“When my coming draws near, heaven’s kingdom realm can be compared to ten maidens who took their oil lamps and went outside to meet the bridegroom and his bride.
Five of them were foolish and ill-prepared, for they took no extra oil for their lamps. Five of them were wise, for they took flasks of olive oil with their lamps. When the bridegroom didn’t come when they expected, they all grew drowsy and fell asleep.
Then suddenly, in the middle of the night, they were awakened by the shout ‘Get up! The bridegroom is here! Come out and have an encounter with him!’ Matthew 25:1-6
WHAT IS GOD DOING RIGHT NOW?
If there is an adjustment of expectation, timing or circumstances that you are experiencing right now, don’t stress it or be concerned. God is behind it. Don’t be mesmerised by disappointment, confusion or the natural. Look for what God is doing.
Like a drunken sailor this year has come out with staggering swinging punches. It is reflecting what is happening in the spiritual realms and movement on the clock of God.
There is a great struggle now going on as the cog clicks forward on the timeline of humanity. The struggle is not between two equals. The divine and the demonic are not equal powers. There is not a power struggle there. That was decided and won at the cross over 2000 years ago.
But it is clear that the coming of Jesus has clicked another cog forward.
And in the midst of this struggle, there seems a space right now that feels small, where an invitation is coming from heaven to “get oil”.
Get Oil.
SO WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
There is some key information Jesus gives us here in Matthew 25.
When His coming draws near, heavens kingdom realm will be like
10 maidens
with
oil lamps
that went outside
5 wise
took flasks of oil
with
their lamps
We were in Colorado USA recently. As we caught up with some leaders there, I asked them how are they doing post pandemic?
Tim replied, “Struggling.” He went on to share how many of his colleagues had committed suicide during the pandemic. It had taken the wind out of him. I was heartbroken.
A few weeks later, I asked a mentor who herself is an International Christian leader, why has there been such a high attrition rate on leaders especially pastors over these last 4 years. Her response hit me. She said, “They didn’t get oil.”
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
10 maidens with
5 wise took flasks with
WITH
It is the Greek word ‘meta’ and it describes presence, that sense of being aware of what an object/person is situated within. It emphasizes presence with not relation to the object/person.
All through Scripture we see a connection with oil and the Holy Spirit. Zechariah prophesied “Not by might, nor by power, but my Spirit (Oil), says the Lord of Hosts (Zech 4:6). When the prophet-judge Samuel anointed David with oil to be the new king of Israel, the next statement is that “the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward” (1 Sam 16:13)
The thing about the oil is that the Spirit reveals Jesus’ identity as the promised Messiah, who is God the Son, Immanuel (Isa. 7:14) and Mighty God (Isa. 9:6).
Jesus Himself said of the Holy Spirit, “When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. “ (John 6:13-14)
When we ‘get oil’, we get awareness of the Holy Spirit’s presence, and He will reveal Jesus to us.
Is this not what God is wanting to reveal most right now? While much is being revealed in this moment, the greater question doesn’t belong to the natural realm and all its issues. The greater question is what is Holy Spirit revealing to us about Jesus?
Jesus said, “When my coming draws near, heaven’s kingdom realm can be compared to ten maidens who took their oil lamps and went outside to meet the bridegroom..”
Part of the adjustment in expectations, timing or circumstances is creating space for us to ‘get oil’. God is wanting to INCREASE our AWARENESS of His presence, of Jesus in the midst of this swinging staggering sailor we call 2024.
He has set a small window of opportunity to get oil. The repercussions of not getting oil are sobering.
Get oil. Now.
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