Revealing The Mysteries Of The Kingdom-7-The Ten Virgins

It's mid week and Pastor Brad is back. He first gives a small testimony and then continues the mid-week series with a teaching on The Parable Of The Ten Virgins.

Pastor's Notes:

Matthew 25:1-13 NKJV "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.
INTRODUCTION
This evening, I want to talk to you about the event of all events: The return of thParablee Lord! Friends, the Scripture tells us that no one knows the day, nor the hour, but that Jesus IS coming soon! Consider what Luke says:
Luke 12:35-40 NKJV "Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; (36) and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. (37) Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and servethem. (38) And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. (39) But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. (40) Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

ILLUSTRATION
We might illustrate the need for readiness in a different way. Firemen are trained and equipped to fight fires. They know there will be fires, but they don’t know when. And so they are in a constant state of readiness, even when they sleep. Their clothing is all laid out so they can quickly dress and get to the fire. Sometimes I see the fire truck outside the grocery store where I shop. The firemen are in the store, buying food. But they also have their portable radios in hand, ready to rush out if word of a fire is received.
We, too, must be ready, Jesus tells us. We do not know the hour of His return, and more than this, the coming of the Son of Man will be at a time that we don’t expect. From the context of chapter 24, I am tempted to think that while His return will be preceded by very difficult days, the actual day of His return will appear to be trouble-free, much like the day Noah and his family entered the ark. (I’ll bet the sky was blue and clear all day long.) When Jesus returns, people will be going about their normal routines because there will be no sign of imminent danger. We therefore must be ready at all times. What we see here in this text is a parable. A parable is a story within a story.

APPLICATION

1. There's a wedding coming.
- These were waiting on the bridegroom.  
- Jesus is called the bridegroom.
- We are the bride of Christ.

2. There's a waiting period.
- Jesus told us He would return.
- There is a feast that takes place after the wedding.
- The bridegroom goes back to his father's house and makes preparation.
- John 14

3. A call will be made.
- There was a cry made at midnight.
- The Bible is clear that Christ's coming with be with a trumpet blast.
- It will be the sound of all sounds.

4. You must be prepared.
-The five were prepared.
-The other were not.
- Their readiness allowed them to come in.
- Their lack thereof kept them out.

CONCLUSION