Beyond Sunday
Welcome to Beyond Sunday, the Podcast that takes you deeper into the Word of God throughout your week, with your Hosts Pastors' Lee and Jim.
It's Time to Inspire, Uplift, and dig deeper. Beyond Sunday starts now!
Beyond Sunday
Lessons from the Parable of the Ten Virgins
Are you spiritually prepared for the unexpected? Join Pastors Lee and Jim in this enlightening episode of Beyond Sunday as they unpack the profound lessons from the Parable of the Ten Virgins found in Matthew 25. This timeless parable teaches us the importance of personal faith and highlights the necessity of being spiritually awake and ready as we anticipate Christ’s return.
In this episode, we explore why each of us must cultivate our own relationship with God rather than relying on the faith of others. Pastors Lee and Jim dive deep into the story of the wise and foolish virgins, discussing how living off someone else’s spiritual oil can lead to unpreparedness when the call comes. They remind us that spiritual maturity is a personal journey that requires investment, effort, and intentionality.
The episode also emphasizes the urgency of staying alert in our faith, especially when life presents delays and uncertainties. Just like the wise virgins who prepared for the bridegroom’s arrival, we are called to live with anticipation and purpose. Tune in to learn how to keep your lamp full and shining brightly in a world that often distracts us from our true calling.
Let this be a reminder that our spiritual lives are not to be taken lightly. The call to action is clear: keep your lamp full, and encourage those around you to do the same. Subscribe to our podcast today and join us in this essential journey of faith. Don’t forget to share your thoughts and insights with us—how are you ensuring your spiritual preparedness?
Welcome to Beyond Sunday, the podcast that takes you deeper into the Word of God throughout your week With your hosts, Pastors Lee and Jim. It's time to inspire, uplift and dig deeper. Beyond Sunday starts now. Welcome back to Beyond Sunday. Friends, I'm Pastor Jim here with Pastor Lee. We are excited to be joining you today with another parable from the book of Matthew, beginning in the 25th chapter, and we're going to be talking about the parable of the 10 virgins, and really there ain't nothing to do but just to get right into it, so we're going to start diving in straight to the scriptures.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's right, guys. We're coming from Matthew, chapter 25, verses 1 through 13. And if you've got your Bibles, let's go ahead and get there. Jesus is teaching in the text and this is what the Word of God says Then the kingdom of heaven will be like 10 virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flask of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry here is the bridegroom, come out to meet him. Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps and the foolish said to the wise Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. But the wise answered saying since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves. And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also saying Lord, lord, open to us. But he answered truly, I say to you, I do not know you Watch, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Speaker 2:You know, pastor Jim, in a wedding ceremony back then, two things would take place First, the bridegroom and his friends would go to claim the bride from her parents' home, and then, after that, the bride and the groom well, they would return to claim the bride from her parents' home. And then, after that, the bride and the groom well, they would return to the house of the groom for what was called the marriage feast. So what we are seeing here is that the groom has gone to take with him his bride. Today, the church, you and I, we are the bride, jesus Christ, well, he is the groom, he is the bridegroom, okay. And so here we have this beautiful illustration, this beautiful picture of Christ returning in the rapture to take back the saints, the church. And there's going to come a day when that eastern sky is going to split wide open and Jesus Christ will return. There will be that trumpet blast and the bride, the church, is going back home with the bridegroom.
Speaker 1:Yeah, all of that's so important because at first glance, if you don't start looking deeper in the text, it might seem like this is just a story about some lamps, about some oil, about some virgins, but at the end of the day, it's so much more going on here. Jesus is teaching just like you said, Pastor Lee really about spiritual preparedness and the urgency that we need to be having as Christians to live with a purpose. That's right. It's really a reality that we can't afford to be spiritually complacent, and I want to break that down, and I'm going to jump to verse 8 and 9 to do it, because the first point that I really want to bring to the table today is this you cannot borrow your faith. In verse 8, the foolish virgins asked the wise virgins will you give us some of your oil? For our lamps are going out. But the wise virgins they reply well, since there won't be any enough for us, you need to go, and rather go to the dealers and buy it for yourselves.
Speaker 1:I think Jesus is pointing out here something critical about our own spiritual preparedness. You cannot rely on somebody else's faith to sustain you, your relationship with God. It's personal. You cannot borrow oil, and what that means is you can't borrow someone else's walk with God. Their relationship with Christ is their faith. It's what they got going on. It's something that only you can cultivate for yourself. And really Paul says it when he says work out your own salvation. He says it in Philippians work out your own salvation, because salvation, faith and spiritual readiness, they're all personal responsibilities. Hebrews 12 says this fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. It is not about waiting for someone else to get us ready. It's about us personally walking with Jesus, cultivating our own faith and filling our lamps with oil daily.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know I've seen this happen a lot within the church, where someone tries to live off of someone else's oil. You know, and when I say a lot in the church, I'm not just specifically speaking about where we go, I'm saying I've been through different churches in my life. I've got friends from other churches, you know, and we talk, you know we share, and so when I say I see this a lot in church, I'm talking about the body of Christ. You know the bride that we are mentioning in the text right now.
Speaker 2:But I've seen it happen a lot where someone tries to live off of someone else's Christianity. Somebody tries to live off of somebody else's oil. They're living off of somebody else's joy, somebody else's relationship with the Lord. And if you're taking notes you can just jot this down you must have your own oil, you know, and I don't want to live off of yesterday's oil either. You know I want fresh oil. I want fresh oil today. That type of person that lives off of somebody else's oil. You know they come to church, they go through the motions, they enjoy the fellowship of God's people while they're there, but they lack their own personal relationship with the Lord. That type of person they're trying to live off of other people's oil, but at the end of the day we can't do that. We got to have our own.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I've actually heard this before as well. You know someone will look at and I'll just use you as an example. Pastor Lee, you get up and you preach every single Sunday and there might be somebody who says, man, I want to be that. But they forget that it takes work and it takes years of prayer. It takes years of being on your face. It takes years of maturation. It takes years of going before the Lord and seeking knowledge to be able to get up in front of people and speak and preach and hear from the Lord and be so attuned to what the Spirit is doing in and through your life that you have reached that part where God has you.
Speaker 1:But someone might look at you and say, well, I want that, but they forget that there has to be work that goes into it. So, just like these virgins right, they were smart, they were wise, they stored up oil and now you just can't say let me get some of that. You need to go get on your face. You need to go get on having a relationship with the Lord for yourself and letting that mature.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's a lot of time, a lot of sacrifice, a lot of training ground and if people jump into it too quick in any call in life it can destroy them if they get there too early.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and that's going to bring me to my second point, which is spiritual preparedness requires anticipation. If you look at verse five, we're told that the bridegroom was delayed and that they all became drowsy and slept. The delay of the bridegroom, as unexpected as it was, shows us that life isn't always going to go according to our plans. The virgins couldn't control the timing of the bridegroom's arrival. But the wise virgins, they, were ready in advance. They didn't wait until the last minute. They were anticipating the delay and they were prepared for it.
Speaker 1:The principle in all of that is like James 5, 7 tells us and encourages us that we need to be patient and anticipate the Lord's return. It says be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it until it receives the early and the late rains. Being spiritually prepared is about living with the expectation and urgency, even when things seem to be delayed. We're called to live in anticipation of God's return, staying faithful in the waiting and not being lulled into this spiritual sleep and losing meaningful time.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know, the fourth verse tells us that the wise took extra oil knowing that they would need it.
Speaker 2:There was a delay in the coming of the bridegroom, and so if you're wondering what's taking the Lord, jesus Christ, so long to get the church, allow me to remind you of 2 Peter, chapter 3, verses 8 through 9, where it says this but do not overlook this one fact beloved that with the Lord, one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day.
Speaker 2:The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. So, you see, it's so very important, pastor Jim, that as we wait for the return of our Lord, we inventory our oil. We don't want to run out of that fresh oil. That's why it's so very important to get into a good church, a Bible-teaching, god-honoring, god-fearing church, and begin to serve within that church building and begin growing and strengthening relationships with other people who are like-minded in Christ. So we may be here for a while longer, but I want to make sure that my light is always shining for Christ, and can I just say that I'm thankful for the delay, because it was the delay that allowed me to come to Christ. So, in the process of waiting for the return of the Lord I'm not getting impatient I'm trying to see who else needs to come to Christ.
Speaker 1:And that point actually speaks to the urgency. When you look at Matthew 25, 10 through 12, speaks to the urgency. You know, when you look at Matthew 25, 10 through 12, there's this powerful image of the door being shut. The kingdom of God is not a place where you can just show up whenever we feel like it. There's going to be moments in our life that require readiness and if we aren't prepared when it calls, then the door is going to be closed on us.
Speaker 1:And to me that's a super sobering thought, you know, especially when you look at Matthew 7, and Jesus says not everyone who says to me, lord, lord, is going to be entering into the kingdom of heaven, right? So it's not about just saying the right words or showing up when it's convenient. The wise virgins they were ready before the door was shut. They lived their lives without, or rather with the knowledge that the opportunity to enter into God's feast it's not a guarantee. The invitation's there, but you have to choose to accept it. And they made sure and that was the biggest difference, they made sure that they were prepared to be able to accept the invitation to enter into the feast.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know. As Christians we need that fresh oil. You know our lamps must remain burning so others can see the light. And we know through the text that all 10 started out with oil in the lamp, you know, but only five bought extra oil, you know. So I'm reminded of what Jesus taught in Matthew, chapter 5, verses 14 through 16, when Jesus says this you are the light of the world. 14 through 16, when Jesus says this you are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden, nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house In the same way. Let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father, who is in heaven. Oh, child of God, can I just say this if you're listening, I just want to encourage you right now to let your light shine for the glory of our Lord.
Speaker 2:This world is already dark enough, pastor Jim. It does not need people claiming to be the bride of Christ but lacking the oil and not shining their light. Let's just remember what the oil is a representation of so many times throughout Scripture. You know both Old and New Testament. The oil is a representation of the Spirit of God, you know. And how many people claim Christ but, man, you don't see any fruit in their life. You know they claim to be a Christian, but we just don't see fruit coming from their testimony. You know it's just lacking, you know. So they bear the name, pastor Jim, but where's the oil? You know, where's the oil? The light's not shining. You know the light's not on. And so I just want to encourage our listeners as children of God, it's our responsibility to let the light shine for the glory of the Lord. And so here's your reminder.
Speaker 1:We got to keep our lamps full, right? What are you filling your lamps with the oil? Is this representation of your spiritual life, our relationship with God, our faith, our actions? The wise virgins took flasks of oil with their lamps, right? You can see that in verse four, ensuring that they were ready when the bridegroom arrived. Psalm 119, 105 tells us your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path, and this is the fuel that we need to keep our lamps burning brightly. We're also told in Ephesians 5.18 to be filled with the Spirit. We must continuously replenish our lamps by staying connected to God's word and staying in prayer and worship and being obedient to his leading, as we talked about last week with following the Good Shepherd. He is our leader and we need to really lean into that. So, really, the question that I have for you today is this is your lamp full and what's it filled with? Are you filling it with things that will sustain you spiritually, things that will keep you ready when that call comes?
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's so good, brother. If I could for a minute get back to a point we were both making just a few moments ago, in Matthew 25, 7 through 9, where it says then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps and the foolish said to the wise give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. But the wise answered saying since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves. And we talked about how we've seen this happening within the churches, within the body of Christ. I'd like to address with our listeners if you know someone like that, if you know someone that really enjoys being in the fellowship. They really enjoy hanging out with Christian guys or Christian girls, and you know their brothers and sisters and they enjoy the fellowship, but you just don't see them stepping out into the deep end, if you will, and just completely selling out and doing what it takes.
Speaker 2:I think it's our role, as those who do have the oil and our lamps burning. I think it's our role to lovingly encourage these people to pick their Bible up, to read their Bible. Someone could say well, you know, I'm not a good reader man. Nowadays you can pick your phone up and listen to it. You know you can have someone else on your phone read it to you. You know I mean get it in there. However, you got to get it in there. But I think we do a huge disservice to our brothers and sisters who are not growing deeper in their faith. They're kind of mooching off of our oil, if you will. You know, I think we do a huge disservice when we don't encourage them to get some oil of their own.
Speaker 2:And in Matthew, chapter 25, 10 through 12, it goes on to say and while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also saying Lord, lord, open to us. But he answered. Truly, I say to you I do not know you, pastor, Jim, you know. I just want to make a point. It says the door was shut and, brother, when the door is shut, the door is shut.
Speaker 2:I'm reminded of Matthew, chapter 7, 21 and 23, when Jesus says not everyone who says to me, lord, lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my father, who is in heaven. On that day, many will say to me Lord, lord, did we not prophesy in your name and cast out demons in your name and do many mighty works in your name? And then I will declare to them I never knew you. Depart from me, you workers of lawlessness. You see, pastor Jim, the issue is this Jesus is saying to those types of people I never knew you. In other words, there was no personal relationship. There was no personal relationship there.
Speaker 2:That type of person, they may have had a religion, they may have been religious, they may have been churched up, but they lacked in relationship. It's not religion that gets us into heaven. It's not church that gets us into heaven. It's having a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, his personal Lord and Savior.
Speaker 2:And for all those that are listening and maybe you are gently being convicted by the Holy Spirit right now, that you've been borrowing someone else's oil, can I just say my oil can't get you into heaven, my name can't get you into heaven, pastor Jim's oil and name can't get you into heaven. Where you go to church and your attendance record to that church cannot get you into heaven. You must have your own oil. You must have your own personal, real, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. So we cannot make it to glory on someone else's oil. And again I say, if you know someone like this, please love them enough to share with them that it is their responsibility to grow in the Lord, to read God's Word, to worship God, to walk with the Lord and have their own oil.
Speaker 1:God's Word, to worship God, to walk with the Lord and have their own oil and man. That's so good. And it leads right into the next verse, in 13, where there's really this importance of personal responsibility. Jesus closes this parable with a clear call to action. He says Watch.
Speaker 1:Therefore, you know neither the day nor the hour, and that is a reminder that we don't know when the end's going to come. We don't know when Christ is going to return, but what we do know is that we are responsible for being ready at all times. This mirrors what we read in 1 Thessalonians, in chapter 5, verses 2 through 6, where Paul reminds us that the day of the Lord will come, like a thief in the night, and he says we must stay awake, stay sober, and there's this sense of urgency here. Man, spiritual preparation isn't something that we can just put off until tomorrow. It's not something that we can just rely on somebody else to carry us with them through. We must live with this sense of today being the day to be ready, to be fully engaged in our relationship with God and anticipate Christ's return.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's right man. Right here, at the closing of this teaching, we see Jesus giving a warning. And this warning, friends, is for all of us, it's for every one of us. Watch, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Speaker 2:And I just want to take a moment before we close and maybe consider some people that you know that you've got to encourage to get some fresh oil. You know, maybe they've been a Christian for a long time and they've just kind of just stepped back for a moment. Or, you know, maybe they've just we're all in so much to the point where maybe they've just kind of burnt out and you've got to encourage them through love to get back into that fresh oil. Or maybe they've just been blinded by the goodness and fellowship that Christians offer them and they just kind of mooch off of that, they mooch off of other people's faith, they mooch off of other people's oil and they just feel like kind of riding along for the journey is good enough for them. You know, I want to encourage you to get out there and share with those people too that they need the fresh oil of God.
Speaker 1:Amen, and you know I think that is a really good point to end on and go ahead and go before the Lord and pray that a fresh oil would fall on us and everyone listening right now. Father, we love you, we praise you, we're so grateful for an opportunity that you show up, even in this podcast. Lord, we do pray that a fresh oil would fall on us and your people and, father, that we would begin to think about these things and be prepared For we know not the time nor the hour upon your return. But, lord, we know that you've left us with a call and a clear purpose, and that's to live closely to you, learn more about you and gain more Christians, grow your kingdom and, father, that's what we pray that you would give us the strength and perseverance to continue to do. We love you and we praise you. It's in Jesus' name that we pray Amen to continue to do. We love you and we praise you. It's in Jesus' name that we pray Amen.
Speaker 1:So, friends, jesus is challenging us in this parable to be wise and to live with anticipation, stay spiritually awake and take personal responsibility of our faith. Remember your friend's faith won't get you in. We don't know when Christ will return. We don't know when he's going to come back, but what we do know is that we need to be ready at all times. So thank you for joining us today, on Beyond Sunday. Let's go out this week ready to live for God with purpose and intentionality. Keep your lamp full and we'll see you next time on Beyond Sunday. You.
