Awaiting His Return - Ready For His Appearing

2023.04.16 Sermon Notes. Awaiting HIS Return - Ready for HIS Appearing

William Akehurst, HSWC

KEY Scripture: Matthew 25:1-13

Referenced Scriptures: 1Samuel 16:7, Romans 8:9, 1Corinthians 6:19, Ephesians 5:18, Matthew 5:16, Ephesians 5:26, 2Timothy 2:15, Acts 3:19, Psalms 23:5, 1Corinthians 11:23, 2Timothy 4:1-5, 1Thessalonians 4:13-17, Amos 4:12, Matthew 7:21-23, Romans 8:12-17, Galatians 4:6, Luke 21:34-36, Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, John 3:16, John 1:12, Romans 8:10, John 11:25-26, John 14:1-6, Revelation 22:7, Revelation 22:20-21

BIG IDEA. Just as there were 10 virgins waiting for the Bridegroom to appear, Many who call themselves Christians are represented in this parable. Those who are ready, those who are not. Which category are you in? Are you awaiting HIS Return and Ready for HIS Appearing?

Portions adapted from a Crosswalk.com devotional.

Matthew 25:1-13 (NKJV)

1 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

6 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.

11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

13 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

IT’S NOT ABOUT HOW THINGS APPEAR ON THE OUTSIDE,

IT’S WHAT’S INSIDE THE LAMP THAT MATTERS MOST.

1 Samuel 16:7b …For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

All 10 virgins took their lamps to meet the bridegroom.

They all appeared to look the same and assumed to be prepared for the coming bridegroom. But having a lamp was not enough.

Without oil, the lamp was useless.

Five waited until the midnight hour, when the loud cry was heard to discover they did not have oil, that they were NOT prepared…and I can assure you that there was NO 24-hour Walmart open for them to buy it!

Without the oil they needed, the lamp was…useless.

This leads to an important question.

Are you focused on what the outside of the lamp looks like, or do you take heart of what is inside the lamp?

In Scripture, Oil represents HOLY SPIRIT.

So the Real Question is, Are you full of the HOLY SPIRIT?

Romans 8:9 (NKJV)

9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

If the SPIRIT OF GOD does not dwell within you then you do not belong to GOD.

The Good News is that when you received GOD’s Gift of Salvation, JESUS CHRIST as LORD, GOD sealed you by placing the HOLY SPIRIT in you, taking up residence in your heart. This is the defining marker of a believer. Your Body is the Temple of HOLY SPIRIT. And the Temple must be filled with the Oil of HOLY SPIRIT.

1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

Without the HOLY SPIRIT or the Oil, you’re just an empty lamp. It does not matter how good the lamp looks on the outside. It’s what’s on the Inside that counts.

But it doesn’t stop there. After receiving the HOLY SPIRIT at salvation, we must be constantly filled with the SPIRIT.

Ephesians 5:18 (NKJV)

18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit

In other words, you need to yield your life more and more to the HOLY SPIRIT. And doing so will allow HIM to have a greater impact in your life.

This requires consistency in prayer and worship, getting into GOD’s WORD, so that GOD can refill, renew, and strengthen your heart. This gives you the “oil” you need to help your light shine bright in this world.