#1 in a series on the Holy Spirit

Pastor Michael Wise

When the Oil Is Gone – A Most Important Prayer!

Prayer reminders are great – we can sometimes forget. I have a Prayer App on my phone to help me keep track of my prayer list and days I’m praying for specific people and needs. Yet, prayer reminders are also sad – meaning that its sad that we need reminders for something so essential. How many of us need reminders to breath? Yes, it can happen, its a serious condition called apnea, or sleep apnea if it happens when you’re sleeping. Is it possible God’s people have spiritual sleep apnea…. ?

Grace! I’m so thankful for it … with it we can have justification & sanctification. Allow me to briefly mention some wonderful gifts from God that we receive through the work of the Holy Spirit. I’ll call them “The Big Four”:

• Forgiveness (Justification) 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins…”
• Repentance (which you can’t separate from Confession even though they are not identical. At its core this is about changed Desires/Attitudes)

Acts 11:18  “When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”

Acts 5:31 “Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.”

• Cleansing (Sanctification)  1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
• Faith  Romans 12:3 “… God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.”

Four essential gifts that God gives us (yes, gift means it is free to us). God is perfectly adept, and generous, at giving us what we need – Philippians 4:19 “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

I don’t think I would have any arguers here if I said that our greatest need is Jesus Christ; who is also a gift from God to us (John 3:16).

It is essential that we abide in Jesus and He in us.  John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” 

When we receive Jesus we receive His power for victory:  John 1:12  “But as many as received him, to them gave he power (dunamis – dynamite) to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”

But Jesus knew that He was returning to heaven, and wouldn’t be back till His second coming. So He gave His followers this promise:  Acts 1:4-5  “And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me;  ⁵ “for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Permit me to share and discuss a well-known parable Jesus told.

I like this insight of the parable, its from the book: Christ Object Lessons (COL) 406.2  “He told His disciples the story of the ten virgins, by their experience illustrating the experience of the church that shall live just before His second coming. 

The two classes of watchers represent the two classes who profess to be waiting for their Lord. They are called virgins because they profess a pure faith. By the lamps is represented the word of God.”

This parable, found in Matthew 25:1-10, concerns us since we are living in the last days of earth’s history. So lets look at some aspects of this parable:

The Lamps = God’s word, the Bible, which tells the gospel story (Psalm 119:105)

Virgins = Pure Maidens. A woman symbolizes a church, (Jeremiah 6:2; Revelation 12 vs 17). These virgins symbolize all who profess a pure faith in Jesus (Christianity).

They are waiting near the bride’s home for the arrival of the groom and his party, intending to accompany the bridal party back to the groom’s home and there participate in the wedding feast/festivities.

Oil = a symbol for the Holy Spirit (Zechariah 4:2-6; Revelation 4:5)

Don’t forget that a lamp (God’s word) must have oil (Holy Spirit) to produce light (1 Corinthians 2:14). Jesus is the Light of the world (Psalm 119:105; John 1:1,5.9,14; 8:12) and it takes spiritual discernment to understand Jesus’ truth.

2 Classes of Christians:

• Foolish: Christians not fully yielded to the Holy Spirit (this reminds me of the parable of the Stony Ground Matt 13:5; and the man with out a wedding garment Matt 22:11-14) who receive the word/garment with readiness, but they fail to assimilate its principles.

Ezekiel 33:31  “So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain.”

They are hearers but not doers. People who may be attracted to the gospel but self keeps their spiritual roots from developing; No roots no fruit!

 Paul describes the characteristic of this group just before Christ’s second coming. “In the last days perilous times shall come: for men shall be lovers of their own selves; . . . lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5    

• Wise: Christians who understand, appreciate and make use of the Holy Spirit’s ministry. They cooperate with the Spirit in His appointed task.

“Let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17

A Tarrying Time – Jesus had told the disciples signs of His coming – the end of the age. Is it possible that Jesus tarries because His people aren’t ready? In the parable, His people fell asleep; All 10 virgins.  This tarrying reveals the character that has been formed in the hearts & minds of His professed people. The sleep virgins reminds me of the description of the Laodicean church, they are quite comfortable, not too hot, not too cold, thinking they have things just right. Perfect conditions for complacency and drifting off to sleep (spiritually).

Midnight – the darkest point of the night, Jesus will come at the darkest spiritual time in earth’s history.

“The great apostasy will develop into darkness deep as midnight, impenetrable as sackcloth of hair. To God’s people it will be a night of trial, a night of weeping, a night of persecution for the truth’s sake. But out of that night of darkness God’s light will shine.”  COL 414.3

May I ask you a question you may not have considered? If all the church, all professed Christians fall asleep, who sounds the alarm? Who/What wakes them? 

Friends, I believe it is world events that will finally “scream” loud enough to get the attention of God’s people!

All 10 virgins woke up, but their lamps weren’t trimmed, the oil flasks of some were empty. They hadn’t anticipated a delay, they hadn’t planned ahead and were not prepared. Please notice how the foolish virgins, who had no spiritual reserves to draw on, tried to rely on the others instead of on the Holy Spirit.  May I ask, are dependent on others for your salvation and spiritual growth, or are you taking personal accountability for your own salvation? Philippians 2:12-13  “Therefore, my beloved … work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; ¹³ for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”

My friends, its important to belong to God’s church, to have godly leaders and counselors, but its essential to have daily devotions, prayer, outreach, and regular gathering time with your church family. Those are 4 essentials to discipleship growth.

Go Buy –  The Bible shows there are “right ways” and “wrong ways” to buy oil.

• Right: Revelation 3:18  “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.”
• Wrong: Simon the (ex)sorcerer, was a baptized believer (Acts 8:13). He wanted to buy the Holy Spirit. But its not possible to “buy” God the way he wanted to.

Acts 8:18-21  “And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, ¹⁹ saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” ²⁰ But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! ²¹ “You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God.” 

The wise virgins weren’t being selfish in refusing their oil. Jesus was illustrating that His character can’t be transferred or given by one person to another. None of us can do for another what they must choose themselves, and what only the Spirit can provide to prepare the heart for what lies ahead!

When probation closes, it will be too late to climb the ladder of sanctification (2 Peter 1:5-7), too late for character transformation. Because by then, character will have been chosen and fixed for eternity, as Revelation 22:10-12 says “And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. ¹¹ “He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.” ¹² ” And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.

The Bridegroom comes – like a thief in the night – which means when we least expect it. When Jesus returns it will be a terror to the lost, but a joy to true saints. Isaiah. 25:9  “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us.”

The Door was shut – Probation’s close. Like the door of Noah’s ark, the door was shut on the 5 foolish virgins. What will Probation’s close bring to you? 

I Don’t know You – tragically, they had developed no deep, lasting intimacy with Christ as friends.

John 17:3  “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

1 Corinthians 2:11 “ For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.”

Their exclusion comes from their own deliberate choice to reject the gift Jesus offers: His abiding presence through the Holy Spirit; Salvation through His sacrifice.

One winter, Julie and I were asked by some retired church friends to house sit for them while they did some RV traveling. We were remodeling our home so we took them up on their offer. Their home was on about 40 acres, their basement was full of snow shoes and cross country skis. It was a wonderful time until one day when we ran out of fuel oil. In the middle of winter that means no warmth, no heat. It would be a while before the fuel truck could make a delivery so I had to bring in some fuel oil in 10 gallon cans. Running out of oil is not a pleasant experience. 

Friends, we can’t forget the importance God is trying to teach us through this parable, and through Scripture. Don’t run out of Oil, have reserves. The Holy Spirit is an essential need for us. In addition to “the Big 4” mentioned at the beginning, we need Him because:

• We wouldn’t know we are sinners in need of a Savior without the Holy Spirit (John 16:7-11)
• He guides us into all truth (John 16:13-14)
• We are sealed by the Holy Spirit  (Ephesians 1:13)
• God establishes us in Christ by giving us the Spirit to seal our hearts as a guarantee.(2 Corinthians 1:21-22)
• God’s character and love is poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit(Romans 5:5)

We can sometimes miss the context of Luke 11:9-13. Jesus said “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ¹⁰ “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. ¹¹ “If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? ¹² “Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? ¹³ “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

Jesus was talking about the importance of us asking for, seeking for, knocking and having the door opened to, the Holy Spirit! And about how eager the Father is to respond! Dear friend, God is longing to give the Holy Spirit to His people. To pour Him out on us! But are you willing to knock on heaven’s door, to ask and seek for the Spirit with all your heart?  Please don’t let the Oil run out in your life.

You can know Jesus intimately! And the Holy Spirit oil does not have to run out. Laodicea can (& will) become the church victorious. Will you be a part of it?

You can (we must) prepare in advance – by asking for and receiving the gift  – Holy Spirit!

Dear friend, my prayer for you is simply this, that the Spirit would come upon you in response to your petition, and guide you into all Jesus’ truth!

John 16:7,13,14 “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. ¹³ However, 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. ¹⁴ He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.”