PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 25:1-13
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’” (Matthew 25:12)
Jesus is describing a group of people waiting for the kingdom of God.
All ten of these maidens are waiting for the kingdom, but only 5 are wise.
Is there a large group in the church that Jesus does not know?
In Matthew 7, these false disciples were said to be ‘evildoers’.
That is, they claimed forgiveness, but they did not change their ways.
Jesus has given us His Spirit (sometimes symbolized by oil).
The Spirit is working in us to produce love, joy, peace, etc.
If we do not attempt to grow in these, we show we do not know Him.
We have access to the oil (Spirit) but we need ‘be filled’ with it (Ephesians 5:18).
We share in the oil of the Spirit, but is it increasing in us (2 Peter 1:3-9)?
Following Jesus is not just accepting forgiveness; it is joining Him in fighting sin.
He will help us, but if we don’t make use of His help, then He won’t recognize us!
Knowing Jesus is not enough, we need to be known by Jesus (a two way relationship).
If I never show up to withdraw from His reservoir of ‘oil’, how will He know me?
PRAYER
Lord, You are waiting for me everyday to seek Your oil. As I come, not only do I get to know You but You get to know me. I want to know You, and I want You to know me!
The five foolish virgins were not prepared because they didn’t have oil in their lamp. The oil symbolizes the Spirit. When I confess and believe in Jesus as my Saviour, God makes us stand firm in Christ and He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come (2 Cor 1:22).
But if I am not manifesting any of the fruit of the Spirit — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control and not growing from one degree of glory to another then I am grieving and quenching the Spirit. My lamp is not filled with oil. Would this not be a blasphemy of the Spirit and an unforgiveable sin that Jesus warned. So that when Jesus comes He would not know me.
Lord forgive me for grieving and quenching the Spirit. Jesus draw me closer to know you more so that I’d be known by you and you can use me more to draw others to you.
As with the ten girls waiting for the bridegroom, only 5 were prepared. There are consequences for being unprepared. I need not only hear but also do what He tells me. Open ears. Open eyes. Ready to serve. Ready to listen to the voice which says, Do this and live.
I can not come!
I cannot come to the banquet, don’t trouble me now,
I have married a wife, I have bought me a cow,
I have fields and commitments that cost a pretty sum,
Pray hold me excused, I cannot come!
A certain man had a feast on his fine estate in town,
He laid a festive table and wore a wedding gown
He sent invitations to his neighbors far and wide
But when the meal was ready, each one of them replied !
The master rose up in anger, called his servants by name,
Said, “Go into the town, fetch the blind and the lame,
Fetch the peasant and the pauper for this I have willed–
My banquet must be crowded and my table must be filled!”
When all the poor had assembled, there still was room to spare,
So the master demanded, “Go search everywhere,
To the highways and the byways and force them to come in,
My table must be filled, before the banquet can begin!”
Now God has written a lesson for the rest of mankind,
If we’re slow in responding, He may leave us behind,
He’s preparing a banquet for that great and glorious day,
When the Lord and master calls us, be certain not to say.