…And She Made Herself Ready

 

 

We are in the final hour and just as the bridegroom is preparing a place for us, we are being prepared for him. In this hour we cannot afford to be ignorant of God’s word and his expectations for us. As spoken by Hosea ignorance of the law is not an acceptable excuse and make no mistake our ignorance comes at a great cost. This mode of thinking is what keeps bringing me back to the parable of the Ten Virgins. These women are our examples for understanding what the King expects and if you would bear with me I would like to highlight a few scriptures from this parable in particular to build a case that should be of utmost concern to those of us who consider ourselves Believers. Chapter 25 of the book of Matthew opens up with this parable.

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. Mat 25:1

 

Notice that all of them were virgins and all of them had their lamps. Now when we read Psalms 119:105 we are told that God’s word is a lamp unto our feet, and light to our path. Thus we can conclude that all of these virgins had their word with them.

And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Mat 25:2

Nevertheless, even though all of them had the word which was a lamp to their feet, some of them still lacked something because Yahushah considers five of them to be wise, and the other five to be foolish.

They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:Mat 25:3

We’ve got to keep reading the story to find out what was amiss, and when we do we discover what the foolish virgins lacked. So as this story builds to an interesting climax we must assess the meat of the information provided so far. We understand that these were all virgins, Believers, they all understood the time they were living in because they knew why they were leaving and they understood the importance of having their lamps (the word). Having the word and being in the same proximity of the wise virgins tells us that they understood the times they were living in and knew that the bridegroom would soon be coming. Can we identify with this? How many of us know by the things that we see going on in our world that the King is coming? We know that we are living in the last days just as they understood that in this parable, yet even with that knowledge how many of know within ourselves there is something that we are lacking? I am reminded of the question that the disciples had when the Messiah revealed to them that one of them would betray him. Every one of them asked if it was them, and Yahushah had to put their mind at ease. (Matt. 26:22) These in other words are your bandwagon Christians, they follow the crowd in the event that there is some truth to all that they have read, but it’s not based on their own personal relationship. This will become more clear as we continue to read.

Mat 25:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

Those who were considered wise they did something the foolish didn’t do. They took oil in their vessels. Thus their word was with them (we already established the word was the lamp unto their feet. Establishing where they stood at that time). The wise however, had something more, they had oil inside their vessel. The oil is necessary to sanctify the vessel because it prepares the altar (know ye not your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit – 1 Co. 3:16) which if it is for the Lord is required to be most holy (set apart). Exodus 40:10. Thus take note that whoever these five foolish virgins are they didn’t know this otherwise they would have been prepared, since the word for “vessel” means to be such.

While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. Mat 25:5

Notice they all slept, but when you have prepared your vessel with oil you can sleep without worry.

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. Mat 25:6-7

Notice it was in the middle of the night that the cry was made, after the light had gone out and half of the night was spent a cry was made to meet the bridegroom. They all got up and beautified themselves, but like the seven sons of sceva, all ten had the word, but five of them didn’t have the oil (Spirit/anointing). Interesting correlation concerning the sons of Sceva and the five foolish is both were given the same response, I know ye not. (Acts 19:14-17)

This wording appears in another place with one of the most haunting scriptures because it has the same semblance as the current text, the clear understanding that like the ten virgins these people who will be saying “Lord, Lord…” had an understanding that they were the called, the bride, but met with a startling revelation when judgment came that mirrored the response these five foolish virgins received, for the opposite reason.

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Mat 7:21-23

We know from Matt. 7:21 that not everyone who says “Lord, Lord” like these virgins who would proceed to come later knocking “let me in”, will enter into the kingdom of heaven. Let me paint the picture, even those virgins who prophesy in His name, cast out devils in his name, and does many wonderful works, will make it because they chose not to keep His word. They won’t make it. That is the lesson of Matt. 7:21-22, however, the conundrum is this that Matt. 25 reveals that those who have the word (law) but have not His Spirit in their vessels they will receive the same response when they try to come in, “depart from me, ye that work iniquity”. Thus I would say that scripture is making a pretty compelling plea that having both of these components are necessary ingredients to entering in as His bride.

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. Mat 25:8-12

In the end analysis what we must be careful of is how we define or determine those who have His Spirit in them and those who do not. In fact, the important thing is not to consider it at all, the word can speak quite well for itself, I mean it is by the Word of God that we were convicted, as Paul would say it was not by our wisdom that our faith stands but in the power of God. (1 Co. 2:5) I would say it is up to each and every one of us to be fully persuaded of whatever stand we take so that when we come before the Almighty we will hear “enter into my rest” rather than hear “I never knew you”. I encourage you to study to show yourself approved, not to your pastor, your family, or your friends, doing it for show won’t help you, but rather study to show yourself approved unto God the one who can determine your eternal home. The one who will determine how close or how far away you will live from His presence. Make up in your mind now how close you want to live to your Bridegroom. Whether you want to be Vashti sent away to a land far away (where you will have to come into the city to receive healing – Rev. 22:2) or like Esther having access to the King (live in the city where there will be no more sorrow, nor crying, nor pain – Rev. 21:4). The greatest lesson we take from the five wise virgins is that she has made herself ready for the coming of the bridegroom and it is my prayer for my readers as well as myself that we will be found with oil in our vessels in that midnight hour when that battle cry is sounded. (Rev. 19:7)

The Test of Esau

These are my notes from Yom Kippur, (Day of Atonement).  I pray that what the Father showed me this year will bless you as they have me this year as I close off the Last Great Day in Atlanta, GA with my family.  I hope that all have experienced the love and growth of the Father this Feast Season and I look forward to what he will be revealing as we wait with hopeful anticipation for the new season to come.

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The Spirit of Esau is like the Spirit of Adam and Eve, when we desire the things we see more than the things we can’t see we will put the thing that leads to life as a lower priority to our flesh. The beauty of Yom Kippur is that it tests your true loyalty. Do you follow Yahushah because he feeds you, blessed you or do you follow Yahushah because you love him. There were many who only flocked to Yahushah because He fed them. (John 6:26) Moses understood and passed this test on two occasions. (Exo. 24:18; Exo. 34:28) This test has been given over and over again and those who passed became vessels of honor, while those who failed became vessels of dishonor. We mustn’t think that we will escape this test, but rather this test is built into the Feast days that we keep.

There is nothing we give to the Lord that can compare to what we receive back from him.  Therefore there is nothing we have that can be compared to the rewards of eternity.

(Mat 19:29) And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

This year, more important to me than fasting from food is fasting from the things that have become an intimate part of my life though it sustains no true intimacy. Thus, Facebook, the internet, all the things that distract me from focusing on him was cut out.

In the life of Jacob we also discover that deception also leads us in a direction away from the home we all desire to inhabit. We don’t want to be selfish, only concerned about me, I, and my. In Jacob’s quest for the right thing he went about obtaining it in all the wrong ways, because at the time he was focused on self. Yom Kippur is a time where we reach out to our brother Esau as Jacob did on his return back to his Father’s house.^{(Gen. 32:13-15; Gen. 33:10-11)} We willingly offer a token of our physical possessions as a peace offering extending to those outside of the covenant of God an opportunity to enter into the family of the Living King. For the things that are seen are temporal, but the things that are unseen are eternal.^{(2 Co. 4:18)}

Yahushah’s response to the temptor was based on what was written, “And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Mat 4:3-4)

The test of Esau is a challenge that prepares you for one day, and that day is Yom Kippur. Whereas Moses had 40 days and 40 nights doubled and Yahushah had forty days also in the wilderness food and water both denied to them as they pressed in to the Almighty and eschewed evil they are our example.

We see in the story of Jacob that twice food was used as a catalyst for deception. First with his brother Esau pottage was used to extract the birthright, and again with Isaac food was used as part of the deception to extract the blessing. (Gen. 25:30-34; Gen. 27)

In Messiah’s example we see that the enemy doesn’t just stop at testing us with hunger, but he offers us something else if food doesn’t get us, he offers us the world.  Be not deceived Satan has wisdom, its just that his wisdom is corrupt. (Matt. 10:16)

“Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. “(Mat 4:8-9)

All too often we prioritize our flesh and the desires of it above the Spiritual food our body needs. The cares of this life usually has a front row seat in our ongoing movie while the matters of our Creator seem to find themselves in a, if it is convenient for me, moment in our lives. In other cases he only becomes center stage when we have grown weary of failing at solving our own crisis, and need him to fix our issues for us. But Yom Kippur serves as a rehearsal that tests our loyalty irrespective of what our physical condition may be. I must admit some days I fail this test as the cares of this life begin to eat away at me, and rather than give them over to Yah I find myself holding on, when letting go would give me much greater relief.

I am not sure whether or not this could be called an article or just my notes from my study, but I pray that all who are willing to press in to the end of this written conversation will be equipped to see the areas of Esau that reside in your lives and make the right choice when they come.

The Cure for What Ails You

This cure is proven, as not one Apostle died of any plague or pestilence, not one prophet of Yah suffered from any flesh eating bacteria or disease, and though plagues go back as far as Noah so also has the cure. Psalm 91 says to those who believe, “Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.” (Psa 91:3) The key to your deliverance is knowing to whom He is speaking. If you have not made Yahushah Lord and Savior this statement is not to you. The same God who delivers His children from pestilence is the same God who put the pestilence upon the Egyptians. (Exo. 11:1) Yet, He says to you who apply His prescription today as they did back then, if you put the blood of Yahushah over your house (your body) that the plague shall Passover you, and shall not be upon you to destroy you. (Exo. 12:13; Isa. 53:5; 1 Pe. 2:24) See there is an antidote for your ill’s, but most doctors can’t get it because this wisdom has been hidden from the wise and the prudent but has been revealed as unto babes. (Luke 10:21)

The pill for your ill’s can’t be concocted in a laboratory, isn’t nestled somewhere in a tropical rain forest under some rare plant, nor does it find itself at the end of a surgeon’s knife. Only one has conquered death and has paid the price for the offense that has made the pestilence possible, that the bible calls sin. (Rom. 6:23) Knowing that you have already been found wanting and that death is your destiny because you fall under the category of sinner should make the second part of this previous verse mentioned resonate like music in your ears. The beauty that eternal life is available to you as a gift, and thank Yah because there is not enough trees on the earth, pearls under the sea, diamonds under caves, or minerals available in the world that could cover your debt. No billionaire can buy their way into this book of life, the VIP list are made up of those who have left everything in this life to obtain everything He has made available in eternity. (Mar. 10:29-31)

To the Saints if Yah is your rock and your fortress why are you anxious as you watch the news? Why are you in fear and torment as you see the devastation taking place on the earth? He has not left you in the dark for He has told us all things before hand, does scripture not say this? (Matt. 24:25; 1 Thess. 5) The only reason why this day could take a believer by surprise is because a believer is sleeping when they should be watching. If you haven’t been hiding the word in your heart rest assured you will sin against him. The only ammunition we have against the enemy is the same one our Messiah modeled for us, and that is to know and say, “what is written”. Make no mistake if you are not living for Christ now you will not be living with Him in eternity.   See I have no reason to hide anything I have to say because the god of this world has blinded the eyes of the lost. (2 Cor. 4:3-4) People who don’t read their bible will most definitely not read these words, if you have made it to the end of this article then it was for you to read. It was for you to receive, it is for you to glean so that you can walk soberly, so that you might ascertain the key of David and have a heart for God. There is no magic to this and like I said earlier you couldn’t afford the cost to this antidote if you were a Trillionaire, no more than Pharaoh could have bought his way out of the plagues that Yah put on the land. The only pill you need is the Gospel and if you receive the good news of Yahushah and you have truly had a change of heart, following his commandments will be a joy to you. Preaching the good news that your loved ones do not have to be a slave to sin by preaching the Gospel and seeing people healed and delivered will consume you. While Egypt shall suffer her plagues the word of Yah says, “He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.” (Psa 105:37)