Why are there so many small Churches?  Maybe we have not grasped and accepted the whole council of the Lord.

Matthew 25:1-13
The wise and foolish virgins:

I’ve heard the teachings, that it was a great honor to be in this group, waiting perhaps for days, until the bridegroom appeared.

How the wise had brought enough oil to wait Him out, but the foolish ran out and Had to go and find oil,  thereby missing the bridegrooms coming.

Then, when they were finally ready, the bridegroom refused them entrace to the marriage supper.

We are warned to watch, for we know not when the bridegroom will appear.

Matthew 25:14-30
The Talents:  (Were the talents money or skills?)

Again the teachings, the Master leaves his servants, 5, 2, and 1 Talent according to their ability.  He leaves, when he returns, he finds.

The one with 5, increased to ten,  the one with 2 increased to four,  both were told to enter into the joy of the Lord.

The one who had received one, buried it.  The Master was not pleased… “You should have at least invested it, so I would gain the interest.”

“Take his Talent and give it to the man with ten.  For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.”

Cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness, where there is weeping and nashing of teeth.

Matthew 25:31-46
The Sheep and the Goats:  (It’s not about live stock).

Quite simply have you done what the Lord comanded?  Fed the hungry, given water to the thirsty,  met the needs of the needy?

Are you a sheep, have you accepted the Lords commands, have you done as He has expected? 

Or are you a goat, butt, butt, butt….I don’t need that, Lord, do it my way.

If a goat, “these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.”

What is this chapter really about?  Knowing and doing the will of God.

The oil for the lamps:
Is being filled with the Holy Spirit.

The Talants: 
Jesus, our Master left us the Holy Spirit and Power,  The Holy Spirit gave us the Gifts of the Spirit, the tools for building His Kingdom.

We need to seek the best gift… the one needed right now, healing, wisdom, knowledge, faith, miracles, prayer….

Most Denominations have buried the gifts, not increased their use,  have not built up the Church.

The Sheep and Goats:
The Sheep: 
Those who have accepted the Gifts, grown in the Lord, have learned to increase the Church, by the Power of the Holy Spirit.
The Goats: 
Those who think they don’t need the Gifts. They do not realize, they had to ask for and accept Salvation. 

They need to ask and accept the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of Speaking in Tongues.

They must learn and accept the difference between our prayer language, (no interpretation needed), and public tongues, (interpretation, mandated).

With the proper use, there is no confusion, just a release of the Power of the Holy Spirit.

Growth, excitement, people are drawn to the love, grace, peace the healing, comfort the blessing of the presence of the Lord.

I love the folks and my Pastor in the UMC, I attend, but it is dying, the Pastor doesn’t believe he needs the Gifts.

He does not understand they are the tools for personal and corporate growth.

He has built a fence between him and the Power and Victory in Jesus.  Lord, tear down this wall…

Lord, open their eyes,  I beg You.  Amen