"church Awaken To Your Divine Purpose!"

SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES

(Matthew 25:1-5) (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."

(Matthew 25:6-9) (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."

(Matthew 25:10-13) (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."

PROLOGUE

Before a church can be awakened to its purpose, it must first clearly understand and communicate that purpose. A church cannot effectively fulfill its mission if its members are not growing in faith and dedication to Christ.

The parable of the Ten Virgins is a moving story that Jesus shared to highlight the importance of being spiritually prepared for Christ’s second coming. In this parable, ten virgins set out to meet the bridegroom. Five virgins were wise and brought extra oil for their lamps, ensuring they would be ready if there was a delay. The other five, called foolish, neglected this vital preparation and brought too little oil.

In the parable, the Lord highlights that when the bridegroom arrived, only the wise virgins were prepared to enter the wedding feast, while the foolish ones were left outside. This teaches a vital lesson that spiritual readiness is crucial because we do not know the exact time of Christ's return.

The parable explains that all ten virgins fell asleep while waiting for the delayed bridegroom. However, when his arrival was announced, the foolish virgins woke up to find they had run out of oil. They approached the wise virgins, asking to share their oil. The wise virgins firmly declined, explaining that they only had enough for themselves. Instead, they advised the foolish ones to purchase oil for themselves.

The foolish ones went out to buy oil, but by the time they returned, the bridegroom had already arrived, and the door was closed. Jewish weddings often took place at night, and armed guards were stationed at the entrance to prevent disruptions. The parable ends with the bridegroom telling the foolish virgins, "I do not know you."

The foolish virgins who failed to bring enough oil represent those who go to church just for appearances, lacking real faith and not preparing for Christ's return. The parable emphasizes that Christ's second coming will happen suddenly and unexpectedly, and those who are unready will not be welcomed into the kingdom of God.

In this parable, Jesus uses everyday events and customs to illustrate spiritual truths to His disciples. The five foolish virgins in the parable chose to do things their way, which caused the wedding party to walk a darker path with less light, embarrassing the bride.

In today's world, many people in the church may seem ready to meet the Lord, but in reality, they have not fully surrendered their lives to Christ. They might still identify as Christians but fail to follow His commandments to serve others and be a light in the world.

In conclusion, being a Christian is more than just words and actions; it requires genuine commitment. The wise virgins had enough oil for their lamps, showing that true believers are fully prepared for Christ's return. Since we do not know the day or the hour of His coming, we must always stay ready. Our focus should be on living in a way that pleases God by actively serving and loving others.

“IDENTIFYING THE TRUE CHURCH.”

This powerful end-times message to the sleeping church reminds me of how some people attend church but don't open their Bible during the week, idolize their minister without questioning what is being preached, and leave feeling entertained but spiritually empty. The five foolish virgins in the parable were chosen as close friends of the bride, but they harbored selfish spirits and took shortcuts, embarrassing themselves and the bride.