Two Different People, But With One Purpose, Part 1 of 3
Have You Slumbered? Have You Let Your Guard Down?
We’ve all heard, especially in the last several years, about Jesus coming back. We’ve all had that sensing that He is coming back very soon. But perhaps you are one of those people who have heard it and expecting that Jesus would be back before 2015. Now you think silently to yourself “Well I thought He’d be back long before now. I thought He’d be back several years ago” and have become slack in your watch for His coming. Perhaps you have slipped into slumber during the night watches. But just because you have let your guard down does not mean that the day and hour waited on you. The midnight hour draws nigh and the cry is being sounded, “Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!”
In these last days God needs you and me to be prepared to do anything and everything that He asks of us. Are we ready to raise the dead? Are we ready to heal the sick? Are we ready to pray over the bread and have the faith to see it multiplied to feed the multitudes? Are we ready to do the unbelievable, impossible things? Are we ready to do the works of Jesus and greater? Are we ready–should God call us to do it–to be martyrs for His name’s sake? Are we ready?
Here is the parable so well known, so commonly use, and yet so often overlooked and not taken to heart as a command and a duty.
Matthew 25:1-13
Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil (faith & anointing) with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!' Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil (faith & anointing), for our lamps are going out.' 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.' 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. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!' But he answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.' Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. (NKJ)
Jesus is commanding us to be prepared, to be ready! Those who have prepared to do the works of Jesus and greater cannot stop and build someone else’s faith for them. Those people will have to do it themselves but there will be those who run out of time. The bridegroom will come. Jesus will return.
Now all this doesn’t mean that they aren’t going to go to heaven or be kicked out because they didn’t prepare.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 & 4-11, “But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night…But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. (NKJ)
God is a merciful Father, but He did give us these passages and scriptures for a reason. He is telling us of the things that can happen to us and will happen to others. He is showing us these things beforehand so that we are prepared and ready for when He comes. He has given us the written Word so that we can be equipped, obeying, and being found doing the things He commanded us when He returns.
Please, realize the depth and gravity of becoming insensitive to the message of our Lord’s return! It is not a game nor a religious theory or doctrine. Everything you have heard of His returning is true. Even if it seems to tarry; it will come! Don’t let the things you have heard and learned slip away from you! Don’t neglect those things that you have received! Jesus, Himself, said in Revelation in 3:2-3, “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.” (NKJ)
Do not be found as one of these! Don’t become as those who have let themselves become numb to the cry, “Behold, the bridegroom is coming!” Guard your heart, be watchful and strengthen that which remains!
We should live each day as if it were the last day. We should live each day as if the Lord were to come that very day. Because we don’t know the day nor the hour, but God has given us scriptures that tell us of the signs that point towards His coming.
Acts 2:17-21 - And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy. I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath: blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.' (NKJ)
II Peter 3:10-15 & 17-18 - But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation…You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. (NKJ)
Jesus is coming. Are you prepared? Are you ready? Examine your own heart. Examine your own life.
So what should you do if you have fallen into this? You need to go before the Lord yourself and repent then find out what He wants you to do. You might say you don’t have a lot of time to do that. Well, I’d say it’s time to review your set of priorities. If that means sacrificing things that you enjoy, or getting up earlier in the morning, or taking your lunch break to spend with the Lord. Perhaps you need to cancel something, or instead of thinking on other things while you’re making supper/doing chores/driving to work/driving home from work, you spend that thought time focused in on God. You need to find out from God what you’re to be putting your faith towards. You can’t go to your spiritual mentors, teachers, your friends, or anyone else to find out for you. They can’t find out for you, you have to find out yourself. It is like what the parable of the ten virgins said.
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.' (NKJ)
They needed to focus on what they are supposed to do. You have to go get the will of God for your life for yourself. Go and pray. Find out from God what He wants you to do. He is open and willing to tell you. Are you open and willing to take the time and hear Him? There is always hope. Jesus is calling. He is ready to show you the way, give you the strength you need, give you the grace, anoint you to do the work, to give you favor, to open doors for you, and all you have to do is be willing, listen, and obey. Work with Him, walk with Him, follow Him, give all that you are to Him.
IF THIS IS YOU, PLEASE GO TO PART 3 FOR THE CONCLUSION OF THIS MESSAGE TO YOU!
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