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>>John Bradshaw: This is It
Is Written. I'm John Bradshaw.
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Thanks for joining me.
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If you can remember the
1970s, what do you remember?
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Do you remember
the Rubik's cube?
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Ah, that was really
the 1980s, but nice try.
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Pacman; 1980s as well.
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I'm talking about the ‘70s.
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Watergate, 1972.
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Woodstock-nope, 1969.
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VCRs, Post-it notes, disco.
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It was a rough decade.
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Punk rock.
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A really rough decade.
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The Carpenters.
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Space Invaders.
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Presidents of the United
States were President Nixon,
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President Ford,
and President Carter.
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Margaret Thatcher came to power
in the United Kingdom in the
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1970s.
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The Vietnam War
ended in the ‘70s.
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Idi Amin, trouble
in Northern Ireland,
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Jim Jones, and, of
course, there's a lot more.
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The ‘70s were ten
years long, after all.
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But while you
may have missed ABBA,
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maybe you never wore a
powder-blue suit, ouch,
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if you never
flew on the Concord,
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there's something
you were affected by.
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And that was the oil crisis.
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In 1973, Arab oil-producing
nations took punitive steps
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related to the Yom Kippur War,
it drove the price of oil up
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from, wait for it,
$3.00 a barrel to $12.00.
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Now, today that
might not seem like a lot,
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but that was a 400% increase.
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As a result, in
the United States,
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most gas stations
didn't sell gasoline
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on Saturday nights or Sundays.
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There were long
queues at gas pumps.
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Cars with license plates
that ended in an odd number
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could buy gas only on
odd-numbered days of the month,
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or cars with plates
that ended in an even number
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on an
even-numbered day of the month.
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Now, there's an oil
crisis spoken of in the Bible.
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And this one will matter more
than anything we've ever seen.
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We read about it in
Matthew, chapter 25,
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in a parable Jesus taught.
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And as we look at
this passage of the Bible,
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we'll be
continuing our ongoing series,
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“Lessons for All Time,” looking
at the parables Jesus taught.
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So in Matthew 25,
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you've got Jesus urging us
to be ready for His return.
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He starts
Matthew 25 by telling us
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how to be ready for His return.
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So this is really important.
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It's for anybody who
wants to be ready for eternity,
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ready for the return of Jesus.
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You could just as
easily say Matthew 25,
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and this parable in particular,
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is for anyone who
wants to be saved.
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So let's look at this parable,
the parable of the ten virgins.
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We'll start in
Matthew, chapter 25, verse 1:
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“Then the kingdom of heaven
shall be likened to ten virgins
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who took their lamps and went
out to meet the bridegroom.”
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It worked like this:
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the bridegroom would go
to meet his bride at her home
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and bring her to his home.
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And as in this story,
there'd be a celebration,
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a feast, there'd
be a party planned.
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Now, notice, they were
going to meet the bridegroom.
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Remember, this is a parable.
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Many of the
components of a parable
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represent some
spiritual reality.
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They were waiting
for the bridegroom,
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symbolizing people who are
waiting for the return of Jesus.
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So this is talking
about people at the time
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of the return of Jesus Christ.
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And we believe that
that's not far away.
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Again and again in the Bible,
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we see the symbol
of a woman being used
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to represent the church.
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Jeremiah 6, verse 2, says:
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“I have likened
the daughter of Zion
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to a lovely and delicate woman.”
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In Revelation 12:17 it says:
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“And the dragon was
enraged with the woman,
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and he went to make war
with the rest of her offspring,
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who keep the commandments of God
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and have the
testimony of Jesus Christ.”
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In Second Corinthians
11, verse 2, Paul writes:
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“For I am jealous for
you with godly jealousy,
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for I have
betrothed you to one husband,
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that I may present you as
a chaste virgin to Christ.”
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So that's clear.
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When Jesus is speaking
about a group of women,
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He's using them as a symbol
to speak about the church,
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or His people
in the end of time.
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Jesus goes on to
say in the parable,
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in Matthew 25 and verse 2, that
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“five of them were
wise, and five were foolish.”
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So what is it that demonstrated
their wisdom or foolishness?
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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
their vessels with their lamps.”
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No oil.
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And that's a big deal, why?
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Now, the Bible is
talking about a lamp.
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If you were going
to be out at night,
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you wouldn't dream of not
taking an oil lamp with you.
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The parable tells us
that the groom was late
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at his wedding, late arriving.
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And while they
were waiting for him,
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they fell asleep.
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But then somebody called out,
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“Behold, the
bridegroom is coming.
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Go out to meet him.”
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The young women woke;
they prepared their lamps,
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and some of them came
to a shocking realization.
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They didn't have extra oil.
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Verse 8:
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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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The wise ones said that
they couldn't share their oil.
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And by the time the
foolish ones had purchased oil,
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the others had gone
into the wedding celebration.
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The door was looked.
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Those unwise,
those foolish ones,
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couldn't get in.
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They were locked out.
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Now, this might raise
some questions for you.
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Couldn't they have simply
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followed the
wise ones in the dark,
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taken hold of their arm,
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walked by the
light of their lamps?
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Now, remember,
this is a parable,
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not a documentary.
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This has to do with salvation.
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And the lesson is,
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you can't get by on another
person's spiritual preparation.
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It just isn't possible.
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Every person has
to make preparation
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for himself or herself.
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Every person must have a
personal relationship with God.
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In order to spend
eternity with God,
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you need to know
Him for yourself.
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Actually, that's worth
talking more about, isn't it?
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You can't get by on
your spouse's experience.
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You can't comfort yourself
knowing that Mum and Dad are
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surely going to go to heaven,
so therefore it's okay with me.
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It isn't enough
to sing in the choir;
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we've got to know
God for ourselves.
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It isn't enough
to know about God;
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it's important to know God.
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So how do we know God?
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Well, we know God by getting
acquainted with Him in His word,
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by spending time
with God in prayer.
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You know, it always
comes back to the basics.
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There are no shortcuts.
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And why would you want one?
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Why would we want to
spend time on this earth
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without knowing God?
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It makes no sense.
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And so in verse 11, the five
women without the oil arrive,
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and they're not
permitted to enter the feast.
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And Jesus says in verse 13,
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“Watch therefore, for you know
neither the day nor the hour
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in which the son
of man is coming.”
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Be prepared, Jesus says,
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and stay prepared.
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These five women
weren't prepared because they
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didn't have oil.
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And that oil represents
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olive oil? No.
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Motor oil? No.
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They were out of oil,
the oil that mattered.
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Such a problem.
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They were out of heaven.
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So what's that oil
that Jesus is telling us
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we absolutely have to have?
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I'll tell you in just a moment.
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¤[Music]¤
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The gift of the Holy Spirit.
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But how do we take hold of it?
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To learn more, request
your free copy of the booklet
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“The Gift of the Spirit.”
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Simply call 800 -253-3000.
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If the line is
busy, please try again.
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Or write to It Is Written,
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P O Box 6,
Chattanooga, TN 37401.
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We'll mail a free copy to
your address in North America.
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That toll-free number
again is 800-253-3000,
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and our web
address is itiswritten.com.
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¤[Music]¤
00:10:03.03\00:10:05.10
Thanks for joining
me on It Is Written.
00:10:05.63\00:10:07.97
The oil crises of the 1970s
now seem like distant memories.
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Mind you, more recently,
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we've seen some action
when it comes to energy prices.
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In 1998, the average
cost of a gallon of gasoline
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in the United States was $1.03.
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Ten years later, the average
cost had skyrocketed to $3.26.
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As a result, the sales
of large vehicles plummeted.
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Some people began
working four-day work weeks
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so they'd have to use less fuel.
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When there are disruptions
to the oil supply or to the fuel
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supply chain, it
really shakes things up.
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In Matthew, chapter 25,
there is an energy crisis,
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an oil crisis,
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when ten young women are waiting
to go into a wedding feast.
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The bridegroom is delayed
and the young women fall asleep.
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At midnight somebody calls out,
“Behold, the bridegroom cometh."
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They wake up,
reach for their lamps,
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but the lamps of five
of the women have gone out,
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and they don't have
oil for their lamps.
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No oil, no light.
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They were late for
the wedding celebration.
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The door is shut.
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They can't go in.
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They're shut out.
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They're lost.
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That's the point
God is making here.
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They are lost.
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So what's going
on in this parable?
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The bridegroom, very clear.
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The bridegroom is Jesus.
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The women?
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The women represent the church.
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They're all wanting to go
into the wedding celebration.
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They all want to be
saved when Jesus returns.
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But not everyone is.
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Some are saved
and some are lost.
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And here's a sobering point:
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all ten of them
thought that they were saved.
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All ten of them
were looking forward
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to seeing the bridegroom.
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It wasn't until push came
to shove that five of the women
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learned the
truth about themselves:
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they didn't have what it took
to get into the wedding feast.
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We see this in
other places in the Bible.
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Remember Matthew, chapter
25, where this parable is found,
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follows Matthew, chapter 24,
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the chapter that focuses heavily
on the second coming of Jesus.
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In Matthew, chapter 24,
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Jesus approaches
this from several angles.
00:12:05.65\00:12:08.76
Matthew, chapter 24, verse 37,
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“But as the days of Noah were,
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so shall also the
coming of the Son of Man be.
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For as in the
days before the flood,
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they were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage,
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until the day that
Noah entered the ark,
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and did not know until the flood
came and took them all away,
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so also will the
coming of the Son of Man be.”
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What do you have in Noah's day?
00:12:31.88\00:12:33.11
A mass of people.
00:12:33.15\00:12:34.38
Some were saved.
00:12:34.42\00:12:35.38
Some were lost.
00:12:35.42\00:12:36.82
Jesus says in the
parable of the ten virgins,
00:12:36.85\00:12:39.49
same situation will
exist in earth's final days.
00:12:39.52\00:12:43.09
Back in Matthew,
chapter 24, Jesus said,
00:12:43.12\00:12:46.03
“Then two shall be in the field;
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the one shall be
taken, and the other left.
00:12:47.96\00:12:49.86
Two women shall be
grinding at the mill;
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the one shall be
taken, and the other left.
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Watch therefore:
00:12:54.40\00:12:55.67
for you know not what
hour your Lord doth come.”
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You can't be sure when
Jesus is going to return.
00:12:59.41\00:13:02.91
So watch.
00:13:02.94\00:13:04.18
Be ready.
00:13:04.21\00:13:05.08
Be ready always.
00:13:05.11\00:13:06.48
Live in a state of readiness.
00:13:06.51\00:13:09.08
Now, let me ask you a
question that might make you,
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might make you even
uncomfortable a little bit.
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Are you ready?
00:13:14.42\00:13:15.89
If Jesus returned now,
would you be ready to go,
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or would you be like the
teenagers who were left at home
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for the weekend by their parents
and told to have the house clean
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when Mom and Dad came home.
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And when Mom and Dad got
home a couple of hours early,
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the dishes weren't
done, the beds weren't made,
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the living room is a
mess, the laundry is piled up.
00:13:31.64\00:13:33.71
And the kids say,
00:13:33.74\00:13:35.11
"We didn't expect
you to be home so soon."
00:13:35.14\00:13:37.48
Well, no.
00:13:37.51\00:13:39.35
And that's why you want
to be ready no matter what.
00:13:39.38\00:13:41.58
You can't know, we can't know
when Jesus is going to return.
00:13:41.62\00:13:46.09
You can't know how
long you're going to live.
00:13:46.12\00:13:48.46
The truth is, we're only a
heartbeat away from the second
00:13:48.49\00:13:51.43
coming of Jesus anyway.
00:13:51.46\00:13:53.86
What then?
00:13:53.90\00:13:55.43
We can't afford to put off
until tomorrow the spiritual
00:13:55.46\00:13:57.77
preparation we
should be doing today.
00:13:57.80\00:14:00.44
And that's where the women
in the parable find themselves.
00:14:00.47\00:14:03.54
That oil they should have had?
00:14:03.57\00:14:05.44
That's what made the difference.
00:14:05.47\00:14:06.78
That oil
represents the Holy Spirit.
00:14:06.81\00:14:11.55
I think it's important to
notice a couple of things.
00:14:11.58\00:14:13.68
One, none of the
virgins is a hypocrite.
00:14:13.72\00:14:16.72
Each one genuinely wants to
be ready for the bridegroom.
00:14:16.75\00:14:20.16
They're in the right crowd.
00:14:20.19\00:14:21.09
They've shown up
at the right event.
00:14:21.12\00:14:22.46
But evidently there's
more to it than wanting to.
00:14:22.49\00:14:26.23
Believers have got
to have what it takes.
00:14:26.26\00:14:29.06
A couple of decades ago there
was a devastating earthquake
00:14:29.10\00:14:31.73
in Istanbul, Turkey.
00:14:31.77\00:14:33.30
Thousands died.
00:14:33.34\00:14:35.00
Investigators
discovered afterwards,
00:14:35.04\00:14:36.81
as they sifted through
the ruins of the earthquake,
00:14:36.84\00:14:39.07
that the cement in many of the
buildings contained so much sand
00:14:39.11\00:14:44.28
that it crumbled in their hands.
00:14:44.31\00:14:46.78
There's no way those buildings
00:14:46.82\00:14:48.08
could have
withstood an earthquake.
00:14:48.12\00:14:49.45
They collapsed
like a house of cards.
00:14:49.48\00:14:53.22
When the real test came,
00:14:53.25\00:14:54.26
it became obvious what
they were really made of.
00:14:54.29\00:14:58.33
It's in a crisis
that you get to see
00:14:58.36\00:15:00.20
what your
character is all about.
00:15:00.23\00:15:04.00
What you want to do is
live in a state of readiness,
00:15:04.03\00:15:07.27
being filled
with the Holy Spirit.
00:15:07.30\00:15:12.07
I met a woman once,
a fine Christian lady,
00:15:12.11\00:15:16.28
who was miserable.
00:15:16.31\00:15:19.38
What was it that
made her so miserable?
00:15:19.41\00:15:23.28
I'll tell you in just a moment.
00:15:23.32\00:15:24.95
¤[Music]¤
00:15:24.99\00:15:31.89
>>Announcer: In Matthew
4:4, the Word of God says,
00:15:34.13\00:15:36.63
"It is written,
00:15:36.67\00:15:37.63
'Man shall not
live by bread alone,
00:15:37.67\00:15:39.73
but by every word that proceeds
from the mouth of God.'"
00:15:39.77\00:15:43.57
“Every Word”
00:15:43.61\00:15:44.54
is a one minute,
Bible-based daily devotional
00:15:44.57\00:15:46.88
presented by
Pastor John Bradshaw,
00:15:46.91\00:15:49.01
and designed especially
for busy people like you.
00:15:49.04\00:15:52.05
Look for Every Word
on selected networks,
00:15:52.08\00:15:54.78
or watch it online
every day on our website,
00:15:54.82\00:15:57.25
itiswritten.com.
00:15:57.29\00:15:59.15
Receive a daily spiritual boost.
00:15:59.19\00:16:01.49
Watch “Every Word.”
00:16:01.52\00:16:02.99
You'll be glad you did.
00:16:03.02\00:16:04.46
Here's a sample.
00:16:04.49\00:16:06.29
¤[Theme music]¤
00:16:06.86\00:16:11.73
>>John: Every year,
a 12 or so year-old kid
00:16:11.77\00:16:14.20
wins the Scripps
National Spelling Bee,
00:16:14.24\00:16:16.84
and $40,000, and other prizes,
00:16:16.87\00:16:19.44
for spelling words no one's
ever heard of, like nunatak.
00:16:19.47\00:16:21.91
That's a peak of rock that
sticks up through ice or snow.
00:16:21.94\00:16:24.35
And marocaine, a kind of fabric.
00:16:24.38\00:16:26.38
So how does a
child win a spelling bee?
00:16:26.41\00:16:28.58
Study.
00:16:28.62\00:16:29.68
One recent winner: two
hours a day for a whole year.
00:16:29.72\00:16:32.65
But what makes someone
truly successful as a person?
00:16:32.69\00:16:35.96
Second Chronicles 27:6 says,
00:16:35.99\00:16:38.09
“So Jotham became mighty,
00:16:38.13\00:16:39.53
because he prepared his
ways before the Lord his God.”
00:16:39.56\00:16:42.50
Jotham reigned 16
years and completed enormous
00:16:42.53\00:16:45.10
construction
projects and won battles.
00:16:45.13\00:16:47.10
But his greatness
came from the fact that
00:16:47.14\00:16:49.24
he was faithful to God.
00:16:49.27\00:16:50.64
It's right to get educated,
to train, to plan, to strive,
00:16:50.67\00:16:53.01
to build, but none of
that brings true greatness.
00:16:53.04\00:16:55.68
Keeping your heart out before
God is the true key to success.
00:16:55.71\00:16:58.95
You'll find that
doing that will be udemonic.
00:16:58.98\00:17:02.12
I'm John Bradshaw
for It Is Written.
00:17:02.15\00:17:03.59
Let's live today by every word.
00:17:03.62\00:17:06.29
We're discussing Matthew 25,
the parable of the ten virgins.
00:17:07.39\00:17:10.93
It's part of our ongoing
series, “Lessons for All Time.”
00:17:10.96\00:17:14.73
There's something
I'd like you to have.
00:17:14.76\00:17:16.80
We're learning that the
problem the young women had
00:17:16.83\00:17:19.03
is that they were
destitute of the Holy Spirit.
00:17:19.07\00:17:21.84
The subject of the Holy Spirit
00:17:21.87\00:17:23.97
is really a mystery
for a lot of people.
00:17:24.01\00:17:26.34
I want you to
understand the subject,
00:17:26.37\00:17:27.68
and I want you to
have the Holy Spirit.
00:17:27.71\00:17:29.94
This parable makes clear
that not having the Holy Spirit
00:17:29.98\00:17:33.78
is a matter of
spiritual life and death.
00:17:33.82\00:17:36.28
So be sure to call
the number on your screen
00:17:36.32\00:17:39.05
and get this free resource,
00:17:39.09\00:17:41.02
“The Gift of the Spirit.”
00:17:41.06\00:17:43.59
In our passage today,
00:17:43.63\00:17:44.86
ten young women are waiting for
the bridegroom to arrive at a
00:17:44.89\00:17:47.20
wedding feast so they
can join in the celebration.
00:17:47.23\00:17:49.66
Who doesn't like weddings?
00:17:49.70\00:17:50.87
They're great fun,
great celebrations.
00:17:50.90\00:17:52.77
I officiated at a wedding
just a couple of days ago.
00:17:52.80\00:17:55.97
The happy couple were happy.
00:17:56.00\00:17:57.67
Two lives became one.
00:17:57.71\00:17:59.87
The parents of both
bride and groom were proud.
00:17:59.91\00:18:03.04
What a great occasion.
00:18:03.08\00:18:04.95
But at this wedding, five of
the ten young women hoping to
00:18:04.98\00:18:07.92
celebrate the marriage were
excluded from the celebrations
00:18:07.95\00:18:11.79
because they didn't
have oil in their lamps.
00:18:11.82\00:18:13.56
And by the time
they got to the party,
00:18:13.59\00:18:15.22
the doors were closed
and they couldn't go in.
00:18:15.26\00:18:18.43
As you read this parable, don't
make too much of the fact that
00:18:18.46\00:18:20.93
five women were shut out of the
feast because they were late.
00:18:20.96\00:18:24.63
It does sound as if someone at
the feast could have just said,
00:18:24.67\00:18:26.77
“Well, we're glad
you could make it.
00:18:26.80\00:18:28.40
Better late than never.”
00:18:28.44\00:18:30.17
Except this is a parable.
00:18:30.21\00:18:31.24
We're not being asked
to analyze the hospitality.
00:18:31.27\00:18:34.24
Jesus is making a point.
00:18:34.28\00:18:36.68
At the second
coming, there won't be any
00:18:36.71\00:18:39.28
“oh, I'm a trifle late,”
00:18:39.31\00:18:40.45
“well, I had to run off
and get oil in my lamp,”
00:18:40.48\00:18:43.05
“I wasn't ready at the time
but I was wanting to be ready.”
00:18:43.08\00:18:46.29
When Jesus returns,
00:18:46.32\00:18:47.22
you're either
ready or you're not.
00:18:47.26\00:18:49.06
Now, notice that in the story
00:18:49.09\00:18:50.23
Jesus doesn't fault
the girls for being asleep.
00:18:50.26\00:18:53.53
Evidently, Jesus can work
with people who fall asleep.
00:18:53.56\00:18:57.30
Peter, James and John
fell asleep at Gethsemane.
00:18:57.33\00:19:00.27
Eutychus fell asleep and
fell out a church one night,
00:19:00.30\00:19:02.84
and died.
00:19:02.87\00:19:04.47
That wasn't too much
for the early church.
00:19:04.51\00:19:06.64
Evidently, sleeping
isn't an insurmountable issue.
00:19:06.68\00:19:11.15
The real problem
is that these girls
00:19:11.18\00:19:12.68
didn't have oil for their lamps.
00:19:12.71\00:19:14.75
That was the issue.
00:19:14.78\00:19:16.75
No oil.
00:19:16.79\00:19:18.29
No Holy Spirit.
00:19:18.32\00:19:19.92
Let's walk
through this together.
00:19:19.95\00:19:22.02
Who is the Holy Spirit?
00:19:22.06\00:19:24.46
The Holy Spirit is God in the
same way that the Father is God
00:19:24.49\00:19:29.16
and Jesus is God.
00:19:29.20\00:19:30.87
The Holy Spirit is the
third member of the Godhead.
00:19:30.90\00:19:33.54
And what's the
role of the Holy Spirit?
00:19:33.57\00:19:36.50
The Bible says that the Holy
Spirit will convict us of sin.
00:19:36.54\00:19:39.21
That's in John 16.
00:19:39.24\00:19:40.78
The Holy Spirit will
guide us into all truth.
00:19:40.81\00:19:42.78
That's John 16 as well.
00:19:42.81\00:19:44.55
The Holy Spirit will bring us
the personal presence of Jesus,
00:19:44.58\00:19:48.45
found in John 14.
00:19:48.48\00:19:50.15
First John 3,
verse 24, says that Jesus
00:19:50.19\00:19:52.89
“abides in us,
by the Holy Spirit.”
00:19:52.92\00:19:55.79
First John 4:13 says
pretty much the same thing:
00:19:55.82\00:19:58.59
“Hereby know we
that we dwell in Him,
00:19:58.63\00:20:01.33
and He in us,
00:20:01.36\00:20:02.93
because He hath
given us of His spirit.”
00:20:02.96\00:20:06.47
When Jesus left the
earth and went to heaven,
00:20:06.50\00:20:08.07
he told his friends that
he would still be with them.
00:20:08.10\00:20:11.17
How?
00:20:11.21\00:20:12.31
By the Holy Spirit.
00:20:12.34\00:20:13.84
John, chapter 14,
verse 15 to verse 18:
00:20:13.88\00:20:17.91
“If you love Me,
keep My commandments.
00:20:17.95\00:20:21.02
And I will pray the Father,
00:20:21.05\00:20:22.82
and He shall give
you another Comforter,
00:20:22.85\00:20:25.22
that He may abide
with you for ever;
00:20:25.25\00:20:27.09
even the Spirit of truth;
whom the world cannot receive,
00:20:27.12\00:20:30.56
because it seeth Him
not, neither knoweth Him:
00:20:30.59\00:20:33.19
but you know Him;
for He dwelleth with you,
00:20:33.23\00:20:35.30
and shall be in you.
00:20:35.33\00:20:36.67
I will not
leave you comfortless:
00:20:36.70\00:20:38.90
I will come to you.”
00:20:38.93\00:20:41.17
This is Jesus saying that
the Holy Spirit brings to us the
00:20:41.20\00:20:43.81
personal presence of Jesus.
00:20:43.84\00:20:46.81
So when you're
wanting the Holy Spirit,
00:20:46.84\00:20:49.51
you're not wanting
a tool or a weapon.
00:20:49.54\00:20:52.75
The Holy Spirit isn't
something that you use.
00:20:52.78\00:20:55.78
The Holy Spirit is
something, in fact,
00:20:55.82\00:20:57.69
someone, that uses you.
00:20:57.72\00:21:01.46
Yes, the Bible talks
about the gifts of the spirit,
00:21:01.49\00:21:03.93
and man, there are some people
who get hung up on those gifts.
00:21:03.96\00:21:07.30
“I want to work miracles.
00:21:07.30\00:21:08.56
I want to speak in tongues.
00:21:08.60\00:21:10.03
I want to utter
prophesies.” Okay.
00:21:10.07\00:21:12.57
It's okay to
want spiritual gifts,
00:21:12.60\00:21:14.87
but I'll tell you this:
00:21:14.90\00:21:16.34
it's more important to
want the fruit of the Spirit.
00:21:16.37\00:21:20.54
That is, the Bible says that
God will decide what gift of the
00:21:20.58\00:21:24.55
Holy Spirit you get.
00:21:24.58\00:21:26.15
Someone might get
the gift of languages.
00:21:26.18\00:21:28.52
Someone might get
the gift of helps.
00:21:28.55\00:21:30.19
Funny, I never did hear anyone
or any church making a big deal
00:21:30.22\00:21:34.99
about someone
having the gift of helps.
00:21:35.02\00:21:36.96
Did you?
00:21:36.99\00:21:37.99
Or the gift of administration.
00:21:38.03\00:21:39.56
But those are genuine gifts
of the spirit in the same way
00:21:39.59\00:21:42.20
as miracles or prophecy.
00:21:42.23\00:21:44.60
So God decides
what gift you get,
00:21:44.63\00:21:46.77
and you might
get one or the other.
00:21:46.80\00:21:48.70
That's up to God.
00:21:48.74\00:21:49.67
Now, let me tell you
about that lady I met.
00:21:49.70\00:21:51.21
She was miserable.
00:21:51.24\00:21:52.84
As far as anyone could
tell, she was a wonderful lady,
00:21:52.87\00:21:56.04
a member of the church;
she was busy working for souls.
00:21:56.08\00:21:59.18
But she said to
me, “John, I'm lost.”
00:21:59.21\00:22:01.65
I said, “Well,
you don't look lost.
00:22:01.68\00:22:03.08
I guess only
God knows the heart.
00:22:03.12\00:22:04.75
What's the issue?” She said,
“I don't have the Holy Spirit.”
00:22:04.79\00:22:06.45
I said, “Why do you know that?”
00:22:06.49\00:22:08.19
She said, “Because I
don't speak in tongues.”
00:22:08.22\00:22:11.13
Well, okay.
00:22:11.16\00:22:12.09
If you have the
ability to speak in tongues,
00:22:12.13\00:22:13.90
to speak other
languages, God bless you.
00:22:13.93\00:22:16.43
That's a genuine
gift of the Holy Spirit.
00:22:16.46\00:22:18.70
But remember,
it's God who decides
00:22:18.73\00:22:22.30
which spiritual gift
you get, and not you.
00:22:22.34\00:22:26.24
You might want
this and get that.
00:22:26.27\00:22:27.84
You might want
that and get this.
00:22:27.88\00:22:30.61
So let's leave it with God,
00:22:30.65\00:22:33.25
and be concerned about
having the most important thing,
00:22:33.28\00:22:37.29
the thing that
Christ said we will have
00:22:37.32\00:22:41.26
if we have the Holy Spirit.
00:22:41.29\00:22:42.36
We'll get gifts;
God decides what.
00:22:42.39\00:22:44.76
But we certainly get
the fruit of the Spirit.
00:22:44.79\00:22:48.50
The fruit of the
spirit is an inevitability.
00:22:48.53\00:22:50.60
Look at this with me.
00:22:50.63\00:22:51.53
The Bible says in
Galatians, chapter 5,
00:22:51.57\00:22:54.90
“But the fruit of
the spirit is love,
00:22:54.94\00:22:56.67
joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness,
00:22:56.71\00:23:00.51
goodness, faith,
meekness, temperance:
00:23:00.54\00:23:03.71
against such there is no law.”
00:23:03.75\00:23:06.21
That's Galatians,
chapter 5, verses 22 and 23.
00:23:06.25\00:23:09.85
When Jesus comes into your life,
00:23:09.88\00:23:11.29
He brings His
character with Him.
00:23:11.32\00:23:13.52
He brings His love, His
peace, His self-control.
00:23:13.56\00:23:17.96
You might or might not
receive the gift of teaching.
00:23:17.99\00:23:20.70
That's up to God.
00:23:20.73\00:23:21.96
But what is certain is
that Jesus will flood your life
00:23:22.00\00:23:25.97
with His presence.
00:23:26.00\00:23:28.20
The Holy Spirit is
given to make you like Christ,
00:23:28.24\00:23:31.47
so you can be the
light of the world,
00:23:31.51\00:23:33.64
and be ready to meet
Jesus at the appointed time.
00:23:33.68\00:23:36.44
The Holy Spirit
is a change agent.
00:23:36.48\00:23:38.48
He changes your life.
00:23:38.51\00:23:40.48
You know, there's a lot of
religion masquerading today as
00:23:40.52\00:23:42.45
the real thing.
00:23:42.48\00:23:43.49
But when the
heat gets turned up,
00:23:43.52\00:23:44.92
it will be found to be
as reliable as a $20 Rolex.
00:23:44.95\00:23:49.99
So how can you
have oil in your lamp?
00:23:50.03\00:23:52.36
How can you be
filled with the Holy Spirit?
00:23:52.39\00:23:55.96
I'll make it really simple
and give you a few easy points.
00:23:56.00\00:23:59.07
Number one, ask
for the Holy Spirit.
00:23:59.10\00:24:02.40
Jesus said in Luke,
chapter 11 and verse 13,
00:24:02.44\00:24:05.91
“If you then, being evil, know
how to give good gifts to your
00:24:05.94\00:24:08.64
children, how much more
will your heavenly Father
00:24:08.68\00:24:11.61
give the Holy Spirit
to them that ask Him?”
00:24:11.65\00:24:15.12
And remember that Jesus
said when you ask, you receive.
00:24:15.15\00:24:17.69
So ask for the Holy Spirit.
00:24:17.72\00:24:20.06
Number two: open
up your heart to God.
00:24:20.09\00:24:23.02
Jesus said, “If you love
Me, keep My commandments.
00:24:23.06\00:24:25.93
And I will pray the Father,
00:24:25.96\00:24:27.30
...and He will give
you...the Holy Spirit.”
00:24:27.36\00:24:31.10
Love for God.
00:24:31.13\00:24:32.23
If you have that, God
will give you the Holy Spirit.
00:24:32.27\00:24:35.47
But look, this parable tells us
that a profession isn't enough.
00:24:35.50\00:24:39.87
All ten professed to be right.
00:24:39.91\00:24:42.64
Only five actually were.
00:24:42.68\00:24:44.91
Seems that it's
possible to be self-deceived.
00:24:44.95\00:24:48.78
How can you know if you're
in the right place with God?
00:24:48.82\00:24:51.82
Get close to God.
00:24:51.85\00:24:53.29
And ask yourself,
better yet, ask God,
00:24:53.32\00:24:56.22
if you see the fruit of
the Holy Spirit in your life.
00:24:56.26\00:24:59.66
If you're living in
rebellion against God,
00:24:59.69\00:25:01.40
you've got some
serious questions to ask.
00:25:01.43\00:25:04.03
It's not for me here to declare
who is saved and who is lost,
00:25:04.07\00:25:06.53
but if you
surrender your heart to Jesus,
00:25:06.57\00:25:08.24
you continue to grow in Jesus.
00:25:08.27\00:25:11.11
If you refuse to be
led by the Holy Spirit,
00:25:11.14\00:25:13.24
you'll see your
problem, if you're honest.
00:25:13.27\00:25:16.78
A third important
point: don't turn back.
00:25:16.81\00:25:20.98
Hang in there with God.
00:25:21.02\00:25:22.42
Come to Jesus in faith.
00:25:22.45\00:25:24.35
He'll accept you.
00:25:24.39\00:25:25.45
Ask for the Holy Spirit.
00:25:25.49\00:25:26.86
He'll give it.
00:25:26.89\00:25:28.26
He knows you need it.
00:25:28.29\00:25:29.92
And what is this Holy Spirit?
00:25:29.96\00:25:31.23
The presence of God.
00:25:31.26\00:25:33.29
He wants to flood your life
00:25:33.33\00:25:34.83
and bring you His
peace and His power.
00:25:34.86\00:25:37.30
And then, stay
connected to Him by faith.
00:25:37.33\00:25:40.37
That's vital.
00:25:40.40\00:25:42.00
Live your life with
Jesus in your heart,
00:25:42.04\00:25:43.77
live a life of faith,
00:25:43.81\00:25:45.11
where you read the Bible
00:25:45.14\00:25:46.04
and stay connected
to God through prayer.
00:25:46.07\00:25:48.24
Know God.
00:25:48.28\00:25:49.71
Be connected to God.
00:25:49.74\00:25:50.71
Let the spirit of God have you.
00:25:50.75\00:25:54.18
You know what's so
hopeful about this for me?
00:25:54.22\00:25:56.65
It says there is
hope for you and me.
00:25:56.69\00:25:59.65
This is what God
wants to do for us:
00:25:59.69\00:26:02.26
give us the
greatest of all gifts.
00:26:02.29\00:26:05.99
As the Holy Spirit has
you, your lamp is filled,
00:26:06.03\00:26:10.90
so that when the
bridegroom comes,
00:26:10.93\00:26:13.20
you'll be welcomed
into that great feast.
00:26:13.23\00:26:16.04
Let me recap.
00:26:16.07\00:26:17.87
We know from
history the oil crisis.
00:26:17.91\00:26:21.01
Spiritually, we must have
the oil of the Holy Spirit.
00:26:21.04\00:26:24.35
Without the Holy
Spirit, great crisis.
00:26:24.38\00:26:27.18
No Holy Spirit,
no presence of Jesus,
00:26:27.22\00:26:29.18
no spiritual power.
00:26:29.22\00:26:30.75
What's the difference?
00:26:30.79\00:26:31.62
It's the Holy Spirit.
00:26:31.65\00:26:32.62
See, the difference
isn't us trying hard.
00:26:32.65\00:26:34.46
The difference
isn't us doing our best.
00:26:34.49\00:26:36.09
The difference isn't us
being expert Christians.
00:26:36.12\00:26:38.36
The difference is us
being surrendered to God,
00:26:38.39\00:26:43.00
so that Jesus, in the
person of the Holy Spirit,
00:26:43.03\00:26:45.57
comes into your life
and lives His life in you.
00:26:45.60\00:26:49.20
This parable tells us that God
wants to do great things for us,
00:26:49.24\00:26:53.21
that He will do
great things for us.
00:26:53.24\00:26:57.25
We don't want to be left outside
the great feast of feasts simply
00:26:57.28\00:27:01.58
because we didn't make
room in our heart for God.
00:27:01.62\00:27:05.75
Are you making room in
your heart for God today?
00:27:05.79\00:27:08.69
Are you allowing God
to do what He wants to do,
00:27:08.72\00:27:12.26
and fill you with His presence?
00:27:12.29\00:27:14.66
I want to pray for
you now and ask God
00:27:14.73\00:27:16.87
to give you the Holy
Spirit in great measure.
00:27:16.90\00:27:19.97
Let's pray now.
00:27:20.00\00:27:20.70
Come on, now let's pray.
00:27:20.74\00:27:22.50
Our Father in Heaven,
00:27:22.54\00:27:24.21
we are grateful that you
want to give us the Holy Spirit.
00:27:24.24\00:27:27.01
We ask you for it.
00:27:27.04\00:27:28.21
Fill us with your Spirit.
00:27:28.24\00:27:32.21
Dear Jesus,
live your life in us.
00:27:32.25\00:27:35.92
Lord, don't let there be
an oil crisis in our life.
00:27:35.95\00:27:38.92
We want your presence.
00:27:38.95\00:27:40.46
Come into our
lives and do in our lives
00:27:40.49\00:27:42.22
exactly what you want to do.
00:27:42.26\00:27:45.09
Friend, will you receive
the Holy Spirit from God today?
00:27:45.13\00:27:47.40
Just tell Him right now, yes.
00:27:47.40\00:27:49.20
Tell Him yes, just
say that word, yes,
00:27:49.23\00:27:51.83
I want to
receive the Holy Spirit.
00:27:51.87\00:27:53.57
Say that.
00:27:53.60\00:27:54.37
I want to
receive the Holy Spirit.
00:27:54.40\00:27:56.84
Lord, fill my life
with your presence.
00:27:56.87\00:27:58.94
Can you say that?
00:27:58.97\00:28:00.24
Fill my life with your presence.
00:28:00.28\00:28:02.98
And it is so
because God is faithful.
00:28:03.01\00:28:05.05
We thank you,
Father, in Jesus' name.
00:28:05.08\00:28:08.65
Amen.
00:28:08.68\00:28:11.09
¤[Music]¤
00:28:11.12\00:28:16.79
The gift of the Holy Spirit.
00:28:18.46\00:28:20.33
But how do we take hold of it?
00:28:20.36\00:28:22.40
To learn more, request
your free copy of the booklet
00:28:22.43\00:28:25.10
“The Gift of the Spirit.”
00:28:25.13\00:28:27.37
Simply call 800-253-3000.
00:28:27.40\00:28:31.04
If the line is
busy, please try again.
00:28:31.07\00:28:33.27
Or write to It Is Written,
00:28:33.31\00:28:35.48
P O Box 6,
Chattanooga, Tennessee 37401.
00:28:35.51\00:28:40.65
We'll mail a free copy to
your address in North America.
00:28:40.68\00:28:43.69
That toll-free number
again is 800-253-3000,
00:28:43.72\00:28:47.66
and our web
address is itiswritten.com.
00:28:47.69\00:28:52.13
Thank you for
remembering that It Is Written
00:28:53.73\00:28:56.10
is a faith-based ministry,
00:28:56.13\00:28:58.30
and it's your support
that makes it possible for us
00:28:58.33\00:29:00.87
to share God's good
news with the entire world.
00:29:00.90\00:29:04.71
Your tax-deductible gift
00:29:04.74\00:29:05.97
can be sent to the
address on your screen,
00:29:06.01\00:29:08.21
or through our
website, itiswritten.com.
00:29:08.24\00:29:12.15
Thank you for your
continued prayerful support.
00:29:12.18\00:29:14.72
Our toll-free
number is 800-253-3000.
00:29:14.75\00:29:18.22
800-253-3000.
00:29:18.25\00:29:20.49
Our web address
is itiswritten.com
00:29:20.52\00:29:23.53
Thanks so much
for joining me today.
00:29:24.09\00:29:25.73
I'm looking forward to
seeing you again next time.
00:29:25.76\00:29:27.83
Until then,
remember: It Is Written.
00:29:27.86\00:29:31.33
Man shall not
live by bread alone,
00:29:31.37\00:29:33.67
but by every word that
proceeds from the mouth of God.
00:29:33.70\00:29:38.41
¤[Theme music]¤
00:29:38.44\00:29:53.46