Blog Detail

Today I want to expand on a thought preached by Pastor Charles Stanley:

— Our responsibilities as we await the Second Coming of Jesus, who will make everything RIGHT.

1/ To be watching faithfully…

2/ To be waiting peacefully…

3/ To be working diligently…

4/ To be worshipping joyfully…

To be diligent and yet not burdensome, I am going to break this down into two separate weekly studies.

— First, we look at what it means: 1/ To be watching faithfully… and 2/ To be waiting peacefully…

1/ To be watching faithfully…

— What are we to be watching for? (SEE what Jesus told us in Matthew 25:1-13) “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.  (2)  Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.  (3)  For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,  (4)  but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.  (5)  As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.  (6)  But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’  (7)  Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.  (8)  And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’  (9)  But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’  (10)  And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.  (11)  Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’  (12)  But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’  (13)  Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

— 1a. In this parable, what does the return of the bridegroom for his bride signify? (Vs.1)

— 1b. What does the oil signify? (Vs.3-4)

— 1c. Why did Jesus include the delay and then the sudden appearance of the bridegroom in Vs.5-6?

— 1d. If the oil signifies a lasting anticipation and long-suffering patience in waiting for the Lord’s return, what does it mean that some had oil left and others didn’t? (Vs.7-12)

— 1e. What can we conclude about waiting and holding fast to the promise of our Lord’s return?

(My thoughts and answers at bottom of page)

____________________________________

2/ How can we be “waiting peacefully,” …especially in this world where we see the mustering of Satan’s forces against God’s people and His Word?

(Again let’s look at what Jesus told us His followers, in Matthew 25:31-40) “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.  (32)  Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  (33)  And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.  (34)  Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  (35)  For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,  (36)  I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’  (37)  Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?  (38)  And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?  (39)  And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’  (40)  And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

— 2a) When taken as a promise of welcome and blessing, do these words of Jesus give you strength to withstand the false accusations of our accuser? (Especially Vs.31-34)

— 2b) How is Jesus teaching in Vs. 34-40 that we should treat strangers (I suggest even our enemies)?

(I see this applying to those who oppose us as well because of what Jesus taught in Luke 6:27-28  “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,  (28)  bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.)

— 2c) Jesus taught an attitude of ‘turning the other cheek’ in Luke 6:27-36… How does this behaviour on our part, bring us peace? (So we can wait peacefully.)

____________________________________

Next session Lord willing, we will cover what it means:

3/ To be working diligently… and 4/ To be worshipping joyfully…

I’ll close with this hymn to lead us into our time of prayer… ‘I surrender‘

I hope that you can join us next week.  (KK)

____________________________________

MY ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS…

1/ To be watching faithfully…

— What are we to be watching for? (SEE what Jesus told us in Matthew 25:1-13)

— 1a. In this parable, what does the return of the bridegroom for his bride signify? (Vs.1)

A) The second coming of our Lord Jesus to rule and judge the earth. (Found in Revelations 19:11-16)

— 1b. What does the oil signify? (Vs.3-4)

A) A ‘first love’ enthusiasm, and a lasting anticipation of the truth, in the promise of Jesus to return for us His people.

— 1c. Why did Jesus include the delay and then the sudden appearance of the bridegroom in Vs.5-6?

A) So that we would not be discouraged when we find the wait is longer than we ever thought it would be.

— 1d. If the oil signifies a lasting anticipation and long-suffering patience in waiting for the Lord’s return, what does it mean that some had oil left and others didn’t? (Vs.7-12)

A) I’ll answer this with another question: Do we see some giving up faith because they think the delay means that the promise is not true? (And yet we see many others holding fast to this promised return.)

— 1e. What can we conclude about waiting and holding fast to the promise of our Lord’s return?

A) If we hold faithfully to the truth of His return, we will be supremely rewarded as the bridegroom welcomes us into His Kingdom.

____________________________________

2/ How can we be “waiting peacefully,” …especially in this world where we see the mustering of Satan’s forces against God’s people and His Word?

(From what Jesus told us His followers, in Matthew 25:31-40)

— 2a) When taken as a promise of welcome and blessing, do these words of Jesus give you strength to withstand the false accusations of our accuser? (Especially Vs.31-34)

A) To hear the King say to us, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” must give us more faith and courage to stand and wait for HIS deliverance, and not seek PAY-BACK for ourselves.

— 2b) How is Jesus teaching in Vs. 34-40 that we should treat strangers (I suggest even our enemies)?

A) Jesus taught us to love our enemies, therefore when He says “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” I think it includes even our enemies as the “least of these”.

— 2c) Jesus taught an attitude of ‘turning the other cheek’ in Luke 6:27-36… How does this behaviour on our part, bring us peace? (So we can wait peacefully.)

A) In Luke 6:35 Jesus gives us a great promise if we can, “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.” …Do you think it is something special to be a “son or daughter of the Most High God”?

____________________________________