Friday, April 10, 2009

Are you ready?


Mt. 25: 1-13 (1) Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
(2) And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
(3) They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
(4) But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
(5) While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
(6) And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
(7) Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
(8) And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
(9) But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy, for yourselves.
(10) And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
(11) Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
(12) But he answered and said , Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
(13) Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Are you ready? Are you prepared? Do you have plenty of oil for your lamps? What does this mean some may ask? In the Word of God, lamps/light is symbolic of God's Word. His Word is a Lamp unto my feet and a Light unto my path. Oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit. If you do a study on oil in the old and new testament you will find that it's purpose was for anointing and consecrating. Oil was used to anoint as to dedicate something or someone to a service or goal. Oil was used to make or declare sacredness. Oil was also used for medicinal purposes as to bring healing. By the Power of the Holy Spirit in us we are anointed, dedicated, sacred and even healed.
If a lamp is shining long and bright that means that it has plenty of oil. This is the same with us spiritually speaking. The Word of God in us can only burn brightly if we are full of the Holy Spirit, sanctified set apart and anointed. Oil (Holy Spirit) brings forth the Light (Word), the Light in turn will shine forth from our lives for all to see.
You are the light of the world a city upon a hill, men will see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Jesus is the Light within us and it is by His Spirit that we burn brightly. Hide not your light under a bushel. Let it shine forth for all to see.
The foolish virgins did not have enough oil and their lamps went out. They were not prepared. They slumbered, they slept, they became lax in their waiting for the bridegroom. Their connection and their communion with their bridegroom was void and on empty. They had no oil. Now they wanted a quick fix. "Give us some of your oil" they told the wise virgins. They thought they could conveniently ride the coat tails of the wise virgins in requesting the use of some of their oil. But the wise virgins being wise as they were said "NO."
We are all accountable for ourselves to be ready for Christ's return. No one can ride someone else's coat tails into the chamber room of Christ (the bridegroom). To be His Bride ready and prepared takes having an intimate relationship in communion with Him for your own sake by and through the power of His Holy Spirit in your own life.
Always be ready and prepared. Keep filled with the oil of His Holy Spirit. Watch therefore for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the son of man cometh. The wise virgins had plenty of oil in their lamps.
Are you filled with the Holy Spirit? Is the Light of Christ/His Word, His love, His Truth burning brightly in your life? To know God's Word, and to know His Son Christ Jesus His Spirit must live within us. Our communion with God only comes through the Holy Spirit of Christ Jesus in us. Christ Jesus in us the hope of glory. If you are not filled with the Holy Spirit your light is not burning, which means that there is no communion/connection with Christ in your life. Don't be like the foolish virgins that was not prepared and came to late knocking on the Bridegroom's door only to hear Him say, "I know you not." If you have His Spirit you will be known by Him and will know Him and to know Him is to love Him and love Him is to know Him!
The Spirit and the Bridegroom say COME. The Spirit and the Bridegroom is calling to His Bride. Don't close your ears and eyes to His calling. AWAKE! Bride of Christ. May you long to know Him more intimately through the power of His Spirit and be filled, ready, and prepared for His coming!

30 comments:

Dr. Russell Norman Murray said...

'We are all accountable for ourselves to be ready for Christ's return.'

I trust in God's guidance to be ready but according to 2 Corinthians 5: 10, realize I shall also be judged.

2 Corinthians 5:10 (King James Version)

10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Happy Easter. Tamela.:)

nitewrit said...

Tamela,

Very nice, got me thinking. It'd be interesting to expand on verses 8, 9 and 10.

It is important to remember verse 5, "While the bridegroom tarried..." This is one of several places Jesus tells us there will be a passage of time before his coming again and we mustn't let that discourage or put us to sleep.


Larry E.

Chris said...

And what a coming it will be! Great post! Happy Easter!

Greg said...

Amen, Tamela! This would make a great tract. "Even so, come, Lord Jesus." :)

Tamela's Place said...

Hey Russ,

Have a great Easter! He is risen indeed :)

Tamela's Place said...

hey Lar,

I gotcha thinkin uh? Maybe those verses would be a good post for you to write on.

have a Wonderful Easter Larry!

Tamela's Place said...

Yes it will Chris,

Happy Easter to you as well!

Tamela's Place said...

Hey Greg,

The Bride and Spirit say come!

Have a great Easter with your family Greg :)

Joyfulsister said...

Hi Tamela,
I just wanted to catch up on my visit, I have been busy with retreats and time sure flies lol. I Pray you have a Blessed Easter Sunday as we celebrate our risen Lord!!!!

Hugz Lorie

Tamela's Place said...

Hello Lorie,

Hope you get some rest and have a wonderful Easter!

Jesus Christ is risen indeed!

nitewrit said...

Tamela,

Have a joyful Easter.

Jesus is risen,

Larry

Greg said...

Happy Easter, Tamela!

"But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive" (1 Cor. 15:20-22).

Jody said...

Christ the Lord is risen today, alleluia!! Happy Easter.

Gigi said...

I can't even imagine the utter hopelessness of hearing "I know you not."

Tamela, I pray you and yours had a most blessed Easter!

IJ said...

GREAT POST!!! hat a great question,
what a mesage for a time as this...

God bless you sis very, very, very much

Tamela's Place said...

This message is to Missy who recently commented at Tamela's place, Hey Missy i appreciate your visit and your comment but when i published your comment blogger did not bring it up as published and it was deleted, I hope i see you again so i can get your blog address as well and visit with you!

Blogger let me down! i hope you do come back!

Tamela :)

Tamela's Place said...

Hello gigi,

I hope that you were able to spend Easter with some family and had a wonderful time with them..

Love and God bless you gigi :)

Tamela's Place said...

hello IJ,

For such a time as this, i am seeing more and more writings about this subject!

Could it be close?

Tamela :)

Lori Laws said...

"If you have His Spirit you will be known by Him and will know Him and to know Him is to love Him and love Him is to know Him!"...beautifully put Tamela!!

A little late, but I hope that you and your family had a great Easter!!

Tamela's Place said...

Thank you Lori,

Hope you and yours had a wonderful Easter as well and also have a great week :)

Joyfulsister said...

Hi Tamela,
Thank you for the link I am going over to read it!!! You know I loved the study we had a while ago on your post about the 10 virgins. It is such an important reminder, May we all be sure to keep oil in our lamps as we wait on our bridegroom.

Hugz Lorie

Billy Coffey said...

What a powerful post, and so well-written!

Christ has given us quite the warning, hasn't He? Thanks for reminding me of what I should always have at the forefront of my thoughts and actions, for reminding me of the only thing that truly matters in this life!

Tamela's Place said...

To my new commentors,

I have had a couple of new commentors at Tamela's place on this post and for some reason when i published the comments blogger deleted them. So i hope you who were deleted do come back so that i can get your address and visit with you. Thank you for commenting at Tamela's Place I am just sorry that blogger deleted you. I found Missy but the other person If i can remember your name started with a W... I am soo sorry i hope you do come back so as i can visit with you.

Tamela :)

Tamela's Place said...

Billy,

Thank you for your comment.

You are a blessing!

Tamela :)

Anonymous said...

Thanks for explaining that! I never really understood that the lamp represented God's word and that the oil (in that case) represented the Holy Spirit!

Thanks for your comment on my blog. I loved the story about your hubby sitting on God's lap! So sweet! That's what I love about God!

BTW, I did read the Shack. I think you were one of the ones who recommended it to me. I loved it! So much about this gentle relationship that we have with God. Thanks! Love, Jenny

Tamela's Place said...

hello Jenny,

It was a good book, made me think about alot. Glad you enjoy the read as well.

My husband has had a few visions kinda like that. I love it when he shares them with me. God is so good!

Kathy Schwanke said...

I just listened to a podcast by Ray Prichard on the parable of the 10 virgins. I think it was the best one I have ever heard. Very similar to your sharing, but had an explanation of the history of the Jewish wedding feast traditions to give a clearer understanding of who the virgins were/what they were doing w/ lamps. http://www.keepbelieving.com/

I always tune my ears to teaching on the parable because the enemy used it to condemn me @ one time. It is amazing how many different ideas I have heard regarding who the virgins are, but I think Ray hit it on the head.

Tamela's Place said...

hello kathy,

Thankyou for your comment and the Link i will look it up!

God bless you!

Tamela :)

Andrew Clarke said...

Well chosen words, Tamela. You're quite right. Jesus said directly 'No man knows the hour' when He will return; and as you say, we need to remember that it could be in the next second. In other words, don't leave our Christian commitment on the back burner and think we'll worry about it later. Any time at all, consider: would I want Jesus to find me like this? (It's just as well I'm FORGIVEN, not required to reach a certain standard!)
I hope you all had a blessed Easter.

Anonymous said...

Amen Sister, I am soooo Ready! I hope you are doing well and can stop by soon. Blessings, Robin

Light breaking forth!

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