The Wise and the Foolish
Matthew 25:1-13
I want to talk to you this morning about your relationship with Jesus Christ. I thought about spanking those that did not make it to the revival, but I don’t have time for that. There are hungry people here that need to hear a word from heaven. They are hungry! They are wise! They are anticipating the return of Jesus Christ! So I am obligated to feed them the meat of the word of God. You have two choice around here. Either get with the program and dine on the meat of the word of God, or choke on it. I know this is a hard word, but the truth is we can’t allow a bunch of babies to hold us up. Now if you just got saved, let me just say I am not talking to you. Young Christian, get in the word of God and start praying and you will follow along with us just fine. The ones that are going to get chocked are the ones that have been sitting in the pews for years doing nothing. Never reads the word, never prays, yet has plenty of criticism. Yep they criticize me, they criticize other Christians, and they criticize other churches. They alone are perfect. Phooey we don’t have time for this mess. Time is short. Let’s move on are you ready?
Illus:
There’s a true story that comes from the sinking of the Titanic. A frightened woman found her place in a lifeboat that was about to be lowered into the raging North Atlantic. She suddenly thought of something she
needed, so she asked permission to return to her stateroom before they cast off. She was granted three minutes or they would leave without her. She ran access the deck that was already slanted at a dangerous angle. She raced through the gambling room with all the money that had rolled to one side, ankle deep. She came to her stateroom and quickly pushed a side her diamond rings and expensive bracelets and necklaces as she reached to the shelf above her bed and grabbed three small oranges. She quickly found her way back to the lifeboat and got in.Now that seems incredible because thirty minutes earlier she would not have chosen a crate of oranges over the smallest diamond. But death had boarded the Titanic. One blast of its awful breath had transformed all values.
Instantaneously, priceless things had become worthless. Worthless things had become priceless. And in that moment she preferred three small oranges to a
crate of diamonds. There are events in life, which have the power to transform the way we look at the world. September 11th was one of those events, the Kennedy Assassination and World War II are similar events. Jesus’ parable about the ten virgins offers one of these types of events, for the parable is about the Second Coming of Christ. But Jesus doesn’t come right out and say this. Rather, he lets the story describe it for him. The woman on the sinking Titanic understood, in the light of her current circumstances,
that she must make preparations for living on a lifeboat. Diamonds would not suffice, only the precious resources of an orange were good enough. Likewise, in this world where Christ may return at any moment, the parable warns, we must be ready.
Dr. Richard A. Todd, in a sermon entitled: "Ten Sleepy Women" gives some background to the parable…
Turn with me to Matthew 25:1-13
This is a parable of the second return of Jesus Christ. Not to be confused with the rapture of the church. For we know that according to scripture that the church is going to be taken out of this world according to 1 Thessalonians “13 But I would not have you to be ignorant , brethren, concerning them which are asleep , that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Church we must be ready! In this parable we see 10 virgins. Five were wise and five were foolish. Hopefully before I finish this sermon you will be able to relate to either the wise or the foolish. We don’t have much time left. Yet there are those that are growing colder by the day. One day you were on fire for God. But today your fire has gone out. You need to realize this and reignite before it is too late.
I want you to notice a few things about this parable.
I:
The wise and foolish looked alike
Notice that all were virgins. In other words they were all sitting in church. The preacher couldn’t tell them apart. They were teaching Sunday school, They were on the board, they were deacons, they were evangelist, they would lay hands on the sick. Yet only five of them were in a right relationship with Jesus.
Today in this church we have people that are spiritually dead. Oh go ahead and get mad at me. You will not be the first! But if you’re going to be among the walking dead then know I’m going to tell you so.
There was a time you were alive. There was a time you were anointed. There was a time you was an asset to the kingdom. But now you are dead weight. You have become as a fool. Instead of doing something for the kingdom of God. You criticize those who do so you will feel better about yourself. Let me tell you how to recognize a backslidden Christian. They begin to pick apart their others. They criticize other Christians they criticize other churches. They can tell you what is wrong with you and your ministry. This is nothing but smoking mirrors to keep them from being accountable. It has become their way of living comfortably in their backslidden condition. What happened one day was they walked into a Holy Ghost fire filled service and God revealed their sin to them and they would not give it up. Therefore they became as a fool and instead of giving it up they started making excuses for it. When that didn’t relieve their conscience they became critical. And let me tell you something if you do not get to this alter and get this sin under the blood you are going to miss the wedding!
II:
The Foolish Ran Out Of Oil
To understand this we must understand that the oil represents the Holy Ghost.
The oil represents the Holy Ghost. You see the five foolish virgins had oil at one time. They operated in the anointing. But they ran out of oil. They didn’t need Sunday school. Hwy would you expect me to get out of bed at 7:00 am on Sunday. Preacher don’t you know that Sunday is my only day to sleep in. well let me SHOUT something to you. YOU better start going to bed earlier! Do you know that one day you’re going to stand before God and give a word of every idle word spoken? Now imagine standing before God and he ask why you didn’t go to Sunday school. And you say well Jesus I couldn’t get up that early. His response may be how many times were you late to work? How late did you sit up on Saturday to watch Saturday Night Dead? They we’re too busy for revival. They allowed the cares of this world to dictate their lives. Perhaps they had other things that they put before God. You see one day you will give an account for every idle word spoken. Well preacher where does it say I have to go to Sunday school? Where does it say I have to go to Bible study? Where does it say I have to go to revival service? I’m glad you asked. In Hebrews 10:25Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
III
The Wise Virgins Kept the Oil Flowing
The wise virgins understood the importance of living a holy life. They understood that without holiness no one sees God. They understood sanctification.
Leviticus 8:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil,
10 And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein, and sanctified them. 11 And he sprinkled thereof upon the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all his vessels, both the laver and his foot, to sanctify them. 12 And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him, to sanctify him.
Psalm 133: 1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; 3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.
Oh church we need the oil of the Holy Ghost! We need.
IV
What Virgin Are You
It’s not up to me to tell the wise from the foolish. But one day it will be revealed. You can tell me you prayed 21 minutes a day for 21 days. Even though I wonder how that when I pray it makes me want more of God. When I pray it makes me look forward to a revival service where I know that God will show up. This one thing I know that Jesus is coming back soon and according to verse 13 we are instructed to “watch therefore you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming”
You see both the wise and the foolish knew the Son of Man was returning. The foolish thought that while he delayed his coming they could wander, thought they could get caught up in the world, and thought they had time to make it right. And they got caught with in sin. Oh come on let’s call it what it is. It is sin. You are bitter, you are angry, you blame others, you criticize others, and you are in sin!
Close:
It’s time to get right. “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.”
They thought they would get their hearts right before the bridegroom came. What a tragic mistake to say. Well it’s just a small sin, well it’s not as bad as so and so. Where does it say in the Bible that is is a sin? Don’t let the devil continue to lie to your heart. Don’t continue to justify your fun time. If it is sin then you must get it under the blood.
Our Savior is just and merciful, and this morning He stands at these alters ready to forgive you of your sin. Ready to pour out the oil of the anointing upon you. I often think about Aaron and the oil running down his beard down his shirt onto his pants all the way to his feet.
I know some of you remember walking in the anointing. Let me tell you right at this moment it’s not too late to allow the oil to flow into you again. Come
