> General Discussions

Shall He find faith?

<< < (2/9) > >>

Kat:

I think we see the distinction from the few and the many in the parable of the 10 virgins. We understand that the church does indeed believe in Christ and His return and therefore they too are waiting for Him, but there is a notable difference that the parable brings out.

Mat 25:1  "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the Bridegroom.
v. 2  Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
v. 3  Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them,
v. 4  but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
v. 5  But while the Bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

So "all" of them (both few and many) down through the centuries are now 'sleeping' in their grave awaiting the resurrection. I believe the "oil" is the Holy Spirit which is only given to the few chosen, though the many believe in Christ they lack this fundamental part and therefore their lamps are empty.

1John 2:27  But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.

Mat 25:6  "And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet Him!'
v. 7  Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.

Mat 25:32  All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.
v. 33  And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.

Mat 25:8  And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'
v. 9  But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.'
v. 10  And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.

Luke 13:24  "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
v. 25  When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open for us,' and He will answer and say to you, 'I do not know you, where you are from,'

Mat 25:11  "Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!'
v. 12  But He answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.'

Mat 7:22  Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'
v. 23  And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
v. 24  "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:

Mat 22:11  "But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment.
v. 12  So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless.
v. 13  Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
v. 14  "For many are called, but few are chosen."

The Holy Spirit is a gift from God to those He is drawing to Him, it is what changes us into a "new creation," as we are being prepared for Christ's return.

2Cor 5:17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

A part of being prepared is our seeking and striving through pray, study and meditation... if we do not 'feed' the Spirit will it grow? Another thing is we should strive to learn from the Spirits prompting, if we resist what it is teaching us, we may grieve or even quench the Spirit within us... all according to the will of God of course.

1Th 5:19  Do not quench (Strong's - extinguish) the Spirit.

Eph 4:29  Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
v. 30  And do not grieve (Strong's - distress) the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
v. 31  Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.
v. 32  And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

I just thought the parable of the Ten Virgins could apply to the subject and give further insight.

mercy, peace and love
Kat

indianabob:
Hello Kat,
This message is most important for those who are being called; especially me.
It is very tempting to point out the faults of others as I have in the past done on other forums about our political leaders.
I can't change them and I should pray for them as fervently as I do for my loved ones.
I'm going to work on that God willing.
Thanks for the admonition and counsel.
Indiana Bob

lauriellen:
I just wanted to add an observation that I have....it seems here on this forum that being one of the few chosen is equated to those who have been given to understand more of the truths of God than the rest of Christendom.....and yet we have these verses:
1Co 13:1  I may be able to speak the languages of human beings and even of angels, but if I have no love, my speech is no more than a noisy gong or a clanging bell.
1Co 13:2  I may have the gift of inspired preaching; I may have all knowledge and understand all secrets; I may have all the faith needed to move mountains---but if I have no love, I am nothing.
1Co 13:3  I may give away everything I have, and even give up my body to be burned ---but if I have no love, this does me no good.

I sometimes meditate on my life and wonder if I am living a life that puts LOVE #1 in importance as God seems to be doing in these scriptures. Sometimes I fret and become discouraged because I seem to have trouble understanding many of the DEEP things of God, and I think that I surely must be disqualified for my lack of understanding. I struggle with having a lack faith every day. I want to understand the language of God, I would love to understand all the mysteries and have unshakable faith, but is this what really defines us as one of the few elect? Speaking for myself, when I compare my pitiful acts of charity/love to so many others (who know nothing of God's 'truth'), I am truly ashamed. I see so many selfless acts of love by so many people 'out in the world', and I think that surely THEY must be Gods elect. I recently read the account of a man who selflessly shielded his co-worker during the recent terrorist attack. He laid his body over hers, and held her tightly under him. She said that she would never forget him whispering to her, "I've got you" just before he died. Gods word says Joh_15:13  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.  There is no amount of faith or knowledge that compares to the LOVE that this man displayed for his co-worker. Should we not esteem this man as one of God's elect? I just wonder about these things.
lauriellen

Dave in Tenn:
Laurie, God chooses.  We don't.  And if we do, we 'judge before its time'.

But I want to add this much.  Some people think of 'the elect' as the 'fortunate ones' with all the rest of the church and the world to suffer some terrible 'judgement' that is short of eternity in 'hell'.  But that's not what I see in Scripture or in what Ray taught in the Lake of Fire series.  EVERY PERSON is raised from the dead, and EVERY PERSON has their works judged, whether GOOD WORKS, or BAD WORKS, and receives the reward.  Whether or not this man is 'chosen by God' to judge the world (seen and unseen) is for the Lord to say.  Regardless, he did a 'good work', and one which those with love in their hearts can appreciate and yearn to follow.  He won't be without reward.  There is no 'bad news' in the 'good news' in the end.  The ones who will have the hardest time are the ones who think there ought to be.   

lauriellen:
Thank you for that, Dave.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page

[*] Previous page