Is Your Lamp Filled With Oil
I have been studying the Parable of The Ten Virgins. I enjoy this passage very much. What does this passage imply? The answer is the return of Jesus. The passage asks, “Are you ready?”
(Matthew 25: 1-13) says, ” Then shall the kingdom of Heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made,” Behold the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him.” Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, not so; lest there be not enough for us and you, but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, verily I say unto you I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”
Jesus used this parable because of the Jewish Wedding Custom. Jewish weddings were generally celebrated at night, starting at the rise of the evening star, but in this case there was some extra delay and the bridegroom and his friends arrived after midnight. This was customary.
Starting from the home of the bridegroom, his friends began crying this and all along the route people would take up the joyous cry until it would get near enough to the home of the bride that it would wake up the sleeping one. This was the duty of the ones chosen by the bride to welcome the bridegroom. Then when they hard the cry, they all arose to trim their lamps and get them in order. They all had lamps burning when they went to sleep, but the lamps of the foolish needed more oil. The Greek reads, “our lamps are going out.” They asked for oil from the extra that the wise had, but were sent to buy some quickly. While they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then the doors were locked to uninvited guests and for fear of thieves who would rob the guests or carry off the bride for a ransom. When the foolish virgins returned they found the door locked and they could not get in.
Jesus is returning to earth again, to claim his bride. We need to be ready for his return. We need to make sure that we are ready. We do not want to be like the foolish virgins and not have oil in our lamps. When Jesus comes, it will be quickly. We will not have time to say, wait I want to be saved. So right now take the time to make sure you are ready.
How can you make sure that you are ready, Ask Jesus to come into your heart. How?
First, Ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins. You may say Pat, but you just don’t know what I have done. That does not matter. When you ask Jesus to come into your heart and forgive you of your sins, he cleanses you for all your past. He covers your sins with His blood to be remember no more. Second, say Jesus come into my heart now.
In (Romans 10:9) says, “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
It is that easy. Salvation is a gift from God. You do not have to earn it. Salvation is free. Jesus already paid the price for you when He died on the cross.
Now that you have ask Jesus to come into your heart all those past sins are gone. Now every once in a while the old devil will try to bring up your past. When he does, just say boy come with me. Then take him to the throne of God and say God show him the book where my sins use to be listed. And when God opens the book, say see they are gone. So jack get off my back for I am cover with the blood of Jesus and where the blood of Jesus is you can’t be.
You may now try to use the excuse that you have to become perfect before you ask Jesus into your heart. You do not!!! God accepts us as we are, dirty sinful people. Then after we ask Him into our heart, it becomes a daily sanctification. It is a daily process. We are not perfect and God knows it. He just wants us to give Him our heart and He will take care of the rest.
Blessings, Love and Prayers,
Pastor Pat Aman
Also, please know that:
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with Joy.
Philippians 1: 3-4
I end each message with “My Blessings, Love & Prayers,” I truly mean that, and I pray for each of you every morning and evening.
Written By: Pastor Pat Aman June 4, 2008
Pastor Pat Aman/©1996/2015
CWPM1996/2015
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