The parable of the ten virgins and the oil, do the virgins not depict the virgin Spirit we have from Christ, the seed of incorruptibility, unleavened and pure? We all receive this seed at our new birth. The bridegroom is Christ and He is now being revealed. Who has the sustaining oil of the Spirit that does not run out? There are many that think because they are born again they have the oil that won’t run out, but that isn’t true.
If your current spirituality is one that is always being fed from sources outside yourself, outside the Spirit of Christ within you, outside your personal relationship with Christ, you are fast going to run out of oil. Sources outside yourself would be, not knowing what to do if you didn’t have a church to go to, or feeling condemned if you didn’t tithe because this was a ‘law’ of your spirituality. Or you can’t go without fellowship and social interaction with other ’Christians’. Maybe you feel you must attend church, or must be under the ‘covering’ of a pastor or other people calling themselves Elders. It could be that you couldn’t imagine being without a Bible. Do you pray religiously or so regularly you couldn’t imagine doing otherwise?
Many believers that congregate with other more spiritual believers, think this is all they need. But what if you find yourself without their company? And I mean in a life or death, do or die situation. Like what is coming. Then what? Do you have the oil to sustain you? Or not?
How do you know? By asking yourself honestly some of the questions above and absolutely seeking God yourself, on your face, on your knees, without others, without rote, without agenda or any other pretence, and ask Him. Don’t get up until you know.
The number ‘Ten’ signifies the perfection of Divine order. The ideal, God’s will. ‘Five’ signifies Grace. All ten were given grace, the time required to fill their lamps with oil and get more besides. Only some used that period of Grace to do just that. The others did not use the time of their Grace before His coming/revealing to do that and found the door closed to them.
The time we are in, that is fast coming to a close, is that period of Grace. This isn’t to say God’s grace will end, but this time of grace before judgment will and is ending. If time over the last few years, has seemed to be passing very quickly to you, the ticking of this clock should be so loud it keeps you up at night!
This time of Grace is for repentance. What is repentance? To turn from your sins. Confess to Him your sins and wash yourselves in Him and be clean. How do you know if you’ve actually done this, or are doing this? Humility is the fruit of repentance. But our hearts are utterly deceitful. Don’t trust your own judgment on whether you are humble. Ask others you know would be honest with you, and ask the Lord, of course. And don’t get up until you know, or know what further repentance He requires.
Why is repentance so important? Because without it you are not a new wineskin and He will NOT put His new wine (His Spirit in abundance and grace) into your old wineskin. Both would be ruined. Of course I don’t mean you have to be perfect first. I mean REPENT. Have the heart of repentance. If you are incapable of repentance, regularly, instantly and always, whenever the Spirit convicts you, as a proper steward He could NOT put greater riches within your Spirit, both would be ruined.
Repentance is learned in the beginning and laid in our foundation, but it doesn’t stop there. There is much in the way of milk after that and then meat, but until we are perfected we remain a mixture, always required to walk in a state of repentance. Don’t waste time. Don’t waste His grace. Do not take it for granted!
I’m speaking to CHRISTIAN BELIEVERS, NOT THE UNSAVED!!!
You’ve got oil in your lamp. Great. Now, do you have a supply to keep it going? Do you know His voice when He speaks to you? Do you know immediate obedience when He speaks to you to do something He has not ever required of you before? Or something that the flesh would be afraid looks foolish, or frightening. Do you know calm in the boat when the waves are crashing over the sides?
I’m not there yet myself, but I recognize that I need to be. Let’s pray for one another that we would not shame all He is and has done in and for us. When He comes to seek faith in the earth, will He find it? Will He find it in me? Will He find it in you?
This isn’t church anymore, people. This is showtime.
