Readiness
Applying the Kingdom • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Reading:
42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.
44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Introduction:
There is a notion about serving the Lord that has Kind of been lost.
It is the being readily available to what the Lord calls and at the time He calls!
16 Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”
18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him.
19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets.
20 And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.
These moments are when Jesus was calling His disciples to be trained and learn from His direction so they would fulfill His will in all they did.
How about us?
Did Jesus call us in the same manner?
No; but He did call us to Himself through the grace He gave, in so doing we became His children and His disciples.
We have in the N.T. some expectations for being a disciple.
26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.
27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
As a new citizen of heaven we are now to represent our future home and our present Lord!
What does this have to do with being available?
Illustration:
Let’s use this hypothetical:
A young man going to bible college with the desire to apply for a mission board and become a missionary.
He is convicted by this calling to reach people because that is what God has for Him.
What is the average college debt?
In Michigan it is Just over $35,000.00 per person.
The young man finishes school and still has a calling to mission work.
He applies to a mission board and realizes a strong desire to reach Colombians for Christ.
He wants to go right now; but he can’t.
? What’s holding him back?
He has too much debt.
He isn’t able to go since he isn’t financially ready.
NOTE: I don’t want anyone to misunderstand:
It isn’t about the debt pursuing what is required for any mission boards acceptance, it is the fact that he couldn’t go right when he had a calling.
He may have to wait a few years before the debt is paid, then he is able to go.
When there isn’t anything holding us back from fulfilling the Lord’s will.
We go and leave the net behind.
It would require a lot of preparation to be ready.
Transition:
I had mentioned through last weeks parable the proper wedding procession of the time.
In it there were many different elements; but there was one which I mentioned to you about the bride having companions.
These companions would’ve been the ones whom alerted her to the coming of the groom.
They would’ve made sure to light the path to the celebration.
The parable today is that of the brides companions.
In Matthew 25:1-13 we have our text.
The Kingdom of heaven and the companions are:
Related (1-4)
Related (1-4)
1 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.
2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,
4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.
The 10 virgins have lamps that are prepared and ready for the moment the bridegroom arrives in town to receive his bride.
What were the lamps like?
These weren’t like the little oil lamps found in the homes above where they ate, they were torches.
A stick with material wrapped around one end.
It wouldn’t be lit all the time; but at a moments notice it could have oil poured onto it, lit and would last about 4 hrs.
Then they could apply more oil as needed to keep the torch burning.
What would happen without more oil after the 4 hour mark?
It would burn up the material and go out.
With this fact in our minds the parable continues and states there are differences between the 10 girls:
2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
Why?
3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,
4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.
All of the girls may have looked the same; but there were differences.
The differences between the foolish and wise were some had been prepared and some weren’t.
This is something we all understand and have seen.
Preparing yourself is like training for the big moment.
Illustration:
There are countless stories of law enforcement, and military personnel who have found themselves in a situation where they have to physically apprehend someone.
Or worse, they find themselves in a life threatening situation.
How are they supposed to handle this situation?
They must rely on their training to guide them.
An officer once found himself fighting a criminal who was going for the officers gun.
The officer struggled with him and stopped him from getting the gun.
Later the officer had stated he wouldn’t have been there if it wasn’t for his training in the academy.
His physical actions were an “automatic” response to a what was happening; which probably saved his life.
That’s an extreme example; but you and I have this superpower too.
Many of you know I have done construction for a long time.
Long enough to allow my muscle memory for certain tools to have an automatic reaction.
Example: If I am using a tape measure and am not wearing pouches, I will still drop the tape measure in my right lower pouch.
When i’m not wearing pouches it just looks like i’m a lunatic and drop my tape on the ground.
I have to consciously remind myself that i’m not wearing pouches and hook it on my pocket instead.
Many of you have muscle memory built up for the tasks you constantly do.
That muscle memory is built through the repetition of that task over a period of time.
So it doesn’t have to be a conscious thought it is just automatic.
We are relying on our “training”.
The military and police should constantly train and attempt to simulate the most stressful scenarios they possibly can as they prepare.
Then when a time of crisis happens and their adrenaline is pumping like crazy throwing all thought and fine motor skills out the window, their training to kicks in to help handle the emergency.
Connection:
The differences between these ten women was built over a period of time:
Some prepared themselves.
The others did not.
In light of preparation:
Point:
How are you training yourself in your faith?
Do you know how to train?
Here are some ways to prepare yourself in your faith.
Train your mind (which is firming up your foundation) know what scripture teaches and you can know that through reading and memorizing.
Train your body (which is maintaining a level of health) to be able to go the distance and your ministry isn’t hindered because of it.
Train your soul (which is your inner man) to be committed to holiness and righteousness.
Transition:
The steps you take while everything is calm is preparing you for when it isn’t
This is what we call:
Readiness (5-10)
Readiness (5-10)
Were the women ready?
5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.
6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’
7 Then all those virgins rose 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, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’
10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.
They all fell asleep.
They all were tired so they slept.
There was nothing wrong with this.
6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’
They were all asleep but had been startled awake.
I’m not sure about you but that is not my favorite way to wake up.
Illustration:
The first couple years Katie and I were married we had an apartment in Fort Myers and one night, in the middle of the night, the fire alarm was going off in our building.
I didn’t hear it and kept sleeping, Katie elbows me awake.
I was mad, I didn’t appreciate her elbowing me to wake me up.
In that moment she asked me: “Don’t you hear that?”
It was an ear piercing screeching alarm.
We knew what to do so we walked outside as we should to get away from the building and stay safe if there was a fire.
it was nothing; but before we walked out we looked out the window and noticed a young man standing outside in his underwear.
That young man was startled awake and panicked then ran outside!
Needless to say He wasn’t ready for an emergency.
Just like the moment someone called out “here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet Him.”
This was the moment that sleeping allowed something that wasn’t an emergency, seem like one.
All of the girls had the correct devices; but some didn’t have a supply to make the trip.
7 Then all those virgins rose 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, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’
Why couldn’t the prepared ones share with the UN-prepared?
That is somewhat of a point that Jesus is making:
There are some things that you cannot borrow!
Obviously the women in these passages are portraying believers in Jesus.
What are the things that a believer cannot borrow from another?
Holiness.
Righteousness.
Forgiveness of Sins.
The foolish are the ones who count themselves among the saved; but aren’t ready for Jesus’ return.
When He comes they will want others’ righteousness, holiness, and forgiveness of sins.
One philosophy of ministry Katie and I have adhered to is this:
To help people have a faith that is theirs, and to know it.
Not their parents faith
Not the church’s faith
Not their “groups” faith
Their own personal faith, and to know what they believe and why!
When our faith is dependent upon everyone else, it isn’t real faith.
This is where the foolish girls found themselves.
They had bibles; but didn’t know the God it was written about, they knew of Him.
10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.
This is what will happen to those who do not know Jesus as their savior!
The door will be shut, which means they missed their opportunity.
There is no more time and there aren’t any appeals, it’s final.
This isn’t much different than when God shut the door to the ark!
All who weren’t in the ark died, received the judgment they asked for when they rejected the good news!
Transition:
The fruit or our readiness will be revealed when it’s time!
This is where we hear Jesus give the:
Result (11-13)
Result (11-13)
11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’
12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’
13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
The girls made the journey, after they had gone into the market to buy more oil for their torches.
The door was shut!
They tried to make their appeal.
11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’
Were here, Were here!
12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’
Did you know there are a lot of different churches in the world?
Why are they different?
There are doctrinal differences.
There are a lot of different doctrines people adopt as factual biblical teachings.
Most of which aren’t biblical, they are man-made.
Because of it people measure their “earnings”:
You have to check all the right boxes:
Go to church.
Have a bible, sometimes read it.
Recite the correct prayers.
Give money to a lot of charitable things.
Be kind to others…etc...
As long as you are a “good christian” you can go to heaven.
A lot of people may think something like this:
It doesn’t matter as long as you’re a good person God will accept you after you die.
?Is this what Jesus tells us will pass for acceptable by Him?
He says many times, not just in these passages, that He will remove those who didn’t know Him from His presence!
Let me ask you a question:
Is getting to heaven the main idea?
If you are someone who believes that is the main goal, you may find yourself having this statement directed at you:
23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
I don’t say that in a mean way or to condemn.
I say that to hopefully reveal something you missed about salvation.
We get to have a relationship with God Himself, because of Jesus Christ!
50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.
51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.
Jesus’ work was finished when He died.
He payed the price for all sin!
In the Matthew 27 passage we are told that there is no longer the barrier between God and man.
We can enter His presence at any time without a human high priest representation.
Because our High Priest is Jesus and when we pray we are appealing to Him and His authority, to God Himself!
We get to have a relationship with our creator because of the good news; we can know Him.
That is where we get the idea that our “religion” is a relationship based faith, not because of works.
We don’t want to hear what Matthew 25:12 says
12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’
We want to hear: “well done, good and faithful servant.”
23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
We either are in that relationship, or we aren’t.
Here on this side of eternity we can believe in Him; but after we die it’s final!
Just like the maidens who came late and were rejected from the party!
13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
We aren’t sure when Christ will come; but we know He is coming.
Conclusion:
Have you been preparing yourself for that moment, so you won’t be caught by surprise?
If you have been preparing your life will bear fruit that reveals your relationship with Christ is the most important one in your life!
If you fear the finality of the result, you can place your faith in Christ and enter the relationship He desires today!
If you do believe in Christ for your salvation and have a relationship.
Take the practical steps to prepare yourself for that day:
Train your mind.
Train your body.
Train your soul.
So your prepared for the day He comes.
-Pray!