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.
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
YOU NEED OIL (HOLY SPIRIT IN YOU) TO BE READY AND PREPARED FOR HIS COMING
What does it take to be ready for his coming?
The biggest part of being ready is about being filled with the HOLY SPIRIT.
This requires more than just attending a Sunday morning church service. It’s what do you do the rest of the week that matters the most.
Growing in Christ happens beyond listening to a message at church and is where you prepare your heart to be ready for JESUS’ Coming.
Clearly, the Parable shows that the ones who took extra oil with them were prepared and ready for HIS Coming. And those who didn’t, were not.
So even though they “looked” prepared, in reality they weren’t ready for the Bridegroom.
This is how it will be when JESUS Returns. Unfortunately, many will look prepared because they have lamps, but they won’t be prepared because they have no Oil.
SO WHERE OR HOW DO I GET OIL? STUDY GOD’s WORD.
Ephesians 5:26 (KJV) 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.
2 Timothy 2:15 (NKJV)
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
(KJV) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Acts 3:19 (KJV) 19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
SHARE CHRIST. WHEN WE ARE FILLED WITH THE OIL, WE ARE TO OVERFLOW TO OTHERS
Psalms 23:5b …thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
We are to be open vessels by which the HOLY SPIRIT not only fills, but also is poured out to others.
1 Corinthians 11:23a “For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you…”
2 Timothy 4:1-5 (NKJV)
1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:
2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
YOUR MINISTRY=YOUR PURPOSE. SHARING CHRIST IS NOT THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF A PREACHER, IT IS THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF EVERY BELIEVER.
THE PARABLE IS REALLY ABOUT THE RAPTURE
You’ll notice, that the virgins got tired and fell asleep.
In Scripture, to fall asleep can also be a reference to dying or physical death. After falling asleep, they were awakened by a Cry that rang out at Midnight. In the LAST HOUR.
And when that cry came, those ready went into the banquet with the bridegroom, and those not ready got locked out. This is a picture of the rapture.
Paul writes…
1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 (NKJV)
13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
JESUS is explaining what that day will be like when HE Returns.
PREPARATION HAPPENS BEFORE YOU DIE
Amos 4:12c …” prepare to meet thy God” …
Your Eternal Destination is determined by what you do NOW.
Once you die or “fall asleep”, it’s too late. Your eternity is sealed.
Remember those who were ready, went into the banquet and the door was shut.
While those who were not ready were locked out.
This should be an encouragement to share the Gospel with others.
The day of decision is NOW!. We want as many people as possible to enter that banquet when HE Returns.
THE GREATEST QUESTION IN LIFE
One important statement is made in verse 12, “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’”
Imagine the virgins’ shock when they heard those words.
Jesus also said something very similar at the Sermon on the Mount.
Matthew 7:21-23 (NKJV)
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
So it seems, that the Greatest Question in Life is NOT…Do you know Jesus?
Rather, the Greatest Question in Life IS…Does Jesus know you?
And JESUS knowing you…Has nothing to do with your actions.
JESUS knowing you has Everything to do with putting your trust in HIM as SAVIOR and LORD. …Nothing else matters.
And if there were a day that you would want to be KNOWN by JESUS, it would be on THAT DAY.
Thankfully, if JESUS is your SAVIOR, you are known by HIM today. This is the hope and confidence we have in HIM, and it’s the HOLY SPIRIT that proves to your spirit, that you are KNOWN…because GOD sent the SPIRIT of CHRIST into your heart!
Romans 8:12-17 (NKJV)
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
Galatians 4:6 (NLT) And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”
THE WAKEUP CALL
This parable should be a wakeup call for those who don’t know JESUS. But it goes beyond that. Remember that all 10 had lamps.
Many people go to church, or call themselves Christians, but are not really walking with GOD. These are people with empty lamps.
You need to make sure that You are Right with GOD, and if you’re NOT walking the way you should, TODAY is the DAY of SALVATION.
The urgency of the parable should not be taken lightly. It’s a story of preparation and readiness, and that starts now. Make sure you are ready for HIS Appearing, because it is the most important appointment of your life, and you must be ready so that you don’t miss out.
If you’re not Ready and Preparing for HIS Return, and filled with the things of this earth, that DAY will come on you unexpectedly.
You must be prepared, ready and EXPECTING HIS Arrival at any moment. It will happen just like that.
Luke 21:34-36 (NKJV)
34 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
So WATCH, PRAY, and EAGERLY Await HIS Return, fully Prepared for HIS Appearing.
Let us be reminded…
Romans 3:10,23, 6:23
3:10As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
3:23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
GOD PREPARED THE WAY, YOU NEED TO FOLLOW AFTER IT.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
RECEIVING HIM, JESUS
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
AND BE FULL OF HIS SPIRIT, WHICH IS LIFE
Romans 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
THE RESURRECTION AND LIFE.
John 11:25-26 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
HE IS COMING…SOON
HE HAS PREPARED, AND WILL COME AND RECEIVE THOSE FILLED WITH HIS PRESENCE, TO HIMSELF.
John 14:1-4,6 (NKJV)
1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Revelation 22:7 (NLT) 7 “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed are those who obey the words of prophecy written in this book.”
TODAY is the DAY of SALVATION, ARE YOU WAITING ON HIS RETURN, ARE YOU PREPARED AND READY FOR HIS RETURN?
Revelation 22:20-21 (KJV) He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen!
Be Blessed and Be a Blessing,
Bill
