Watch and Be Ready

(S1) — THIS IS THE END!

Do you believe in the second coming of Christ?

79% Yes/17% No

Do you believe that Jesus will return in your lifetime? 20% Yes—39% No (Pew research poll/2006)

The leads me to believe that as Christians, we tend to think more about our end of days then the end of days

‘Eschatology: Doctrine of the ‘last things’ or end times—The final events of history; tribulation, and coming of Jesus in glory.

…this will be a time judgment; when all will answer for…

…and of hope; when Christ will return and make all things right…

“The people of God will be rewarded for their faithfulness and it will be a day of great joy and celebration” Timothy Tennent

Many have tried to predict it and failed! Jesus…that the time is even unknown even to him

Matthew 24:36 “No one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.”

Today’s scripture lesson is part of a long discourse by Jesus; telling of his imminent return {Matthew 24-25}

{24:30}

Many in Jesus’ time would have concerned with the ‘the consummation of all things’

Ephesians 1:10 “And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth.”

But, that is not the focus of today’s parable of Jesus—It’s about being watchful and ready

Are you living only for today…or living for tomorrow today? Are you spiritually ready not only for death…but for Christ’ return?

Kids game—Hide & Seek

One thing is certain whether we are ready or not Jesus will return! The question is will people be ready?

(S2) —

Purpose of...(bottom line)

Matthew 25:13 ““So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.”

Ready or not here I come!

Spiritual Readiness: living with the expectation of the return of Christ and preparing for it; whether we are alive, or our days here have ended

How can we actively prepare? Why should every Christian get ready?

PRAY

(S3)

“Few human events are more weighted emotionally than weddings” (1)

Parents, bride/groom/family...invest heavily...wanting everything to go perfect

“Fragile events with lots of potential for mishap or even disaster”

— Getting to the church on time…dress doesn’t fit…forgetting the license…family drama…passing out..

Not surprising that Jesus would again choose an event such as this to make a certain point, revealing the likeness of the kingdom of God.

(S4) —

In ancient Jewish Customs, weddings were; “Every bit as fragile and emotionally weighted; with the potential for mishaps”

Three stages—Engagement/Betrothal/Celebration—Climax of the wedding; the 3rd stage

— Bridesmaids…brides home/Bridegrooms arrival…

— Processional…a celebration of dancing in the streets marking the grooms arrival

Since it was evening lamps (torches)...were to be in good order to light the way

(S5) — {25:1}

Who’s Who? What’s What?

— Bridesmaids (virgins) represent all believers; the Christian church

— The Bridegroom is Jesus himself

— The Wedding Celebration is the “marriage supper of the lamb” (Rev 19:6-9)

 The great celebration when Christ and His Bride the Church are united. Portraying the intimacy of beleiver and Jesus

The parable presents three problems

The Bridegrooms delay (5)

The lack of preparation…(8) leading to their missing out…(9)

The locked door...

While they are characterized differently as Wise/foolish…what is common of all the bridesmaids

— (1a )All of them were invited to join the celebration...

1 Timothy 2:3–4 “This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.”

Matthew 22:14 ““For many are called, but few are chosen.””

— (1b) All of them had what they needed...lamps

Luke 10:42 “but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.

Acts 1:4 “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised.”

— (5) All of them fell asleep...pointes to the need of rest

Genesis 2:2 “On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work.”

Hebrews 4:10 “For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world.”

— (6) All were awakened by a loud shout

1 Thessalonians 4:16 “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God.

Ephesians 5:14 “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.””

— (7) All got up and readied their lamps; pointing to the work of all believers

1 Timothy 6:18 “They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others.

(S6) — Where they depart in their preparedness

3 “The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, 4 but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil.”

To be foolish is to demonstrate folly or lack of forethought—poor planning

Camping/hiking; lack of preparation—forgetting something important— tent but no tent pegs/bug spray/new boots not broken in/flashlight no extra batteries/food with no cook stove (find the latrine in the night)

The wise were prudent...responsible in both daily and spiritual matters

“It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark”

Not all of the invited guests were of the same mind and heart

—Like not all of Jews were on the same page about Jesus

— so are all professing Christians not alike; in regards to spiritual readiness

Are you living ready for Jesus’ return? Are you living only for today…or living for tomorrow today?

The night had gone long, and with the grooms late arrival, the oil in the lamps had run dry!

(S7) — {25:8-9}

This is where we get to the heart of the matter: the significance of the oil

Oil was a “staple commodity in the daily life of the people—cooking, lighting, medicinal purposes, crucial to their economy”

It was also religiously symbolic—used for anointing…

“Oil became emblematic of spiritual blessing, divine presence, and the outpouring of God’s spirit upon His chosen people” Mia, Lawerence, Biblical Scholar, Free Bible Study Hub

Oil symbolizes Spiritual Readiness; the necessity of God’s presence in the life of every believer

Not all Christians are equal as is not all of those in the church—some go through the motions…but their hearts are void of the spirit that gives life

John 6:63 “The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”

If we are not attentive to the spirit of God working in us…then when being a Christian gets hard…our deficiency is exposed.

Study: Church Under Fire

The bridegroom delayed arrival with their unpreparedness leads to consequence…

(S8) — {25:10}

Matthew 25:10 ““But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked.”

Even though people could come and go during wedding feasts, doors were commonly locked as the bolt used to shut doors was noisy and cumbersome; therefore some may have felt unwelcome.

Revelation 3:7 ““Write this letter to the angel of the church in Philadelphia. This is the message from the one who is holy and true, the one who has the key of David. What he opens, no one can close; and what he closes, no one can open:”

This underscores our necessity to being spiritually ready so as to be welcomed into the heavenly banquet to come upon Jesus’ return— the importance of deep faith over being outward religious; going through the motions is not enough, just believing is not enough

The extra oil symbolizes three very important things to ready the beleiver in waiting for Christ’ return

…true discipleship; requires and ongoing, intimate relationship with God

…a continual reliance and dependance on the empowering presence of the Holy Spirt

…it challenges us to examine the state of our reserves.

How are we cultivating our relationship with Jesus…being filled regularly with the H.S.’s sustaining life-giving, light-bringing power in every aspect of our lives?

The wise bridegrooms were diligent in keeping their lamps burning…they prepared by bringing more than enough to lite the way to the banquet prepared

Matthew 5:16 “In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”

(S9) — {25:11-12}

The heart of the matter…all are welcome; but not all will be ready and not all will be able to enter

— Christ delay in coming is a challenge for some Christians—more concerned with when…

— The lack of preparation will result in some being left out. The door is locked when upon death, if we have not considered our salvation

Luke 13:24–25 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to

Do you believe in the second coming of Christ?

More than just believing that Christ will come again but preparing for when Christ will come again

— It means fueling your un-going relationship with God

— nurturing a dependency on the presence of the H.S. in every part of your life

— Examining the state of your reserves; the oil of salvation

(S10) — Ready or not here I come!

Matthew 25:13 ““So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.”

When Christ returns, and he will, it will be…

…a time judgment; when all will answer for…

…a time of hope; when all that is wrong with this world will be made right

It will be a grand celebration; the question is, will you be an invited guest who is spiritually prepared?

“The people of God will be rewarded for their faithfulness and it will be a day of great joy and celebration” Timothy Tennent

Resources

Feasting on the Word