Date of Sermon Delivery: 21. 8. 2022

Place of sermon Delivery:  Delhi, India

Sunday Worship Service

Speaker: Jatin Bisht

Title : Be close to the lord

Bible : Matthew 25:1-13

Key verse : 4.The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 

1. At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 

2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 

3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 

4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 

5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.

8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’

12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’

13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

Good morning,

My dear lovely brothers and sisters.

Once again, I welcome you all to the beautiful house of the lord.

Whenever I see our church prayer this year, I thank the Lord so much. Truly, God is doing everything very well in this house.

When we pray to God and when those prayers are fulfilled, it not only gives us joy, but strengthens our faith in him. what I saw in the last meeting.

Therefore, as Paul says in his letter, pray continually.

We prayed for a summer retreat, a church fund, and a service on August 15th.

We prayed for many things in the past, but after that, how is our life in the Lord?

How is your relationship with Jesus now?

How is your spiritual life?

Or have you slept and now thinking of getting up directly in Christmas or Summer retreat 2023.

God wants our lives to contribute to the fulfillment of his plan on earth, to do that we must be aware, awake and have to close to the lord.

 

Let’s pray.

Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ. You kept us alive on this new day and prepared this day for us so that we could come to your house.

Lord helps us this morning to accept your words and fellow them. Amen

 

 

 

Matthew 25:1-13 Jesus used a story of marriage to understand the spiritual lesson.

In this text, 10 virgins are you and me.

The Bridegroom is Jesus Christ.

Oil represents spiritual life/Holy Spirit.

"Lamp" is our physical life.

I ask that we focus on it as we listen to today's sermon.

 

As you will see in verse 1,

We are on the way to heaven, and in today's text, Jesus is explaining how the kingdom of Heaven will be. The Kingdom of Heaven is for everyone, as in this text, 10 virgins are.

They were ready to meet their groom. The way they waited was the same. There was no difference between them.

As a church, we are all the same. There must not be any difference. Those who believe in Jesus, there must not be any difference. Our God is not a God of discrimination, but he is a God of unity. Hallelujah

The Lord does not discriminate, there must be no discrimination against the rich or poor, educated or uneducated, black or white, language or caste.

We are a family, and there must be love between us.

We may disagree with our family, but we return to our family every day because it is our own family, and even if there are flaws and problems, we still love that family.

We all, who believe in Jesus Christ, maybe our idea, or thought would different or same, maybe some time we disagree to each other.

But even then, we have to come to the conclusion that we are all one family and there should be love between us.

 

By seeing these 10 virgins, we cannot tell the difference between them. But the bible says among them, five are wise and five are foolish.

The Virgin is a symbol of church and church members, so in church there are wise and foolish both, but we should have that passion and enthusiasm that we may be counted in the group of wise and not foolish.

But how can it be possible?

They are all the same, all are waiting for the groom, all have a lamp, all have the same cloth, all are virgins, so where is the difference?

 

Let’s read verse 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 

 

Here we can find the difference. The wise virgin took their lamps with oil, but the foolish also took lamps but did not take oil.

As I told you, the lamp is our physical life, and the oil is our spiritual life/holy spirit.

Here, everyone is waiting for the groom, everyone is waiting for Jesus, and everyone is present with the lamp, which means everyone is present or connected physically.

But the difference is, five have the spirit of God and the other five do not have oil, do not have spiritual life, do not have connectivity with God, do not have a passion for God.

 

 

4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 

5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

6 "At midnight, the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

 

It is normal that they wait, and when the bridegroom was a long time coming, they were tired and they fell asleep.

But in the middle of the night, when they were sleeping, when they did not expect it, they heard the voice that the bridegroom was coming.

 

We are all waiting for Jesus Christ, and for so long we must be thinking that Jesus Christ will come, but why hasn't Jesus Christ come yet?

We may believe that it is getting late, but our calculations and the Lord's calculations are not the same.

Peter says in his letter with the lord a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a day. The lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

 

Though we may have felt this delay, the truth is that Jesus Christ surely comes.

In the text, the bride came at midnight, when they fell asleep. In the same way, Jesus will come to this earth, the trumpet will be blown.

That will be a time that we would not have even imagined, so we have to be ready all the time.

The wedding was delayed for these virgins, but there the groom came, as it was getting late, but Jesus Christ would definitely come.

Do not give up your faith, do not be careless about your faith, because Jesus will definitely come.

 

 

Let’s see verse

7 "Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.

8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

9 "‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

 

When they heard that the groom was coming, they got up and started getting the lamps ready. But when foolish tried to light their lamp, then they understood that we needed oil to light this lamp, but we did not have this lamp.

The foolish virgin asked for some oil from the wise virgin, but they denied giving them oil.

 

But the Bible teaches us that we should help each other. We should give to those who are in need. If we have something by which we can help another, then we should do it.

In this text, wise says to foolish, "This may not be enough for both us and you."

Here is what God is teaching us about salvation, wise are saying the salvation we received we cannot share with you.

If I have salvation because I live a holy life, and if my children do not live a holy life, they will not be able to enter Heaven through me.

Salvation is personal. I will not get salvation because of my pastor, but I will get salvation because of my personal relationship with God.

Therefore, the wise says to the foolish, it is not enough for both of us.

Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvary for my sins and your sins.

Jesus took my sins and your sins in his body, so that I would not bear the punishment of that sin, but Jesus Christ carried it.

So, will all of you get saved by my believe? Never

Nor I will be saved by any other believe

When will I get salvation?

Only when I believe that Jesus Christ died for my sins and that Jesus is my savior, then only will I get salvation.

I will be healed by praying to Pastor Benny Hinn, but salvation will come only through my faith.

Because salvation is personal, it depends on my believe in Jesus.

 

Dear brothers and sisters.

I want to ask you one question.

How is your relationship with God?

Do you pray every day to God?

Do you walk in those things by reading the words of the Lord every day?

Do you think your life is like those foolish virgins or like those wise virgins?

We need that so we may test our lives in the Lord.

 

Let’s see verse 10-12

10 "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

11 "Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’

12 "But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’

When the foolish virgin could know that we would not get oil, they went to find oil from them, but the door was shut.

Dear brothers and sisters,

Still, we have time, because Jesus Christ has not yet come.

Still, we have time to draw closer to Jesus, because there will come a time when the door will be closed. Therefore, we have to be ready and not be left behind. Live your life carefully and be prepared because Jesus Christ can come at anytime.

 

But when the foolish virgin came with oil and said, "Lord, open the door for us." I do not know.  

We are all familiar with the story of Noah; God gave people many chances during Noah's time. But they were eating, drinking, marrying, and enjoying life.

But when the door of the boat closed and the flood came, maybe they would have shouted, would have called to open the door, but that door did not open, for anyone of them.

 

In today’s words, were not all these virgins waiting for the groom?

They all were waiting groom and knew the groom.

The Lord loves us all, he knows us. So we all have the possibility of getting closer to him.

If we do not believe in him, then a day will come when the Lord will say that I do not know you.

What kind of people would that be for?

That is written Matthew 7:21-23

21. "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
22. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 
23. Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!

 

Only those who know the will of the Lord and fulfil those desires in their lives will go to Heaven, not everyone who says they love the Lord.

Because in verse 22, these are people who have the gift of healing, the gift of prophecy, and the power to do miracles.

But by looking at the gifts, never think that we will go to heaven.

But more than the gifts, the Lord sees the fruits in our lives.

Because a tree is known by its fruits.

Through the basis of gift, we will not only be able to enter into the kingdom of God, but through our believe and doing the will of God.

 

Dear brothers and sisters,

Always ask for the will of God in your life.

Ask to him God, "What is your will for my life?"

Do not keep your will before the Lord, but rather seek the Lord's will.

 

But here I want to ask you.

Did these five virgins commit any sin? Did they murder someone? Did they steal someone's?

They were also waiting for the groom, but the lack of oil was

The lack of the presence of the Lord is the lack of spiritual life.

Maybe you think you don't eat pan masala, don't drink alcohol, and don't give abuse to anyone.

This is good, but the important question is, do you talk to God every day? Do you listen to God and walk in His word?

Dear brothers and sisters, do not be a Christ just in name, but love the Lord. Love the words of the Lord. Try to follow it every day in your life.

 

 

Dear brothers and sisters, though it looks like a delay, the truth is that Jesus Christ will definitely come.

Let’s see Matthew 7:26

26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 

Foolish are those who hear God’s word and do not put it into practice, but wise are those who hear God's words and put them into practice.

Which group are we in: foolish or wise?

Many times our surroundings have an impact on our lives, but beyond all those influences, the word of the Lord has to take us forward.

Never say that this is what I have learned since childhood and I can live like that.

I have learned this way, so I will do it like this.

But those who believe in the words of the Lord become a new creation, the old things pass away.

Are we still walking in old thoughts and old superstition, or are we a new creation in Christ?

Dear brothers and sisters,

God desires for us to be virgins, and God has opened the door for us. Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; whoever believes in me will have eternal life."

Amen 

 Matthew 9:9-13.

Key verses 9:13.

Theme: The Messiah of Sinners.

Praise the Lord everyone. I welcome you all in this morning. And thank you that you come in the presence of God. God bless you all.

Today's message is from the book of Matthew which was written by him. And throughout this book, he also writes about himself, how he met Jesus and left his bad deeds and became a follower of Jesus.

Do you know about Matthew? Yes he was a tax collector. His job was to collect taxes from the people. He used to collect taxes from his own people for the Roman Empire. And because of this the people who used to collect taxes at that time were called traitors. Because he was working against his own people and he was mixed with Gentiles. But many tax collectors also started collecting arbitrary taxes because at that time a fixed amount went to the Roman Empire. And the tax collectors started collecting more taxes from the people to increase their wealth.

So was Matthew among them. He was also charging exorbitant fees from the people. He used to sit in a checkpoint on Capernaum's main highway. He used to charge fees from farmers, traders and any human who brought imported goods. He was in a good position. He had collected a lot of money. He had become rich. He would also have a big house. He must be living his life very well. Although people would call him unjust, thief, greedy, sinner and much more. But he was rich.

Matthew 9:9 One day while he was at his place of work. Then he encounters Jesus. Jesus comes before him and asks him to follow me. And he gets up and follows Jesus.

But Luke 5:28 states that he leaves everything behind and follows Jesus.

         Why was it that Matthew, who had so far been doing so dishonestly, was suddenly ready to give up everything. He was ready to give up his job by which he could become richer. He was ready to give up his best life and follow Jesus. Why??

Because now he has encountered Jesus. And when one encounters Jesus, that person is able to see the flaws within himself very clearly. Do you remember Zacchaeus?? Everything was going well in his life too. He also collected taxes and became rich. But when confronted with Jesus, he too was able to remove evil from his life. Do you remember yourself?? You didn't see your flaws until you encountered Jesus, but when you met Jesus, you realized how many mistakes I have in my life, how much of a sinners I am. And when we realize this, we leave everything behind and start following Jesus.

The same thing happened with Matthew. He too was able to feel his sin when he encountered Jesus. And leaving behind all his evil, he followed Jesus. Till now he was a sinner who was caught in his evil deeds but after meeting Jesus his life changed.

When Jesus chose Matthew, he was a sinner. Jesus did not wait for him to be changed. Jesus did not think that when you become a good idealistic person, then I will add you to my group. Jesus chose him in the same situation he was in. Matthew was sitting in the same post from which he sinned and Jesus chose him for his evil. How strange is this, isn't it?? Whenever you choose someone, do you choose him with his evil? Maybe not but Jesus is like that. Jesus chose you when you were evil, Jesus chose me when I was evil. Jesus also chose Matthew when he was evil. Romans 5:8 states that Jesus died for us while we were still in sin. Jesus doesn't wait for us to change, He loved us when we were still in sin. He calls us into our sin, but He does not allow us to remain sinners.

He wants to change our situation. As Jesus did with Matthew. Jesus raised Matthew from his sin and took him into his fellowship. And Jesus did the same with you and me. He raised us from our sins and called us and changed our circumstances. That's why we no longer live that way or do the bad things we used to do before coming to Christ. Isn't it?? Now we don't do bad things. Like Matthew, Jesus chose us as his followers.

Let's move on to the next verses 10-11. Matthew, who has now changed, has a big banquet in his house. Most of the people in his house were tax collectors and sinners. And Jesus was also in that house. Jesus ate with the tax collectors and with the sinners. Notice from where so many tax collectors and sinners come from here. You must remember that this feast was being given by Matthew. And Matthew, who is a tax collector, his friends also would’ve been tax collectors. Those who came to this feast were invited by Matthew. And Jesus was ready to dine with these sinners.

What you need to note here is that Jesus never avoided the company of sinners. Jesus came to help sinners, not to allow them to remain in sin. Jesus used to associate with sinners in order to redeem them from their sin.

You must also understand not to abstain from the company of sinners because they need Jesus. And you can be the way those people can reach Jesus. 1 Corinthians 5:9-11. Paul tells us that you can have fellowship with sinners, but the Christian who commits sin as a brother, throw him out of your midst.

A little understanding is needed here because one who is an unbeliever and is in sin should not avoid the company of one who is an unbeliever. And it should not come as a surprise because he is an atheist. Jesus never stayed away from sinners, so we should not stay because such people need Jesus.

If you read in the following verses, you will see that Jesus has to face criticism. Verses 12-13 Jesus is despised by the Pharisees. You also have to be prepared because people will criticize you too. The way Jesus did. Even today there will be people in front of you who do not want you to have the company of sinners. But the important thing is that you don't shy away from people who need Jesus. Because it is only because of you that they will know Jesus.

Jesus fellowship with sinners because He had come to help them. Let's read verses 12 and 13 once again. There are now three things here.

1 Need According to Jesus, those who are sinners are sick and the sick need a doctor and he himself is a doctor. It should be noted that Jesus associates with sinners in order to redeem them from sin, not just to spend some time with them. Jesus visits them to help them, and to heal them. It was prophesied in Ezekiel 34:15-16 that he would gather again those who had gone astray. 

But the Pharisees did not act according to these words, they kept their distance from sinners and condemned them. So Jesus gave them an example and explained that they needed a doctor.

2 * Mercy

Jesus wants to show mercy to those who have gone astray or are still in sin. Although it is necessary to make sacrifices to God, but your behavior should be kind with people.

As Jesus treated sinners. In Matthew 23:23, Jesus tells the Pharisees that you give a tenth to everything, but you have left out the serious things of the law, namely justice, mercy and faith. Jesus wants to explain that it is necessary to show mercy to those who are still in sin. Not exclude these people and offer sacrifice to God. That's why Jesus told the Pharisees to go back to your teaching or learn the scriptures again what is needed. Because the Pharisees had forgotten what God had said in the Old Testament. Micah 6:6-8. I have told that what God wants, God wants you to love mercy first and then think of making sacrifices to God. If your heart is not kind to sinners or to anyone, then your sacrifices are of no value. So be kind because that's what God wants of you. You must hate sin. Note that you have to hate sin but sometimes we start hating sinners along with sin. For which Jesus did not command. 

In Ephesians 4:32, Paul tells us to be kind and compassionate and forgive people because Jesus also forgave you when you were a sinner.

3 Jesus came to call sinners

       When Jesus faced criticism from the Pharisees, Jesus responded in an excellent way. Jesus told the Pharisees that sinners are sick and I am their doctor, they should not be hated but have mercy, and now he is telling that I have come not for the righteous but for sinners. So whoever believes that he is righteous denies Jesus, but whoever confesses his sins accepts Jesus.

Romans 3:23 states that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The verse states that sinners who are deprived of the glory of God cannot feel the glory of God. But when they confesses their sin, then they are about to see the glory of God. And when you confess your sins then you see the glory of God. Jesus came into this world so that sinners could draw close to him, 1 Timothy 1:15 says. Jesus came as a way for sinners to receive the salvation that God Himself laid out for them. Jesus also wants from you that you too can be the way of salvation for those who are in sin, keep in mind that you should hate sin not sinners because Jesus also hated your sin, not you.

Amen.