Location:Eastern Christadelphian Bible School (1992)
Topic:Parables of Judgment
Title:The Ten Virgins
Speaker:Pickering, Peter
Download:19921018 the ten virgins.mp3
Transcript
well good morning brothers and sisters nice to be here nice to be here with the boston area again after so with the boston area again after so recently over here this is recently over here this is quite a bonus for me quite a bonus for me well this morning i thought we might well this morning i thought we might look just for a few minutes at look just for a few minutes at the parables but in particular the parables but in particular to look at the parables of judgment in to look at the parables of judgment in matthew 25 matthew 25 uh in this uh chapter here we've got uh in this uh chapter here we've got really three parables that bring our really three parables that bring our attention riveted upon the attention riveted upon the the aspect of the aspect of accountability and i guess with all of accountability and i guess with all of us in the truth we have one great hope us in the truth we have one great hope and that is the the wonderful coming of and that is the the wonderful coming of the lord jesus christ in which these the lord jesus christ in which these vile bodies might be put aside and the vile bodies might be put aside and the glory of yahweh's kingdom established glory of yahweh's kingdom established throughout this earth this is the hope throughout this earth this is the hope of the believer this is the hope of the of the believer this is the hope of the person who says right i i i want person who says right i i i want something to happen to put an end to all something to happen to put an end to all this this misery the sin this death in this this misery the sin this death in the world and therefore the expectation the world and therefore the expectation that we have for the return of the lord that we have for the return of the lord is so very real it must be real without is so very real it must be real without that we would be without hope and that we would be without hope and therefore as the apostle says why would therefore as the apostle says why would he want to be a believer if there's no he want to be a believer if there's no resurrection and and therefore eternal resurrection and and therefore eternal life and so in the case of matthew 25 it life and so in the case of matthew 25 it brings our attention now to look at the brings our attention now to look at the the parables of judgment as the parables the parables of judgment as the parables of accountability the day of reckoning of accountability the day of reckoning in terms of what we do in terms of what we do as a relationship with what we receive as a relationship with what we receive now that does this does not of itself now that does this does not of itself indicates indicates that therefore one is earning salvation that therefore one is earning salvation or salvation is a result of what we we or salvation is a result of what we we do as acts or performances that is based do as acts or performances that is based upon the performance upon the performance that's not the case that's not the case what we do see in scripture is that what we do see in scripture is that there is a relationship between what we there is a relationship between what we do and what we receive do and what we receive and though eternal life is not the and though eternal life is not the reward absolutely for the works endure reward absolutely for the works endure let's say of the saints of god who who let's say of the saints of god who who will therefore earn salvation that there will therefore earn salvation that there can be no salvation earned can be no salvation earned unlike the uh the mystic views of the unlike the uh the mystic views of the judaizers at this time who believed that judaizers at this time who believed that they could get their salvation from they could get their salvation from doing works of law now to ask when we doing works of law now to ask when we understand the truth and perceive this understand the truth and perceive this value in our lives there must be a value in our lives there must be a relationship between what we think what relationship between what we think what we are and what we do we are and what we do and what we expect to receive and what we expect to receive therefore this chapter here in matthew therefore this chapter here in matthew 25 reminds us of the point of 25 reminds us of the point of accountability accountability in terms in terms of that relationship now in these three of that relationship now in these three parables we have parables um the first parables we have parables um the first parable this 1 to 13 is the parable the parable this 1 to 13 is the parable the very commonly understood parable of the very commonly understood parable of the 10 virgins and then the next of the 10 virgins and then the next of the parables really concerns the um parables really concerns the um the the work of the the talents this is the the work of the the talents this is verses 14 to 30 the parable of the verses 14 to 30 the parable of the talents talents and then we have of course in chapter in and then we have of course in chapter in the same chapter 31-46 we have the the same chapter 31-46 we have the parable of the sheep and the goats and parable of the sheep and the goats and this then reminds us of the way in which this then reminds us of the way in which we relate now to the two categories that we relate now to the two categories that shall appear at the judgment seat of shall appear at the judgment seat of christ so in our session this morning we christ so in our session this morning we plan to just touch on two aspects or the plan to just touch on two aspects or the the aspects of the first two parables the aspects of the first two parables here uh in the power of the ten virgins here uh in the power of the ten virgins the parable of talents and then in our the parable of talents and then in our next class next sunday morning to look next class next sunday morning to look at the parable of the sheep and the at the parable of the sheep and the goats goats so let's look so let's look basically introduce this and see the way basically introduce this and see the way in which the ten virgins really reminds in which the ten virgins really reminds us of two categories of people that are us of two categories of people that are to be servants of the most high god well to be servants of the most high god well verse one it says then shall the kingdom verse one it says then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened under ten virgins of heaven be likened under ten virgins which took their lamps and went forth to which took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom now the number ten meet the bridegroom now the number ten of course is just a representative of course is just a representative number it's the number of ordinal number it's the number of ordinal perfection the number which is the first perfection the number which is the first cycle of completion of the digits you cycle of completion of the digits you get to nine you get to 10 and you start get to nine you get to 10 and you start all over again you go back to one you all over again you go back to one you see and it reminds us of the fullness see and it reminds us of the fullness the totality so it really is talking the totality so it really is talking here about the total number of the the here about the total number of the the people of god that are caught within his people of god that are caught within his ecclesia but within that category as we ecclesia but within that category as we know there were two groups know there were two groups five of them were wise and five are five of them were wise and five are foolish foolish now the word wise here doesn't mean now the word wise here doesn't mean necessarily the person is very old as if necessarily the person is very old as if wisdom only comes by disposition of old wisdom only comes by disposition of old age it has to do with a person who is age it has to do with a person who is being prudent and sensible being prudent and sensible someone who stops and thinks about the someone who stops and thinks about the implications of life what they're doing implications of life what they're doing whether what their relationship is to whether what their relationship is to others to particularly the relationship others to particularly the relationship to god to god so it has to do with a wise person who so it has to do with a wise person who prudently prudently and sensibly directs his life towards and sensibly directs his life towards the things of his master now the other the things of his master now the other group of the foolish ones they were not group of the foolish ones they were not those people who were unspiritual those people who were unspiritual at all they were they were spiritual at all they were they were spiritual people they were you know members of the people they were you know members of the community of christ but nevertheless community of christ but nevertheless they were dull and sluggish they were dull and sluggish that didn't mean they didn't have that didn't mean they didn't have any you know bright mental ability any you know bright mental ability at all it simply meant that that was at all it simply meant that that was spiritually dull and it's very easy to spiritually dull and it's very easy to be spiritually dull it's very easy to be spiritually dull it's very easy to come along to the meeting week after come along to the meeting week after week after week for 50 years plus and be week after week for 50 years plus and be spiritually dull spiritually dull because it means we are not spiritually because it means we are not spiritually alert alert thinking about the things we hear thinking about the things we hear chewing them over looking at the chewing them over looking at the implications and more particularly implications and more particularly looking at the application of what we do looking at the application of what we do with what we've got with what we've with what we've got with what we've learned with what we've become learned with what we've become and what we've not become in other words and what we've not become in other words what we prevent happening in our lives what we prevent happening in our lives this has to do with a person who takes this has to do with a person who takes up his his life up his his life with spiritual generation sensible and with spiritual generation sensible and prudent and bright for the truth and the prudent and bright for the truth and the contrast is of course to do with a contrast is of course to do with a person who is spiritually dull and person who is spiritually dull and sluggish so they don't really stop to sluggish so they don't really stop to think about the beautiful things that think about the beautiful things that they're learning and chewing over as they're learning and chewing over as they as they come along week after week they as they come along week after week and be in touch with the word of god day and be in touch with the word of god day after day but rather they are also after day but rather they are also sluggish because they don't do anything sluggish because they don't do anything about what they learn however small they about what they learn however small they might learn it might learn it they don't do anything with it and this they don't do anything with it and this parable the whole of this chapter is parable the whole of this chapter is about is about christophians about is about christophians who have something who have something but do nothing with it but do nothing with it a very good reminder to all of us well a very good reminder to all of us well this is the two categories then the five this is the two categories then the five wise and the five bullish and they the wise and the five bullish and they the foolish themselves they took their lambs foolish themselves they took their lambs but they took no oil with their lamps but they took no oil with their lamps while the bridegroom tarried they all while the bridegroom tarried they all slumbered and they slept now here is the slumbered and they slept now here is the situation which represents the period of situation which represents the period of time when the bridegroom is away time when the bridegroom is away now we need to perceive the now we need to perceive the the the scriptural position of marriage the the scriptural position of marriage i think in terms of this parable here i think in terms of this parable here the the tradition and though it's not the the tradition and though it's not really strongly written into scripture really strongly written into scripture you find lots of mentions of it going you find lots of mentions of it going through scripture but this was actually through scripture but this was actually the tradition of marriage which was the tradition of marriage which was impregnated through the whole of the impregnated through the whole of the jewish community and probably through jewish community and probably through the earliest days uh since the days of the earliest days uh since the days of eden it was the will of god in eden it was the will of god in application concerning marriage now what application concerning marriage now what would happen normally is that uh the would happen normally is that uh the father of the bride the bride to be the father of the bride the bride to be the father the bridegroom they would come father the bridegroom they would come and negotiate a marriage contract and negotiate a marriage contract and in the negotiation of that contract and in the negotiation of that contract the father of the bridegroom the father of the bridegroom would pay a measure of money would pay a measure of money compensation to the father of the bride compensation to the father of the bride in order for her to leave his care in order for her to leave his care and of course his his dominant role as and of course his his dominant role as the paternal uh welfare officer of his the paternal uh welfare officer of his daughter uh in order to gain her from daughter uh in order to gain her from from that environment into the from that environment into the environment of of his son and this would environment of of his son and this would be what was called the dowry that was be what was called the dowry that was paid paid uh it's also called in scripture the uh it's also called in scripture the price of redemption price of redemption so it has to do with the amount of money so it has to do with the amount of money paid to redeem that person from the paid to redeem that person from the household of their own nativity and household of their own nativity and obtain that woman for the husband for obtain that woman for the husband for the brothers the son of that of that the brothers the son of that of that father so this was a tradition very very father so this was a tradition very very strong and even in today's society in strong and even in today's society in many areas it is still the tradition of many areas it is still the tradition of marriage the negotiation takes place marriage the negotiation takes place between the parents the two between the parents the two fathers now the normal thing that would fathers now the normal thing that would happen then there would be about a happen then there would be about a 12-month 12-month period of engagement or betrothal period of engagement or betrothal during which time during which time the bride would be trained and tutored the bride would be trained and tutored by her parents as to how to be a good by her parents as to how to be a good wife to the husband the husband who was wife to the husband the husband who was to be shortly that bridegroom he would to be shortly that bridegroom he would be working now with his father in order be working now with his father in order to provide a house for the married to provide a house for the married couple couple and then when the day came for the and then when the day came for the marriage to take place the the the marriage to take place the the the tradition was that the uh the son of the tradition was that the uh the son of the father he would go uh and on a long father he would go uh and on a long journey with his friends which were the journey with his friends which were the the bridegroom's friends what we might the bridegroom's friends what we might call it the best man or the the call it the best man or the the attendant uh company for the bridegroom attendant uh company for the bridegroom they would go on this march and they they would go on this march and they would march over towards the the house would march over towards the the house of the bride-to-be of the bride-to-be and as they would go and as they would go there would be a herald there would be a herald standing at the home of the of the bride standing at the home of the of the bride and saying right the bridegroom is and saying right the bridegroom is coming so now the bride with all her coming so now the bride with all her maidens in attendance would go out and maidens in attendance would go out and meet the bridegroom coming meet the bridegroom coming and then they would return to the and then they would return to the bride's house bride's house for the festivities for the marriage for the festivities for the marriage ceremony to take place ceremony to take place and for the feasting to take place and for the feasting to take place and then they would sorry that was not and then they would sorry that was not the the full marriage feast but there the the full marriage feast but there would be a community feast held there would be a community feast held there and then they would leave on what was and then they would leave on what was called a wedding march and they would go called a wedding march and they would go on at some distance towards the house on at some distance towards the house that had been prepared for the couple by that had been prepared for the couple by the bridegroom and his father and then the bridegroom and his father and then there would be seven days of feasting at there would be seven days of feasting at that house after which of course all the that house after which of course all the company would leave and and the company company would leave and and the company of the bride and bridegroom would now of the bride and bridegroom would now enter into their their neutrals and this enter into their their neutrals and this would be now their private dwelling would be now their private dwelling place so that was the tradition which place so that was the tradition which even today in many communities as we say even today in many communities as we say is very very common now is very very common now this being the case we can see this this being the case we can see this built into the parable here of the built into the parable here of the bridegroom and the bride bridegroom and the bride now christ gives of course more than one now christ gives of course more than one parable about bright groups of brides parable about bright groups of brides and he talks about the bridegroom going and he talks about the bridegroom going to into a far place and coming again to into a far place and coming again and this all represents of course as it and this all represents of course as it does christ going to heaven to the right does christ going to heaven to the right hand of god and then coming again and hand of god and then coming again and you can see the parable to work its way you can see the parable to work its way through in the expression of christ when through in the expression of christ when he said in my father's house are many he said in my father's house are many mansions mansions i go to prepare a place for you i go to prepare a place for you so here he is speaking to the bride so here he is speaking to the bride that in my father's house are many that in my father's house are many mansions that means many rooms not you mansions that means many rooms not you know many big houses but rooms in the know many big houses but rooms in the sense of there is a multitudinous number sense of there is a multitudinous number of rooms for the multitudinous bride and of rooms for the multitudinous bride and of course that is the concept in of course that is the concept in scripture isn't it that the that that scripture isn't it that the that that multitudenous bride makes up the bridal multitudenous bride makes up the bridal community of the bridegroom so christ community of the bridegroom so christ has now gone to heaven to prepare the has now gone to heaven to prepare the house house in which there will be many rooms and he in which there will be many rooms and he will come again that where i am will come again that where i am that you will be also so christ is god that you will be also so christ is god and with his father and with his father is preparing the house for the married is preparing the house for the married couple and hence christ goes to prepare couple and hence christ goes to prepare a place for you and in that sense we see a place for you and in that sense we see christ preparing this great spiritual christ preparing this great spiritual temple of course in heaven and temple of course in heaven and revelation 21 he comes with that revelation 21 he comes with that spiritual temple of the great building spiritual temple of the great building which represents the bridal community which represents the bridal community the bridal establishment the bridal the bridal establishment the bridal institution which shall all be institution which shall all be established upon the mountains of established upon the mountains of jerusalem which will be like jerusalem which will be like superimposed upon the great temple as superimposed upon the great temple as the house of prayer for all nations that the house of prayer for all nations that shall be built there shall be built there so this gives us the background of some so this gives us the background of some of this parable so hence the bridegroom of this parable so hence the bridegroom goes away to prepare the place now the goes away to prepare the place now the the virgins the virgins had to go out into the night had to go out into the night and in order to do this during this and in order to do this during this period of gentile darkness as we now period of gentile darkness as we now live in we must have a light that is live in we must have a light that is burning brightly otherwise you can't see burning brightly otherwise you can't see where you're going and nor can you show where you're going and nor can you show anybody else where they're going without anybody else where they're going without the light all is dark and all is lost the light all is dark and all is lost now the foolish now the foolish virgins they took their lamps but they virgins they took their lamps but they took no oil with them took no oil with them now this is the first lesson we really now this is the first lesson we really come on in this particular parable the come on in this particular parable the oil itself represents the word of god oil itself represents the word of god doesn't it remember the oil of god is doesn't it remember the oil of god is seen in scripture as that olive oil that seen in scripture as that olive oil that had to be beaten out collected and had to be beaten out collected and beaten out by the men the women and the beaten out by the men the women and the children and it had to be beaten into an children and it had to be beaten into an oil substance and then that that oil was oil substance and then that that oil was taken given to the priest and the priest taken given to the priest and the priest used to daily order it on the lampstand used to daily order it on the lampstand the menorah in the temple of god and the the menorah in the temple of god and the tabernacle tabernacle and that became the means whereby the and that became the means whereby the priest having gone into the tabernacle priest having gone into the tabernacle into the temple the holy place he would into the temple the holy place he would know what he was doing he would see what know what he was doing he would see what he was doing he would be enlightened in he was doing he would be enlightened in his work as a result of that lamp his work as a result of that lamp burning brightly in burning brightly in in that holy place and of course there in that holy place and of course there were three items of furniture in the were three items of furniture in the holy place wasn't it there was the lamp holy place wasn't it there was the lamp stand the burn brightly there was the stand the burn brightly there was the table of showbread and there was the table of showbread and there was the altar of incense right at the entrance altar of incense right at the entrance into the kodash kodashim the holy place into the kodash kodashim the holy place and this particular this particular and this particular this particular house here that the holy place house here that the holy place represented the position we have today represented the position we have today that is we as the spiritual priests of that is we as the spiritual priests of god are waiting to go in beyond the veil god are waiting to go in beyond the veil of mortality into the glorious holiest of mortality into the glorious holiest of holies symbolized as heaven itself of holies symbolized as heaven itself and in order to do that we must first and in order to do that we must first serve as priests at the holy place now serve as priests at the holy place now the lamp stand represented the word of the lamp stand represented the word of god it was burning brightly thy word is god it was burning brightly thy word is a lamp under my feet a light to my path a lamp under my feet a light to my path you see you see and that was exactly what the word of and that was exactly what the word of god had to be god had to be so we have to gather the oil we have to so we have to gather the oil we have to crush it up small crush it up small and then of course it becomes the and then of course it becomes the burning bright light burning bright light the only means of showing us where we're the only means of showing us where we're going and without light in this world going and without light in this world from the word of god we are totally lost from the word of god we are totally lost in darkness in darkness hence the moon also is taken up as a hence the moon also is taken up as a symbol of that light in scripture symbol of that light in scripture because during gentile darkness or the because during gentile darkness or the period of the night it is the moon which period of the night it is the moon which is in fact representing the ecclesia is in fact representing the ecclesia which is reflecting the light of a sun which is reflecting the light of a sun which is jesus christ that you can't see which is jesus christ that you can't see during the period of gentile darkness during the period of gentile darkness and that light is now reflected in the and that light is now reflected in the moon and the moon shows the light on the moon and the moon shows the light on the earth without the moon there is no light earth without the moon there is no light on the earth in night time and that's on the earth in night time and that's why the ecclesia is like that moon why the ecclesia is like that moon and therefore the moon as it tends to and therefore the moon as it tends to wax and wane you know it it goes around wax and wane you know it it goes around a little sliver and then it goes to a a little sliver and then it goes to a big full bright moon really represents big full bright moon really represents the vicissitudes of ecclesial life the vicissitudes of ecclesial life doesn't it you know ecclesia gets strong doesn't it you know ecclesia gets strong to get weak and and over a period of to get weak and and over a period of time the the amount of light shining on time the the amount of light shining on the earth is going to be differing in the earth is going to be differing in terms of the amount of clear viable terms of the amount of clear viable truth-giving witness that the ecclesia truth-giving witness that the ecclesia is giving to the world around them is giving to the world around them and in this way we can see how we have a and in this way we can see how we have a responsibility to bear that light but responsibility to bear that light but you see that light really represents the you see that light really represents the fundamental teaching of the word of god fundamental teaching of the word of god if you like it is the first principles if you like it is the first principles of the truth and we must have a lamp of the truth and we must have a lamp stand in boston in melbourne in atlanta stand in boston in melbourne in atlanta wherever we might be there must be a wherever we might be there must be a lamp stand and the ecclesiastic lamp stand and the ecclesiastic lampstand is its is its constant and lampstand is its is its constant and bright witness bright witness for the word of god what the fundamental for the word of god what the fundamental first principles of the truth are as first principles of the truth are as well as by contrast what it is not and well as by contrast what it is not and we have to often point out what the we have to often point out what the truth is not in terms of this rather truth is not in terms of this rather distant christian world because they distant christian world because they have not really adhered to the have not really adhered to the principles of the one faith and principles of the one faith and therefore we have to show the the light therefore we have to show the the light as against by contrast to darkness as against by contrast to darkness so we must show what the truth is as so we must show what the truth is as well as what it's not well as what it's not but this represents the bright burning but this represents the bright burning first principles of the truth first principles of the truth but how do we get those first principles but how do we get those first principles the truth the truth well you might say okay well you can get well you might say okay well you can get it by reading it by reading something like uh maybe the declaration something like uh maybe the declaration or or some description by well maybe some of some description by well maybe some of robert roberts basic principle works robert roberts basic principle works pointing out the truth christen the pointing out the truth christen the mystery it might tell you what it is and mystery it might tell you what it is and what it isn't that's true you might get what it isn't that's true you might get it from a summary of the one faith you it from a summary of the one faith you might get it from a book called who are might get it from a book called who are the christian orphans and what do they the christian orphans and what do they believe believe they are the first principles they are the first principles but you see those first principles but you see those first principles do not stand on their own do not stand on their own as if well i've now got the first as if well i've now got the first principles and it's optional as to principles and it's optional as to whether i get anything else whether i get anything else but the truth is and if you read a book but the truth is and if you read a book like el was israel i mean elvis israel like el was israel i mean elvis israel was a pamphlet for interested friends was a pamphlet for interested friends wasn't it it was written for people who wasn't it it was written for people who were not christodophian bible students were not christodophian bible students but when you read elvis israel you will but when you read elvis israel you will see it's telling us about the see it's telling us about the fundamentals of the truth this is true fundamentals of the truth this is true but it is built but it is built upon the vast upon the vast reservoir of the teachings of scripture reservoir of the teachings of scripture from genesis to revelation from genesis to revelation so from the reservoir of the bible comes so from the reservoir of the bible comes forth the first principles of the truth forth the first principles of the truth and we can express it in three and we can express it in three principles we can express it in 23 principles we can express it in 23 principles but however many principles principles but however many principles you express the truth in it's a you express the truth in it's a summarized form of the vast reservoir of summarized form of the vast reservoir of understanding from genesis to revelation understanding from genesis to revelation now a lot of our young people who are now a lot of our young people who are baptized of course baptized of course they need to express what's the what they need to express what's the what these fundamental first principles are these fundamental first principles are but our young people have probably had but our young people have probably had you know 15 years of education in the you know 15 years of education in the truth truth before they're baptized before they're baptized and that comes from a constant exposure and that comes from a constant exposure to this word to this word in daily bible readings in the home in daily bible readings in the home in sunday school classes each week in sunday school classes each week in attending bible schools and youth in attending bible schools and youth camps and youth opportunities for camps and youth opportunities for learning the word all of these things learning the word all of these things accumulate a concept and that concept is accumulate a concept and that concept is simply expressed in simply expressed in the fundamental first principles that we the fundamental first principles that we would say are necessary in order for one would say are necessary in order for one to enter into the christophian community to enter into the christophian community as a measure of understanding and as a measure of understanding and baptism and we might express that in the baptism and we might express that in the bisf or some other documents so simply bisf or some other documents so simply tells us what those first principles are tells us what those first principles are but we must be very conscious but we must be very conscious that those principles as expressed that those principles as expressed will not simply stand on their own will not simply stand on their own without constantly being re-supported without constantly being re-supported from underneath from underneath in other words it's out of the reservoir in other words it's out of the reservoir of the word of god of the word of god that comes forth the meaning of those that comes forth the meaning of those principles and that's why constantly in principles and that's why constantly in exhortations and studies in the word of exhortations and studies in the word of the truth in our community we will go the truth in our community we will go into into study the word of god after into into study the word of god after all we've been given you know 66 books all we've been given you know 66 books by god for that purpose and in studying by god for that purpose and in studying and meditating upon that concept we are and meditating upon that concept we are saying well there you are we see again saying well there you are we see again the nature of man there you are we see the nature of man there you are we see again an aspect of the kingdom of god again an aspect of the kingdom of god there you are you can see the aspect of there you are you can see the aspect of evil that there is no devil and the evil that there is no devil and the devil is inside here and this is the devil is inside here and this is the power we've got to battle so all of power we've got to battle so all of these aspects of fundamental first these aspects of fundamental first principles are underpinned by the principles are underpinned by the constant feeding of them constant feeding of them by our meditations on the reservoir of by our meditations on the reservoir of the oil the oil and that's the reason why it's most and that's the reason why it's most important that neclesia will not really important that neclesia will not really maintain that strong bright burning maintain that strong bright burning lights lights unless it has a reservoir feeding it all unless it has a reservoir feeding it all the time you can't live on first the time you can't live on first principles principles and in scripture is put rather like this and in scripture is put rather like this that first principles represent the milk that first principles represent the milk of the word of the word and you can't live on milk a baby can and you can't live on milk a baby can for a short period of time but then by for a short period of time but then by means of the growth of its body it has means of the growth of its body it has its spiritual senses built that it might its spiritual senses built that it might be able to have the meat and the strong be able to have the meat and the strong stuff of the scripture stuff of the scripture and this is really showing us milk is and this is really showing us milk is quite insufficient to give spiritual quite insufficient to give spiritual growth to a body growth to a body for a baby yes for a baby yes a newborn babe on the spiritual a newborn babe on the spiritual principles of the truth needs milk but principles of the truth needs milk but they then must grow till they can eat they then must grow till they can eat the meat the meat and if we don't get to the point of and if we don't get to the point of eating the meat the milk will go sour eating the meat the milk will go sour it'll go off and it'll lose its meaning it'll go off and it'll lose its meaning and that is really the point of why the and that is really the point of why the father said we have 66 books in here not father said we have 66 books in here not just the statement of faith just the statement of faith because all of this supports the first because all of this supports the first principles of the truth principles of the truth so you see the foolish virgins believed so you see the foolish virgins believed that all they had to be was a that all they had to be was a crystaldelphian all they had to be was crystaldelphian all they had to be was baptized all they had to do was go on to baptized all they had to do was go on to the occlusion meetings constantly and the occlusion meetings constantly and never feed the first principles with the never feed the first principles with the reserve reserve the oil of god's word the oil of god's word and that was foolish and that was foolish very foolish very foolish but yet as we see the wise ones took the but yet as we see the wise ones took the oil and they took their reservoirs with oil and they took their reservoirs with them them now of course at midnight the cry comes now of course at midnight the cry comes midnight midnight it says behold the bridegroom comes go it says behold the bridegroom comes go ye out to meet him now in the meantime ye out to meet him now in the meantime however however we have we have these uh virgins as they were these uh virgins as they were involved in difficulties of human living involved in difficulties of human living and that is that they while the and that is that they while the bridegroom tarried while he he wasn't bridegroom tarried while he he wasn't there they all slumbered and they there they all slumbered and they now i would suggest to you now i would suggest to you on the meaning of these words that on the meaning of these words that slumbering relates to the first group slumbering relates to the first group which the which is the fool so somebody which the which is the fool so somebody writes the to the first group it's the writes the to the first group it's the wise and the slept the it relates to the wise and the slept the it relates to the to the other group which were those that to the other group which were those that were foolish now in the sense of these were foolish now in the sense of these two words to slumbering two words to slumbering means to nod the head in weakness means to nod the head in weakness you often see it of a sunday morning in you often see it of a sunday morning in the meeting you know we've had a real the meeting you know we've had a real late collegial night saturday night late collegial night saturday night and you'll see the brothers and the and you'll see the brothers and the sisters the excitation was probably very sisters the excitation was probably very good but it's just that the weakness of good but it's just that the weakness of the flesh is very the flesh is very bad and then you'll see you sort of the bad and then you'll see you sort of the hill not like that and also then it goes hill not like that and also then it goes up bolts up right like that and it goes up bolts up right like that and it goes down again down again go up again and this is what it means to go up again and this is what it means to slumber you you nod the head in weakness slumber you you nod the head in weakness and you keep pulling it back because we and you keep pulling it back because we say hey i must concentrate on this but say hey i must concentrate on this but the weakness of the flesh this driving the weakness of the flesh this driving you into a difficulty of concentration you into a difficulty of concentration but the spiritual mind is pulling the but the spiritual mind is pulling the chin back up again saying right try chin back up again saying right try again again and so you take on the matchsticks and and so you take on the matchsticks and you put in your eyes and you you try and you put in your eyes and you you try and keep awake because you know it's keep awake because you know it's importance importance now everybody gets caught like that now everybody gets caught like that uticus was caught like that uticus was caught like that remember when he fell down out of the remember when he fell down out of the top floor top floor that's because at this time that top that's because at this time that top floor was uh floor was uh was like a courtyard and when paul was was like a courtyard and when paul was preaching the truth as he was in in preaching the truth as he was in in at that time and he was giving at that time and he was giving an excitation that went until midnight i an excitation that went until midnight i mean it was a long excitation expectedly mean it was a long excitation expectedly but you see the lamps were burning and but you see the lamps were burning and the lamps were fires that were burning the lamps were fires that were burning in that courtyard and the heat was in that courtyard and the heat was rising you see and the the higher up you rising you see and the the higher up you sat the more heat you got and therefore sat the more heat you got and therefore the more sleepy you got and that was why the more sleepy you got and that was why utica fell out of the top window because utica fell out of the top window because he was sitting exposed where he could go he was sitting exposed where he could go off to sleep during the memorial meeting off to sleep during the memorial meeting when it was a long excitation when it was a long excitation but as his name means he was fortunate but as his name means he was fortunate that paul was there and the power of god that paul was there and the power of god was there to revive him out of that was there to revive him out of that slumbering action which of course slumbering action which of course eventually brought him down to the floor eventually brought him down to the floor but that is the slumbering of a person but that is the slumbering of a person who wants to hang in there who wants to hang in there but finds the weakness of the flesh very but finds the weakness of the flesh very real real now all of us are in that category now all of us are in that category however the next category it says and however the next category it says and those who slept really means to go cold those who slept really means to go cold out right out dead unconscious asleep out right out dead unconscious asleep and that represents those and that represents those who've gone to sleep on the truth who've gone to sleep on the truth well of course how can you go about well of course how can you go about collecting oil using your reservoir collecting oil using your reservoir building your meditations on the word of building your meditations on the word of god if in fact you are asleep god if in fact you are asleep and we've got a lot of people in the and we've got a lot of people in the truth you know truth you know who are spiritually asleep who are spiritually asleep it's the one who comes to the memorial it's the one who comes to the memorial meeting meeting sits through the exhortation sits through the exhortation and all the time is either asleep and all the time is either asleep not interested or thinking about what not interested or thinking about what they're going to do when they get out of they're going to do when they get out of the meeting the meeting so that we spiritually lose track so that we spiritually lose track of our meditations and our fellowship of our meditations and our fellowship together around the word and with our together around the word and with our lord lord now that is that is the the foolish now that is that is the the foolish virgin but still a virgin virgin but still a virgin that's the point still a virgin these that's the point still a virgin these are not the people who've gone out and are not the people who've gone out and prostituted themselves of the worlds prostituted themselves of the worlds they are still virgins they're at the they are still virgins they're at the meeting every sunday meeting every sunday there may be even every bible class there may be even every bible class but spiritually they're not switched on but spiritually they're not switched on there's no one home there's no one home nothing's happening nothing's happening the word is not growing germinating that the word is not growing germinating that powerful sword of the spirit that must powerful sword of the spirit that must constantly recognize items of fleshly constantly recognize items of fleshly deviation and domination in our deviation and domination in our spiritual hearts and get rid of them spiritual hearts and get rid of them have battle against them go as a warrior have battle against them go as a warrior and don't go to sleep on the truth so and don't go to sleep on the truth so easy is it to become drunken in the easy is it to become drunken in the things of this world and when you get things of this world and when you get drunk you go to sleep drunk you go to sleep and this is a category of person that and this is a category of person that loses spiritual perception loses spiritual perception the battle the battle is over is over it's not being fought the enemy's won it's not being fought the enemy's won the enemy's gone home but the person is the enemy's gone home but the person is still a virgin still a virgin that's the important thing that's the important thing so it's talking here about a group of so it's talking here about a group of christian fans and all of course christian fans and all of course christopher's means brethren of christ i christopher's means brethren of christ i use this term because it's very good for use this term because it's very good for the application to us but it goes down the application to us but it goes down through time doesn't the brethren in through time doesn't the brethren in christ christ the real brethren are the ones who have the real brethren are the ones who have the real battle all the time to stay the real battle all the time to stay asleep in the weariness of this life asleep in the weariness of this life and to get on with the constant sword of and to get on with the constant sword of the spirit to battle away at the the spirit to battle away at the difficulties that surround us difficulties that surround us so these are the two categories that so these are the two categories that christ is referring to now at midnight christ is referring to now at midnight the call goes out behold the bridegroom the call goes out behold the bridegroom cometh cometh now what does that represent now what does that represent it represents a time when as christ said it represents a time when as christ said to his own disciples watch therefore to his own disciples watch therefore don't go to sleep don't go to sleep don't go to sleep don't go to sleep watch watch for the signs will tell us for the signs will tell us when the bridegroom is when the bridegroom is coming and of course we're living in coming and of course we're living in very significant and momentous times in very significant and momentous times in many many ways many many ways so many things happening telling us that so many things happening telling us that christ's return is near very near but christ's return is near very near but yet this is the very time when we're in yet this is the very time when we're in the darkest times of ecclesial history the darkest times of ecclesial history now is not the time when the ecclesia is now is not the time when the ecclesia is noted for its protipitous active work of noted for its protipitous active work of proclaiming the truth everywhere proclaiming the truth everywhere we have difficulty in getting teams we have difficulty in getting teams together to go preaching the truth together to go preaching the truth we have difficulty in getting you know a we have difficulty in getting you know a lot of people along with preaching lot of people along with preaching projects projects our halls are much less full of a sunday our halls are much less full of a sunday night than they are of a sunday morning night than they are of a sunday morning this is all showing us that though we this is all showing us that though we live in a time of vibrant fulfilling a live in a time of vibrant fulfilling a bible prophecy we still face the bible prophecy we still face the difficulties of an occlusion that any to difficulties of an occlusion that any to go to sleep go to sleep because that's the way in which the because that's the way in which the sophomoric world we live in sophomoric world we live in leans upon us take it easy do what comes leans upon us take it easy do what comes easy you know have a relaxation is most easy you know have a relaxation is most important don't get too involved or too important don't get too involved or too hyped up or too tense with with life hyped up or too tense with with life just take it easy and we can end up just take it easy and we can end up taking it easy in the truth too taking it easy in the truth too to the point where our dedication to the point where our dedication is constrained is constrained but the call goes out behold the but the call goes out behold the bridegroom comes because of all the bridegroom comes because of all the signs around us will tell us look the signs around us will tell us look the lord's coming is so near and this time lord's coming is so near and this time is not yet here i don't believe i don't is not yet here i don't believe i don't we have lots of signs telling us he's we have lots of signs telling us he's coming but i think we have a period of coming but i think we have a period of time coming when the signs are going to time coming when the signs are going to be more worrisome to us in the sense be more worrisome to us in the sense that lawlessness is going to grow that lawlessness is going to grow darkness is filling the earth darkness is filling the earth i think we're coming to a stage when at i think we're coming to a stage when at midnight midnight in other words it must be the darkest in other words it must be the darkest hour of the night midnight you know hour of the night midnight you know between sunrise and sunset if you go between sunrise and sunset if you go back on the continuum you come to back on the continuum you come to midnight the darkest hour of the night midnight the darkest hour of the night and this represents the world and this represents the world when it is most sinful when it is most sinful when when the light of god's word is least seen the light of god's word is least seen maybe within the household as well as maybe within the household as well as outside outside but what it does represent is a time but what it does represent is a time when there is fear when there is fear and insecurity and insecurity and we may well yet see that emerge and we may well yet see that emerge before the christ returns before the christ returns and one of the signs he gives us and one of the signs he gives us particularly as we know when he writes particularly as we know when he writes to timothy he talks about the time when to timothy he talks about the time when there would be violence and aggression there would be violence and aggression and lawlessness and no love and lawlessness and no love this is a worrisome time coming this is a worrisome time coming and in that dark period and in that dark period we can say we can say surely with all the signs around us surely with all the signs around us everywhere negative and positive signs everywhere negative and positive signs christ's coming is very near christ's coming is very near well this is the moment he talks about well this is the moment he talks about beholds the bridegroom is coming beholds the bridegroom is coming and the virgins arose and trimmed their and the virgins arose and trimmed their lamps lamps now this means that the the wise virgins now this means that the the wise virgins those who can trim their lamps those who can trim their lamps are those who can you know get the wick are those who can you know get the wick get all the uh the graphite sort of get all the uh the graphite sort of solution the carbon off the wick solution the carbon off the wick you trim it up you then refill your your you trim it up you then refill your your lamp with from the reservoir in your lamp with from the reservoir in your hand and it again begins to burn hand and it again begins to burn brightly brightly and so it represents a time when in the and so it represents a time when in the darkness of that hour darkness of that hour the wise ones are going to make sure the wise ones are going to make sure that those first principles of the truth that those first principles of the truth are burning brightly are burning brightly what happens in the case of the others what happens in the case of the others the foolish says to the wise the foolish says to the wise givers of your oil for our lamps are not givers of your oil for our lamps are not gone outs it's in the present participle gone outs it's in the present participle there they are going out there they are going out now what's this represent now what's this represent here are the group of those attached to here are the group of those attached to the equation and have been maybe for 50 the equation and have been maybe for 50 years years of those who've simply gone along under of those who've simply gone along under first principles first principles they have not underpinned the first they have not underpinned the first principles with the depth of principles with the depth of understanding understanding those qualities of spiritual endurance those qualities of spiritual endurance that we get not by reading a list of that we get not by reading a list of rules rules but by perceiving the qualities of but by perceiving the qualities of christ christ and of his servants and of his servants as we must have them to endure as we must have them to endure the difficulties and trials and the the difficulties and trials and the tribulations of an insecure worlds tribulations of an insecure worlds and unless we have that burning brightly and unless we have that burning brightly we shall not be able to survive it and then this group of the foolish ones say to this group of the foolish ones say to the wise givers of your oil the wise givers of your oil but it almost seems as if it's but it almost seems as if it's uncharitable of the wise to say no you uncharitable of the wise to say no you can't have any of ours you know we we can't have any of ours you know we we want our own uh you can get your own you want our own uh you can get your own you know it sounds like that sometimes the know it sounds like that sometimes the parable it's not really what it's saying what the wise are saying when they are asked asked the wise replies that look not so lest the wise replies that look not so lest there be not enough for us and you but there be not enough for us and you but go rather yourselves to them that sell go rather yourselves to them that sell and buy for yourselves and buy for yourselves what it's saying here is not what it's saying here is not the fact that this this why the wise the fact that this this why the wise people were so conservative they they people were so conservative they they would not fear to be left under would not fear to be left under their own supply at all by giving to their own supply at all by giving to others it sounds uncharitable doesn't it others it sounds uncharitable doesn't it i mean if we are a self-sacrificing i mean if we are a self-sacrificing group of people and we give up our own group of people and we give up our own lives for christ and for others then why lives for christ and for others then why wouldn't we give up our own oil wouldn't we give up our own oil because there's a principle at stake because there's a principle at stake here here and there's a fundamental application and there's a fundamental application it's describing it's describing the brother and sister the brother and sister who during the time who during the time of their occupation the truth have built of their occupation the truth have built up their understanding of this word up their understanding of this word they've built up not only understanding they've built up not only understanding but remember understanding gives wisdom but remember understanding gives wisdom it gives perception it gives application it gives perception it gives application this applies to a group of people who this applies to a group of people who have taken that word the oil of god's have taken that word the oil of god's word and they have constantly burned word and they have constantly burned brighter and brighter in the sense that brighter and brighter in the sense that the greater understanding of god's the greater understanding of god's character has reached their hearts and character has reached their hearts and their minds and their hands their minds and their hands and that brethren and sisters and that brethren and sisters takes time takes time and if you get a brother or sister and if you get a brother or sister running around insecurely saying i'm so running around insecurely saying i'm so afraid i don't know what to i don't know afraid i don't know what to i don't know what's going to happen my family is all what's going to happen my family is all falling apart my children haven't come falling apart my children haven't come to the truth and a whole series of to the truth and a whole series of things have happened things have happened as a result of as a result of neglecting neglecting the word of god the word of god now in those circumstances now in those circumstances when trials become great when trials become great what do you call on what do you call on where is the strength of character where is the strength of character to take us through those difficult days to take us through those difficult days well one thing's for sure is the problem well one thing's for sure is the problem is often said you can't put an old head is often said you can't put an old head on young shoulders and you can't cut a on young shoulders and you can't cut a spiritual head spiritual head on young shoulders on young shoulders that have not yet learned that have not yet learned how to think in spiritually perceptive how to think in spiritually perceptive terms terms you can you can transpose a mass of knowledge into transpose a mass of knowledge into somebody's head like that and say now somebody's head like that and say now they're all there's all the wisdom that they're all there's all the wisdom that you you're wanting you you're wanting it doesn't happen that way can never it doesn't happen that way can never happen that way happen that way knowledge knowledge is data is data data has to be processed data has to be processed in order that it becomes meaningful in order that it becomes meaningful then the meaningfulness of that data has then the meaningfulness of that data has to be seen in a practical application to be seen in a practical application to make it workable in the sense of a to make it workable in the sense of a spiritual life spiritual life now that is a process of time now that is a process of time it's a filtration process it's a it's a filtration process it's a building process it is a maturation building process it is a maturation process and the same way that you can't process and the same way that you can't put the little apple seeds in the ground put the little apple seeds in the ground and say right apple tree grow i'm going and say right apple tree grow i'm going to watch you growing to watch you growing nor can you say nor can you say here's the word of god here's the word of god get all the wisdom of maturation get all the wisdom of maturation spiritually that could come in five spiritually that could come in five minutes of time minutes of time never happens that way growth is a never happens that way growth is a process of time process of time maturation is a process of distillation maturation is a process of distillation and as we constantly grow in the truth and as we constantly grow in the truth from the first principles of the milk of from the first principles of the milk of the word eventually to the meat of the the word eventually to the meat of the word the spiritual growth of that word the spiritual growth of that individual is maturing and it's the individual is maturing and it's the maturity that's important until you grow maturity that's important until you grow up unto the measure of the man in christ up unto the measure of the man in christ jesus remember the words of paul when he jesus remember the words of paul when he talks about it in ephesians chapter four talks about it in ephesians chapter four you know till you come into the into the you know till you come into the into the fullness of jesus christ that's maturity fullness of jesus christ that's maturity that's growing on the reservoir of oil that's growing on the reservoir of oil turning first principles into turning first principles into fundamental foundations of belief and fundamental foundations of belief and understanding understanding now that you cannot give to anybody now that you cannot give to anybody you can't transfer a spiritual mind like you can't transfer a spiritual mind like that that it's years it's years decades so you see in the darkness of the night when fear and security surrounded the when fear and security surrounded the foolish who all the time they really foolish who all the time they really went to sleep on the word of god instead went to sleep on the word of god instead of collecting the olives and grinding up of collecting the olives and grinding up the oil and burning the oil brightly the oil and burning the oil brightly they were unprepared for the urgency of they were unprepared for the urgency of the darkness of the moments the darkness of the moments so all the wise virgins could really say so all the wise virgins could really say was look i've spent my life on this was look i've spent my life on this immersing myself in the oil of god's immersing myself in the oil of god's word word look that's where you've got to go look that's where you've got to go you've got to go there that's where it's you've got to go there that's where it's sold doesn't cost you much money in fact sold doesn't cost you much money in fact but that's where it's sold and that's but that's where it's sold and that's where you have to get it from look get where you have to get it from look get down to the word prepare your heart and down to the word prepare your heart and mind for the the insecurity of these mind for the the insecurity of these days in the darkness of this night days in the darkness of this night and you see that part cannot be and you see that part cannot be transferred that part must be obtained transferred that part must be obtained by oneself individually by oneself individually and that's very important you know for and that's very important you know for often sisters in the truth too who might often sisters in the truth too who might think well the study of the words and think well the study of the words and meditation the word is not important for meditation the word is not important for them because they don't do any speaking this word of god is not here to make speakers speakers it's to make their sharers who will it's to make their sharers who will share what they know with others with share what they know with others with whoever they speak but it's not like a a whoever they speak but it's not like a a training for toastmasters club or training for toastmasters club or something something it's not here it's not here for what we're going to say on a for what we're going to say on a platform platform it's here for what we're going to say to it's here for what we're going to say to our hearts what we're going to share our hearts what we're going to share with one another and those outside with one another and those outside that's where the oil is and unless we that's where the oil is and unless we get it in that process sisters as well get it in that process sisters as well as brethren they will not be prepared i as brethren they will not be prepared i mean when we get to the judgment seat mean when we get to the judgment seat and we all have to come before the lord and we all have to come before the lord jesus christ the sister is not going to jesus christ the sister is not going to say to christ will you ask my house for say to christ will you ask my house for husband he's got all the knowledge husband he's got all the knowledge i mean the sister must stand in her own i mean the sister must stand in her own integrity before her own god integrity before her own god to her peculiar qualities and to her peculiar qualities and characteristics and the work that she characteristics and the work that she has to do in the in the work of the has to do in the in the work of the truth that's her responsibility truth that's her responsibility and if she doesn't have the oil and if she doesn't have the oil how can she answer the lord how can she answer the lord so all of us have an individual though a so all of us have an individual though a collective responsibility to feed one collective responsibility to feed one another another so on the day of judgment this critical so on the day of judgment this critical time coming the bridegroom is coming the time coming the bridegroom is coming the word of god is going out the sound shall word of god is going out the sound shall go out behold the bridegroom's coming go out behold the bridegroom's coming will we be ready well we can't suddenly will we be ready well we can't suddenly say well i must look up these chapters say well i must look up these chapters of the prophecy to see what's going to of the prophecy to see what's going to happen in the world i don't know happen in the world i don't know anything about the kingdom of god i anything about the kingdom of god i really only know he's coming it's going really only know he's coming it's going to be set up but i don't know how it's to be set up but i don't know how it's going to be set up and i don't know going to be set up and i don't know what's going to happen to me and my what's going to happen to me and my children children these things take time these things take time and that reservoir must be looked at to and that reservoir must be looked at to feed that bright light of the first feed that bright light of the first principle standards the word of god that principle standards the word of god that we must all be doing individually and we must all be doing individually and collectively as an equator in the area collectively as an equator in the area where we live where we live and that's vitally important as an and that's vitally important as an involvement for virgins involvement for virgins so the foolish virgins go off and they so the foolish virgins go off and they being ill-prepared they scatter around being ill-prepared they scatter around and they try to get some sort of and they try to get some sort of spiritual mindedness into themselves but spiritual mindedness into themselves but behold the bridegroom comes behold the bridegroom comes they're not ready they're not ready they just are not ready they just are not ready the spiritual mind that must stand the spiritual mind that must stand behind the fundamental first principles behind the fundamental first principles is now lacking they have gone off and is now lacking they have gone off and while they go off to try and prepare while they go off to try and prepare themselves behold the bridegroom themselves behold the bridegroom comes they go into the great wedding comes they go into the great wedding and the door is shut and afterward comes running along the other foolish comes running along the other foolish virgins saying lord lord open to us open virgins saying lord lord open to us open the door the door but he answers and says verily i say but he answers and says verily i say unto you unto you i know you not now he says i know you not i know you not in response to their in response to their proclamation or acclimation open the proclamation or acclimation open the door door but you see but you see they don't know christ they don't know christ so how can christ know them so how can christ know them they don't know christ because they don't know christ because they have never spent time at his feet they have never spent time at his feet with their ear pinned to his mouth with their ear pinned to his mouth to listen to listen to listen to the qualities of the mind to listen to the qualities of the mind of the son of god of the son of god and if they don't have those qualities and if they don't have those qualities in their mind how can they have them in in their mind how can they have them in their being they don't know christ i their being they don't know christ i mean know him in the sense of of a mean know him in the sense of of a scriptural knowing scriptural knowing to experience to know by experience they to experience to know by experience they don't know christ so christ will respond don't know christ so christ will respond in kind i don't know you in kind i don't know you and that was the dark and the sorrowful and that was the dark and the sorrowful moment at the end of it all and the moment at the end of it all and the reason why christ says in the parable reason why christ says in the parable watch therefore for you know neither the watch therefore for you know neither the day or the hour and the son of man does day or the hour and the son of man does come because the darkness is getting darker is getting darker but at that critically dark moments but at that critically dark moments that's the time that's the time when we our exposure shall be known when we our exposure shall be known when our unpreparedness shall be when our unpreparedness shall be revealed revealed and when the spiritual mind will clearly and when the spiritual mind will clearly not be there not be there so really that's a very so really that's a very important little parable to remind us important little parable to remind us all all to constantly feed on the oil of the to constantly feed on the oil of the word of god word of god that's what feeds the meaningfulness that's what feeds the meaningfulness and the constancy of the first and the constancy of the first principles of the truth principles of the truth without which we shall not be ready without which we shall not be ready for christ's return for christ's return so that's a parable of judgment a very so that's a parable of judgment a very meaningful one that reminds us of just meaningful one that reminds us of just how important it is as an equation how important it is as an equation to make sure that the first principles to make sure that the first principles the light burn from the word of god and the light burn from the word of god and it's well said it's well said that how can equations that how can equations have fundamental progressive outworking have fundamental progressive outworking programs of proclamation programs of proclamation if they don't have good bible classes if they don't have good bible classes to get the word of god to get the word of god to turn it into a conviction to go out to turn it into a conviction to go out and spread it a bit like a profane proverb used today in the business world in the business world a company a company either grows either grows or it fails or it fails can never stay the same size fundamentally we're the same people rather go backwards or we go forwards rather go backwards or we go forwards we can't stay the same people we were we can't stay the same people we were when we're baptized when we're baptized we can't be a peter pan and fail to grow we can't be a peter pan and fail to grow old old or grow foolish or grow or grow foolish or grow wise we must move wise we must move we move up we move up we move down but where we move depends we move down but where we move depends on the quality of the mover on the quality of the mover and in this case and in this case it's the oil of god's word that must it's the oil of god's word that must burn brightly in our hearts every day burn brightly in our hearts every day fed by the reservoir of spiritual fed by the reservoir of spiritual perception and understanding that gives perception and understanding that gives us the vitality of our spiritual beings us the vitality of our spiritual beings without that without that we will not want to preach we will not we will not want to preach we will not want to go out and share the word with want to go out and share the word with brothers and sisters we won't have brothers and sisters we won't have anything to share we'll run out of anything to share we'll run out of things to say things to say and we'll start going backwards like the and we'll start going backwards like the proverbial recession country proverbial recession country and that and that is a real problem it's a problem to our is a real problem it's a problem to our community it's a problem to the world community it's a problem to the world we must grow we must grow there is no room for stagnation and here there is no room for stagnation and here were stagnant to virgins who were still were stagnant to virgins who were still virgins virgins but stagnant virgins but stagnant virgins they didn't get on with the growth they didn't get on with the growth and therefore the reservoirs were not and therefore the reservoirs were not there there warning to all of us warning to all of us i'm sure the parable itself i'm sure the parable itself stands in its state stands in its state it's a fundamental principle of it's a fundamental principle of spiritual life spiritual life and therefore our next session next and therefore our next session next sunday morning we'll look at the next sunday morning we'll look at the next part of the parable that's got another part of the parable that's got another meaning more important again for us as meaning more important again for us as an ecclesia thank you
Location:Eastern Christadelphian Bible School (1992)
Topic:Parables of Judgment
Title:The Talents
Speaker:Pickering, Peter
Download:19921025 the talents.mp3