I Need Oil- Part 1
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Transcript
Handout
Handout
Something really struck me as I watched a video clip of a church that looked like a massive stadium packed with people listening to one man - a pastor - speaking.
What struck me was that from the outside looking in, it seems a little crazy that ALL THESE PEOPLE would just be sitting and listening to ONE MAN
What does he know that they don’t?
This guy must be so full of himself to tell everyone that they should listen to him.
But then it struck me - it’s not that this guy has such swelling words of incredible wisdom that no one else has - it’s that he is preaching God’s Words of Wisdom and Life!!!
21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
We are never here to lift or prop ourselves up, but we are here to Lift Jesus up:
32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”
Thank you to everyone who shares this page & this message. It is our sincere desire that we would never draw people to ourselves, but lift Jesus up so He will draw people to Himself!
The Need for Oil
The Need for Oil
Jesus Himself shared an important parable about the way the Kingdom of God works
A parable is a story with a meaning
Jesus never preached without using a parable (Mark 4:34)
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.
This is a poignant parable that demonstrates what the Kingdom of Heaven is like.
This is important because:
We should be (Christians are) living in the Kingdom of Heaven RIGHT NOW!
7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
When we live in a Kingdom, we must understand the laws and ways of that Kingdom - otherwise we may be doing unacceptable things and not even know it.
The parable of the bridegroom also gives insight into how Jesus will return for His Prepared-Bride (the church) without us knowing the day or the hour.
Lessons from Lamps & Oil:
Lessons from Lamps & Oil:
Throughout the Bible, Oil is used as a type & physical representation of the Holy Spirit & His anointing.
As we work our way through this parable, we should keep in mind that when we are mentioning oil, we should consider the Holy Spirit.
Oil Doesn’t Burn Forever:
Oil Doesn’t Burn Forever:
Lamps from this era usually could only burn for 4-5 hours before running out of fuel
The lamp would typically need to be refilled at about midnight as a result
The first refill would be able to get one through the darkest hours of the night.
There are many who try to live off of their salvation experience & end up “burning out.” We need to live FROM our salvation experience & continually be refilled.
13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”
We can’t afford to run out of the fuel of the anointing in the darkest hours - when it matters most
-Both for ourself and for those around us
We’ll talk next week about how to get yourself a refill & how to stay freshly filled.
The Bare Minimum:
The Bare Minimum:
The “Foolish Virgins” must have thought their supply would be enough to get them through until the feast was called together.
This is like the people who drive around with their fuel tank on “E” & say…I’ll make it!
I’m not making a theological argument for you to fill your car’s tank sooner, but …Come ON! LOL!!!
When I was in High School, I realized that all I needed to do to be able to what I wanted to do (play sports) was to get a 2.0 GPA
Guess what GPA I got???
Only you & God would know if you are trying to do the bare minimum to “make it” in your relationship with Him
To get the blessings you want
To make sure you aren’t cursed
To get to Heaven
To get your prayers answered
This way of living looks like doing what we “Have To” instead of living from a “Want To.”
20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.
12 For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.
I’m so glad that Jesus didn’t just come to provide “Fire Insurance” & to do the bare minimum for me.
10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
3 And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. 4 But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? 5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply.
She broke the flask herself!
No one in this church is going to wring an offering out of you…we purposefully refuse to do that - BUT…we will provide (perhaps subtle) opportunities for you to pour yourself out to the Lord and for others - the scent of the oil blessed the senses of everyone in the room.
To those around you, it may seem a waste (of time, of energy, of effort, of talent, etc) - but to you, it’s worship!
People may say you could have used what you had for what THEY consider to be a better use.
24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
Jesus was Heaven’s alabaster box of expensive perfume oil that was broken and spilled out for us.
Jesus’ sacrifice wasn’t a waste - it was a great & purposeful exchange
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Just One Thing:
Just One Thing:
Let’s live with a “Want To” from a personal encounter with Jesus Christ & pour ourself out to God and those around us.
Discussion Questions:
Discussion Questions:
What word is a lot of fun to say?
What impacted you most from this sermon? Please share what was so impactful to you.
Please read the account of the Alabaster Flask in Mark 14:1-5 and share what was fresh, and what affected you most, about this account?
What changed in you due to this sermon? Additionally, what changes, if any, will you be making in response to this sermon?