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"OIL
SHORTAGE OR
OIL
GLUT?"
TEXT:
Matthew 25:1-13
INTRO:
Many people think the idea that Jesus is coming again is a joke!
The
idea of an “end of time” seems more like a great movie script to thrill
audiences.
The
reality is that one day everyone in this world is going to face God,
Jesus is coming again and there will be a time to give an account for
our lives!
How
many will be caught off guard?
None
of us know when it will happen, but it will happen!
ILLUS:
Story of the man who always slept during church -- one day one of the
members decided to teach this man a lesson, he sat down besides him
during the service and after the man had fallen asleep he poked him in
the side and told him he had just been called on to close the service in
prayer by the pastor -- startled, he stood up and prayed, “Lord, thank
you for this message we heard and this service, apply it to our hearts
as we go...” of course the service had barely started and he embarrassed
himself, he had been caught off guard!
– Source Unknown
We too
in God's kingdom must be alert, He is coming again, let's not be caught
off guard!
PROP. SENT:
This Parable teaches us to be prepared and ready for Jesus' return
whether it is soon or delayed,
He is
coming again and our lights must be shining when He returns!
I. MARRIAGE
(1st Century customs are instruction for Jesus’ teaching)
A. Engagement
1.
Settlement made by father of bride and groom.
2.
Our heavenly father has made a settlement between Jesus and His bride
the church. (Eph. 5:31-32)
a. In Christ we belong to the Lord, no longer to this world.
b. We cleave to Christ; the church is like the bride of Christ.
c. The image of marriage is used to explain the idea of the church
and Christ.
3.
Christ's first coming was like an engagement.
B.
Betrothal
1.
Ceremony was held in the house of the bride's parents.
a. Our parents were Adam & Eve.
b. This earth was their house.c. Pentecost was ceremony of the
Holy Spirit's coming on the people of God -- the church.
2.
During this ceremony there was the exchange of mutual promises made
before witnesses.
a. 10 virgins could have been Jewish custom for witnesses:
(Note: Boaz & Ruth had 10 witnesses.)
(Ruth
4:2)
b. Synagogue, circumcision, Passover, marriage required no less than
10 witnesses.
c. Notice again at Pentecost there were many witnesses of the
promise that Jesus had made to His people of the Holy Spirit.
C.
The Marriage
1.
About a year after engagement the bridegroom with friends came to get
his bride,
and took her to his home for a permanent
possession.
a. Bridegroom surprised bride with a trumpet blast just before
entering, woke neighborhood up this way and alerted her to his immediate
coming!
b. Marriage feast then held in his father’s home, bride was swept
away to his home for 7 days.
c. Christ's second coming is reference here; coming with friends may
have reference to angels and departed saints, the disciples, coming with
Christ to get the bride, the church!
d. Groom had to wait until father told him to go … father waited
until son had finished building wedding house for bride … gives insight
into Jesus’ words, “only the Father knows
the time”
…
and “I go to prepare a place for you and
will come again.”
e. It is also interesting that Jesus mentioned His coming would be
announced by a “trumpet” call …
Mat 24:31
“And he will send his angels with a loud
trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from
one end of the heavens to the other.”
The
apostle Paul also mentioned this concerning the return of Christ:
1 Th 4:16 “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a
loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call
of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.”
f. As in the Jewish marriage, once the trumpet was sounded and the
groom came and took the bride … she was carried away to the groom’s
father’s home for a wedding banquet that lasted 7 days. In the Bible
Christ receives the church after the trumpet call into heaven (Father’s
home) where the marriage supper of the lamb takes place:
Rev 19:9 “Then the angel said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who
are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!'" And he added, "These
are the true words of God."”
2.
Jesus in this parable is referring to this time of coming as the next
event on the calendar of God's events.
II. THE VIRGINS Matt. 25:1-5
A.
5 Foolish Virgins Matt. 25:2-3
1.
No Oil!
a. Attempting to demonstrate a Christian life without the oil (Holy
Spirit or new life ... acting Christian without being Christian!)
b. Their lives were unprepared.
c. Wanted to make a good appearance but without preparation.
d. Hope only in soon return, thus lazy about really preparing for
return!
2.
No Light!
a. Lived in darkness -- no oil, no light!
b. Unwilling to prepare for future.
ILLUS:
The May 1984 National Geographic showed through color photos and
drawings the swift and terrible destruction that wiped out the
Roman
Cities
of
Pompeii
and
Herculaneum
in A.D. 79. The explosion of
Mount Vesuvius was so sudden; the residents were killed while in their
routine: men and women were at the market, the rich in their luxurious
baths, slaves at toil. They died amid volcanic ash and superheated
gasses. Even family pets suffered the same quick and final fate. It
takes little imagination to picture the panic of that terrible day.
The saddest part is that these people did not have to die.
Scientists confirm what ancient Roman writers record -- weeks of
rumblings and shakings preceded the actual explosion. Even an ominous
plume of smoke was clearly visible from the mountain days before the
eruption. If only they had been able to read and respond to Vesuvius's
warning!
There are similar "rumblings" in our world: warfare, earthquakes, the
nuclear threat, economic woes, breakdown of the family and moral
standards. While not exactly new, these things do point to a coming Day
of Judgment (Matt.
24).
People need not be caught unprepared. God warns and provides an escape
to those who will heed the rumblings.
-- Michael Bogart,
Lemoore,
California.
Leadership, Vol. 6, no. 4.
c. Only living for the now!
3.
These foolish virgins were not even thinking of a “future” … as was
evidence in their bringing no additional oil.
They had only planned on the moment.
They represent those whose lives are wrapped up in
living for “now” … not for eternal things.
a. They are left behind!
b. They have no future!
B.
5 Wise Virgins Matt. 25:2,4
1.
Plenty of Oil!
a. They had energy! (Holy Spirit never has a shortage!)
b. They were prepared for anything, a soon return or a delay!
c. Worked to insure they would be ready, not lazy!
They
were looking for the groom’s coming for the bride. They had prepared to
receive the groom, and go with the bride to celebrate. They had planned
so they would not be caught off guard.
2.
Plenty of Light!
a. “Let your light shine before men
... you are the light of the world…”
b. Living not just for the now, but also for the then!
ILLUS:
During his 1960 presidential campaign, John F. Kennedy often closed his
speeches with the story of Colonel Davenport, the Speaker of the
Connecticut
House of Representatives. One day in 1789, the sky of
Hartford
darkened ominously, and some of the representatives, glancing out the
windows, feared the end was at hand. Quelling a clamor for immediate
adjournment,
Davenport
rose and said, "The Day of Judgment is either approaching or it is
not. If it is not, there is no cause for adjournment. If it is, I
choose to be found doing my duty. Therefore, I wish that candles be
brought."
Rather than fearing what is to come, we are to be faithful till
Christ returns. Instead of fearing the dark, we're to be lights as we
watch and wait.
-- Henry Heintz,
Troy,
New York.
Leadership, Vol. 5, no. 2.
c. Where there is oil there is light, where the Holy Spirit
lives there is shining and preparation for the future!
C.
Slumbered & Slept Matt. 25:5
1.
Likely a reference to physical death.
2.
Some who had waited while the Lord delayed His coming had fallen asleep
with their lights shining, for others their lights had been out
already.
Mat 25:5
“The bridegroom was a long time in coming,
and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.”
3.
Note that it says while the groom took a long time (may indicate a time
would pass between 1st and 2nd comings) with many sleeping or
dying.
4.
This also talks about the element of “surprise” of His coming. They
were caught off guard.
ILLUS:
In 1988, Edgar Whisenant wrote a booklet proving that the world would
come to an end in 1988, probably on September 12. When that failed to
happen, Whisenant re-checked his mathematical calculations and found his
error. The end was then predicted to be
September 1, 1989.
Like so many date-setters before him, Whisenant was wrong. Our Lord
said no one would be able to predict the time of the second coming. We
must always be ready.
-- Robert C. Shannon, 1000 Windows,
(Cincinnati, Ohio: Standard Publishing Company, 1997).
III.
THE BRIDEGROOM COMES! Matt. 25:6-13
A.
He Comes! Matt. 25:6-7
1.
They arose to meet Him!
a. Perhaps a hint at the resurrection!
b. Only those who were ready would meet Him.
c. Some were ready, some were not!
ILLUS:
You cannot repent too soon because you do not know how soon it may be
too late.
-- Sir Thomas Fuller, Christian Reader,
Vol. 32, no. 5.
2.
The trumpet blast had awakened them … they knew the bridegroom had
come!
a. The call to come meet the bridegroom had been given and they all
started to trim their lamps.
b. 5 of them however would soon discover they couldn’t go meet the
bridegroom, their lamps were not prepared.
B.
Too Late! Matt. 25:8-lOa
1.
Could not greet the bridegroom ... they weren't prepared and never met
Him at his return –
a. We must be ready at all times!
ILLUS:
After church, where she had been taught about the Second Coming, a
little girl was quizzing her mother.
"Mommy, do you believe Jesus will come back?"
"Yes."
"Could he come this week?"
"Yes."
"Today?"
"Yes."
"Could he come in the next hour?"
"Yes."
"In a few minutes?"
"Yes, dear."
"Mommy, would you comb my hair?"
-- Don Hussong,
East Wenatchee,
Washington.
Leadership, Vol. 4, no. 3.
b. We should be ready at a moment’s notice!
2.
You can't get in by knowing someone else who is saved or by being a
relative of someone saved, only if you know the savior!
a. "But my parents were Christians
..."
b. "But I attended church with good
Christians..."
3.
Note the foolish tried to make it by borrowing off the wise virgins and
they couldn't, there is no other way in but by Christ!
C.
The Door Shut! Matt. 25:10b-13
1.
It is final once He comes! Matt. 25:10-13
a. The door is shut before the 5 foolish virgins can return!
b. While others cried to enter later they were all denied entrance!
Matt. 25:11
c. Jesus’ response was poignant: Mat
25:12 "But he replied, 'I tell you
the truth, I don't know you.'"
d. The door is not opened again once it was shut!
2.
Now the door is open, this is the time to be prepared!
3.
There is no second chance after Jesus' second coming, the time is now –
you can’t get a “second opinion” after Christ
comes!
ILLUS:
To start a discussion on core values, our youth minister asked the
teenagers: "What would you do if your doctor told you that you had only
24 hours to live?" The teens mentioned being with friends and family,
and the discussion seemed headed in the right direction. But it came
undone when Jason, our 13-year-old, said, "I'd get a second opinion."
-- Donna Spratt,
Melfort,
Saskatchewan.
Christian Reader, "Lite Fare."
a. You can’t borrow or buy oil after the bridegroom arrives!
b. You either have it when He arrives, or you don’t!
CONCLUSION:
Are you among the wise or foolish,
are you
preparing for His coming, is your light shining or are you living only
for the moment?
Are you
experiencing an oil shortage or oil glut?
He is
coming again!!!
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