“Then shall the Kingdom of Heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom comes; go you out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go you rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.” Matthew 25:1-12.
All ten virgins arose to trim their lamps but only five virgins had oil. The five virgins with no oil believed their religious activity would save them. They were in the church but not in Christ.
“21 Not every one that says unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he that does the Will of My Father which is in Heaven.
22 Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy Name? and in Thy Name have cast out devils? and in Thy Name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:21-23.
Any message other than Jesus Christ and Him crucified is deemed iniquity. If the message does not point to Jesus as the source and His finished work on Calvary’s Cross as the means by which our Salvation AND our Sanctification comes, it is another gospel and is accursed…it is iniquity and makes the Cross of Christ of no effect in the life of the Believer (1 Corinthians 1:17).
“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I would you were cold or hot. So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue you out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:15-16.
We should all examine ourselves. Do we have oil in our lamp or are we just trimming the wick? Who is the source of victory over our day to day living? Us or the Lord Jesus Christ? Have we denied ourselves, picked up our cross and followed Him or have we “embraced” ourselves, picked up our cross and followed man?
Let me be clear, many in the modern church are working iniquity. They prophesy in the name of Jesus, cast out demons in the name of Jesus but they know not nor do the Will of God. The tepid response of the pews to pulpits reveal the lukewarm…those who are neither cold or hot. Because they don’t reject the Will of God, they believe the lack of rejection is by default acceptance…this is not so. Acceptance or denial one thing requires repentance of the other; there is no in between. We either accept the Will of God or we deny the Will of God. We have been given a free will to choose and the Blood of Jesus gives the Believer the ability to choose God’s Will…whether we do or not is our decision.
We claim to know Jesus but does He know us?
“You believe that there is one God; you do well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” James 2:19.
Work out your own Salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). Study to show thyself approved, a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of God (2 Timothy 2:15). We know Him, we do well…but does He know us?
-Donna Clark Warren
Living in The Spirit 