Awake Oh Sleeper!
The Lord is calling out to wake His people up in this season. The church has fallen asleep, especially in recent years. We can see by the events everyday that time is running out and we are in the last hour. It’s like seeing the clock getting closer to midnight and too many are unaware. It will be too late for them. So many think everything is alright even though they seem to be complacent. Soon they will see they must put prayer, the Word and seeking God first. Some will be overwhelmed in the coming days if they don't.
Matthew 25:1Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
It said "they all slumbered and slept".Not just 5 of them. They all heard His voice when He called and woke up and they all thought they were going with Him. They only had enough oil that they could hear Him but yet they didn't even know they didn't have enough to enter in. We may hang around with others that have lots of oil but we can't get it from them, we have to get it for ourselves.
Romans 13:11And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.
Ephesians 5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 15See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 18And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.
How can we keep from slumbering, having the light of Christ in our lives and walk as we should in these evil days? How do we get more oil? When we're like the 5 wise ones in Matthew 25 and be filled with the Spirit, filled to overflowing in worship to the Lord. When we are filled with the oil of His Spirit that oil makes our lamp burn bright with the light of Jesus and it won't go out. Keep the Spirit flowing through you. If the oil is low there will only be a flicker and will go out instead of being a burning flame. Keep that passion for the Lord a blazing fire.
Jude 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost
I personally know people who prayed in the spirit many years ago but don't now. They are not on fire for God like before although some do go to church and tries to live a good live. They aren’t overcoming the carnal life. The only way to stay strong in these last days is to pray. The five foolish virgins were caught unaware. Pray in the spirit.
The foolish virgins were deceived. They thought they were ready, but Jesus told them "I know you not". You can meet someone but still not know them yet. This is speaking of an intimate relationship. And that has to be developed. The only way to get to know a person is spend time with them. Its not saying, hello nice to meet you. Its not staying, standing in the doorway or even coming into the living room, the outer courts. But its coming into the Holy of Holies, the secret place, where you are alone with the love of your life. Not going in to complain, beg and ask for things, but a place to give Him your love and receive His love. That's how to develop intimacy. We are all busy, but if we are too busy to spend that time with Him, seeking His face, not His hand, then we are just too busy. And its not the 'religious' busyness alot of Christians and ministers get into, but a more personal relationship.
Jesus was speaking to the Church at Ephesus in Revelation 2:4, not the world, when he said, "thou hast left thy first love". If Jesus isn't the priority in our daily life then He's not our first love and He's not Lord, other things are; because to be Lord, He is first. Anything that comes before God is an idol. When you are in love with someone you would rather be with them and talk to them than anyone else, no question about that. We all need to take inventory and see if we need to return to our first love.
The Lord is calling out to wake His people up in this season. The church has fallen asleep, especially in recent years. We can see by the events everyday that time is running out and we are in the last hour. It’s like seeing the clock getting closer to midnight and too many are unaware. It will be too late for them. So many think everything is alright even though they seem to be complacent. Soon they will see they must put prayer, the Word and seeking God first. Some will be overwhelmed in the coming days if they don't.
Matthew 25:1Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
It said "they all slumbered and slept".Not just 5 of them. They all heard His voice when He called and woke up and they all thought they were going with Him. They only had enough oil that they could hear Him but yet they didn't even know they didn't have enough to enter in. We may hang around with others that have lots of oil but we can't get it from them, we have to get it for ourselves.
Romans 13:11And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.
Ephesians 5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 15See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 18And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.
How can we keep from slumbering, having the light of Christ in our lives and walk as we should in these evil days? How do we get more oil? When we're like the 5 wise ones in Matthew 25 and be filled with the Spirit, filled to overflowing in worship to the Lord. When we are filled with the oil of His Spirit that oil makes our lamp burn bright with the light of Jesus and it won't go out. Keep the Spirit flowing through you. If the oil is low there will only be a flicker and will go out instead of being a burning flame. Keep that passion for the Lord a blazing fire.
Jude 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost
I personally know people who prayed in the spirit many years ago but don't now. They are not on fire for God like before although some do go to church and tries to live a good live. They aren’t overcoming the carnal life. The only way to stay strong in these last days is to pray. The five foolish virgins were caught unaware. Pray in the spirit.
The foolish virgins were deceived. They thought they were ready, but Jesus told them "I know you not". You can meet someone but still not know them yet. This is speaking of an intimate relationship. And that has to be developed. The only way to get to know a person is spend time with them. Its not saying, hello nice to meet you. Its not staying, standing in the doorway or even coming into the living room, the outer courts. But its coming into the Holy of Holies, the secret place, where you are alone with the love of your life. Not going in to complain, beg and ask for things, but a place to give Him your love and receive His love. That's how to develop intimacy. We are all busy, but if we are too busy to spend that time with Him, seeking His face, not His hand, then we are just too busy. And its not the 'religious' busyness alot of Christians and ministers get into, but a more personal relationship.
Jesus was speaking to the Church at Ephesus in Revelation 2:4, not the world, when he said, "thou hast left thy first love". If Jesus isn't the priority in our daily life then He's not our first love and He's not Lord, other things are; because to be Lord, He is first. Anything that comes before God is an idol. When you are in love with someone you would rather be with them and talk to them than anyone else, no question about that. We all need to take inventory and see if we need to return to our first love.