“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps [1] and went to meet the bridegroom. [2] 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. Matt. 25:1-7
At the dawn of 2011, the Spirit of the Lord declared to us that this is the Season of Awakening - A time for us to hear the mandate of the Lord to awaken from sleep and dream state and to be aware of the times, for Christ is indeed soon to come. Our recent bible studies have taken us through Matt. 24 and 25, where Jesus articulates the signs of the times to his disciples, as well as the imperative not to be troubled, but ready at the end of the age.
In the parable of the ten virgins we see a striking parallel as both the foolish and the wise virgins (Those who were prepared and those who were not) had fallen to sleep as they awaited the Bridegroom, representing Jesus the Christ. But when it was midnight, there came a clarion call to wake-up to prepare for the coming of the Bridegroom. Those who were ready had their oil, and those who were not had to try to buy oil from "oil dealers." Those who were wise and ready were well received. Those who were foolish, were rejected. Please note that the Bridegroom doesn't tell them, "You're too late!" But instead he says, "Truly, I don't know you!" We are "known" by God as a New Creation, when we accept Christ as savior; when he places the seal of the Holy Spirit on us. It becomes a marker of our redemption, and thus access into the presence of the Lord.
(Read: Eph. 1:13-14, Matt. 3:17, John 6:27)
Many anticipate the return of the Christ, but how many of us are ready? How many of us know Jesus the Christ as Lord? Have you been washed by the blood of the Lamb? Have you been anointed with the sweet fragrant "oil" of the Holy Spirit? It is time to wake up my brothers and sisters. We can only shine the light of the Lord (Matt. 5:16) when we're filled with the oil of the Lord. We continue this reflection in the video below
...The hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. Romans 13:11-14
In His Service,
Pastor Barber
FaithWorks Christian Fellowship
Proving God at God's Word
Emery B. Barber is a founding and Lead Pastor of FaithWorks Christian Fellowship of Jamaica, NY, and co-author of the web devotional and devotional book, Words of Faith for FaithWorks Christian Center, International. As a Creative Media Consultant he provides training and services in various areas of digital marketing collateral with a special calling to Creative Worship Media.
In the parable of the ten virgins we see a striking parallel as both the foolish and the wise virgins (Those who were prepared and those who were not) had fallen to sleep as they awaited the Bridegroom, representing Jesus the Christ. But when it was midnight, there came a clarion call to wake-up to prepare for the coming of the Bridegroom. Those who were ready had their oil, and those who were not had to try to buy oil from "oil dealers." Those who were wise and ready were well received. Those who were foolish, were rejected. Please note that the Bridegroom doesn't tell them, "You're too late!" But instead he says, "Truly, I don't know you!" We are "known" by God as a New Creation, when we accept Christ as savior; when he places the seal of the Holy Spirit on us. It becomes a marker of our redemption, and thus access into the presence of the Lord.
(Read: Eph. 1:13-14, Matt. 3:17, John 6:27)
Many anticipate the return of the Christ, but how many of us are ready? How many of us know Jesus the Christ as Lord? Have you been washed by the blood of the Lamb? Have you been anointed with the sweet fragrant "oil" of the Holy Spirit? It is time to wake up my brothers and sisters. We can only shine the light of the Lord (Matt. 5:16) when we're filled with the oil of the Lord. We continue this reflection in the video below
...The hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. Romans 13:11-14
In His Service,
Pastor Barber
FaithWorks Christian Fellowship
Proving God at God's Word
Emery B. Barber is a founding and Lead Pastor of FaithWorks Christian Fellowship of Jamaica, NY, and co-author of the web devotional and devotional book, Words of Faith for FaithWorks Christian Center, International. As a Creative Media Consultant he provides training and services in various areas of digital marketing collateral with a special calling to Creative Worship Media.
RSS Feed