Wednesday, June 17, 2009

You Must Have Oil

25:1 "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins
who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

25:2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

25:3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them,

25:4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

25:5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

25:6 And at midnight a cry was heard:
'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!'

25:7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.

25:8 And the foolish said to the wise,
'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'

25:9 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.'

25:10 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.

25:11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying,
'Lord, Lord, open to us!'

25:12 But he answered and said,
'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.'

25:13 Watch therefore,
for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

As you know, oil is representative of the Holy Spirit. This is obtained by spending time with Jesus. There is no other way.
Little time, little oil. Much time. Much oil.
Little time in the Word results in little indication of the Truth of God in your conversation and life.
Little time in prayer results in little manifestation of Christ in you.
Notice Jesus uses this parable as an end time passage. We are warned not to be caught these days without sufficient bathing in the Water of the Word and spending time in the presence of Christ in solitary prayer.
Oh, you who lead in the church, please lead in the example of maintaining much oil in your lamp.