I usually say that I still prepare sermons because it helps my mind but to be honest God still gives me messages and you are all my congregation now.  As with every message I ever preached may this bring glory to God and make My Love smile!

November 12, 2017 Matthew 25:1-13 “Give me Oil in my lamp”

23^rd Sunday after Pentecost    

Through the Bible and prayer allow the Holy Spirit to fill your life!

                                    Psalter Reading Psalm 78:1-7

1   O my people, listen to my instructions.  Open your ears to what I am saying,  2   for I will speak to you in a parable.  I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—  3   stories we have heard and known, stories our ancestors handed down to us. 4   We will not hide these truths from our children;  we will tell the next generation  about the glorious deeds of the LORD,   about his power and his mighty wonders. 5   For he issued his laws to Jacob; he gave his instructions to Israel.  He commanded our ancestors  to teach them to their children, 6   so the next generation might know them—  even the children not yet born— and they in turn will teach their own children. 7  So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands.                             Psalm 78:1-7 NLT

1 “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaid who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, 4  but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. 5  When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 “At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’ 7 “All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. 8 Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’ 9 “But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 “But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. 11   Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ 12  “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’ 13 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.                                                                          Matthew 25:1-13 NLT

In our time we miss the meaning of this title.  We might “update” it so say that we need a light bulb in our lamp but that would miss the point entirely.

Really we should ask God to give us His “electricity” or power so our lamps will remain alight and light up our lives and the world around us.  And also be a light for future generations.

We are called to “keep watch” and maybe we can translate that to our time as keep plugged in to God’s power and presence.  Our ears must be open to God’s wisdom, teaching and guidance if we are to not only be ready for Jesus but help other to have the “electricity” to keep their lamps alight.

We can blame the world for the problems we see but as I heard one time you cannot blame evil people for being evil, but you can blame good people for not being good!

Because we are not plugged into God’s power so many suffer in the darkness and will die without ever seeing God’s light!  LET GOD’S LIGHT SHINE IN YOU AND THROUGH YOU!  Then many will rise up and call God and you blessed!