weekly sermon
11-09-08
Ashamed Or Approved?
The times that our country is going through is
some of the worst times we have experienced. Many things that are currently
happening have been predicted in the Bible as things that would come to pass
before the final days. The more predicted things in the Bible that we see
happening, the more we know that we are truly in the last days. As we assuredly
approach the second coming of our Lord and Saviour, I want us to really know
that we know that our souls are ready for that last hour when our Saviour comes
to take us home. This message will be a multi-part message.
How do we really know if we will be held ashamed or approved in the eyes of God?
This is what I want all to really know in the depths of their souls. There was a
Christian that was once asked what he would be if he was not a Christian. He
said, "I would be ashamed". That answer struck me as a very deep four word
answer. I had never looked at that question in that manner. I just never really
thought about what I would be if I was not a Christian. I have been very lucky
in my life to have always been a Christian and never really thought much about
what I would be if I was not one. Do you really know if your ready? The first
part of this message will be knowing if you are ready.
Turn with me to Matthew 25:1-13, "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."
Here we see that Heaven is like the virgins coming to watch for the bridegroom.
If we look in Ephesians 5 we see that it refers to Jesus as the bridegroom and
the church as His bride. From this we know that Jesus is the bridegroom that the
virgins were suppose to be going out to meet. As they were preparing to go and
meet the bridegroom we see that half the virgins were foolish and did not take
any oil to make their lamps work.
Notice next that while they were waiting on the bridegroom, they all slept. This
to some would sound a tad odd. If you are waiting and wanting to be prepared
then why would you be sleeping? Well let us look at the two different types of
virgins we have here. Remember that half had oil for their lamps and the other
half did not. So at this point half are prepared for the bridegroom and half are
not. Now we find ALL of them sleeping. This would say to some that none
were prepared if they were sleeping. The one half that had no oil for their
lamps and sleeping were definitely not prepared. This is very obvious. The half
that had oil KNEW they were prepared so they could sleep comfortably
knowing that they were ready.
Next we see that the virgins heard a cry that the bridegroom was coming and they
all woke up to greet Him. When they woke, half the lamps were out of oil and the
other half were still burning. The virgins that did not have oil asked for oil
from the others that did have some. They would not give them oil but instead
told them to go buy their own. To some this would seem selfish and cruel, but
what did it really mean? The half that had their oil came prepared as I have
stated. Let us look at this oil as our soul. The prepared half knew that their
souls were prepared. The other half did not have their souls prepared and the
first half could not prepare it for them. What I am trying to say here is that
the prepared half HAD to tell them to go get their own oil because they
could not give them anything to prepare their souls. Jesus came already and died
for our souls and that is the only thing that can help our soul, not another
person. Since another person could not buy or give anything to help your soul,
then so could the virgins not give or buy anything to help the unprepared half.
Lastly we see that while the unprepared half was gone the bridegroom came and
the prepared half went in with Him to the marriage and the door was closed.
First if we are not prepared then we will be gone and not even see Jesus when He
returns. Then when we come to see if we can come in we will find that He will
not even know us. If we were not able to be prepared for Him, then why should He
be prepared for us. He came and died that we might be prepared. All we had to do
is accept that gift from Him when He died and use that as our preparation. Also
notice that they went in with the bridegroom to the marriage. A marriage is a
total commitment between two persons. Here Jesus and our soul have made this
total commitment.
In closing I want us to look at a few things. First if we consider that the
virgins are the world and the world is waiting for the coming of Christ, then
what half of the world would you rather be with? The half that was unprepared or
the half that was prepared. Can you sleep comfortably knowing that you are
prepared for the second coming? And lastly look at the last verse in the passage
we read. It says, "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour
wherein the Son of man cometh". Do not wait to be prepared because we have no
idea when Jesus will return for our souls. If we have no clue as to when He will
return then we have to be prepared at all times. This is a warning from Jesus
telling us that He will come when we least expect it and wants us to be ready
always.
I asked a couple of questions in the closing paragraph. Which half do you want
to be? Can you sleep comfortably knowing you are prepared, and have you waited
too long in knowing you are prepared? Look deep in the deepest part of your soul
and see if you are really prepared for Jesus to come back. If you can not say
for sure that you know this then you MUST meet the ONE that can prepare
you. You must deny yourself and accept Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour.
To do this you must have a personal relationship, or a marriage if you will,
with Christ, accept Him as your personal Saviour, and find a good church home
that will feed your soul with the true word of God. The first step is accepting
Him as your saviour. To do this all you have to do is say a simple prayer.
Say this simple prayer with me, Dear Lord, I want you to be the Lord over my
life, forgive me of my sins, and give me the gift of everlasting life. Amen.
If you have said this simple prayer, then we believe that you have received
salvation. We would love to rejoice with you, so please drop us a note, in our
link, to let us know and confess Jesus before man, so that we may send you a few
things that we hope will help you in your new Christian walk.
With Love in Christ,
Pastor Stone