Flashlights Ready

Background to passage: This text is found in the Olivette Discourse that Jesus delivered in the days before his arrest. It focuses on the end times, signs, judgment, and a few parables, of which this is one.

Jewish marriage consisted of three parts: 1) engagement, 2) betrothal, 3) wedding feast and consummation. This parable takes place at the end of the betrothal period when the bridesmaids are all together at the brides house awaiting the coming of the groom and his groomsmen to come at night. They will parade through the streets of the town at night with torches announcing that the wedding is beginning, the feast is on, and all some come to the party!

In this text we will see ten bridesmaids, five foolish and five wise. The Lord tells the parable to engrave the theme of preparedness upon the minds of the apostles and all disciples that we must be prepared.

Matthew 25:1–13 ESV

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 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.’ 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. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

Opening illustration: The Hard Labor State Park hunt with the woods crawling with people, and finally up in a tree and I need it to stay on up to daylight, but my flashlight goes out...

Main thought: I want Jesus to drive home the importance of the first 30 days of this year for our church. I want to plead with you to take this month of prayer and fasting more serious than you ever have. I want to emblazon it in your mind that the life of our church depends on God hearing and answering us this month!

1) Necessary Supplies (v. 3-4)

Matthew 25:3–4 ESV

For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.

1) Necessary Supplies (v. 3-4)

Explanation: The Word, the Spirit, the prayer guide, the HOPE strategy, and each other.

Argumentation:

Illustration: packing list for our Caribou hunt in Alaska several years ago.

Application: There has never been a generation with more access to the Word than this one. Bibles on our phones, dozens in our houses, in the backs of pews, and passed out by the thousands all over this country. Whatever your preferred method is, prepare to use it.

If you are a believer, the Spirit lives in you. He is the down payment of salvation and the one that will help us to pray this month. Practice listening to his leadership this month.

Each other. This is a church family dedicated time of prayer and fasting. We are to be desperate for God together. We are to encourage each other to love and good works. We are praying in unity, therefore we need each other. Fasting may be tough for some, those of you who have done it before may help.

2) Necessary Plan (v. 7)

Matthew 25:7 ESV

Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.

2) Necessary Plan (v. 7)

Explanation: Any great accomplishment, any personal goal, any spiritual exercise will require a plan. We’ve got a general plan - begin with the guide on Jan 1, pray with HOPE in mind, fast together on Thursdays as a church (and other days that you’ve selected), finish on Jan 31st. However, you need to develop a personal plan.

Argumentation:

Illustration: Knox went to stay with a friend the other night, and as a parent you are always concerned about what they are watching at someone else’s house. This friend’s father went old-school and introduced them to Rocky Balboa, Rocky I came out in 1976. In Rocky II, he fights Apollo Creed again. Rocky is a southpaw, left-handed, but fights right-handed the whole fight, then strategically switches back to his natural left in the 15th round for the final knock out. It was Mickey’s plan all along for surprise.

Application: We want to take it to the next level this month. We do not want to be satisfied with our normal faith practice, whatever that is. We want to fix our eyes upon Christ and call out to him with unusual passion. That will require you to plan ahead and trust ahead (because this is not simply about grinding it out).

What will it take for you? A dedicated time? Carrying around your guide or bible? Screensavers or wallpaper? Notecards? Extra time of silence, maybe get up 15 or 20 minutes earlier than usual? Set aside times to listen. Have a prayer partner? Dig deep into to person and work of Christ? Maybe dig into the mission of disciple-making?

3) Necessary Determination (v. 9)

Matthew 25:9 ESV

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.’

3) Necessary Determination (v. 9)

Explanation: how difficult would it be to tell your friends that they could not have some of your oil because then you wouldn’t have enough? When one has enough motivation and determination, one will execute. Execution doesn’t happen accidentally. Doing hard things requires effort.

2 Timothy 2:3–7 ESV

Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

2 Timothy 2:10 ESV

Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

Illustration: watched a special the other night called WWII in Color, Battles in the Pacific. It covered the battles the Mariana Islands, like Guam, Peleliu, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. Every time it was the same thing, naval bombardment, then storm the beaches. Over and over they read from the journals about the feelings of fear, death, but a sense of duty and determination. Battles that were supposed to take days took weeks...

Application: This is where the rubber meets the road for many of us. We used to use words like backsliding or rededication, but the actual idea that we should aim for is “surrender”. Many of us need a fresh surrender to Christ. We need a new line in the sand. We need a new flame lit. We need not only a rifle, not only a plan of attack, but we must run on to the beaches with reckless abandon.

Let’s make it clear, our church must have God move in our midst! We MUST have revival! We MUST destroy complacency, apathy, and maintenance of the status quo and business as usual. We MUST have growth! We MUST have evangelism and determination to take the gospel. We MUST see baptisms. We MUST be financially stable. We MUST look into the future to see what God has for us. We must listen to the Spirit and walk in his steps. It begins with each one of us being engaged and locked in beginning Thurs. Our future as a church may well depend on God’s work through our prayer this month!

Closing illustration:

Recap