18:26.70
as candidates for the kingdom,
00:18:26.74\00:18:29.67
and all who serve
the church in ministry.
00:18:29.77\00:18:33.78
It is a solemn warning
that an inordinate number of us
00:18:34.58\00:18:38.98
who call Him Lord,
who teach Sabbath school,
00:18:39.01\00:18:43.85
who usher, who deacon,
00:18:44.55\00:18:47.52
who are well-meaning
and well-intentioned,
00:18:47.92\00:18:50.23
that when the accounts
are tallied and every case
00:18:50.26\00:18:54.13
is settled, that
many will be lost.
00:18:54.16\00:18:58.23
Many will be turned
away because they didn't have
00:18:58.43\00:19:02.70
what they were suppose to have.
00:19:02.74\00:19:05.61
Now, they knew what
they were suppose to know.
00:19:06.14\00:19:11.28
But they didn't have what
they were suppose to have.
00:19:13.72\00:19:18.55
They were praying people.
00:19:18.89\00:19:20.46
They were church
going, choir singing,
00:19:21.19\00:19:24.49
praise and
worship leading people.
00:19:24.79\00:19:27.80
They said, "Lord, Lord, have we
not prophesied in Thy name and
00:19:27.83\00:19:32.30
cast out devils in Thy name?
00:19:32.33\00:19:34.57
Done many wonderful works?"
00:19:34.60\00:19:36.67
"But who are you?" said Jesus.
00:19:37.01\00:19:39.87
"I never knew you.
00:19:40.24\00:19:41.98
You claim to know Me.
00:19:42.71\00:19:44.78
You even told
others we were close.
00:19:46.82\00:19:49.65
You carried on like you
knew Me, but you didn't know Me.
00:19:50.72\00:19:55.52
At the church board
meetings, the way you acted;
00:19:56.79\00:20:01.36
you didn't know Me.
00:20:02.13\00:20:03.57
You acted like a spoiled child
instead of a mature Christian."
00:20:05.00\00:20:10.67
Oh, I didn't plan to tell
this story, but I'll tell you.
00:20:11.47\00:20:13.41
It's a true story.
00:20:13.44\00:20:14.78
A friend of mine is a pastor.
00:20:14.81\00:20:16.14
And one of the church
members, board members,
00:20:16.44\00:20:20.22
make a mistake of
bringing to the board to have a
00:20:20.25\00:20:25.55
fundraiser a fish fry.
00:20:25.59\00:20:28.59
Now you know that
wasn't going over very well.
00:20:29.72\00:20:32.06
But the way they were going
at each other was cantankerous,
00:20:32.73\00:20:37.27
it was bitter.
00:20:37.30\00:20:38.63
And finally, my friend
who was the pastor, said
00:20:38.67\00:20:40.80
to one of the sisters,
"Sister, please, please.
00:20:41.00\00:20:43.84
Calm down.
00:20:43.87\00:20:45.34
Jesus ate fish."
00:20:45.71\00:20:47.68
And she came back and said,
00:20:49.11\00:20:50.51
"Yes, Yes, but that
doesn't make it right."
00:20:50.85\00:20:53.35
The way we acted,
"You didn't know Me."
00:20:56.15\00:20:59.72
I once read of a
lady who was arrested on
00:21:00.72\00:21:05.09
suspicion of car theft.
00:21:05.13\00:21:07.40
And she was taken
down to the station.
00:21:07.93\00:21:10.93
After being questioned by
the captain, she was let go.
00:21:11.33\00:21:14.80
But she was furious and
wanted to know what did she do
00:21:14.84\00:21:19.01
to warrant being
picked up and arrested.
00:21:19.04\00:21:22.21
The arresting officer said,
"Well, ma'am, I observed you
00:21:22.41\00:21:26.18
at the traffic light.
00:21:26.21\00:21:27.55
And when it changed, the
person ahead of you didn't move,
00:21:27.58\00:21:31.12
and you started honking
and screaming and cursing.
00:21:31.15\00:21:35.52
And then I saw the bumper
sticker on your car saying,
00:21:35.56\00:21:38.83
'Follow me to Sabbath school.'
00:21:38.86\00:21:41.10
And I assumed
the car was stolen."
00:21:41.13\00:21:43.57
Jesus said to those
virgins, "Who are you?
00:21:46.53\00:21:50.47
I didn't know you.
00:21:51.17\00:21:52.71
I don't know you.
00:21:52.74\00:21:54.41
Mean. I don't know you.
00:21:55.34\00:21:58.11
Ornery, cantankerous,
vindictive, spiteful,
00:21:58.15\00:22:03.99
cruel, malicious, nasty.
00:22:04.59\00:22:08.92
I don't know you.
00:22:09.46\00:22:10.89
Hurtful, unkind.
I don't know you.
00:22:11.06\00:22:16.13
I sought your companionship
at the breaking of every dawn.
00:22:16.63\00:22:20.64
You seldom came.
00:22:21.17\00:22:22.97
I waited for you in
the cool of the day.
00:22:23.30\00:22:25.77
You never came.
00:22:27.08\00:22:28.58
When trials came to
your life, I thought for sure
00:22:28.61\00:22:31.38
you'd call on Me, but you
went elsewhere in search of
00:22:31.41\00:22:34.42
your blessing and your comfort.
00:22:34.45\00:22:36.28
You called up earthly friends
and told them your problems
00:22:36.72\00:22:39.55
and your needs.
00:22:39.59\00:22:40.92
I hoped someday you'd see
the light and walk by faith
00:22:41.02\00:22:44.09
and not by sight.
00:22:44.13\00:22:45.93
But you went it alone.
00:22:45.96\00:22:47.76
And in the
shadows, I wept for you.
00:22:47.86\00:22:51.57
I never knew you."
00:22:52.53\00:22:54.04
Yes it is true, brothers
and sisters, this is a parable
00:22:55.10\00:22:59.27
about astounding complacency.
00:22:59.31\00:23:02.24
It is about
inexcusable negligence.
00:23:02.44\00:23:06.95
It's about
gamblers in the church.
00:23:07.25\00:23:10.52
Gambling that their superficial
will pass for substance.
00:23:11.05\00:23:16.19
They're gambling that
pretense will pass for power.
00:23:17.26\00:23:22.16
They are gambling
that barren branches
00:23:22.56\00:23:25.80
will somehow bear fruit.
00:23:25.83\00:23:27.97
But those five foolish
virgins had miscalculated.
00:23:28.24\00:23:31.91
And just when they needed their
vessels trimmed and burning,
00:23:31.94\00:23:36.68
they are left behind
because their flasks have
00:23:36.78\00:23:41.08
no oil in them.
00:23:41.12\00:23:42.88
Now notice, the
bridegroom does not rebuke them
00:23:43.45\00:23:47.12
for their evil deeds.
00:23:47.16\00:23:49.12
And I'm sure there were many.
00:23:49.16\00:23:51.03
He does not reprove them
for sins they forgot to confess.
00:23:51.33\00:23:56.26
And I'm sure there
were many of those.
00:23:56.30\00:23:58.37
They just weren't ready.
00:23:59.43\00:24:02.60
He does not say,
"My house is crowded,"
00:24:03.00\00:24:05.14
or, "The banquet house is full."
00:24:05.17\00:24:07.31
All he says is,
"I never knew you."
00:24:07.34\00:24:12.75
Brothers and sisters,
Jesus is the Bridegroom who is
00:24:13.82\00:24:18.45
about to return for His bride.
00:24:18.49\00:24:21.29
He is coming for His church.
00:24:22.02\00:24:24.19
And everyone who is under
the sound of my voice today
00:24:24.43\00:24:28.20
will fall into one
of those two categories.
00:24:28.23\00:24:32.57
We are either wise virgins
or we are foolish virgins.
00:24:33.13\00:24:39.64
For the next few moments,
let me tell you what it means
00:24:39.94\00:24:44.15
to be a wise virgin.
00:24:44.35\00:24:47.25
First of all, wise virgins
understand that to know Him
00:24:47.78\00:24:52.75
is to be ready.
00:24:52.85\00:24:54.19
For this is life
eternal; to know Him.
00:24:54.22\00:24:58.59
Wise virgins understand that
the coming of the Bridegroom
00:24:58.89\00:25:02.26
does not change
foolish virgins into wise ones.
00:25:02.73\00:25:08.27
Oh, you didn't hear me today.
00:25:08.60\00:25:10.14
The coming of the
Bridegroom does not change
00:25:10.44\00:25:13.48
foolish virgins into wise ones.
00:25:13.51\00:25:16.34
But most important,
wise virgins understand
00:25:16.64\00:25:21.62
that the oil in their
lamps represents the work
00:25:21.88\00:25:27.26
of the Holy Spirit in
the development of character
00:25:27.29\00:25:31.79
that looks like
the character of Jesus.
00:25:31.83\00:25:35.00
That is the oil.
00:25:35.33\00:25:38.03
Character that looks
like the character of Jesus.
00:25:38.73\00:25:43.94
Oh, praise the Lord.
00:25:44.47\00:25:45.81
You see, these
five foolish virgins,
00:25:46.14\00:25:48.38
they kept the Sabbath too.
00:25:49.08\00:25:50.98
They believed in the Scriptures.
00:25:52.18\00:25:53.78
"Verily, verily, My
Sabbaths ye shall keep."
00:25:53.82\00:25:56.18
It is a sign. They
believed in the sign.
00:25:56.38\00:25:58.89
What they didn't
know was that the Sabbath,
00:25:59.05\00:26:01.16
as we spoke about
earlier, was a sign of
00:26:01.19\00:26:04.49
and is suppose to be a
sign of sanctification.
00:26:04.53\00:26:08.83
The five foolish
virgins kept the Sabbath.
00:26:09.10\00:26:13.57
Did you hear me today?
00:26:14.44\00:26:16.00
But they didn't know that
Sabbath is suppose to be a
00:26:16.34\00:26:19.97
sign of sanctification.
00:26:20.01\00:26:22.21
Brothers and sisters,
if you keep the Sabbath
00:26:23.08\00:26:25.11
and don't have His character,
you are a foolish virgin.
00:26:25.15\00:26:31.25
Can I say that one more time?
00:26:32.32\00:26:34.52
If you keep the Sabbath
and don't have His character,
00:26:34.82\00:26:40.13
you are a foolish
virgin, not a wise one.
00:26:40.43\00:26:44.97
When Jesus comes, those
whose lives were made holy
00:26:45.43\00:26:48.84
by the truth they
knew will make it.
00:26:48.87\00:26:52.11
Those whose lives were not
made holy by the truth they knew
00:26:52.14\00:26:57.21
will be shut out.
00:26:57.31\00:26:58.65
They don't have the
oil of Holy Ghost filled
00:26:59.05\00:27:03.42
transformed character.
00:27:03.52\00:27:05.05
Did you know that the
servant of the Lord tells us
00:27:05.25\00:27:07.36
that the oil in the lamp
is Holy Ghost Spirit filled
00:27:07.56\00:27:12.69
transformed character?
00:27:12.73\00:27:15.20
Praise God.
00:27:16.10\00:27:17.43
Those who plan to be saints
must be first saints on earth.
00:27:17.67\00:27:23.00
When we leave this
earth and join the Bridegroom,
00:27:24.14\00:27:26.51
the oil in our lamp,
00:27:26.54\00:27:28.74
I said, the oil in
our lamp will be our
00:27:28.94\00:27:32.08
Holy Ghost filled character.
00:27:32.11\00:27:34.95
Praise God.
00:27:35.58\00:27:36.92
That's all you're going
to heaven with, by the way.
00:27:36.95\00:27:39.42
I read the other day
where Steve Jobs, the owner and
00:27:41.36\00:27:46.09
developer of Apple,
said, "I have no interest in
00:27:46.13\00:27:49.40
being the richest
man in the graveyard."
00:27:49.43\00:27:52.23
The reason the five wise virgins
could not share their oil
00:27:53.60\00:27:58.91
is because Holy Ghost
character is not transferrable.
00:27:59.24\00:28:06.61
Do you see it?
00:28:07.28\00:28:08.62
Even if someone wanted to
give you some of their oil,
00:28:08.92\00:28:12.25
character is not transferrable.
00:28:12.62\00:28:16.83
You got it?
00:28:17.39\00:28:18.73
Even if someone were
willing to make the sacrifice,
00:28:18.76\00:28:22.53
it is not transferrable.
00:28:23.06\00:28:25.47
Everybody has to work
out their own salvation
00:28:25.57\00:28:29.50
with fear and trembling.
00:28:29.54\00:28:31.07
Listen to what the
servant of the Lord says.
00:28:31.77\00:28:33.48
The wise virgins
know you don't retaliate
00:28:51.79\00:28:54.33
when somebody is coming at you.
00:28:54.63\00:28:56.77
Oh, if we could have
more of that in our homes.
00:29:17.02\00:29:20.59
Amen? We would
have happier homes.
00:29:21.12\00:29:23.79
When someone is coming at
you, your husband, your wife,
00:29:23.96\00:29:26.09
your children, don't retaliate.
00:29:26.13\00:29:28.86
Instead, reveal Christ.
00:29:28.90\00:29:31.70
Amen. You know how
much pain would be avoided
00:29:32.43\00:29:35.40
if we learned that lesson?
00:29:35.57\00:29:37.01
Don't retaliate.
00:29:37.04\00:29:39.14
Reveal Christ.
00:29:39.41\00:29:41.41
When you're under
attack, reveal Christ.
00:29:41.84\00:29:44.61
She also says...
00:29:44.85\00:29:46.18
Friends, when Jesus,
the Bridegroom, comes again
00:30:01.56\00:30:03.67
for His bride, there are
going to be church members
00:30:03.70\00:30:06.80
who are going to say to
Jesus, "What do you mean
00:30:07.00\00:30:10.47
I can't go to heaven?
00:30:10.51\00:30:12.11
And what does my
character have to do with
00:30:12.84\00:30:15.84
going to heaven anyway?"
00:30:15.88\00:30:18.05
It has everything...
00:30:18.78\00:30:20.82
Did you hear me today?
00:30:21.38\00:30:22.82
It has everything to
do with going to heaven.
00:30:22.85\00:30:25.95
Now I'm going to give
you some quotations from
00:30:25.99\00:30:28.62
the spirit of prophecy.
00:30:28.66\00:30:29.99
I want you to be ready for this.
00:30:30.03\00:30:31.49
Look at it now, the first one.
00:30:31.93\00:30:33.36
You're not
going to believe this.
00:30:34.53\00:30:36.00
Look at the next one.
00:30:52.81\00:30:54.15
Look at the next one.
00:31:14.24\00:31:15.57
Whoa! My, my, my.
00:31:52.61\00:31:54.38
Look at the next one.
00:31:54.41\00:31:55.74
You know, I've got
to read that one again.
00:32:17.67\00:32:19.93
I said, I have to
read that one again.
00:32:20.17\00:32:22.34
"If in this life we are
like Him in character..."
00:32:22.37\00:32:26.47
I've got a couple more.
00:32:44.96\00:32:46.66
Listen to this.
00:32:46.70\00:32:48.03
"Those who enter
heaven must be..."
00:32:48.06\00:32:51.97
If we don't have His
character, we will spoil heaven.
00:33:06.45\00:33:11.89
And I'm sure God is saying,
"I've been through this before.
00:33:13.25\00:33:16.76
And I'm not going to
go through it again."
00:33:18.09\00:33:20.20
Oh my.
00:33:21.33\00:33:22.66
And look at this final one.
00:33:22.70\00:33:24.03
Well, I've got a couple more.
00:33:24.60\00:33:26.74
And I have this
final one for you.
00:34:09.84\00:34:12.08
Can it be more clear?
00:34:30.73\00:34:32.63
The history of Christianity,
however, is replete with
00:34:33.67\00:34:36.87
evidence that even those
who bear the name of Christ
00:34:36.91\00:34:42.51
can be very cruel.
00:34:42.54\00:34:44.45
I often wonder, when the world
sees how we, as Christians,
00:34:44.98\00:34:48.95
treat one another, what
does that say to the world
00:34:48.98\00:34:53.36
about Christ?
00:34:53.39\00:34:54.92
I look at politicians who
claim they are Christians,
00:34:55.26\00:34:58.83
and how they are attacking and
maiming and hurting each other,
00:34:58.86\00:35:03.10
and I say to
myself, "What does that say
00:35:03.13\00:35:06.17
about the Christ
they profess to serve?"
00:35:06.20\00:35:10.21
Christians who cannot rise
above pettiness and meanness
00:35:11.67\00:35:16.14
are bad advertising for Jesus.
00:35:16.48\00:35:19.71
If we are not examples
of kindness and courtesy and
00:35:20.85\00:35:24.59
civility and decency,
we compromise our witness.
00:35:24.62\00:35:28.92
And the world will
listen to very little
00:35:29.12\00:35:31.93
of what we have to say.
00:35:31.96\00:35:33.83
No amount of preaching
can overcome a church member's
00:35:34.10\00:35:39.63
witness of a poor
unChrist-like character.
00:35:39.67\00:35:43.54
Oh, I know what I'm tell you.
00:35:44.24\00:35:45.57
No amount of Bible
reading can counteract
00:35:45.61\00:35:49.24
a Christian with a bad attitude.
00:35:49.28\00:35:52.11
People don't care about
what you know until they know
00:35:53.18\00:35:56.25
that you care about your
relationship with Christ.
00:35:56.45\00:36:00.09
One writer said, "I
would rather see a sermon
00:36:00.12\00:36:03.12
than hear one any day."
00:36:03.63\00:36:06.59
And that's why it's
so important that leaders
00:36:06.80\00:36:09.00
in our local churches try to
live so that their characters
00:36:09.03\00:36:15.87
have the stamp and
the blessing of heaven.
00:36:15.90\00:36:19.17
A knowledge of Christ avails
us nothing unless we become
00:36:19.67\00:36:23.78
like Him in character,
unless we bear His likeness.
00:36:23.81\00:36:28.32
Somebody ought to look at you
and say, "Did I just see Jesus?"
00:36:28.78\00:36:32.62
The five wise virgins
went home with the bridegroom
00:36:34.46\00:36:38.16
because they had their oil.
00:36:38.66\00:36:40.93
And remember, the oil represents
the work of the Holy Spirit
00:36:40.96\00:36:47.14
in your life and the
development of character
00:36:47.17\00:36:51.07
that looks like Jesus.
00:36:51.17\00:36:53.78
That's why the oil
is not transferrable.
00:36:53.98\00:36:57.95
These five wise
virgins knew the Lord.
00:36:58.25\00:37:00.62
They knew Him intimately,
they knew Him passionately.
00:37:01.22\00:37:03.99
They knew the Lord.
00:37:04.09\00:37:05.42
Their
relationship with Jesus was not
00:37:05.45\00:37:07.02
peripheral or superficial.
00:37:07.06\00:37:08.69
It was at the core and
essence of who they were.
00:37:08.79\00:37:11.46
They knew the Lord so
well that in their character
00:37:11.49\00:37:14.53
they resembled, reflected, and
revealed the character of Jesus.
00:37:14.56\00:37:19.00
In the theatre of their
struggle with sin in the world,
00:37:19.10\00:37:22.30
their relationship
with Jesus was center stage.
00:37:22.34\00:37:26.44
And they knew it.
00:37:26.68\00:37:28.01
They weren't distracted
by foolishness or sidetracked
00:37:28.04\00:37:32.01
by trifling stuff.
00:37:32.05\00:37:33.85
Oh, I want you to
know, I have been learning
00:37:34.22\00:37:37.05
more and more in my life
that the default consciousness
00:37:37.09\00:37:42.62
of our lives ought
to be communication
00:37:42.66\00:37:46.43
and communing with God.
00:37:46.63\00:37:48.66
Your default stream of
consciousness ought to be
00:37:49.60\00:37:54.20
prayer and communication
and communing with God.
00:37:54.40\00:37:58.87
And anything else that
happens, you ought to see it
00:37:59.37\00:38:02.44
as a distraction.
00:38:02.48\00:38:03.95
And when the distraction is
over, go back to your default
00:38:05.28\00:38:09.18
stream of consciousness;
00:38:09.55\00:38:11.85
communing with God.
00:38:12.82\00:38:14.99
Those five wise virgins,
every day they found comfort
00:38:15.22\00:38:18.79
in His companionship.
00:38:18.83\00:38:20.33
They rehearsed His promises.
00:38:20.36\00:38:22.23
They were uplifted by the
chronicle of His miracles,
00:38:22.26\00:38:25.83
His testament, His mighty deeds.
00:38:25.87\00:38:27.57
They knew Him.
00:38:27.60\00:38:28.94
And one day, I want you
to know, the Lord says that
00:38:29.37\00:38:32.94
every day, by the way,
you become more and more
00:38:32.97\00:38:35.98
like Him in character.
00:38:36.01\00:38:37.48
If you live for that goal,
it will be your experience.
00:38:37.51\00:38:41.42
I am praying
with all my heart...
00:38:42.58\00:38:45.39
This next anniversary,
I'll be married 40 years.
00:38:45.49\00:38:48.62
I am praying with all my
heart that each passing year
00:38:48.66\00:38:52.76
my wife lives with a husband
who looks more like Jesus.
00:38:52.79\00:38:59.17
That's my prayer.
00:38:59.67\00:39:02.30
Because I know I live
with a wife who, every year,
00:39:02.50\00:39:06.74
looks more like Jesus to me.
00:39:06.94\00:39:09.41
Some people act like
getting into heaven will happen
00:39:09.88\00:39:13.72
by obtaining a passing grade
on God's multiple choice exam.
00:39:14.32\00:39:19.62
It reminds me of the little
boy who visited his friend's
00:39:20.49\00:39:23.76
grandmother's house
on the way to school.
00:39:23.79\00:39:25.83
They always stopped and checked
in on his friend's grandma.
00:39:25.86\00:39:28.70
On the way back, they would
stop in and check with her.
00:39:28.73\00:39:31.17
And every time they went
by, they found grandma sitting
00:39:31.20\00:39:34.80
reading the Bible,
just reading the Bible.
00:39:35.00\00:39:37.11
On the way to school,
they would stop in and
00:39:37.14\00:39:39.01
she would be reading the Bible.
00:39:39.04\00:39:40.38
On the way back, they
would stop in and she would be
00:39:40.41\00:39:43.18
reading the Bible.
00:39:43.21\00:39:44.55
And one day his friend said
to the other friend, he said,
00:39:44.58\00:39:47.88
"Why do you suppose
that your grandmother
00:39:47.98\00:39:51.15
reads the Bible so much?"
00:39:51.19\00:39:53.25
And the other little
boy said, "I don't know.
00:39:53.42\00:39:55.96
Maybe it's because she's
cramming for her finals."
00:39:55.99\00:39:59.39
Getting into heaven is
not a test entrance to heaven.
00:40:01.53\00:40:05.60
Rather, it's not
a test of knowledge.
00:40:06.07\00:40:09.47
It is a test of character.
00:40:09.97\00:40:13.07
Oh, did you hear me today?
00:40:13.78\00:40:15.28
Peter is not going to
stop you at the gates and say,
00:40:16.58\00:40:18.51
"Oh by the way, what
does 2 John 1:9 say?"
00:40:18.55\00:40:22.02
Getting into heaven is
not a test of knowledge.
00:40:23.25\00:40:26.05
It is a test of character.
00:40:26.42\00:40:28.06
And if you truly know
the Lord, you will every day
00:40:28.09\00:40:31.13
become more like
Him in character.
00:40:31.16\00:40:33.46
It is the greatest
privilege of my life
00:40:34.20\00:40:37.50
to grow every day to
be like God in character.
00:40:38.37\00:40:43.00
I strive every
day to be like Him.
00:40:43.04\00:40:46.84
And I do it, not out of fear.
00:40:46.88\00:40:48.98
And this has been a
wonderful quantum leap for me.
00:40:49.01\00:40:52.25
I strive to be like Christ,
not out of fear of being lost.
00:40:52.45\00:40:58.82
I strive to be more
like Christ every day
00:40:58.92\00:41:01.89
because nothing makes
me happier than to see
00:41:01.92\00:41:08.03
spiritual growth
in my own character.
00:41:08.06\00:41:12.10
It makes me happy to grow more
every day to be like Christ.
00:41:12.87\00:41:19.57
And I know that
nothing makes the heart of God
00:41:19.61\00:41:23.14
more happy than to see me
growing to be more like His Son.
00:41:23.18\00:41:28.88
You know, I was
born in Trinidad.
00:41:29.78\00:41:31.42
And I remember I use to get
away from my parent's troubles.
00:41:31.45\00:41:36.32
I had a little red tricycle
and I'd go in the back yard of
00:41:36.86\00:41:41.20
my house and turn
the tricycle on its side
00:41:41.43\00:41:44.03
and use one of the backside
wheels as a steering wheel.
00:41:44.27\00:41:48.04
And I would sit there for hours
and I would dream that I was
00:41:48.07\00:41:51.17
flying all over the world
and meeting important people.
00:41:51.21\00:41:54.64
When we moved to Montreal,
Canada where I grew up,
00:41:55.18\00:41:57.58
my father use to
take us to the airport
00:41:57.61\00:42:00.08
to say goodbye to people.
00:42:00.12\00:42:01.45
Remember when going to
the airport was a big deal?
00:42:01.48\00:42:04.09
You use to pack a lunch
and it was serious, you know.
00:42:04.49\00:42:07.19
And my father would take
us there, and before leaving
00:42:07.29\00:42:09.36
the airport, I'd look around
to see if anybody was looking,
00:42:09.39\00:42:11.73
and I would grab a
handful of the luggage tags
00:42:11.93\00:42:15.33
and stuff them in my pocket.
00:42:15.36\00:42:17.43
And I'd go home and
close the door, get a pencil,
00:42:17.47\00:42:20.27
print my name, "Wintley
Phipps, flight 393, London."
00:42:20.30\00:42:23.94
"Flight 676, Paris."
00:42:24.57\00:42:26.88
And I had those dreams.
00:42:27.21\00:42:28.58
But I tell you, at 16 I
gave my life to Jesus Christ.
00:42:28.61\00:42:34.05
And ever since then, my life
has been filled with moments
00:42:34.28\00:42:38.69
of destiny, I call them.
00:42:38.72\00:42:40.32
Have you ever shown up somewhere
and you had a great blessing,
00:42:40.42\00:42:43.66
and you realize, five
minutes earlier you would have
00:42:43.69\00:42:46.49
missed your blessing,
and five minutes later
00:42:46.53\00:42:48.90
your blessing
would have missed you?
00:42:48.93\00:42:50.73
I remember, almost 30
years ago, I'm on a train,
00:42:51.07\00:42:55.54
an Amtrak train, going
from Baltimore to Philadelphia.
00:42:55.57\00:42:59.24
And on Amtrak, when
you don't want somebody
00:42:59.34\00:43:01.88
to sit next to you,
you learn how to camp out.
00:43:01.91\00:43:04.95
And you put your
papers all around you,
00:43:04.98\00:43:07.38
and your food around
you, and you send a message,
00:43:07.42\00:43:10.19
"Please find some
place else to sit."
00:43:10.22\00:43:12.55
Well this man had camped
out, but he looked really
00:43:12.99\00:43:16.49
discouraged to me.
00:43:16.52\00:43:17.86
He looked like he needed Jesus.
00:43:17.89\00:43:19.23
And there were
other seats available.
00:43:19.33\00:43:21.30
So I walked up to him
and I said, "Excuse me.
00:43:21.40\00:43:23.67
Is anybody sitting next to you?"
00:43:23.70\00:43:25.63
He said, "No."
00:43:25.77\00:43:27.10
And he smiled and he
pulled up his papers.
00:43:27.14\00:43:28.77
And his name was Chuck
Colson of Watergate fame
00:43:29.87\00:43:34.41
who went to prison
for the Watergate scandal.
00:43:34.44\00:43:36.98
And he came out and started
what has become the largest
00:43:37.25\00:43:40.38
prison ministry in the world.
00:43:40.48\00:43:43.18
He began taking me
into the prisons with him.
00:43:44.25\00:43:47.22
And he would
speak and I would sing.
00:43:47.46\00:43:49.16
And that's when I
realized God had called me
00:43:49.19\00:43:52.39
to a ministry to bring
help, tutoring and mentoring,
00:43:52.43\00:43:56.97
to children whose
parents are in prison.
00:43:57.00\00:44:00.30
And that's what I've done
with my life for over 20 years.
00:44:00.40\00:44:03.81
I've given leadership and
raised funds to help children
00:44:03.84\00:44:08.34
whose parents are in prison.
00:44:08.38\00:44:09.84
Because 70% of the
children who go to prison
00:44:09.88\00:44:14.32
come from the children
whose parents are in prison.
00:44:14.35\00:44:19.02
But God has shown me, even
that was a moment of destiny
00:44:19.15\00:44:23.29
for which I was created.
00:44:23.32\00:44:24.83
But more important, we
have to grow every day to be
00:44:24.86\00:44:29.46
more like the
character of Christ.
00:44:29.50\00:44:32.13
And that is the greatest
destiny I will ever know.
00:44:32.17\00:44:36.60
Praise His name.
00:44:37.17\00:44:38.57
Brothers and sisters,
the Bridegroom is coming.
00:44:38.81\00:44:41.98
And this is the
oil in our lamps;
00:44:42.21\00:44:45.15
that every day the
Holy Ghost in your life
00:44:45.35\00:44:49.48
will give you
the mind of Christ.
00:44:49.52\00:44:52.15
Every day you will be developing
into the character of Jesus.
00:44:52.19\00:44:57.16
The Bridegroom is coming.
00:44:57.19\00:44:58.83
And that is all that matters.
00:44:58.93\00:45:03.26
Are you resembling, reflecting,
and revealing Christ.
00:45:04.87\00:45:10.01
Remember I shared, the
name, Seventh-day Adventist,
00:45:10.04\00:45:13.48
is a name that tells the world
that we are looking for the
00:45:13.58\00:45:17.21
personal appearing of Jesus,
00:45:17.25\00:45:20.02
the inauguration of His
eternal reign on the earth.
00:45:20.05\00:45:23.05
But that name
should also tell the world
00:45:23.08\00:45:26.22
that our desire to be ready is
the primary goal of our lives.
00:45:26.25\00:45:32.19
Amen, amen.
00:45:32.43\00:45:34.13
We make it seem like that
name, Seventh-day Adventist,
00:45:34.53\00:45:38.23
is just so that we
can let everybody know
00:45:38.27\00:45:41.57
that Jesus is coming.
00:45:41.60\00:45:43.14
That is important, but for you,
my brother, for you, my sister,
00:45:43.17\00:45:47.78
the most important thing is
that you, in your character,
00:45:47.98\00:45:52.81
that you are ready.
00:45:52.85\00:45:54.18
What does it matter if the door
of eternity swings wide open
00:45:54.22\00:45:59.29
and you are not
ready to walk through it?
00:45:59.32\00:46:02.66
What does that matter
if the door of opportunity,
00:46:03.69\00:46:07.86
the door of eternity,
swings open and you're not ready
00:46:07.90\00:46:11.83
to walk through it?
00:46:12.03\00:46:13.50
We are living in the
time that corresponds exactly
00:46:13.77\00:46:18.31
with God's prophetic program.
00:46:18.34\00:46:20.94
It is a plan
outlined in His Word long ago.
00:46:21.34\00:46:24.38
And according to God's program,
we are living in the closing
00:46:24.41\00:46:29.52
days of earth's history.
00:46:29.55\00:46:32.15
You know, it is an awesome
realization that the very
00:46:32.99\00:46:36.86
next event on God's
blueprint, His calendar, is the
00:46:36.89\00:46:41.06
second coming of
His Son to this earth.
00:46:41.10\00:46:44.33
When we consider all that He has
predicted has already happened,
00:46:45.53\00:46:50.91
how can we not conclude
that the coming of Jesus
00:46:50.94\00:46:55.94
is even at the door.
00:46:56.04\00:46:57.78
Just what He said will happen
has happened, is happening.
00:46:57.98\00:47:02.75
And we rejoice today that
everything is coming along
00:47:02.78\00:47:07.29
right, and just
as God planned it.
00:47:07.32\00:47:10.46
This world cannot go
on this way much longer.
00:47:10.76\00:47:14.70
Now Peter said, "Seeing
then that all these things
00:47:15.26\00:47:20.74
shall be dissolved..."
00:47:20.77\00:47:23.61
Look at this scripture.
00:47:24.84\00:47:26.17
This is an amazing scripture.
00:47:26.21\00:47:27.84
2 Peter 3:10
00:47:27.88\00:47:31.05
Look at it if
you have your Bibles.
00:47:31.15\00:47:32.85
2 Peter 3:10, "But the
day of the Lord will come
00:47:32.88\00:47:36.75
as a thief in the
night; in the which the heavens
00:47:36.79\00:47:40.19
shall pass away with a
great noise, and the elements
00:47:40.29\00:47:46.06
shall melt with fervent heat..."
00:47:46.09\00:47:47.83
Oh my, my.
00:47:47.86\00:47:49.20
The day of the Lord is on
its way, brothers and sisters.
00:47:49.23\00:47:51.00
Somebody say amen.
00:47:51.03\00:47:52.37
"...the heavens will
pass away with a great noise,
00:47:52.83\00:47:56.07
and the elements shall
melt with fervent heat,
00:47:56.10\00:47:58.97
the earth also and
the works that are therein
00:47:59.01\00:48:01.98
shall be burned up."
00:48:02.08\00:48:04.21
And then look at this
next scripture, 2 Peter 3:11.
00:48:04.81\00:48:08.88
"Seeing," that we know, "that
these things shall be dissolved,
00:48:09.08\00:48:15.42
what manner of
persons ought we not to be..."
00:48:16.76\00:48:22.70
We ought to be
persons of holy conversation
00:48:22.73\00:48:26.90
and godliness.
00:48:26.94\00:48:30.27
And then it says, "...looking
for and hasting unto the
00:48:31.34\00:48:34.94
coming of the day of
God, wherein the heavens
00:48:34.98\00:48:37.35
being on fire shall be
dissolved, and the elements
00:48:37.38\00:48:40.22
shall melt with fervent heat?
00:48:40.25\00:48:41.72
Nevertheless we,
according to his promise,
00:48:41.82\00:48:44.55
look for new
heavens and a new earth,
00:48:44.59\00:48:46.62
wherein dwelleth righteousness."
00:48:46.72\00:48:48.76
Brothers and sisters, I believe
without a doubt that Jesus
00:48:48.79\00:48:52.49
is coming again soon.
00:48:52.53\00:48:54.80
And more important, get this,
more important than knowing
00:48:55.33\00:49:00.64
the day or the hour
is doing what we must do
00:49:00.67\00:49:04.97
to make sure we've
got oil in our lamps.
00:49:05.01\00:49:08.71
Amen?
00:49:09.51\00:49:10.85
What does it matter if we
know the details of prophecy
00:49:10.88\00:49:14.92
but we are not
prepared in our characters
00:49:14.95\00:49:17.95
for the fulfillment of prophecy?
00:49:17.99\00:49:20.36
We must be prepared.
00:49:21.42\00:49:22.76
The longer I live
the more convinced I am
00:49:22.79\00:49:25.23
that the time has come
for us to start looking
00:49:25.43\00:49:29.13
for a new
heaven and a new earth.
00:49:29.16\00:49:31.67
The time has come for us
to start turning our faces
00:49:31.70\00:49:35.40
to the eastern sky.
00:49:35.44\00:49:37.07
The time has come for
us to sanctify the Lord God
00:49:37.11\00:49:40.78
in our hearts, to make God
the object of all our worship
00:49:40.81\00:49:44.61
and our praise, the
object of our supreme regard.
00:49:44.65\00:49:48.68
And just as a farmer
looks forward to the harvest,
00:49:48.72\00:49:52.32
just as a prisoner looks forward
to the day he will be set free,
00:49:52.49\00:49:56.99
just as a king looks forward
to the day he will be crowned,
00:49:57.03\00:50:00.90
and a bride looks forward
to the day of her wedding,
00:50:00.93\00:50:04.67
we are looking for a
new heaven and a new earth.
00:50:04.70\00:50:09.47
We are looking for the
second coming of Jesus.
00:50:09.57\00:50:12.91
"Marvel not of this, for
the hour is coming in the which
00:50:13.27\00:50:17.11
all that are in the
graves shall hear His voice
00:50:17.21\00:50:20.85
and shall come forth."
00:50:20.88\00:50:22.45
Somebody, I'm getting
excited all by myself.
00:50:22.48\00:50:25.35
No one has ever lost a
loved one who has died in Christ
00:50:25.39\00:50:29.66
who has need to fear,
because we will see them again.
00:50:29.69\00:50:34.46
The second coming of
Jesus will raise the dead,
00:50:34.66\00:50:38.47
will reunite families.
00:50:38.50\00:50:40.80
He said, "I am the
resurrection and the life.
00:50:40.84\00:50:44.04
He that believeth in
Me, though he were dead,
00:50:44.07\00:50:46.91
yet shall he live."
00:50:46.94\00:50:48.28
"I am He that
liveth and was dead.
00:50:48.31\00:50:50.75
Behold, I am alive forevermore."
00:50:50.78\00:50:53.48
He said amen.
00:50:53.52\00:50:54.85
We ought to say amen.
00:50:54.88\00:50:56.32
I believe He is coming.
00:50:57.29\00:50:58.79
And He has promised that
all who put their trust in Jesus
00:50:58.82\00:51:03.49
will put on immortality.
00:51:03.53\00:51:06.39
But we must be ready.
00:51:06.59\00:51:09.50
And to be ready, we
must have His character.
00:51:10.40\00:51:14.57
His character is
the oil in our lamps.
00:51:15.34\00:51:20.88
Hallelujah.
00:51:21.84\00:51:23.35
Listen to the message in
this song that inspires us
00:51:25.45\00:51:29.78
and calls us to be ready
for the second coming of Christ.
00:51:29.82\00:51:34.96
My heart can sing
when I pause to remember
00:51:49.24\00:51:59.21
a heartache here is
but a stepping stone
00:52:00.12\00:52:09.76
along a trail that's
winding always upward.
00:52:10.46\00:52:20.44
This troubled world
is not my final home.
00:52:20.77\00:52:30.21
But until then my
heart will go on singing,
00:52:31.15\00:52:41.12
until then with
joy I'll carry on,
00:52:41.89\00:52:51.87
until the day my
eyes behold the city,
00:52:52.23\00:53:02.24
until the day God calls me home.
00:53:02.58\00:53:12.55
The things of earth
will dim and lose their value
00:53:18.79\00:53:28.77
as we recall
they're borrowed for awhile.
00:53:29.70\00:53:39.61
And things of earth that
cause the heart to tremble,
00:53:39.88\00:53:49.86
remembered there
will only bring a smile.
00:53:50.39\00:54:00.37
This weary world with
all its toil and struggle
00:54:00.84\00:54:10.78
may take its toll
of misery and strife.
00:54:11.48\00:54:21.06
The spirit of man is
like a waiting falcon;
00:54:21.36\00:54:31.33
when it's released,
it's destined for the sky.
00:54:32.53\00:54:42.51
But until then my
heart will go on singing,
00:54:43.38\00:54:53.39
until then with
joy I'll carry on,
00:54:53.66\00:55:03.60
until the day our
eyes behold King Jesus,
00:55:04.63\00:55:14.08
until the day God calls me home.
00:55:14.24\00:55:24.19
Until the day God calls
00:55:29.72\00:55:38.27
me home.
00:55:38.30\00:55:48.24
God calls me home.
00:55:49.31\00:55:59.29
Let us pray.
00:56:05.16\00:56:06.49
Lord, we are
living in perilous times.
00:56:08.80\00:56:12.33
Men are lovers of themselves,
00:56:14.17\00:56:16.91
covetous, and proud,
and unthankful, unholy;
00:56:18.14\00:56:24.18
everything You've said would
be the condition of this world
00:56:25.38\00:56:30.72
before You returned.
00:56:30.75\00:56:32.39
We are looking at it.
00:56:33.22\00:56:34.72
Truce-breakers, false accusers,
despisers of what is good,
00:56:36.09\00:56:42.50
lovers of pleasure
more than lovers of God.
00:56:43.43\00:56:47.57
And then as we look at
the church, we see too many
00:56:48.90\00:56:53.07
who have a form of
godliness, but not the power.
00:56:53.84\00:56:58.58
We see evil men and
seducers waxing worse and worse.
00:57:00.18\00:57:06.05
But we know that the
day of the Lord is near.
00:57:06.72\00:57:10.33
We know that when
they say peace and safety,
00:57:11.06\00:57:14.36
that sudden
destruction will come.
00:57:14.86\00:57:16.83
We know that the
coming of the Lord is near.
00:57:16.87\00:57:20.20
Help us to be
ready in our characters,
00:57:20.37\00:57:24.17
with our oil, to
meet the Bridegroom.
00:57:24.21\00:57:26.88
We pray in Your
name, amen and amen.
00:57:26.91\00:57:31.98