Recap of where we have been:
Two weeks ago – Jesus crying out with the prophet Isaiah that God’s house will be a house of prayer.
Last week – We dove into Jesus preparatory teaching to His disciples that as time winds down, and the consummation of the kingdom approaches, it is critical that we keep the watch posted. That we be alert, and attentive. And we explored this connected language throughout the Word of God which draws together the two words “watch” and “pray”. We post the watch, by committing to live with a heart bent towards continuous night and day prayer.
I want us to turn back to Matthew 24 so that we can get the stage set for today’s teaching. Too often in the Bible, we take a given passage or parable or story, and try to figure out what it means or is referring to all on its own. But what we are looking at today in chapter 25 is part of a continuous flow and teaching from Jesus. It comes right out of what we looked at last week, and chronologically is just days removed from His declaration that God’s house is to be a house of prayer.
You may remember from last week that Matthew 24 and 25 provide us with Jesus’ primary teaching on the End Times, just before He goes to the cross. “The Olivet Discourse”, as it has been labeled, sparks discussion on such things as a pre-tribulation or a post-tribulation separating of the saints.
The Discourse provides reason to reflect on whether we will be removed from the earth, as so many of us have grown up thinking, or whether the lost will be removed from the earth. Jesus speaks of the second coming that will occur and opens a Pandora’s Box for conversations.
In fact, this week I received an email from which an individual was reflecting on a journal entry they had made some time ago: “The more I think about it, the more it seems like the ‘end time’ event will not be an exit for believers from the earth, but a removal of the unbelievers/sinners that are unrepentant from the earth. It seems that Christians are being taught that a ‘rapture’ will remove us from the earth, that one will be taken and one will be left and the ones who are ‘left behind’ are the faithless. As I think about Luke 17, I see it saying that one will be taken and one will be left. In this context, the examples given are of Noah and Lot. In both cases, the ones who were the unaware sinners were the ones taken away and it was Noah and it was Lot who were left behind to live on the earth. It seems like our teaching has it backwards.”
I am not, nor does the Wesleyan church require a pre-trib, post-trib, full rapture, partial rapture, or other end time belief. But I am encouraged when I can spark reflection and Bible study. And I hope that today’s message will do that as well.
The context for the beginning of chapter 25 which we are going to explore is chapter 24. Turn with me there in your Bibles. Matthew 24:29 (read through verse 31).
Jesus prophesies that there will be this massive death toll that will occur within the generations that are alive at His return. He says in verse 37 (read through verse 41).
And throughout these chapters, this “Olivet Discourse” we see Jesus’ primary emphasis, and His pastoral advice in light of the coming unprecedented events that will occur, is to watch. To develop a deep inner life that is intimately connected to the Holy Spirit.
Verse 42 (read through verse 44).
That brings us to verse 45. (Read through verse 51).
Now, watch what Jesus did here? We are getting a break down of what is happening with the people of the earth. We have already learned that there will be a massive loss of life similar to the days of Noah. Two men will be in the field and one will be gone. In an instant, the population of the earth will drop dramatically.
And Jesus says there will be two kinds of people at that time. There will be wise and faithful servants, and there will be wicked servants. The wise and faithful ones are those that Jesus will find living as good stewards of what He has placed them in charge of.
The wicked are those who have taken advantage of what Jesus has blessed them with. They have abused the people in their life. They have hung out with those whose lifestyles are centered around gluttony and drunkenness and self-pleasure and fulfillment. And there will be a clear and eternal separation of these two types of people.
Then we come to chapter 25. But before we dive into it, I need to give you a little cultural context. It relates to marriages, and wedding ceremonies back in Jesus day. You see, when a couple got married, there were three events that took place. First, there was the legal agreement made by the couple’s parents.
Secondly, there was the procession to the bride’s house by the bridegroom and his friends. Then finally, there was the wedding party’s return to the bridegroom’s house, and the subsequent marriage feast.
In today’s passage, we are going to see Jesus reference this second phase. This period during which the bridegroom and his party will come to the bride’s home. There He will find waiting the bride and her bride’s maids.
Matthew 25:1 (read).
- “Then” – at that time. When all this that Jesus is describing takes place, the Kingdom of Heaven will look like this.
- “Ten virgins” – signifies the purity of all 10.
- “Lamps” – They had lamps. These lamps speak of a ministry. A life that gave light. In Revelation, the lamp stands refer to the churches. Jesus uses another picture of these lamps in the Sermon on the Mount (turn to and read Matthew 5:14-16)
- “went to meet” – The legal document has been signed, now the bride’s party goes out to her home neighborhood to await the arrival of the bridegroom. Be sure to notice, they all went out to meet the bridegroom, Jesus.
So you have this representation of a group of pure people. People that have lived a life of light. People that are ready to meet Jesus. Contrast that to the teaching on the servants in chapter 24. We are no longer dealing with some wise verses some wicked. Each of these 10 are basically good people. Pure, living a life of light, ready for the return of Christ.
Verse 2 (read through verse 3)
Now we get a differentiation of these 10 virgins. Five are wise, and five are foolish. And what is the difference? Pretty simple. Five of them head out without any oil for their lamp. They are pure. They have kept themselves for their bridegroom. They have their lamp with them, and are ready to meet Jesus, but they figure whatever is already in their lamp is good enough. It will hold them over. It will get them through.
The other five, those that are labeled as “wise” take flasks of oil with them.
I guess at this point, it would be pretty important to know what this oil represents, right? I mean, if it differentiates the wise from the foolish. We might want to know what this oil is to be.
I believe that oil speaks of the inward presence of and our relationship with the Holy Spirit. Think about it from a logical standpoint, which the parables often made the logical connection between a normal, everyday word picture, and the message Jesus was teaching. You have this lamp which represents your life of obedience and ministry. You have the fuel for this lamp, which is the oil. So what is the fuel for our life of obedience and ministry? What keeps us burning?
It’s the Holy Spirit. Or as Jesus taught at another time, it our connection to the vine. Apart from it, we can do nothing. That thing that sustains our lamp. Keeps it burning. Is the oil for our existence, is our connection to God. Our empowerment found in the Holy Spirit.
And that is relational. The Holy Spirit doesn’t just indwell us and say, “Here I am. Ain’t going nowhere. You gotta live with me.” It is a relationship that we invest in and foster. We cultivate the oil in our lives. It’s what lights the lamp of our walk with Christ, our ministry, and keeps it burning.
(Camping lantern example)
Verse 5 (read). I find this to be pretty interesting. Notice, in chapter 24 there are wicked servants who are caught off guard because the bridegroom arrived sooner than they expected. In chapter 25, we find that the virgins are ready, but the bridegroom has been delayed. So much so that they all fall asleep and rest. In 24, it happens earlier than people thought it would. In 25, things are taking place later.
You see that mentality in the world today. The wicked either don’t believe the master will return, or figure they have plenty of time before He does to get their act together. They are going to be surprised by His return, or surprised by their own death which places them before the throne.
On the other hand, the believers tend to wonder what’s taking so long. When will Christ come again and take His children home? And as we wait on the Lord’s return, it is easy to find ourselves weary, tired, and falling asleep.
Verse 6 (read). You see, whether the return is earlier than expected, or later, it is coming.
Verse 7 (read). All 10 have fallen asleep, now all 10 awaken, and go to trim their lamps (demonstrate).
Verse 8 (read through verse 10).
Did you see what happened? The foolish virgins were so similar to the wise. They desired to meet the bridegroom. They had spent their life living for this moment. They had gone out with the others. But when He didn’t come as expected they found themselves in a mess. They recognized the mistake of neglecting the oil. They were suffering from a real oil crisis.
And here in lies the problem. If oil is a representation of our connectedness to God. If it is a metaphor for our intimacy, and readiness in our relationship with God. If it is Jesus’ way of speaking about our being filled with the Holy Spirit. Then we learn a very important lesson from this parable.
Here it is - Spiritual preparedness is not instantly transferable. I can’t just snap my fingers and give you a prayer life. I can’t click my heels and all of a sudden you will find yourself in a personal walk with God. There is no hocus pocus for instantly deepening your awareness and dependence on the Holy Spirit. We must individually make the commitment and decision to engage in the God ordained process of acquiring oil.
It is the only difference we are given between the 10 virgins. The wise ones thought about the oil. They recognize that it goes oil first, lamp second. Personal infilling of the Holy Spirit first, effective ministry for the kingdom of God second. A lamp with no oil is not a light at all.
The foolish ones. They had a lamp lit, and figured they were good to go. It was all ministry and activity first, intimacy with God. . .maybe later.
I often hear people voice their concerns as critics of various branches of prayer movements. They say, “Praying is great. But what about action? You all are just trying to avoid having to actually do something.” As if prayer isn’t doing anything.
So please understand, as you venture through this 40 Days of Prayer. Prayer is not about escapism. It is not a mode of retreat. I don’t like that word “retreat”, even if it is just semantics.
But prayer is not about retreating; it is about getting your oil so that you might touch others with the presence of God through your ministry. So that you can keep your light shining until He returns, regardless of delays.
You see, there are a number of. . .
CHALLENGES TO GOD’S DELAY:
1. The Mundane, Routine Nature of Work
If we are careful, in awaiting God’s return, the disciplines, the work and routine of keeping our oil reserves full. The habits of prayer, fasting, and meditating can become mundane and routine, and we give in to the natural process of slumbering.
There are natural processes of life going on that affect all of us. Natural laws. Natural rigors. Paying taxes. Working out. Everyone is submitted to the context and routine of natural life. God doesn’t suspend it so that we can get oil. We have to get oil in the midst of the natural order.
The idea of God suspending all of that so we can recharge is fantasy “what if”. The issue is not whether God will silence the kids, let up the responsibilities at work, or provide more time in the day. The issue is whether we will get oil in the midst of the mundane, natural routine of life.
(Benefit of IHOP Prayer Room – Sunday Night: Youth & Healing, Tuesday Afternoon: Native Americans, and the effects of Gambling, Wednesday: Dependence on God.)
Another challenge to the delay. . .
2. Offense/Difficulty/Pressure of the Work
Here, I’m speaking of the work at that effort of growing closer in our walk with God. Conforming to the image of His Son. Developing a life of intimacy with Him, day in and day out. We that being the work, we will often soon find ourselves wrestling with offense. As God reveals stuff in our life that keeps us from filling our reserve with oil, we might get offended. “What do you mean my priorities are out of line?” “What do you mean my use of time is a reflection of my commitment to You?” “What do you mean I’m not giving you my best?”
Or we might just figure it is too difficult to be worth the effort. It’s too hard to spend time in prayer every day. It’s too much work to read my Bible. Trying to keep up with the spiritual disciplines can become drudgery rather than freedom, and the pressure will be too much. Satan might even tighten the clamps on our life, and you will figure, what is the point?
(i.e. Personal struggles with physical condition)
Example: Exodus Chapter 5 eDevotional – No straw provided
3. Temptation
In this case, the temptations are anything that keeps us from getting the oil. You sat down to spend time in the Word, and your cell phone rang. You planned all week to come to the church for an hour of prayer, but the opportunity to rest at home and watch TV was too sweet to pass up on. You were going to give your dinner hour to prayer and fasting, but that glance at the refrigerator was the last straw.
In the daily walk of the bride of Christ, awaiting His return, there are a lot of things that can pull us from getting the oil we need to keep the light shining. And we can go from being wise, to foolish.
Then listen to what Jesus says will happen next. Verse 11 (read through verse 13).
Last week I teased you with a little pre-tribulation vs. post-tribulation interaction. Let me give you a similar tease for thought today. Back in Jesus time, these Jewish wedding festivals went up to seven nights. The first night was for the closest friends and family. The most intimate of relations were allowed in.
In this parable, Jesus speaks of that first night, requiring a deep level of intimacy to enter. Still having oil. The wise come in, but the foolish are off shopping. But in these Jewish wedding festivals, the participants, those allowed in increased each night.
You will notice in verse 12 that Jesus doesn’t use language that is common to so many other teachings. It isn’t, “I never knew you.” There is no throwing out where there is weeping, and gnashing of teeth. There is no being called evil, or wicked and lazy, or cursed as in the previous teaching or the subsequent parable of the talents.
Maybe it is possibly Jesus way of highlighting that what many are going to miss out on is that initial opportunity to be used in their fullest way, because they weren’t ready. What some label a partial rapture. The opportunity that some might miss to enter that place of great intimacy with the bridegroom, because they were experiencing an oil crisis, and weren’t prepared. Therefore, Christ says, “I do not know you at the intimate level that the moment demands.” Just another piece to reflect on.
So what is the big point for today? If you go away with nothing else from this time of study, what do you need to go away with? Here it is –
We obtain oil from God. Not from someone else giving us their oil. We buy, we purchase, and we build our reserve of oil by investing ourselves in a costly way to obtain the oil. Being willing to pay the price in personal devotion, prayer and commitment to pursuing Christ and be ready for the return of the bridegroom.
That’s the big point. That’s what separates the wise from the foolish at Christ’s return. That is what the kingdom of heaven is going to look like.
You see, a lot of churches, a lot of pastors, spend a lot of time complimenting the beauty of the lamp. Talking about how wonderful the lamp looks, and how radiant the light is. But never making sure people understand that the true need is not for a beautiful lamp, but for oil. For that which fuels the lamp. For the Holy Spirit.
Some pastors struggle with The Messiah Complex: providing the oil.
My job is not to provide oil, that comes from the Holy Spirit. My job is to put in place within my life, and within our body an understanding of the need to invest your time and your energy in such away as to purchase oil in your life. Which will not only fuel your walk with God, and your life of ministry here on earth. But will ensure that when Christ returns, you will be ready on that first night to enter into the presence of the bridegroom.
So, how’s your oil supply?
(Time of prayer for commitment and infilling)
(Significant inspiration for this message received by the International House of Prayer Pastor’s Conference 2007)
