Springs Article 2022-04 (1)
Matthew 24:36 – 25:13, Luke 12:35-48, Luke 12:35-40, Psalm 119:105, Revelation 4:5, Ecclesiastes 9:8, Romans 8:14, Proverbs 20:27, 23:23, John 17:17, 8:31-32, Psalm 119:105,130, James 1:21
Who are the virgins in Matthew 25:1-13?
- The 10 virgins are servants of the bridegroom because they call him their Lord within the story.
- Their assignment was to keep watch (a night watch) with their lamps burning, ready to accompany the bridegroom (their Lord) to his wedding.
Where all the virgins wise in Matthew 25:1-13?
- Half of them were wise and half of them were foolish.
- The wise virgins took oil for their lamps but the foolish did not. When the night watch became prolonged, the lamps of the foolish virgins began to dim out. The ‘fire and light’ of their lamps could no longer be sustained for their mission of accompanying their Lord to his wedding.
- While they went out looking for oil, the bridegroom came and took those who were ready with him to the wedding, and the door was shut.
Who do the virgins represent in our lives today?
- The virgins in this story are Church saints (the potential bride) who are servants of their Lord Jesus Christ (the bridegroom).
- All true believers are called to watch and be ready for the Rapture which can happen at any time.
What do the lamps of the virgins represent in our lives today?
- The lamps of the virgins signify the spirit of believers full of ‘fire and light’ which is enabled by the oil of truth based on ‘the Word and the Spirit’.
What was the error of the foolish virgins?
- The foolish virgins took their lamps but no oil with them for the journey.
- These are believers who are not paying attention to ‘the Word and the Spirit’.
- They are prayerless, complacent, worldly, compromising, selfish and unfaithful.
- They are not paying attention to ‘devotion and service’ to the Lord.
- Their complacency means that their lamps are dimming and they are gradually running out of spiritual fire and light.
How does foolishness affect the destiny of a believer?
- Not all professing believers in Christ are wise in terms of following the voice of their Shepherd (Jesus Christ) and doing His will.
- Only the wise ones will make the Rapture which is an exclusive event for faithful believers. The other half are left behind for not being ready (i.e. not being faithful to their Lord).
- The foolish virgins can be called ‘unbelieving believers’ because they don’t have much regard for (obeying) the Word of God.
What is wisdom?
- Wisdom is connected to truth and truth is sound doctrine based on a balanced understanding of the Word.
- You can buy truth by paying attention to the Word.
- For your light to shine, you need revelation (wisdom, light and understanding) that comes from the Word of God.
- It takes time (attention, diligence and perseverance) to get revelation.
- It takes personal commitment to the Word and the Spirit.
- You cannot make the Rapture just by depending on the revelation and faithfulness of others. You can only make it by keeping your own lamp burning for Jesus.
Matthew 24:36 – 25:13, Luke 12:35-48, Luke 12:35-40, Psalm 119:105, Revelation 4:5, Ecclesiastes 9:8, Romans 8:14, Proverbs 20:27, 23:23, John 17:17, 8:31-32, Psalm 119:105,130, James 1:21
2022: A Year of Fruitfulness
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