WEBVTT 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:05.379 But this is a day of celebrating marriage, marriages. 00:00:06.839 --> 00:00:08.779 How many of you know when you go to a wedding, 00:00:08.839 --> 00:00:12.419 it reminds you of your first love? It reminds 00:00:12.419 --> 00:00:17.859 you maybe of your own wedding. And so today I 00:00:17.859 --> 00:00:21.660 was just, I kind of freaked Cole out a little 00:00:21.660 --> 00:00:23.859 bit. I think when he walked in thinking this 00:00:23.859 --> 00:00:27.899 was Marissa's gown. No, Marissa's taste is quite 00:00:27.899 --> 00:00:34.500 different. This is a Goodwill special. You'll 00:00:34.500 --> 00:00:39.579 be seeing what we do with that later. But today, 00:00:39.719 --> 00:00:43.460 the verse as we were preparing for this weekend, 00:00:43.619 --> 00:00:48.500 the verse out of Revelation 19, blessed are those 00:00:48.500 --> 00:00:52.719 who are invited to the wedding supper of the 00:00:52.719 --> 00:00:57.609 Lamb. Aren't you glad you are invited to the 00:00:57.609 --> 00:01:00.289 wedding supper? Have you ever known somebody 00:01:00.289 --> 00:01:02.969 and known they're getting married and no invite 00:01:02.969 --> 00:01:06.629 showed up in your mailbox? Or nowadays it's text. 00:01:07.349 --> 00:01:10.370 You know you didn't get a text or an email. And 00:01:10.370 --> 00:01:13.189 you're like, I feel a little left out. The good 00:01:13.189 --> 00:01:16.810 news today is that we all are invited to the 00:01:16.810 --> 00:01:21.129 wedding supper of the Lamb. And we're going to 00:01:21.129 --> 00:01:24.680 kind of work backwards from that. Because we 00:01:24.680 --> 00:01:27.480 are heading toward this marriage supper of the 00:01:27.480 --> 00:01:30.739 lamb. Now, this might be, and I feel for guys, 00:01:30.780 --> 00:01:33.620 I feel like guys, this is a little harder. Women, 00:01:33.659 --> 00:01:36.480 it's easy for us to identify as the bride of 00:01:36.480 --> 00:01:39.280 Christ, right? Some of us that have been married, 00:01:39.379 --> 00:01:43.200 we've been a bride. And the word talks about 00:01:43.200 --> 00:01:46.920 us being the bride. Jesus is our bridegroom. 00:01:47.659 --> 00:01:51.840 And one day we will be with him. Guys, you just 00:01:51.840 --> 00:01:55.060 got to get on board with this. that you are the 00:01:55.060 --> 00:02:01.799 bride of Christ. And I think of David, King David, 00:02:01.959 --> 00:02:06.859 because King David was like the elite warrior, 00:02:07.280 --> 00:02:12.159 wasn't he? He was the top of all of the warriors 00:02:12.159 --> 00:02:17.139 of the soldiers. And yet the other side of David 00:02:17.139 --> 00:02:20.639 was that he was a worshiper and a lover of God. 00:02:21.710 --> 00:02:24.629 And he wasn't afraid of that intimate nature 00:02:24.629 --> 00:02:29.090 of his relationship with God. So this morning, 00:02:29.330 --> 00:02:33.270 we're going to walk through. See, Jesus was a 00:02:33.270 --> 00:02:37.669 Jewish man. And so when we read in the Gospels, 00:02:37.669 --> 00:02:40.270 Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, we are reading 00:02:40.270 --> 00:02:44.629 into their Jewish culture, that Jewish context. 00:02:45.770 --> 00:02:50.430 So when we see how Jesus, he was born and the 00:02:50.430 --> 00:02:52.889 goal, right, was crucifixion and resurrection. 00:02:53.210 --> 00:02:57.370 But when we look at this overall life, we're 00:02:57.370 --> 00:03:02.889 looking at it as a Jewish man. So many of the 00:03:02.889 --> 00:03:06.810 things that Jesus did has so much significance 00:03:06.810 --> 00:03:12.330 when we recognize what his end goal was and when 00:03:12.330 --> 00:03:16.039 we recognize... what the ancient traditions of 00:03:16.039 --> 00:03:20.919 the Jewish marriage ceremony was. And so I want 00:03:20.919 --> 00:03:23.400 to encourage us today as we walk through this. 00:03:23.479 --> 00:03:29.039 There were four parts, four main parts of a Jewish 00:03:29.039 --> 00:03:32.460 wedding ceremony. And we're going to walk quickly 00:03:32.460 --> 00:03:35.620 through those four parts. And we're going to 00:03:35.620 --> 00:03:39.460 see it spiritually mirrored in the life of Christ 00:03:39.460 --> 00:03:44.180 and what he did for us in this invitation. And 00:03:44.180 --> 00:03:49.300 so the first part of the Jewish wedding was the 00:03:49.300 --> 00:03:55.219 betrothal. It was the proposal. Now, if you have 00:03:55.219 --> 00:03:59.180 not heard of the proposal, see, my husband, I 00:03:59.180 --> 00:04:01.000 don't know what he knew about me when we were 00:04:01.000 --> 00:04:07.199 getting engaged. But he took me for our engagement 00:04:07.199 --> 00:04:10.919 for his proposal. Do you think it was some nice, 00:04:10.960 --> 00:04:19.110 fancy place? I'll tell you, it was the nicest 00:04:19.110 --> 00:04:23.029 drive -in hot dog stand you could find in Peoria. 00:04:26.810 --> 00:04:30.949 And then he took me to a park where he carried 00:04:30.949 --> 00:04:34.290 a duffel bag. I'm like, what's up with this duffel 00:04:34.290 --> 00:04:40.920 bag? Well, it contained the ring. I look now 00:04:40.920 --> 00:04:44.959 on Facebook at all of the proposals. I'm like, 00:04:44.980 --> 00:04:48.079 man, it's another day here. Men have to really 00:04:48.079 --> 00:04:52.399 like plan out a proposal. What fascinates me 00:04:52.399 --> 00:04:57.500 is that they now have to do a dry run for prom 00:04:57.500 --> 00:05:03.639 dates. I mean, a prom date ask is like a little 00:05:03.639 --> 00:05:08.560 proposal to me. bringing cute cupcakes. I don't 00:05:08.560 --> 00:05:10.279 know what they're all doing, but I see all the 00:05:10.279 --> 00:05:16.939 mamas posting of these proposals for prom. I'm 00:05:16.939 --> 00:05:19.139 like, these guys are just having their dry run 00:05:19.139 --> 00:05:21.779 for the real deal. They're going to know what 00:05:21.779 --> 00:05:26.720 to do when it comes time to marry somebody. We 00:05:26.720 --> 00:05:31.519 didn't have media, online media, when we got 00:05:31.519 --> 00:05:35.439 proposed. There was no posting pictures of our 00:05:36.110 --> 00:05:40.569 of our proposal. In fact, years later, when Jeremy, 00:05:40.689 --> 00:05:44.790 our oldest, was a teenager, I said, Jeremy, because 00:05:44.790 --> 00:05:47.689 they were going to tear down Lou's drive -in. 00:05:47.850 --> 00:05:52.569 That's what it was, Lou's drive -in. And I said, 00:05:52.589 --> 00:05:54.970 I want you to come and I want you to get a picture 00:05:54.970 --> 00:05:58.550 of the sign of Lou's drive -in before they tear 00:05:58.550 --> 00:06:02.310 it down. And so I have that nicely framed in 00:06:02.310 --> 00:06:06.889 our bedroom for him, Lou's drive -in. So proposals 00:06:06.889 --> 00:06:11.149 today are a big deal, and everybody sees them. 00:06:11.750 --> 00:06:15.230 The proposals in the ancient Jewish tradition, 00:06:15.449 --> 00:06:20.790 there's no difference. The groom -to -be would 00:06:20.790 --> 00:06:25.170 travel to the wife's family, and when he arrives 00:06:25.170 --> 00:06:28.850 at the family home, he begins to negotiate the 00:06:28.850 --> 00:06:34.959 bridal price. He's got to pay a price. For this 00:06:34.959 --> 00:06:42.860 bride. And so negotiations begin. Once that negotiation 00:06:42.860 --> 00:06:46.600 has been accepted. And the bridal price has been 00:06:46.600 --> 00:06:51.980 settled. Then he takes the cup of wine. And he 00:06:51.980 --> 00:06:56.560 drinks of it. And then he offers her the cup. 00:06:57.079 --> 00:07:02.480 And if she says yes. She takes the cup. And she 00:07:02.480 --> 00:07:06.839 drinks of it. If she does not drink the cup, 00:07:07.019 --> 00:07:13.779 he's out of luck. She said no. So the cup is 00:07:13.779 --> 00:07:18.540 the significant question. It's the ask. I'm giving 00:07:18.540 --> 00:07:20.660 you this cup. Will you drink of it? Will you 00:07:20.660 --> 00:07:27.120 become mine? Will you become my bride? I think 00:07:27.120 --> 00:07:33.339 this is such a powerful mirror of Jesus. Jesus 00:07:33.339 --> 00:07:37.339 at the last supper, he took the cup and he gave 00:07:37.339 --> 00:07:42.019 thanks and he offered it to the disciples to 00:07:42.019 --> 00:07:46.040 drink of. Take this cup. Will you drink of it? 00:07:46.079 --> 00:07:50.680 Will you become mine? Will you say yes to me? 00:07:52.139 --> 00:07:55.800 And you know that he himself drank the cup first. 00:07:56.160 --> 00:07:59.379 As he's in the garden, he leaves that place and 00:07:59.379 --> 00:08:02.600 he heads out. And his next stop is the Garden 00:08:02.600 --> 00:08:05.459 of Gethsemane, where he's in anguish because 00:08:05.459 --> 00:08:07.660 he knows he's going to have to go to the cross. 00:08:07.920 --> 00:08:10.920 And what does he pray? Father, if it's your will, 00:08:11.040 --> 00:08:18.399 let this cup pass from me. Not my will, though, 00:08:18.420 --> 00:08:23.180 be done, but yours. Before he ever gives us this 00:08:23.180 --> 00:08:29.060 cup to drink, he drinks it of himself. And then 00:08:29.060 --> 00:08:34.399 he says here, as often as you drink of it, remember 00:08:34.399 --> 00:08:43.279 me. So just as that bride had a choice, yes, 00:08:43.440 --> 00:08:48.559 I'm going to take the cup. Jesus is standing 00:08:48.559 --> 00:08:51.080 and he's offering it to each of us. Will you 00:08:51.080 --> 00:08:57.720 drink of my cup? Will you say yes to me? Will 00:08:57.720 --> 00:09:02.940 you be my own? What's interesting here is that 00:09:02.940 --> 00:09:09.559 before they enter into the ceremony of becoming 00:09:09.559 --> 00:09:13.980 betrothed together, the bride and the groom will 00:09:13.980 --> 00:09:19.970 enter into the mikvah. the baptism waters. So 00:09:19.970 --> 00:09:23.470 before they come to this ceremony of the cup, 00:09:23.730 --> 00:09:27.990 they walk into the waters of betrothal baptism, 00:09:28.370 --> 00:09:32.809 a sign of a new life, a new season. And I was 00:09:32.809 --> 00:09:37.789 thinking, wow, Jesus, the life that Jesus lived 00:09:37.789 --> 00:09:41.029 was just so amazing because before he even came 00:09:41.029 --> 00:09:43.409 to the place of offering the cup, what did he 00:09:43.409 --> 00:09:48.649 first do? He entered in to the waters of baptism. 00:09:49.210 --> 00:09:52.870 Remember, John the Baptist said, Jesus, no, I'm 00:09:52.870 --> 00:09:55.190 not going to baptize you. You need to baptize 00:09:55.190 --> 00:09:57.570 me. And Jesus said, no, John, you're going to 00:09:57.570 --> 00:10:01.129 do this. This has to be done to fulfill righteousness. 00:10:02.110 --> 00:10:07.850 I have to be baptized, John. Jesus knew I'm entering 00:10:07.850 --> 00:10:11.730 into something. I'm entering into a betrothal 00:10:11.730 --> 00:10:14.789 with my bride, and I have to first walk through 00:10:14.789 --> 00:10:21.309 the waters of baptism. When I was doing marriage 00:10:21.309 --> 00:10:25.309 counseling with Cole and Marissa, some of our 00:10:25.309 --> 00:10:29.070 topics, because we talk about having a Christ 00:10:29.070 --> 00:10:32.330 -centered marriage. And in order to have a Christ 00:10:32.330 --> 00:10:35.710 -centered marriage, what has to happen? I have 00:10:35.710 --> 00:10:38.289 to be Christ -centered, and my spouse has to 00:10:38.289 --> 00:10:41.690 be Christ -centered, right? Otherwise, it's lopsided. 00:10:41.690 --> 00:10:44.690 It's not Christ -centered. So we were talking 00:10:44.690 --> 00:10:47.330 about this, and you remember just a few weeks 00:10:47.330 --> 00:10:51.289 ago, what did Marissa do? She entered into the 00:10:51.289 --> 00:10:55.330 waters of baptism. And we purposefully scheduled 00:10:55.330 --> 00:10:58.149 that Sunday. We were talking about you, Marissa. 00:10:59.039 --> 00:11:01.500 We're talking about the waters of baptism. We 00:11:01.500 --> 00:11:05.419 purposefully scheduled that because before coming 00:11:05.419 --> 00:11:08.120 to marriage, she wanted to enter into the waters 00:11:08.120 --> 00:11:13.100 of baptism, just like Jesus. Praise the Lord. 00:11:13.759 --> 00:11:18.659 And so here in the betrothal ceremony, we have 00:11:18.659 --> 00:11:21.320 the waters of baptism and we have the exchange 00:11:21.320 --> 00:11:25.879 of the cup. And then we move into the second 00:11:25.879 --> 00:11:31.639 stage now of this. And that is the separation 00:11:31.639 --> 00:11:36.460 and the preparation. So from this point of drinking 00:11:36.460 --> 00:11:41.299 the cup, the man leaves and goes back to his 00:11:41.299 --> 00:11:45.120 father's home. And she there in her father's 00:11:45.120 --> 00:11:48.759 home begins to prepare for her wedding, to prepare 00:11:48.759 --> 00:11:55.019 for her marriage. For a year, around a year. 00:11:55.840 --> 00:12:00.559 They are in this separation state. Darren and 00:12:00.559 --> 00:12:03.559 I had this because I was a junior in high school 00:12:03.559 --> 00:12:07.820 when we became engaged the summer before my senior 00:12:07.820 --> 00:12:11.720 year. That's what my mother said, and then she 00:12:11.720 --> 00:12:17.700 ran out of the room crying. Darren was left sitting 00:12:17.700 --> 00:12:24.350 with my dad all by himself. She loved Darren. 00:12:24.450 --> 00:12:27.649 She just didn't think that it was going to happen 00:12:27.649 --> 00:12:33.289 that soon, right after I graduated. It was a 00:12:33.289 --> 00:12:40.210 lot. You and her are a lot alike, Kathy. So for 00:12:40.210 --> 00:12:43.570 that year, I was engaged, and Darren headed to 00:12:43.570 --> 00:12:46.470 Missouri for a year of Bible college, and we 00:12:46.470 --> 00:12:50.220 have said that was a good thing, right? It was 00:12:50.220 --> 00:12:54.120 good for us to be separated for that year. When 00:12:54.120 --> 00:12:57.779 you're wanting to live in God's ways, right, 00:12:57.980 --> 00:13:02.539 then some healthy boundaries can be good. And 00:13:02.539 --> 00:13:05.899 so he spent that year writing me letters, and 00:13:05.899 --> 00:13:09.519 I was back at home trying to graduate and prepare 00:13:09.519 --> 00:13:18.250 for a wedding. In John chapter 14. Jesus says 00:13:18.250 --> 00:13:23.710 this, my father's house has many rooms. If that 00:13:23.710 --> 00:13:27.149 were not so, would I have told you that I am 00:13:27.149 --> 00:13:31.850 going there to prepare a place for you? And if 00:13:31.850 --> 00:13:34.669 I go and prepare a place for you, I will come 00:13:34.669 --> 00:13:38.509 back and I will bring you back with me where 00:13:38.509 --> 00:13:41.889 I am. You know the way to the place where I am 00:13:41.889 --> 00:13:47.370 going. Well, Thomas. And you know, you got to 00:13:47.370 --> 00:13:53.950 love Thomas. Thomas likes details. And Thomas 00:13:53.950 --> 00:13:56.750 said, Jesus, what are you talking about? What 00:13:56.750 --> 00:14:00.909 do you mean you know the way? I need to be sure 00:14:00.909 --> 00:14:05.509 that I know the way. Could you just clarify the 00:14:05.509 --> 00:14:09.350 way? And of course, Jesus says, I am the way, 00:14:09.370 --> 00:14:11.570 the truth, and the life. No one comes to the 00:14:11.570 --> 00:14:17.139 Father but through me. So here we have mirroring 00:14:17.139 --> 00:14:22.840 Jesus. He's saying, listen, I'm here with you 00:14:22.840 --> 00:14:26.580 now, but I am leaving. I am going away to my 00:14:26.580 --> 00:14:31.539 father's house. I'm offering you the cup. And 00:14:31.539 --> 00:14:34.419 so I want you to drink it and say yes, but then 00:14:34.419 --> 00:14:37.299 I'm going to go away to the father's house and 00:14:37.299 --> 00:14:41.600 I'm going to prepare for you. And this is the 00:14:41.600 --> 00:14:45.539 season we are living in, the season of separation. 00:14:46.480 --> 00:14:50.039 The season where we're waiting for Jesus to come 00:14:50.039 --> 00:14:57.019 back for his bride to take home. And what's interesting 00:14:57.019 --> 00:15:00.960 here is that it's not the groom who decides if 00:15:00.960 --> 00:15:04.240 it's time to go for the bride. I doubt he would 00:15:04.240 --> 00:15:07.799 have lasted a year were it up to him. It was 00:15:07.799 --> 00:15:11.139 up to the father of the groom. The father of 00:15:11.139 --> 00:15:14.279 the groom would decide and say, okay, son, it's 00:15:14.279 --> 00:15:21.440 time. Go get your bride. Do you know that Jesus 00:15:21.440 --> 00:15:26.139 himself said, I don't even know. I don't even 00:15:26.139 --> 00:15:31.360 know the times. Jesus himself. is preparing a 00:15:31.360 --> 00:15:35.179 place for us. And he's just waiting, just like 00:15:35.179 --> 00:15:38.440 we're waiting. And we're all waiting and longing 00:15:38.440 --> 00:15:42.440 for the Father to look at the Son and say, Jesus, 00:15:42.759 --> 00:15:47.539 go get the bride. Go get the bride. It's time. 00:15:47.620 --> 00:15:50.360 Go get the bride. And I guarantee you, Jesus 00:15:50.360 --> 00:15:53.899 won't be wasting any time. He's coming for his 00:15:53.899 --> 00:15:58.350 bride. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. We should 00:15:58.350 --> 00:16:01.690 have hearts longing for this moment in which 00:16:01.690 --> 00:16:07.450 Jesus comes for us. Matthew 24, it says this, 00:16:07.690 --> 00:16:12.129 that no one knows, only the Father. Right? We 00:16:12.129 --> 00:16:15.590 just said that. Therefore, because we don't know, 00:16:15.690 --> 00:16:21.309 keep watch. Because you do not know on what day 00:16:21.309 --> 00:16:26.159 your Lord will come. So you must be ready. Because 00:16:26.159 --> 00:16:29.960 the son of man will come at an hour in which 00:16:29.960 --> 00:16:35.919 you do not expect him. We didn't know. They didn't 00:16:35.919 --> 00:16:38.559 know. The bride didn't know. She just had to 00:16:38.559 --> 00:16:43.159 be ready. She just had to be looking for when 00:16:43.159 --> 00:16:47.759 the bridegroom would show up to get her and take 00:16:47.759 --> 00:16:51.379 her back to the father. There is a readiness. 00:16:52.240 --> 00:16:54.740 that we have to walk in. There is a watchfulness 00:16:54.740 --> 00:16:58.539 that as the bride of Christ, we have our eyes. 00:16:58.639 --> 00:17:01.639 Where? Is he coming? Is it today? My eyes are 00:17:01.639 --> 00:17:04.779 lifted to the sky. Is he coming? Is he coming? 00:17:06.460 --> 00:17:11.900 The separation is a hard place. It can feel long, 00:17:11.980 --> 00:17:14.259 and we're going to see that in a minute. But 00:17:14.259 --> 00:17:17.940 there does come, eventually, the third part, 00:17:18.099 --> 00:17:23.750 which is the return for the bride. And so the 00:17:23.750 --> 00:17:28.369 groom, it is unannounced, and it is usually at 00:17:28.369 --> 00:17:32.329 night. It's usually at nighttime that he is showing 00:17:32.329 --> 00:17:37.890 up for the bride. His coming would be preceded 00:17:37.890 --> 00:17:45.230 by shouts. As he walked toward her home, there 00:17:45.230 --> 00:17:49.109 would be around him. the friends of the groom, 00:17:49.289 --> 00:17:52.529 and they would be calling out that the bridegroom 00:17:52.529 --> 00:17:58.849 was coming. And her bridal party, carrying lanterns, 00:17:58.849 --> 00:18:02.650 their lamps, would hear that call, and they would 00:18:02.650 --> 00:18:06.089 go out with their lamps to meet him and light 00:18:06.089 --> 00:18:13.509 the way to the bride. Beautiful. In this we see... 00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:18.920 where Christ returns for the church. And we see 00:18:18.920 --> 00:18:26.099 this in Matthew 25. We see the warning of this 00:18:26.099 --> 00:18:30.660 in Matthew 25, the parable that Jesus tells. 00:18:30.819 --> 00:18:34.740 At that time, the kingdom of heaven will be like 00:18:34.740 --> 00:18:38.640 ten virgins who took their lamps and went out 00:18:38.640 --> 00:18:43.299 to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, 00:18:43.339 --> 00:18:47.279 and five were wise. The foolish ones took their 00:18:47.279 --> 00:18:53.380 lamps, but did not take any oil with them. The 00:18:53.380 --> 00:18:56.940 wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with 00:18:56.940 --> 00:18:59.380 their lamps. I'm glad to know I have a grandson 00:18:59.380 --> 00:19:03.440 who's wise. Our grandson is going to be nine 00:19:03.440 --> 00:19:07.039 in July, and in a week, Darren and the girls 00:19:07.039 --> 00:19:10.119 are taking him on his first Boundary Water camping 00:19:10.119 --> 00:19:14.789 trip. And so Edmund is a planner, and he's been 00:19:14.789 --> 00:19:17.750 walking through with Alexandra. Continually he 00:19:17.750 --> 00:19:20.589 calls and gets on video call to show his stuff, 00:19:20.849 --> 00:19:24.069 to show his supplies. And a big conversation 00:19:24.069 --> 00:19:29.190 is, do we have enough fuel? I have, how many 00:19:29.190 --> 00:19:32.950 cans do you have? I've got this many cans. And 00:19:32.950 --> 00:19:35.349 Alexandra's like, no, no, we don't need all that. 00:19:35.450 --> 00:19:39.519 We've got some. Well, just in case, should I 00:19:39.519 --> 00:19:45.079 bring this can of fuel? Listen, this is the heart 00:19:45.079 --> 00:19:48.500 of the wise virgin. I need to make sure I've 00:19:48.500 --> 00:19:52.480 got backup fuel. I don't want to run out just 00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:58.480 as the bridegroom is approaching. The bridegroom, 00:19:58.539 --> 00:20:01.420 though, was a long time in coming, and they all 00:20:01.420 --> 00:20:04.769 became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight, the 00:20:04.769 --> 00:20:08.490 cry rang out, here's the bridegroom, come out 00:20:08.490 --> 00:20:12.410 to meet him. All the virgins woke up and trimmed 00:20:12.410 --> 00:20:15.650 their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, 00:20:15.970 --> 00:20:19.329 give us some of your oil, our lamps are going 00:20:19.329 --> 00:20:22.750 out. No, they replied, there may not be enough 00:20:22.750 --> 00:20:25.609 for both us and you. Instead, go to those who 00:20:25.609 --> 00:20:28.509 sell oil and buy some. But while they were on 00:20:28.509 --> 00:20:30.849 their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. 00:20:31.849 --> 00:20:34.630 The virgins who were ready went with them to 00:20:34.630 --> 00:20:37.789 the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. Later, 00:20:37.809 --> 00:20:40.750 the others also came. Lord, Lord, open the door. 00:20:41.009 --> 00:20:44.829 But he said, truly I tell you, I don't know you. 00:20:46.369 --> 00:20:55.869 Listen, these virgins, this wedding party, they 00:20:55.869 --> 00:21:00.569 lost sight of what they were doing. They lost 00:21:00.569 --> 00:21:03.630 sight of their purpose. They lost sight of their 00:21:03.630 --> 00:21:06.869 mission, which was to be watching for the bridegroom 00:21:06.869 --> 00:21:14.990 ready to attend. They lost sight. This oil is 00:21:14.990 --> 00:21:17.470 so important because we're living in this place, 00:21:17.690 --> 00:21:20.869 aren't we? We're living in this separation place. 00:21:21.509 --> 00:21:27.279 And we have to be people that carry oil. Throughout 00:21:27.279 --> 00:21:31.359 the Bible, we see oil representing the Holy Spirit. 00:21:32.359 --> 00:21:35.500 And when Jesus left and was ascended into heaven, 00:21:35.680 --> 00:21:40.180 he said, now go wait for what? The Holy Spirit 00:21:40.180 --> 00:21:44.740 to be poured out. I'm leaving you, but listen, 00:21:44.839 --> 00:21:48.119 I'm leaving you with fuel. I'm leaving you with 00:21:48.119 --> 00:21:54.660 the power of the Holy Spirit. All through scripture, 00:21:54.779 --> 00:21:58.500 we see oil, and Holy Spirit. We see anointing 00:21:58.500 --> 00:22:01.660 for service. We see empowerment being set apart. 00:22:05.039 --> 00:22:08.519 In fact, even in Acts 10, God anointed Jesus 00:22:08.519 --> 00:22:12.839 of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. Always 00:22:12.839 --> 00:22:15.000 the anointing. How were they anointed in the 00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:21.319 Old Testament? With oil. With oil. And so in 00:22:21.319 --> 00:22:24.079 Romans 13, it says, do this, understanding the 00:22:24.079 --> 00:22:28.130 present time. The hour has come for you to wake 00:22:28.130 --> 00:22:31.950 up from your slumber because our salvation is 00:22:31.950 --> 00:22:37.410 nearer now than when we first believed. The night 00:22:37.410 --> 00:22:41.650 is nearly over. The day is almost here. So let's 00:22:41.650 --> 00:22:45.069 put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the 00:22:45.069 --> 00:22:49.750 armor of light. Every generation has longed and 00:22:49.750 --> 00:22:53.660 looked for the return of Christ. Listen. We're 00:22:53.660 --> 00:22:57.400 one generation closer. The next generation is 00:22:57.400 --> 00:23:00.019 going to say we're one generation closer. We're 00:23:00.019 --> 00:23:04.680 nearer now than we ever have been before. We've 00:23:04.680 --> 00:23:09.619 got to be filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit. 00:23:10.730 --> 00:23:14.789 We've got to be overflowing. The virgins obviously 00:23:14.789 --> 00:23:18.130 have been using their oil. They have been burning 00:23:18.130 --> 00:23:21.849 it, waiting for him to come. The problem was 00:23:21.849 --> 00:23:24.349 they weren't refilling. They weren't getting 00:23:24.349 --> 00:23:27.309 filled up again with the oil of the Holy Spirit. 00:23:27.650 --> 00:23:32.750 And so we are the light of the world. And that 00:23:32.750 --> 00:23:35.769 light is not fueled by me. It's not fueled by 00:23:35.769 --> 00:23:40.380 us. What is it fueled by? The Holy Spirit. who 00:23:40.380 --> 00:23:46.539 was given to us to be a testimony, to share the 00:23:46.539 --> 00:23:50.140 gospel of Jesus Christ. We've got to be filled 00:23:50.140 --> 00:23:53.440 up as we're awaiting our bridegroom with the 00:23:53.440 --> 00:23:57.640 oil of the Holy Spirit. Come, Lord Jesus, come. 00:23:58.359 --> 00:24:03.119 Come, Lord Jesus, come. And then finally, the 00:24:03.119 --> 00:24:10.319 fourth portion of this wedding. is the wedding 00:24:10.319 --> 00:24:15.619 feast, the glorious wedding feast. The bridegroom 00:24:15.619 --> 00:24:18.079 has announced his arrival. They have gone to 00:24:18.079 --> 00:24:22.079 meet him, and now he is taking back with him 00:24:22.079 --> 00:24:26.779 to his father's house his bride. Now here's the, 00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:30.259 here's now, I know we got, I think most of our 00:24:30.259 --> 00:24:32.980 kids left. I'm going to be very careful in how 00:24:32.980 --> 00:24:36.079 I say this, but here's what happens when the 00:24:36.079 --> 00:24:41.150 bridegroom takes the bride back. There's a little 00:24:41.150 --> 00:24:46.650 room for them that they go to to become husband 00:24:46.650 --> 00:24:53.789 and wife, where they culminate the wedding, where 00:24:53.789 --> 00:24:58.190 they become one as husband and wife. It's the 00:24:58.190 --> 00:25:01.210 first thing they do. Everybody is outside waiting. 00:25:03.309 --> 00:25:07.490 I know. How would you like that? I tell you, 00:25:07.549 --> 00:25:10.329 it was a little weird when my son got married 00:25:10.329 --> 00:25:13.190 and the next morning we all had breakfast together 00:25:13.190 --> 00:25:17.230 and they joined us. I don't know, you feel like 00:25:17.230 --> 00:25:20.069 you need a little distance from that. No, they 00:25:20.069 --> 00:25:23.130 were all waiting outside for the deed to be done 00:25:23.130 --> 00:25:30.950 when they came out. Some of you are turning red 00:25:30.950 --> 00:25:36.359 in the face. After that followed a seven -day 00:25:36.359 --> 00:25:40.420 feast. They had a great big party. Great big 00:25:40.420 --> 00:25:46.119 party. This is what we're looking for in the 00:25:46.119 --> 00:25:50.180 marriage supper of the Lamb. Now listen, I'm 00:25:50.180 --> 00:25:52.839 not being weird about our relationship with Jesus. 00:25:53.039 --> 00:25:55.440 When we talk about the bridegroom and the bride, 00:25:55.599 --> 00:25:59.440 it is not weird in that human sense. As we have 00:25:59.440 --> 00:26:03.500 already partaken of the body of Christ, We're 00:26:03.500 --> 00:26:06.039 going to take communion in a few moments. And 00:26:06.039 --> 00:26:07.940 we're going to partake of the body of Christ. 00:26:08.240 --> 00:26:12.059 And the heart of Jesus was that as I am one with 00:26:12.059 --> 00:26:16.180 the Father, I pray that also these children, 00:26:16.319 --> 00:26:18.440 these sons and daughters of God would be one 00:26:18.440 --> 00:26:23.960 with us. It is becoming one in spirit with Jesus. 00:26:24.160 --> 00:26:27.480 It is coming and being united in the Father's 00:26:27.480 --> 00:26:31.259 household with him again. So let's not get weird 00:26:31.259 --> 00:26:34.960 about that. But what he's really referring to 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:39.079 is a union, a oneness. Just as the Father, Son, 00:26:39.180 --> 00:26:44.000 and Holy Spirit are one in the Trinity. The fulfillment 00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:46.480 will happen when he brings us home. And so we 00:26:46.480 --> 00:26:50.400 see this mirrored in Revelation 19. And in this 00:26:50.400 --> 00:26:54.059 passage down in verse 7, it says, let us rejoice 00:26:54.059 --> 00:27:01.269 and be glad. You got nothing to be glad and rejoice 00:27:01.269 --> 00:27:05.430 about in life. Here you go. Let us rejoice and 00:27:05.430 --> 00:27:08.630 be glad and give him glory for the wedding of 00:27:08.630 --> 00:27:13.130 the Lamb has come and his bride has made herself 00:27:13.130 --> 00:27:19.029 ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given 00:27:19.029 --> 00:27:23.349 her to wear. Fine linen stands for the righteous 00:27:23.349 --> 00:27:26.690 acts of God's holy people. Then the angel said 00:27:26.690 --> 00:27:30.819 to me, write this. Blessed are those who are 00:27:30.819 --> 00:27:38.059 invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb. The 00:27:38.059 --> 00:27:40.759 wedding of the Lamb has come and the bride has 00:27:40.759 --> 00:27:46.599 made herself ready. This is our end goal. This 00:27:46.599 --> 00:27:51.839 is the prize. The prize of Jesus is why we run 00:27:51.839 --> 00:27:56.609 our race. The prize of Jesus. is why we endure 00:27:56.609 --> 00:28:00.369 hardship. The prize of Jesus is why when things 00:28:00.369 --> 00:28:04.009 are going all wrong, we don't give up faith. 00:28:04.250 --> 00:28:07.890 Because ultimately our goal is not to find victory 00:28:07.890 --> 00:28:11.430 here on this earth, but to find victory and oneness 00:28:11.430 --> 00:28:13.829 with him at the marriage supper of the Lamb. 00:28:14.230 --> 00:28:17.750 And so we keep our eyes on the prize, who is 00:28:17.750 --> 00:28:22.390 Christ Jesus. This is going to be a joyous celebration, 00:28:22.529 --> 00:28:28.410 and I can't wait for it. Back when Jesus first 00:28:28.410 --> 00:28:32.970 offered the cup, he offered the cup and he said, 00:28:33.029 --> 00:28:36.609 now you take it and drink of it. You know what 00:28:36.609 --> 00:28:39.950 he said following that? He said, I will not drink 00:28:39.950 --> 00:28:42.710 from the fruit of this vine again until that 00:28:42.710 --> 00:28:45.630 day that I drink with you in the new heavens. 00:28:46.250 --> 00:28:49.589 He's saying, I'm looking. I'm looking forward 00:28:49.589 --> 00:28:52.650 to that day when you are with me in heaven and 00:28:52.650 --> 00:28:55.890 we will drink of this cup again. in person together. 00:28:56.210 --> 00:28:58.289 It's going to be beautiful. It's going to be 00:28:58.289 --> 00:29:01.809 beautiful. But my question today is this. What 00:29:01.809 --> 00:29:06.470 kind of fiancé are you going to be? What kind 00:29:06.470 --> 00:29:10.490 of fiancé am I going to be in this time of separation 00:29:10.490 --> 00:29:14.309 as we are anticipating the marriage supper of 00:29:14.309 --> 00:29:18.710 the Lamb? It's said there in that passage, the 00:29:18.710 --> 00:29:25.539 bride has made herself ready. We are in partnership 00:29:25.539 --> 00:29:30.240 with Holy Spirit of preparing our hearts, our 00:29:30.240 --> 00:29:37.099 lives for the marriage supper of the Lamb. The 00:29:37.099 --> 00:29:39.940 five virgins who were foolish had a problem. 00:29:42.299 --> 00:29:46.299 The bridegroom was a long time in coming and 00:29:46.299 --> 00:29:51.829 they became drowsy and they fell asleep. They 00:29:51.829 --> 00:29:56.450 lost their sense of expectancy. They lost their 00:29:56.450 --> 00:30:01.410 sense of anticipation. This is why Darren and 00:30:01.410 --> 00:30:04.390 I tell new couples all the time, we were giving 00:30:04.390 --> 00:30:07.750 his brother and his wife a hard time because 00:30:07.750 --> 00:30:10.509 she's not coming to family reunion this week 00:30:10.509 --> 00:30:13.809 because he can't come. And we're like, hey, separation 00:30:13.809 --> 00:30:17.690 is good for you. It's good sometimes to be apart 00:30:17.690 --> 00:30:23.089 because you remember again the anticipation of 00:30:23.089 --> 00:30:26.269 being together that you had at the beginning. 00:30:27.549 --> 00:30:33.529 Those five virgins lost their anticipation. They 00:30:33.529 --> 00:30:36.750 lost their expectancy. And you know what happens 00:30:36.750 --> 00:30:42.190 when we get drowsy and sleepy? We no longer live 00:30:42.190 --> 00:30:46.549 in a prepared state. We're no longer preparing 00:30:46.549 --> 00:30:52.150 ourselves. We grow complacent and indifferent 00:30:52.150 --> 00:30:57.589 when we grow sleepy and drowsy. You say, yeah, 00:30:57.630 --> 00:31:03.130 I've heard it for four decades. Jesus is coming 00:31:03.130 --> 00:31:10.250 again. I haven't seen him come yet, though. We 00:31:10.250 --> 00:31:14.680 can't grow weary. Can't lose heart. We have to 00:31:14.680 --> 00:31:19.700 stay in anticipation. When we grow sleepy and 00:31:19.700 --> 00:31:22.740 drowsy, we no longer take care of our garments, 00:31:23.079 --> 00:31:27.200 our wedding garments, our fine linen, our bright 00:31:27.200 --> 00:31:30.259 and clean clothes. We no longer take care of 00:31:30.259 --> 00:31:35.039 them. In the book of Ephesians, it says that 00:31:35.039 --> 00:31:40.700 Jesus is going to present. to himself a radiant 00:31:40.700 --> 00:31:44.839 church without stain, without wrinkle, or any 00:31:44.839 --> 00:31:50.039 other blemish, but holy and blameless. Listen, 00:31:50.140 --> 00:31:54.759 no bride. In fact, I saw your dress kind of laying 00:31:54.759 --> 00:31:56.559 on the couch, and I thought, oh man, maybe we 00:31:56.559 --> 00:31:59.339 need to hang it up. Right? It kind of worried 00:31:59.339 --> 00:32:03.619 me a little bit. Why? Because there's a protectiveness 00:32:03.619 --> 00:32:08.069 over our wedding linen. Our wedding clothes. 00:32:09.190 --> 00:32:11.970 But when we grow drowsy, when we begin to get 00:32:11.970 --> 00:32:16.069 sleepy, suddenly we begin to let things creep 00:32:16.069 --> 00:32:24.890 in. Suddenly we begin to engage in activities 00:32:24.890 --> 00:32:28.250 that stain us. There's no way I would wear my 00:32:28.250 --> 00:32:32.230 dress out to do certain things. It's set apart. 00:32:34.119 --> 00:32:37.700 But suddenly, when we're sleepy and drowsy and 00:32:37.700 --> 00:32:40.740 we lose our sense that he is about to return, 00:32:40.960 --> 00:32:44.200 we lose the sense of the imminent return of Christ. 00:32:44.920 --> 00:32:48.400 Suddenly, we begin to turn our gaze onto something 00:32:48.400 --> 00:32:52.900 that we shouldn't turn our gaze onto. I know, 00:32:53.000 --> 00:32:55.059 don't you just feel like I've defiled something? 00:32:56.940 --> 00:33:00.180 Suddenly, we're listening, we're allowing music 00:33:00.180 --> 00:33:05.559 that is not elevating us. but music that is marring 00:33:05.559 --> 00:33:15.079 us. We find ourselves entertaining in our minds 00:33:15.079 --> 00:33:19.859 and in our thoughts and in our heart. Negative 00:33:19.859 --> 00:33:25.480 thinking toward other people. Unforgiveness to 00:33:25.480 --> 00:33:36.740 other people. Judgments on other people. I think 00:33:36.740 --> 00:33:41.680 that one of the tools that the enemy most uses 00:33:41.680 --> 00:33:46.140 is not some horrific sin that we would never 00:33:46.140 --> 00:33:51.859 think of, but it's busyness. Oh, yeah. If he 00:33:51.859 --> 00:33:56.079 can keep us busy, he can keep us out of the affections 00:33:56.079 --> 00:34:02.660 of Jesus. Suddenly, we begin to entertain other 00:34:02.660 --> 00:34:07.650 idols. Anything that would steal our affection 00:34:07.650 --> 00:34:12.329 for God. Anything that we would put above our 00:34:12.329 --> 00:34:16.809 commitment to God. Our affections begin to move 00:34:16.809 --> 00:34:25.550 to others. Suddenly, you can name it for yourself. 00:34:25.929 --> 00:34:34.579 What yours is. This is not the bride. That Jesus 00:34:34.579 --> 00:34:38.840 is calling for. This is not the bride to be presented 00:34:38.840 --> 00:34:44.000 at the wedding supper of the lamb. We have to 00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:49.139 be busy about preparing and guarding our lives. 00:34:49.400 --> 00:34:53.099 That when the call comes, that when the trumpet 00:34:53.099 --> 00:34:55.960 sounds and we see our bridegroom approaching, 00:34:56.300 --> 00:34:59.019 we're not saying, oh, wait a minute, I've got 00:34:59.019 --> 00:35:03.059 to get ready. No, we're ready. Come look. Lord 00:35:03.059 --> 00:35:07.719 Jesus, come. It needs to be our daily cry. Come, 00:35:07.920 --> 00:35:11.260 Lord Jesus, come. Because if it's our daily cry, 00:35:11.400 --> 00:35:15.719 I guarantee you're living prepared. You're living 00:35:15.719 --> 00:35:18.360 prepared. I'm going to ask if the worship team 00:35:18.360 --> 00:35:25.199 would come. In a moment, we're going to partake 00:35:25.199 --> 00:35:31.989 of the communion table. And listen. This is not 00:35:31.989 --> 00:35:35.150 just about an outward appearance. Religion is 00:35:35.150 --> 00:35:37.530 about outward looking good on the outside and 00:35:37.530 --> 00:35:40.449 going home and treating your family poorly. This 00:35:40.449 --> 00:35:43.349 is not that. This here represents the inner life. 00:35:46.110 --> 00:35:52.289 The inner life in Christ. This represents the 00:35:52.289 --> 00:36:01.989 relationship with Christ. This isn't, we're going 00:36:01.989 --> 00:36:03.789 to be singing this in a moment. This really is 00:36:03.789 --> 00:36:08.690 not about us living perfect. Sometimes you're 00:36:08.690 --> 00:36:10.869 going to just by engaging in life, you're going 00:36:10.869 --> 00:36:13.329 to find a little bit. You're just doing life. 00:36:13.510 --> 00:36:15.789 And as you're doing life, you know what? Oh, 00:36:15.829 --> 00:36:19.230 you got something on that. This is not about 00:36:19.230 --> 00:36:22.909 perfection. When this happens, we just have to 00:36:22.909 --> 00:36:24.869 come back to the table of the Lord and drink 00:36:24.869 --> 00:36:28.010 of the cup and he cleanses us and washes us. 00:36:28.460 --> 00:36:31.619 That is part of the preparing for the return 00:36:31.619 --> 00:36:34.699 of the bridegroom, being washed by the bridegroom. 00:36:36.880 --> 00:36:41.400 This is about a state of the heart. And this 00:36:41.400 --> 00:36:44.199 is why we can identify with King David so much, 00:36:44.300 --> 00:36:49.860 who God said, he's got a heart after me. And 00:36:49.860 --> 00:36:52.599 yet we find him committing adultery. We find 00:36:52.599 --> 00:37:00.039 him murdering. When the prophet comes and confronts 00:37:00.039 --> 00:37:06.159 him in that moment, he says, that's me. I repent. 00:37:07.579 --> 00:37:10.320 And he walks through a season of repentance and 00:37:10.320 --> 00:37:14.780 then God restores him. And he goes on. He leaves 00:37:14.780 --> 00:37:19.039 his place of repentance and he goes into the 00:37:19.039 --> 00:37:22.139 sanctuary and begins to worship. And he writes 00:37:22.139 --> 00:37:26.380 Psalm 51, wash me and I will be whiter than snow. 00:37:27.559 --> 00:37:30.360 If I had a big old tide stick, I'd just take 00:37:30.360 --> 00:37:37.820 it right all over there. This morning, you're 00:37:37.820 --> 00:37:42.059 going to be offered the cup. And in this house, 00:37:42.059 --> 00:37:45.320 we practice open communion. You do not have to 00:37:45.320 --> 00:37:47.860 be a regular attender or member here. You are 00:37:47.860 --> 00:37:50.840 welcome to partake in communion if you have said 00:37:50.840 --> 00:37:55.139 yes to Jesus, if you have decided to follow Jesus. 00:37:56.650 --> 00:37:58.849 And so in a moment, we're going to be giving 00:37:58.849 --> 00:38:02.650 you the bread and the cup. And as you take the 00:38:02.650 --> 00:38:09.710 cup this morning, you have a choice. And maybe 00:38:09.710 --> 00:38:15.409 you have never made the choice to receive the 00:38:15.409 --> 00:38:18.630 sacrifice of Jesus. Maybe you've never made the 00:38:18.630 --> 00:38:22.789 choice to be a follower of Jesus. You are welcome. 00:38:22.849 --> 00:38:26.320 It's very simple. You take the cup and you say, 00:38:26.420 --> 00:38:32.199 yes. Yes, Jesus. I am yours and you are mine. 00:38:32.460 --> 00:38:38.760 Yes. And maybe you have already been a follower 00:38:38.760 --> 00:38:42.039 of Jesus. And you're saying, you know what, though? 00:38:42.820 --> 00:38:48.340 I've gotten a little bit of a stain. I've been 00:38:48.340 --> 00:38:50.760 maybe doing some things that aren't preparing 00:38:50.760 --> 00:38:54.530 me for the return of the bridegroom. Here's your 00:38:54.530 --> 00:38:57.050 good news. You partake of the cup and the bread, 00:38:57.150 --> 00:39:01.050 and with sincerity of heart, you say, wash me, 00:39:01.070 --> 00:39:04.829 Jesus, and I will be clean. I will be whiter 00:39:04.829 --> 00:39:09.849 than snow. And so as we partake of this today, 00:39:10.090 --> 00:39:15.690 whichever place you are in, as you take of the 00:39:15.690 --> 00:39:20.190 communion, you're simply saying yes. You're simply 00:39:20.190 --> 00:39:24.420 renewing. You're renewing first love. You're 00:39:24.420 --> 00:39:28.320 renewing your bridal place and your bridal commitment. 00:39:28.679 --> 00:39:33.519 And you're fixing your eyes on the return of 00:39:33.519 --> 00:39:37.320 the bridegroom. Amen. And so I'm going to invite 00:39:37.320 --> 00:39:41.159 our ushers to come. And as they come, they're 00:39:41.159 --> 00:39:43.699 going to offer you communion. And let's just 00:39:43.699 --> 00:39:45.699 as they do for a few moments, we're just going 00:39:45.699 --> 00:39:48.179 to worship as they distribute this morning.