Parable of 10 Virgins

Preparation

INTRODUCTION of the message
example of flight:

When we are going for an international travel by a flight ,  we prepare very well. Before traveling we pack our bags and check our bags weight. we make sure we have our passports and tickets ready, and we reach the airport at least 2 hours before.

So when we prepare well , then we will be at rest during our travel.

But if the proper preparation is not there, then we will be having trouble throughout the journey, there wont be peace,  sometimes people even miss the flights if they fail to reach on time.

Sometimes if people forget the passports , they wont be allowed to travel.

Everybody should have their own passport. You cannot travel on your family member passport or a friends passport. You have to take your own passport and enter the flight.

In all this, Preparation is the KEY for being at REST and PEACE.

Core Message

Today we are going to look at the famous scripture portion of parable of Ten Virgins.

Where 5 Virgins had a perfect preparation and 5 Virgins lacked the preparation.

Similarities between wise virgins and foolish virgins

1) Both took their lamps
2) Both went out to meet the bridegroom
3) Both  slumbered and slept

4) Both  heard the cry.

5) Both arose and trimmed their lamps. 

6) Both wise and foolish virgins were together.

Similarities explanation

Both wise and foolish virgins were together to meet the Lord. 

Both knew they need lamp to go, and they know how to trim. 

Even though the coming was delayed, the foolish did not leave.

But just like the wise, the foolish were also waiting for that cry that the bridegroom is coming. 

Both have the desire to meet the Lord.

They knew how important it is to meet the Lord.

They don't want to be left behind.

**when they heard the voice of the Lord Wise women met the Lord with Rest. 

And they also  have Rest before meeting the Lord.

** But foolish women were struggling how to get the oil, they were in unrest.

Fellowship:

We see that all these 10 virgins are going together to meet the Lord.

Kingdom of heaven is about many virgins going together. Not individually but together in Fellowship.

Especially in these times many are lonely. We need the Fellowship to talk, to encourage and to build  one another.

Suppose if anyone is looking for a job or a life partner, the rest of us pray for her , give advice for her.

Suppose if someone is pregnant, many people will give suggestions about eating or taking care. Even after the baby is born, many of us give suggestions on how to take care of the baby.

This is all good for building each other for everyday life.

But  when it comes to the  matters of the kingdom of heaven, many times we miss this kind of fellowship to talk, encourage and build each other.

Differences between wise virgins and foolish virgins

1)  Wise virgins took extra oil in the vessels and foolish did not take the extra oil with them.

If we carefully observe, all the similarities that we saw earlier are something that are outward.

(Taking the lamps, going out to meet, waking up to the cry, trimming the lamps etc)

But the main difference was Inside, it is the Extra Oil - that is a person's walk with the Lord under the leading of the Holy Spirit.

HOLY SPIRIT

Having Extra Oil brings  Rest in a believers life.

This personal walk with the Lord is something that people do not see outside, only God can see, and this personal walk brings rest in our lives.

Many times, we try to find rest by Doing things. But Rest never comes by doing things, but by walking with the Lord in the leading of the Holy Spirit.

2) Another difference is the Wise got ready to meet the Lord at any time , even if the coming is delayed. But the foolish came with just for immediate meeting.

Examples of Wise Woman who built their house:

The Bible says

Proverbs 14:1 NKJV  The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish pulls it down with her hands.

Noah's Wife:

If we look at Noah's Wife - there was nothing mentioned about her works in the bible.

But we know how important a Wife support is for any man to do his work.

We know how much work a Woman does , to support the whole family.

When Noah heard from God, he would have told this news to his wife.

When she heard the news from Noah,  she  truly understood Gods  Plan and purpose in building the ark and she respected Noah's calling.

The building of ark is not an ordinary task,  it might have taken nearly 100 years.

Imagine everyday cooking the food, sending husband and sons to build the ark for almost 100 years is not an easy task and especially when there is no other family around the neighborhood who was doing such kind of work.

She was able to save her household from the flood and also became source of  new generation upon the earth.

As the bible says, 

Matthew 7:24

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 

Noah's wife built her house upon the Rock

Conclusion:

Even though you walk together you should have your own lamp. And you should have vessel of extra oil.

The delay became a surprise for foolish Women, but the wise women were not surprised because they were ready even for the delay.

So let us be like the Wise Woman who has the preparation to meet the Lord and have Rest in our lives.

Psalm (V13-24)

 

Is there any better food than the Word of God?

Is there any better news than this good news?

Have you seen small kids how they come to the table expecting for a delicious food
Mommy, is there a Chicken , Pasta, .

Do you have that excitement when you Sit before the Word.

Have you ever sit before your Word, saying that I am going to have a feast now.

Don't just take one bite and go away.

Change the way you meditate on this Word.

Hope Continually

14

14 But I will hope continually,
And will praise You yet more and more.

15
15 My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness

And Your salvation all the day,

For I do not know their limits.

Hope should be continous till you see it.

If you are waiting for some thing in your life, your hope should continue till it comes to pass.

How can hope continue. By Speaking the hope.

Today if you are waiting for a breakthrough in your life, Start speaking the hope.

My Mouth Shall tell of Your righteousness, Your Salvation 

What we do , we look at a situation.

Now December it is very hard to get job.  

every situation we speak hopelessness or we speak things around us.

But start speaking Gods righteousness, Gods salvation.

Romans 4:18-22

18 who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” 19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God

Hope also has a limit in natural sense. But Abraham crossed all the limits of hope

That is why it says contrary to hope, in hope believed.

If you consider your own body,  your own strength, you cannot continue in hope.

In natural realm, there wont be hope.

But he continued in hope.

He continued by giving glory to God.

Is there a Abram in your life, start speaking Abraham  

Sarai to Sarah

Jacob to Israel

Simon to Peter

Saul to Paul

When you speak hope.

Hope builds by meditation on Scriptures

Romans 15:4

4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the [c]patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

Meditation

14 

Psalm 19:14

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my [h]strength and my Redeemer.

Psalm 104:34

May my meditation be sweet to Him;
I will be glad in the Lord.

Words of my mouth   -   Meditation of my heart

What a wonderful words this man of God is saying.

Lord Jesus says in Luke 6;45

Luke 6: 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil [i]treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Heart is not the physical heart - just as Pastor mentioned in the bible study

but the human body consists of 3 parts

Body, Soul, Spirit

You are a spirit, living in a body and has a soul.

1 Thessalonians 5:23

23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify[g] you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

you as a whole has to be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord.

That is why Psalmist says - My meditation be acceptable, pleasing in your sight.

But the problem is 

body soul spirit

who is the master? It is the spirit that should be the master of the man.

and soul and body should do what the spirit directs.

But what happens, we do what our mind says.

very often - our Soul becomes the boss.

Romans 7 : 19-23

 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

The war is always on the mind.

Carnal mind - death

Spiritual mind - life

Romans 8: 6,7

6 For to be [b]carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the [c]carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 

That is the reason your meditation plays a big role in renewing your mind.

Why you should read your bible everyday? not because you want feel happy that you finished your reading and God will put a attendance mark that i finished reading.

It is for the renewal of your mind.

Let us look at the meditation of one woman.

Mark 5 : 25-34

25 Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, 26 and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. 28 For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”

29 Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the [f]affliction. 30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”

31 But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”

32 And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. 33 But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. 34 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

Doctor after doctor gave her the certificate that she could not be healed.

She spent all the money she had for medication.

V27 - She heard - Faith comes by hearing, and hearing the Word of God

V28: Now She started Meditating in the midst of the crowd.

When we come to Church and hear the Word of God, we go back and we talk about what did they wear, which is the new car in Church - lot of meditation of things that don't matter.

But this woman is different, in the midst of big crowd, she started meditating.

She Heard, and She meditated and She acted.

the fountain of blood stopped.

Don't be the crowd, be the remnant.

You have to tell your mind what you should do?

You mind might say, so many things hapenned, so many experiences, but the spirit says go to Jesus.

SPIRIT SPEAKS TO SOUL

Psalm 103: 1,2

103 Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:

Psalmist is telling his soul, directing is soul  to bless the Lord.

forget not all HIs benefits - meditate 

When David faced goliath, he did not forget how God helped him to kill the bear and lion and protect his sheep.

Your meditation involves remembering what God has done and telling your soul to bless the LORD.

ABRAHAM Meditation

Identity

. 5 No longer shall your name be called [c]Abram, but your name shall be [d]Abraham; for I have made you a father of [e]many nations.

From 99 to 100 - one year that mind has to be renewed, 

Gods Word should speak toyou again and again and the mind should take it

The Spirit should tell the mind what to do.

Biblical, godly

Salvation

 God is the Creator

God created man and woman

Ask, how do you think you can goto heaven

would you be sure where you will spend eternity

Bad news

Romans 3:23

Good news

Romans 5:8 - Christ died for us

God loves them,

Substitution

Romans 4:4,5

Salvation cannot be earned, but only by belief

John 3:16 For God so loved

2 Corinthians 5:21  He Knew no sin

Prayer points

Pray for the Nation;
1. Justice should be done and the work of the enemy to be exposed.
2. Safety and security of all the people who are fighting to stand for truth
3. For God's word to be honored.
4. Pray for our children, youth and high school kids that they will not be indoctrinated.
5. The church and belivers will stand for the truth
6. A revival will break out in this land, in our church and many lives will be saved.
7. Pray for jobs for Sharath , Drakshavelli and Shennel.
8. Pray for Juan's healing ( husband of Migdalia)

9 Pray for Hannah, Anila, Christal, Jessica
Pray for Sheeba and villu

Psalm 70

20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.”

Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Come Quickly.

is a phrase we use when some one is delaying.

When you need a person to come urgently to you and that person delays, then you will call them and say Come quickly.

There is an urgency in Psalmists Tone.

V5

But I am poor and needy;
Make haste to me, O God!
You are my help and my deliverer;
O Lord, do not delay.

Psalmist says I am poor and needy.

It is the one who is poor and needy who says Make Haste, Come quickly.

But sometimes we live our lives as though we are not in need of God.

Just like we take our parents for granted and we live as though we dont need them.

Even that happens in regards to God.

We wakeup and does not give thanks  as though we dont need God

we talk as though we dont need God

we take decisions as though we dont need God

We spend our money and our time and our energy as though we dont need God.

If there is no sense of urgency in your heart for God.

If there is no real desire for God, but you are just a man of traditions, then you will not say Come Quickly.

Only If your heart is burning for God.

Only in the depths of your heart, you cry out and say Lord I need you.

then your will say Come Quickly O Lord.

Psalmist says

My soul longs, yes, even faints
For the courts of the Lord;
My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

Psalmist also says

For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand.
I would rather [g]be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

 The LORD is not slack , but he wants everyone to be saved.

While We Wait,

But while we wait for the Lord to intervene in our lives
Verse 4

4 Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
And let those who love Your salvation say continually,
“Let God be magnified!”

You Rejoice.

and the Key is Let God be magnified.

Too many time when we wait for Gods work in our lives, we make the problem bigger,

Psalmist says God be magnified.

Airplane looks small in sky, but the closer it comes and we go nearer , it becomes really big.

LABORERS FOR KINGDOM

LABORERS OR WORKERS

we are Gods children, we are Gods chosen, we are Gods Holy Priests, Royal Kingdom.

But God also sees us as Laborers in His harvest.

1 Corinthians 3:9

9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field,

We like to enjoy being loved.

We like to enjoy being served

we like to enjoy receiving.

But when we are assigned to do work, that becomes problem.

it is good to sing a song I am child of God. but we dont see a song, am a fellow laborer of God

We are fellow laborers

Work -> Gods plan for man is to work. there is a job for man to do.

man was never called to be idle.

Genesis 2:15

15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.

But the work became a toil after the sin.

Genesis 3:16

17 Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’:

“Cursed is the ground for your sake;
In toil you shall eat of it
All the days of your life.
118 Both thorns and thistles it shall [f]bring forth for you,
And you shall eat the herb of the field.
119 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread

Let us look at one mans work in his life 

Jacobs first job - It is the work for  love.

Genesis 29:18

18 Now Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter.

You love the work - you wanted a career, even if it is less pay you want to do it anyway,

work for commitment

27 Fulfill her week, and we will give you this one also for the service which you will serve with me still another seven years.”

After 7 years you might not have love for the work, you might have commitment to do your work, to finish your bills.

Work for saving.

Genesis 30:

29 So Jacob said to him, “You know how I have served you and how your livestock has been with me. 30 For what you had before I came was little, and it has increased to a great amount; the Lord has blessed you [l]since my coming. And now, when shall I also provide for my own house?”

Now Jacob wants to provide for his own house.

He wants to do something that his family will have something.

But Jacob , through his work at Labans house for love of his life, for his commitment, and even for his own house...

in this process ,  he raised 12 sons, that became 12 tribes.

and these 12 tribes became the nation of Israel.

He raised 12 sons.

He rebuked when Simeon and Levi struck the people of Shechem.

He raised Joseph, He raised Judah.

He was not simply working for his own self.

Everybody in the home saw that his steps were ordained by God.

His work was blessed by God, so the people raised at his home were blessed.

He became a prophet and at the end , he prophesied by blessing his children, all the 12 tribes.

He raised a Kingdom. a nation.

He was a kingdom worker.

It is easy to say that they are his physical children. but remember Jacob when he was working, each step of his life, Gods stamp was there.

pilgrimage

Genesis 49:28

28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father spoke to them. And he blessed them; he blessed each one according to his own blessing.

Matthew 9:35-38

35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease [i]among the people. 36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were [j]weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

Harvest is plenty, laborers are few.

Compassion drives your work for God.

John 6:27

 27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”