Call to Worship:
Lord God Almighty, KING of kings and LORD of lords, we gather today for one purpose to worship You and give glory to Your great name. You are holy and worthy of all honor and praise. There are none like You O Lord. We invite You to draw near to us as we draw near to You, to incline Your ear to our praises, that they may bring joy to your heart. Your Word tells us You inhabit the praises of Your people so come God, come and fill this space with Your glory.
Psalm 22:3-5 3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises.
4 In you our ancestors put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them.
5 To you they cried out and were saved; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
Jesus we invite You to come, our Savior, our friend, and our Prince of Peace. Come. Your Word tells us you knock at the door of our heart and enter as we open it for you.
Revelation 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
Come Jesus come. Invade our hearts today with Your love overflowing. Come Holy Spirit and rest on us; light a fire in us; wake us from our slumber; and ignite a passion that runs deep for Your Kingdom and Your love. Let us not be lukewarm in our worship, but let us enter in fully, humbly and joyfully to join with You. In Your name Jesus we pray.
Praise Songs
Intro: Anyone willing to admit there are times you have let your faith wane; you have grown lukewarm in your worship-kind of half-hearted attempts, and it all seems more of a chore than a passion you are pursuing?
Probably all of us right? Israel certainly has this pattern of being on fire and then that fire would dwindle down to embers barely smoldering at times.
To that truth- Jesus says to the church in Ephesus in Revelation, “I hold one thing against you. You have lost your first love.”
Meaning that passion and fire in loving Him, their Savior. The fire had died down and while they were doing many great things in the church, that passionate love is not fueling them. Have you been there? Are you there now?
He said to them, and He’s saying to us, “Return to your first love. This is the most important thing.” In other words, remember what you felt when you first started to know and follow Jesus. Remember what it’s like to be in His presence. Remember how you felt hearing and singing songs lifting up His praise and the wonders of who He is. Remember… and fan that flame into a fire.
Then keep it burning. The priests in the temple had to keep the incense burning on the altar daily-that was their responsibility. So it our responsibility to ensure our spiritual fire doesn’t die out.
In ancient times they used lamps with oil, and it was the oil that allowed the wick to burn and thus gave light. Jesus taught a parable about the importance of being prepared so one’s lamp would be burning when they needed it most.
In this parable Jesus uses the example of a wedding. In Jewish culture at that time, they would have wedding ceremonies at night. They observed the Sabbath on Saturday, for that was the end of the week for them and the Sabbath began at sunset on Friday and went until sunset on Saturday. So if they held a wedding Sat night they wouldn’t be breaking the Sabbath laws. It was also tied in with Scriptures that talk about Christ coming in the night as a bridegroom to gather His bride so there was symbolism in their timing of their ceremonies with their faith.
Another tradition was for the bridesmaids to hold lamps and line up as a welcoming party for the arrival of the groom and then light the path for him as he entered to the ceremony and feast. Pretty cool when you imagine these special moments at night and all the lamps shining for the arrival of the groom and then leading him towards His bride.
Having this background can help make sense of this teaching from Jesus; but it certainly would have been familiar to the Jews at the time. One other point as we read this parable together is to note when they say virgins in many of our translations, this also means bridesmaids. In our culture anyone can be a bridesmaid in a wedding because it’s based on relationships with the couple. Not so in their tradition. So keep in mind the imagery of this wedding ceremony and their traditions as we read together.
Let’s listen for Jesus’ council. Have ears to hear this morning.
Matthew 25:1-13 NIV
At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ 9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ 12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
- Spiritual Readiness.
All of this is pointing to the time that Christ will return for His Church, His bride. We are to be ready for His arrival. First things first, do we have our hearts right with God? Have we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior? Because if we think we have time to do it later, we don’t know when later will be. No one knows the exact time Jesus will return.
But even if we have given our hearts to Jesus, are we showing ourselves spiritually faithful? Are we nurturing our first love and seeking to understand what is important to Jesus, or are we simply waiting for our reward in heaven to come? There is a big difference in how we live; we are called to live with spiritual readiness in multiple parables Jesus talks to this importance-all right together in this section in Matthew.
Matthew 25:1-2 At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
Matthew 25:4 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.
In this parable-(remember a parable is a familiar life example set alongside a spiritual truth Jesus is teaching about)- the Bridegroom is Christ, the bridesmaids are the Church-us, and the oil represents the Holy Spirit or the presence of God.
The wise ones thought ahead understanding the bridegroom might be delayed and prepared by bringing extra oil. They ensured they could keep their lamps burning throughout the night, so whatever time the groom arrived they would be ready.
This is what we are to do spiritually, fill up on the Holy Spirit. We are sealed with the Holy Spirit when we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, but that doesn’t mean we have a relationship or that we’re actively filling up with His Truth, counsel, and wisdom. We must ask for this over and over again. Renew our mind; renew our heart and be filled with the Holy Spirit. To which He will eagerly do so.
Ephesians 5: 18-19 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord,
There is nothing from this world that will satisfy or quench our thirst more than the infilling of the Holy Spirit. And we will never understand the ways of God without the revelation of the Holy Spirit. We will never obey our God without the desire formed in us through the Holy Spirit who seeks to do God’s will.
So we, like the bridesmaids, must carry extra oil with us as we go into the world. Fill up on the Holy Spirit to overflowing and we do that by practicing a lifestyle of gratitude to our faithful God and bringing all our cares to Him.
1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
- Personal Accountability.
Matthew 25: 8-9 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ 9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
We are to love one another and care for one another, but one thing we can’t do is keep their spiritual lamp burning. I can’t do that for you. I can lead you to Jesus; I can teach you His Word; I can model behaviors and heart posture that lead us into His Presence, but ultimately, you have to get your own oil.
The bridesmaids who prepared were not going to let their own lamps go out and miss entering the bridal feast. And Jesus is making it clear, if you are not ready when I return and if you don’t have a relationship with Me, it will be too late and the door will be shut. That’s why He is openly inviting all now to come and share in this life and eternal life with Him. Come and know Him, through the Holy Spirit who reveals Him to us. Come and offer your hearts fully to Him and live in this love.
Similar to seeking to become healthier-you can hire a trainer, a nutritionist, a health coach, watch videos but ultimately, you’re the one who has to do the work right? You are the one who must go on the walks, lift the weights, eat the right foods, drink the water…you have to do it. All the money in the world spent on people who are experts won’t do a thing for you if you don’t apply what they are teaching you and practice it.
Or learning a new skill, or earning a degree, or breaking an addiction, or changing any part of your life-if you don’t put into practice on a regular basis nothing changes and that passion wanes, until eventually it fizzles out.
Do you want to live for God? Do you want to know Him more? Do you want to understand His ways? Do you want to find out His purposes for you? Then you must have personal accountability to tune to and walk with the Holy Spirit as your personal guide. You must learn to listen and then heed what the Spirit tells you.
Galatians 5:25 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
As we keep in step with the Holy Spirit, our lamps will surely keep burning and we will continue to develop a deepening spiritual readiness for the return of our Lord.
We must read His Word, for how will we know our God and His ways if we don’t read His Word? We remain ignorant and thus continue to operate in our human understanding and the influence of this world and we are not living Kingdom minded as He desires for us.
2 Timothy 2:15 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
It is through the revelation granted from the Holy Spirit we learn to correctly handle His Word in truth.
Let us be a people of God who take personal accountability to seek the Holy Spirit and grow in our faith and understanding. Let us be a people who carry oil with us wherever we go.
- Actively Cultivate Your Faith.
Matthew 25:13 13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
Keep watch- be ready for His return; be ready for when the King of kings and Lord of lords returns that He finds each of us living well, living for the advancement of His kingdom. Let Him not return and find us idle and living only to satisfy self for that would be a waste of this new life given to us.
1 Thessalonians 5 gives us much direction in how we are to continuously cultivate our faith.
1 Thessalonians 5:5 5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.
We are to live and walk in the light. The verses continue to say don’t do the behaviors that others do in darkness-let go of those sinful ways. Just think about what any of us do in darkness that we don’t want others to see-He’s saying we don’t belong there anymore. Walk in the light; walk as the redeemed children you are and as you are in the light, you shine My light for others to see.
So then encourage others to do the same-be children of light.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
This world doesn’t need any more back biters or people putting other people down. We need to actively build one another up-look for reasons to do so; encourage others to live as Jesus calls us to. We do that through loving encouragement, not shaming or condemnation.
We also help others by reminding them who they are and all they are called to be when we see them idle, lost, and wandering. Rise up child of God-you are made for more than this. Remember whose child you are. Remember whose name you carry. This is loving truth we should be speaking over those who are struggling.
1 Thessalonians 5:14 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
We also cultivate our faith by carrying out the great commission to tell others about the Good news of Jesus Christ! He’s not just for us; He is for everyone! By the way, our Unashamed Bootcamp will surely help you with this if this is outside your comfort zone. Our faith is never meant to be silent, but we are to be living testimonies of what Christ has done for us and point others to share in this wonderful salvation.
Romans 10: 14-15 14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
Living for Christ and living others’ focused modeling and telling of Jesus’ love and forgiveness will always deepen our faith. As our faith grows, our spiritual readiness remains strong. Our lamps keep burning.
Conclusion: Let us as the bride waiting for her bridegroom, remember our first love and hold on to that until He returns. Let us carry the oil (Holy Spirit) with us so our lamps will continue to burn until His arrival. Let us live actively preparing, instead of passively expecting. This is Kingdom minded living.
Let’s pray.
Baptism: It’s been a couple years exactly since we have done any baptisms in this church-a believer’s baptism. If you have never been baptized in Christ-as a believer in Christ- we are called to do this. Believe, and be baptized! It is a powerful symbolism for us to share in the death of our Savior as we are immersed under the water letting our old self-prior to Christ- die as He died on the cross for our sins- and as we rise up we share in His resurrected life and we too have been given new life through His Holy Spirit. This is an act of obedience in our faith and a declaration in front of witnesses of our faith in Christ-that we are living a new life. I would like to offer a water baptism ceremony in August when I return. If you would like to talk more about it, reach out. Do it. You won’t regret it and it is transformative in your faith walk.
Offering:
Mission focus for June-Kusserows who serve in Niger, Africa. They offer Bible translation across 2 generations in their missionary family, assist with medical care, and they have a newer ministry that is separate from their main ministry-for adult literacy. I urge you to pray and listen to God’s heart for the Makori people they are impacting and let us give from what we have.
Prayers:
Final Song
Final Blessing: 1 Thessalonians 5:23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
