Outlasting the Darkness Outlasting The Darkness – p.3 “A Guarantee for a Better Future” Matthew 25:1-13

Matthew 25:1-13 (NIV) “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.

Matthew 25:1-13 (NIV) The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

Matthew 25:1-13 (NIV) “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

Matthew 25:1-13 (NIV) “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

Matthew 25:1-13 (NIV) “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. “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.

Matthew 25:1-13 (NIV) “Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’ “Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’ “But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’ “But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’

Matthew 25:1-13 (NIV) “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

Be Ready! Don’t be too focused on the beauty of the temple and Jewish life (24:2)Don’t be too focused on the beauty of the temple and Jewish life (24:2) Be ready for a season of spiritual trial (24:9)Be ready for a season of spiritual trial (24:9)

Be Ready! Don’t be deceived by false prophets (24:24)Don’t be deceived by false prophets (24:24) The Second Coming will be unexpected (24:42)The Second Coming will be unexpected (24:42)

Matthew 24:44 (NIV) “Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” “Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

A wedding with drama “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. (V.1)

A wedding with drama All ten are “virgins” or young unmarriedAll ten are “virgins” or young unmarried They all have lamps and they all went out to meet the bridegroom when he came.They all have lamps and they all went out to meet the bridegroom when he came.

A wedding with drama There are ten virgins, but they are put in two groups.There are ten virgins, but they are put in two groups. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. (vv.2-4)

A wedding with drama Five of the virgins were called foolish or “silly”.Five of the virgins were called foolish or “silly”. Five of the virgins were called wise or sensible.Five of the virgins were called wise or sensible. What separated them was their preparation!What separated them was their preparation!

The bridegroom is unexpectedly late The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ (vv.5-6)

The sensible girls are well prepared “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

The sensible girls are well prepared “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ (vv.7-9)

The sensible girls are well prepared The silly girls realize their mistake.The silly girls realize their mistake. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ (v.8)

The sensible girls are well prepared The sensible girls know that you can’t prepare for someone else.The sensible girls know that you can’t prepare for someone else. “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ (v.9)

The silly girls miss a golden opportunity They missed the highlight of the wedding They missed the highlight of the wedding “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. (v.10)

The silly girls miss a golden opportunity The door was shutThe door was shut

The silly girls miss a golden opportunity Harsh wordsHarsh words “Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’ “But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’ (vv )

Readiness means… That you understand the urgencyThat you understand the urgency That you take actionThat you take action

It is easy to make one of two mistakes First, you could fail to realize the urgency.First, you could fail to realize the urgency. Secondly, you could fail to react to the urgency.Secondly, you could fail to react to the urgency.

Bottom Line: urgent expectation should lead to thoughtful preparation.

Matthew 25:13 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

For those checking out the Christian faith… Jesus has not yet returned, so it is not too late to correct foolish choices.Jesus has not yet returned, so it is not too late to correct foolish choices.

For those checking out the Christian faith…

For devoted followers of Jesus… We are all responsible for our own preparation.We are all responsible for our own preparation.

For devoted followers of Jesus… Living in preparation is a daily activity.Living in preparation is a daily activity.

For devoted followers of Jesus… Living in preparation is a daily activity.Living in preparation is a daily activity.

For devoted followers of Jesus… Living in preparation is a daily activity.Living in preparation is a daily activity.

For devoted followers of Jesus… Living in preparation is a daily activity.Living in preparation is a daily activity.

For devoted followers of Jesus… Decisively – “I’m Yours!”Decisively – “I’m Yours!” Availably – “I’m ready”Availably – “I’m ready” Intentionally – “I’ll try”Intentionally – “I’ll try” Lovingly – “I’m doing this out of love for you”Lovingly – “I’m doing this out of love for you” Yieldedly – “I’ll trust you”Yieldedly – “I’ll trust you”