ADDITIONAL PREPARATION

MEMORISE: ‘Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.’ (1 Cor 9:24).
READ: Matthew 25: 1- 13.

The story of the 10 virgins is a familiar one to most of us. People have always told us the reason the foolish virgins lost out was because they had no oil. In other words, they did not have the Holy Spirit. The Lord, however, has given me a different perspective.

The ten virgins had several things in common. For starters, they all had their lamps and, as they left their homes, the lamps were burning. That means all of them were saved, because they all had light. Salvation is what carries you from darkness into the light.

Secondly, they were virgins. This means that they were pure and sanctified. The fact that they were virgins meant that they came from good homes where their parents taught them to preserve their virginity until they got married. So by today’s standards they would be active members of a sound Bible –Church who practice the doctrines of the Bible that are taught there.

The third thing is that they all had oil in their lamps, or else they would not have been burning. That means that they have all been baptized in the Holy Spirit. The virgins were also chosen, because there were definitely more than ten virgins in the nation. Matthew 20: 16 says that many are called, but only a few are chosen.

All the virgins waited in anticipation of the bridegroom’s arrival. They all slumbered and slept while the bridegroom tarried. When the cry eventually came, all of them woke up. They were all prepared to meet him, but only five went in while the other five lost our. Why? God is trying to tell us that it will require more than ordinary preparation to make it to heaven. It will require salvation, holiness, Holy Spirit baptism, prayer and watchfulness, sobriety, maintaining peace with all men. It will require subduing the flesh, being hospitable and loving all human beings. All these things are important. You have to be prepared to qualify. How prepared are you? Reach out to the things that are before you, so that you may be as the wise virgin.

ACTION POINT
Pray for the success of the Go-A –Fishing programme everywhere.
Ask God for a great harvest of souls.