As you're well aware
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we're living in
unprecedented times.
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Join us now for
today's special program.
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I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I want to spend my life
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Removing pain
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Lord, let my words
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Heal a heart that hurts
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I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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Hello, and welcome
to 3ABN today program.
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My name is John Dinzey.
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It's a privilege and an honor
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to be with you during this hour.
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This is going to be a 3ABN Today
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where we study God's Word,
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it's a Bible study
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that we would
like to share with you.
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And we have some
of the 3ABN members
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or family members here
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that are going to
be working together
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by God's grace
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and through the
aid of His Holy Spirit
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to study this important topic
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that we're going to
mention in a moment.
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But first, I would
like to present to you
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our family
members that are with us.
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Sister Shelley Quinn.
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Oh, it's good
to be here, Johnny.
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Always. Amen.
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Tell us a little bit
about what you do at 3ABN.
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Lots of things.
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But official title is
program development manager.
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I wear many hats.
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Yes, indeed. Yes, indeed.
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Thank you so much.
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We have Joe O'Brien
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member of the 3ABN
pastoral ministries.
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Tell us a little bit about
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what the pastoral
ministries department does.
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Well, when you asked
Shelley to share what she does,
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I thought we would
use up the whole hour.
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But in the pastoral department,
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we do have responsibilities
to pre-read books,
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you know, and
some of the programs
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are shipped in
from other studios.
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And we take a look
at those ahead of time
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to see if they're
doctrinally accurate
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and can't get to all of them.
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And then there's
emails and letters.
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And of course, our phone
calls, which are precious
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because people
are looking for help.
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They're looking
to God for that help
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and they call us
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and we share the word
with them a little bit
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and they find help.
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Amen, amen.
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Another vital part
of the 3ABN Ministry
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that is really touching
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hundreds and thousands of lives.
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So praise the Lord for that.
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And we have your
wife's sister Nancy O'Brien.
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Now tell us a little bit about
what you do at 3ABN, please.
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Oh, I work in the thanksgiving
trust services department,
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and we work with the
people that love 3ABN
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and they want to remember
3ABN after they've passed away.
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They want to
continue to support the work
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of spreading the gospel.
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It's fun to talk with them
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because often
they're so excited about
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what's going on in the world
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and how close it
is to Jesus coming.
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And they have a heart to
really get the gospel out.
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Amen. Amen. Amen.
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Well, we also
are praising the Lord
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because of the ministry of 3ABN.
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Today, millions of
people around the world
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can watch 3ABN
through different ways.
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There's a 3ABN app
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that you can download on
your tablet or your phone
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or you can go
directly to the website.
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You can tell your
friends about these things.
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That's why we're
sharing it right now.
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So they can watch 3ABN
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because some
people watch on cable.
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Some people
watch on dish network,
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but those of your
friends and family
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that do not
know how to get 3ABN,
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we share, tell
them to download the app
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or go to the website 3abn.tv
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and there they can
watch the 3ABN channel.
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When you download
the app on your phone,
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you get a selection of
eight or nine channels,
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including radio stations.
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You can listen to a
marvelous, marvelous
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app for your phone
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and just tell your
friends about this.
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So they can also be blessed.
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In fact, you can also
go to our YouTube channel
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and there's a long
list of different programs
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you can view
any time of the day.
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And it's a blessing because
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so many different ways
to reach out to people.
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You can also visit
the 3ABN Facebook page.
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So we encourage you
to look at those things
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and share with other people.
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So they know more about
3ABN and so they can be blessed.
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And you will
become a 3ABN evangelist,
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help someone know
the Lord, Jesus Christ,
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and prepare for the soon
return of our Lord and Savior.
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And talking about our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
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let me tell you
what the topic is,
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very important topic.
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And it's the topic
important for these times
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that we are living in.
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It is the parable
of the ten virgins
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found in Matthew 25.
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We're going to be
looking at that in a moment,
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but we'd like to go to
the Lord in prayer right now.
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And I've asked
sister Nancy O'Brien,
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if you could please lead us.
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Our Dear Heavenly Father,
Lord, You are a loving God.
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And You have given us Your
Word that we may grow and learn,
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and that we may be
made ready for Your return
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by reading this
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and taking it into
our hearts and living it.
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So, Lord, we
pray that Holy Spirit,
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You will guide
this discussion today
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that you will reveal the things
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that need to be
revealed to our listeners
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as well as to ourselves
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and that this will lift You
up and people will be drawn You
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and want to be
ready for Your return.
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So we thank You, Lord.
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We pray this in Jesus' name.
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Amen. Amen.
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Amen.
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Well, let's go
right to the parable
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that is found in Matthew 25.
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And if you follow along, I
will go ahead and read that.
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Before you do, can we
set it up a little bit?
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Oh, sure.
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'Cause the interesting
thing is in Matthew 24,
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Jesus had just
made His last appearance
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at the temple.
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He had called the
religious leaders,
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hypocrites, blind guides.
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Yes.
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And He said, "Your house
is left to you desolate."
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So now He leaves the
temple for the last time.
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And He and His
disciples are going up
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the Mount of Olives at sunset.
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This is actually
part of His last sermon,
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His last teaching
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because in Matthew 24,
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He starts telling His disciples
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what to expect when He returns
and He taught in parables.
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So now during this last sermon,
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He's going to tell them
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a beautiful
parable of ten virgins.
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So just a quick setup.
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Thank you so much.
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So in Matthew 25,
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we now invite you to
join us in the reading
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beginning in verse one.
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"Then the kingdom of heaven
shall be likened to ten virgins
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who took their lamps
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and went out to
meet the bridegroom.
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Now five of them were
wise, and five were foolish.
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Those who were foolish
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took their lamps and
took no oil with them,
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but the wise took
oil in their vessels
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with their lamps.
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But while the
bridegroom was delayed, "
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in the King
James it says tarried,
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"they all slumbered and slept.
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And at midnight a cry was herd.
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Behold, the
bridegroom is coming,
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go out to meet him!
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Then all those virgins
arose and trimmed their lamps.
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And the foolish
said to the wise,
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"Give us some of your oil,
for our lamps are going out."
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But the wise answered, saying,
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'No, lest there should
not be enough for us and you,
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but go rather to those who sell,
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and buy for yourselves.'
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And while they went to
buy, the bridegroom came,
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and those who were ready
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went in with him to the wedding,
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and the door was shut.
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Afterward, the other
virgins came also, saying,
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'Lord, Lord, open to us!'
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But he answered and said,
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'Assuredly, I say to
you, I do not know you.'
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Watch therefore,
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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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And this is the
end of the parable.
00:08:59.77\00:09:02.47
So now we would like to give you
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a little background on it.
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We're going to go
verse by verse now
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and go through it.
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Shelley already
mentioned a background
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that this is part of
what Jesus was telling,
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His disciples.
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And I think you're back to
the beginning of Matthew 24,
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the disciples
were showing the temple
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and the buildings of the
temple and the marvelous stones.
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And Jesus
shocked them by saying,
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"You see all these things,
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there shall not be one
stone left upon another."
00:09:32.10\00:09:35.54
So the disciples were
curious and they wanted to know
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when shall these things be
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and what should be
the sign of your coming?
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So this is saying in the context
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of the second
coming of Jesus Christ
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and the signs before
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the second
coming of Jesus Christ.
00:09:47.55\00:09:48.98
So this is the
context, the remote context,
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the immediate context is
the second coming of Christ
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and what it will be like.
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So this is a parable
that communicates to us
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something of great importance.
00:10:00.13\00:10:02.20
We are living in the time
00:10:02.23\00:10:04.67
when we're going to see a
fulfillment of this parable.
00:10:04.70\00:10:09.70
So let's go through it.
00:10:09.74\00:10:11.21
And we want to open the
door for anyone to share
00:10:11.24\00:10:16.71
what the Lord has
put in your heart.
00:10:16.75\00:10:18.65
And we've asked
for the Holy Spirit
00:10:18.68\00:10:20.45
to direct us.
00:10:20.48\00:10:21.82
So we believe this
will be a beneficial
00:10:21.85\00:10:25.35
and rewarding study,
00:10:25.39\00:10:26.79
but please do not consider that
by when this program is over,
00:10:26.82\00:10:30.26
"I know all there is to
know about the ten virgins.
00:10:30.29\00:10:33.93
I don't need to
look at this again.
00:10:33.96\00:10:35.70
I saw it on 3ABN,
I heard it on 3ABN."
00:10:35.73\00:10:38.70
No, this is
something to get you started
00:10:38.73\00:10:40.50
to get you inspired.
00:10:40.54\00:10:41.97
And to also, it is
our hope, our desire
00:10:42.00\00:10:43.97
that it will awaken in you
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a desire to be prepared
00:10:45.67\00:10:48.01
for the second
coming of Jesus Christ.
00:10:48.04\00:10:49.58
Amen. Amen.
00:10:49.61\00:10:50.95
So let's go through.
00:10:50.98\00:10:52.31
Sister Shelley, let's
begin with the verse one,
00:10:52.35\00:10:53.72
tell us, read it again
and give us some insight
00:10:53.75\00:10:56.99
as the Lord has led you.
00:10:57.02\00:10:58.35
Okay.
00:10:58.39\00:11:00.29
Verse one.
00:11:00.32\00:11:01.66
"Then the kingdom of heaven
00:11:01.69\00:11:03.89
shall be
likened to ten virgins,"
00:11:03.93\00:11:07.00
First of all notice
all ten are virgins.
00:11:07.03\00:11:11.13
"And who took their lamps
00:11:11.17\00:11:13.50
and went out to
meet the bridegroom."
00:11:13.54\00:11:16.57
This is based on
a Jewish tradition
00:11:16.60\00:11:21.31
that was customary
at the time of Jesus.
00:11:21.34\00:11:24.25
This is very symbolic.
00:11:24.28\00:11:26.01
We're going to
uncover all of the symbols
00:11:26.05\00:11:28.75
in this parabolic teaching.
00:11:28.78\00:11:30.92
But in the Jewish
tradition, the bride,
00:11:30.95\00:11:35.36
when they sign
their marriage contract,
00:11:35.39\00:11:37.99
the groom would go up,
00:11:38.03\00:11:39.59
he built a home
onto his father's house.
00:11:39.63\00:11:42.93
He prepared a
place for his bride.
00:11:42.96\00:11:46.74
Just like Jesus
told us in John 14,
00:11:46.77\00:11:49.30
"I'm going to
prepare a place for you."
00:11:49.34\00:11:51.54
And did you know
the groom didn't know
00:11:51.57\00:11:53.17
when he was going
to go get his bride,
00:11:53.21\00:11:55.38
it was when the
father told him he could go.
00:11:55.41\00:11:58.71
So then what would happen is
00:11:58.75\00:12:03.75
the bride is
making herself ready.
00:12:03.79\00:12:06.89
She's excited.
00:12:06.92\00:12:08.32
She's doing all
these preparations.
00:12:08.36\00:12:11.23
And then when the
time was coming close,
00:12:11.26\00:12:14.96
they knew,
00:12:15.00\00:12:16.33
and she would have
00:12:16.36\00:12:17.70
her virgin handmaidens out there
00:12:17.73\00:12:19.97
with their lamps.
00:12:20.00\00:12:21.34
And when the
bridegroom came late at night,
00:12:21.37\00:12:24.17
they would go meet
and they would usher him
00:12:24.21\00:12:27.48
into the presence of the bride.
00:12:27.51\00:12:30.28
So here we know that
00:12:30.31\00:12:32.61
the church is
the bride of Christ
00:12:32.65\00:12:36.38
and that's the
first point to make.
00:12:36.42\00:12:40.99
The virgins were...
00:12:41.02\00:12:44.06
The church in scripture
is represented as a virgin.
00:12:44.09\00:12:49.46
And we see that
in Ephesians 5:23-32.
00:12:49.50\00:12:53.90
We see that Paul says that,
00:12:53.94\00:12:56.77
"Jesus is the
bridegroom we're the bride."
00:12:56.81\00:13:01.38
And then he says,
00:13:01.41\00:13:02.94
"I've betrothed
you to one bridegroom,"
00:13:02.98\00:13:08.15
Jesus Christ.
00:13:08.18\00:13:09.72
So all throughout the
church, in the old Testament in,
00:13:09.75\00:13:13.72
and we'll get more
into that in a minute,
00:13:13.76\00:13:15.46
and in the new testament,
00:13:15.49\00:13:17.09
the church is
referred to as a virgin.
00:13:17.13\00:13:20.43
Yes.
00:13:20.46\00:13:21.80
So that's the good church.
00:13:21.83\00:13:23.16
The bad church is
the harlot, right?
00:13:23.20\00:13:25.83
So all ten were
members of the church.
00:13:25.87\00:13:29.30
Amen. Amen.
00:13:29.34\00:13:30.67
Well, let's go to Joe and Nancy,
00:13:30.71\00:13:33.14
what would like to share.
00:13:33.17\00:13:34.84
The thing I like to share
is the spiritual perspective.
00:13:34.88\00:13:39.25
We have the carnal perspective
and the spiritual perspective.
00:13:39.28\00:13:41.98
And everyone knows
the carnal perspective.
00:13:42.02\00:13:44.59
And those who don't
make it in to the kingdom,
00:13:44.62\00:13:47.52
neglect the
spiritual perspective.
00:13:47.56\00:13:49.89
And so I'll give
you an example here
00:13:49.92\00:13:51.46
with verse one,
00:13:51.49\00:13:52.89
where it says,
00:13:52.93\00:13:54.66
they were virgins, ten virgins.
00:13:54.70\00:13:58.43
So if we go back
to the Greek language
00:13:58.47\00:14:02.27
and look up the word for virgin,
00:14:02.30\00:14:04.64
it's parthenos.
00:14:04.67\00:14:06.64
And the meaning
in that language was
00:14:06.68\00:14:10.55
that these virgins
00:14:10.58\00:14:12.91
are ones who
abstained from all impurity
00:14:12.95\00:14:19.45
and adulterous practices.
00:14:19.49\00:14:22.46
So their virginity,
00:14:22.49\00:14:24.73
their purity was that
they didn't worship false gods.
00:14:24.76\00:14:29.50
They knew the real Christ.
They knew the real church.
00:14:29.53\00:14:33.17
And they were
virgins in that respect.
00:14:33.20\00:14:37.31
Thank you so much.
00:14:37.34\00:14:38.67
Sister Nancy, would you
like to share something?
00:14:38.71\00:14:40.04
Well, as I say,
00:14:40.08\00:14:41.51
when we first joined the church,
00:14:41.54\00:14:42.88
we had people explain to us,
00:14:42.91\00:14:44.28
you know, what the virgins were
and that you had to be born.
00:14:44.31\00:14:47.52
Seventh-day
Adventist to be a virgin.
00:14:47.55\00:14:49.95
And that's not
what it means at all.
00:14:49.98\00:14:51.65
Oh, someone
actually said that to you?
00:14:51.69\00:14:53.09
Yeah. Oh, my goodness!
00:14:53.12\00:14:54.72
I've never heard that
myself. That's heresy.
00:14:54.76\00:14:56.62
I've never heard
such a thing either.
00:14:56.66\00:14:57.99
Yeah, we were told
that when we first joined.
00:14:58.03\00:14:59.36
Oh, my goodness!
00:14:59.39\00:15:00.73
But all it means is
that they had a pure faith.
00:15:00.76\00:15:02.93
Yes.
00:15:02.96\00:15:04.30
I'm sure maybe they
had at one time been in air
00:15:04.33\00:15:07.54
with teachings
from other sources,
00:15:07.57\00:15:09.87
but they had come to
believe the pure faith.
00:15:09.90\00:15:12.44
They had a pure faith
that they were now practicing.
00:15:12.47\00:15:15.74
And so that's what
makes them virgins.
00:15:15.78\00:15:19.01
Thank you so much.
00:15:19.05\00:15:20.38
So in this verse one,
00:15:20.42\00:15:21.75
I would like to add
something concerning that
00:15:21.78\00:15:23.55
and notice that Jesus says
00:15:23.59\00:15:25.35
the kingdom of
heaven shall be likened.
00:15:25.39\00:15:28.52
So this is a reference
00:15:28.56\00:15:30.29
to how the kingdom of heaven is.
00:15:30.33\00:15:32.59
But when you see here, it
seems that the ten virgins,
00:15:32.63\00:15:37.83
which profess a pure
faith, all had some elements,
00:15:37.87\00:15:41.40
the same type of elements.
00:15:41.44\00:15:42.77
If you look at the ten virgins,
they appeared to be the same.
00:15:42.80\00:15:46.68
They're all virgins.
00:15:46.71\00:15:48.04
They all have lamps.
00:15:48.08\00:15:49.41
There is a difference,
00:15:49.44\00:15:50.78
however, that we're going
to discover as we move on.
00:15:50.81\00:15:52.65
We're going to talk
about that in a moment.
00:15:52.68\00:15:54.42
But I would like
to say something,
00:15:54.45\00:15:55.78
you know, I began to ask myself,
00:15:55.82\00:15:57.49
why is there ten?
00:15:57.52\00:16:00.16
There's really no
special significance
00:16:00.19\00:16:02.79
as far as spiritually.
00:16:02.82\00:16:04.73
What I found was
00:16:04.76\00:16:06.09
that ten was the
usual number of bridesmaids
00:16:06.13\00:16:09.53
that were invited to
participate in the wedding.
00:16:09.56\00:16:11.43
And Jesus took something
that was commonly known to say,
00:16:11.47\00:16:15.14
there were ten virgins
00:16:15.17\00:16:17.21
that went out to
meet the bridegroom.
00:16:17.24\00:16:18.74
You know, it's
interesting when I got married,
00:16:18.77\00:16:20.88
I'd never thought about this.
00:16:20.91\00:16:22.41
But the bridegroom
today is quite different.
00:16:22.44\00:16:25.45
You know, the
bridegroom is up there
00:16:25.48\00:16:27.25
waiting for the
bride to come in.
00:16:27.28\00:16:29.65
And they told us,
00:16:29.68\00:16:31.42
oh, you know, just
walk in from the back.
00:16:31.45\00:16:33.89
And basically,
00:16:33.92\00:16:35.26
everybody's
looking the other way.
00:16:35.29\00:16:36.62
And you just
walk into the front.
00:16:36.66\00:16:37.99
Nobody notices when
the bridegroom walks in.
00:16:38.03\00:16:41.10
But in the
parable... That's good.
00:16:41.13\00:16:43.03
The bridegroom that is coming
00:16:43.06\00:16:45.00
is a representation
of Jesus Christ coming.
00:16:45.03\00:16:48.37
It's a spiritual parable here.
00:16:48.40\00:16:51.94
And it was quite different
in those Jewish weddings then.
00:16:51.97\00:16:55.31
The importance was placed
00:16:55.34\00:16:57.18
on the
bridegroom, not on the bride,
00:16:57.21\00:16:59.41
very interesting.
00:16:59.45\00:17:00.78
But today, in today's time,
00:17:00.82\00:17:02.15
the bride, the
beauty of the bride
00:17:02.18\00:17:04.75
and the dress,
00:17:04.79\00:17:06.12
everyone wants
to walk in a dress,
00:17:06.15\00:17:07.49
how's the dress.
00:17:07.52\00:17:08.86
And these virgins
are dressed as pure.
00:17:08.89\00:17:12.96
Their faith appeared...
00:17:12.99\00:17:14.33
They all profess a pure faith
00:17:14.36\00:17:15.73
but a difference
in the ten begins
00:17:15.76\00:17:18.70
to be manifested as we continue.
00:17:18.73\00:17:20.74
So if you'd like to...
00:17:20.77\00:17:22.10
Joe, if you'd
like to read verse two
00:17:22.14\00:17:23.47
and then share with us
what you would like to share.
00:17:23.51\00:17:25.47
Okay.
00:17:25.51\00:17:26.84
And one little last
thing on this virgin idea
00:17:26.88\00:17:29.81
that is in the
spiritual context,
00:17:29.84\00:17:32.31
there both men
and women, because...
00:17:32.35\00:17:33.95
Yes. Thank you.
00:17:33.98\00:17:35.32
They don't practice adultery.
00:17:35.35\00:17:36.69
Yes. So that can be both.
00:17:36.72\00:17:38.39
Thank you so much.
That's very important.
00:17:38.42\00:17:39.89
You know, you read the ten...
00:17:39.92\00:17:41.26
You're talking
about ten virgins,
00:17:41.29\00:17:42.62
people think,
well, they're all women.
00:17:42.66\00:17:43.99
No, but this is
important to know that
00:17:44.03\00:17:45.36
this is a
representation of God's people.
00:17:45.39\00:17:46.90
Sure. Yes. Thank you.
00:17:46.93\00:17:49.00
Okay.
00:17:49.03\00:17:50.37
So verse two says,
00:17:50.40\00:17:52.03
"And five of them were wise,
and five of them were foolish."
00:17:52.07\00:17:57.21
That's all it says.
00:17:57.24\00:17:58.97
Simple enough. Simple enough.
00:17:59.01\00:18:01.14
Now if you look up the
word wise in the Greek,
00:18:01.18\00:18:05.65
it means mindful
of one's interests.
00:18:05.68\00:18:09.48
And that would be
salvation and being, you know...
00:18:09.52\00:18:12.25
That's good.
00:18:12.29\00:18:13.62
Going to the wedding.
00:18:13.66\00:18:14.99
And when it came to the foolish,
00:18:15.02\00:18:16.79
if you look up foolish
morals in in the Greek,
00:18:16.83\00:18:21.36
it means impious and ungodly.
00:18:21.40\00:18:25.87
Okay.
00:18:25.90\00:18:27.24
So, something is
missing. Something is missing.
00:18:27.27\00:18:28.87
So now already
in this verse two,
00:18:28.90\00:18:32.51
we are seeing a
difference between the two.
00:18:32.54\00:18:34.64
Although they
profess a pure faith,
00:18:34.68\00:18:36.78
a difference is
made between the two.
00:18:36.81\00:18:38.31
Something happened.
00:18:38.35\00:18:39.68
And we're going to share a
little bit more as we go on.
00:18:39.71\00:18:42.92
Sister Nancy,
00:18:42.95\00:18:44.29
how about if you
read verse three and four,
00:18:44.32\00:18:46.69
let's put those two together
00:18:46.72\00:18:48.49
to see the
difference between the two.
00:18:48.52\00:18:50.03
Okay.
00:18:50.06\00:18:51.39
"Those who were
foolish, took their lamps
00:18:51.43\00:18:53.29
and took no oil with them,
00:18:53.33\00:18:55.50
but the wise took
oil in their vessels
00:18:55.53\00:18:57.83
with their lamps."
00:18:57.87\00:18:59.60
Okay.
00:18:59.63\00:19:01.97
And it says that
00:19:02.00\00:19:03.84
God's Word is a
light onto our feet
00:19:03.87\00:19:07.78
and onto our path.
00:19:07.81\00:19:09.14
So the lamps they
took was the Word of God.
00:19:09.18\00:19:12.28
Yes.
00:19:12.31\00:19:13.65
And they both
had the Word of God.
00:19:13.68\00:19:15.58
They both were
reading their Bibles.
00:19:15.62\00:19:17.59
They both were
believing in their Bibles,
00:19:17.62\00:19:20.72
believing in the Word of God.
00:19:20.76\00:19:22.26
So if you look at
it in today's context,
00:19:22.29\00:19:24.53
then it's in the church,
00:19:24.56\00:19:26.86
I mean, they
believe in Jesus Christ.
00:19:26.90\00:19:29.63
And we know that
the Lord said that
00:19:29.66\00:19:31.10
He is coming back for a bride
00:19:31.13\00:19:33.13
who's made himself ready
or made themselves ready.
00:19:33.17\00:19:36.50
A bride that has
finished the work
00:19:36.54\00:19:39.61
that He's called them to do.
00:19:39.64\00:19:41.38
What did He call them to do?
00:19:41.41\00:19:43.08
Go make disciples,
teach them, baptize them.
00:19:43.11\00:19:46.82
But what we see here is
ten sleeping church members.
00:19:46.85\00:19:53.29
They're all church members. Yes.
00:19:53.32\00:19:55.09
But they're certainly...
00:19:55.12\00:19:56.59
He didn't say
there were five virgins
00:19:56.62\00:19:59.79
and the wise virgins
and five foolish maidens.
00:19:59.83\00:20:04.13
They're all virgins.
They're all part of the church.
00:20:04.17\00:20:07.30
They've got this
lamp of professional,
00:20:07.34\00:20:09.44
lamp to my feet,
a light to my path.
00:20:09.47\00:20:12.51
They know the Word of
God, but something's up.
00:20:12.54\00:20:15.48
Something is different.
Yeah. They're missing.
00:20:15.51\00:20:17.45
As it says here,
00:20:17.48\00:20:19.08
"The foolish ones
took no oil with them,
00:20:19.11\00:20:21.82
but the wise ones
had the oil with them."
00:20:21.85\00:20:25.55
Amen.
00:20:25.59\00:20:26.92
Let's...
00:20:26.96\00:20:28.29
I see you have something
you would like to share, Joe.
00:20:28.32\00:20:30.26
Yes. I'd love to. Thank you.
00:20:30.29\00:20:33.19
We know that the
lamp is the Word of God.
00:20:33.23\00:20:35.06
We know that the
oil is the Holy Spirit.
00:20:35.10\00:20:37.63
And we know that
they both had lamps,
00:20:37.67\00:20:39.43
both groups had lamps,
00:20:39.47\00:20:40.80
and we know that they had light
00:20:40.84\00:20:42.54
coming out of
those lamps at one point.
00:20:42.57\00:20:44.27
So they all had some oil.
00:20:44.31\00:20:47.21
The one thing I did discover was
00:20:47.24\00:20:49.14
when we talk about vessel
00:20:49.18\00:20:51.08
if you look
that up in the Greek,
00:20:51.11\00:20:52.95
it's a pail or a
reservoir or a flask
00:20:52.98\00:20:55.58
it's separate from the lamp
00:20:55.62\00:20:56.95
had actually says
here in verse four,
00:20:56.99\00:21:01.32
they had vessels
with their lamps.
00:21:01.36\00:21:04.66
They're separate.
00:21:04.69\00:21:06.09
So the wise
virgins had a reservoir,
00:21:06.13\00:21:10.13
a little extra Holy Spirit.
00:21:10.17\00:21:12.13
Well, I think the
vessel as being our heart.
00:21:12.17\00:21:15.07
Yeah.
00:21:15.10\00:21:16.44
Because in
Proverbs 4:23, it says,
00:21:16.47\00:21:18.47
"Keep your heart
with all diligence
00:21:18.51\00:21:20.51
for out of it issues,"
00:21:20.54\00:21:22.04
you know, "come
the issues of life."
00:21:22.08\00:21:23.45
In Matthew 12:35.
00:21:23.48\00:21:25.15
It says,
00:21:25.18\00:21:26.51
"A good man out
of the good treasure
00:21:26.55\00:21:27.88
of his heart
00:21:27.92\00:21:29.25
brings forth good things.
00:21:29.28\00:21:30.62
The evil man out of
the evil brings forth bad."
00:21:30.65\00:21:33.02
So you know when Paul said,
00:21:33.05\00:21:34.62
"Don't you know
you're the temple of God?"
00:21:34.66\00:21:36.86
If indeed God is living in you.
00:21:36.89\00:21:38.99
And we find in Zachariah,
there's a beautiful...
00:21:39.03\00:21:42.23
If you want to read
this in Zachariah 4:1-14,
00:21:42.26\00:21:46.67
this is how we know
00:21:46.70\00:21:48.64
that the oil is the
symbol of the Holy Spirit.
00:21:48.67\00:21:52.44
Yes.
00:21:52.47\00:21:53.81
And it's an
important story to understand.
00:21:53.84\00:21:59.41
And so here, we've got
00:21:59.45\00:22:04.15
ten virgins in the church.
00:22:04.19\00:22:07.22
Five have been through
not only justification,
00:22:07.26\00:22:13.83
but I think
00:22:13.86\00:22:15.20
through the
process of sanctification.
00:22:15.23\00:22:17.00
They have accepted
the Lord as their Savior.
00:22:17.03\00:22:21.00
But then they go
all the way in grace.
00:22:21.04\00:22:24.57
They accept
sanctification by grace.
00:22:24.61\00:22:27.04
They're the ones
who wake up and pray,
00:22:27.08\00:22:29.38
"Lord, fill me
with your Holy Spirit."
00:22:29.41\00:22:31.78
Day by day,
00:22:31.81\00:22:33.18
they are led by the Holy Spirit.
00:22:33.21\00:22:36.15
But then you've
got five foolish ones
00:22:36.18\00:22:39.05
who they've got their Bibles.
00:22:39.09\00:22:41.92
They're the ones out,
you know, one day Jesus...
00:22:41.96\00:22:44.96
They'll say to Him,
00:22:44.99\00:22:46.33
"Lord, Lord, did we
not do this in Your name?"
00:22:46.36\00:22:48.80
And He'll say, "Go
away. I never knew you."
00:22:48.83\00:22:50.97
They accepted Christ as Savior.
00:22:51.00\00:22:54.70
I mean, they said,
00:22:54.74\00:22:56.07
"Yeah, I believe
He's the one who died.
00:22:56.10\00:22:57.81
He died for me."
00:22:57.84\00:22:59.27
But they never went
00:22:59.31\00:23:01.74
beyond that salvation
stage of justification.
00:23:01.78\00:23:05.68
That's where God
pardons your past sins
00:23:05.71\00:23:09.38
changes your record.
00:23:09.42\00:23:10.95
But the stage of
salvation of sanctification,
00:23:10.99\00:23:15.56
where He changes your character,
00:23:15.59\00:23:18.06
where He changes,
00:23:18.09\00:23:21.23
you know, as
you're going forward,
00:23:21.26\00:23:23.60
it is what would you say,
it's the work of a lifetime?
00:23:23.63\00:23:27.47
Yes.
00:23:27.50\00:23:28.84
So these people stopped,
the foolish ones stopped short.
00:23:28.87\00:23:33.64
They thought it was enough.
00:23:33.68\00:23:35.04
"Yeah. I know
what the word says.
00:23:35.08\00:23:36.41
I go to church."
00:23:36.44\00:23:37.78
They might've
even been teaching it.
00:23:37.81\00:23:39.15
Yeah.
00:23:39.18\00:23:40.52
Oh, absolutely.
00:23:40.55\00:23:41.88
That's possibility.
00:23:41.92\00:23:43.55
So it's just something,
it's a wake-up call for us.
00:23:43.59\00:23:48.26
Yes, it is.
00:23:48.29\00:23:49.62
To see if we are
relying on God for salvation.
00:23:49.66\00:23:54.53
You know, this
is a very powerful,
00:23:54.56\00:23:56.30
a very important
study in my opinion
00:23:56.33\00:23:59.23
because it's
talking to us about today.
00:23:59.27\00:24:02.10
So if we talk about today,
00:24:02.14\00:24:05.84
do we have
people like this today,
00:24:05.87\00:24:09.98
the wise and the foolish?
00:24:10.01\00:24:12.41
Is there, you know,
00:24:12.45\00:24:13.78
you're describing
00:24:13.82\00:24:15.22
the experience
of many Christians.
00:24:15.25\00:24:17.09
The experience
of many Christians
00:24:17.12\00:24:18.45
is just that.
00:24:18.49\00:24:19.82
They go so far
00:24:25.16\00:24:26.49
and then they
don't go any further.
00:24:26.53\00:24:28.60
They don't allow the
transformation of God
00:24:28.63\00:24:32.17
to lead them to
00:24:32.20\00:24:34.94
what is described
in Philippians 1:6.
00:24:34.97\00:24:37.34
We're going to go
to a song right now.
00:24:37.37\00:24:38.71
We're going to continue.
00:24:38.74\00:24:40.08
And we're going
to go to the song,
00:24:40.11\00:24:42.51
and it's a song that
has a message as well.
00:24:42.54\00:24:46.31
Go light your world by
brother Michael Bennett.
00:24:46.35\00:24:48.72
There is a candle
00:24:56.99\00:25:01.13
In every soul
00:25:01.16\00:25:04.83
Some brightly burning,
00:25:04.87\00:25:08.57
Some dark and cold
00:25:08.60\00:25:12.51
There is a spirit
00:25:12.54\00:25:16.48
who brings a fire
00:25:16.51\00:25:20.68
Ignites a candle
00:25:20.72\00:25:24.72
And makes his home
00:25:24.75\00:25:28.06
So carry your candle,
00:25:28.09\00:25:32.33
Run to the darkness
00:25:32.36\00:25:36.26
Seek out the hopeless,
00:25:36.30\00:25:40.27
Confused and torn
00:25:40.30\00:25:43.91
And hold out your candle
00:25:43.94\00:25:48.14
For all to see it
00:25:48.18\00:25:51.95
Take your candle,
00:25:51.98\00:25:55.95
And go light your world
00:25:55.98\00:26:00.02
Take your candle,
00:26:00.06\00:26:03.79
And go light your world
00:26:03.83\00:26:06.09
Frustrated brother,
00:26:11.67\00:26:15.50
See how he's tried to
00:26:15.54\00:26:19.51
Light his own candle
00:26:19.54\00:26:23.28
Some other way
00:26:23.31\00:26:26.95
See now your sister,
00:26:26.98\00:26:30.72
She's been robbed and lied to
00:26:30.75\00:26:34.66
She still holds a candle
00:26:34.69\00:26:38.86
Without a flame
00:26:38.89\00:26:42.46
So carry your candle,
00:26:42.50\00:26:46.70
Run to the darkness
00:26:46.74\00:26:50.41
Seek out the lonely,
00:26:50.44\00:26:54.11
The tired and worn
00:26:54.14\00:26:58.21
Hold out your candle
00:26:58.25\00:27:02.02
For all to see it
00:27:02.05\00:27:05.89
Take your candle,
00:27:05.92\00:27:09.36
And go light your world
00:27:09.39\00:27:13.46
Take your candle,
00:27:13.50\00:27:16.77
And go light your world
00:27:16.80\00:27:19.70
We are a family
00:27:24.74\00:27:28.94
Whose hearts are blazing
00:27:28.98\00:27:32.21
So let's raise our candles
00:27:32.25\00:27:36.08
And light up the sky
00:27:36.12\00:27:40.12
Praying to our father,
00:27:40.16\00:27:44.19
In the name of Jesus
00:27:44.23\00:27:48.23
Make us a beacon
00:27:48.26\00:27:52.07
In the darkest times
00:27:52.10\00:27:56.00
So carry your candle,
00:27:56.04\00:27:59.97
Run to the darkness
00:28:00.01\00:28:03.71
Seek out the helpless,
00:28:03.75\00:28:07.58
Deceived and poor
00:28:07.62\00:28:11.59
Hold out your candle
00:28:11.62\00:28:15.42
For all to see it
00:28:15.46\00:28:19.59
Take your candle,
00:28:19.63\00:28:22.66
And go light your world
00:28:22.70\00:28:26.90
Take your candle,
00:28:26.94\00:28:30.84
And go light your world
00:28:30.87\00:28:36.78
Take your candle,
00:28:36.81\00:28:40.48
And go light your world
00:28:40.52\00:28:44.95
Go light your world
00:28:48.66\00:28:51.43
Go light your world
00:28:56.63\00:29:00.87
Thank you so much.
00:29:07.44\00:29:08.81
That was Michael Bennett
00:29:08.84\00:29:10.18
and beautiful message
00:29:10.21\00:29:13.01
that really
speaks to our hearts.
00:29:13.05\00:29:16.42
And if you would
like to know more
00:29:16.45\00:29:17.89
about Michael Bennett,
00:29:17.92\00:29:19.25
I'm sure you can
find him on Facebook
00:29:19.29\00:29:20.62
or you may contact us,
00:29:20.66\00:29:22.46
so they can participate
in some church activities
00:29:22.49\00:29:25.29
or evangelistic campaigns.
00:29:25.33\00:29:27.50
Well, we are in Matthew 25,
00:29:27.53\00:29:29.96
and I'm going to read
again verse three and four.
00:29:30.00\00:29:32.23
"Those who were
foolish took their lamps
00:29:32.27\00:29:34.94
and took no oil with them,
00:29:34.97\00:29:37.67
but the wise took
oil in their vessels
00:29:37.71\00:29:40.04
with their lamps."
00:29:40.08\00:29:41.41
You notice here that
this wedding appears to come,
00:29:41.44\00:29:44.78
appears to be or the coming
of the bridegroom is at night.
00:29:44.81\00:29:50.82
And there's a symbolism
here as well, you know?
00:29:50.85\00:29:54.09
When you're coming
to the end of the world,
00:29:54.12\00:29:56.02
there's gross darkness.
00:29:56.06\00:29:57.39
The Bible says among the people,
00:29:57.43\00:30:00.00
and the virgins are supposed
to have lamps to light the way.
00:30:00.03\00:30:05.40
When the bridegroom
came in this parable,
00:30:05.43\00:30:08.20
the virgins were
supposed to light the way
00:30:08.24\00:30:10.17
for the bridegroom.
00:30:10.21\00:30:11.74
So they have an
important work to do.
00:30:11.77\00:30:15.44
And in order for
us to light the world,
00:30:15.48\00:30:17.68
we need the Word of God.
00:30:17.71\00:30:20.25
We need the Word of God.
00:30:20.28\00:30:22.58
But I would
like to say something
00:30:22.62\00:30:24.75
concerning the
virgins and the parable,
00:30:24.79\00:30:28.52
but also today,
let's go back to today.
00:30:28.56\00:30:31.43
You know, we were talking about
are people like this today?
00:30:31.46\00:30:34.06
Do we have wise Christians
and foolish Christians
00:30:34.10\00:30:38.63
that are allowing the things
of the world to distract them
00:30:38.67\00:30:42.87
so that they don't get the oil?
00:30:42.90\00:30:44.41
Let's talk about
the oil once again.
00:30:44.44\00:30:46.37
We talked about oil
being the Holy Spirit.
00:30:46.41\00:30:48.81
How do we get,
00:30:48.84\00:30:51.41
maybe we should talk
about that a little later,
00:30:51.45\00:30:53.58
but it's talking
about the Holy Spirit.
00:30:53.62\00:30:55.28
Question, we have the question.
00:30:55.32\00:30:57.32
They have the lamp
what is the lamp again?
00:30:57.35\00:30:59.82
The Word of
God. The Word of God.
00:30:59.85\00:31:01.36
So all the virgins
have the Word of God.
00:31:01.39\00:31:04.33
So all have the same opportunity
00:31:04.36\00:31:07.40
to study, to learn,
00:31:07.43\00:31:09.53
and to be transformed
by the study of God's Word.
00:31:09.56\00:31:13.40
All have the same opportunity.
00:31:13.44\00:31:14.77
All have the same
opportunity to bring oil.
00:31:14.80\00:31:17.81
Some brought oil
00:31:17.84\00:31:19.81
and some brought
oil plus extra oil.
00:31:19.84\00:31:24.08
So we all have
the same opportunity.
00:31:24.11\00:31:27.05
How about today?
00:31:27.08\00:31:28.58
You know, I was thinking
of what Nancy said a while ago
00:31:28.62\00:31:30.75
when we were talking that
00:31:30.79\00:31:32.39
the lamp is their
profession of faith.
00:31:32.42\00:31:34.76
It is a symbolic
of the Word of God.
00:31:34.79\00:31:37.19
And she said,
00:31:37.23\00:31:38.56
perhaps someone
00:31:38.59\00:31:39.93
might even be teaching the word.
00:31:39.96\00:31:42.50
I was doing a
series in a Texas town.
00:31:42.53\00:31:47.80
And there was a
woman that was coming.
00:31:47.84\00:31:50.44
She had her ThD,
00:31:50.47\00:31:53.07
which is like a
doctorate in theology.
00:31:53.11\00:31:57.98
So anyway, she had her ThD,
00:31:58.01\00:32:00.58
she was a teacher, a
professor of religion.
00:32:00.62\00:32:05.69
This woman...
00:32:05.72\00:32:08.62
We say, we're not to be...
00:32:08.66\00:32:11.99
We're not to judge
people's motivations,
00:32:12.03\00:32:14.70
but we can judge...
00:32:14.73\00:32:16.33
Fruit inspectors,
00:32:16.36\00:32:17.70
know them by their fruit, right?
00:32:17.73\00:32:19.57
And I mean, she
easily confessed to me.
00:32:19.60\00:32:24.34
"I know about the Lord,
00:32:24.37\00:32:27.41
but I don't know
the word like you do."
00:32:27.44\00:32:29.34
'Cause she was
coming every night.
00:32:29.38\00:32:31.28
And the point that I'm making is
00:32:31.31\00:32:33.58
there is head knowledge,
00:32:33.62\00:32:38.25
there's heart knowledge.
00:32:38.29\00:32:40.59
Head knowledge is
00:32:40.62\00:32:42.02
believing in Jesus
Christ like the demons.
00:32:42.06\00:32:44.89
James said,
00:32:44.93\00:32:46.26
even the demons
believe and tremble.
00:32:46.29\00:32:48.86
There's a mental ascent.
00:32:48.90\00:32:50.40
And there are plenty of people
00:32:50.43\00:32:52.63
who come to church
because it's their culture.
00:32:52.67\00:32:56.71
That's true.
00:32:56.74\00:32:58.07
They go, and
they study the Bible
00:32:58.11\00:33:00.21
in the Sabbath school,
00:33:00.24\00:33:01.58
they do this or do that
00:33:01.61\00:33:03.18
Sabbath school or Sunday school,
00:33:03.21\00:33:04.55
wherever they go to church.
00:33:04.58\00:33:05.91
But it's a cultural thing.
00:33:05.95\00:33:07.85
They grew up doing it.
00:33:07.88\00:33:09.22
They're going to repeat it,
00:33:09.25\00:33:10.59
but they never fully
yield and submit to the Lord.
00:33:10.62\00:33:16.76
Either they've not been taught
00:33:16.79\00:33:19.79
or they've been
taught erroneously
00:33:19.83\00:33:22.73
or they're rebellious.
00:33:22.76\00:33:26.03
Now I will say this.
00:33:26.07\00:33:28.30
I believe what
we're seeing here,
00:33:28.34\00:33:30.67
all ten virgins
had an experience
00:33:30.71\00:33:32.71
with God's grace,
00:33:32.74\00:33:34.31
but some of them
stopped as I said,
00:33:34.34\00:33:37.45
they accepted Him as Lord.
00:33:37.48\00:33:39.68
They stopped at that
stage of justification.
00:33:39.71\00:33:43.59
And we see so many
people in so many denominations
00:33:43.62\00:33:48.32
that are just like that.
00:33:48.36\00:33:50.19
They don't
understand this process
00:33:50.23\00:33:53.13
of daily being
led by the spirit.
00:33:53.16\00:33:56.50
And, you know, it's
just like when Jesus said,
00:33:56.53\00:34:00.00
"Ask and keep on asking,
seek and keep on seeking,
00:34:00.04\00:34:03.20
knock and keep on knocking."
00:34:03.24\00:34:05.01
And He says,
00:34:05.04\00:34:06.37
"If you ask, you'll be
given, if you seek, you'll find,
00:34:06.41\00:34:11.81
and if you knock the
door's, it's going to be open."
00:34:11.85\00:34:13.82
And then, this is Luke 11:9-13,
00:34:13.85\00:34:17.39
He explains in verse 13.
00:34:17.42\00:34:20.62
He said,
00:34:20.66\00:34:21.99
"If you being a
parent, a good parent..."
00:34:22.02\00:34:24.39
Know how to give good
gifts to your children.
00:34:24.43\00:34:26.53
How much more
00:34:26.56\00:34:27.90
will the Heavenly
Father give the Holy Spirit
00:34:27.93\00:34:31.03
to those who ask?
00:34:31.07\00:34:32.40
So I would say our first lesson
00:34:32.43\00:34:34.87
is to learn from
the foolish virgins
00:34:34.90\00:34:37.74
if they didn't have the
Holy Spirit in their heart,
00:34:37.77\00:34:42.58
they had grieved
Him, resisted Him,
00:34:42.61\00:34:45.38
quenched the Holy
Spirit in their life.
00:34:45.41\00:34:48.05
Our first lesson
applicable to us today
00:34:48.08\00:34:51.75
is let's not be foolish.
00:34:51.79\00:34:53.96
Let's every day realize
00:34:53.99\00:34:56.16
we need to be filled
afresh with the Holy Spirit.
00:34:56.19\00:34:58.56
Amen. Amen.
00:34:58.59\00:35:00.16
You said something that,
00:35:00.20\00:35:02.33
you know, caught my
attention and that is
00:35:02.36\00:35:04.07
there are some people
stop at justification.
00:35:04.10\00:35:06.17
In other words,
00:35:06.20\00:35:07.54
they begin their
experience with the Lord.
00:35:07.57\00:35:10.07
And now when we go
to 2 Corinthians 5:17,
00:35:10.11\00:35:13.61
it says that,
00:35:13.64\00:35:14.98
"If any man be in Christ,
00:35:15.01\00:35:16.51
he is a new creation,
00:35:16.54\00:35:19.01
behold, old
things are passed away,
00:35:19.05\00:35:22.08
all things have become new."
00:35:22.12\00:35:23.99
What happens to people?
00:35:24.02\00:35:25.35
Why is it do you
think that some people stop?
00:35:25.39\00:35:28.06
"Well, I've been
baptized. I'm going to church."
00:35:28.09\00:35:31.93
And can people
be coming to church?
00:35:31.96\00:35:34.80
Can people come into church,
are they foolish and wise?
00:35:34.83\00:35:38.87
Are they both in the
church or are the foolish out?
00:35:38.90\00:35:42.74
The foolish are
also in the church,
00:35:42.77\00:35:44.71
but what happens?
00:35:44.74\00:35:46.07
Why do you think some
people don't go any further?
00:35:46.11\00:35:50.11
They just stop.
00:35:50.15\00:35:51.61
I think it has to
do with human nature.
00:35:51.65\00:35:55.08
Human nature is carnal.
00:35:55.12\00:35:56.89
And we measure
everything by the physical.
00:35:56.92\00:36:02.89
The Bible says spiritual things
00:36:02.92\00:36:04.43
have to be spiritually discerned
00:36:04.46\00:36:07.26
and were to come into
the fullness of Christ.
00:36:07.30\00:36:09.10
And that requires
the Holy Spirit's help.
00:36:09.13\00:36:12.17
And to sum up what
Shelley was just saying
00:36:12.20\00:36:15.47
in the book called
Christ's Object Lessons,
00:36:15.50\00:36:18.51
it's put very nicely.
00:36:18.54\00:36:20.31
I'd just love to
share this little piece.
00:36:20.34\00:36:22.04
Please.
00:36:22.08\00:36:23.41
It says,
00:36:23.45\00:36:24.78
"In the parable,
00:36:24.81\00:36:26.15
all the virgins went
to meet the bridegroom.
00:36:26.18\00:36:28.42
All had lamps
and vessels for oil.
00:36:28.45\00:36:32.05
For a time there was seen
no difference between them."
00:36:32.09\00:36:35.06
This is what you're
talking about, Johnny.
00:36:35.09\00:36:36.66
They're all in the church.
00:36:36.69\00:36:38.66
"So with the church that lives
00:36:38.69\00:36:40.30
just before
Christ's second coming,"
00:36:40.33\00:36:42.50
and that's where we
need to pay attention now
00:36:42.53\00:36:44.63
'cause time does run out.
00:36:44.67\00:36:47.14
"All have
knowledge of the scriptures,
00:36:47.17\00:36:48.90
all have heard
the message of Christ
00:36:48.94\00:36:51.31
near approach."
00:36:51.34\00:36:52.67
That's where we're at.
00:36:52.71\00:36:54.68
"So it is now
00:36:54.71\00:36:57.05
a time of waiting
intervenes and faith is tried.
00:36:57.08\00:37:02.62
What happens is
that part of the group
00:37:02.65\00:37:06.49
have no oil in their
vessels with their lamps,
00:37:06.52\00:37:11.23
they are
destitute of the Holy Spirit
00:37:11.26\00:37:14.46
without the Spirit of God
00:37:14.50\00:37:16.50
a knowledge of His
Word is of no avail."
00:37:16.53\00:37:20.20
Amen.
00:37:20.24\00:37:21.57
"Unless the spirit of
God sets the truth home.
00:37:21.60\00:37:24.51
That's the Holy Spirit.
00:37:24.54\00:37:25.87
The oil sets, the
Spirit of God sets the truth.
00:37:25.91\00:37:30.01
That character will
not be transformed."
00:37:30.05\00:37:32.85
And that's what you
were talking about, John.
00:37:32.88\00:37:34.28
Yes.
00:37:34.32\00:37:35.65
Old things pass away,
all things become new.
00:37:35.68\00:37:37.39
We need to come into
the fullness of Christ,
00:37:37.42\00:37:38.92
but we can't.
00:37:38.95\00:37:40.29
We need the Holy Spirit's help.
00:37:40.32\00:37:41.82
Amen. Amen.
00:37:41.86\00:37:43.19
Don't you think sometimes
when people accept Jesus,
00:37:43.22\00:37:46.70
they have a
wonderful experience,
00:37:46.73\00:37:48.06
maybe an emotional one.
00:37:48.10\00:37:49.43
Maybe they went to
an evangelistic series
00:37:49.46\00:37:51.00
and get caught up in the emotion
00:37:51.03\00:37:52.43
of going
forward, accepting Jesus.
00:37:52.47\00:37:55.17
And there's something
about when a group does it
00:37:55.20\00:37:56.87
and you feel
elated, you feel wonderful,
00:37:56.91\00:38:00.78
but that's where they stop.
00:38:00.81\00:38:02.54
They've had this
wonderful experience
00:38:02.58\00:38:04.05
and that it's like,
00:38:04.08\00:38:05.41
"oh, that's enough for me."
00:38:05.45\00:38:06.78
Oh, word carnal.
00:38:06.82\00:38:08.15
Yeah. They respond to it.
00:38:08.18\00:38:09.52
Paul had a lot to say
about carnal Christian,
00:38:09.55\00:38:11.65
carnal Christianity.
00:38:11.69\00:38:13.09
I think Satan uses
that to distract us.
00:38:13.12\00:38:14.86
Oh, of course, he does.
00:38:14.89\00:38:17.19
I think that's
why Paul also wrote,
00:38:17.23\00:38:19.63
"Take heed lest you
think you stand, you fall."
00:38:19.66\00:38:22.00
You know, one thing
that I do regularly is
00:38:22.03\00:38:28.40
I do a
self-assessment regularly.
00:38:28.44\00:38:30.71
I know salvation is
by grace through faith.
00:38:30.74\00:38:32.74
There is nothing that
I can do to save myself,
00:38:32.77\00:38:36.98
but I also know
00:38:37.01\00:38:39.31
what God's
covenant relationships
00:38:39.35\00:38:42.18
that when I'm in
covenant with Him
00:38:42.22\00:38:44.49
and receiving this gift,
00:38:44.52\00:38:46.72
he asks of me a
love and a loyalty.
00:38:46.76\00:38:51.66
We're supposed to love Him
00:38:51.69\00:38:53.03
with all of our heart,
soul, mind, and strength.
00:38:53.06\00:38:55.83
And the loyalty
is the obedience.
00:38:55.86\00:38:59.60
When Jesus said,
00:38:59.63\00:39:00.97
"If you love me, obey,
00:39:01.00\00:39:02.60
you know, keep
my commandments..."
00:39:02.64\00:39:04.57
So it's something that
00:39:04.61\00:39:06.61
I think
sometimes even in ministry,
00:39:06.64\00:39:09.51
you can get so busy
doing good for the Lord
00:39:09.54\00:39:12.05
that you start
letting certain things
00:39:12.08\00:39:15.08
slip in your own life.
00:39:15.12\00:39:16.45
So I think we all
should do a self-evaluation.
00:39:16.48\00:39:18.45
You know, I'm
glad that you said that
00:39:18.49\00:39:20.09
because we all should do that.
00:39:20.12\00:39:22.76
I'm looking at a scripture
here in 2 Corinthians 13: 5.
00:39:22.79\00:39:26.70
We're going to come back
in a moment to Matthew 25,
00:39:26.73\00:39:29.23
but it says,
00:39:29.26\00:39:30.60
"Examine yourselves,
00:39:30.63\00:39:32.23
whether you be in the
faith, prove your own selves.
00:39:32.27\00:39:36.64
Know ye not your own selves,
00:39:36.67\00:39:38.54
Know ye not your own selves,
00:39:38.57\00:39:41.64
how that Jesus Christ is in you,
00:39:41.68\00:39:43.38
except ye be reprobates?"
00:39:43.41\00:39:45.15
So, yes, we should take moment,
time to examine ourselves.
00:39:45.18\00:39:50.82
We're talking about the whole
00:39:50.85\00:39:52.82
divergence five
wise, five foolish.
00:39:52.85\00:39:54.46
Ask yourself, right now,
00:39:54.49\00:39:56.42
"Am I a wise virgin
or a foolish virgin?"
00:39:56.46\00:39:59.93
Examine yourself
00:39:59.96\00:40:01.76
because this is
an important thing
00:40:01.80\00:40:03.13
to ask yourself.
00:40:03.16\00:40:04.50
We're living in the last
days, the Lord is coming soon.
00:40:04.53\00:40:07.17
Where are you? If the Lord...
00:40:07.20\00:40:08.84
If the bridegroom came
today, what will happen to you?
00:40:08.87\00:40:12.61
What would happen?
Would you be ready?
00:40:12.64\00:40:15.18
And so Psalms 34 interesting,
it says here in Psalms 34,
00:40:15.21\00:40:20.95
I'm looking for the verse.
00:40:20.98\00:40:22.32
It says verse eight.
00:40:22.35\00:40:27.29
"O taste and see
that the Lord is good.
00:40:27.32\00:40:31.29
Blessed is the man and
woman who trusts in Him."
00:40:31.33\00:40:35.13
And so, you know,
00:40:35.16\00:40:36.87
sometimes you
give people a taste.
00:40:36.90\00:40:38.30
"Hey, taste this
thing." "Oh, that's good."
00:40:38.33\00:40:41.24
But taste and keep on tasting
00:40:41.27\00:40:43.61
continue in your
walk with the Lord,
00:40:43.64\00:40:45.97
go deeper and deeper and deeper,
00:40:46.01\00:40:47.71
closer and closer to Jesus
00:40:47.74\00:40:49.74
so that you can
see that the more,
00:40:49.78\00:40:52.61
the closer you get to
Jesus, the sweeter, it is.
00:40:52.65\00:40:55.25
Amen.
00:40:55.28\00:40:56.62
The sweeter it is
to be near to Jesus.
00:40:56.65\00:40:57.99
So ask yourself,
00:40:58.02\00:40:59.35
"Am I a wise virgin
or a foolish Virgin?"
00:40:59.39\00:41:01.12
And so this is a
time that we encourage you
00:41:01.16\00:41:04.73
to examine yourself,
00:41:04.76\00:41:06.19
see whether or
not you are with Jesus
00:41:06.23\00:41:09.43
or are you drifting away?
00:41:09.46\00:41:12.27
Any final comments
above verse three and four,
00:41:12.30\00:41:15.07
the wise virgin
and the foolish virgin.
00:41:15.10\00:41:16.81
They took oil and
some did not take oil.
00:41:16.84\00:41:20.01
Okay, let's move to verse five.
00:41:20.04\00:41:21.68
"But while the
bridegroom was delayed,
00:41:21.71\00:41:26.41
they all slumbered and slept."
00:41:26.45\00:41:28.55
Okay.
00:41:28.58\00:41:29.92
Once again,
00:41:29.95\00:41:31.29
we can look at all the virgins
and they looked the same.
00:41:31.32\00:41:35.02
They're all sleepy.
00:41:35.06\00:41:36.93
And, you know, that's
such an important point.
00:41:36.96\00:41:39.66
Even the wise
virgins were sleeping.
00:41:39.69\00:41:42.66
I will tell you what,
00:41:42.70\00:41:44.50
one thing that COVID has,
the pandemic has taught me,
00:41:44.53\00:41:49.40
super or hypervigilance
is not naturally sustainable.
00:41:49.44\00:41:56.24
You know, we...
Very interesting thought.
00:41:56.28\00:41:57.98
Well, you think about that?
00:41:58.01\00:41:59.35
My doctor, when I
went to see my doctor,
00:41:59.38\00:42:00.75
I'm having...
00:42:00.78\00:42:02.12
I have some
immune issues right now
00:42:02.15\00:42:04.25
and he told me,
00:42:04.29\00:42:05.62
"Hey, you got to
really be careful
00:42:05.65\00:42:07.66
'cause you could
succumb to this disease."
00:42:07.69\00:42:09.99
And it was like,
00:42:10.03\00:42:11.36
"All right, duly
noted. I'll be careful."
00:42:11.39\00:42:14.16
And we started
off really careful.
00:42:14.20\00:42:17.63
And then a
couple of months later,
00:42:17.67\00:42:19.33
I realized we were becoming lax
00:42:19.37\00:42:23.24
and it was kind
of a wake-up call
00:42:23.27\00:42:26.47
when some people
around us started getting it.
00:42:26.51\00:42:30.01
But my point is
00:42:30.05\00:42:31.71
here you've got all
these church members,
00:42:31.75\00:42:34.92
they know they've
heard it all their life
00:42:34.95\00:42:36.95
Jesus is coming soon,
00:42:36.99\00:42:40.56
but they get
wearied by the darkness.
00:42:40.59\00:42:44.53
They're wearied by the darkness
00:42:44.56\00:42:47.50
and they end up
00:42:47.53\00:42:49.30
if you think of
them as being asleep,
00:42:49.33\00:42:52.00
that's maybe a
little bit apathy comes in.
00:42:52.03\00:42:55.57
Okay. You know?
00:42:55.60\00:42:56.94
I mean, I've
heard that all my life
00:42:56.97\00:42:58.37
He's coming soon.
00:42:58.41\00:43:00.34
I don't know.
00:43:00.38\00:43:01.71
Well, again, I like to separate
the carnal from the spiritual.
00:43:05.05\00:43:10.02
So we know that everybody
is asleep in the church,
00:43:10.05\00:43:12.55
the foolish and the wise
are both napping or slumbering.
00:43:12.59\00:43:15.96
And it's interesting
that the Lord said all.
00:43:15.99\00:43:20.53
But it's also interesting
that He gave us two words
00:43:20.56\00:43:24.00
slumbered and slept.
00:43:24.03\00:43:26.43
So there's first a slumbering,
and then there's a sleeping.
00:43:26.47\00:43:29.34
That's right.
00:43:29.37\00:43:30.71
There's a slumber
and there's a sleep.
00:43:30.74\00:43:32.07
And why did He put
both words in there?
00:43:32.11\00:43:33.91
He didn't really
need to if it was carnal.
00:43:33.94\00:43:36.18
But it's spiritual. Okay.
00:43:36.21\00:43:37.81
Now we know there's a difference
00:43:37.85\00:43:39.18
between the two groups
00:43:39.21\00:43:40.58
and this kind of
expresses that difference.
00:43:40.62\00:43:42.75
When you go back to the Greek
00:43:42.78\00:43:44.69
and you look up
the word slumbered,
00:43:44.72\00:43:46.89
it means to sleep.
00:43:46.92\00:43:49.06
And if you look at
slept, it means normal sleep.
00:43:49.09\00:43:53.96
That means there's a difference
00:43:54.00\00:43:55.33
just like there
is in the two groups.
00:43:55.36\00:43:57.63
So if you go on
a little further,
00:43:57.67\00:43:59.03
you'll find out that slumbering
is neglect, spiritually,
00:43:59.07\00:44:03.77
neglect, carelessness,
00:44:03.81\00:44:05.97
to be overcome or
oppressed to linger.
00:44:06.01\00:44:10.78
And if you look
up the word linger,
00:44:10.81\00:44:12.75
it actually means in the Greek.
00:44:12.78\00:44:14.62
It's so spiritual connotation.
00:44:14.65\00:44:16.18
What it means is
00:44:16.22\00:44:17.55
to remain alive
although gradually dying.
00:44:17.59\00:44:20.89
This is
spiritually what's happening.
00:44:20.92\00:44:22.99
That's why God
used two different words
00:44:23.02\00:44:24.86
for the sleepers.
00:44:24.89\00:44:26.23
Now when you go to the
slept, those who slept,
00:44:26.26\00:44:29.26
remember one group had no oil,
the other had oil, all right?
00:44:29.30\00:44:34.04
And that's where
the Holy Spirit helps us
00:44:34.07\00:44:37.21
to get what we are
not able to get ourselves.
00:44:37.24\00:44:40.58
Now slept means normal sleep.
00:44:40.61\00:44:43.81
And then when you see
what the extension of that is
00:44:43.85\00:44:48.05
indifferent to one salvation.
00:44:48.08\00:44:50.42
So now they sound as
bad as the foolish ones,
00:44:50.45\00:44:53.92
but pay attention
00:44:53.96\00:44:55.29
because when it says
indifferent to one salvation.
00:44:55.32\00:44:58.86
If I was to talk
to one of the people
00:44:58.89\00:45:00.90
whose normal
sleeping is going on,
00:45:00.93\00:45:04.33
and I would ask them,
00:45:04.37\00:45:05.70
"How is your salvation?
00:45:05.73\00:45:07.14
Are you ready to meet
the Lord, blah, blah, blah?"
00:45:07.17\00:45:09.40
The answer
would be unresponsive.
00:45:09.44\00:45:13.34
It would be neutral,
00:45:13.38\00:45:14.88
not good or bad
because they're asleep.
00:45:14.91\00:45:17.35
Yes. Normal sleep.
00:45:17.38\00:45:18.71
So you see the difference there.
00:45:18.75\00:45:20.25
So anyway, on the one,
00:45:20.28\00:45:21.92
they're lingering
and remaining alive,
00:45:21.95\00:45:24.15
although gradually dying
and with the other group,
00:45:24.19\00:45:27.59
they're unresponsive
because it's normal sleep.
00:45:27.62\00:45:31.26
Yes. Wow.
00:45:31.29\00:45:32.93
Thank you so much.
00:45:32.96\00:45:34.36
Sister Nancy, anything
you would like to add to that?
00:45:34.40\00:45:37.00
Well, I think to
the slumbering and slept
00:45:37.03\00:45:40.37
as he was mentioning
with the spiritual meaning
00:45:40.40\00:45:43.84
is that we can become caught up
00:45:43.87\00:45:48.44
into the teachings of whatever.
00:45:48.48\00:45:50.71
And you can become...
00:45:50.75\00:45:52.48
If you don't
have the Holy Spirit,
00:45:52.51\00:45:54.58
you can be easily deceived,
you know, and fall under the...
00:45:54.62\00:45:58.75
'Cause Satan is always trying
00:45:58.79\00:46:00.12
to pull you away from the truth
00:46:00.16\00:46:03.19
and slumbering and
sleeping are the slumbering,
00:46:03.22\00:46:05.49
if it's just sleep,
00:46:05.53\00:46:10.30
means that you're not
really paying attention
00:46:10.33\00:46:12.57
to what the truth is.
00:46:12.60\00:46:13.94
And you're starting to
fall under the deception
00:46:13.97\00:46:16.20
because we know that
00:46:16.24\00:46:17.57
the deception in the last
days is going to be great.
00:46:17.61\00:46:21.01
And so it could be involving
00:46:21.04\00:46:22.88
just slightly starting
00:46:22.91\00:46:24.58
to slip into some
deceptive thoughts or believes.
00:46:24.61\00:46:27.42
Okay. Thank you very much.
00:46:27.45\00:46:29.48
Okay, time is escaping from us.
00:46:29.52\00:46:32.12
So we're going
to have to be brief
00:46:32.15\00:46:34.79
on some of the comments.
00:46:34.82\00:46:36.16
But let's look, go
ahead and look at...
00:46:36.19\00:46:38.99
We're going to read verse
six, seven, and eight, and nine.
00:46:39.03\00:46:44.93
Sister Shelley,
could you read those?
00:46:44.97\00:46:46.37
Absolutely. Share with us.
00:46:46.40\00:46:47.74
"And at
midnight a cry was heard,
00:46:47.77\00:46:51.24
'Behold, the
bridegroom is coming,
00:46:51.27\00:46:54.28
go out to meet him!' "
00:46:54.31\00:46:56.54
So here we've got
ten sleeping virgins
00:46:56.58\00:46:59.81
and they're all
startled by the midnight cry.
00:46:59.85\00:47:05.55
"Then all those virgins
arose and trimmed their lamps.
00:47:05.59\00:47:09.49
And the foolish
said to the wise,
00:47:09.52\00:47:11.13
'Give us some of your oil,
for our lamps are going out.' "
00:47:11.16\00:47:14.43
Their lamps of
flickering and going out.
00:47:14.46\00:47:17.50
"But the wise answered, saying,
00:47:17.53\00:47:19.80
'No, I don't think so
00:47:19.83\00:47:22.20
lest there should not
be enough for us and you,
00:47:22.24\00:47:26.07
but go rather to those
00:47:26.11\00:47:28.04
who sell, and buy
for yourselves.' "
00:47:28.08\00:47:30.45
I used to think...
00:47:30.48\00:47:31.81
When I was a little girl,
00:47:31.85\00:47:33.38
I read the New
Testament very often,
00:47:33.42\00:47:35.95
but I can remember
getting there and thinking,
00:47:35.98\00:47:38.05
"How selfish of them
00:47:38.09\00:47:40.66
that they
wouldn't share their oil?"
00:47:40.69\00:47:42.99
But the point is they
couldn't share their oil.
00:47:43.02\00:47:45.76
I cannot give
you the Holy Spirit.
00:47:45.79\00:47:49.46
I can tell you about
my experience with Him,
00:47:49.50\00:47:53.20
but you have to ask the
Lord and receive of your own.
00:47:53.23\00:47:58.71
So here's people who they awake
00:47:58.74\00:48:02.34
and thankfully
00:48:02.38\00:48:04.31
the wise ones in their hearts,
they had the Holy Spirit.
00:48:04.35\00:48:07.82
Now they can trim their lamps
00:48:07.85\00:48:09.78
and they can go out
to meet the bridegroom,
00:48:09.82\00:48:12.49
but the foolish
ones were unprepared.
00:48:12.52\00:48:15.46
Wow. Impacting. Okay.
00:48:15.49\00:48:17.86
So this is a
serious, serious situation.
00:48:17.89\00:48:22.00
Anything you'd like
to share about that?
00:48:22.03\00:48:24.20
The Christ Object
Lessons puts it so nicely.
00:48:24.23\00:48:27.07
Thank you for what
you shared, Shelley,
00:48:27.10\00:48:28.50
because it's pure
truth and needful.
00:48:28.54\00:48:31.14
And in Christ Object Lessons,
00:48:31.17\00:48:33.78
it says the same
thing in this manner.
00:48:33.81\00:48:36.51
"In spiritual things
00:48:36.54\00:48:37.88
no man can make up
another's deficiency."
00:48:37.91\00:48:40.32
That's I can't
give my oil to you.
00:48:40.35\00:48:44.95
"Character is not transferable.
00:48:44.99\00:48:47.72
No man can believe for another.
00:48:47.76\00:48:50.09
No man can receive
the spirit for another.
00:48:50.13\00:48:53.36
No man can impart to
another, the character,
00:48:53.40\00:48:56.90
which is the fruit of
the Spirit's working."
00:48:56.93\00:48:59.37
See, it comes from the
spirit, not from your neighbor.
00:48:59.40\00:49:02.34
Amen.
00:49:02.37\00:49:03.74
And that's one thing we
failed to say a while ago,
00:49:03.77\00:49:05.71
the oil
represents the Holy Spirit,
00:49:05.74\00:49:08.04
but by inference,
00:49:08.08\00:49:10.35
it represents
His work in your life
00:49:10.38\00:49:14.22
and the character
that you've obtained
00:49:14.25\00:49:17.29
through His influence.
00:49:17.32\00:49:18.65
Cooperation, the cooperation
with the Holy Spirit.
00:49:18.69\00:49:21.22
Sister Nancy, anything
you'd like to add quickly?
00:49:21.26\00:49:23.39
I'm just going to say,
00:49:23.43\00:49:24.76
just like we can't give
the Holy Spirit to someone.
00:49:24.79\00:49:26.53
You can't give me
your character either.
00:49:26.56\00:49:28.16
That's right.
00:49:28.20\00:49:29.53
That's something that
00:49:29.56\00:49:30.90
we have to let the
Holy Spirit develop in us.
00:49:30.93\00:49:32.80
And that's why we need the oil.
00:49:32.83\00:49:34.30
Yes.
00:49:34.34\00:49:35.67
Now this is a
description of today.
00:49:35.70\00:49:40.71
Imagine that
Jesus Christ is coming.
00:49:40.74\00:49:45.71
There's apparently a
moment a time of preparation
00:49:45.75\00:49:49.18
before His coming.
00:49:49.22\00:49:50.55
But the foolish virgins,
00:49:50.59\00:49:54.32
they have a work to
00:49:54.36\00:49:56.16
do that cannot be
done during that time.
00:49:56.19\00:49:59.53
They are told, go
out to buy something.
00:49:59.56\00:50:01.80
In other words, go
get it like we got it,
00:50:01.83\00:50:04.57
but it's too late for them.
00:50:04.60\00:50:06.23
So there's a time coming
when it will be too late.
00:50:06.27\00:50:09.14
Because before
our bridegroom comes,
00:50:09.17\00:50:11.71
what does he do?
00:50:11.74\00:50:13.07
He stands up and he says,
00:50:13.11\00:50:14.88
"Let him who is righteous,
be right to still and let him,
00:50:14.91\00:50:19.01
who's wicked be wicked still."
00:50:19.05\00:50:21.28
It's over at that moment.
00:50:21.32\00:50:24.25
That is close of probation.
00:50:24.29\00:50:26.05
He comes to get his bride.
00:50:26.09\00:50:27.66
And he comes unexpectedly.
00:50:27.69\00:50:29.59
Right. Unexpectedly.
00:50:29.62\00:50:31.49
So that we need to
be ready all the time.
00:50:31.53\00:50:33.26
Now it's interesting
that when the call is made,
00:50:33.29\00:50:36.36
they all awake.
00:50:36.40\00:50:37.90
You know, we
right now can all awake.
00:50:37.93\00:50:41.30
Praise God. Amen.
00:50:41.34\00:50:42.70
And so I like to
read the scripture
00:50:42.74\00:50:44.31
that is found in...
00:50:44.34\00:50:46.11
It's found in 2
Corinthian, no Ephesians 5.
00:50:46.14\00:50:51.78
I'm just going to read
verse 14 because of time.
00:50:51.81\00:50:54.32
"Therefore he says,
00:50:54.35\00:50:55.68
'Awake, you who
sleep, arise from the dead,
00:50:55.72\00:50:59.19
and Christ will
give you light.' "
00:50:59.22\00:51:02.46
So today we can wake
up from the slumbering,
00:51:02.49\00:51:05.69
the sleeping
00:51:05.73\00:51:07.16
and Christ will give us light.
00:51:07.20\00:51:08.56
It's a decision
that we have to make.
00:51:08.60\00:51:11.13
Boy, we really
need to finish. Yeah.
00:51:11.17\00:51:13.13
We really need
to finish this up.
00:51:13.17\00:51:14.50
Let's go ahead and read.
00:51:14.54\00:51:16.40
I'll read verse
10, 11, 12, and 13.
00:51:16.44\00:51:20.18
And then we'll just ask
for your final comments.
00:51:20.21\00:51:22.48
How about that?
00:51:22.51\00:51:23.85
"And while they went to
buy, the bridegroom came,
00:51:23.88\00:51:26.82
and those who were ready
00:51:26.85\00:51:28.98
went in with him to the wedding,
00:51:29.02\00:51:31.42
and the door was shut.
00:51:31.45\00:51:33.76
Afterward, the other
virgins came also, saying,
00:51:33.79\00:51:36.62
'Lord, Lord, open to us!'
00:51:36.66\00:51:38.53
But he answered and said,
00:51:38.56\00:51:39.89
'Assuredly, I say to
you, I do not know you.'
00:51:39.93\00:51:43.53
Watch therefore,
00:51:43.57\00:51:44.90
for you know
neither the day nor the hour
00:51:44.93\00:51:47.24
in which the Son
of Man is coming."
00:51:47.27\00:51:49.94
Okay.
00:51:49.97\00:51:51.31
Now we come to the part
that we have to summarize.
00:51:51.34\00:51:54.21
Sister Shelley,
summarize and summarize
00:51:54.24\00:51:57.08
and then we'll end.
00:51:57.11\00:51:58.45
So here he
returns, the door's shut.
00:51:58.48\00:52:00.55
Probation is over.
00:52:00.58\00:52:01.92
There's no more
time to try to be saved.
00:52:01.95\00:52:05.85
But in the parable,
00:52:05.89\00:52:07.66
they're going out
00:52:07.69\00:52:09.02
and they're trying to find that.
00:52:09.06\00:52:10.39
And then they come,
he has ushered his bride
00:52:10.43\00:52:12.59
to the wedding,
marriage, supper of the lamb.
00:52:12.63\00:52:15.80
And in the
parable, they're saying,
00:52:15.83\00:52:17.33
"Lord, Lord let
us in, let us in."
00:52:17.37\00:52:19.60
And I want to read...
00:52:19.63\00:52:21.17
I mean, can you
imagine having God
00:52:21.20\00:52:22.94
you've been in the
church all your life
00:52:22.97\00:52:24.54
and having Him say to you,
00:52:24.57\00:52:26.27
"Assuredly, I don't know you.
00:52:26.31\00:52:28.71
Go away the door's
shut. It's locked."
00:52:28.74\00:52:31.61
When you look at Matthew 7,
00:52:31.65\00:52:34.45
I just want to
read this very quickly.
00:52:34.48\00:52:37.09
Matthew 7: 21.
00:52:37.12\00:52:39.59
This is Jesus words.
00:52:39.62\00:52:42.02
"Not everyone who
says to me, 'Lord, Lord, '
00:52:42.06\00:52:44.39
shall enter the
kingdom of heaven.
00:52:44.43\00:52:46.16
But he who does
00:52:46.19\00:52:48.53
the will of My Father in heaven.
00:52:48.56\00:52:51.03
Many will say to me in that day,
00:52:51.07\00:52:52.77
'Lord, have we not
prophesied in your name,
00:52:52.80\00:52:55.44
cast out demons in your name,
00:52:55.47\00:52:56.81
done many wonders in your name?"
00:52:56.84\00:52:59.11
And then I will declare to them,
00:52:59.14\00:53:01.64
'I never knew
you depart from me.
00:53:01.68\00:53:05.95
You who practice lawlessness.' "
00:53:05.98\00:53:09.15
So I wanted just
to say one thing,
00:53:09.18\00:53:12.72
lawlessness is
breaking God's commandments.
00:53:12.75\00:53:15.19
And let me tell you something.
00:53:15.22\00:53:16.66
Even obedience is by grace.
00:53:16.69\00:53:19.73
It is God's gift to
us as He works in us
00:53:19.76\00:53:23.40
to willing to do
His good pleasure.
00:53:23.43\00:53:25.67
And He says He will
complete the good work
00:53:25.70\00:53:28.10
He's begun in us
00:53:28.14\00:53:29.47
as long as we are
yielding to His leading.
00:53:29.50\00:53:32.81
Amen. Amen.
00:53:32.84\00:53:34.18
And on that note
also, when he says,
00:53:34.21\00:53:37.01
"No, I know you not."
00:53:37.05\00:53:39.25
The Greek word
for no is defined as,
00:53:39.28\00:53:43.42
perceive a difference
between right and wrong.
00:53:43.45\00:53:47.49
There you said
keeping the commandments
00:53:47.52\00:53:49.36
because we love Him.
00:53:49.39\00:53:50.93
Somebody here was not
filled with the Holy Spirit
00:53:50.96\00:53:53.83
which gives him the power
to keep those commandments.
00:53:53.86\00:53:56.16
The love to keep
those commandments.
00:53:56.20\00:53:58.40
And so in the last
verse, when it says,
00:53:58.43\00:54:00.27
"Watch, therefore,
00:54:00.30\00:54:01.94
you don't know
the day or the hour."
00:54:01.97\00:54:05.11
And when it says, watch,
00:54:05.14\00:54:06.74
we currently will be watching
for Jesus to come in the clouds
00:54:06.78\00:54:10.55
and all this
carnal physical activity.
00:54:10.58\00:54:14.08
But again, what's
happening spiritually?
00:54:14.12\00:54:16.95
Spiritually, the word watch,
00:54:16.99\00:54:20.49
which is
unpronounceable in Greek to me,
00:54:20.52\00:54:24.33
it says, give strict attention
00:54:24.36\00:54:27.96
to lest you come
into the calamity
00:54:28.00\00:54:32.97
and it overtakes you.
00:54:33.00\00:54:34.80
So when it says,
watch, I'm saying,
00:54:34.84\00:54:39.34
we need to see
the spiritual watching
00:54:39.37\00:54:42.04
because it's
saying watch yourself,
00:54:42.08\00:54:47.45
make sure you
have the Holy Spirit,
00:54:47.48\00:54:49.98
make sure you've
the oil in your lamp.
00:54:50.02\00:54:52.52
Make sure that your
character will shine out
00:54:52.55\00:54:56.52
and show the glory of God.
00:54:56.56\00:54:57.89
Amen. Wow.
00:54:57.93\00:54:59.66
Good. Thank you very much.
00:54:59.69\00:55:01.13
Sister Nancy, final words.
00:55:01.16\00:55:02.50
Well, we know that the
oil is the Holy Spirit,
00:55:02.53\00:55:05.83
and we see the
importance of having this oil,
00:55:05.87\00:55:08.77
this Holy Spirit.
00:55:08.80\00:55:10.14
And how do we
get the Holy Spirit?
00:55:10.17\00:55:12.17
One thing we can do is ask.
00:55:12.21\00:55:14.41
We can ask and we should ask
every day for the Holy Spirit.
00:55:14.44\00:55:17.41
It's not like you get
him once and that's it.
00:55:17.45\00:55:19.58
Ask every day
for the Holy Spirit.
00:55:19.61\00:55:21.28
That's the only way
we can be really sure
00:55:21.32\00:55:23.45
that we have the oil we need.
00:55:23.49\00:55:25.65
Amen. Thank you so much.
00:55:25.69\00:55:27.02
Thank you. Wow.
00:55:27.06\00:55:28.39
Time just escaped us.
00:55:28.42\00:55:29.76
I know there was more to share.
00:55:29.79\00:55:31.39
I would like to
take you once again
00:55:31.43\00:55:32.86
to the Matthew 25:13,
00:55:32.89\00:55:36.26
notice that it says,
00:55:36.30\00:55:38.07
"Watch therefore,
00:55:38.10\00:55:40.67
for you know
neither the day nor the hour
00:55:40.70\00:55:43.17
in which the Son
of Man is coming."
00:55:43.20\00:55:45.07
There is a
definite message for us
00:55:45.11\00:55:50.61
as Christians
to watch to be a...
00:55:50.65\00:55:54.98
Hypervigilant. Hypervigilant.
00:55:55.02\00:55:56.65
Thank you so much.
00:55:56.69\00:55:58.05
This is also told to us
00:55:58.09\00:55:59.42
in other places
of the scriptures.
00:55:59.45\00:56:00.89
Watch, there is this maintaining
00:56:00.92\00:56:04.29
our eyes on the
Lord Jesus Christ.
00:56:04.33\00:56:07.00
The Lord is coming soon,
00:56:07.03\00:56:08.63
and this is the
message that is presented here.
00:56:08.66\00:56:11.37
So all slumbered and
slept but not all were shut out.
00:56:11.40\00:56:17.31
Some were able to go in,
00:56:17.34\00:56:19.04
and I hope you're among
those that is ready to go in.
00:56:19.07\00:56:22.08
But if you are not,
00:56:22.11\00:56:23.65
there's the message
for us in Revelation 3:20,
00:56:23.68\00:56:27.38
today we can answer that call
00:56:27.42\00:56:30.02
and the call
that Jesus is making
00:56:30.05\00:56:31.89
is presented in these words.
00:56:31.92\00:56:33.72
"Behold, I stand
at the door and knock.
00:56:33.76\00:56:38.13
If anyone hears My
voice and opens the door,
00:56:38.16\00:56:41.43
I will come into
him and dine with him,
00:56:41.46\00:56:44.10
and he with me."
00:56:44.13\00:56:46.13
You know, Jesus is
standing right now at the door.
00:56:46.17\00:56:49.97
The time will come
when He will walk away
00:56:50.01\00:56:53.58
because He's
done enough knocking.
00:56:53.61\00:56:55.88
He has done
enough calling because,
00:56:55.91\00:56:57.65
"Behold, I stand
at the door and knock.
00:56:57.68\00:56:59.18
If any man hears my voice."
00:56:59.21\00:57:00.65
So there's this knocking
00:57:00.68\00:57:02.32
in different ways that He knocks
00:57:02.35\00:57:05.25
through people,
00:57:05.29\00:57:06.62
through messages, through songs,
00:57:06.65\00:57:08.36
through the
reading of the scriptures.
00:57:08.39\00:57:09.72
The Lord is
knocking through events
00:57:09.76\00:57:11.09
that you see
fulfilling all over the place.
00:57:11.13\00:57:13.40
The Lord is knocking
at the door of your heart
00:57:13.43\00:57:15.76
to let you know
00:57:15.80\00:57:17.13
it's time for
you to open the door
00:57:17.17\00:57:19.00
and let Him in.
00:57:19.03\00:57:20.47
And when you let Him
in, wonderful things happen.
00:57:20.50\00:57:23.94
So I encourage you to
open the door to Jesus
00:57:23.97\00:57:26.54
and let Him come in.
00:57:26.57\00:57:27.91
I want to thank
Sister Shelley Quinn
00:57:27.94\00:57:29.28
for being with us.
00:57:29.31\00:57:30.65
Joe O'Brien and Nancy O'Brien,
00:57:30.68\00:57:32.28
and we thank you
for being with us.
00:57:32.31\00:57:33.65
God bless you.
We'll see you next time.
00:57:33.68\00:57:35.25