Keep Your Lamp Burning
The King Is Coming • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 16 viewsKeep Your Lamp Burning examines Jesus' parable of the ten virgins and its call for continual spiritual readiness as we await His return. Discover the characteristics of those who are prepared, the dangers of spiritual neglect, and how every believer can keep pursuing Christ with a heart that is ready whenever the Bridegroom comes.
Notes
Transcript
I. Series Overview
I. Series Overview
Every man, woman, and child is on a collision course with eternity.
There are two ways to cross the threshold into eternity:
Death.
Be present at the Lord's return.
There are two factors that work together to determine where someone will spend eternity:
The status of one's relationship with Christ.
The lifestyle someone lives because of or in lieu of their relationship with Christ.
The righteous clothe themselves in holiness, while the wicked continually wear the rags of sin.
The purpose of this series is that we are not caught unprepared should we be present when the Lord returns. The King Is Coming
II. Text
II. Text
“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.
IV. The Parable of the Ten Virgins
IV. The Parable of the Ten Virgins
A. A Deeper Look at the Parable
A. A Deeper Look at the Parable
In this parable, Jesus likens His return to a wedding, and not just any type of wedding, but a first-century Jewish wedding.
The first-century Jewish wedding went something like this:
A young man and woman would get engaged.
The young woman would wait at her parents' home while the young man went back to his parents' home and began to prepare a place for him and his bride.
The young man would be building onto the family compound.
When the place met the father's expectation, he would then say to his son, "Go get your bride."
Back at the young woman's residence, the trumpet would sound.
A messenger would proclaim, "The bridegroom is coming!"
The wedding party would gather together.
The bridegroom would come and get his bride.
The whole wedding party would then go back to the bridegroom's family compound to celebrate the wedding.
It was expected of all who were part of the wedding party to be ready at all times for the return of the bridegroom.
3. There are various ways that the parable of the ten virgins has been taught.
4. Some of the ways it has been taught are:
The importance of genuine salvation.
The importance of being filled with the Holy Spirit.
The importance of holiness.
5. However, the parable actually emphasizes the need to be spiritually prepared for the Lord's return.
B. Who Are Those Not Ready?
B. Who Are Those Not Ready?
The parable of the ten virgins indicates that there are two major groups of people: those who are ready and those who are not ready for the Lord's return.
Who are those who are not ready?
1. The Lost
1. The Lost
The lost have never been ready for the Lord's return.
This parable indicates that there are individuals who do not fit into the category of being lost, yet they will miss out with the Lord for all eternity. So who are they?
2. The One-Timers
2. The One-Timers
These are the individuals who have had a one-time experience with the Lord and yet have done nothing with the relationship with the Lord.
They might have had an altar experience at church, camp, revival services, or camp meeting, but that is all it was—a one-time experience.
In the Parable of the Talents, Jesus referred to these individuals as the ones who took their talent and hid it, and nothing came about because of it.
Matthew 25:18, 24–30
But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.
He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Their faith was a one-time event.
It was something that they started but never continued in.
3. The Religious Trend Seekers
3. The Religious Trend Seekers
These are the ones who chase every new religious trend, fad, movement, and religious leader.
Jesus refers to the trend seeker in the Parable of the Sower as the seed that fell among the stony places.
As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.
They seek the experience but ignore having a solid biblical foundation.
Their relationship with the Lord takes a backseat to the thrill they feel when they experience the latest spiritual movement or trend.
4. The Entrenched
4. The Entrenched
These are the ones whose lifestyle is fully entrenched in this sinful world's lifestyle, morality, and worldview that they never fully surrender their lives over to Jesus.
They want the benefits of having a relationship with Jesus without having to heed the standards that relationship requires.
Jesus referred to this entrenched individual in the Parable of the Sower as the seed that fell among the thorns.
As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.
You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
5. The Lethargic
The lethargic, or sleepy, individual starts out well with the Lord but, for whatever reason, begins to backslide and grow distant from the Lord.
Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.
These are just a few of the types of individuals who enter into a relationship with the Lord but then neglect that relationship, and in the end, they will not be spiritually ready when the Lord returns.
C. Those Who Are Ready
C. Those Who Are Ready
Just as there are those who are not spiritually ready for the coming of the Lord, there are also those who are spiritually ready.
Those who are spiritually ready fall into a variety of categories.
Not everyone who is spiritually ready for the coming of the Lord looks the same.
Some individuals are running toward Jesus, while others walk, and still others are limping.
Regardless of the method, they are all still moving toward Jesus.
1. The Steadfast and Unmovable
1. The Steadfast and Unmovable
These are the individuals who endure the storms of life, temptation, disappointment, and persecution for their faith, yet there is nothing that can persuade or tempt them to quit following Jesus.
This is the type of commitment that the apostles had.
It is the attitude, "I'd rather die than deny."
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face.
Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.
2. The Watchful
2. The Watchful
The watchful are those who believe that the Lord could return at any moment, and their lives, actions, and priorities are influenced by that expectancy.
These are the individuals who prioritize evangelism.
They have the mentality of, "Reach them before it's too late."
The early church fell into this category because they earnestly believed that the Lord was returning within their lifetime.
“Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
“But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”
Note how Mark 13:34 says that the master of the house charged each one with their own work to be done while they were waiting for the master's return.
3. The Hungry
3. The Hungry
These are the individuals who are not satisfied with yesterday's experience but always want more of the Lord.
They search the Scriptures for deeper understanding.
They long for a deeper, more intimate prayer life.
They seek the Lord with all of their heart.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
4. The Wrestlers
4. The Wrestlers
These are the individuals who struggle day in and day out with sin.
They might have an addiction.
They might be going through a time of sifting, as Peter did.
They might struggle with certain types of temptation.
Regardless of what they struggle with, they continue to wrestle with it and give it to God.
Some days they overcome it, and at other times they succumb to it.
However, like David, they quickly repent, get the sin under the blood, and continue walking with the Lord.
for the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’
5. The Barely Hanging On
5. The Barely Hanging On
These are the ones who are actually struggling with their faith, maybe with doubts or fears or something else, but they genuinely want to serve the Lord, so they are just keeping their head above water.
This type is represented by Peter when he walked out on the water toward Jesus but got to looking at the wind and the waves, took his eyes off Jesus, and began to sink.
Peter then cried out for help, and the Lord helped him.
But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation
It doesn’t matter which category falls into because spiritual readiness is a condition of the soul.
I’m Going Through (hymn)
I’m going through, yes, I’m going through;
I’ll pay the price, whatever others do;
I’ll take the way with the Lord’s despised few,
I’m going through, Jesus, I’m going through.
V. Invitation / Altar Response
V. Invitation / Altar Response
Repent of any unforgiven sin
Seek a closer and more intimate relationship with the Lord.
Commit to following the Lord, regardless of the circumstances you might face.
Ask the Lord to help you each step of the way.
