Participants:
Series Code: IIW
Program Code: IIW001401A
01:30 ♪[Theme music]♪
01:40 ♪[Theme music]♪ 01:48 >>John Bradshaw: This is It Is Written. I'm John Bradshaw. 01:51 Thanks for joining me. 01:52 If you can remember the 1970s, what do you remember? 01:56 Do you remember the Rubik's cube? 01:58 Ah, that was really the 1980s, but nice try. 02:01 Pacman; 1980s as well. 02:04 I'm talking about the ‘70s. 02:06 Watergate, 1972. 02:08 Woodstock─nope, 1969. 02:12 VCRs, Post-it notes, disco. 02:15 It was a rough decade. 02:17 Punk rock. 02:18 A really rough decade. 02:20 The Carpenters. 02:21 Space Invaders. 02:22 Presidents of the United States were President Nixon, 02:25 President Ford, and President Carter. 02:28 Margaret Thatcher came to power in the United Kingdom in the 02:31 1970s. 02:32 The Vietnam War ended in the ‘70s. 02:34 Idi Amin, trouble in Northern Ireland, 02:37 Jim Jones, and, of course, there's a lot more. 02:41 The ‘70s were ten years long, after all. 02:44 But while you may have missed ABBA, 02:47 maybe you never wore a powder-blue suit, ouch, 02:50 if you never flew on the Concord, 02:52 there's something you were affected by. 02:55 And that was the oil crisis. 02:58 In 1973, Arab oil-producing nations took punitive steps 03:02 related to the Yom Kippur War, it drove the price of oil up 03:06 from, wait for it, $3.00 a barrel to $12.00. 03:11 Now, today that might not seem like a lot, 03:12 but that was a 400% increase. 03:15 As a result, in the United States, 03:17 most gas stations didn't sell gasoline 03:20 on Saturday nights or Sundays. 03:21 There were long queues at gas pumps. 03:23 Cars with license plates that ended in an odd number 03:26 could buy gas only on odd-numbered days of the month, 03:30 or cars with plates that ended in an even number 03:33 on an even-numbered day of the month. 03:36 Now, there's an oil crisis spoken of in the Bible. 03:39 And this one will matter more than anything we've ever seen. 03:44 We read about it in Matthew, chapter 25, 03:46 in a parable Jesus taught. 03:47 And as we look at this passage of the Bible, 03:50 we'll be continuing our ongoing series, 03:52 “Lessons for All Time,” looking at the parables Jesus taught. 03:57 So in Matthew 25, 03:58 you've got Jesus urging us to be ready for His return. 04:03 He starts Matthew 25 by telling us 04:06 how to be ready for His return. 04:08 So this is really important. 04:11 It's for anybody who wants to be ready for eternity, 04:13 ready for the return of Jesus. 04:15 You could just as easily say Matthew 25, 04:18 and this parable in particular, 04:20 is for anyone who wants to be saved. 04:24 So let's look at this parable, the parable of the ten virgins. 04:28 We'll start in Matthew, chapter 25, verse 1: 04:31 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins 04:35 who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.” 04:39 It worked like this: 04:40 the bridegroom would go to meet his bride at her home 04:43 and bring her to his home. 04:46 And as in this story, there'd be a celebration, 04:48 a feast, there'd be a party planned. 04:52 Now, notice, they were going to meet the bridegroom. 04:55 Remember, this is a parable. 04:57 Many of the components of a parable 04:59 represent some spiritual reality. 05:02 They were waiting for the bridegroom, 05:03 symbolizing people who are waiting for the return of Jesus. 05:06 So this is talking about people at the time 05:09 of the return of Jesus Christ. 05:11 And we believe that that's not far away. 05:14 Again and again in the Bible, 05:16 we see the symbol of a woman being used 05:17 to represent the church. 05:20 Jeremiah 6, verse 2, says: 05:21 “I have likened the daughter of Zion 05:24 to a lovely and delicate woman.” 05:26 In Revelation 12:17 it says: 05:27 “And the dragon was enraged with the woman, 05:30 and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, 05:32 who keep the commandments of God 05:34 and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” 05:37 In Second Corinthians 11, verse 2, Paul writes: 05:39 “For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy, 05:42 for I have betrothed you to one husband, 05:45 that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” 05:49 So that's clear. 05:50 When Jesus is speaking about a group of women, 05:53 He's using them as a symbol to speak about the church, 05:56 or His people in the end of time. 06:00 Jesus goes on to say in the parable, 06:01 in Matthew 25 and verse 2, that 06:03 “five of them were wise, and five were foolish.” 06:08 So what is it that demonstrated their wisdom or foolishness? 06:12 “Those who were foolish took their lamps 06:14 and took no oil with them, 06:16 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.” 06:20 No oil. 06:22 And that's a big deal, why? 06:25 Now, the Bible is talking about a lamp. 06:28 If you were going to be out at night, 06:30 you wouldn't dream of not taking an oil lamp with you. 06:34 The parable tells us that the groom was late 06:37 at his wedding, late arriving. 06:40 And while they were waiting for him, 06:41 they fell asleep. 06:43 But then somebody called out, 06:44 “Behold, the bridegroom is coming. 06:47 Go out to meet him.” 06:49 The young women woke; they prepared their lamps, 06:52 and some of them came to a shocking realization. 06:56 They didn't have extra oil. 06:58 Verse 8: 06:59 “And the foolish said to the wise, 07:01 ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'” 07:06 The wise ones said that they couldn't share their oil. 07:08 And by the time the foolish ones had purchased oil, 07:10 the others had gone into the wedding celebration. 07:13 The door was looked. 07:15 Those unwise, those foolish ones, 07:18 couldn't get in. 07:20 They were locked out. 07:23 Now, this might raise some questions for you. 07:25 Couldn't they have simply 07:25 followed the wise ones in the dark, 07:28 taken hold of their arm, 07:29 walked by the light of their lamps? 07:32 Now, remember, this is a parable, 07:33 not a documentary. 07:34 This has to do with salvation. 07:36 And the lesson is, 07:37 you can't get by on another person's spiritual preparation. 07:40 It just isn't possible. 07:42 Every person has to make preparation 07:43 for himself or herself. 07:45 Every person must have a personal relationship with God. 07:50 In order to spend eternity with God, 07:52 you need to know Him for yourself. 07:55 Actually, that's worth talking more about, isn't it? 07:57 You can't get by on your spouse's experience. 08:00 You can't comfort yourself knowing that Mum and Dad are 08:02 surely going to go to heaven, so therefore it's okay with me. 08:05 It isn't enough to sing in the choir; 08:08 we've got to know God for ourselves. 08:10 It isn't enough to know about God; 08:12 it's important to know God. 08:15 So how do we know God? 08:17 Well, we know God by getting acquainted with Him in His word, 08:21 by spending time with God in prayer. 08:23 You know, it always comes back to the basics. 08:25 There are no shortcuts. 08:27 And why would you want one? 08:29 Why would we want to spend time on this earth 08:31 without knowing God? 08:33 It makes no sense. 08:35 And so in verse 11, the five women without the oil arrive, 08:39 and they're not permitted to enter the feast. 08:41 And Jesus says in verse 13, 08:44 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour 08:48 in which the son of man is coming.” 08:51 Be prepared, Jesus says, 08:54 and stay prepared. 08:56 These five women weren't prepared because they 08:59 didn't have oil. 09:00 And that oil represents 09:03 olive oil? No. 09:04 Motor oil? No. 09:06 They were out of oil, the oil that mattered. 09:10 Such a problem. 09:11 They were out of heaven. 09:14 So what's that oil that Jesus is telling us 09:16 we absolutely have to have? 09:19 I'll tell you in just a moment. 09:21 ♪[Music]♪ 09:29 The gift of the Holy Spirit. 09:31 But how do we take hold of it? 09:34 To learn more, request your free copy of the booklet 09:37 “The Gift of the Spirit.” 09:38 Simply call 800 -253-3000. 09:42 If the line is busy, please try again. 09:44 Or write to It Is Written, 09:47 P O Box 6, Chattanooga, TN 37401. 09:52 We'll mail a free copy to your address in North America. 09:55 That toll-free number again is 800-253-3000, 09:59 and our web address is itiswritten.com. 10:03 ♪[Music]♪ 10:05 Thanks for joining me on It Is Written. 10:08 The oil crises of the 1970s now seem like distant memories. 10:12 Mind you, more recently, 10:14 we've seen some action when it comes to energy prices. 10:17 In 1998, the average cost of a gallon of gasoline 10:21 in the United States was $1.03. 10:24 Ten years later, the average cost had skyrocketed to $3.26. 10:30 As a result, the sales of large vehicles plummeted. 10:33 Some people began working four-day work weeks 10:36 so they'd have to use less fuel. 10:38 When there are disruptions to the oil supply or to the fuel 10:41 supply chain, it really shakes things up. 10:44 In Matthew, chapter 25, there is an energy crisis, 10:48 an oil crisis, 10:49 when ten young women are waiting to go into a wedding feast. 10:52 The bridegroom is delayed and the young women fall asleep. 10:55 At midnight somebody calls out, “Behold, the bridegroom cometh." 10:59 They wake up, reach for their lamps, 11:01 but the lamps of five of the women have gone out, 11:03 and they don't have oil for their lamps. 11:06 No oil, no light. 11:07 They were late for the wedding celebration. 11:09 The door is shut. 11:10 They can't go in. 11:11 They're shut out. 11:12 They're lost. 11:14 That's the point God is making here. 11:16 They are lost. 11:17 So what's going on in this parable? 11:19 The bridegroom, very clear. 11:21 The bridegroom is Jesus. 11:23 The women? 11:24 The women represent the church. 11:25 They're all wanting to go into the wedding celebration. 11:27 They all want to be saved when Jesus returns. 11:30 But not everyone is. 11:32 Some are saved and some are lost. 11:34 And here's a sobering point: 11:37 all ten of them thought that they were saved. 11:40 All ten of them were looking forward 11:41 to seeing the bridegroom. 11:43 It wasn't until push came to shove that five of the women 11:46 learned the truth about themselves: 11:49 they didn't have what it took to get into the wedding feast. 11:52 We see this in other places in the Bible. 11:54 Remember Matthew, chapter 25, where this parable is found, 11:57 follows Matthew, chapter 24, 12:00 the chapter that focuses heavily on the second coming of Jesus. 12:04 In Matthew, chapter 24, 12:05 Jesus approaches this from several angles. 12:08 Matthew, chapter 24, verse 37, 12:10 “But as the days of Noah were, 12:12 so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. 12:15 For as in the days before the flood, 12:17 they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, 12:20 until the day that Noah entered the ark, 12:23 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, 12:28 so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” 12:31 What do you have in Noah's day? 12:33 A mass of people. 12:34 Some were saved. 12:35 Some were lost. 12:36 Jesus says in the parable of the ten virgins, 12:39 same situation will exist in earth's final days. 12:43 Back in Matthew, chapter 24, Jesus said, 12:46 “Then two shall be in the field; 12:47 the one shall be taken, and the other left. 12:49 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; 12:51 the one shall be taken, and the other left. 12:54 Watch therefore: 12:55 for you know not what hour your Lord doth come.” 12:59 You can't be sure when Jesus is going to return. 13:02 So watch. 13:04 Be ready. 13:05 Be ready always. 13:06 Live in a state of readiness. 13:09 Now, let me ask you a question that might make you, 13:11 might make you even uncomfortable a little bit. 13:14 Are you ready? 13:15 If Jesus returned now, would you be ready to go, 13:20 or would you be like the teenagers who were left at home 13:22 for the weekend by their parents and told to have the house clean 13:25 when Mom and Dad came home. 13:26 And when Mom and Dad got home a couple of hours early, 13:29 the dishes weren't done, the beds weren't made, 13:31 the living room is a mess, the laundry is piled up. 13:33 And the kids say, 13:35 "We didn't expect you to be home so soon." 13:37 Well, no. 13:39 And that's why you want to be ready no matter what. 13:41 You can't know, we can't know when Jesus is going to return. 13:46 You can't know how long you're going to live. 13:48 The truth is, we're only a heartbeat away from the second 13:51 coming of Jesus anyway. 13:53 What then? 13:55 We can't afford to put off until tomorrow the spiritual 13:57 preparation we should be doing today. 14:00 And that's where the women in the parable find themselves. 14:03 That oil they should have had? 14:05 That's what made the difference. 14:06 That oil represents the Holy Spirit. 14:11 I think it's important to notice a couple of things. 14:13 One, none of the virgins is a hypocrite. 14:16 Each one genuinely wants to be ready for the bridegroom. 14:20 They're in the right crowd. 14:21 They've shown up at the right event. 14:22 But evidently there's more to it than wanting to. 14:26 Believers have got to have what it takes. 14:29 A couple of decades ago there was a devastating earthquake 14:31 in Istanbul, Turkey. 14:33 Thousands died. 14:35 Investigators discovered afterwards, 14:36 as they sifted through the ruins of the earthquake, 14:39 that the cement in many of the buildings contained so much sand 14:44 that it crumbled in their hands. 14:46 There's no way those buildings 14:48 could have withstood an earthquake. 14:49 They collapsed like a house of cards. 14:53 When the real test came, 14:54 it became obvious what they were really made of. 14:58 It's in a crisis that you get to see 15:00 what your character is all about. 15:04 What you want to do is live in a state of readiness, 15:07 being filled with the Holy Spirit. 15:12 I met a woman once, a fine Christian lady, 15:16 who was miserable. 15:19 What was it that made her so miserable? 15:23 I'll tell you in just a moment. 15:24 ♪[Music]♪ 15:34 >>Announcer: In Matthew 4:4, the Word of God says, 15:36 "It is written, 15:37 'Man shall not live by bread alone, 15:39 but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" 15:43 “Every Word” 15:44 is a one minute, Bible-based daily devotional 15:46 presented by Pastor John Bradshaw, 15:49 and designed especially for busy people like you. 15:52 Look for Every Word on selected networks, 15:54 or watch it online every day on our website, 15:57 itiswritten.com. 15:59 Receive a daily spiritual boost. 16:01 Watch “Every Word.” 16:03 You'll be glad you did. 16:04 Here's a sample. 16:06 ♪[Theme music]♪ 16:11 >>John: Every year, a 12 or so year-old kid 16:14 wins the Scripps National Spelling Bee, 16:16 and $40,000, and other prizes, 16:19 for spelling words no one's ever heard of, like nunatak. 16:21 That's a peak of rock that sticks up through ice or snow. 16:24 And marocaine, a kind of fabric. 16:26 So how does a child win a spelling bee? 16:28 Study. 16:29 One recent winner: two hours a day for a whole year. 16:32 But what makes someone truly successful as a person? 16:35 Second Chronicles 27:6 says, 16:38 “So Jotham became mighty, 16:39 because he prepared his ways before the Lord his God.” 16:42 Jotham reigned 16 years and completed enormous 16:45 construction projects and won battles. 16:47 But his greatness came from the fact that 16:49 he was faithful to God. 16:50 It's right to get educated, to train, to plan, to strive, 16:53 to build, but none of that brings true greatness. 16:55 Keeping your heart out before God is the true key to success. 16:58 You'll find that doing that will be udemonic. 17:02 I'm John Bradshaw for It Is Written. 17:03 Let's live today by every word. 17:07 We're discussing Matthew 25, the parable of the ten virgins. 17:10 It's part of our ongoing series, “Lessons for All Time.” 17:14 There's something I'd like you to have. 17:16 We're learning that the problem the young women had 17:19 is that they were destitute of the Holy Spirit. 17:21 The subject of the Holy Spirit 17:24 is really a mystery for a lot of people. 17:26 I want you to understand the subject, 17:27 and I want you to have the Holy Spirit. 17:29 This parable makes clear that not having the Holy Spirit 17:33 is a matter of spiritual life and death. 17:36 So be sure to call the number on your screen 17:39 and get this free resource, 17:41 “The Gift of the Spirit.” 17:43 In our passage today, 17:44 ten young women are waiting for the bridegroom to arrive at a 17:47 wedding feast so they can join in the celebration. 17:49 Who doesn't like weddings? 17:50 They're great fun, great celebrations. 17:52 I officiated at a wedding just a couple of days ago. 17:56 The happy couple were happy. 17:57 Two lives became one. 17:59 The parents of both bride and groom were proud. 18:03 What a great occasion. 18:04 But at this wedding, five of the ten young women hoping to 18:07 celebrate the marriage were excluded from the celebrations 18:11 because they didn't have oil in their lamps. 18:13 And by the time they got to the party, 18:15 the doors were closed and they couldn't go in. 18:18 As you read this parable, don't make too much of the fact that 18:20 five women were shut out of the feast because they were late. 18:24 It does sound as if someone at the feast could have just said, 18:26 “Well, we're glad you could make it. 18:28 Better late than never.” 18:30 Except this is a parable. 18:31 We're not being asked to analyze the hospitality. 18:34 Jesus is making a point. 18:36 At the second coming, there won't be any 18:39 “oh, I'm a trifle late,” 18:40 “well, I had to run off and get oil in my lamp,” 18:43 “I wasn't ready at the time but I was wanting to be ready.” 18:46 When Jesus returns, 18:47 you're either ready or you're not. 18:49 Now, notice that in the story 18:50 Jesus doesn't fault the girls for being asleep. 18:53 Evidently, Jesus can work with people who fall asleep. 18:57 Peter, James and John fell asleep at Gethsemane. 19:00 Eutychus fell asleep and fell out a church one night, 19:02 and died. 19:04 That wasn't too much for the early church. 19:06 Evidently, sleeping isn't an insurmountable issue. 19:11 The real problem is that these girls 19:12 didn't have oil for their lamps. 19:14 That was the issue. 19:16 No oil. 19:18 No Holy Spirit. 19:19 Let's walk through this together. 19:22 Who is the Holy Spirit? 19:24 The Holy Spirit is God in the same way that the Father is God 19:29 and Jesus is God. 19:30 The Holy Spirit is the third member of the Godhead. 19:33 And what's the role of the Holy Spirit? 19:36 The Bible says that the Holy Spirit will convict us of sin. 19:39 That's in John 16. 19:40 The Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth. 19:42 That's John 16 as well. 19:44 The Holy Spirit will bring us the personal presence of Jesus, 19:48 found in John 14. 19:50 First John 3, verse 24, says that Jesus 19:52 “abides in us, by the Holy Spirit.” 19:55 First John 4:13 says pretty much the same thing: 19:58 “Hereby know we that we dwell in Him, 20:01 and He in us, 20:02 because He hath given us of His spirit.” 20:06 When Jesus left the earth and went to heaven, 20:08 he told his friends that he would still be with them. 20:11 How? 20:12 By the Holy Spirit. 20:13 John, chapter 14, verse 15 to verse 18: 20:17 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 20:21 And I will pray the Father, 20:22 and He shall give you another Comforter, 20:25 that He may abide with you for ever; 20:27 even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, 20:30 because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: 20:33 but you know Him; for He dwelleth with you, 20:35 and shall be in you. 20:36 I will not leave you comfortless: 20:38 I will come to you.” 20:41 This is Jesus saying that the Holy Spirit brings to us the 20:43 personal presence of Jesus. 20:46 So when you're wanting the Holy Spirit, 20:49 you're not wanting a tool or a weapon. 20:52 The Holy Spirit isn't something that you use. 20:55 The Holy Spirit is something, in fact, 20:57 someone, that uses you. 21:01 Yes, the Bible talks about the gifts of the spirit, 21:03 and man, there are some people who get hung up on those gifts. 21:07 “I want to work miracles. 21:08 I want to speak in tongues. 21:10 I want to utter prophesies.” Okay. 21:12 It's okay to want spiritual gifts, 21:14 but I'll tell you this: 21:16 it's more important to want the fruit of the Spirit. 21:20 That is, the Bible says that God will decide what gift of the 21:24 Holy Spirit you get. 21:26 Someone might get the gift of languages. 21:28 Someone might get the gift of helps. 21:30 Funny, I never did hear anyone or any church making a big deal 21:35 about someone having the gift of helps. 21:36 Did you? 21:38 Or the gift of administration. 21:39 But those are genuine gifts of the spirit in the same way 21:42 as miracles or prophecy. 21:44 So God decides what gift you get, 21:46 and you might get one or the other. 21:48 That's up to God. 21:49 Now, let me tell you about that lady I met. 21:51 She was miserable. 21:52 As far as anyone could tell, she was a wonderful lady, 21:56 a member of the church; she was busy working for souls. 21:59 But she said to me, “John, I'm lost.” 22:01 I said, “Well, you don't look lost. 22:03 I guess only God knows the heart. 22:04 What's the issue?” She said, “I don't have the Holy Spirit.” 22:06 I said, “Why do you know that?” 22:08 She said, “Because I don't speak in tongues.” 22:11 Well, okay. 22:12 If you have the ability to speak in tongues, 22:13 to speak other languages, God bless you. 22:16 That's a genuine gift of the Holy Spirit. 22:18 But remember, it's God who decides 22:22 which spiritual gift you get, and not you. 22:26 You might want this and get that. 22:27 You might want that and get this. 22:30 So let's leave it with God, 22:33 and be concerned about having the most important thing, 22:37 the thing that Christ said we will have 22:41 if we have the Holy Spirit. 22:42 We'll get gifts; God decides what. 22:44 But we certainly get the fruit of the Spirit. 22:48 The fruit of the spirit is an inevitability. 22:50 Look at this with me. 22:51 The Bible says in Galatians, chapter 5, 22:54 “But the fruit of the spirit is love, 22:56 joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, 23:00 goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: 23:03 against such there is no law.” 23:06 That's Galatians, chapter 5, verses 22 and 23. 23:09 When Jesus comes into your life, 23:11 He brings His character with Him. 23:13 He brings His love, His peace, His self-control. 23:17 You might or might not receive the gift of teaching. 23:20 That's up to God. 23:22 But what is certain is that Jesus will flood your life 23:26 with His presence. 23:28 The Holy Spirit is given to make you like Christ, 23:31 so you can be the light of the world, 23:33 and be ready to meet Jesus at the appointed time. 23:36 The Holy Spirit is a change agent. 23:38 He changes your life. 23:40 You know, there's a lot of religion masquerading today as 23:42 the real thing. 23:43 But when the heat gets turned up, 23:44 it will be found to be as reliable as a $20 Rolex. 23:50 So how can you have oil in your lamp? 23:52 How can you be filled with the Holy Spirit? 23:56 I'll make it really simple and give you a few easy points. 23:59 Number one, ask for the Holy Spirit. 24:02 Jesus said in Luke, chapter 11 and verse 13, 24:05 “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your 24:08 children, how much more will your heavenly Father 24:11 give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?” 24:15 And remember that Jesus said when you ask, you receive. 24:17 So ask for the Holy Spirit. 24:20 Number two: open up your heart to God. 24:23 Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 24:25 And I will pray the Father, 24:27 ...and He will give you...the Holy Spirit.” 24:31 Love for God. 24:32 If you have that, God will give you the Holy Spirit. 24:35 But look, this parable tells us that a profession isn't enough. 24:39 All ten professed to be right. 24:42 Only five actually were. 24:44 Seems that it's possible to be self-deceived. 24:48 How can you know if you're in the right place with God? 24:51 Get close to God. 24:53 And ask yourself, better yet, ask God, 24:56 if you see the fruit of the Holy Spirit in your life. 24:59 If you're living in rebellion against God, 25:01 you've got some serious questions to ask. 25:04 It's not for me here to declare who is saved and who is lost, 25:06 but if you surrender your heart to Jesus, 25:08 you continue to grow in Jesus. 25:11 If you refuse to be led by the Holy Spirit, 25:13 you'll see your problem, if you're honest. 25:16 A third important point: don't turn back. 25:21 Hang in there with God. 25:22 Come to Jesus in faith. 25:24 He'll accept you. 25:25 Ask for the Holy Spirit. 25:26 He'll give it. 25:28 He knows you need it. 25:29 And what is this Holy Spirit? 25:31 The presence of God. 25:33 He wants to flood your life 25:34 and bring you His peace and His power. 25:37 And then, stay connected to Him by faith. 25:40 That's vital. 25:42 Live your life with Jesus in your heart, 25:43 live a life of faith, 25:45 where you read the Bible 25:46 and stay connected to God through prayer. 25:48 Know God. 25:49 Be connected to God. 25:50 Let the spirit of God have you. 25:54 You know what's so hopeful about this for me? 25:56 It says there is hope for you and me. 25:59 This is what God wants to do for us: 26:02 give us the greatest of all gifts. 26:06 As the Holy Spirit has you, your lamp is filled, 26:10 so that when the bridegroom comes, 26:13 you'll be welcomed into that great feast. 26:16 Let me recap. 26:17 We know from history the oil crisis. 26:21 Spiritually, we must have the oil of the Holy Spirit. 26:24 Without the Holy Spirit, great crisis. 26:27 No Holy Spirit, no presence of Jesus, 26:29 no spiritual power. 26:30 What's the difference? 26:31 It's the Holy Spirit. 26:32 See, the difference isn't us trying hard. 26:34 The difference isn't us doing our best. 26:36 The difference isn't us being expert Christians. 26:38 The difference is us being surrendered to God, 26:43 so that Jesus, in the person of the Holy Spirit, 26:45 comes into your life and lives His life in you. 26:49 This parable tells us that God wants to do great things for us, 26:53 that He will do great things for us. 26:57 We don't want to be left outside the great feast of feasts simply 27:01 because we didn't make room in our heart for God. 27:05 Are you making room in your heart for God today? 27:08 Are you allowing God to do what He wants to do, 27:12 and fill you with His presence? 27:14 I want to pray for you now and ask God 27:16 to give you the Holy Spirit in great measure. 27:20 Let's pray now. 27:20 Come on, now let's pray. 27:22 Our Father in Heaven, 27:24 we are grateful that you want to give us the Holy Spirit. 27:27 We ask you for it. 27:28 Fill us with your Spirit. 27:32 Dear Jesus, live your life in us. 27:35 Lord, don't let there be an oil crisis in our life. 27:38 We want your presence. 27:40 Come into our lives and do in our lives 27:42 exactly what you want to do. 27:45 Friend, will you receive the Holy Spirit from God today? 27:47 Just tell Him right now, yes. 27:49 Tell Him yes, just say that word, yes, 27:51 I want to receive the Holy Spirit. 27:53 Say that. 27:54 I want to receive the Holy Spirit. 27:56 Lord, fill my life with your presence. 27:58 Can you say that? 28:00 Fill my life with your presence. 28:03 And it is so because God is faithful. 28:05 We thank you, Father, in Jesus' name. 28:08 Amen. 28:11 ♪[Music]♪ 28:18 The gift of the Holy Spirit. 28:20 But how do we take hold of it? 28:22 To learn more, request your free copy of the booklet 28:25 “The Gift of the Spirit.” 28:27 Simply call 800-253-3000. 28:31 If the line is busy, please try again. 28:33 Or write to It Is Written, 28:35 P O Box 6, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37401. 28:40 We'll mail a free copy to your address in North America. 28:43 That toll-free number again is 800-253-3000, 28:47 and our web address is itiswritten.com. 28:53 Thank you for remembering that It Is Written 28:56 is a faith-based ministry, 28:58 and it's your support that makes it possible for us 29:00 to share God's good news with the entire world. 29:04 Your tax-deductible gift 29:06 can be sent to the address on your screen, 29:08 or through our website, itiswritten.com. 29:12 Thank you for your continued prayerful support. 29:14 Our toll-free number is 800-253-3000. 29:18 800-253-3000. 29:20 Our web address is itiswritten.com 29:24 Thanks so much for joining me today. 29:25 I'm looking forward to seeing you again next time. 29:27 Until then, remember: It Is Written. 29:31 Man shall not live by bread alone, 29:33 but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. 29:38 ♪[Theme music]♪ |
Revised 2018-01-12