A film crew ... was on location ... deep ... in the desert.
One day ... an elderly Native American ... who had been watching the filming for several weeks ... went boldly up to the director and said, ... "Tomorrow rain."
And sure enough ... The next day ... it rained.
A week later, ... the elderly man went up to the director once again and said, ... "Tomorrow storm."
And The next day ... there was a horrendous hailstorm.
"This Man is incredible," ... said the director.
He told his assistant ... to hire him ... and have him predict the weather ... for the remainder of the shoot.
However, ... after several successful predictions, he did not show up ... for ... two weeks.
Finally, ... the director sent his assistant ... to find him ... and she returned ... with the elderly man.
"I have to shoot a big scene tomorrow," said the director, "...I am depending on you.
What will the weather be like?"
The man shrugged his shoulders. "Don't know," he said. ...... "My radio is broken." (Pause)
O' Beloved ... Appearances ... can be ... deceiving.
The foolish women in our Gospel reading ... looked, ...dressed ... and marched ... like bridesmaids.
They were young, ... radiant ... and even charming ...on the outside, ... but they were missing something ...on the ... inside.
The word "foolish" ... is none other than the Greek word "moros."
Which is the root word ... for the politically incorrect English expression ... "moron". (Pause)
Now, ... the scene of this parable of the 10 Bridesmaids ... focuses on the preparations ... for a wedding banquet ... that is to take place ... Where? ... in the home of the groom.
And A great crowd of family and friends ... would have filled ... the grooms home.
As the crowd is gathering ... at the groom's home, ...the groom ... and several of his close friends ... are making their way ... to the home of the ... bride.
Which is assumed to be across town ... or in a nearby village.
From there ... the groom collects his bride ... and escorts her back to his family home.
Where the crowd awaits ... and where ... the marriage feast ...will be held.
When bride is ready, ... she would be placed on the back of a riding animal.
And the groom, ... with his friends, ... would form a disorganized, ... yet exuberant parade.
This joyous group ... would take the longest possible route ... back to ... the groom's home.
Deliberately, ... wandering through as many streets of the village ... as possible.
Why ... So that most ... if not all the people would see ... and hopefully ... join in the celebration.
At the groom's home ... some of the crowd would wait in the street ... as they anticipate ... the arrival ...of the meandering ... wedding party. (Long Pause)
Interestingly ...The parable takes place at night, ... and among the guests ... already at the home of the groom ... are 10 young women ... and each of them has ... a lamp.
The parable begs a question?
Did the foolish Bridesmaids have some oil with them... which latter ran out ... or did they have ... no oil ... at all?
Beloved ... Our text seems to be clear on this point; ... BIBLE Quote ... they (the five foolish Bridesmaids) ... took no oil with them. END
The word "extra oil" ... is not found in the Greek, ... yet has been supplied ... in some explanations ... of this text.
There are others who are convinced ... that they did have some oil ... for we read ... that the Bridesmaids claimed ... that their lamps ... were "going out".
Possibly ... There may have been some residue of oil on the wick ... of the five empty lamps, ... which quickly burned out, ... only moments after being lit.
This would explain why all five lamps ... went out ... at the same time.
Or Perhaps ... these foolish Bridesmaids minimized their foolishness ... by describing their plight as... "running out" ... so as to look ... less foolish.
Well our text ... as well as the original Greek ...states ... they ... the foolish Bridesmaids ...brought no oil.
Yet the Wise Bridesmaids brought oil ... carried in flasks ... which was used ... to fill the lamps. (Long Pause)
Well ... Finally, ... the front of this wedding parade ... enters the alley... and the cry goes out:
BIBLE "Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him." END
Guests and family ... still in the house ... rush into the street.
The 10 young women arise quickly, ... and all begin to "service their lamps."
The loose unattached wicks ... must be adjusted, and the oil reserves ... inside the lamps ... filled.
To their horror, ... five of the Bridesmaids ... suddenly realize ... their lamps ... have no oil ... and they brought ... no flasks. (Pause)
Beloved ... it is striking ... how similar the ten Bridesmaids appear on the surface:
Appearances ... can be deceiving.
All ... All ... had been invited the banquet.
All ten ... had gone out to wait ... in the street ... for the coming bridegroom.
All ... had their lamps ... with them.
All ... wanted to see ... the bridegroom.
All ... wanted to attend the wedding banquet.
All ... fell asleep ...while waiting ... for the bridegroom.
All ... were awakened ... by the midnight cry.
All ten Bridesmaids ... got up to prepare ... their lamps.
All ... were in the right place ... at the right time ... ...for the right reason.
All appeared ... to be equally prepared ... for the bridegroom's coming.
And that is the Key ... to the passage ... All appeared ... to be equally ... prepared.
Beloved ... Appearances can be deceiving.
Suppose ... we were to ask the ten Bridesmaids ... to stand in front of us ... in no particular order.
Could you pick out the five foolish ones?
The Answer of course is: No, ... and neither could I.
We could argue about it ... we could all agree, "Number 3 looks a little bored.
Maybe ... she's a foolish Bridesmaid."
Or, "Number 5. ...... She's chewing gum. ... How wise can she be?"
Or, "I know Number 10.
There is no way ... that she is a wise Bridesmaid."
From the details given in the parable ... it is not possible ... to tell by their appearance ... who is wise ... and who is foolish.
And yet ... there was one ... crucial difference.
At the midnight hour ... the cry goes out ... that the groom ... is approaching.
All ten are awakened by this cry, ... and they begin to prepare their lamps ... for the ceremonial service.
The five foolish ones ... ask the five wise ... to share their oil, ... but their request is ... denied.
We may be initially surprised ... or even disappointed ... that the five wise Bridesmaids ... will not share their oil ...with the foolish.
Yet ... This is not because the five wise Bridesmaids ... are selfish.
For The lost ... will not enter heaven ... based on the salvation ... others have received.
The Scriptures are clear ... Each person ... is accountable ... for his ... or for her ... own choices.
The foolish Bridesmaids ... knew the bridegroom was going to get married, ... they knew he would come to the banquet, ... and they knew ... they needed oil ... for their lamps.
It is not a matter ... of A lack of information ... or having the ... wrong information.
All ten Bridesmaids started with ... the same facts.
The five foolish ones ... had everything they needed to know.
Yet still ... they were ... not ready!
Two other questions ... come to light.
First, ... if they apparently managed to buy some oil after midnight ... as the story seems to imply, ... why were they not let in?
The eternal answer is: ... They waited too long!
No doubt their intentions were good, ... but good intentions ... are not enough.
Once the door is shut, ... it will not be opened again ... no matter how long they stand outside ...or how loud ... they shout.
Second, ... what does the oil represent?
Most agree that the oil represents the inward preparation of the heart ... for the Lord's return.
It represents salvation ... true conversion ... and the continued transformation upon one .... who knows Jesus as their savior and Lord.
In the Old Testament, ... oil often stands for ... the presence of the Holy Spirit.
We might then say ... that oil represents the indwelling power of the Spirit ... that accompanies true conversion.
The five wise Bridesmaids ... represent those whose hearts ... have been truly changed ... by the power of the Holy Spirit.
They are ... a new creation ... in Christ Jesus ... Yielding to the presence of the Holy Spirit.
The five foolish Bridesmaids ... represent those ... even some ... so called religious people.
Who may have come under the conviction of the Spirit ...but never yielded ... to his Lordship.
Appearances can be deceiving... they often do not portray the nature ... of the emptiness ... that often times lies within.
Beloved is your life ... is your lamp ... filled with the Oil from heaven.
Are you experiencing the peace that passes all understating?
Are You being filled and strengthened ... with the joy of the Lord?
Are you allowing the Holy Spirit to transform you to conform you into the image of Jesus?
You could be ... you should be.
An outward and visible sign ... that you have been filled with the oil of heaven ... is the presence of a caring heart ... a servant's heart.
Jesus said I have come to serve ... not to be served.
We ... as followers of the Christ ... we who are filled with the Holy Spirit ... are called ... to humble ourselves ... and to ... serve those ... that God places in our lives.
Beloved ... our service ... our loving service ... can and will make a difference.
Our life ... our service ... weather we accept it or not ... will affect ... all those we encounter.
I hope this true and moving story ... will encourage you as it has me ... to see more clearly ... how our lives can ... and will make a difference. (Pause)
Miss Thompson taught Teddy Stallard in the fourth grade.
He was A slow, ... unkempt student, ... a loner ...shunned by his classmates.
The previous year his mother died, ... and what little motivation for school ... he may have once had ...was now gone.
Miss Thompson ... did not particularly care for Teddy either
But at Christmas time ... he brought her ... a small present.
Miss Thompson's desk ... was covered with well-wrapped presents from the other children, ... but Teddy's came in ... a brown paper sack.
When she opened it ... there was a gaudy rhinestone bracelet ... with half the stones missing ...along with a bottle ... of cheap perfume.
The children began to snicker, ... but Miss Thompson saw the importance ... of the moment.
She quickly splashed on some perfume ... and put on the bracelet, ... pretending ... Teddy had given her ... something special.
At the end of the day ... Teddy worked up enough courage to softly say, ... "Miss Thompson, ... you smell just like my mother ... and her bracelet looks real pretty on you too.
I'm glad ... you like ... my presents."
After Teddy left, ... Miss Thompson said ... she got down on her knees ... next to her desk ... and prayed for God's forgiveness.
She asked God to use her ... as she sought ... to not only ... teach these children ... but to love them ...as well.
That day ... She became ... a new teacher.
And She lovingly helped students like Teddy ... and by the end of the year ... he had caught up with most of the students. (Pause)
Well as the radio announcer Paul Harvey would say: ... The rest of the story.
Miss Thompson ... didn't hear from Teddy ... for a long time.
Then she received this short note in the mail: ... "Dear Miss Thompson, ... I wanted you to be ... the first to know.
I will be graduating second in my class.
Love, Teddy Stallard."
Four years later ... she got another note: ... "Dear Miss Thompson, ... they just told me ... I will be graduating ... first in my class.
I wanted you to be ... the first to know.
The university has not been easy, ... but I liked it.
Love, Teddy Stallard."
Four years later: ... "Dear Miss Thompson, as of today, ... I am Theodore Stallard, M.D.
How about that? ...... I wanted you to be the first to know.
I am getting married next month.
I want you to come and sit ... where my mother would have sat ... if she were alive.
You are the only family I have now; ... Dad died last year. ...... Love, Teddy Stallard."
Miss Thompson went to the wedding ... and sat where Teddy's mother ... would have sat.
O' Beloved ... Miss Thompson made a difference.
Not only in the life of Teddy Stallard ... but in lives of many others ... and most of all in her own life ... as well. (Pause)
Her lamp was lit ... and full of oil ... and it was shining forth in her life ... a life be conformed ... into the image of Savior.
Some of the greatest blessings come ... when you humbly realize ... that someone else ... is more important ... than you are.
That emptying ourselves ... into the lives of others ...allows our lamp to shine more fully.
An empty lamp ... will portray ... no light.
Only a lamp that is burning ... Only a lamp not hiding under a bushel ... but held as high as a lamp stand ... can shine for all to see.
Beloved ... Only a lamp that is burning ... will be refreshed .... with the oil of Heaven.
O' Heavenly Father: (Sing)
Give me oil ... in my lamp, keep me burning
Give me oil ... in my lamp, I pray
Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning
Keep me burning till the break of day
Sing ... hosanna, sing ... hosanna
Sing hosanna to the King of Kings
Sing ... hosanna, sing .... hosanna
Sing hosanna, to the King.
May your lamp be filled to the brim ... with the oil of heaven.
Appearances can be deceiving ... but we cannot not deceive God ... for he knows each and every heart.
Be mature in the Faith ... Yield to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit ... who abides ... within your very being.
Beloved ... Hold your lantern high ... Ask God not only ... for a heart to serve ... but for a heart ... that for a heart that loves.
O' Beloved ... Let your light so shine (REPEAT 2 more Times)
That your Father in Heaven ... is glorified.
Amen and Amen!
Help: I retired in November 2017 and am attempting to supplement my income by sharing on Sermoncentral. If this Message has been helpful to you, please consider a nominal donation: Send to The Rev. Jeff Smead 11725 Regent Park Drive Chardon Ohio 44024. (Write on the Memo line - Pastor Smead). Blessed To Be A Blessing.
Much of the beginning 25% of this Message is from a Book by Kenneth E. Bailey Titled "Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes" I commend it to you.
Dear Reader: So I can better help you, if this Homily was not helpful and you rated it low, Please let me know what it lacked or why it was not helpful. You can search by contributor Smead" (Constructive Criticism is very helpful) and contact me there. Blessings Jeff.
