I love learning something new!  Last night I learned that I cannot share.  Sad, but true.
Well, I knew that I couldn’t share this one thing that I’ll get to in a moment, but the explanation of the parable was explained in a way that made me nod my head, crease my forehead, and make me go, “Ah-ha!”
Evangelist John Reed is the guest preacher at our revival this week at church.  As evangelist should be, he is a captivating public speaker. With his soft spokenness to his pound-the-hand-on-the-podium-attention-grabber, to his excitable “Woo-hoos”, Mr. Reed had my attention from the get-go.
His message focused on one of Jesus’ over thirty parables.  You can find in it Matthew 25:1-13.  It was about the ten virgins who went out to meet the bridegroom.

1. Walk with me through this as I give you the parable with inserts from the knowledge I gained.

The Parable of the Ten Virgins
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. ² Five of them were foolish (These are the ones who either think they know the bridegroom, Jesus, or the ones who truly don’t have Christ in their heart.) and five were wise.(These are those of us who have accepted Christ in our hearts and are saved.) ³ The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.(The oil represents The Holy Spirit) ⁴ The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.(They’ve got The Holy Spirit in them. Truly saved!) ⁵ The bridegroom (Jesus’ second coming) was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. (We all get weary and tired.  Don’t be caught sleeping.  Stay alert for Jesus!)
⁶ “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ (Jesus is here!!! Jut like He will be coming back for us again soon.)
⁷ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.  (All!  Everyone was aroused and turned up their Holy Spiritness.) ⁸ The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ (Those who are not Christians wanted some Holy Spirit in them.  They wanted the others to share their oil (salvation).)
⁹ “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. (This is the point that I always thought, “I’ll share some with you.”  That’s only the right thing to do right?  I didn’t know the oil represented the Holy Spirit.  I was thinking it was more like the Gospel.  We should share God’s love and word. Right when I was thinking this, Jim Reed said the same exact thing.  And then he clarified it all for me.) Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ (You see, we can share God’s love all day long, but we cannot give someone our salvation, our Holy Spiritness. You can’t get to heaven because your momma took you to church, you were a kind person, you “know of” Jesus, etc.  You must ask Him into your heart on your own.  Only God can save you.)
¹⁰ “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
¹¹ “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’
¹² “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
¹³ “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
Ah-ha!!!  So, as much as I love to share Jesus with others, I can’t share my salvation.  That is something you must do on your own.  I’ve always known that part, I just didn’t totally get the parable until now.
We are having revival for one last night tonight if you want to go hear Brother John.  Where:  Plant City’s First Baptist Church. When:  Wednesday, August 27,1014.  Time:  6:30pm.  Go learn something new.
I pray God’s abundant love and blessings for y’all.

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