Participants: Shelley Quinn
Series Code: 14SCM
Program Code: 14SCM000006S
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00:38 Welcome to Spring Camp Meeting 2014.
00:42 What a blessing to be here at Camp Meeting, isn't it? 00:44 Amen! Boy, did you hear that hearty amen for you at home? 00:47 I tell you what: we wish that you were here. 00:49 We understand that circumstances come up and you can't make it 00:52 here, but there's a blessing - isn't there? - being here 00:53 in person at Camp Meeting? Amen again? Amen! Amen. 00:56 And what a tremendous theme. 00:59 What does it say on the backdrop behind me? 01:01 The second coming: in in-depth look. 01:04 The second coming: an in-depth look. 01:06 And I like the text on this side. 01:08 If the camera could just set it: Revelation 1:3. 01:09 What does that say? Let's read it together. 01:11 "Behold He is coming with clouds and every eye will see Him. " 01:17 Praise the Lord. What a tremendous hope we have - 01:19 don't we? - of Christ's soon return, 01:21 and I just pray we all will be found faithful 01:22 to that end. This morning's... actually it's afternoon now... 01:26 this afternoon's message is brought to us by Shelley Quinn. 01:29 She and her husband J.D. are tremendous friends 01:32 of Jill and myself and I know to you all as well. 01:35 And I know that she'll be... 01:37 The Holy Spirit, you know, He's the One that gives us 01:39 this message. And I know that she's the vessel that God is 01:42 using to pour out His blessing upon us. 01:44 And the title of her message today is: 01:46 Parable of the Ten Virgins. 01:48 But before she brings us the message we have 01:50 Pastor C.A. Murray. 01:51 We like his music, don't we? 01:52 Pastor C.A. Murray is bringing us our music this morning - 01:55 this afternoon... excuse me - 01:56 and it's entitled Almost Over. 01:59 But before he comes I just want to offer a short word of prayer. 02:02 Father in heaven, Lord, we're just so thankful... 02:05 thankful for what You are doing, Lord, around the world 02:08 especially through 3ABN. I thank you for each person 02:10 that is here today. Lord, we're just all looking forward 02:14 to Your soon return. We want to be found faithful 02:17 to that end. Lord, we pray for a special blessing 02:20 upon our sister Shelley Quinn as she brings us the message 02:23 today. Lord, just pour Your words through her, 02:27 Lord, that as we listen we wouldn't just listen 02:29 but that we would be doers of Your Word. 02:31 And in Jesus' name we pray, Amen. 02:35 Numerologists tell us that there are about 6,000 02:39 Negro spirituals. 02:41 And most of the Negro spirituals - the preponderance 02:44 of them - had to do with freedom from sin 02:47 and freedom from slavery. 02:49 And in the Negro spiritual they equated both. 02:53 Freedom from sin was freedom from slavery. 02:56 Freedom from slavery was freedom from sin. 02:58 And the old slave couldn't read, couldn't write, 03:01 but he realized that something important would 03:04 happen when Jesus came again. 03:06 Sin would be over... slavery would be over. 03:08 And so the spirituals took many, many forms. 03:13 But they realized that if they held on 03:15 the thing that gave them hope is that one day it would soon 03:18 all be over. 03:20 And so many of the songs looked forward to what we call 03:23 the eschaton or the perusia 03:25 or the second coming... whatever term you want to use. 03:28 But the burden was that one day soon if we 03:30 just hold on it's all going to be over 03:33 and we're going to see Jesus face to face. 03:52 Some see the Lord 03:56 but they don't see Him right. 03:59 They play all day 04:02 and they sleep all night. 04:07 And I thank God it's almost over... 04:13 almost over... 04:18 almost over 04:24 my Lord... 04:29 and I thank God 04:32 it's almost 04:34 over. 04:47 Sister, if 04:51 your heart is warm 04:55 snow and ice 04:57 will do you no harm. 05:02 But I thank God 05:04 it's almost over... 05:09 almost over... 05:13 almost over 05:20 my Lord. 05:25 And I thank God 05:28 it's almost 05:30 over. 05:42 Oh brother, better mind 05:45 how you step on the cross. 05:49 Your foot might slip 05:51 and your soul get lost. 05:56 But I thank God 05:58 it's almost over... 06:02 almost over... 06:07 almost over 06:14 my Lord. 06:18 And I thank God 06:20 it's almost over. 06:33 And when we get to heaven 06:37 we'll able for to tell 06:40 how we shunned 06:43 the gates of hell. 06:50 And I thank God it's 06:54 almost over... 06:58 almost over... 07:02 almost over. 07:14 And I thank God 07:20 it's almost 07:23 over. 07:43 Amen! 07:45 C.A. - what a beautiful song! Amen! 07:49 And what beautiful faces. How good it is 07:52 to see all of your smiling faces here. 07:55 It is exciting... Camp Meeting is always exciting 07:58 but it is especially exciting when we have 08:01 these big-themed events. 08:04 And can you think of anything more magnificent 08:07 than studying the second coming of Jesus Christ? 08:11 Let's have another prayer. 08:13 Heavenly Father, we come in the name of Jesus 08:16 thanking You for this time, 08:18 thanking You for, Lord, the messages that You have given 08:23 to so many people to share with us. 08:26 Father, I thank you for this message and what You taught me 08:29 as I studied this. And Lord we ask now 08:33 please just get me out of the way. 08:35 I pray in the name of Jesus that Your Holy Spirit 08:38 will speak through me. And I pray, Father, that 08:41 You will give each and every one of us in this room 08:43 ears to hear what the Holy Spirit has to say. 08:48 Oh Lord, we don't want to be foolish virgins. 08:53 Please, Lord, we look to You depending upon You. 08:57 And we thank you in Jesus' name, Amen. 09:01 You know, Matthew 24 and 25 09:05 those two chapters are Jesus' fullest explanation 09:10 of the second coming. 09:11 But I want to set this up by saying that in Matthew 23 09:17 what we find... This records Jesus' last occasion to speak 09:22 and teach to the multitudes at the temple of God. 09:25 And what He did was He rebuked the religious leaders 09:30 because what they had done was set aside the Word of God 09:34 to set forth their own traditions. 09:38 And they were useless teachings and they were hindering 09:41 the spiritual progress of the people of God. 09:44 So Jesus leaves the temple and get this scene in your mind: 09:49 with this last scathing indictment He says to the 09:54 religious leaders "I say to you your house 09:59 is left to you desolate. 10:02 For I say to you you will not see Me again 10:06 until you say: 'Blessed is He who comes 10:10 in the name of the Lord. ' " 10:12 And then what He did, leaving the temple never to return again 10:16 Jesus and His disciples went to the Mount of Olives. 10:22 The sun was setting. 10:24 This is an evening setting. 10:26 The sun was setting over the mount but it was also 10:30 setting figuratively over Jesus' earthly message. 10:35 This was going to be His last true time 10:39 with His disciples. 10:41 So taking every last precious moment 10:45 to teach them, He shared the signs of His coming - 10:50 His second coming - and then He told about 10:54 what we should be doing in preparation for 10:58 His uncertain timing. 11:00 Matthew 24 and 25 are a single discourse. 11:06 You know when the Bible was written there were no chapters 11:08 and verses. So Matthew 24 and 25 11:11 go together as Jesus' final message to His disciples. 11:16 And this awesome message 11:20 was given there on the Mount of Olives. 11:24 He concluded the prophecies. 11:27 You've already heard some of those of Matthew 24. 11:30 He concluded this in Matthew 24 11:33 with a parable that warned against postponing 11:36 the preparation... of your time 11:40 in expectation of His second coming. 11:44 And then what He did 11:46 was launch into other parables that are continued in Matthew 25 11:52 giving us the parables of The Ten Virgins, 11:54 The Sheep and the Goats, 11:56 The Talents, and talking about also the lesson of what you do 12:01 unto... for the least of these you're doing unto Me. 12:05 So our focus this hour 12:08 is to take an in-depth look 12:11 at the parable of The Ten Virgins. 12:14 So please open your Bibles to Matthew 25... 12:18 Matthew chapter 25. 12:21 Our Savior frequently taught in parables because these were 12:25 stories that illustrated a practical spiritual lesson. 12:30 And His final sermon was no exception. 12:33 Sitting on the Mount of Olives as He was overlooking 12:37 the city of Jerusalem, the small company of disciples 12:41 saw a torch-lit marriage procession in progress 12:47 where the bridesmaids were leading the groom to the bride. 12:52 So seizing the moment He began to teach them 12:57 this parable on the ten virgins and it was drawing on 13:02 the familiar customs of Jewish weddings. 13:04 In the Eastern culture the bridegroom - the bridegroom - 13:09 came late at night. And he was attended by his groomsmen. 13:14 And the bridesmaids always came out with lamps in their hands. 13:18 They were long sticks that had a dish and then a wick. 13:21 There were no streetlights, 13:24 so the bridesmaids always waited and then they would 13:27 light their lamp and go meet the bridegroom 13:29 and bring him to the bride. 13:32 Now, let's read Matthew 25 verses 1 through 13. 13:37 This is a short but very solemn message 13:42 to the members of the remnant church. 13:44 Verse 1 begins: "Then... " He's referring back 13:49 to Matthew 24... it's part of the same discourse... 13:54 He says: "The kingdom of heaven shall be likened to 10 virgins 13:58 who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 14:01 Now 5 of them were wise and 5 were foolish. 14:07 Those who were foolish took their lamps 14:10 and took no oil with them. 14:13 But the wise took oil in the vessels with their lamps. 14:17 But while the bridegroom was delayed they all slumbered 14:20 and slept, and at midnight a cry was heard 14:24 'Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go out to meet him. ' 14:29 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 14:33 And the foolish said to the wise 14:36 'Give us some of your oil for our lamps are going out. ' 14:39 But the wise answered saying 14:42 'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you. 14:45 But go rather to those who sell and buy for yourselves. ' 14:49 And while they went out... " 14:51 While those foolish ones went out to buy... 14:54 "the bridegroom came 14:57 and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding 14:59 and the door was shut. 15:01 Afterwards the other virgins came also saying: 15:05 'Lord, Lord... open to us. ' 15:08 But he answered and said: 15:11 'Assuredly I say to you 15:14 I do not know you. ' 15:18 Watch, therefore... " Jesus says... 15:22 for you know neither the day nor the hour 15:25 in which the Son of Man is coming. " 15:28 Now most of us... This is so rich in symbolic meaning 15:34 and most of us know what these symbols stand for. 15:37 But what I'd like to do is to review these 15:40 because someone that's watching may not be aware. 15:43 So let's just go over all of the symbols 15:45 in this particular parable. 15:48 Who is the bridegroom? 15:50 Jesus... our Lord Christ Jesus. 15:54 Who is the bride? The church. 15:56 And in scripture the church is presented 16:01 as a virgin - a virtuous woman who's not been 16:04 defiled by other relationships. 16:07 And scripture also promises that Christ is going to return 16:13 for a bride who has prepared herself 16:17 and who has fulfilled her purpose in giving the message 16:21 of salvation - the good news, the gospel - 16:24 to all of the nations of the world. 16:27 Who are the virgin bridesmaids? 16:32 They are church members. 16:36 And in His parable Jesus distinguishes 16:41 between two classes of believers. 16:45 He doesn't call them good and bad. 16:48 He doesn't call them virgins and harlots. 16:52 He calls them all virgins. 16:56 He presents five of the attending as being wise 17:01 but five of these virgins are foolish. 17:05 They are two different classes of believers 17:10 in the gospel of grace. 17:13 Now what does the lamp symbolize? 17:16 The Word of God. 17:18 "Thy Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. " 17:22 Right? And in scripture what does oil symbolize? 17:26 The Holy Spirit. We know this from Zechariah chapter 4 17:30 and by inference in this particular parable 17:34 the character that the wise virgins have developed 17:40 by His influence. 17:42 What does the flask - the vessel that held the 17:46 additional oil... what does that represent? 17:48 Those receptacles represent our hearts. 17:54 And what does the midnight hour symbolize? 17:59 Gross darkness. Midnight is the darkest hour. 18:03 And it is a time of great spiritual darkness 18:07 that has settled in and covered the world. 18:11 It is also a time when these ten weary virgins 18:17 would be the most drowsy. 18:20 It's a time when you think of gross spiritual darkness. 18:24 It's a time of error and heresies and delusions. 18:29 Now the slumber and the sleep that settled over all 18:35 represents a certain spiritual weariness and apathy. 18:40 And the wedding represents the infinite union 18:45 which faith forms between Christ, our bridegroom, 18:50 and His people. 18:52 The parable truly is rich in symbolic meaning. 18:56 But let's look at these ten virgins. 19:00 I used to read this parable, and I almost... 19:03 I remember thinking when I first really started studying 19:06 this how sometimes we can read through something 19:11 and if we haven't spent time in deep study 19:14 we can kind of lump it into categories. 19:17 I used to think of this more like the sheep and the goats 19:20 type categories, 19:21 but that's not what it's all about. 19:23 So let's look at what the ten virgins - 19:26 the church members - have in common 19:30 then we're going to examine the critical difference. 19:33 It's a sobering study. 19:36 I have to tell you that I've been doing some heart searching 19:39 even in preparation for this 19:41 because every member of the church - 19:45 male and female - are represent- ed in one of these two groups. 19:50 As we consider what the virgins have in common 19:54 and then what divides them into the two separate groups 19:58 of wise and foolish please realize that Christ 20:03 was describing every individual who calls himself a Christian. 20:10 As I said, in this parable He's not comparing 20:13 unbelievers and believers. 20:15 He's not talking about separat- ing the sheep and the goats 20:19 at the end of time. 20:21 All of these virgins are among the sheep... 20:25 His professed followers. 20:28 He's talking about two classes of believers 20:31 making a division among these professed Christians. 20:37 The bottom line is He's talking about you and me. 20:42 And this message should cause us to search our hearts 20:45 with deep introspection 20:48 because we each belong to one of the two groups. 20:51 So let's look at what they have in common. 20:53 First, Christ calls them all virgins. 20:56 Both the wise and the unwise - the wise and the foolish - 21:01 profess the Christian faith. 21:04 All are baptized members of the church, 21:07 partakers of communion. 21:09 All of their names are on the church records. 21:13 All the virgins have lamps in their hands. 21:16 Both the wise and the unwise have their Bibles. 21:19 They have knowledge of the scripture. 21:22 They're familiar with the Word of God. 21:24 They are beneficiaries of deep Bible study. 21:28 They all have a profession of a pure faith. 21:31 The doctrines that they hold to are essentially correct. 21:36 But please notice this: 21:39 by calling all the attendants virgins 21:43 Jesus presents each of the ten 21:47 as previously encountering 21:51 an experience with the grace of God. 21:55 All had heard the good news of salvation by grace. 21:59 All had responded to accept Christ's 22:02 atoning sacrifice on the cross. 22:04 They'd each received the grace of justification 22:09 by faith... the first stage of salvation. 22:13 All of these virgins professed to be watching 22:19 and waiting for Christ's second advent. 22:22 Symbolically this means the ten virgins maintained 22:26 religious activities. Bibles in hand... 22:29 offering their prayers at prayer meeting 22:31 while confidently awaiting His appearance. 22:35 But both the wise and the foolish become wearied 22:40 from the long wait in the darkness. 22:43 All become complacent. 22:46 Even the wise grow weary and they find it difficult 22:50 to resist the drowsiness of the flesh. 22:53 To stay awake; to stay alert; 22:57 to stay at peak performance all the time. 22:59 Let me ask you this: 23:02 do you believe any of us walk as closely as we should 23:05 to the Lord? Hmmm. 23:08 Do you remember what it was like when you were first saved? 23:12 The zeal you had? The love you had for Christ Jesus? 23:18 You know, not all of our love has abated 23:24 but we have left our first love... many of us. 23:29 Not all of our passion 23:32 to witness has ceased, 23:38 but it has cooled off, hasn't it? 23:42 Secondly, at the midnight hour a shout pierces the air. 23:45 "Behold... behold... the bridegroom cometh! 23:51 Go out and meet Him. " 23:55 All hear the midnight cry 23:57 and all of the virgins are taken by surprise. 24:01 They're startled from their lethargy. 24:04 They arouse, and all begin to prepare their lamps. 24:08 What does that tell you? The lamps have been unattended... 24:12 all of the lamps for quite some time. 24:15 They had to have their wicks trimmed 24:17 so that they could burn brightly. 24:19 Up until this point, what difference do we see 24:23 between them? We don't! 24:25 They all look pretty much alike, don't they? 24:28 So let's dig a little deeper. 24:30 When the five foolish virgins lit their lamps 24:35 they discovered their lack of oil. 24:39 It was a sad revelation 24:43 to these five foolish ones 24:47 because they saw that their wicks began flickering 24:52 and sputtering and smoking. 24:55 Then - ah-haa - they see that the five wise virgins 25:00 have brought additional oil. 25:03 So they petition the wise: "Oh, give us some of your oil... 25:07 our lamps are going out. " 25:09 But their anguished and despondent cry is in vain. 25:15 The wise - knowing that it was impossible to give of their 25:20 supply - sent the foolish ones off to look for another source 25:25 of the necessary oil. 25:27 Now you know, at first glance that sounds just a little bit 25:29 selfish, doesn't it? 25:31 "What? You mean you're not going to share your oil with me? " 25:35 But you see... What does the oil represent? 25:40 The Holy Spirit. 25:42 It is impossible... absolutely impossible... 25:49 for man to share the Holy Spirit 25:52 or the character development that He has influenced. 25:58 Man can provide the lamp. 26:01 I can give you a Bible. 26:04 But man cannot transmit the oil - the Holy Spirit - 26:09 or the character development obtained by His influence. 26:13 There is no community supply of oil... 26:18 not even if you're in the remnant church. 26:20 Only God can supply the oil of the Holy Spirit. 26:25 So when the time of testing came 26:28 the foolish realized their superficial preparation 26:34 was inadequate. 26:36 Without the all-essential oil they were unprepared 26:42 to meet the bridegroom. 26:45 In a frenzied panic they go out and search for the oil. 26:48 Now when Jesus told us the parable He didn't explain 26:53 whether or not they found any oil. 26:55 What do you think? 26:57 Do you think the marketplace was open after midnight? 27:02 If God is the only supplier of the oil - 27:06 the Holy Spirit - can we pray for the Spirit 27:10 after probation closes? 27:12 No. The answer is found in Revelation 22 and verse 11. 27:18 This is heaven's pronouncement. It's heaven's message, 27:24 heaven's declaration, immediately before Christ goes 27:28 to retrieve His bride. 27:30 And Revelation 22:11 says this: 27:34 "He who is unjust let him be unjust still; 27:39 he who is filthy let him be filthy still; 27:43 he who is righteous let him be righteous still; 27:47 he who is holy let him be holy still. " 27:52 Heaven has made a declaration: 27:55 "Time is up... probation has closed. 27:57 Jesus is coming! " 28:00 The marketplace is closed just prior to the midnight cry. 28:05 The time to pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit 28:09 has expired. God has already determined 28:13 who belongs to His family. 28:16 And once probation closes 28:19 it's too late to acquire the character traits 28:23 that will fit us for heaven. 28:25 You know, there's a time that comes in every life 28:28 when change is impossible. 28:31 For most of us, it could be a sudden and unexpected death. 28:36 For those of us who live to see Him coming in the clouds 28:40 it will be His second coming. 28:43 Now continuing in the parable 28:45 the bridegroom arrives and He ushered all who were ready 28:48 into the wedding hall 28:50 shutting the door to the reception behind Him. 28:56 Listen to what I'm about to say: 28:59 when the door is shut it is shut for eternity. 29:09 He then says as they come - the foolish - 29:15 pleading: "Oh Lord... Lord! 29:19 Open up to us. " 29:21 But they invoke His name in vain. 29:24 And He says: "Assuredly 29:27 I say to you I do not know you. " 29:31 The saddest of all tragic words 29:35 that could fall on a human's ear. 29:38 The bridegroom rejected these bridesmaids 29:43 because they were strangers to Him. 29:49 He did not know them. 29:52 He had no special relationship with them 29:55 so He refused to open the door. 29:58 It was not that they were just a few minutes too late. 30:03 Those who stood on the outside of the door 30:06 banging, they did not bang and beg for entrance 30:12 because of a heartfelt love 30:15 and because of a heart that could not be happy 30:18 if they were closed out from His presence. 30:21 No! What they were banging on the door 30:24 to gain entrance because they didn't want 30:28 to be left out in that utter darkness... 30:32 in utter devastation. 30:34 They knew what their end would be. 30:37 The door that was open for so long 30:41 had finally been shut at last. 30:47 It is closed and secured tightly 30:51 to shut in the wedding party 30:55 and to shut out the wedding crashers. 31:01 Much like when the door of the ark shut in Noah - 31:06 righteous Noah - and his small family. 31:10 Do you think that when the flood waters came 31:14 don't you know that there were people banging on the door 31:18 of the ark saying: "Let us in! 31:20 You preached and prophesied for decades and we didn't listen 31:24 but let us in... we see it now. 31:26 There is going to be a flood. " 31:29 But they didn't do it... They weren't banging on the door 31:33 because they had this great desire to have a relationship 31:37 with the Lord... they just didn't want to die. 31:41 We see as we look at this parable man cannot 31:45 distinguish between the wise and the foolish 31:48 until the crucial moment 31:51 when the real distinction becomes apparent. 31:54 Only one thing distinguishes these two groups of virgins. 32:01 The only two types of church members according to our Lord 32:04 and Savior Jesus: the wise had oil in their vessels. 32:10 The Holy Spirit was in their hearts. 32:13 The foolish had no oil... 32:16 no Holy Spirit in their hearts. 32:21 It was not a visible difference to the human eye. 32:25 But God looks on the heart and He sees who's opened 32:30 their hearts to be filled with the Spirit and to be led 32:34 by the Spirit to develop the character of Christ. 32:37 He sees who has put on the robe of Christ's righteousness 32:43 and has been fitted with their wedding garments 32:46 and is prepared for the wedding supper of the Lamb. 32:49 These are the wise ones who slumbered. 32:55 Slumbered and slept are two different words in the Greek. 32:59 The wise slumbered, indicating that they got heavy eyelids. 33:05 They became drowsy. 33:07 They fell into a spiritual stupor. 33:11 Slumber can best be understood as spiritual lethargy. 33:18 How many of the wise slumbered? 33:21 All. 33:22 Are we wise virgins? Are we slumbering? 33:26 God knows also who did not open their hearts to be led 33:31 by the Holy Spirit. These are the foolish who slept. 33:36 That word in the Greek indicates a deliberate 33:41 conscious act of lying down to rest. 33:45 Not somebody who is really watching. 33:48 They were consciously lying down to rest 33:52 indicating spiritual neglect and a carnal indifference 33:57 to spiritual things. 34:01 But the foolish had their hearts filled with a false security 34:06 and when they heard the midnight cry 34:09 theirs was a tragic awakening. 34:13 They were unprepared and had no reserve of oil. 34:18 They had refused or neglected 34:22 God's gracious gift of the Holy Spirit 34:27 and consequently had no character development 34:32 influenced by Him and obtained through the imparted 34:38 righteousness of Christ within. 34:40 They had made a promising start, but without the Spirit 34:45 they could not endure to the end. 34:48 The crisis of the bridegroom's coming 34:52 symbolically reveals the virgins' experience 34:56 with the things of God - their relationship to Him - 34:59 and their true character. Only one difference... 35:03 one difference separates the foolish from the wise: 35:09 the lack of the all- essential oil - the Holy Spirit. 35:16 Why is the oil so necessary 35:19 for our preparation to meet our bridegroom? 35:22 Why is the Holy Spirit essential to the life of a true Christian? 35:26 Why do we need the Holy Spirit to enter the kingdom of God? 35:31 We know the Spirit brings the oil of illumination to our 35:34 lamps... our understanding of the Bible. 35:37 Paul tells us in the second chapter of I Corinthians. 35:41 He says: "These are spiritual words; 35:44 they're spiritually discerned. 35:47 And God has given you the Spirit so you may know 35:51 what He has freely given to you. " 35:55 And speaking of the Holy Spirit in John 16:3 35:58 Jesus says: "But He, the Spirit of Truth, when He comes 36:02 He will guide you into all truth. " 36:05 But... but... listen to what I'm saying: 36:10 This is hard to accept. 36:12 Even this does not sufficiently explain the dilemma 36:16 between the wise and the foolish 36:18 because both of them have the lamp of profession. 36:23 They're both holding on to essentially the same true 36:27 doctrines. They're both sitting here. 36:31 They've had deep Bible study. 36:34 So let's consider the difference that the Holy Spirit made in the 36:38 lives of the wise virgins 36:42 and then we'll begin to understand a little more 36:46 what's wrong with these foolish virgins. 36:49 Please turn in your Bibles to Ephesians chapter 3. 36:53 Ephesians chapter 3. We're going to have to go a little rapidly. 36:58 Ephesians chapter 3. The five wise virgins 37:03 possessed the Holy Spirit 37:06 and they were more than merely united with the church. 37:11 They were united with the Lord. 37:13 He lived within their hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit. 37:17 Let's read Ephesians 3 beginning with verse 14. 37:21 Paul writes to the Ephesians saying this: 37:25 "For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord 37:28 Jesus Christ from whom the whole family in heaven and earth 37:31 is named. " Now here's the reason he's praying: 37:35 "That He would grant you according to the riches of 37:38 His glory to be strengthened with might... " 37:42 with dunamis power... 37:44 How? "through His Spirit in the inner man. " 37:50 Do you want power for the Christian walk? 37:54 You have to have the Spirit day by day. 37:57 You have to be filled with the Spirit. 38:00 He also said: "So that... " 38:05 He wants the Spirit in you "so that Christ may dwell 38:10 in your hearts through faith. " 38:14 Jesus doesn't dwell in us bodily. 38:16 He dwells in us by faith through the Holy Spirit. 38:22 "And so that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 38:26 may be able to comprehend with all the saints 38:29 what is the width and length and depth and height to know 38:32 the love of Christ which passes knowledge 38:35 that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. " 38:40 You see it is only by the Holy Spirit 38:43 that Christ can dwell in us - His living temples. 38:48 Only by the Holy Spirit. 38:51 And Christ in us is our hope of glory. 38:55 Now turn to Galatians chapter 5 please. 38:59 Again we're looking at the wise. 39:02 And Galatians chapter 5 shows that the wise walk in surrender 39:08 depending upon the Spirit. 39:10 Being led by the Spirit. 39:12 And as we read these scriptures I pray that each one of us 39:15 examines our heart and says: "Am I like the wise? " 39:21 Galatians 5 and verse 16. 39:23 Paul says: "I say then walk in the Spirit and... " 39:30 parenthetically, as a result... 39:32 "if you walk in the Spirit you shall not fulfill the lusts 39:37 of the flesh. " See, only a Spirit-empowered walk 39:41 can help us overcome the tendencies of the flesh 39:44 which Paul now goes on to list. 39:46 But we will skip down to the good part... Galatians 5:22. 39:51 He says: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, 39:54 longsuffering, kindness, goodness, 39:57 faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. 40:00 Against such there is no law. 40:03 And those who are Christ's... " Those who are wise virgins... 40:09 "have crucified the flesh... " 40:13 They have died to self. 40:15 "crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 40:19 If we live in the Spirit... " and we do... 40:22 "let us also walk in the Spirit. " 40:26 You see, the wise, having received Christ as their Savior 40:30 and the imputed righteousness of His record - 40:35 you know, imputed means it's something that's been credited 40:38 to us... it's that first stage of salvation - 40:42 justification by faith which is an act of God 40:46 We have nothing... I mean this is just God doing this... 40:50 They had received that but they had also experienced 40:55 the second stage of salvation which is sanctification 41:01 by faith. They made Jesus not only 41:06 Savior but Lord of their lives. 41:10 They surrendered control. 41:12 And by the Holy Spirit Christ living in their hearts 41:16 through faith, they received His imparted righteousness. 41:21 Something was poured into their hearts, 41:23 into their minds, as they allowed the Holy Spirit 41:26 to empower them. To influence their conduct 41:31 and subdue their sins. 41:34 The Spirit-empowered sanctification process 41:36 made all the difference. 41:38 It was more than their records that were changed. 41:41 Their hearts were transformed 41:43 through the sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit. 41:47 Paul in II Thessalonians 2:13 and Peter in I Peter 1:2 41:52 both speak of salvation through sanctification 41:57 by the Spirit. Sanctification is a work of God. 42:02 Now turn quickly to John chapter 14 because 42:04 Jesus here shows us how this work begins... 42:10 how God begins to work in our hearts. 42:13 John chapter 14. We're going to look at some 42:15 familiar scriptures and look at it a little differently. 42:18 The wise allowed God to work in them to will and to do 42:21 His good pleasure. Walking in joyful obedience 42:26 that was motivated by love and empowered by the Holy Spirit. 42:30 John 14 and verse 15. 42:32 Jesus said: "If you love Me, keep My commandments. " 42:36 God's biddings are always His enablings. 42:40 So Christ continues now to explain how He will empower 42:45 us to keep His commandments. Look at this. 42:49 He says: "And I will pray the Father 42:52 and He will give you another Helper... " 42:56 Allos parakletos in the Greek 42:59 meaning He's going to send someone to be your advocate, 43:03 your comforter, your counselor, the One who walks beside you. 43:06 "who is just exactly like Me. " 43:12 This isn't... You're not trading off a Mercedes Benz 43:16 for a Volkswagen or I'm going to give you another car. 43:20 No, it would be allos. Means, if you say 43:23 "I'm going to give you another car" and you had a Mercedes 43:26 then "I'm going to give you one that is exactly like it in every 43:30 detail... exactly like it. " 43:34 So He says: "I am sending Him 43:37 that He may abide with you forever. " 43:40 Verse 17: "The Spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receive 43:43 because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. 43:46 But you will know Him for He dwells with you 43:49 and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; 43:51 I will come to you. " 43:54 He was saying: "I will live in your hearts by faith 43:59 through the Holy Spirit who I am sending 44:03 who will empower you to walk in obedience. " 44:07 Now turn quickly to Titus. 44:09 That's back in Paul's T section. I and II Thessalonians, 44:12 I and II Timothy, then Titus. 44:15 We're going to look at Titus chapter 2. 44:19 Titus chapter 2. 44:22 We know that the wise 44:24 experienced an inward transformation 44:27 performed by the Holy Spirit. 44:30 Titus chapter 2, and verse 11 is where we'll begin. 44:35 "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared 44:40 to all men... " And what does grace teach us? 44:44 "teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts 44:48 we should live soberly, righteously, and godly 44:51 in the present age. Looking for the Blessed Hope 44:53 and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior 44:57 Jesus Christ who gave Himself for us... " 45:01 Why? "that He might redeem us from every lawless deed 45:06 and purify for Himself His own special people 45:09 zealous for good works. " 45:12 Now turn a couple of pages over to Titus chapter 3 and verse 5 45:16 'cause this is where Paul explains how this purification 45:21 process happens. He says: 45:24 "It's not by works of righteousness which we have done 45:28 but according to His mercy He saved us 45:32 through the washing of regeneration and renewing 45:34 of the Holy Spirit. " 45:36 Sanctification is the work of God. 45:40 Yes, it requires our cooperation but it is the work of God 45:43 through the Holy Spirit. 45:46 Now let's turn to Romans chapter 8. 45:48 Romans chapter 8. 45:51 Turn quickly 'cause we're nearly out of time. 45:54 Roman 8 where Paul explains that the wise 45:58 received the spirit of adoption and they were led by the Spirit. 46:03 Romans 8 and verse 13 is where we'll begin. 46:08 "For if you live according to the flesh... " What's going to 46:11 happen? "you will die. But if by the Spirit 46:15 you put to death... " Two people are working... 46:19 two agencies are working here. 46:20 If by the Spirit - by His power - 46:23 you, cooperating with Him, put to death the deeds of your 46:27 flesh... You can't do it on your own; 46:29 you can't do it without His power... 46:30 but He's not going to do it without your cooperation. 46:33 God does not force His will on you. 46:35 "If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, 46:38 you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God 46:43 these are the sons of God. " 46:45 In contrast we can deduce if you are not led by the Spirit 46:49 you are not a child of God. 46:52 And he goes on in verse 15 to say: 46:54 "For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear 46:57 but you received the spirit of adoption by whom we cry out 47:00 'Abba, Father' and the Spirit Himself 47:04 bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God 47:09 and if children then heirs... heirs of God and joint-heirs 47:13 with Christ if indeed we suffer with Him 47:16 that we may also be glorified together. " 47:19 Do you see why the Holy Spirit is so important? 47:23 Now, keep your Bibles open to Romans 8. 47:26 We're coming back there in just a second. 47:28 The wise had the Holy Spirit 47:30 who is the source of all spiritual virtues, 47:33 and the love and the light of Christ shines out through them. 47:38 God's love had filled them, 47:40 and they loved God with all of their heart, soul, mind, and 47:44 strength and they love their neighbor as they love themself. 47:47 This kind of unselfish love isn't possible for humans 47:53 without the Holy Spirit. 47:55 Thank God for the promise of Romans 5:5 47:58 that says God pours out His love into our hearts by the power 48:03 of the Holy Spirit who He has given to us. 48:06 It is as the Holy Spirit - the Spirit of God - 48:10 enters us that we can draw on that essence 48:15 of God. God is love. 48:17 And one of my favorite verses... We won't turn there but 48:20 oh I love this verse! I Thessalonians - for you 48:24 who are taking notes - I Thessalonians 3:12-13 48:27 which says this: "May the Lord make you increase 48:31 and abound in love to one another and to all 48:34 just as we do to you 48:36 so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness 48:41 before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord 48:44 Jesus Christ with all His saints. " 48:47 Did you catch that? I did it too quickly. 48:50 "May the Lord make you increase and abound in love... " 48:53 Who's doing the work? God. 48:56 "so that... " Here's the reason... 48:59 "so that He may establish your hearts 49:03 blameless in holiness. " Do you catch what Paul is saying? 49:09 As we grow in love 49:12 we grow in holiness. 49:15 But we've got to open our hearts to the Holy Spirit 49:18 as the wise did so that this love can be imparted to us. 49:24 The wise were clothed with the robe of Christ's righteousness, 49:27 fitted with the wedding garment. 49:29 Their names were in the Book of Life. 49:35 Now in contrast, the five foolish virgins 49:38 lacked all the essential ingredients. 49:40 They lacked the oil. 49:42 They were united with the church but not with the Lord. 49:44 Their names were on the church records but not 49:47 in the Book of Life. 49:49 The foolish were attracted to the truth. 49:51 Perhaps they even taught Sabbath School or had a degree 49:54 in religion but they failed to recognize that even deep 49:58 Bible study is no substitute for the Holy Spirit. 50:01 The foolish were familiar with the theory of truth. 50:04 They had outward conformity 50:07 but their hearts were not transformed. 50:10 You've got your finger there in Romans 8. Let's look at 50:12 verse 9. Paul, writing to the Romans, sums it up this way: 50:17 "But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit 50:21 if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. " 50:26 But... listen up foolish ones: 50:29 "Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ 50:33 he is not His. " 50:37 You know, Paul further describes these foolish ones 50:39 in II Timothy 3:1-5 50:41 saying that they had "a form of godliness" 50:45 but they denied its power. 50:47 They attended church, gave offerings, 50:50 but they refused to receive the Holy Spirit. 50:53 They were cultural Christians. 50:56 They did not walk in obedience. 50:58 They were carnal and backslidden. 51:01 They didn't have enough love to obey. 51:04 Remember when Jesus said: 51:05 "If you love Me, obey My commandments? " 51:07 That was John 14:15. Well in verse 23-24 He says: 51:10 "If anyone loves Me, He will keep My word. 51:13 My Father will love him, and We will come to him 51:16 and make Our home with him. " 51:18 But now in contrast: "He who does not love Me 51:21 does not keep My words. " Consequently, 51:24 we can assume that the Father and the Son won't make their 51:27 home. We just read it. If you don't have the Holy Spirit, 51:31 you don't belong to Him. 51:33 We don't have time to turn but I'm going to read 51:36 to you... Hmmm... Let me read quickly from Jude. 51:41 Jude verse 3. There's only one chapter. 51:46 Listen to this solemn warning: 51:51 "Beloved: while I was very diligent to write to you 51:54 concerning our common salvation I found it necessary rather 51:57 to write to you exhorting you to contend 52:00 earnestly for the faith which was once for all 52:04 delivered to the saints. For certain men have crept in 52:07 unnoticed who long ago were marked out for condemnation. 52:10 Ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God 52:15 into lewdness... " Saying: "You're saved by grace. 52:20 You can do whatever you want. " 52:22 "and by so doing they deny the only Lord God and our Lord 52:26 Jesus Christ. " Now here comes the warning: 52:28 "But I want to remind you though you once knew this 52:32 that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, 52:36 afterward destroyed those who did not believe. " 52:40 Not once saved always saved. 52:43 "The angels who did not keep their proper domain... " 52:49 "The angels He even gave up and reserved them. " 52:54 The foolish had experienced God's grace in the first stage 52:59 of salvation... justification by faith... 53:02 but they did not in the second... the sanctification. 53:08 Some of them were undoubtedly very active in ministry. 53:12 But even service will not compensate for the lack of 53:16 the Spirit. Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23 53:19 "Not everyone who says to Me 'Lord, Lord' 53:22 shall enter the kingdom of heaven. " 53:23 But who will enter? "He who does the will of 53:26 My Father. Many will say to Me in that day 53:30 'Lord, Lord... have we not prophesied in Your name? 53:32 Cast our demons in Your name? 53:34 And done many wonders in Your name? ' 53:36 And then I will declare to them: 'I never knew you. 53:39 Depart from Me you who practice lawlessness. ' " 53:42 What does I John 3:4 say? 53:45 I John 3:4 says that whoever commits lawlessness 53:49 commits sin. Sin is lawlessness. 53:51 The breaking of God's law. 53:52 And we know what are the wages of sin? 53:55 Eternal death, but the gift of God is eternal life. 53:59 Did you know? Some of the foolish virgins... 54:06 Turn to Galatians 3. I am going to take the time. 54:09 I don't know... We're not even... 54:11 I need about 5 more minutes. 54:14 But I have to let you see Galatians chapter 3. 54:18 Paul writes to the Galatians and says: 54:21 "Oh foolish Galatians... " You foolish virgins... 54:25 Galatians 3 verse 1: 54:27 "Who has bewitched you that you should not obey 54:31 the truth before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly 54:34 portrayed among you as crucified? 54:36 This only I want to learn from you: 54:39 did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law 54:42 or by the hearing of faith? " 54:45 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit 54:48 are you now trying to be made perfect by the flesh? 54:54 And he goes on. Here's his punch line 54:57 in chapter 5 verses 4 and 5. 55:00 Oh listen to this: "You have become estranged 55:04 from Christ you who attempt to be justified by law. 55:08 You have fallen from grace. " 55:13 You've fallen... the foolish have fallen from grace. 55:17 Their names were blotted out. 55:19 They lacked the one essential qualification: 55:22 the oil. Jesus is coming soon! 55:26 He's coming unexpectedly. 55:29 We're not going to know the hour. 55:31 Are we prepared? Do we have the oil? 55:35 It's not too late. That's the good news. 55:39 Jesus said in Luke chapter 11 and verse 9 55:43 that this lesson is two-fold if you look at the parable. 55:46 It's two-fold. One: you must have the Holy Spirit. 55:50 Jesus says: "Ask and it will be given to you; 55:53 seek and you will find. 55:55 Knock, and the door will be opened to you. " 55:57 God is so anxious to give you His Holy Spirit. 56:02 We must ask for and receive 56:06 His Spirit by faith and we must surrender control 56:08 of our lives to the Holy Spirit. 56:11 And the second lesson of the parable 56:13 is that we must be watchful. 56:16 Watch, for our salvation is nearer than we first believed. 56:20 Watch! We're not children of the night. 56:22 We're children of the day. 56:25 Awake and cry out for the Holy Spirit 56:28 and God will gladly... gladly give you 56:32 of this all-essential oil. 56:35 We've got to guard the precious relationship 56:40 that we have with the Lord. 56:43 I'm telling you: every day you should be praying for grace. 56:48 You should never even get out of bed till you pray 56:51 to be filled with the Holy Spirit. 56:54 We have got to stand in grace, to grow in grace, 56:59 to find our strength in God's grace. Amen! 57:04 Watch... 57:06 for we are face to face with eternity. 57:11 Oh how we need God's Holy Spirit! Amen! 57:16 And He is more anxious to give it to you 57:18 than you are to receive it. 57:20 Watch! We know neither the day nor the hour 57:25 when the Son of Man is coming. 57:28 We must watch! |
Revised 2022-02-28