"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us."
Ephesians 3:20

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." 2 Cor. 3:17 MATTHEW TWENTY FIVE Matthew 25 explains that there are three parts for a proper response for those who are waiting expectantly for our Lords eminent return. The parable of the ten virgins teaches us to be full of the Spirit. The parable of the talents shows us the need to be using what God has given us. And the parable of helping the poor explains our need to care for others. In all three parables judgment was given on the basis of actions. But how do we motivate ourselves to do right? As our relationship grows, we realize who Jesus is and the love that He has for us causes us to serve Him. Our expectation of His return also causes us to be actively involved. Don't neglect the fuel that keeps the fire going. The ten virgins signify professing Christians. Their lamps signify their testimony. The oil in the lamps signify the working of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Oil is presence and power of the Holy Spirit (Wilson's Types p. 335) Some of the virgins had extra oil some did not. How do we keep oil in our lamps? Stay in tune with God and watch your spiritual life. If your desire for the Bible and prayer have fallen, then the fire has gone out in your lamp. We will talk about what we care about. If we aren't telling others about Jesus than our relationship with Jesus is suffering. As we yield to the promptings we will become more in tune with the Spirit and will be able to hear Him better. (Hebrews 5:14) The Spirit is given to those that obey. (Acts 5:32) If we aren't doing what the Spirit already has told us to do how can we expect Him to give us more? (Matthew 25:21) We are edified by praying in tongues and this will fill us with the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 14:4; Jude 20) Meditating on the Word of God day and night. (Joshua 1:8) I did this at one point in my life with Bible verses on 3 by 5 notebook cards and the Lord gave me my hearts desire by giving me a wife. It is true the more we stay in the ward the more we will be given of the Spirit of God, if we seek Him in truth. (John 15:5, 4:24) Be ready for the Master's return with the Holy Spirit. How do we keep our lamps alight? First of all, we have to use our lamps if we are going to keep them alight. Paying attention to our spiritual walk allows us to fine tune our lamps. If we are not paying attention to the lamp we will not notice when the light goes out. (Revelation 3:2) Don't let criticism put your light out. (2 Corinthians 10:5; Romans 8:31) In camping, if I don't pay attention to the campfire it will go out. The coals will still be there so it will be easier to restart the fire but the longer I take the harder it will be to restart the fire. It is the same with the Spirit. The longer I neglect the Spirit in my life the harder it is to reignite the love and service for God. We should not take a break from serving God. Do we take a break from our spouse? If we pray in faith God will give us times of refreshing to know Him better. (Psalm 23:2,3;37:7) The Sabbath was created for a time of rest and that is what church is for us now. Jesus was strengthened in service and we can too are we rely on Him. (John 4:34) We should take time to get away and refresh our hearts before Him but this only is good if our attitude is to get back into service. Be dressed in readiness and keep your lamps alight. (Luke 12:35) The virgins had gone asleep. Some did not have enough oil when they were awakened. To be dressed in readiness is not to be lulled to sleep by the apparent lack of the Lord's return. (2 Peter 3:8,9) It is being clothed with the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18) Living under the blood of Christ (Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18,19) in faith and obeying Him as the Lord directs us. Our righteousness does not consist in our works but in our faith in the blood of Jesus that cleanses us from our sins. (Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:16) Jesus is coming back for us, hallelujah! Let us expect our Lord Jesus as a bride waits for her bridegroom. (Revelation 22:7,12,20) The key to the first parable is to be ready for the Masters return. Have oil to use when He arrives. We get the oil by believing what the Lord has spoken to us in our time seeking the Lord. The second parable is about talents. "The talents represent the quality of the gifts given to Christians for the service of the Lord." (Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types p. 450)* Use the time and abilities that God has given us for the betterment of God's Kingdom. (Psalm 90:12) Utilize what God has given you for the betterment of the Kingdom of God. (Romans 15;1) We are aliens and strangers and our citizenship is in heaven. We are not our own but are the Lord's We have been bought with a price which is the blood of Jesus. (2 Peter 2:11; 1 Corinthians 6:19,20) Use what God has given to us for His glory. God made man out of dirt and He can build a gifting in us out of the little that we have. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Eph. 2:10) God has a work for us to do and the more we apply ourselves to do that the more He will use us. (2 Timothy 2:15) Having a calling does not mean that we are skilled in it. Study and learn how to do the work that God has for us. Plan and use your time wisely. Number your days to apply your heart unto wisdom. The key to the second parable is to use what God has given to us for His glory. We stay full of the fuel and fire for our Lord because we are waiting for His eminent return. (1 John 3:3) We work and multiply what He has given us because we know He will judge our works but what drives us is the fire and fuel of the Spirit. We give because He first gave to us. We give to others because His love is flowing through us. (1 John 4:19) The third parable about helping the poor is a call not to just please yourself but to reach out to help those that are less fortunate than yourself. Many times it is those that have just come out of trouble that have a sensitive heart to help others. The Holy Spirit will give us the sensitivity to help others if we are sensitive to the Holy Spirit. Are our lamps alight? Are we waiting for our Master to return? Help those in need. Jesus identified with the poor. He came to the earth as a baby of poor parents. And He wants us to follow in His steps. (1 Peter 2:21) That does not mean that we are to live in the street, but it does mean that we are to reach out to those in need. Jesus came to preach the Gospel to the poor. (Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18) He wanted to help those in need and that is what we are called to do. (John 20:21) In fact it to our best interest to help the poor. In Psalm 112 the righteous are those that lend and give to the poor. Helping the poor allow us to enter into the blessings God gives. When we give to a poor man we are lending to the Lord and He will repay us for the good deed. (Proverbs 19:17) Helping the poor is a spiritual insurance. Look at Eccl. 11:1,2 "Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days. Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth." If we horde our wealth we will come to want. If we give out to others we will be taken care of. This is spiritual insurance. It is a promise from God to those that can believe. This frees us for ministry knowing that God will take care of our need. Look at Luke 18:1-8 Ministry involves doing the things that God has led us to do. To be effective in ministry we should be in prayer. If we don't have faith to give out to others we haven't prayed enough. Because anything that we do should be done in faith. (Heb. 11:6) Why don't we give to the poor? Because we are concerned about making sure our family is secure. But if we have prayed we have the confidence to reach out to others. Have we prayed? Are our lamps alight? Are we ready for our Masters return? That's why Jesus said "I never knew you" to those who did not help the poor. It was because they never pressed in to prayer to know God. If they knew God they would have love and if they had the love of God they would reach out to the poor. "But whoever has the world's goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?" (1 John 3:17) The key to the third parable is to help those in need. Press in to know God and he will give you compassion for those that are in need. Let us be awake in the Spirit in prayer to serve God in a way that pleases Him which means that we are serving in faith. Let us use the things God has given us for His glory and not for our own use because we have been bought with a price and we are not our own. Let us give out to others having the heart of God, knowing that He will take care of our needs. It is rapture season. Jesus is coming soon! WATER FROM THE ROCK "Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types" by Walter Lewis Wilson Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. Grand Rapids, Michigan 1957 October 1993 Scott McCrae Home | Back to Top

This website is hosted for free by . Get your own Free Website now!