Participants: Chris Holland
Series Code: IIWC
Program Code: IIWC201314
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00:11 >>Announcer: It has stood the test of time....
00:14 God's book, The Bible 00:18 Still relevant in today's complex world 00:22 It Is Written 00:26 Sharing messages of hope around the world 00:39 >>Chris: Have you ever been waiting for or anticipating something, 00:42 then because of some type of delay, you became distracted and weren't 00:45 ready anymore? I remember during my childhood that I loved to go camping, it 00:51 was always the highlight of our summer. Frequently, when I knew that the day 00:55 had come for us to leave for our camping trip, I would be up early and 00:58 rey to go. But then the waiting would begin. My mom would have to put the 01:03 finishing touches on getting the camper loaded, we would have to wait for 01:07 my dad to come home from work. I remember one particular occasion that 01:12 we were going to go to Copper Harbor Michigan. I believe it was a Friday, I 01:16 was ready, early in the morning to make that trip. But, there were delays, 01:22 but I was anxious to go and asked my mom, several times - is it time to go 01:27 yet! But as the day wore on, I began to be distracted. I started 01:32 playing with toys, no longer as anxious as before. Then before you 01:39 knew it, it was time to go, but now I was the one who wasn't ready. I had 01:46 toys to put away to get ready. Could it be friends that many of us, as we 01:54 have been waiting for Jesus, have drifted in our commitment to be ready for 01:58 His return? In Matthew 24:42-44, Jesus said these words, 02:39 Those two keys, watch and be ready. In Matthew 24 Jesus gave signs of His 02:51 return - this is what we are to watch for. We have had two programs on those 02:56 signs in the programs Signs of Hope Part 1 and 2 - If you missed them, you 03:02 can log on to our website "www.ItIsWrittenCanada.ca and view those programs in 03:07 our program archive. But in Matthew 25 Jesus gave a series of three parables 03:13 whose main point is to teach how to be ready. Today we will study the 03:21 first of those three parables, let's read the parable in Matthew 25:1-13 04:51 As we look at the text, Jesus begins in verse one by saying, "Then the 04:55 kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went 04:59 out to meet the bridegroom." Jesus likens the kingdom of heaven to 05:03 ten virgins or bridesmaids, if you are looking at a different 05:06 translation. Jesus points out, in this first verse, the three important 05:12 elements of this parable: the ten virgins, their lamps, and the bridegroom. 05:20 Jesus used imagery that was familiar to his disciples. He used the 05:25 Eastern custom of a wedding. In that custom, the groom or bridegroom 05:31 would go forth from his house and with him some of the wedding party. Along 05:38 the way they would pick up various participants in the wedding and finally 05:43 they would arrive at the father of the bride's home. It is here where he 05:48 would pick up his bride and then return to his home for a wedding feast. 05:53 These ten virgins, in the parable, are all a part of the wedding party, and are 05:59 awaiting the bridegroom. Christ is represented as the bridegroom, in this 06:05 parable. The people He comes for are represented by the virgins. We are 06:11 those virgins. Why does the parable call them virgins. A virgin is pure 06:17 and in this parable this represents a faith that is pure and unadulterated. 06:23 Each of them has a lamp, no doubt this is a reference to the word of 06:29 God. In Psalm 119:105 the Bible says, 06:41 These ten virgins are awaiting the coming bridegroom and at first 06:45 glance the ten virgins seem to be equal, but in verse two the text reveals 06:52 a different story. 07:11 Jesus now divides these ten virgins into two classes. Five were wise 07:16 and five were foolish. In the original the word wise literally means 07:21 intelligent, prudent, sensible and mindful of one's interests. And the 07:27 word foolish in the original, means to be full of folly, impious, 07:31 godless, and stupid. Jesus divides the group in two, those that are wise, 07:38 intelligent, and prudent and then those that are foolish, full of folly, 07:43 and impious. Verse 3 reveals the key characteristic of the 07:49 foolish, they take no oil with them, but the wise take oil with them. Why 07:56 is this distinction important? 08:02 In that time, lamps didn't work like they work today. A lamp resembled more of a 08:06 bowl than a lamp. And if you can picture in your mind a bowl, and the brim 08:11 was pinched at one point to make like a spout. Into that spout a wick was 08:19 inserted that would draw up the olive to fuel the flame. Lamps were kept 08:25 burning day and night in ancient times, for the lamps served not only to 08:31 give light but also to keep fire at hand. The lamp of Jesus' time would 08:37 be comparable to today's flashlight. Just like a lamp needed oil, a 08:43 flashlight needs batteries. And in Jesus' time if you didn't have 08:49 any oil, you didn't have any light. Throughout scripture oil is used 08:55 symbolically, especially olive oil, as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Here in 09:03 this parable, Jesus has made it very clear that all ten virgins have a 09:07 pure faith and each of them has the lamp of the word of God, but only five 09:13 of them have the fuel of the Holy Spirit. Friends, having a head knowledge of 09:19 the word of God is not enough. In this parable, Jesus teaches that a head 09:24 knowledge of the word without the oil of the Holy Spirit is just 09:30 foolishness and folly. However this story reveals that despite their 09:35 differences these two groups resemble more than one might think. The 09:42 Bible states that the bridegroom was delayed and then all of them slumbered 09:48 and slept. Both the wise and foolish They slumbered, they became 09:54 careless and began to nod off and became drowsy. Then they slept. The word 10:02 for slept is the same word used to refer to death This was a deep sleep. 10:09 They were no longer watching, they were no longer ready, they were no 10:13 longer paying attention, they were sleeping as if they were dead. 10:20 Are you struggling today with your relationship with Jesus. Does it seem 10:23 to you that your religious experience is almost dead There is hope. Listen to 10:29 the remainder of this parable. The parable comes to a conclusion and in 10:34 verse 6 the parable says, 11:20 In the original language it says literally says in the middle of the night. 11:28 At the deepest and darkest hour of the night a cry goes forth. The bridegroom 11:34 is coming now go out to meet him. I picture in my own mind the surprise of 11:40 the virgins. Do you remember a time where you were startled out of a 11:46 deep, slumbering sleep. These virgins are having that same experience. 11:51 Bewildered and groggy they get up and trim their lamps. They took the burnt 11:56 portions of the wick and they cut it off and then replenish their supply of 12:00 oil. But at this point that the foolish realize that they have no oil and 12:07 so they ask the wise for some of theirs. And this request is denied. This 12:13 may seem selfish, but friends it is not selfish, it emphasizes the point 12:17 that we cannot be responsible for someone else's salvation nor can 12:22 someone be responsible for ours. We can show someone to Christ, we can show 12:28 them His ways and we can demonstrate what a living faith looks like, but each 12:33 individual is responsible for their own salvation This is why Paul says in 12:41 Philippians 2:12, 13:05 Only we can take responsibility for our own salvation. This is a key 13:09 point of the passage today - we, individually, must be ready for the return of 13:14 Christ. We must take responsibility for being ready. I would like 13:19 reflect even further on these few texts. Friends this passage we are 13:24 studying today is direct counsel to those who claim to be God's people. But 13:30 most troubling is that all of them fell asleep. This parable is a call for 13:39 God's people to wake up. I have to wonder how this parable would have played 13:44 out if the wise would have stayed awake. They could have warned the foolish. 13:55 Friends, while this passage emphasizes personal responsibility, 13:58 it also is a call to wake up. This passage has and ending that is very 14:04 disappointing but abundantly clear. There will be a time when it is 14:10 too late to make a decision to follow Jesus The foolish virgins had 14:14 the knowledge where to go to get the oil, but they did not utilize that 14:20 knowledge until it was too late. And as they try to get into the banquet at a 14:25 late arrival, they here the most disappointing words anyone could every 14:31 hear. Jesus, the bridegroom, says to them - I never knew you. Friends 14:39 another point of this passage is that time will eventually run out for 14:46 people to make a decision and there is no second chance for that decision. 14:54 The last verse of this passage gives us our last point. Verse 13 says 15:11 This passage advises us to be spiritually awake, and to be in a state of 15:16 constant readiness. The only difference between the foolish and the wise 15:22 is that the wise had an intent desire to do all that is within their power 15:27 to be ready for the coming of the bridegroom. And because of that they find 15:32 themselves receiving the reward of the promise Preparedness, friends, is 15:39 the key. This parable outlines how we are to be ready for the return of 15:43 Jesus. It gives us hope in this helpless and hopeless planet. It calls upon us 15:49 to have that lamp, the word of God, the Bible and to be filled with the Holy 15:56 Spirit. To take personal responsibility for spiritual life. It's time 16:02 to wake up. We need to stop just going through the motions. We must wake 16:06 up and get our spiritual house in order. We must realize that time will 16:12 eventually run out. We need to wake up now and stay awake. Is that your 16:18 desire today. Do you want to have a living relationship with Jesus 16:23 and be in a constant state of readiness for His return. He is coming 16:28 friends. He is coming to take those home, who are ready Do you want to be 16:38 ready? John 6:37 says of Jesus, 16:58 Jesus doesn't reject anyone. Today let's come to Jesus commit to a life 17:05 of reading the scripture, being filled with the Holy Spirit and being ready to 17:11 meet Him. I want you to listen now to this song, Seekers of Your Heart. And 17:19 today, as you listen to that song, may you pray that you would become a 17:25 seeker of the heart of Jesus. 17:35 Until we give You first place 17:43 Until we let You begin 17:50 To fill us with your spirit 17:56 Renew us from within 18:05 Nothing matters 18:11 Nothing's gained 18:17 Without your Holy presence 18:24 Our lives are lived in vain 18:31 Lord we want to know You 18:38 Live our lives to show You 18:45 All the love we owe You 18:52 We're seekers of your heart 19:04 Because your heart was broken 19:11 Because You saw the need 19:19 Because You gave so freely 19:25 Because of Calvary 19:33 We can now be called 19:40 Called your own 19:45 Completed creations 19:52 Filled with You alone 19:59 Lord we want to know You 20:06 Live our lives to show You 20:13 All the love we owe You 20:20 We're seekers of Your heart 20:28 Lord we want to know You 20:35 Live our lives to show You 20:41 All the love we owe You 20:48 We're seekers of your heart 20:57 We're seeking your heart, oh Lord 21:04 We're seeking your heart, oh Lord 21:11 Show us your face, oh Lord 21:19 Lord, we adore you, oh Lord 21:36 >>Chris: Lets Pray Dear Father in heaven, we come to you today. We are 21:43 sorry, that like those ten virgins we have slept and slumbered, but we want to 21:50 be awake, we want to be ready. Today Lord give us the strength to leave 21:56 everything els aside and focus completely on you. We have been distracted. 22:03 Today we come to your son Jesus, who has promised that He won't turn us 22:08 away. As we give our lives to Him, help us to be ready We pray in Jesus 22:16 name, Amen. 22:52 >>Bev: Hi, everyone! Wh you're traveling, do you find that it's difficult 22:56 to eat as healthy as you'd like? When you're on vacation, do you usually 23:00 return home with five extra pounds as a reminder of your trip? Let me share 23:05 some tips with you for healthy eating while you're traveling. First, 23:09 whatever your mode of transportation, pack a meal so you won't have to 23:14 purchase less-than-nutritious food at the airport or at gas 23:18 stations. I like to take things like sandwiches, dried and fresh fruit, and 23:22 nuts. Next, plan where you're going to eat There's a wonderful 23:27 website called Happy Cow, where you can search for healthy vegetarian, vegan, 23:32 or raw food restaurants practically anywhere in the world. You can also 23:36 search forhealth food stores, and they've got lots ofinformation on 23:39 vegetarian nutrition. The website address is happycow.net, and there's 23:45 even an app for your smart phone. Here's another idea: when you're on 23:50 vacation, there are apartments and condos you can rent with fully 23:53 equipped kitchens. That way you can enjoy shopping for great local produce to 23:59 cook your own healthy, delicious, low-cost meals. Or, if you prefer staying 24:04 in a hotel, get a room with a fridge, and stock it with non-dairy milk, 24:10 high fibre cereal, whole grain bread, hummus, fruit, nuts, and bottled 24:15 water from a local grocery store. I find when I'm traveling, it's often 24:19 difficult to get a good, healthy breakfast in a hotel, sokeeping a stash 24:24 of healthy food in your room is a great convenience. Also, eat 24:29 where the local people eat. You're likely to find little "hole in the wall" 24:33 kinds of restaurants with great local food at really affordable prices. At 24:39 restaurants, if there are no vegetarian choices, the chef is usually more than 24:43 happy to prepare a lovely platter of just vegetables for you. Whenever I've 24:48 asked for that, everyone else always looks at my plate with envy! Also, at 24:54 a restaurant, order the entrees that are steamed, broiled or baked. Avoid 24:58 foods that are fried, deep fried, or swimming in creams or heavy sauces. 25:04 Ask for your pizza without cheese. A nice, wholegrain-crust pizza 25:08 with just grilled vegetables equals delicious! Restaurants are 25:13 notorious for the amount of salt and sugar they use. Stay away from the 25:18 soy sauce and anything pickled. Salad is usually our friend, but not when 25:23 it comes smothered in cheese, lots of dressing, or bacon bits. Instead, 25:28 ask for a piece of lemon to spritz on your salad In fact, don't be shy 25:34 about asking your waiter to substitute or delete ingredients from your 25:38 order. Remember, when you're traveling, be good to yourself. Of course, 25:43 you can have a few treats along the way but, overall, eat healthy, live 25:48 healthy. I'll see you next time! 25:56 >>Chris: Friend, has Jesus moved upon your heart today? Do you want to be 26:00 ready for Him when He comes again? Part of being ready is to be a student 26:03 of the Word. Today we want to offer you the Discover Bible school lessons. 26:08 Those lessons will provide a resource for you to know more about Jesus, to know 26:13 more about His Word, and to become a student of His word so you might be ready 26:18 when He comes again. Here's the information you need to get those lessons. 27:25 >>Chris: Friends, I want to thank you so much for watching. I hope and pray 27:29 that you sense Jesus calling you into a relationship with Him. I 27:32 want to invite you to itiswrittencanada.ca. There you can find 27:37 spiritual resources to help you further develop that relationship with 27:42 Jesus to be ready for Him when He comes again. I want to invite you to join 27:47 us again next week. Until then, remember, it is written: "Man shall not 27:53 live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of 27:57 God." 28:00 $$$$$$$$$$$$$ |
Revised 2015-02-05