22/08/2021
# # # TOPIC: THE IMPORTANT OF OIL.
Matthew 25:1-13. "Then shall the kingdom of heaven likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them.
But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
And at midnight there was a cry made, behold the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
But he answered and said Verily I say unto You, I know you not.
Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day not the hour wherein the Son of man cometh".
# # The oil in this parable represents
1. True Faith.
2. True Righteousness.
3. Abiding presence of the Holy Spirit.
The parable of the ten virgins stresses the necessity of perseverance in the Faith and spiritual preparedness because of the danger of Christ's coming at an unforeseeable date.
Luke 21:19 said; "In your patience possess ye your Souls",
In you patience. Which means ; we must engage in the most intense devotion to Christ through the means of grace, ie., prayer, study of the Word, worship, Holy intimacy with God, witness, fellowship with believers and daily resistance to sin.
By persevering in true Faith, you can be victorious in all circumstances and in the end inherit eternal life.
The parable of the ten virgins emphasizes that all believers must constantly look to their own spiritual condition in light of Christ's coming at an unknown and unexpected time.
Beloved you must persevere in Faith so that when the day and hour arrive, you will be received by the returning Lord. (V 10).
Failure to be in a personal relationship with the Lord at His return means being exckuded from His presence and kingdom.
What differentiates the foolish from the wise is the failure of the foolish to recognize that the returning Lord will come at an unexpected time, a time not preceded with unmistakable and specific observable signs.
Matthew 25:13 says; "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh"
Matthew 24:36 says; But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Matthew speaks of only the Father knowing the time of Christ return.
Matthew 24:44 says; "Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as you think not the Son of man cometh.
Christ indicates in Luke 18:8 and Matthew 25:8-13 that a large portion of the Church will be unprepared at the time of His return.
And this is what we are seeing today in the church. People being in church but not in Christ. A lot of believers today are preoccupied with the things of this world, and pay little or no attention to the returning of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Luke 18:8 says; "I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find Faith on the earth?"
Shall He Faith?
Jesus question probably indicates that as the time for His return draws near, evil will become so dominant that many in the church will fall away.
As we approach history's end (which means the end of the ages).
The question for each believer is: Am I persevering in Faith, Continuing steadfast in prayer and calling on God that justice may be done and His RIGHTEOUS cause may triumph completely and forever?
Or
Am I so preoccupied with this life that I am not looking forward to Christ's return and His eternal kingdom.
Do you noticed that all the virgins (Both Faithful and the unfaithful) were taken by surprise at the bridegroom's coming).
Matthew 25:5--7.
