Participants: Mark Finley
Series Code: OTR
Program Code: OTR000994
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01:03 Good morning. I'd invite you this morning
01:06 to open your Bibles to Matthew 25 01:09 for our scripture and verses 8 through 01:12 13. Matthew 25 verses 8 through 13, 01:19 And the foolish said unto the wise, 01:21 give us some of your oil, for our 01:23 lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, 01:26 saying, not so, lest there should not be 01:29 enough for us and you; but go you rather 01:32 to them that sell and buy for yourselves. 01:35 And while they went out to buy, 01:37 the bridegroom came and they were 01:40 ready and went in with him to the 01:42 marriage; and the door was shut. 01:44 Afterward came also the other 01:46 virgins saying, 'Lord, open to us!' 01:49 But he said, but he answered and said, 01:52 Verily I say on to you, I know you not. 01:57 Watch therefore, for you know 01:59 neither the day nor the hour 02:02 wherein the Son of Man cometh. Amen. 02:19 In the harvest field now ripened 02:27 There's a work for all to do; 02:33 And Hark! the Master's voice is calling, 02:39 To the harvest is calling you. 02:47 Now does the place you're called to labor 02:52 Seem so small and little known? 02:59 It is great if God is in it, 03:04 For He'll not forsake His own. 03:11 Little is much when God is in it! 03:17 Labor not for wealth or fame. 03:23 There's a crown and you can win it, 03:28 If you go in Jesus Name. 03:47 When the conflict here is ended 03:54 And our race on earth is run, 04:01 He will say, if you have been faithful, 04:09 "Welcome home, My child well done!" 04:18 Little is much when my God is in it! 04:23 Labor not for wealth or fame. 04:29 There's a crown and you can win it, 04:35 If you go If you go 04:45 If you go in Jesus Name. 05:11 Amen, amen. Little is much 05:15 if God is in it, amen. The wonderful thing 05:19 about the song is that it's true. 05:23 When you and I take our little and 05:27 consecrate that to God, like the loaves 05:31 and the fishes he multiples it. 05:34 We give our little offering, whether it's 05:37 $10 or $100 or $100,000. And God 05:41 multiples it to build One-Day Churches 05:44 and One-Day Schools and to impact prison 05:48 ministries and support supporting 05:50 ministries and support that grand 05:52 evangelistic effort it is written in 05:56 Las Vegas and throughout 05:58 North America. We go out and 06:00 give a Bible study; we pass out 06:02 a piece of literature. We support 06:06 television and radio and offer prayers 06:10 for young people. We use the gifts 06:12 that God has given us for the 06:14 advancement of his kingdom, and little 06:16 is much when God is in it. This morning 06:23 I had intended to preach a sermon, 06:25 notice the emphases on the word intended. 06:28 God crossing Jordan, but as I thought 06:31 about where we are in the history of this 06:33 world and as I thought about the 06:36 coming of Jesus, and God spirit directed 06:40 me to a different topic entitled 06:44 "First Things First." Let's pray. 06:49 Father in heaven, as we open your 06:50 word this morning, I pray thee that 06:56 your spirit would move among us. 06:59 We've talked about outreach. 07:01 We've talked about soul winning. 07:03 We talked about evangelism. 07:05 We've talked about the finishing 07:06 of your work in the world, but Lord, 07:08 there is a work to be done in the church, 07:12 a work to be done in our hearts, 07:14 a work to be done deep within us. 07:17 And so may this worship hour, lead us 07:20 to a deeper heart conversion and a 07:24 deeper knowledge of you, we pray thee 07:29 in Christ name amen, amen. 07:33 The story is told of a women who 07:36 frantically called her insurance agent. 07:40 And she said, sir I need to increase the 07:45 insurance coverage on my house. 07:50 He said well madam come down to 07:52 the office this week, we can sign the 07:54 appropriate documents, and we'll make 07:58 it happen. She said sir, you don't 08:00 understand, I need to increase the 08:04 insurance coverage now, this is urgent. 08:08 He repeated, madam there are some 08:11 documents that need to be signed. 08:13 But can't I do it over the phone. 08:15 Madam, I'll come out to your house 08:18 tomorrow. Sir, you don't understand 08:21 my house is on fire. I need to increase 08:26 the coverage now. There are some things 08:31 you can put off in life until tomorrow. 08:36 There are other things that have to be 08:37 done today, or else they have 08:40 catastrophic consequences. 08:44 There are some things that matter 08:45 little if we put off in life, in other 08:49 things we put off until our eternal loss. 08:53 Now, preparation for the second coming 08:56 of Christ is one of those things. 08:59 The second coming of Christ maybe 09:02 delayed but our preparation for the 09:05 coming of Christ should never be 09:07 delayed, amen. In Matthew 09:09 chapter 24, Jesus gives us the signs 09:13 of his coming. In Matthew chapter 25, 09:18 Jesus talks about preparation for 09:20 his coming. In Matthew chapter 24, 09:23 we have the events in the world. 09:26 In Matthew chapter 25, we have the 09:29 condition of the church. In Matthew 09:32 chapter 24 we have what happens out there. 09:35 In Matthew chapter 25 we have what 09:38 happens in here. Now you recall after 09:41 Jesus talks about wars and rumors 09:43 of wars about famines and pestilences 09:46 and earthquakes, after he talks about 09:48 fires and floods and natural disasters. 09:52 After he discusses those more than 09:55 25 signs of his coming. 09:58 You come to the end of Matthew chapter 10:00 24 and Jesus says in Matthew chapter 24, 10:04 in verse 42. And if you have your 10:06 Bible I would encourage you to take 10:09 it as we study the word of God. 10:10 Matthew chapter 24 we are looking 10:13 there at verse 42 and Jesus 10:16 there in Matthew 24 says, watch 10:19 therefore, he's talked about the 10:20 sings of his coming, the sings in 10:22 the social world, the political world, 10:24 the economic world, the religious world 10:26 and Jesus says watch therefore verse 10:30 42 Matthew 24, for you do not know 10:32 what hour your Lord is coming. 10:36 So, Jesus encourages the church to watch. 10:39 In Matthew chapter 25 you have 10:41 three parables. The parable of the 10:43 ten virgins, the parable of the ten talents, 10:46 and the parable of the sheep and goats. 10:48 Those parables expand what it means 10:53 to watch and be prepared for 10:55 Christ's coming. Where as Matthew 10:57 chapter 24 gives you those broad strokes 11:00 of the signs in the world. Jesus says 11:03 those things are going to happen out there. 11:06 But what is significant is 11:08 preparation for my return. 11:10 And so Matthew chapter 25 sets 11:13 forth the first parable that talks about 11:15 preparation for the return of our Lord. 11:20 In Mathew's gospel there are twenty 11:22 one parables; fourteen of those twenty 11:26 one are kingdom of God parables. 11:28 There are parables that specifically 11:31 address the nature of the spiritual condition 11:35 within the Church. Now the reason 11:38 Matthew chapter 25 is so significant, 11:40 is Matthew chapter 25 describes the 11:44 spiritual condition of the church awaiting 11:47 the second coming of Christ. 11:49 We begin with Matthew chapter 25 11:52 and looking at verse, 1 but before we 11:54 look at that word by word and study 11:57 this parable verse by verse. 12:00 I'm directed to a statement in the 12:04 writings of Ellen White in the Review 12:06 and Herald August 19, 1890, she said this: 12:09 I've often referred to the parable of the 12:13 ten virgins, five of whom were wise 12:16 and five foolish. This parable has been 12:19 and will be fulfilled to the very letter. 12:22 So, Heaven thinks that the parable 12:26 of the ten virgins is so important 12:29 that it is so significant, that 12:31 it's so vital for the church today. 12:34 That God brought it to the end time 12:37 prophet's mind again and again and 12:40 again and again. This is present truth 12:44 for this hour, amen. This is a message 12:47 for an end time people. This is not something 12:51 at fringes, and this is at the core, 12:54 at a heart of preparation for the 12:56 coming of Jesus. And I pray today 12:59 that the spirit of God would come down 13:03 on this ASI audience. I pray today 13:08 that we would sense a new, a message of 13:13 present truth for this hour to prepare 13:17 an end time people that are coming of Jesus. 13:20 This is no time for fooling around. 13:24 This is no time at dabbling with 13:27 religiosity and spirituality. 13:31 God is calling us today to an end time 13:34 preparation. Matthew chapter 25, 13:37 we began there in verse 1: 13:39 "Then the kingdom of heaven, 13:41 now all kingdom of heaven parables 13:44 refer to the church, every time 13:46 you see a kingdom of heaven parable 13:48 Christ is addressing the church. 13:50 Verse 1 Matthew 25: "Then the 13:52 kingdom of heaven shall be likened 13:55 to ten virgins, why ten? Why not 13:58 7 perfection, why not 12 completeness, 14:01 why not 4 universality? Why not 3? Ten, 14:06 ten was a significant number in Judaism. 14:12 Ten was the smallest number of Jews 14:16 men that could compose a synagogue 14:20 and establish it. So, the number ten 14:23 is a church number, the ten tribes 14:26 of Israel. The church is spiritual Israel, 14:29 so it's another clue in the text that 14:32 Jesus himself is speaking about 14:36 the church. "Then the kingdom 14:38 of heaven shall be likened to 14:39 ten virgins, virgins in the Bible a woman 14:45 represents the church. A pure woman, 14:49 Revelation 12 represents the true church, 14:52 the bride of Christ. A harlot woman, 14:56 Revelation 17 represents the fallen church. 14:59 So, this parable is a parable that is 15:05 addressed to the true church, ten virgins. 15:09 Virgins represent the church pure 15:14 un-corrupt doctrine. Doctrine that is 15:18 undefiled by the errors byapostasy 15:23 and the rituals, and the ceremonies, 15:28 and the traditions of the enemy. 15:32 "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be 15:35 like unto ten virgins who took their lamps. 15:38 What's the lamp represent in the Bible? 15:41 Psalm 119 verse 105: Thy word is a what? 15:44 Lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. 15:47 So here is God's church at end time with the 15:52 word of God in his hand, going out to 15:56 light the way for the coming of 15:58 the bridegroom. Here is God's church 16:01 anxiously awaiting something. 16:04 Last part of verse 1: They went out to 16:07 meet the bridegroom, so here is an 16:09 Adventist Church. They anticipate the coming 16:12 of Christ. They believe Jesus is coming. 16:15 The issue is not doctrinal heresy. 16:18 The issue is not defiled in-corrupt doctrines. 16:21 This parable is relating to God's Church 16:26 at end time, who light the way for the 16:29 coming of the bridegroom and who have 16:31 pure true uncorrupted doctrines. 16:34 What the Bible says, verse 2: 16:39 Now five of them were wise, and five 16:43 were foolish. Now notice something carefully. 16:48 Please notice that the story does not 16:50 contrast the righteous and unrighteous virgins. 16:53 It does not contrast the holy and the 16:56 unholy virgins. It does not contrast 16:59 the good and the bad virgins. 17:00 It does not contrast the obedient 17:03 and disobedient virgins. It does not 17:05 contrast the loyal and rebellious virgins. 17:08 It does not contrast the pure and the 17:10 impure virgins. It does not contrast 17:12 the faithful and the unfaithful virgins. 17:15 The Bible calls them what everybody, 17:16 wise and foolish. Well that leads us to 17:20 another question. If this is a parable 17:23 of the church, if this is talking about us 17:28 and if the Bible talks about the wise and 17:31 the foolish virgins, what makes the 17:34 wise, wise? What makes the foolish, foolish? 17:41 Were the wise, wise because they were awake? 17:43 They were studying the signs of the times. 17:46 They knew that we're on the verge of 17:48 eternity. Why were the wise, wise? 17:51 Why were the foolish, foolish? 17:54 Were the wise, wise because they were 17:56 wide awake and had their eyes open 17:58 and the foolish were foolish because 17:59 they were sleeping? The Bible goes 18:01 on in Matthew chapter 25 and 18:05 the Bible says in verse 5: But while the 18:09 bridegroom was delayed, they all 18:12 slumbered and slept. So, the reality 18:16 of the parable, the startling reality 18:19 of the parable is not that five virgins 18:23 are sleeping; it is that they all are sleeping. 18:27 Living on the knife edge of eternity, 18:30 on the verge of the kingdom of God. 18:32 The true Church is pictured as spiritually 18:36 drowsy and asleep to the great 18:38 opportunities to prepare the world 18:40 for the coming of Jesus. 18:43 This is the message of the parable. 18:46 It is not that five are sleeping. 18:48 It is that there is a spiritual drowsiness, 18:51 a spiritual stupor that has lowered 18:55 us all to sleep. Amen. The secular, 18:58 materialistic, godless culture around us 19:02 affects us as well as the world. 19:06 God's people are a people with a message, 19:09 a people with a mission, a people raised up 19:12 powerfully to share the light of God's truth 19:15 with mankind in this world of darkness. 19:18 Isaiah chapter 60 verse 1 to 3 19:21 is a prophesy of these last days of 19:22 our history, take your Bible please. 19:26 God's church is called to light the world 19:31 with the trues of his word to prepare 19:35 a world for the coming of our Lord. 19:38 Isaiah chapter 60 verse 1 to 3 Jesus 19:42 gives a message to his church, 19:44 a prophetic message at end time: 19:47 "Arise, shine, for your light has come, 19:50 the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. 19:52 There will be a revival in God's church 19:56 at end time. The church will arise, 19:58 the church will shine. 20:00 The light of God's truth will radiate 20:02 from God's people, rise and shine for 20:04 the light has come. The glory of the 20:05 Lord is risen upon you: For behold 20:07 darkness shall cover the earth. 20:09 Deep darkness the people but the Lord 20:11 will arise over you, and His glory 20:14 will be seen upon you. And Gentiles, 20:17 heathen and pagan shall come to 20:18 your light, and kings to the brightness 20:21 of your rising. "Lift up your eyes all 20:24 around, and see: They're all gather together, 20:25 they'll come to you. God is going to 20:28 move through his church in the last days 20:31 of earth history. Empowered by the 20:33 Holy Spirit, filled with the oil of his grace. 20:36 God's people will illuminate the world 20:39 with his glory. They will impact the world 20:42 with his truth. The gospel will be preached 20:45 to the ends of the earth. 20:46 The mission will be accomplished, 20:47 the task will be completed, 20:49 the work will be finished. 20:51 The way will be prepared for the 20:53 bridegroom's return and Jesus will come. 20:55 Amen. There is no other reason 20:59 for the existence of the Seventh-day 21:02 Adventist Church, then to reveal 21:05 the light of God's loving glory, 21:08 his loving character in word, 21:10 indeed to the world to prepare for 21:13 the coming of the bridegroom. 21:16 But the foolish virgins fail to participate 21:21 in the most exciting movement in the 21:23 history of the world, why? They miss out 21:28 on eternity why? They're all members 21:33 of the true church. They're all waiting 21:36 for the coming of the bridegroom. 21:39 The foolish as well as the wise accept and 21:42 believe the truth of scripture. 21:43 These foolish virgins are not promoting 21:48 some kind of doctrinal heresy. 21:52 They live morally up right lives. 21:54 They enjoy the fellowship of the 21:56 wise virgins. What is it about these 22:02 foolish virgins, who come to meetings, 22:08 dare I say it, dare I not say it, 22:14 what is it about them? They come to 22:18 meeting just like this, they enjoy the 22:21 fellowship. They actually participate in 22:26 witnessing that time. They're 22:29 doctrinally sound in their thinking, 22:36 but yet heaven says that they're 22:39 foolish virgins. The question becomes 22:43 what makes a wise virgin wise 22:48 and what makes a foolish virgin foolish. 22:52 And as I reflect on the parable and 22:55 read it again and again and again 22:56 I say God could I ever unknowingly, 23:00 unwittingly be a foolish virgin myself? 23:09 Matthew 25 verse 3, Matthew 25 verse 3, 23:16 I wanna look at the characteristics 23:18 of the foolish virgins and then the 23:23 characteristics of the wise virgins and 23:25 contrast them. And lead us into a 23:28 deep heart felt sense that heaven's oil is 23:35 flowing into our hearts today. 23:39 And there if somebody came in here 23:40 today a foolish virgin, you can walk 23:42 out a wise virgin. Somebody walked 23:46 in today locked in Laodicean spiritual 23:50 complacency God's gonna touch your 23:52 heart today. God's gonna work 23:55 in this meeting today. The spirit is moving 23:58 in this meeting today. God's gonna touch 24:01 hearts today. There are gonna be 24:04 miracles of God's grace that 24:05 happened right here today in this place, 24:08 in this hour right now. Matthew the 24:11 25th chapter what makes the foolish, 24:15 foolish and what makes the wise, wise? 24:19 Matthew 25 verse 3 we look at it: 24:21 Those who were foolish took their lamps 24:25 and took no oil with them. Now, 24:28 that's a very interesting passage. 24:33 When you look at the ancient world, 24:37 often in ancient weddings, the bride 24:42 and her bridesmaids would be in a 24:44 home and this parable is actually 24:47 a slice of life out of Palestine. 24:50 Jesus was sitting there on the Mount 24:53 of Olives and he saw a wedding like 24:55 this taking place. And he used 24:57 that as an illustration of preparation 24:59 for his return. The bridegroom 25:03 would come to the brides home 25:06 unexpectedly at night and the word 25:11 would go out, the cry would go out, 25:13 the hold of the bridegroom comes 25:15 and the bridesmaids would light the 25:19 way before the bride to the bridegroom's home. 25:23 The wedding feast may last a week 25:25 and if you didn't enter in when the 25:27 feast started, the door would be shut 25:29 and you couldn't enter in. Now, when 25:32 you look at Matthew chapter 25 verse 3. 25:35 It says, those who were foolish took 25:37 their lamps and took no oil with them. 25:40 It does not say they didn't have oil 25:42 in their lamps, in the ancient world oil 25:46 was placed in the lamp. But a flask 25:51 of oil was taken along with the lamp, 25:55 so when the oil in the lamp ran out. 25:58 The flask of oil would be used to 26:02 replenish the oil that ran out in 26:05 the lamp. Now the fact that the foolish 26:08 virgins had some oil is significant and 26:12 you see that if you let your eyes drop 26:14 down further in the Bible passage. 26:16 Matthew chapter 25 follow as I read 26:20 verses 5 and onward: But while 26:23 the bridegroom was delayed, 26:24 they all slumbered and slept. 26:26 "And at midnight a cry was heard: 26:29 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; 26:31 go out to meet him!' Then all those virgins 26:33 arose and trimmed their lamps. 26:36 So, the wise and the foolish were 26:38 7 trimmed their lamps, what does that mean? 26:40 They lit their lamps: And the foolish said 26:43 to the wise, "Give us some of your oil, 26:46 for our lamps are going out." 26:48 So what does that indicate, 26:51 the foolish virgins had some oil but 26:55 they did not have a sufficient supply 26:58 of oil because the delay was so long 27:01 that the small amount of oil that 27:03 they had was not sufficient to take them 27:06 on the journey from the bride's home 27:08 to the bridegroom's home and their 27:10 lamps were going out. Now, they 27:12 lacked this indispensable oil. 27:16 In the Bible what is oil a symbol of? 27:19 What's that a symbol of? But wait 27:22 you say it's a symbol of the Holy 27:23 Spirit but wait, aren't there many symbols 27:26 of the Holy Spirit in the Bible. 27:28 Fire is the symbol of the Holy Spirit, 27:30 why didn't they have a candle of fire. 27:32 Wind is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. 27:36 The water is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. 27:38 Why does God take the symbolism 27:42 of oil and use this as the illustration 27:47 of what the foolish virgins did not have. 27:51 Here's why? If you look throughout the 27:53 Old Testament, oil is associated with 27:57 three things. Number one the sanctuary, 28:02 when the sanctuary was inaugurated 28:04 the priest were anointed with oil. 28:09 When the sanctuary was inaugurated 28:10 the sacred vessels were anointed 28:12 with oil. Oil represents consecration 28:17 the setting apart, oil represents total 28:22 commitment to the kingdom of God. 28:27 The Holy Spirit impresses the heart 28:31 and mind through the oil of God's grace 28:34 that flows from the sanctuary to lead 28:38 men and women to make an unreserved 28:41 total absolute commitment to the 28:43 kingdom. So, oil is always consecration. 28:46 Secondly throughout the Bible oil is 28:49 always healing. You remember in 28:50 the New Testament, the good Samaritan 28:54 found the bruised broken bloody 28:57 traveler and he anointed that traveler 29:00 with what? Oil, oil symbolizes healing. 29:04 God will have an end time people, 29:08 whose minds, and eyes, and ears, 29:11 and hearts, and inner beings are totally 29:16 absolutely consecrated to him? They seek 29:19 first the kingdom of God. They want Jesus, 29:22 they put Jesus first, seek you first 29:24 the kingdom of God. That is the priority 29:27 and passion of their lives, and the 29:30 oil of the spirit that leads them to 29:33 this deepening consecration, 29:36 heals their hearts of anger, resentment, 29:39 bitterness, jealousy, rivalry between 29:42 ministries, lust, gossip. So, there 29:45 is an end time preparation of the 29:47 spirit that the Holy Spirit comes 29:49 upon God's praying, seeking church 29:52 and men and women are set aside, 29:55 so they long for the kingdom of God. 29:57 They hunger for eternity and they're 29:59 cleansed within or healed within 30:02 through the ministry of the Holy Spirit 30:04 about regarding those attitudes that 30:07 keep the lateral rain of God's power 30:10 from falling. What is the oil 30:12 representative of first consecrations, 30:15 second healing and third illumination? 30:17 Illumination, oil provides the basis 30:21 for the lamps. God will have an 30:24 end time people consecrated to him, 30:26 healed within of inner attitudes that 30:30 keep them for being the powerful 30:32 witnesses that God wants to the world. 30:35 Who hold the torch of truth high 30:37 to light the way for the coming 30:39 of the bridegroom? God wants 30:41 to have a group of people filled with 30:43 this spirit consecrated to him, 30:44 healed to bitterness, envy, jealousy, 30:47 competition, healed of pride, arrogance, 30:49 self inflated importance. People who 30:51 are not so interested in talking about 30:53 what they do, but talking about 30:55 what Jesus does? A people who witness 30:57 to his grace, who are consumed with 30:59 holding a lighted torch of truth to 31:02 get ready for the coming of Jesus. 31:03 Now there are three fatal mistakes 31:05 of the false virgins, of the foolish 31:07 virgins here there are, three fatal mistakes. 31:09 One, they had some oil, but not enough. 31:13 They thought the limited supply 31:15 of oil they had was sufficient enough. 31:17 And when the cry came, behold the 31:20 bridegroom comes they cried out 31:21 our lamps are going out we do not 31:23 have enough. Their supply of oil was 31:27 not sufficient for the unanticipated delay. 31:32 Is it possible to assume that a superficial 31:37 experience with God will get us through 31:41 the great crisis ahead? Have we forgotten 31:44 the words of the prophet? We will need 31:46 an experience much broader or deeper 31:50 than we possibly can imagine. 31:53 The foolish virgins were part of the 31:55 superficial conservative class. 31:58 Are you depending on an experience 32:02 with Jesus? That you once had. 32:07 He's your spiritual lamp going out. 32:12 Are you depending on an experience 32:14 with God, that is in the past tense 32:19 and not the present. Does your heart 32:22 still burn within you, when you open 32:27 God's word? It's the most exciting precious 32:30 time of your day. The time you open 32:33 God's word and spend more time with him, 32:39 how is your devotional life? 32:42 Do you know Jesus and does Jesus 32:45 live in your soul and move in your life. 32:50 Do you still sense Jesus presence, 32:52 when you get on your knees to pray 32:55 or has your prayer life become boring 32:57 and ritualistic and something you 33:00 hurry through as a ceremony? 33:03 Do you still love to take those long 33:05 walks alone? Listen to the singing of birds 33:09 and see the magnificence of the flowers 33:11 and say thank you Jesus for nature and 33:15 just let him transform your life. 33:17 You see the foolish virgins put their 33:20 trust in the wrong place. 33:23 The foolish virgins trusted that their past 33:28 experience that they once had would 33:31 be sufficient to take them to the 33:34 wedding feast. The height of Christian 33:38 folly is neglecting personal soul culture 33:42 and believing that everything is alright, 33:44 because I believe the right thing, 33:46 and because I'm a witness for Jesus. Amen. 33:51 The foolish virgins were superficial 33:55 and conservative, but the foolish virgins 33:58 lack something deep inside. 34:00 Ellen White talks about this group 34:02 in Christ's Object Lessons page 411. 34:05 She says, the class represented by the 34:07 foolish virgins are not hypocrites. 34:09 When I read the next sentence 34:11 I spend significant time meditating on it, 34:15 applying it to my own life. 34:17 They have a regard for the truth. 34:20 The foolish virgins have a regard for truth. 34:23 They have advocated the truth. 34:27 So, these are not fanatical heretics. 34:31 They have a regard for the truth. 34:32 They've advocated the truth. The foolish 34:34 virgins have advocated the truth, 34:36 they're involved in witnessing. 34:39 They're attracted to those who believe 34:41 the truth, so look at these three things 34:43 that inspiration says about the 34:45 foolish virgins. They've got a regard 34:47 for the truth. They advocate the truth. 34:49 They are attracted to those who believe 34:51 the truth. But they have not yielded 34:54 themselves to the Holy Spirit's working. 34:56 They have not fallen upon the rock 34:59 Christ Jesus, and permitted their old 35:00 nature to be broken up. 35:02 Here is the issue, although they believe 35:06 the truth and witness the old nature deep 35:11 within their hearts is still dominant. 35:16 It says, the spirit works upon 35:19 man's heart, according to his desire 35:21 and consent implanting in him a new nature; 35:23 but the class represented by the 35:25 foolish virgins have been content with 35:28 a superficial work. And I fall upon 35:30 my knees and I say God help me not 35:33 be content with the superficial work 35:34 in my life. They do not know God. 35:39 See this is the issue with the foolish 35:41 virgins, the oil of the Holy Spirit 35:43 flowing from heaven sanctuary and 35:47 the function of the Holy Spirit is to 35:49 witness of Jesus. So, the Holy Spirit 35:52 function has been neglected in their life. 35:55 They have not been healed deep within, 35:57 they believe truth, they accept truth, 36:00 they may witness for the truth. 36:01 But often they're prompted and 36:03 motivated by the old nature rather 36:06 than the new nature. And it says, 36:08 they do not know God. They have not 36:10 studied His character. They have not 36:12 held communion with Him. 36:13 Therefore they do not know how to trust, 36:16 how to look and live, their service 36:17 to God degenerates into a form. 36:20 The foolish virgins are content with the 36:23 stale superficial experience from the 36:25 past, although they acknowledge the truth. 36:27 The truth has not transformed their lives. 36:31 The old nature dominants theirs 36:33 thoughts and actions, on the outward 36:35 appearance everything looks fine. 36:37 They have lamps in their hands, 36:39 what more do they need, they though 36:41 they were ready for the coming of 36:42 the bridegroom. Thought there was 36:44 a difference brothers and sisters, 36:45 between having the word of God 36:48 in your hand to defend the truth 36:50 and having the word in your heart 36:52 to live the truth. Amen. 36:53 The foolish virgins were informed, but not 36:56 transformed. They were instructed 36:58 by the word, but not change 37:00 through the word. They were 37:02 convicted of the truth, but not 37:04 changed by the truth. Here is the essential 37:07 question, has the truth which you believe, 37:10 the truth which you share with others, 37:12 has that radically impacted and 37:15 transformed your life. So, you're 37:18 a different man, a different woman. 37:19 In the parable of ten virgins. 37:23 The ten virgins do not understand 37:24 fully what genuine conversion is all about. 37:29 The oil represents the sanctifying grace 37:32 of the Holy Spirit, that transforms our 37:36 character, it enables us to be more 37:38 like Jesus. Now, here is the incredible 37:42 good news. There is an abundance 37:45 supply of heaven's oil for you and for me. 37:51 There is no shortage of the power of the 37:56 Holy Spirit to give us the victories 37:59 that we long for in our own personal lives. 38:05 Nobody else's prayers though can 38:06 substitute for yours. Nobody else can 38:12 study God's word for you. 38:18 Nobody else could have an intimate 38:20 relationship with God for you. 38:26 In the bridegroom's absence there 38:29 is tendency to slumber, the greatest 38:32 challenge that the Seventh-day 38:34 Adventist Church faces today is this. 38:36 We're a church that should not be here, 38:43 we have never been in it for the 38:45 marathon we've always been in it 38:47 for the sprint. But the church since 1844 38:54 has gone on, it's going on for a 38:57 165 years, 166 years. And the longer 39:08 the time goes on, the more the spiritual 39:12 drowsiness and slumber increases, 39:19 and the beauty is this. 39:23 God is moving among his people today 39:28 to bring a spiritual renewal and 39:31 a spiritual revival through the 39:33 outpouring of the Holy Spirit that 39:36 will bring to this people, a mighty 39:39 spiritual revival, and usher in the coming 39:44 of Jesus. But that does lead us to 39:47 a question that we should not neglect 39:49 this morning. And the question is 39:52 implied in Matthew chapter 25, 39:57 I want you to notice it please. 40:00 Matthew chapter 25 and you'll 40:03 notice it there, verse 5: 40:06 But while the bridegroom was and 40:08 what is the word in verse 5? Delayed, 40:11 they all slumbered and slept. 40:14 There is a delay in the coming of 40:16 the bridegroom, if the Seventh-Day 40:20 Adventist Church answered one question; 40:25 it probably is the most vital question 40:27 that the church could answer and it's this: 40:29 Why is it that the second coming 40:32 of Christ is delayed? Why didn't Jesus 40:36 come in 1885, why didn't he 40:39 come in 1850, why didn't he come 40:41 in 1910, 1930? The answer to that question 40:47 is not a single one sentence answer. 40:50 If you carefully study scripture and the 40:53 writings of Ellen White, there at least 40:56 three reasons why Jesus delays his coming. 40:59 Let's briefly look at each of them 41:00 first reason one, why does Jesus 41:03 delay his coming? Reason one Christ 41:05 waits in love, suffering himself over the 41:09 pain, agony, sorrow, poverty, sickness 41:12 and death of our world. Waiting for 41:14 the gospel to preached with all power, 41:16 so all humanity will have an opportunity 41:18 to be saved the evidence of that 41:21 is found in Peter, 2 Peter chapter 41:23 3 verse 4. Why does the Bible say in 41:26 Matthew chapter 25 that we read that 41:28 Jesus delays his coming. He waits in love, 41:31 he longs for all humanity to be saved. 41:33 He longs for all men and women 41:35 everywhere to hear the gospel. 41:37 He does not want one person to be lost. 41:42 Take your Bible please and turn to 41:43 the Book of the Peter, 2 Peter chapter 3, 41:50 we look there in the Book of Peter 41:52 and the Lord is very clear. 41:57 In 2 Peter chapter 3 and let your eyes 42:02 dropped down to verse 9, 42:03 2 Peter chapter 3 it's actually verse 9: 42:05 The Lord is not slack concerning his 42:07 promise, as some men count slackness; 42:09 but he's longsuffering toward us, 42:12 God is not slack concerning his promise. 42:15 Has he promised to come? Yes, will 42:18 he come? Amen. The Lord does not 42:20 slack concerning his promise, as some 42:21 men count slackness; but he's 42:23 longsuffering toward us, not 42:25 willing that any should perish but that 42:26 all should come to repentance. 42:27 Why hasn't Jesus come? Because 42:30 he waits in love, he waits longing that 42:35 all men and women everywhere will 42:36 accept his love. He will not come 42:39 until the gospel goes to ends the earth. 42:41 Can the church hasten the coming 42:43 of Jesus? Desire of Ages page 633: 42:46 Had the church of Christ done her 42:50 appointed work as the Lord ordained, 42:52 the whole world would before this have 42:55 been warned, and the Lord Jesus would 42:57 have come to earth in power and glory. 43:01 Desire of Ages 633 continuing by giving 43:04 the gospel to the world it is in our 43:06 power to hasten our Lord's return. 43:08 I don't know how the language 43:10 could be clearer. God is looking 43:14 for a people that are passionate about 43:15 sharing his love with the world. 43:17 Passionate about sharing the light 43:19 of truth with this world, 43:20 a people that are consecrated by 43:22 the oil of his grace, who are healed 43:25 in their hearts of anger, bitterness, 43:27 and jealousy, who focus on one 43:30 thing and that is getting the world 43:31 ready for the coming of Jesus. 43:32 Why doesn't Jesus come, when the 43:34 gospel hasn't preached to the world. 43:35 Reason two Christ waits for his church 43:39 to reveal his incredible character 43:41 of love to a waiting world and 43:43 watching universe. You see the cross 43:46 is the answer to the great controversy. 43:49 Jesus death on the cross answers 43:51 Satan charges and reveals that 43:54 God is love. Amen, God now longs for 43:57 a community of grace, his body, 44:00 his church to reveal that his way brings 44:04 joy and happiness and Satan's way 44:07 of selfishness brings death. 44:09 What is God waiting for, not only 44:11 to the gospel to be preached out there? 44:14 But he's waiting for something to happen 44:16 in his church. The Bible says, 44:18 when the harvest is fully ripe. 44:22 In Revelation 14 talks about two harvests, 44:24 the harvest of golden grain and the 44:26 harvest of glory grapes. 44:28 The harvest of golden grain is the 44:31 character of Jesus that he longs 44:35 to reveal through his Holy Spirit 44:37 to transform our lives, so we become 44:40 the loving people that are lights 44:41 in this world, in a world of hate 44:43 and selfishness. That is why Ellen 44:46 White put it's so clearly in Christ Object 44:48 Lessons page 69: Christ is waiting with 44:52 longing desire, for the manifestation 44:56 of Himself in His church. When the 44:59 character of Christ shall be perfectly 45:01 reproduced in His people, then He 45:04 will come to claim them as His own. Amen. 45:07 What is Jesus waiting for, first the 45:09 gospel to go to the world? 45:10 Secondly the gospel to penetrate 45:13 our hearts so deeply, that we reveal 45:16 his loved to a waiting world and 45:18 watching universe, but there is a 45:19 third factor and it's this. 45:23 Not only will there the proclamation of the 45:27 gospel, not only will they be the 45:29 harvest of glory greats. There will be 45:34 a the harvest of glory greats; 45:36 there will be a manifestation in this 45:38 world of the wickedness and rebellion 45:43 and selfishness of sin that brings devastation 45:49 and destruction to the world. 45:53 Although the church can hasten 45:55 the coming of Jesus, the church 45:58 cannot delay the coming of Jesus 46:01 and definitely. Christ waits not only 46:05 for a full complete demonstration 46:07 of his love to reveal for his people, 46:09 but also he must let wickedness, 46:11 evil, sin, run its course. 46:12 So, the whole universe will see the 46:15 ultimate results of Satan's rebellion 46:18 and be secured forever. Now, 46:21 listen to these powerful statements, 46:23 in Prophets and Kings 4:17: 46:25 There is a limit beyond which the 46:28 judgments of Jehovah can no longer 46:30 be delayed. There is a limit 46:33 beyond which the judgments of Jehovah 46:36 can no longer be delayed. 46:38 God keeps it fifth rhyme of the 46:40 testimony is 524: God keeps a 46:42 reckoning with the nations. 46:44 When the time fully comes that iniquity 46:46 shall have reached the stated 46:47 boundary of God's mercy, 46:48 His fore-bearers will cease. 46:50 When the accumulated figures 46:52 in heaven's record books shall mark 46:54 the sum of transgression complete, 46:57 wrath will come. There will be a 46:59 convergence, and I believe that 47:01 convergence is taking place now. 47:04 There will be conversions of a praying 47:06 people whose hearts are passionate 47:09 about preaching the gospel to the world. 47:10 Who are asking God to cleanse 47:13 their hearts in unusual ways, 47:15 so that they can be everything that God 47:17 wants them to be and at that same time 47:20 that God is leading his church into a revival, 47:24 into a commitment to reaching the world 47:26 with the gospel, with people praying 47:28 and hearts broken and people on their 47:30 knees as that is taking place. 47:32 Satan sees what's taking place in the 47:34 church and he redoubles his efforts 47:36 of wickedness in the world and 47:38 transgression reaches its limit. 47:40 And God says this is enough, 47:43 this is enough and the greatest danger 47:48 that the foolish virgins face and that we 47:50 face is putting off a decision to let God 47:54 deal with our hearts as he wants to 47:57 which is of enormous consequences. 47:58 What happened to the foolish virgins? 48:00 Spiritual complacency paralyzed them. 48:02 They were locked in self congratulation 48:05 telling how great they were? 48:06 They were beat in self confidence. 48:08 They were satisfied with what they had. 48:10 They never dream that they be 48:12 unprepared for the coming of the 48:13 bridegroom. They fail to understand their lack, 48:16 sometime ago I read a story about then 48:25 of course a fictitious story about Satan. 48:29 And he had a council meeting, 48:30 a strategy meeting in heaven, 48:33 and in that strategy meeting, 48:34 he called the Angels and he said now 48:36 tell me what is your strategy to deceive 48:39 God's people. One angel says, one evil 48:42 angel says my strategy is to tell them 48:44 there is no God. The devil says in this 48:48 imaginary story; don't be so foolish, 48:50 the evidence of nature, the Bible prophecy, 48:53 people know there is no God. 48:54 They know there is a God; 48:56 tell will never except that there is no God. 48:59 Second angel says well tell them that 49:03 there is no truth. The devil says look 49:06 in science there is truth, you may fool 49:09 some people, but we're not gonna 49:10 fool all the people. Amen. Third angel 49:14 says well tell them that there is no hurry; 49:19 tell them there is no hurry. 49:22 Tell them that they've got plenty of time. 49:25 Tell them that there is no urgency. 49:27 Tell them to put off personal preparation. 49:29 Tell them to wait till a more convenient 49:31 time to deal with their attitudes. 49:34 Tell them; tell them that they don't 49:38 need now to be on their knees seeking 49:41 God for broken hearts. Is God calling 49:45 you to something deeper than you can imagine. 49:50 Have you been putting off a deeper 49:56 experience with God in your own life. 50:01 Do you sense the spirit moving 50:03 in your own personal heart to a 50:06 deeper Bible study life, 50:09 a deeper prayer life. The only way 50:13 to get ready for the coming of Christ 50:14 is to get ready today and stay ready. 50:21 Is there anything lurking in the shadows 50:24 of your heart that you may not be aware of. 50:31 Are you willing to say today, Lord I 50:33 wanna surrender any habit, any attitude? 50:36 It's a barrier between me and anybody else, 50:39 I wanna surrender any habit in my life 50:42 it's not in harmony with your will. 50:45 Lord, I want you to do a work in me, 50:48 so I can hold the torch of truth high. 50:51 Lord, I long for the oil of your grace 50:54 to flow in my heart, in life. 51:00 I love that old song. There is something 51:03 about these old hymns, written out of 51:06 the context of experience, Amen. Number 260 51:11 Hover o'er me, Holy Spirit, 51:15 Bathe my trembling heart and brow; 51:19 Fill me with your hallowed presence, 51:22 Come, O come and fill me now. 51:25 Fill me now, fill me now, 51:26 Jesus, come and fill me now; 51:28 Fill me with my hallowed presence, 51:30 Come, O come, and fill me now. 51:33 I love the third verse. 51:34 I am weakness, full of weakness, 51:37 At Thy sacred feet I bow; 51:39 Blest, divine, eternal Spirit, 51:42 Fill with love and fill me now. 51:46 Fill me now, fill me now, 51:47 Jesus, come and fill me now; 51:49 Hover o'er me, Holy Spirit, 51:52 Does God wanna do something 51:53 in your life right now? Has your 51:57 devotional life been weak and stale? 52:00 Has your prayer life becomes ritualistic 52:02 and formal. Is there are some habit 52:04 in your life that would keep you from 52:06 being ready for the coming of Jesus. 52:09 Is there are some attitude in you, 52:10 that's gonna keep your ministry from 52:13 being a successful as God wants 52:14 it to be because of that attitude, 52:16 let Jesus break that now. 52:18 Let Jesus crush that now. 52:21 Let the Messiah crush the serpent's 52:24 head in your life. Now let Jesus 52:26 right now do something in your life. |
Revised 2014-12-17