Introduction

Beloved friends, it is with a heart full of joy and a spirit brimming with anticipation that I welcome you all to this blessed gathering today. We are here, not by mere chance, but by divine appointment. We are here, not just to listen, but to lean in, to learn, and to live out the truths that God so graciously reveals to us through His word.

We gather under the banner of our Lord’s enduring love, a love that is as steadfast as it is transformative. It is in this love that we find our purpose, our peace, and our path. It is this love that compels us to delve into the depth of His word, to seek His wisdom, and to strive for His will in our lives.

Today, we turn our hearts and minds to a profound passage of Scripture, a passage that beckons us to be prepared, to persevere, and to be prudent. It is Matthew 25:1-13.

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

In the light of this powerful scripture, we are reminded of the words of Miguel de Cervantes who once said, "To be prepared is half the victory." Indeed, as we unpack this passage, we will see the importance of being prepared for our Lord's return, the need for perseverance in our faith, and the wisdom in keeping our lamps lit.

But before we proceed, let us bow our heads in prayer.

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your word that is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. We thank You for Your love that draws us closer to You. As we study Your word today, we pray for Your Holy Spirit to guide us, to enlighten our minds, and to stir our hearts. May we not only be hearers of Your word, but doers as well. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Preparation for the Prophesied Return

In the passage we just read, we see a group of ten virgins, all of whom were invited to the wedding feast. They all had lamps, they all had a desire to meet the bridegroom, and they all had the same intention. Yet, when the bridegroom arrived, only half of them were ready. The other half, despite their good intentions, were left out in the cold. This is a sobering reminder for us. It's not enough to just have good intentions. We need to be prepared.

Preparation is not a passive act: It requires active participation. It requires us to be vigilant, to be alert, and to be ready. It requires us to have oil in our lamps. In the context of this parable, the oil can be seen as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. It's the Holy Spirit who enables us to live a life that is pleasing to God. It's the Holy Spirit who empowers us to serve, to love, and to forgive. It's the Holy Spirit who equips us with the gifts we need to build up the body of Christ.

How do we get this oil?: How do we ensure that our lamps are filled? The answer is simple, yet profound. We get the oil through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We get the oil through prayer, through reading and meditating on God's word, and through fellowship with other believers. We get the oil through obedience to God's commands, through surrender to His will, and through a life of worship. However, it's important to note that getting the oil is not a one-off event. It's not something we do once and then forget about. It's a continuous process. It's a daily walk with God. It's a constant dependence on His grace. It's a lifelong commitment to follow Jesus, no matter the cost.

The bridegroom can come at any time: The virgins in the parable did not know when the bridegroom would come. They did not have a set date or time. All they knew was that he was coming. And so, they had to be ready at all times. This is a powerful reminder for us. We do not know when Jesus will return. We do not know the day or the hour. But we do know that He is coming. And so, we must be ready. We must be prepared. We must have oil in our lamps.

What does it mean to be ready?: What does it mean to be prepared? It means to live a life that is pleasing to God. It means to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. It means to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. It means to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh. It means to put on the full armor of God, so that we can stand against the schemes of the devil.

Being ready means to be watchful: It means to be alert to the signs of the times. It means to be discerning of the spiritual climate around us. It means to be vigilant in prayer, to be steadfast in faith, and to be zealous in good works.

Being ready means to have a sense of urgency: It means to live each day as if it could be our last. It means to make the most of every opportunity to serve God and to share the gospel with others. It means to be diligent in our work, to be faithful in our responsibilities, and to be passionate in our pursuit of God.

Perseverance in Faith Until the Final Hour

The narrative of the ten virgins, as we have read, is not merely a story of preparation, but also a tale of endurance ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO