Fire in the lamps

Fire in the lamps

Scripture:

 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. ² Five of them were foolish and five were wise. ³ The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. ⁴ The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. ⁵ The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

⁶ “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ ⁷ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

⁹ “‘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.’ ¹⁰ “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

¹¹ “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ ¹² “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ ¹³ “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. Matthew 25:1-13

Observation:-

Continuing along the same vein of parables concerning His second coming, the Lord gives the parable of the wise and foolish virgins who went out to meet the bridegroom. 5 were foolish and took their lamps without bringing any oil while 5 were wise and remembered to take oil along with them. Presumably, these virgins were to be part of the bridegroom’s procession and were required to hold lighted lamps as part of the ceremony. The bridegroom was a long time in coming and the virgins fell asleep. At midnight, the bridegroom arrived to loud proclamation and the virgins hurried to meet him. As their lamps were going out, the foolish virgins rushed to buy more oil. The bridegroom arrived and was warmly greeted by the wise virgins who joined him in the wedding banquet. Later, when the foolish virgins came back again, they found the door shut, and the bridegroom refused to acknowledge them.

Similar to the previous parable of the good and faithful servant, this parable is about being prepared for the Lord’s coming. Throughout the Bible, oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit and reminds us of the importance of keeping ourselves filled with the Holy Spirit. Another Scripture warns us not to quench the Spirit, and Paul exhorts us to walk in the Spirit, to be filled with the Spirit, to keep in step with the Spirit. John the Baptist prophesied how Jesus would come after Him and would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. The presence of the Holy Spirit comes with fire, and again is consistent with the lamps being lit by oil to give fire and light in the parable.

Application:-

The Lord wants us to be Christians filled with His Spirit and on fire for Him. In Revelation, it is written how the Lord will spit the lukewarm out of his mouth. We need to never lose that fire, that passion, that desire to receive more and more from God. How do we get that fire? We need to earnestly desire it, and ask of God our Father. How much will the Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him. Its not about asking once or asking flippantly, but asking earnestly and with passionate desire, like the widow who would not stop knocking on the judges’ door. First desire, and then ask with all our heart.

How do we keep that fire? We must seek God in purity of heart, to ask God to purify our hearts, to purge out the dross, the distractions and desires of the world and its attractions. When our eyes and heart stray to worldly things, our fire dies down, and life becomes mundane and lifeless again in a spiritual sense. Do not be satisfied with that. Cry out for fire again from God! Do not give up! But call to Him “Lord, Fire! Fire! Fire!” It is His Spirit and His fire that will drive us and give us the strength and passion to overcome in the last days, when the love of most grows cold, and even loved ones may turn against us.

Prayer:-

We praise You, Heavenly Father, for You love us and give to us generously of Your precious Spirit who guides us and leads us and fills us with Your precious fire! Stir Your Spirit within us O Lord to seek You more to desire You more to want more and more from You. Let us not be satisfied with life in the doldrums, with a life that just goes through the motions without a genuine, passionate relationship with You. Give us more passion, more love, more fire for You, we pray, precious Lord Jesus! Kindle us with Your passion we pray. Set us aflame with Your fire, Lord! Do not let the flame die down within us, but stir that passion again to grow and burn and light up that Your glory may shine like a city on the hill! Pour out more of Your Spirit on us we pray. Let Your Spirit overflow in us, so that we may have Your might river flowing through us and out of us to bless others, to touch others, to bring Your healing and love to many. May Your name be praised forever, O Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.