True readiness for Christ means keeping our spiritual lamps burning with the oil of God’s presence, desiring Him above all, and faithfully waiting for His return.
If you listen closely tonight, you can almost hear the soft shuffle of sandals and the whisper of wicks. Lamps are being lit. Hearts are being lifted. Hope is being rekindled. The Lord paints for us a picture that smells like olive oil and sounds like midnight—the kind of hour when the air is still, and every flame matters. It’s here, in the hush of waiting, that we learn what to carry, how to shine, and Whom to welcome.
Maybe you’ve been through some long nights recently. The kind where prayers feel like sighs and faith feels thin. You’ve trimmed the wick again and again, and you wonder if there’s enough left to see the next hour. Friend, the Father sees you. He knows your flame. And He has more oil.
Oil in Scripture is not a casual detail. It speaks of presence that permeates, power that strengthens, and purity that sanctifies. The Spirit’s anointing isn’t a garnish; it is the glad energy of God keeping our lamps clear and our light steady. When the waiting stretches and the wind rises, we don’t need fireworks—we need fuel. Quiet, steady, holy fuel.
John Wesley once said, “Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen; such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of heaven on earth.” (John Wesley) Desire nothing but God—that’s oil in the vessel. Fear nothing but sin—that’s a trimmed wick. And the result? Lamps that do more than flicker; they blaze.
So as we gather, let’s come with open hands and expectant hearts. What does your lamp look like today? Is there a low glow calling for fresh supply? Is there a bright blaze that needs tending with humility? Is there an empty vessel ready for God to fill? The Bridegroom is faithful. The House of God is not dark. The Spirit is near with holy oil for tired souls and eager saints alike.
Let’s hear God’s Word.
Matthew 25:1–13 (KJV) 1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Exodus 27:20–21 (KJV) 20 And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always. 21 In the tabernacle of the congregation without the vail, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the Lord: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.
Opening Prayer Father, we come to You with lamps in hand and hearts that long for Your light. Pour upon us the pure oil of Your Holy Spirit. Teach us what this oil signifies. Give us grace to keep our lamps burning with extra supply, and lead us to walk in the strength and holiness of Your anointing. Where our faith is faint, fill us. Where our pride is high, humble us. Where our love is low, lift it, Lord. Make us watchful without worry, ready without rushing, holy without hardness. Let Your presence be the warmth in our waiting and the brightness in our witness. We welcome You, Bridegroom King. Kindle us again, and keep us burning until You come. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
In the Lord’s story, the wise carry oil with their lamps. That detail matters. Oil stands for the life of God at work in us. It is supply. It is help. It is the inner strength that keeps the flame from sputtering out when time stretches.
Exodus speaks of pure olive oil, pressed and clear, so the light will keep burning. That purity points to the Spirit’s work that cleans and steadies the heart. No mix. No fog. Clean light. Clear witness.
The priests were told to tend the lamps from evening to morning. That was steady work. It was quiet work. It showed how light is kept by daily care. A small act, done again and again, so the room stayed bright.
The wise in Matthew 25 brought oil in their vessels. They planned for more than a spark. They planned for a long night. Oil on hand means they had made room for the Spirit ahead of time. They lived ready, not rushed.
Think of oil as the formed life. Oil does not appear by wish. Olives are crushed. Time and pressure turn fruit into fuel. In God’s hands, the long hours and the hard days become places where trust is pressed in and faith becomes steady.
A lamp needs trimming. If the wick is long or dirty, the flame smokes and dims. The Word shows us what to cut back. Confession cuts away the ash. Simple obedience keeps the flame clean. Little corrections, made often, keep the light clear.
There are ways God pours in fresh oil. Prayer opens the vessel. Scripture fills the mind with truth. Silence makes space. Fasting wakes up hunger for God. Singing lifts the soul. The Table nourishes faith. Fellowship stirs love. These are ordinary paths. They keep oil near the flame.
Pure oil makes a pure light. When the heart is honest and the hands are clean, people see better. They see hope. They see kindness. They see a steady glow that points past us to the Lord.
Oil also speaks to personal care. In the parable, the foolish ask the wise to share at midnight. The wise cannot do it. Not because they are harsh. Because some things cannot be handed off. No one can loan you a life with God in a moment.
Faithfulness can inspire you. Teaching can guide you. Stories can stir you. Yet the inner supply is yours to seek. Your lamp is yours to tend. Your heart is your vessel. The wise honor that and act on it early.
Exodus shows a shared task. The people bring pure oil so the lamp can keep burning. Everyone brings a portion. Each family has a part. This is how a house stays bright. Personal care feeds a common flame.
“Go and buy for yourselves,” the wise say. That line is not harsh. It is kind and true. Oil costs something. It costs time. It costs focus. It costs attention to the Lord. It costs saying yes when He calls. It costs saying no when He warns. Pay that price before the midnight cry.
Oil means staying power. The bridegroom took longer than expected. All became drowsy and slept. The difference showed when the shout came. Those with extra supply rose and met him with light that held fast.
Exodus speaks of ordering the lamps from evening to morning. That slow, steady rhythm helps us see what to do. Set a time. Tend the flame. Read. Pray. Rest. Keep short accounts. Return again tomorrow. Small habits hold a long night.
Watchfulness is not fretful. It is simple attention. You notice when the wick needs trimming. You notice when the oil is low. You notice when your soul feels thin. Then you turn to the Lord without delay. He is near. He gives freely.
When oil is present, the light reaches others. It warms a room. It helps people walk without stumbling. It makes faces seen and paths clear. Acts of mercy and words of truth shine best when the inner supply is fresh.
The door in the parable matters too. Those who were ready entered with the bridegroom. Readiness is more than a plan. It is a prepared heart. Oil in the vessel says, “I want Him. I am making room. I am keeping watch.”
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