Are we sleeping?
Are we sleeping?
Parable of the Ten Virgins
Matthew 25:1 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
6 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins arose 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, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’
13 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
Pray
Today I want to ask you 2 questions about what we just read.
In this parable of the ten virgins, why are they all sleeping before the time comes?
And what does this sleep mean or represent?
Based upon this the text we just read, this story is a portrait of Christ’s final return. Jesus ends this parable by saying in verse 13
13 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
It’s very important that we understand this parable; I sure most of you have read or heard this story. But do you know what it means. Before we get started, I want you to underline this verse, because this is what this whole sermon boils down too.
Rev 3:16
16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
God has a all or nothing policy, and that’s what we find in this parable. So lets get to it.
In this parable we have 10 women who represent God’s people or the church. The Bible often uses a woman to symbolize the Lords church. In the Old Testament, the Jewish nation was Gods special people. This is why the Bible says in:
Jeremiah 6:2
2 I have likened the daughter of Zion
To a lovely and delicate woman.
The New Testament even uses the same symbolism as well: Ephesians Chapter 5 is a great example in verse 25, Paul; says 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
Here, the relationship between a husband and a wife is compared to the bond between Jesus and His people.
Now as we read Jesus is often referred to as the bridegroom. In Luke 5:34-35 Jesus says Himself: 34 And He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days.”
He is coming back to marry and receive His bride, which is the Christian church.
Now the women in this parable are sleeping when they are supposed to be waiting and ready for Jesus, the bridegroom, to come. Understand that Jesus is not taking about physical sleep, like when we lay our head down on our pillow each night sleep, but This is a symbol of spiritual sleep. Wait a minute Pastor, what do you mean spiritual sleep. Well turn with me to the book of Romans chapter 13 verses 11-14
11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
We as Christians are soldiers in a war and need to stay alert and equipped for battle. If we live upright and honor Christ in all we do, that is often referred to as being in the light. We are living in the end-times and must be awake and aware spiritually, we can’t let our guard down, even for a second. We are not waiting on any more signs to be fulfilled, Christ can come at any moment. So we need to be prepared.
A sleeping Christian is one who isn’t truly abiding and walking with the lord, but instead only acting as if they are; They are only “going through the motions”. They may attend church each week and even read the Bible, but they aren’t living in the presence of God and have no real relationship with Him. You will know something is not right when they begin to love the things of the world more than Christ.
We must be ready at all times because Christ Himself warns us not to be asleep when He comes :
Mark 13:32-37
32 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. 34 It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. 35 Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning— 36 lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”
So the big question is, as Christians how can we stay awake until the Lord comes? As Paul said in Romans we need to walk properly/decently, we need to walk in the light, surround ourselves with Jesus, not let the flesh take over for just one second, keep looking up and seek to have a relationship with Christ like you have never had. We need to put on Jesus, meaning, we need to let Christ lead our lives as we follow in His footsteps.
1 John 2:6
6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
Like the 10 virgins in the parable, all ten lived right and all were qualified to be the spotless bride. But 5 were lacking or missing something. 5 were depending on others to get them into heaven. And the other five were ready because they did not know when the bridegroom was coming so they were prepared. So many Churches today and so many people today think that they are ready but still live in a worldly state of mind. The rich young ruler said to Christ “ I have lived my life by the ten Commandments and read the scriptures, what must I do to follow you’ and Christ said to him “if you want to follow me give all that you have to the poor take up your cross and follow me”. So the rich young ruler was mad and left. He was unable to give up his comfort zone, he did not want to suffer for the cause of Christ. Just like many of us, we want Christ to fit into our world and our lives, He created this world, He created our lives. If we want to be ready we need to be willing to fit into His life He has for us.
If we really want to be ready for Christ when He comes, then we need to stop trusting in ourselves and what we can do to improve our life. Instead we need to trust and depend upon Jesus.
Jude 1:24-25
24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
25 To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen.
Now back to the veres I told you to underline In:
Revelations 3:16
Rev 3:16
16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
This country is known for it’s and wealth, we take great pride in material well being. We put everything before Christ, sports, Television shows, activities shopping, gambling, drinking, hanging out with friends.
When we get caught up in this world, we get up on Sunday morning and say, this is my only day off so I’m going to just relax or it’s raining I can’t go to church. Even praying becomes hard to do when you live in and for the world. You never find the time. If you want to make a change in your life, or if you want to make a change in your church, You need to make a decision!!!! It’s either all or nothing you can not sit on the fence. Christ says if your lukewarm, He will vomit you out of His mouth. When you walk through those doors, ask yourself, what is my state of mind like? Did I come to church because it is expected of me or I haft to or I have always gone, or did you come to hear a fresh word from the Lord? Did you come expecting God to talk to you? Get on His frequency, He is not going to get on yours.
Many Christians walk around ashamed of being a Christian, because we know it is not acceptable today. And that is sad because Christ died for us and as churched today won’t even tell someone about Him. We rely more on technology and man than we do Christ. Well I know He is all I need. And I know if you ever feel the presence of God in your life you will never want to that to leave. The biggest thing I hear in a Baptist church is “I have worked my whole life in that church it’s time some else does it for awhile” Wrong answer!!!!!!!!!!!! Christ calls on us to do his will till we die, and then we will get our reward. It is a privilege and a honor to be saved. But most Christians see it as a burden.
As I stand here, I will tell you I’m proud to be a child of God, a follower of Christ, and I will devote my life to Him for as long as I live. I will fight the good fight. And on Judgement day when, I’m asked “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH THE GIFTS I HAVE GIVEN YOU”
I know I can answer with all my heart” I did the best I could.”
As I close today, I want to ask you, have you being doing the best you can? Do you feel the presence of God in your life? Do you think you are ready but there is something missing? Are you waiting on someone else or depending on others for your salvation?
The bible says in
Philippians 2:12
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
Are you sitting on the fence? Do you know you can do more, when this song plays if Christ is speaking to you the worst thing you can do is just sit there and do nothing? As we stand a sing, If you feel moved by the spirit then move. If you just need prayer come up and let’s pray. Your not alone. As we sing you come.