Why Do You Need The Holy Spirit In These Last Days?

The parable of the ten virgins – Matthew 25:1-13

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Before Jesus gave this parable, he spoke on the signs of His second coming in Matthew 24. This is a wake-up call to us to be watchful and ready in these last days.

This also informs us that the parable of the ten virgins is related to the second coming of Jesus – He said ‘the kingdom of heaven shall be likened unto ten virgins.’

Highlights from the parable of the ten virgins

All ten women were virgins – I relate the virgins to Christians. They all professed to know Jesus and desired to meet Him and partake of the marriage supper.
All ten virgins took their lamps to meet the bridegroom – All Christians attend church, everyone claims he or she is born again and belongs to the body of Christ. Most people have the assurance of making it to Heaven someday but deep within them, they may confirm that they are not ready for the Lord they so dearly love and hope to meet. Their spiritual identity is that they love the Lord – taking of the lamps!
Then comes the separation; 5 were wise, 5 were foolish
The difference is clear in the sense that the wise virgins took oil or let’s say kerosene or batteries for their lamps, but the foolish did not take oil in their vessel with their lamps
Again, we understand that there was an unexpected delay for all ten virgins and they slumbered and slept
We also read that at midnight there was a cry, a shout announcing the coming of the bridegroom
All virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps ready to meet the bridegroom but there was no oil for the foolish virgins but the wise had enough oil for themselves.
By the advice given to the 5 foolish virgins by the wise virgins, they went to buy oil – they should have been wise enough to take oil in their vessels but little did they know that the bridegroom will delay – It is always good to prepare and have extra!
Well, while the foolish virgins were away, in their absence, the bridegroom came and took the wise virgins in and shut the door
Finally, the foolish virgins came, but we are not told whether they got some of the oil to buy or not at that hour – midnight. The Lord told them he did not know them after they pleaded to open the door to them.

I will relate the oil in this parable to the Holy Spirit – In these last days, beloved, you need the Holy Spirit. It is true that the Holy Spirit cannot be bought with money as opposed to the advice of the five wise virgins to the foolish virgins to go and ‘buy’ oil for their lamps. I also noted earlier that the Bible did not say whether they got oil to buy or not. However, many times His parables, Jesus use physical and natural things to explain spiritual truths.

The oil is sometimes used as a representation of the Holy Spirit. For example, immediately David was anointed with oil, the Holy Spirit took over his life. (1Samuel 16:13)

We also see the Spirit of God come upon Saul after Samuel anointed him with oil. (1Samuel 10:1, 6, 10)

Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He promised to send the Holy Spirit to the disciples and all who believe. This is was also a prophecy by Joel which was yet to be fulfilled. Joel 2:28 – 32 and Acts 2: 17 -21 testify that God will pour out His Spirit on all flesh in the last days.

The Holy Spirit is our guide and teacher: – Without the Holy Spirit you cannot serve God faithfully. Without the Holy Spirit you cannot enter heaven. Jesus Christ is coming again to take away those who are filled with the Holy Spirit.

In our days today, faith in God is falling away – Faith in God is failing because some have neglected the power of the Spirit – We have neglected the oil.

Many profess to know the Lord but deny the power of God which is the Holy Spirit – Folks no longer depend on God’s Word. But I admonish you that if you can depend fully on God’s Word and be filled by the Holy Spirit you will be like the wise virgins.

Are you an unbeliever and living in sin? You must repent and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit today because the Holy Spirit is available to you and a promise you must receive.

Are you a Christian or a church goer? You need to activate the power of the Holy Spirit otherwise you will be left behind

they all slumbered and slept

We are in the last days – both foolish and wise virgins slumbered and slept. This should inform us of the generation we find ourselves. People filled with God’s Spirit and those who are not today sit under the same economic hardship, under the same government and in the same world of lawlessness. We all sleep and slumber – what is sold to that brother for 100 cedis is sold to the Holy Spirit filled sister at the same price.

We understand that before the coming of the bridegroom there was a delay

2 Peter 3:9 – The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:3,4 – Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

Today we have people who do not believe Jesus is coming again. People have given up serving God – this is the delay we see in this parable!

But surprisingly, suddenly, unaware the Lord will come!

1 Thessalonians 5:4 – But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that, that day should overtake you as a thief.

2 Peter 3:10 – But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night

And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17 – For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord

Jesus Christ is the Bridegroom

From the scriptures, Jesus Christ is the only referred to as the Bridegroom, and the Church (Universal body of Christians) referred to as the Bride – Mark 2:18 – 20, Luke 5:33, 35

You need the Holy Spirit in these last days.

He is our teacher – He will guide us till the coming of Christ.

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

YOU NEED THE HOLY SPIRIT

You need the oil to be able to make it in God’s kingdom.

In Christianity today, you need the Holy Spirit else you will be deceived and fall away

Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. With all the pressures of life, you must depend on God’s Spirit

The Holy Spirit must live in you as a Child of God

1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit in you, whom you have of God? And you are not your own

John 14:16,17 And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, so that He may be with you forever the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive because it does not see Him nor know Him. But you know Him, for He dwells with you and shall be in you

How to receive the Holy Spirit

Repent of your sins and be born again – this is faith in God through Jesus

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost