Good morning. I'd
invite you this morning
00:01:03.15\00:01:06.60
to open your
Bibles to Matthew 25
00:01:06.63\00:01:09.58
for our scripture
and verses 8 through
00:01:09.61\00:01:12.63
13. Matthew 25
verses 8 through 13,
00:01:12.66\00:01:18.30
And the foolish
said unto the wise,
00:01:19.54\00:01:21.45
give us some of
your oil, for our
00:01:21.48\00:01:23.47
lamps are gone out.
But the wise answered,
00:01:23.50\00:01:26.36
saying, not so,
lest there should not be
00:01:26.39\00:01:29.15
enough for us and
you; but go you rather
00:01:29.18\00:01:32.63
to them that sell
and buy for yourselves.
00:01:32.66\00:01:35.11
And while they went out to buy,
00:01:35.14\00:01:37.02
the bridegroom
came and they were
00:01:37.05\00:01:40.19
ready and went
in with him to the
00:01:40.22\00:01:42.44
marriage; and the door was shut.
00:01:42.47\00:01:44.45
Afterward came also the other
00:01:44.48\00:01:46.91
virgins saying,
'Lord, open to us!'
00:01:46.94\00:01:49.82
But he said, but
he answered and said,
00:01:49.85\00:01:52.96
Verily I say on to
you, I know you not.
00:01:52.99\00:01:56.66
Watch therefore, for you know
00:01:57.48\00:01:59.50
neither the day nor the hour
00:01:59.53\00:02:02.63
wherein the Son
of Man cometh. Amen.
00:02:02.66\00:02:06.50
In the harvest field now ripened
00:02:19.89\00:02:26.36
There's a work for all to do;
00:02:27.00\00:02:32.99
And Hark! the
Master's voice is calling,
00:02:33.02\00:02:39.42
To the harvest is calling you.
00:02:39.45\00:02:46.71
Now does the place
you're called to labor
00:02:47.09\00:02:52.74
Seem so small and little known?
00:02:52.77\00:02:59.46
It is great if God is in it,
00:02:59.49\00:03:04.88
For He'll not forsake His own.
00:03:04.91\00:03:11.43
Little is much
when God is in it!
00:03:11.46\00:03:17.35
Labor not for wealth or fame.
00:03:17.38\00:03:22.99
There's a crown
and you can win it,
00:03:23.02\00:03:28.82
If you go in Jesus Name.
00:03:28.85\00:03:36.85
When the conflict here is ended
00:03:47.99\00:03:53.65
And our race on earth is run,
00:03:54.43\00:04:00.39
He will say, if
you have been faithful,
00:04:01.17\00:04:09.62
"Welcome home,
My child well done!"
00:04:09.65\00:04:18.49
Little is much
when my God is in it!
00:04:18.52\00:04:23.83
Labor not for wealth or fame.
00:04:23.86\00:04:29.06
There's a crown
and you can win it,
00:04:29.09\00:04:34.67
If you go If you go
00:04:35.76\00:04:43.71
If you go in Jesus Name.
00:04:45.09\00:05:03.90
Amen, amen. Little is much
00:05:11.33\00:05:13.78
if God is in it,
amen. The wonderful thing
00:05:15.40\00:05:19.48
about the song
is that it's true.
00:05:19.51\00:05:22.39
When you and I
take our little and
00:05:23.45\00:05:27.17
consecrate that to
God, like the loaves
00:05:27.20\00:05:31.22
and the fishes he multiples it.
00:05:31.25\00:05:33.77
We give our little
offering, whether it's
00:05:34.85\00:05:37.52
$10 or $100 or $100,000. And God
00:05:37.55\00:05:41.76
multiples it to
build One-Day Churches
00:05:41.79\00:05:44.87
and One-Day Schools
and to impact prison
00:05:44.90\00:05:48.15
ministries and
support supporting
00:05:48.18\00:05:50.14
ministries and
support that grand
00:05:50.17\00:05:52.80
evangelistic
effort it is written in
00:05:52.83\00:05:55.90
Las Vegas and throughout
00:05:56.85\00:05:58.30
North America. We go out and
00:05:58.33\00:06:00.84
give a Bible study; we pass out
00:06:00.87\00:06:02.72
a piece of
literature. We support
00:06:02.75\00:06:06.53
television and
radio and offer prayers
00:06:06.56\00:06:10.37
for young
people. We use the gifts
00:06:10.40\00:06:12.95
that God has given us for the
00:06:12.98\00:06:14.40
advancement of his
kingdom, and little
00:06:14.43\00:06:16.83
is much when God
is in it. This morning
00:06:16.86\00:06:23.10
I had intended
to preach a sermon,
00:06:23.13\00:06:25.33
notice the emphases
on the word intended.
00:06:25.36\00:06:27.64
God crossing
Jordan, but as I thought
00:06:28.66\00:06:31.55
about where we are
in the history of this
00:06:31.58\00:06:33.49
world and as I thought about the
00:06:33.52\00:06:36.20
coming of Jesus,
and God spirit directed
00:06:36.23\00:06:39.97
me to a different topic entitled
00:06:40.00\00:06:43.53
"First Things
First." Let's pray.
00:06:44.38\00:06:47.97
Father in
heaven, as we open your
00:06:49.02\00:06:50.46
word this
morning, I pray thee that
00:06:50.49\00:06:55.99
your spirit would move among us.
00:06:56.02\00:06:58.24
We've talked about outreach.
00:06:59.60\00:07:00.88
We've talked about soul winning.
00:07:01.64\00:07:02.97
We talked about evangelism.
00:07:03.73\00:07:05.26
We've talked about the finishing
00:07:05.29\00:07:06.66
of your work in
the world, but Lord,
00:07:06.69\00:07:08.93
there is a work to
be done in the church,
00:07:08.96\00:07:11.02
a work to be done in our hearts,
00:07:12.05\00:07:14.21
a work to be
done deep within us.
00:07:14.24\00:07:16.39
And so may this
worship hour, lead us
00:07:17.06\00:07:20.59
to a deeper
heart conversion and a
00:07:20.62\00:07:24.92
deeper knowledge
of you, we pray thee
00:07:24.95\00:07:28.78
in Christ name amen, amen.
00:07:29.59\00:07:33.18
The story is told of a women who
00:07:33.21\00:07:35.99
frantically called
her insurance agent.
00:07:36.02\00:07:39.46
And she said, sir I
need to increase the
00:07:40.64\00:07:45.58
insurance coverage on my house.
00:07:45.61\00:07:48.84
He said well madam come down to
00:07:50.09\00:07:52.60
the office this
week, we can sign the
00:07:52.63\00:07:54.67
appropriate
documents, and we'll make
00:07:54.74\00:07:58.14
it happen. She
said sir, you don't
00:07:58.17\00:08:00.62
understand, I
need to increase the
00:08:00.65\00:08:04.94
insurance coverage
now, this is urgent.
00:08:04.97\00:08:07.80
He repeated,
madam there are some
00:08:08.82\00:08:11.03
documents that
need to be signed.
00:08:11.06\00:08:13.92
But can't I do
it over the phone.
00:08:13.95\00:08:15.68
Madam, I'll come
out to your house
00:08:15.71\00:08:18.31
tomorrow. Sir,
you don't understand
00:08:18.34\00:08:21.57
my house is on
fire. I need to increase
00:08:21.60\00:08:26.11
the coverage now.
There are some things
00:08:26.14\00:08:31.04
you can put off in
life until tomorrow.
00:08:31.07\00:08:34.17
There are other
things that have to be
00:08:36.27\00:08:37.73
done today, or else they have
00:08:37.76\00:08:40.27
catastrophic consequences.
00:08:40.30\00:08:43.20
There are some
things that matter
00:08:44.32\00:08:45.79
little if we put
off in life, in other
00:08:45.82\00:08:49.02
things we put off
until our eternal loss.
00:08:49.05\00:08:52.85
Now, preparation
for the second coming
00:08:53.91\00:08:56.21
of Christ is
one of those things.
00:08:56.24\00:08:57.92
The second
coming of Christ maybe
00:08:59.97\00:09:02.03
delayed but our
preparation for the
00:09:02.06\00:09:05.23
coming of Christ should never be
00:09:05.26\00:09:07.67
delayed, amen. In Matthew
00:09:07.70\00:09:09.58
chapter 24, Jesus
gives us the signs
00:09:09.61\00:09:13.36
of his coming. In
Matthew chapter 25,
00:09:13.39\00:09:17.22
Jesus talks
about preparation for
00:09:18.01\00:09:20.07
his coming. In
Matthew chapter 24,
00:09:20.10\00:09:23.52
we have the events in the world.
00:09:23.55\00:09:26.30
In Matthew
chapter 25, we have the
00:09:26.33\00:09:29.30
condition of the
church. In Matthew
00:09:29.33\00:09:32.21
chapter 24 we have
what happens out there.
00:09:32.24\00:09:35.38
In Matthew
chapter 25 we have what
00:09:35.41\00:09:38.60
happens in here.
Now you recall after
00:09:38.63\00:09:41.93
Jesus talks
about wars and rumors
00:09:41.96\00:09:43.94
of wars about
famines and pestilences
00:09:43.97\00:09:46.28
and earthquakes,
after he talks about
00:09:46.31\00:09:48.87
fires and floods
and natural disasters.
00:09:48.90\00:09:52.42
After he
discusses those more than
00:09:52.45\00:09:55.45
25 signs of his coming.
00:09:55.48\00:09:57.56
You come to the
end of Matthew chapter
00:09:58.55\00:10:00.21
24 and Jesus says
in Matthew chapter 24,
00:10:00.24\00:10:04.76
in verse 42.
And if you have your
00:10:04.79\00:10:06.81
Bible I would
encourage you to take
00:10:06.84\00:10:09.00
it as we study the word of God.
00:10:09.03\00:10:10.86
Matthew chapter
24 we are looking
00:10:10.89\00:10:13.37
there at verse 42 and Jesus
00:10:13.40\00:10:16.18
there in Matthew 24 says, watch
00:10:16.21\00:10:19.29
therefore, he's talked about the
00:10:19.32\00:10:20.80
sings of his
coming, the sings in
00:10:20.83\00:10:22.71
the social world,
the political world,
00:10:22.74\00:10:24.43
the economic
world, the religious world
00:10:24.46\00:10:26.92
and Jesus says
watch therefore verse
00:10:26.95\00:10:30.53
42 Matthew 24,
for you do not know
00:10:30.56\00:10:32.96
what hour your Lord is coming.
00:10:32.99\00:10:35.40
So, Jesus
encourages the church to watch.
00:10:36.16\00:10:38.47
In Matthew chapter 25 you have
00:10:39.59\00:10:41.35
three parables.
The parable of the
00:10:41.38\00:10:43.89
ten virgins, the
parable of the ten talents,
00:10:43.92\00:10:46.56
and the parable of
the sheep and goats.
00:10:46.59\00:10:47.90
Those parables
expand what it means
00:10:48.52\00:10:53.21
to watch and be prepared for
00:10:53.24\00:10:55.16
Christ's
coming. Where as Matthew
00:10:55.19\00:10:57.76
chapter 24 gives
you those broad strokes
00:10:57.79\00:11:00.49
of the signs in
the world. Jesus says
00:11:00.52\00:11:03.08
those things are
going to happen out there.
00:11:03.11\00:11:05.55
But what is significant is
00:11:06.70\00:11:08.69
preparation for my return.
00:11:08.72\00:11:10.86
And so Matthew chapter 25 sets
00:11:10.89\00:11:13.38
forth the first
parable that talks about
00:11:13.41\00:11:15.84
preparation for
the return of our Lord.
00:11:15.87\00:11:19.24
In Mathew's
gospel there are twenty
00:11:20.16\00:11:22.33
one parables;
fourteen of those twenty
00:11:22.36\00:11:26.06
one are kingdom of God parables.
00:11:26.09\00:11:28.65
There are
parables that specifically
00:11:28.68\00:11:31.27
address the nature of
the spiritual condition
00:11:31.30\00:11:35.52
within the
Church. Now the reason
00:11:35.55\00:11:38.31
Matthew chapter
25 is so significant,
00:11:38.34\00:11:40.74
is Matthew
chapter 25 describes the
00:11:40.77\00:11:44.17
spiritual condition
of the church awaiting
00:11:44.20\00:11:47.35
the second coming of Christ.
00:11:47.38\00:11:49.16
We begin with Matthew chapter 25
00:11:49.19\00:11:52.04
and looking at
verse, 1 but before we
00:11:52.07\00:11:54.63
look at that
word by word and study
00:11:54.66\00:11:57.56
this parable verse by verse.
00:11:57.59\00:12:00.82
I'm directed to
a statement in the
00:12:00.85\00:12:04.00
writings of Ellen
White in the Review
00:12:04.03\00:12:06.86
and Herald August
19, 1890, she said this:
00:12:06.89\00:12:09.85
I've often referred
to the parable of the
00:12:09.88\00:12:13.45
ten virgins,
five of whom were wise
00:12:13.48\00:12:16.16
and five foolish.
This parable has been
00:12:16.19\00:12:19.31
and will be
fulfilled to the very letter.
00:12:19.34\00:12:22.39
So, Heaven
thinks that the parable
00:12:22.42\00:12:26.67
of the ten
virgins is so important
00:12:26.70\00:12:28.97
that it is so significant, that
00:12:29.00\00:12:31.49
it's so vital
for the church today.
00:12:31.52\00:12:33.43
That God brought
it to the end time
00:12:34.41\00:12:37.83
prophet's mind
again and again and
00:12:37.86\00:12:40.94
again and again.
This is present truth
00:12:40.97\00:12:44.24
for this hour,
amen. This is a message
00:12:44.27\00:12:47.81
for an end time
people. This is not something
00:12:47.84\00:12:51.65
at fringes, and
this is at the core,
00:12:51.68\00:12:54.44
at a heart of
preparation for the
00:12:54.47\00:12:56.86
coming of
Jesus. And I pray today
00:12:56.89\00:12:59.44
that the spirit of
God would come down
00:12:59.47\00:13:03.17
on this ASI
audience. I pray today
00:13:03.20\00:13:07.06
that we would
sense a new, a message of
00:13:08.03\00:13:13.22
present truth for
this hour to prepare
00:13:13.25\00:13:17.06
an end time people
that are coming of Jesus.
00:13:17.09\00:13:19.86
This is no time
for fooling around.
00:13:20.80\00:13:22.98
This is no time at dabbling with
00:13:24.55\00:13:27.69
religiosity and spirituality.
00:13:27.72\00:13:30.17
God is calling us
today to an end time
00:13:31.11\00:13:34.85
preparation. Matthew chapter 25,
00:13:34.88\00:13:37.18
we began there in verse 1:
00:13:37.21\00:13:39.68
"Then the kingdom of heaven,
00:13:39.71\00:13:41.87
now all kingdom
of heaven parables
00:13:41.90\00:13:44.15
refer to the church, every time
00:13:44.18\00:13:46.51
you see a
kingdom of heaven parable
00:13:46.54\00:13:48.33
Christ is addressing the church.
00:13:48.36\00:13:50.52
Verse 1 Matthew 25: "Then the
00:13:50.55\00:13:52.80
kingdom of
heaven shall be likened
00:13:52.83\00:13:55.16
to ten virgins, why ten? Why not
00:13:55.19\00:13:58.58
7 perfection, why
not 12 completeness,
00:13:58.61\00:14:01.92
why not 4
universality? Why not 3? Ten,
00:14:01.95\00:14:06.65
ten was a
significant number in Judaism.
00:14:06.68\00:14:12.41
Ten was the
smallest number of Jews
00:14:12.44\00:14:16.11
men that could
compose a synagogue
00:14:16.14\00:14:20.40
and establish it.
So, the number ten
00:14:20.43\00:14:23.07
is a church
number, the ten tribes
00:14:23.10\00:14:26.02
of Israel. The
church is spiritual Israel,
00:14:26.05\00:14:29.21
so it's another
clue in the text that
00:14:29.24\00:14:32.43
Jesus himself is speaking about
00:14:32.46\00:14:36.01
the church. "Then the kingdom
00:14:36.04\00:14:37.99
of heaven shall be likened to
00:14:38.02\00:14:39.85
ten virgins,
virgins in the Bible a woman
00:14:39.88\00:14:45.46
represents the
church. A pure woman,
00:14:45.49\00:14:49.55
Revelation 12
represents the true church,
00:14:49.58\00:14:52.83
the bride of
Christ. A harlot woman,
00:14:52.86\00:14:56.39
Revelation 17
represents the fallen church.
00:14:56.42\00:14:59.93
So, this parable
is a parable that is
00:14:59.96\00:15:05.10
addressed to the
true church, ten virgins.
00:15:05.13\00:15:09.88
Virgins
represent the church pure
00:15:09.91\00:15:14.19
un-corrupt
doctrine. Doctrine that is
00:15:14.22\00:15:18.42
undefiled by the
errors byapostasy
00:15:18.45\00:15:23.81
and the rituals,
and the ceremonies,
00:15:23.84\00:15:28.32
and the traditions of the enemy.
00:15:28.35\00:15:32.29
"Then the kingdom
of heaven shall be
00:15:32.32\00:15:35.56
like unto ten
virgins who took their lamps.
00:15:35.59\00:15:38.58
What's the lamp
represent in the Bible?
00:15:38.61\00:15:41.31
Psalm 119 verse
105: Thy word is a what?
00:15:41.34\00:15:44.38
Lamp unto my feet,
and a light unto my path.
00:15:44.41\00:15:47.88
So here is God's
church at end time with the
00:15:47.91\00:15:52.62
word of God in
his hand, going out to
00:15:52.65\00:15:56.15
light the way for the coming of
00:15:56.18\00:15:58.34
the bridegroom.
Here is God's church
00:15:58.37\00:16:01.59
anxiously awaiting something.
00:16:01.62\00:16:04.92
Last part of verse
1: They went out to
00:16:04.95\00:16:07.62
meet the
bridegroom, so here is an
00:16:07.65\00:16:09.93
Adventist Church.
They anticipate the coming
00:16:09.96\00:16:12.96
of Christ. They
believe Jesus is coming.
00:16:12.99\00:16:15.74
The issue is not
doctrinal heresy.
00:16:15.77\00:16:18.28
The issue is not
defiled in-corrupt doctrines.
00:16:18.31\00:16:21.87
This parable is
relating to God's Church
00:16:21.90\00:16:26.51
at end time, who
light the way for the
00:16:26.54\00:16:29.54
coming of the
bridegroom and who have
00:16:29.57\00:16:31.76
pure true uncorrupted doctrines.
00:16:31.79\00:16:34.12
What the Bible says, verse 2:
00:16:34.15\00:16:37.13
Now five of them
were wise, and five
00:16:39.68\00:16:43.23
were foolish. Now
notice something carefully.
00:16:43.26\00:16:47.22
Please notice
that the story does not
00:16:48.00\00:16:50.37
contrast the righteous
and unrighteous virgins.
00:16:50.40\00:16:53.78
It does not
contrast the holy and the
00:16:53.81\00:16:56.65
unholy virgins.
It does not contrast
00:16:56.68\00:16:59.12
the good and the bad virgins.
00:16:59.15\00:17:00.91
It does not
contrast the obedient
00:17:00.94\00:17:03.28
and disobedient
virgins. It does not
00:17:03.31\00:17:05.49
contrast the loyal
and rebellious virgins.
00:17:05.52\00:17:08.09
It does not
contrast the pure and the
00:17:08.12\00:17:10.36
impure virgins.
It does not contrast
00:17:10.39\00:17:12.75
the faithful and
the unfaithful virgins.
00:17:12.78\00:17:14.51
The Bible calls
them what everybody,
00:17:15.26\00:17:16.88
wise and foolish.
Well that leads us to
00:17:16.91\00:17:20.74
another question.
If this is a parable
00:17:20.77\00:17:23.83
of the church, if
this is talking about us
00:17:23.86\00:17:27.49
and if the Bible
talks about the wise and
00:17:28.87\00:17:31.12
the foolish
virgins, what makes the
00:17:31.15\00:17:34.48
wise, wise? What
makes the foolish, foolish?
00:17:34.51\00:17:39.54
Were the wise, wise
because they were awake?
00:17:41.28\00:17:43.59
They were studying
the signs of the times.
00:17:43.62\00:17:46.23
They knew that
we're on the verge of
00:17:46.26\00:17:48.52
eternity. Why
were the wise, wise?
00:17:48.55\00:17:51.41
Why were the foolish, foolish?
00:17:51.44\00:17:54.00
Were the wise,
wise because they were
00:17:54.95\00:17:56.59
wide awake and
had their eyes open
00:17:56.62\00:17:58.06
and the foolish
were foolish because
00:17:58.09\00:17:59.27
they were
sleeping? The Bible goes
00:17:59.30\00:18:01.58
on in Matthew chapter 25 and
00:18:01.61\00:18:05.23
the Bible says in
verse 5: But while the
00:18:05.26\00:18:09.06
bridegroom was delayed, they all
00:18:09.09\00:18:12.27
slumbered and
slept. So, the reality
00:18:12.30\00:18:16.85
of the parable,
the startling reality
00:18:16.88\00:18:19.22
of the parable is
not that five virgins
00:18:19.25\00:18:23.19
are sleeping; it is
that they all are sleeping.
00:18:23.22\00:18:26.64
Living on the
knife edge of eternity,
00:18:27.68\00:18:30.04
on the verge of
the kingdom of God.
00:18:30.07\00:18:32.75
The true Church is
pictured as spiritually
00:18:32.78\00:18:36.49
drowsy and asleep to the great
00:18:36.52\00:18:38.86
opportunities to
prepare the world
00:18:38.89\00:18:40.80
for the coming of Jesus.
00:18:40.83\00:18:41.80
This is the
message of the parable.
00:18:43.35\00:18:45.21
It is not that
five are sleeping.
00:18:46.63\00:18:48.47
It is that there is
a spiritual drowsiness,
00:18:48.50\00:18:51.28
a spiritual
stupor that has lowered
00:18:51.31\00:18:55.49
us all to sleep.
Amen. The secular,
00:18:55.52\00:18:58.87
materialistic,
godless culture around us
00:18:58.90\00:19:02.30
affects us as well as the world.
00:19:02.33\00:19:04.67
God's people are a
people with a message,
00:19:06.40\00:19:08.61
a people with a
mission, a people raised up
00:19:09.64\00:19:12.35
powerfully to share
the light of God's truth
00:19:12.38\00:19:15.85
with mankind in
this world of darkness.
00:19:15.88\00:19:18.75
Isaiah chapter 60 verse 1 to 3
00:19:18.78\00:19:21.10
is a prophesy of
these last days of
00:19:21.13\00:19:22.58
our history, take
your Bible please.
00:19:22.61\00:19:24.13
God's church is
called to light the world
00:19:26.16\00:19:31.10
with the trues of
his word to prepare
00:19:31.13\00:19:35.17
a world for the
coming of our Lord.
00:19:35.20\00:19:37.36
Isaiah chapter 60
verse 1 to 3 Jesus
00:19:38.33\00:19:42.93
gives a message to his church,
00:19:42.96\00:19:44.41
a prophetic message at end time:
00:19:44.44\00:19:46.37
"Arise, shine, for
your light has come,
00:19:47.20\00:19:50.01
the glory of the
Lord has risen upon you.
00:19:50.04\00:19:52.62
There will be a
revival in God's church
00:19:52.65\00:19:55.99
at end time. The
church will arise,
00:19:56.02\00:19:58.90
the church will shine.
00:19:58.93\00:20:00.17
The light of
God's truth will radiate
00:20:00.20\00:20:02.83
from God's
people, rise and shine for
00:20:02.86\00:20:04.54
the light has
come. The glory of the
00:20:04.57\00:20:05.54
Lord is risen
upon you: For behold
00:20:05.55\00:20:07.73
darkness shall cover the earth.
00:20:07.76\00:20:09.06
Deep darkness the
people but the Lord
00:20:09.09\00:20:11.68
will arise over
you, and His glory
00:20:11.71\00:20:14.31
will be seen upon
you. And Gentiles,
00:20:14.34\00:20:17.00
heathen and pagan shall come to
00:20:17.03\00:20:18.79
your light, and
kings to the brightness
00:20:18.82\00:20:21.39
of your rising.
"Lift up your eyes all
00:20:21.42\00:20:24.09
around, and see:
They're all gather together,
00:20:24.12\00:20:25.83
they'll come to
you. God is going to
00:20:25.86\00:20:28.68
move through his
church in the last days
00:20:28.71\00:20:31.05
of earth
history. Empowered by the
00:20:31.08\00:20:33.35
Holy Spirit, filled
with the oil of his grace.
00:20:33.38\00:20:36.46
God's people will
illuminate the world
00:20:36.49\00:20:39.28
with his glory. They
will impact the world
00:20:39.31\00:20:42.24
with his truth. The
gospel will be preached
00:20:42.27\00:20:44.97
to the ends of the earth.
00:20:45.00\00:20:46.12
The mission
will be accomplished,
00:20:46.15\00:20:47.84
the task will be completed,
00:20:47.87\00:20:49.51
the work will be finished.
00:20:49.54\00:20:51.06
The way will be prepared for the
00:20:51.09\00:20:53.23
bridegroom's return
and Jesus will come.
00:20:53.26\00:20:55.84
Amen. There is no other reason
00:20:55.87\00:20:59.39
for the existence
of the Seventh-day
00:20:59.42\00:21:02.54
Adventist Church, then to reveal
00:21:02.57\00:21:05.40
the light of God's loving glory,
00:21:05.43\00:21:08.20
his loving character in word,
00:21:08.23\00:21:10.65
indeed to the
world to prepare for
00:21:10.68\00:21:13.33
the coming of the bridegroom.
00:21:13.36\00:21:14.81
But the foolish
virgins fail to participate
00:21:16.51\00:21:20.28
in the most
exciting movement in the
00:21:21.46\00:21:23.81
history of the
world, why? They miss out
00:21:23.84\00:21:28.00
on eternity why?
They're all members
00:21:28.03\00:21:31.75
of the true
church. They're all waiting
00:21:33.23\00:21:35.98
for the coming
of the bridegroom.
00:21:36.01\00:21:38.29
The foolish as well
as the wise accept and
00:21:39.89\00:21:42.05
believe the truth of scripture.
00:21:42.08\00:21:43.53
These foolish
virgins are not promoting
00:21:43.56\00:21:48.28
some kind of doctrinal heresy.
00:21:48.31\00:21:51.29
They live
morally up right lives.
00:21:52.37\00:21:54.12
They enjoy the fellowship of the
00:21:54.15\00:21:56.87
wise virgins.
What is it about these
00:21:56.90\00:22:02.07
foolish virgins,
who come to meetings,
00:22:02.10\00:22:06.68
dare I say it,
dare I not say it,
00:22:08.61\00:22:12.63
what is it about
them? They come to
00:22:14.71\00:22:18.68
meeting just like
this, they enjoy the
00:22:18.71\00:22:21.86
fellowship. They
actually participate in
00:22:21.89\00:22:26.61
witnessing that time. They're
00:22:26.64\00:22:29.67
doctrinally sound
in their thinking,
00:22:29.70\00:22:34.45
but yet heaven says that they're
00:22:36.89\00:22:39.96
foolish virgins.
The question becomes
00:22:39.99\00:22:42.67
what makes a wise virgin wise
00:22:43.65\00:22:47.25
and what makes a
foolish virgin foolish.
00:22:48.82\00:22:50.58
And as I reflect
on the parable and
00:22:52.42\00:22:55.23
read it again
and again and again
00:22:55.26\00:22:56.55
I say God could
I ever unknowingly,
00:22:56.58\00:23:00.80
unwittingly be a
foolish virgin myself?
00:23:00.83\00:23:07.11
Matthew 25 verse
3, Matthew 25 verse 3,
00:23:09.54\00:23:13.71
I wanna look at
the characteristics
00:23:16.00\00:23:18.10
of the foolish
virgins and then the
00:23:18.13\00:23:23.54
characteristics of
the wise virgins and
00:23:23.57\00:23:25.55
contrast them.
And lead us into a
00:23:25.58\00:23:28.86
deep heart felt
sense that heaven's oil is
00:23:28.89\00:23:35.07
flowing into our hearts today.
00:23:35.10\00:23:37.98
And there if
somebody came in here
00:23:39.34\00:23:40.72
today a foolish
virgin, you can walk
00:23:40.75\00:23:42.33
out a wise
virgin. Somebody walked
00:23:42.36\00:23:46.47
in today locked in
Laodicean spiritual
00:23:46.50\00:23:50.74
complacency
God's gonna touch your
00:23:50.77\00:23:52.52
heart today. God's gonna work
00:23:52.55\00:23:55.69
in this meeting
today. The spirit is moving
00:23:55.72\00:23:58.95
in this meeting
today. God's gonna touch
00:23:58.98\00:24:01.82
hearts today. There are gonna be
00:24:01.85\00:24:04.01
miracles of God's grace that
00:24:04.04\00:24:05.59
happened right here
today in this place,
00:24:05.62\00:24:08.39
in this hour
right now. Matthew the
00:24:08.42\00:24:11.64
25th chapter what
makes the foolish,
00:24:11.67\00:24:15.57
foolish and what
makes the wise, wise?
00:24:15.60\00:24:17.75
Matthew 25
verse 3 we look at it:
00:24:19.23\00:24:21.45
Those who were
foolish took their lamps
00:24:21.48\00:24:25.44
and took no oil with them. Now,
00:24:25.47\00:24:28.80
that's a very
interesting passage.
00:24:28.83\00:24:31.12
When you look at
the ancient world,
00:24:33.40\00:24:36.11
often in ancient
weddings, the bride
00:24:37.81\00:24:42.07
and her
bridesmaids would be in a
00:24:42.10\00:24:44.73
home and this
parable is actually
00:24:44.76\00:24:47.17
a slice of life
out of Palestine.
00:24:47.20\00:24:49.99
Jesus was sitting
there on the Mount
00:24:50.94\00:24:53.14
of Olives and he
saw a wedding like
00:24:53.17\00:24:55.50
this taking place. And he used
00:24:55.53\00:24:57.48
that as an
illustration of preparation
00:24:57.51\00:24:59.38
for his return. The bridegroom
00:24:59.41\00:25:03.55
would come to the brides home
00:25:03.58\00:25:06.72
unexpectedly at
night and the word
00:25:06.75\00:25:11.25
would go out,
the cry would go out,
00:25:11.28\00:25:13.20
the hold of the bridegroom comes
00:25:13.23\00:25:15.38
and the
bridesmaids would light the
00:25:15.41\00:25:19.25
way before the bride
to the bridegroom's home.
00:25:19.28\00:25:22.07
The wedding
feast may last a week
00:25:23.26\00:25:25.02
and if you
didn't enter in when the
00:25:25.05\00:25:27.60
feast started,
the door would be shut
00:25:27.63\00:25:29.62
and you couldn't
enter in. Now, when
00:25:29.65\00:25:32.84
you look at
Matthew chapter 25 verse 3.
00:25:32.87\00:25:35.65
It says, those
who were foolish took
00:25:35.68\00:25:37.84
their lamps and
took no oil with them.
00:25:37.87\00:25:40.15
It does not say
they didn't have oil
00:25:40.18\00:25:42.94
in their lamps, in
the ancient world oil
00:25:42.97\00:25:46.87
was placed in
the lamp. But a flask
00:25:46.90\00:25:51.36
of oil was taken
along with the lamp,
00:25:51.39\00:25:54.99
so when the oil
in the lamp ran out.
00:25:55.02\00:25:58.35
The flask of
oil would be used to
00:25:58.38\00:26:02.07
replenish the
oil that ran out in
00:26:02.10\00:26:05.42
the lamp. Now the
fact that the foolish
00:26:05.45\00:26:08.61
virgins had some
oil is significant and
00:26:08.64\00:26:12.17
you see that if
you let your eyes drop
00:26:12.20\00:26:14.58
down further in
the Bible passage.
00:26:14.61\00:26:16.94
Matthew chapter
25 follow as I read
00:26:16.97\00:26:20.68
verses 5 and onward: But while
00:26:20.71\00:26:23.20
the bridegroom was delayed,
00:26:23.23\00:26:24.76
they all slumbered and slept.
00:26:24.79\00:26:26.48
"And at
midnight a cry was heard:
00:26:26.51\00:26:29.48
'Behold, the
bridegroom is coming;
00:26:29.51\00:26:31.05
go out to meet him!'
Then all those virgins
00:26:31.08\00:26:33.73
arose and trimmed their lamps.
00:26:33.76\00:26:36.45
So, the wise
and the foolish were
00:26:36.48\00:26:38.38
7 trimmed their
lamps, what does that mean?
00:26:38.41\00:26:40.48
They lit their
lamps: And the foolish said
00:26:40.51\00:26:43.77
to the wise, "Give
us some of your oil,
00:26:43.80\00:26:45.97
for our lamps are going out."
00:26:46.00\00:26:48.77
So what does that indicate,
00:26:48.80\00:26:51.08
the foolish
virgins had some oil but
00:26:51.11\00:26:55.12
they did not have
a sufficient supply
00:26:55.15\00:26:58.47
of oil because
the delay was so long
00:26:58.50\00:27:01.45
that the small
amount of oil that
00:27:01.48\00:27:03.77
they had was not
sufficient to take them
00:27:03.80\00:27:06.47
on the journey
from the bride's home
00:27:06.50\00:27:08.01
to the
bridegroom's home and their
00:27:08.04\00:27:10.35
lamps were going out. Now, they
00:27:10.38\00:27:12.92
lacked this indispensable oil.
00:27:12.95\00:27:15.20
In the Bible what
is oil a symbol of?
00:27:16.57\00:27:19.76
What's that a
symbol of? But wait
00:27:19.79\00:27:22.29
you say it's a
symbol of the Holy
00:27:22.32\00:27:23.74
Spirit but wait,
aren't there many symbols
00:27:23.77\00:27:26.58
of the Holy Spirit in the Bible.
00:27:26.61\00:27:27.76
Fire is the symbol
of the Holy Spirit,
00:27:28.85\00:27:30.54
why didn't they
have a candle of fire.
00:27:30.57\00:27:32.74
Wind is a symbol
of the Holy Spirit.
00:27:32.77\00:27:35.21
The water is a
symbol of the Holy Spirit.
00:27:36.33\00:27:38.89
Why does God take the symbolism
00:27:38.92\00:27:42.33
of oil and use
this as the illustration
00:27:42.36\00:27:47.49
of what the foolish
virgins did not have.
00:27:47.52\00:27:49.79
Here's why? If you
look throughout the
00:27:51.47\00:27:53.67
Old Testament,
oil is associated with
00:27:53.70\00:27:57.50
three things.
Number one the sanctuary,
00:27:57.53\00:28:01.09
when the
sanctuary was inaugurated
00:28:02.27\00:28:04.62
the priest were
anointed with oil.
00:28:04.65\00:28:08.06
When the
sanctuary was inaugurated
00:28:09.28\00:28:10.74
the sacred vessels were anointed
00:28:10.77\00:28:12.94
with oil. Oil
represents consecration
00:28:12.97\00:28:17.01
the setting apart,
oil represents total
00:28:17.04\00:28:22.11
commitment to
the kingdom of God.
00:28:22.14\00:28:25.60
The Holy Spirit
impresses the heart
00:28:27.11\00:28:31.05
and mind through
the oil of God's grace
00:28:31.08\00:28:34.64
that flows from
the sanctuary to lead
00:28:34.67\00:28:38.06
men and women to
make an unreserved
00:28:38.09\00:28:41.09
total absolute commitment to the
00:28:41.12\00:28:43.38
kingdom. So, oil is
always consecration.
00:28:43.41\00:28:46.17
Secondly
throughout the Bible oil is
00:28:46.20\00:28:49.13
always healing. You remember in
00:28:49.16\00:28:50.64
the New
Testament, the good Samaritan
00:28:50.67\00:28:53.65
found the bruised broken bloody
00:28:54.84\00:28:57.16
traveler and he
anointed that traveler
00:28:57.19\00:29:00.24
with what? Oil,
oil symbolizes healing.
00:29:00.27\00:29:04.05
God will have
an end time people,
00:29:04.08\00:29:07.26
whose minds, and eyes, and ears,
00:29:08.37\00:29:11.85
and hearts, and
inner beings are totally
00:29:11.88\00:29:16.03
absolutely
consecrated to him? They seek
00:29:16.06\00:29:19.46
first the kingdom of
God. They want Jesus,
00:29:19.49\00:29:22.50
they put Jesus
first, seek you first
00:29:22.53\00:29:24.38
the kingdom of God.
That is the priority
00:29:24.41\00:29:27.46
and passion of
their lives, and the
00:29:27.49\00:29:30.14
oil of the spirit
that leads them to
00:29:30.17\00:29:33.48
this deepening consecration,
00:29:33.51\00:29:35.57
heals their hearts
of anger, resentment,
00:29:36.21\00:29:39.89
bitterness,
jealousy, rivalry between
00:29:39.92\00:29:42.20
ministries,
lust, gossip. So, there
00:29:42.23\00:29:45.14
is an end time
preparation of the
00:29:45.17\00:29:47.51
spirit that the
Holy Spirit comes
00:29:47.54\00:29:49.90
upon God's
praying, seeking church
00:29:49.93\00:29:52.37
and men and women are set aside,
00:29:52.40\00:29:55.02
so they long for
the kingdom of God.
00:29:55.05\00:29:57.46
They hunger for
eternity and they're
00:29:57.49\00:29:59.95
cleansed within or healed within
00:29:59.98\00:30:02.63
through the
ministry of the Holy Spirit
00:30:02.66\00:30:04.76
about regarding
those attitudes that
00:30:04.79\00:30:07.94
keep the lateral
rain of God's power
00:30:07.97\00:30:10.32
from falling. What is the oil
00:30:10.35\00:30:12.79
representative of
first consecrations,
00:30:12.82\00:30:15.12
second healing and
third illumination?
00:30:15.15\00:30:17.22
Illumination, oil
provides the basis
00:30:17.25\00:30:21.43
for the lamps. God will have an
00:30:21.46\00:30:24.06
end time people
consecrated to him,
00:30:24.09\00:30:26.29
healed within of
inner attitudes that
00:30:26.32\00:30:30.90
keep them for being the powerful
00:30:30.93\00:30:32.79
witnesses that God
wants to the world.
00:30:32.82\00:30:34.81
Who hold the torch of truth high
00:30:35.54\00:30:37.25
to light the way for the coming
00:30:37.28\00:30:39.65
of the bridegroom? God wants
00:30:39.68\00:30:41.74
to have a group
of people filled with
00:30:41.77\00:30:43.58
this spirit consecrated to him,
00:30:43.61\00:30:44.96
healed to
bitterness, envy, jealousy,
00:30:44.99\00:30:47.14
competition, healed
of pride, arrogance,
00:30:47.17\00:30:49.37
self inflated
importance. People who
00:30:49.40\00:30:51.88
are not so
interested in talking about
00:30:51.91\00:30:53.45
what they do, but talking about
00:30:53.48\00:30:55.08
what Jesus does?
A people who witness
00:30:55.11\00:30:57.43
to his grace,
who are consumed with
00:30:57.46\00:30:59.74
holding a
lighted torch of truth to
00:30:59.77\00:31:02.58
get ready for
the coming of Jesus.
00:31:02.61\00:31:03.67
Now there are
three fatal mistakes
00:31:03.70\00:31:05.06
of the false
virgins, of the foolish
00:31:05.09\00:31:07.82
virgins here there
are, three fatal mistakes.
00:31:07.85\00:31:09.70
One, they had some
oil, but not enough.
00:31:09.73\00:31:12.74
They thought the limited supply
00:31:13.98\00:31:15.64
of oil they had
was sufficient enough.
00:31:15.67\00:31:17.39
And when the
cry came, behold the
00:31:17.42\00:31:20.01
bridegroom comes they cried out
00:31:20.04\00:31:21.55
our lamps are
going out we do not
00:31:21.58\00:31:23.11
have enough.
Their supply of oil was
00:31:23.14\00:31:27.19
not sufficient for
the unanticipated delay.
00:31:27.22\00:31:31.40
Is it possible to
assume that a superficial
00:31:32.92\00:31:37.01
experience with
God will get us through
00:31:37.04\00:31:41.53
the great crisis
ahead? Have we forgotten
00:31:41.56\00:31:44.83
the words of the
prophet? We will need
00:31:44.86\00:31:46.78
an experience
much broader or deeper
00:31:46.81\00:31:50.48
than we possibly can imagine.
00:31:50.51\00:31:52.77
The foolish
virgins were part of the
00:31:53.82\00:31:55.59
superficial conservative class.
00:31:55.62\00:31:57.19
Are you
depending on an experience
00:31:58.89\00:32:02.14
with Jesus? That you once had.
00:32:02.17\00:32:05.22
He's your
spiritual lamp going out.
00:32:07.55\00:32:10.46
Are you
depending on an experience
00:32:12.66\00:32:14.21
with God, that
is in the past tense
00:32:14.24\00:32:17.91
and not the
present. Does your heart
00:32:19.63\00:32:22.23
still burn within
you, when you open
00:32:22.26\00:32:27.04
God's word? It's the
most exciting precious
00:32:27.07\00:32:30.85
time of your
day. The time you open
00:32:30.88\00:32:33.89
God's word and
spend more time with him,
00:32:33.92\00:32:36.86
how is your devotional life?
00:32:39.94\00:32:41.27
Do you know Jesus and does Jesus
00:32:42.73\00:32:45.07
live in your soul
and move in your life.
00:32:45.10\00:32:48.27
Do you still
sense Jesus presence,
00:32:50.02\00:32:51.73
when you get on
your knees to pray
00:32:52.92\00:32:54.25
or has your
prayer life become boring
00:32:55.60\00:32:57.72
and ritualistic
and something you
00:32:57.75\00:33:00.26
hurry through as a ceremony?
00:33:00.29\00:33:01.85
Do you still love
to take those long
00:33:03.38\00:33:05.08
walks alone? Listen
to the singing of birds
00:33:05.11\00:33:09.23
and see the
magnificence of the flowers
00:33:09.26\00:33:11.92
and say thank you
Jesus for nature and
00:33:11.95\00:33:15.33
just let him
transform your life.
00:33:15.36\00:33:17.09
You see the
foolish virgins put their
00:33:17.12\00:33:20.83
trust in the wrong place.
00:33:20.86\00:33:22.34
The foolish virgins
trusted that their past
00:33:23.98\00:33:28.38
experience that
they once had would
00:33:28.41\00:33:31.65
be sufficient
to take them to the
00:33:31.68\00:33:34.71
wedding feast. The
height of Christian
00:33:34.74\00:33:38.00
folly is neglecting
personal soul culture
00:33:38.03\00:33:42.33
and believing that
everything is alright,
00:33:42.36\00:33:44.96
because I
believe the right thing,
00:33:44.99\00:33:46.82
and because I'm a
witness for Jesus. Amen.
00:33:46.85\00:33:50.17
The foolish
virgins were superficial
00:33:51.27\00:33:54.05
and conservative,
but the foolish virgins
00:33:55.40\00:33:58.26
lack something deep inside.
00:33:58.29\00:34:00.07
Ellen White
talks about this group
00:34:00.10\00:34:02.38
in Christ's
Object Lessons page 411.
00:34:02.41\00:34:04.87
She says, the
class represented by the
00:34:05.86\00:34:07.60
foolish virgins
are not hypocrites.
00:34:07.63\00:34:09.27
When I read the next sentence
00:34:09.30\00:34:11.11
I spend significant
time meditating on it,
00:34:11.14\00:34:14.54
applying it to my own life.
00:34:15.31\00:34:16.59
They have a
regard for the truth.
00:34:17.73\00:34:19.39
The foolish virgins
have a regard for truth.
00:34:20.25\00:34:23.66
They have advocated the truth.
00:34:23.69\00:34:26.19
So, these are not
fanatical heretics.
00:34:27.06\00:34:30.22
They have a
regard for the truth.
00:34:31.31\00:34:32.50
They've advocated
the truth. The foolish
00:34:32.53\00:34:34.73
virgins have
advocated the truth,
00:34:34.76\00:34:36.18
they're involved in witnessing.
00:34:36.21\00:34:37.25
They're attracted
to those who believe
00:34:39.94\00:34:41.61
the truth, so look
at these three things
00:34:41.64\00:34:43.93
that inspiration says about the
00:34:43.96\00:34:45.39
foolish virgins.
They've got a regard
00:34:45.42\00:34:47.26
for the truth.
They advocate the truth.
00:34:47.29\00:34:49.48
They are attracted
to those who believe
00:34:49.51\00:34:51.34
the truth. But
they have not yielded
00:34:51.37\00:34:54.64
themselves to the
Holy Spirit's working.
00:34:54.67\00:34:56.55
They have not
fallen upon the rock
00:34:56.58\00:34:59.04
Christ Jesus, and
permitted their old
00:34:59.07\00:35:00.86
nature to be broken up.
00:35:00.89\00:35:01.86
Here is the issue,
although they believe
00:35:02.83\00:35:06.37
the truth and
witness the old nature deep
00:35:06.40\00:35:11.48
within their
hearts is still dominant.
00:35:11.51\00:35:15.76
It says, the spirit works upon
00:35:16.84\00:35:19.32
man's heart,
according to his desire
00:35:19.35\00:35:21.37
and consent
implanting in him a new nature;
00:35:21.40\00:35:23.53
but the class represented by the
00:35:23.56\00:35:25.78
foolish virgins
have been content with
00:35:25.81\00:35:28.02
a superficial
work. And I fall upon
00:35:28.05\00:35:30.14
my knees and I
say God help me not
00:35:30.17\00:35:33.07
be content with
the superficial work
00:35:33.10\00:35:34.70
in my life.
They do not know God.
00:35:34.73\00:35:38.55
See this is the
issue with the foolish
00:35:39.51\00:35:41.22
virgins, the oil
of the Holy Spirit
00:35:41.25\00:35:42.97
flowing from
heaven sanctuary and
00:35:43.00\00:35:47.01
the function of
the Holy Spirit is to
00:35:47.04\00:35:49.10
witness of Jesus.
So, the Holy Spirit
00:35:49.13\00:35:52.07
function has been
neglected in their life.
00:35:52.10\00:35:55.03
They have not been
healed deep within,
00:35:55.06\00:35:57.16
they believe
truth, they accept truth,
00:35:57.19\00:36:00.43
they may witness for the truth.
00:36:00.46\00:36:01.72
But often they're prompted and
00:36:01.75\00:36:03.65
motivated by the
old nature rather
00:36:03.68\00:36:06.19
than the new
nature. And it says,
00:36:06.22\00:36:08.51
they do not know
God. They have not
00:36:08.54\00:36:10.27
studied His
character. They have not
00:36:10.30\00:36:12.19
held communion with Him.
00:36:12.22\00:36:13.56
Therefore they do
not know how to trust,
00:36:13.59\00:36:16.12
how to look and
live, their service
00:36:16.15\00:36:17.64
to God degenerates into a form.
00:36:17.67\00:36:19.99
The foolish virgins
are content with the
00:36:20.87\00:36:22.99
stale superficial
experience from the
00:36:23.02\00:36:25.27
past, although they
acknowledge the truth.
00:36:25.30\00:36:27.34
The truth has not
transformed their lives.
00:36:27.37\00:36:31.87
The old nature dominants theirs
00:36:31.90\00:36:33.72
thoughts and
actions, on the outward
00:36:33.75\00:36:35.94
appearance
everything looks fine.
00:36:35.97\00:36:37.80
They have lamps in their hands,
00:36:37.83\00:36:39.88
what more do
they need, they though
00:36:39.91\00:36:41.79
they were ready
for the coming of
00:36:41.82\00:36:42.94
the bridegroom.
Thought there was
00:36:42.97\00:36:44.18
a difference
brothers and sisters,
00:36:44.21\00:36:45.74
between having the word of God
00:36:45.77\00:36:47.97
in your hand to defend the truth
00:36:48.00\00:36:50.28
and having the
word in your heart
00:36:50.31\00:36:52.10
to live the truth. Amen.
00:36:52.13\00:36:53.83
The foolish virgins
were informed, but not
00:36:53.86\00:36:56.15
transformed.
They were instructed
00:36:56.18\00:36:58.93
by the word, but not change
00:36:58.96\00:37:00.52
through the word. They were
00:37:00.55\00:37:02.50
convicted of the truth, but not
00:37:02.53\00:37:04.58
changed by the
truth. Here is the essential
00:37:04.61\00:37:07.50
question, has the
truth which you believe,
00:37:07.53\00:37:10.42
the truth which
you share with others,
00:37:10.45\00:37:12.92
has that radically impacted and
00:37:12.95\00:37:15.95
transformed
your life. So, you're
00:37:15.98\00:37:18.01
a different man,
a different woman.
00:37:18.04\00:37:19.48
In the parable of ten virgins.
00:37:19.51\00:37:21.75
The ten virgins
do not understand
00:37:23.20\00:37:24.76
fully what genuine
conversion is all about.
00:37:24.79\00:37:29.01
The oil represents
the sanctifying grace
00:37:29.04\00:37:32.76
of the Holy
Spirit, that transforms our
00:37:32.79\00:37:36.02
character, it
enables us to be more
00:37:36.05\00:37:38.58
like Jesus. Now,
here is the incredible
00:37:38.61\00:37:42.86
good news. There is an abundance
00:37:42.89\00:37:45.51
supply of heaven's
oil for you and for me.
00:37:45.54\00:37:50.35
There is no
shortage of the power of the
00:37:51.75\00:37:56.24
Holy Spirit to
give us the victories
00:37:56.27\00:37:59.66
that we long for in
our own personal lives.
00:37:59.69\00:38:03.89
Nobody else's prayers though can
00:38:05.13\00:38:06.70
substitute for
yours. Nobody else can
00:38:06.73\00:38:12.35
study God's word for you.
00:38:12.38\00:38:16.92
Nobody else
could have an intimate
00:38:18.27\00:38:20.13
relationship with God for you.
00:38:20.16\00:38:24.34
In the
bridegroom's absence there
00:38:26.13\00:38:29.18
is tendency to
slumber, the greatest
00:38:29.21\00:38:32.65
challenge that the Seventh-day
00:38:32.68\00:38:34.67
Adventist Church
faces today is this.
00:38:34.70\00:38:36.80
We're a church
that should not be here,
00:38:36.83\00:38:42.39
we have never been in it for the
00:38:43.82\00:38:45.65
marathon we've always been in it
00:38:45.68\00:38:47.83
for the sprint. But
the church since 1844
00:38:47.86\00:38:53.97
has gone on, it's going on for a
00:38:54.00\00:38:57.08
165 years, 166
years. And the longer
00:38:57.11\00:39:08.04
the time goes on,
the more the spiritual
00:39:08.07\00:39:12.73
drowsiness and
slumber increases,
00:39:12.76\00:39:16.87
and the beauty is this.
00:39:19.33\00:39:21.08
God is moving
among his people today
00:39:23.58\00:39:27.63
to bring a spiritual renewal and
00:39:28.54\00:39:31.02
a spiritual revival through the
00:39:31.05\00:39:33.68
outpouring of
the Holy Spirit that
00:39:33.71\00:39:36.47
will bring to
this people, a mighty
00:39:36.50\00:39:39.94
spiritual revival,
and usher in the coming
00:39:39.97\00:39:43.99
of Jesus. But
that does lead us to
00:39:44.02\00:39:47.78
a question that
we should not neglect
00:39:47.81\00:39:49.84
this morning.
And the question is
00:39:49.87\00:39:52.44
implied in Matthew chapter 25,
00:39:52.47\00:39:55.70
I want you to notice it please.
00:39:57.62\00:39:59.62
Matthew chapter 25 and you'll
00:40:00.47\00:40:03.21
notice it there, verse 5:
00:40:03.24\00:40:05.13
But while the bridegroom was and
00:40:06.19\00:40:08.44
what is the word
in verse 5? Delayed,
00:40:08.47\00:40:11.91
they all slumbered and slept.
00:40:11.94\00:40:13.48
There is a
delay in the coming of
00:40:14.35\00:40:16.62
the bridegroom,
if the Seventh-Day
00:40:16.65\00:40:20.82
Adventist Church
answered one question;
00:40:20.85\00:40:24.40
it probably is the
most vital question
00:40:25.50\00:40:27.37
that the church
could answer and it's this:
00:40:27.40\00:40:29.80
Why is it that the second coming
00:40:29.83\00:40:32.60
of Christ is
delayed? Why didn't Jesus
00:40:32.63\00:40:36.04
come in 1885, why didn't he
00:40:36.07\00:40:39.60
come in 1850, why didn't he come
00:40:39.63\00:40:41.13
in 1910, 1930? The
answer to that question
00:40:41.16\00:40:45.69
is not a single
one sentence answer.
00:40:47.49\00:40:50.07
If you carefully
study scripture and the
00:40:50.88\00:40:53.56
writings of Ellen
White, there at least
00:40:53.59\00:40:55.99
three reasons why
Jesus delays his coming.
00:40:56.02\00:40:58.83
Let's briefly
look at each of them
00:40:59.61\00:41:00.72
first reason one, why does Jesus
00:41:00.75\00:41:03.68
delay his
coming? Reason one Christ
00:41:03.71\00:41:05.95
waits in love,
suffering himself over the
00:41:05.98\00:41:09.47
pain, agony,
sorrow, poverty, sickness
00:41:09.50\00:41:12.44
and death of our
world. Waiting for
00:41:12.47\00:41:14.88
the gospel to
preached with all power,
00:41:14.91\00:41:16.72
so all humanity
will have an opportunity
00:41:16.75\00:41:18.89
to be saved the evidence of that
00:41:18.92\00:41:20.98
is found in
Peter, 2 Peter chapter
00:41:21.01\00:41:23.09
3 verse 4. Why
does the Bible say in
00:41:23.12\00:41:26.29
Matthew chapter
25 that we read that
00:41:26.32\00:41:28.18
Jesus delays his
coming. He waits in love,
00:41:28.21\00:41:31.25
he longs for all
humanity to be saved.
00:41:31.28\00:41:33.89
He longs for all men and women
00:41:33.92\00:41:35.43
everywhere to hear the gospel.
00:41:35.46\00:41:37.43
He does not want
one person to be lost.
00:41:37.46\00:41:41.41
Take your Bible
please and turn to
00:41:42.57\00:41:43.72
the Book of the
Peter, 2 Peter chapter 3,
00:41:43.75\00:41:47.68
we look there in
the Book of Peter
00:41:50.48\00:41:52.41
and the Lord is very clear.
00:41:52.44\00:41:55.03
In 2 Peter chapter
3 and let your eyes
00:41:57.58\00:42:02.61
dropped down to verse 9,
00:42:02.64\00:42:03.61
2 Peter chapter 3
it's actually verse 9:
00:42:03.62\00:42:05.75
The Lord is not
slack concerning his
00:42:05.78\00:42:07.85
promise, as some
men count slackness;
00:42:07.88\00:42:09.62
but he's
longsuffering toward us,
00:42:09.65\00:42:12.25
God is not slack
concerning his promise.
00:42:12.28\00:42:15.79
Has he promised
to come? Yes, will
00:42:15.82\00:42:18.22
he come? Amen. The Lord does not
00:42:18.25\00:42:20.03
slack concerning
his promise, as some
00:42:20.06\00:42:21.77
men count slackness; but he's
00:42:21.80\00:42:23.27
longsuffering toward us, not
00:42:23.30\00:42:24.74
willing that any
should perish but that
00:42:25.17\00:42:26.67
all should come to repentance.
00:42:26.70\00:42:27.77
Why hasn't Jesus come? Because
00:42:27.80\00:42:30.93
he waits in love,
he waits longing that
00:42:30.96\00:42:35.15
all men and
women everywhere will
00:42:35.18\00:42:36.72
accept his
love. He will not come
00:42:36.75\00:42:39.25
until the gospel
goes to ends the earth.
00:42:39.28\00:42:41.25
Can the church hasten the coming
00:42:41.28\00:42:43.31
of Jesus? Desire
of Ages page 633:
00:42:43.34\00:42:46.94
Had the church
of Christ done her
00:42:46.97\00:42:50.09
appointed work as
the Lord ordained,
00:42:50.12\00:42:52.50
the whole world
would before this have
00:42:52.53\00:42:55.36
been warned, and
the Lord Jesus would
00:42:55.39\00:42:57.47
have come to earth
in power and glory.
00:42:57.50\00:42:59.45
Desire of Ages 633
continuing by giving
00:43:01.47\00:43:04.27
the gospel to the
world it is in our
00:43:04.30\00:43:06.37
power to hasten
our Lord's return.
00:43:06.40\00:43:08.66
I don't know how the language
00:43:08.69\00:43:10.72
could be clearer. God is looking
00:43:10.75\00:43:13.99
for a people that
are passionate about
00:43:14.02\00:43:15.93
sharing his love with the world.
00:43:15.96\00:43:17.66
Passionate about
sharing the light
00:43:17.69\00:43:19.52
of truth with this world,
00:43:19.55\00:43:20.87
a people that are consecrated by
00:43:20.90\00:43:22.93
the oil of his
grace, who are healed
00:43:22.96\00:43:25.41
in their hearts
of anger, bitterness,
00:43:25.44\00:43:27.58
and jealousy, who focus on one
00:43:27.61\00:43:30.19
thing and that
is getting the world
00:43:30.22\00:43:31.71
ready for the coming of Jesus.
00:43:31.74\00:43:32.92
Why doesn't Jesus come, when the
00:43:32.95\00:43:34.62
gospel hasn't
preached to the world.
00:43:34.65\00:43:35.87
Reason two Christ
waits for his church
00:43:35.90\00:43:39.31
to reveal his
incredible character
00:43:39.34\00:43:41.63
of love to a waiting world and
00:43:41.66\00:43:43.46
watching
universe. You see the cross
00:43:43.49\00:43:46.09
is the answer to
the great controversy.
00:43:46.12\00:43:47.93
Jesus death on the cross answers
00:43:49.37\00:43:51.47
Satan charges and reveals that
00:43:51.50\00:43:54.28
God is love.
Amen, God now longs for
00:43:54.31\00:43:57.84
a community of grace, his body,
00:43:57.87\00:44:00.53
his church to
reveal that his way brings
00:44:00.56\00:44:04.14
joy and
happiness and Satan's way
00:44:04.17\00:44:07.04
of selfishness brings death.
00:44:07.07\00:44:08.33
What is God
waiting for, not only
00:44:09.83\00:44:11.55
to the gospel to
be preached out there?
00:44:11.58\00:44:13.61
But he's waiting
for something to happen
00:44:14.24\00:44:15.98
in his church. The Bible says,
00:44:16.01\00:44:18.26
when the harvest is fully ripe.
00:44:18.29\00:44:20.96
In Revelation 14
talks about two harvests,
00:44:22.05\00:44:24.73
the harvest of
golden grain and the
00:44:24.76\00:44:26.81
harvest of glory grapes.
00:44:26.84\00:44:28.39
The harvest of
golden grain is the
00:44:28.42\00:44:30.99
character of Jesus that he longs
00:44:31.02\00:44:35.52
to reveal
through his Holy Spirit
00:44:35.55\00:44:37.74
to transform our
lives, so we become
00:44:37.77\00:44:40.22
the loving
people that are lights
00:44:40.25\00:44:41.79
in this world,
in a world of hate
00:44:41.82\00:44:43.65
and selfishness.
That is why Ellen
00:44:43.68\00:44:46.06
White put it's so
clearly in Christ Object
00:44:46.09\00:44:48.67
Lessons page 69:
Christ is waiting with
00:44:48.70\00:44:52.88
longing desire,
for the manifestation
00:44:52.91\00:44:56.52
of Himself in
His church. When the
00:44:56.55\00:44:59.02
character of
Christ shall be perfectly
00:44:59.05\00:45:01.58
reproduced in
His people, then He
00:45:01.61\00:45:04.30
will come to claim
them as His own. Amen.
00:45:04.33\00:45:07.61
What is Jesus
waiting for, first the
00:45:07.64\00:45:09.02
gospel to go to the world?
00:45:09.05\00:45:10.40
Secondly the gospel to penetrate
00:45:10.43\00:45:13.93
our hearts so
deeply, that we reveal
00:45:13.96\00:45:16.71
his loved to a waiting world and
00:45:16.74\00:45:17.98
watching
universe, but there is a
00:45:18.01\00:45:19.19
third factor and it's this.
00:45:19.22\00:45:21.21
Not only will there
the proclamation of the
00:45:23.24\00:45:27.23
gospel, not
only will they be the
00:45:27.26\00:45:29.81
harvest of glory
greats. There will be
00:45:29.84\00:45:33.98
a the harvest of glory greats;
00:45:34.01\00:45:35.35
there will be a
manifestation in this
00:45:36.37\00:45:38.80
world of the
wickedness and rebellion
00:45:38.83\00:45:43.50
and selfishness of sin
that brings devastation
00:45:43.53\00:45:49.74
and destruction to the world.
00:45:49.77\00:45:51.59
Although the church can hasten
00:45:53.26\00:45:55.67
the coming of Jesus, the church
00:45:55.70\00:45:58.66
cannot delay the coming of Jesus
00:45:58.69\00:46:01.19
and definitely.
Christ waits not only
00:46:01.22\00:46:05.56
for a full
complete demonstration
00:46:05.59\00:46:07.54
of his love to
reveal for his people,
00:46:07.57\00:46:09.29
but also he must let wickedness,
00:46:09.32\00:46:11.49
evil, sin, run its course.
00:46:11.52\00:46:12.96
So, the whole
universe will see the
00:46:12.99\00:46:15.77
ultimate results
of Satan's rebellion
00:46:15.80\00:46:17.97
and be secured forever. Now,
00:46:18.00\00:46:21.03
listen to these
powerful statements,
00:46:21.06\00:46:22.67
in Prophets and Kings 4:17:
00:46:23.93\00:46:25.43
There is a
limit beyond which the
00:46:25.46\00:46:28.25
judgments of
Jehovah can no longer
00:46:28.28\00:46:30.21
be delayed. There is a limit
00:46:30.24\00:46:33.53
beyond which the
judgments of Jehovah
00:46:33.56\00:46:36.51
can no longer be delayed.
00:46:36.54\00:46:37.59
God keeps it fifth rhyme of the
00:46:38.57\00:46:40.60
testimony is 524: God keeps a
00:46:40.63\00:46:42.28
reckoning with the nations.
00:46:42.31\00:46:43.58
When the time
fully comes that iniquity
00:46:44.27\00:46:46.12
shall have reached the stated
00:46:46.15\00:46:47.43
boundary of God's mercy,
00:46:47.46\00:46:48.72
His fore-bearers will cease.
00:46:48.75\00:46:50.41
When the accumulated figures
00:46:50.44\00:46:52.96
in heaven's
record books shall mark
00:46:52.99\00:46:54.77
the sum of
transgression complete,
00:46:54.80\00:46:56.35
wrath will come. There will be a
00:46:57.08\00:46:59.60
convergence, and I believe that
00:46:59.63\00:47:01.89
convergence is taking place now.
00:47:01.92\00:47:04.17
There will be
conversions of a praying
00:47:04.20\00:47:06.62
people whose
hearts are passionate
00:47:06.65\00:47:09.11
about preaching the
gospel to the world.
00:47:09.14\00:47:10.83
Who are asking God to cleanse
00:47:10.86\00:47:13.19
their hearts in unusual ways,
00:47:13.22\00:47:15.30
so that they can
be everything that God
00:47:15.33\00:47:17.47
wants them to be
and at that same time
00:47:17.50\00:47:20.63
that God is leading
his church into a revival,
00:47:20.66\00:47:24.18
into a commitment
to reaching the world
00:47:24.21\00:47:26.27
with the gospel,
with people praying
00:47:26.30\00:47:28.25
and hearts broken
and people on their
00:47:28.28\00:47:30.11
knees as that is taking place.
00:47:30.14\00:47:32.47
Satan sees what's
taking place in the
00:47:32.50\00:47:34.90
church and he
redoubles his efforts
00:47:34.93\00:47:36.76
of wickedness in the world and
00:47:36.79\00:47:38.29
transgression reaches its limit.
00:47:38.32\00:47:40.12
And God says this is enough,
00:47:40.15\00:47:42.75
this is enough and
the greatest danger
00:47:43.60\00:47:48.06
that the foolish
virgins face and that we
00:47:48.09\00:47:50.06
face is putting off
a decision to let God
00:47:50.09\00:47:54.14
deal with our
hearts as he wants to
00:47:54.17\00:47:56.56
which is of
enormous consequences.
00:47:57.29\00:47:58.54
What happened to
the foolish virgins?
00:47:58.57\00:48:00.38
Spiritual
complacency paralyzed them.
00:48:00.41\00:48:02.94
They were locked
in self congratulation
00:48:02.97\00:48:05.10
telling how great they were?
00:48:05.13\00:48:06.29
They were beat
in self confidence.
00:48:06.32\00:48:08.44
They were
satisfied with what they had.
00:48:08.47\00:48:10.37
They never dream that they be
00:48:10.40\00:48:12.29
unprepared for the coming of the
00:48:12.32\00:48:13.29
bridegroom. They fail
to understand their lack,
00:48:13.32\00:48:15.81
sometime ago I
read a story about then
00:48:16.95\00:48:25.59
of course a
fictitious story about Satan.
00:48:25.62\00:48:28.23
And he had a council meeting,
00:48:29.30\00:48:30.40
a strategy meeting in heaven,
00:48:30.43\00:48:31.66
and in that strategy meeting,
00:48:33.10\00:48:34.37
he called the
Angels and he said now
00:48:34.40\00:48:36.58
tell me what is
your strategy to deceive
00:48:36.61\00:48:39.93
God's people. One
angel says, one evil
00:48:39.96\00:48:42.32
angel says my
strategy is to tell them
00:48:42.35\00:48:44.64
there is no God.
The devil says in this
00:48:44.67\00:48:48.15
imaginary story;
don't be so foolish,
00:48:48.18\00:48:50.68
the evidence of
nature, the Bible prophecy,
00:48:50.71\00:48:53.54
people know there is no God.
00:48:53.57\00:48:54.85
They know there is a God;
00:48:54.88\00:48:56.90
tell will never
except that there is no God.
00:48:56.93\00:48:59.19
Second angel says
well tell them that
00:48:59.22\00:49:03.11
there is no truth.
The devil says look
00:49:03.14\00:49:06.43
in science there
is truth, you may fool
00:49:06.46\00:49:09.53
some people, but we're not gonna
00:49:09.56\00:49:10.62
fool all the
people. Amen. Third angel
00:49:10.65\00:49:14.67
says well tell them
that there is no hurry;
00:49:14.70\00:49:17.69
tell them there is no hurry.
00:49:19.19\00:49:21.26
Tell them that
they've got plenty of time.
00:49:22.38\00:49:24.40
Tell them that
there is no urgency.
00:49:25.35\00:49:26.99
Tell them to put off
personal preparation.
00:49:27.02\00:49:29.65
Tell them to wait
till a more convenient
00:49:29.68\00:49:31.85
time to deal
with their attitudes.
00:49:31.88\00:49:33.33
Tell them; tell
them that they don't
00:49:34.46\00:49:38.23
need now to be on
their knees seeking
00:49:38.26\00:49:41.28
God for broken
hearts. Is God calling
00:49:41.31\00:49:45.25
you to something
deeper than you can imagine.
00:49:45.28\00:49:49.47
Have you been
putting off a deeper
00:49:50.63\00:49:56.55
experience with
God in your own life.
00:49:56.58\00:49:59.20
Do you sense the spirit moving
00:50:01.32\00:50:03.34
in your own personal heart to a
00:50:03.37\00:50:06.47
deeper Bible study life,
00:50:06.50\00:50:07.81
a deeper prayer
life. The only way
00:50:09.11\00:50:13.02
to get ready for
the coming of Christ
00:50:13.05\00:50:14.83
is to get ready
today and stay ready.
00:50:14.86\00:50:19.48
Is there anything
lurking in the shadows
00:50:21.01\00:50:24.66
of your heart that
you may not be aware of.
00:50:24.69\00:50:29.84
Are you willing
to say today, Lord I
00:50:31.57\00:50:33.45
wanna surrender any
habit, any attitude?
00:50:33.48\00:50:36.41
It's a barrier
between me and anybody else,
00:50:36.44\00:50:39.05
I wanna surrender
any habit in my life
00:50:39.98\00:50:42.61
it's not in
harmony with your will.
00:50:42.64\00:50:44.13
Lord, I want you
to do a work in me,
00:50:45.02\00:50:46.91
so I can hold the
torch of truth high.
00:50:48.12\00:50:50.69
Lord, I long for
the oil of your grace
00:50:51.84\00:50:54.60
to flow in my heart, in life.
00:50:54.63\00:50:58.38
I love that old
song. There is something
00:51:00.01\00:51:03.09
about these old
hymns, written out of
00:51:03.12\00:51:06.38
the context of
experience, Amen. Number 260
00:51:06.41\00:51:11.18
Hover o'er me, Holy Spirit,
00:51:11.21\00:51:14.90
Bathe my
trembling heart and brow;
00:51:15.37\00:51:18.56
Fill me with your
hallowed presence,
00:51:19.22\00:51:21.56
Come, O come and fill me now.
00:51:22.25\00:51:24.20
Fill me now, fill me now,
00:51:25.03\00:51:26.60
Jesus, come and fill me now;
00:51:26.63\00:51:28.34
Fill me with my
hallowed presence,
00:51:28.37\00:51:30.94
Come, O come, and fill me now.
00:51:30.97\00:51:32.35
I love the third verse.
00:51:33.54\00:51:34.74
I am weakness, full of weakness,
00:51:34.77\00:51:36.72
At Thy sacred feet I bow;
00:51:37.68\00:51:39.67
Blest, divine, eternal Spirit,
00:51:39.70\00:51:42.45
Fill with love and fill me now.
00:51:42.48\00:51:45.40
Fill me now, fill me now,
00:51:46.24\00:51:47.49
Jesus, come and fill me now;
00:51:47.52\00:51:49.08
Hover o'er me, Holy Spirit,
00:51:49.69\00:51:51.45
Does God wanna do something
00:51:52.13\00:51:53.42
in your life right now? Has your
00:51:53.45\00:51:57.34
devotional life
been weak and stale?
00:51:57.37\00:51:59.29
Has your prayer
life becomes ritualistic
00:52:00.41\00:52:02.32
and formal. Is
there are some habit
00:52:02.35\00:52:04.55
in your life that
would keep you from
00:52:04.58\00:52:06.25
being ready for
the coming of Jesus.
00:52:06.28\00:52:08.10
Is there are
some attitude in you,
00:52:09.05\00:52:10.51
that's gonna keep
your ministry from
00:52:10.54\00:52:13.06
being a successful as God wants
00:52:13.09\00:52:14.49
it to be because
of that attitude,
00:52:14.52\00:52:16.21
let Jesus break that now.
00:52:16.24\00:52:18.75
Let Jesus crush that now.
00:52:18.78\00:52:21.00
Let the Messiah
crush the serpent's
00:52:21.03\00:52:24.50
head in your life. Now let Jesus
00:52:24.53\00:52:25.97
right now do
something in your life.
00:52:26.00\00:52:27.60