how not to cool off spiritually / or how to be a keeper of the flame

scripture

English Standard Version Chapter 25

25 “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. 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. 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.

Mathew 25:1 “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. 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. 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.

In this parable Jesus illustrates diversity in the kingdom

there will always be diverse groups in the kingdom on earth.

Paul says in there will always be divers groups in the body, thats why God has given diverse gifts to help us reach unity in our faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ () WERE NEVER COMPLETE DOWN HERE! ()

THERE WILL BE DIVERSE GROUPS

wheat / tares

babes / mature

carnal / spiritual

It’s important for us as believers to know where we’re at spiritually

am i wheat or tare

am i carnal or spiritual

am i a babe or mature

It’s important to know because you wanna stay growing in your walk with Christ!

‘the same way you have regular doctors visit and you wanna know if your blood pressure is high, or your cholesterol etc… you wanna know your spiritual pulse’

Jesus in this parable breaks the kingdom down into two groups … Wise & Follish

there are 10 virgins

they all are awaiting the bridegroom

they all took their lamps to meet him

5 the text says are wise

5 the text says are foolish

foot note: Reversal of roles

there waiting on the bridegroom instead of customarily on earth waiting on the bride.

Who is the bridegroom: Jesus () ()

Ten virgins are the church: bride

Continuity

virgins - / ( / ) THEY WERE ALL MADE ANEW IN CHRIST

same opportunity - ,

2. Contrast

5 wise

5 foolish

Note: Jesus condenses the walk, life & devotion of the ten virgins into a lamp.

in biblical antiquity a lamp was either a stone bowl or hollow, that contained olive oil, a wick made of flask, and as long as their was oil it would burn

Question: why was the wise considered and the foolish considered? Preparation or the lack there of

3. Conclusion

wise rewarded

foolish suffer loss

you can’t loose your salvation ( / ) its a contract that can’t be breached. You can loose out on blessings that God has for you.

Moses -

David -

Elijah-

What differentiates the wise from the foolish in the text?

this will help us understand how cool down spiritually happens. Preparation!

overall the wise are more concerned about their light going out than the foolish.

concerned about what it takes to kee

WHAT DOES SPIRITUAL COOL DOWN LOOK LIKE

this text helps us understand that being on fire for GOD is not only GODS will but it takes work!

Look at vs.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.

HOW DOES IT HAPPEN

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.

2. HOW DOES IT HAPPEN

FLOOR: what do you derive from this? when we talk about spiritual cool down

LACK OF CONCERN…the foolish had no concern about their light = life, walk, & devotion to GOD ( / Isaiah 10:27)

life -how you live for God

walk -how you serve God

devotion- how you love God

SPIRITUAL COOL DOWN FOR ME AS A BELIEVER, HERE’S HOW TO DETECT IT.... WHEN IM NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THE THINGS OF GOD

 “ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!

the Laodicians weren’t concerned about their spiritual condition....

 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

become laxed

spiritually lazy

disconnected from fellowship

not serving

inconsistant devotion

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

2. HOW DOES IT HAPPEN

Disenchantment - (Mathew 19:27-29) Peter says to Jesus we’ve sacrificed a lot for the kingdom. The 5 wise virgins sacrificed to keep the fire burning. We get disenchanted in our walk with Christ by the daily sacrifice.

Disillusionment - this occurs when the believer is deceived into thinking they can grow and get by on the bare minimum, the least possible investment into their spiritual growth.

 About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

Discouragement

Discouragement - (John 16:33)

3. STEPS TO RECOVERY

be honest - be truthful about where you are in your walk

be humble - seek help and or repent

honor God - seek to honor God with your life

How to stay on Fire

daily scripture reading

prayer

worship /singing

writing / journaling

meditation

listen to sewrmons

book reading - John Bevere

fellowship

corporate worship

corporate bible study

serving

acts of kindness