Go a little deeper
This Journey Church message in the Kingdom Come series walks through Jesus' parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13. Pastor Keith Kirkpatrick frames the passage as a warning from Jesus himself, spoken in his final days before the cross, and insists it was given not to scare listeners but to prepare them. Ten bridesmaids look identical and carry identical lamps, yet five are called foolish and five wise. What separates them, Pastor Keith argues, is oil the foolish never brought: a picture of a personal, ongoing relationship with the Holy Spirit.
Much of the message clears away cultural confusion and then presses the application. Pastor Keith explains ancient Jewish betrothal—the groom preparing a room in his father's house, the bride not knowing the day—and ties it to Jesus' promise in John 14 to prepare a place. The delay, he says, reveals what is real, and even the wise grow drowsy. Oil cannot be borrowed: not from a pastor, a spouse, a parent, or yesterday's experience, and neither church attendance nor baptism nor religious language saves anyone. Salvation comes by believing in Jesus and receiving the Holy Spirit, who seals believers.
The closing movement lands on urgency. When the midnight cry comes, the prepared go in and the door is shut; those outside appeal to the groom as Lord and hear that he does not know them. Pastor Keith connects this to Palm Sunday crowds who praised Jesus and then missed who he truly was, and to Revelation's warnings to the church about abandoning first love or becoming lukewarm. He ends with a prayer of surrender and an invitation for those uncertain of their salvation, and announces baptisms two weeks out, the week after Easter.
Take this with you
A warning meant to prepare, not terrify
Pastor Keith treats the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25 as a warning label from Jesus, given in his final days before the cross. Rather than reading it and asking who would need such a warning, listeners are invited to ask whether they themselves do—and to hear it as preparation with real urgency.
Same lamp, different oil
In Matthew 25, all ten bridesmaids share appearance, role, and access to a lamp; the difference is preparation. Pastor Keith uses this to say that looking ready and sounding religious is not the same as carrying personal oil—a living relationship with the Holy Spirit rather than mere familiarity with him.
The delay reveals what is real
In the Matthew 25 parable, the groom's delay is the pressure point of the story. Even the wise grow drowsy, but they had enough oil to last. Pastor Keith applies this to the long wait for Christ's return: believing God's promises even when the waiting feels long or feelings run dry.
Oil cannot be borrowed
In Matthew 25 the wise refuse to share, not from meanness but because oil is personal. Pastor Keith grounds personal accountability in Philippians 2:12 and Romans 14:12: no pastor, spouse, parent, or past experience supplies saving faith now, and each person gives an account to God for their own life before him.
The door was shut
The Matthew 25 parable ends with a closed door after the unprepared return too late. Pastor Keith ties this to the crowds who praised Jesus on Palm Sunday yet were not ready for Friday, and to those who address the groom as Lord without being known by him—urging listeners to respond while there is time.
The conversation,
in their words.
Transcript from the recording’s captions. Select any timestamp to hear the original audio.
Hey, stay standing for just a moment. Come on. We want to give some glory to God today. Can you just celebrate Jesus today right where you are? Come on. He's worthy of our praise. He is alive. When you were sleeping last night, I'll tell you, our God does not sleep, nor does he slumber. So, whatever you got, anxiety or worry, whatever anxious thought you might have, the Bible says you can cast it on him because he cares for you. So whether that's a sickness or something you're dealing with or maybe that's a relationship problem or maybe that's just uh where you are right now. I want to just say we're going to give it to God. We're going to receive from the Lord today. We want we want to receive what God has to give us. He's a giver of good gifts. Uh you're here today. So let's just go ahead and receive the miracle. All right. Don't come here and live an ordinary life. He's not an ordinary God. He's got something extraordinary for you planned. So you may be seated. Uh and we're going to get into God's word. If you brought your
Bible today, would you get it out right now? Yeah. This is no ordinary book. This is the word of God. We want to receive from God today. Hold it up in the air like you care. Come on. Right where you are. Even if you didn't bring your Bible, God's going to speak to you through this book. You can join me by shouting word on the count of three. Here we go. Shout word on the count of three. 1 2 3. Word. We're getting into God's word. So God's word will get into us. You know, we live in a world of warning labels. Everywhere you go, there's some type of warning label telling you what to do or not do, warning you about what could happen or uh what will happen if you don't heed the warning labels. In fact, some warning labels are absolutely wild. Uh don't you wish God just gave us a warning label in life? Well, he actually does. And we're going to look at that warning label today. What does it look
like to have the kingdom? And he gives us a warning when it comes to the kingdom. You know, there are some crazy warning labels like like when you're waiting in line for a roller coaster and it warns you that you could get dizzy, you know, or you might have motion sickness. It's like, I know, I'm in line for that roller coaster. Right? Uh but, you know, there are even more wild warning labels. Like some just don't even seem sensible. Like when you buy a package of peanuts and it says warning may contain nuts, right? Uh these are actual warning labels that could warn you about the very thing that you just purchased. Or how about when you buy an iron and it warns you, don't do not iron while wearing your clothes, right? Did somebody actually do that and now they have the imprint of the iron right right on their belly? Uh or or how about like when you go to McDonald's and you get a cup of coffee and it warns you, hey,
contents could be hot. You know, don't you want your coffee hot? Right? But somebody had to put that there because someone might have spilled that coffee and maybe sued them, but who knows? I mean, it's just it's it's wild the warning labels. Do you know on silly putty it actually tells you do not use as earplugs. It's a is an actual warning. Do not bring your silly putty to church to use as earplugs. We give you real earplugs here at Journey Church. Okay? So don't bring your silly putty with you. Uh you know what's wild is is if you actually buy a wheelbarrow, even if you go to Harbor Freight right here after church, it warns you not intended for highway use. All right. It's a true label. is it's actually on the tire itself. I don't know who's actually gone out there on the Parkway
and tried to pick up to 45 miles hour, but it actually does not work. You also, you cannot buy a drill that is like an electric screwdriver drill, and that's not intended for dental use. Okay? So, if you're trying to save money and do things on your own, there's a warning label here for you. There's actually a warning label with with chainsaws for guys like me that don't use them often to be careful not to handle it with the wrong way. Do not hold it here and try to start it here or do not hold it by the you got to hold it by the right handle. You know, I was actually uh last week we went to a lion habitat is a place where they retire lions and we went and looked at these lions and they're all in these chainlink fences. And I actually took a
real picture of a warning for these lions. I want to show it to you. Says male lions could spray up to 15 feet. Uh and you're only about 5t away from these lions. So, I took a picture of that just to warn you about male lions next time you see them. But I don't know if that's appropriate for church or not. But uh I do want you to know though today's text is like a giant warning label. It it's actually from Jesus himself. In fact, some preachers have said the text that we're going to look at today could be the scariest of all the parables Jesus shares with us. Of all the stories that Jesus has told us, some say this is the scariest. But I want to tell you Jesus did not say this to scare us. He said this to prepare us. that there's some urgency today in today's text that this is not for someone else. I mean, we read warning labels like this and say, "What
kind of an idiot needs a warning like this?" Well, do not read the text today and think, "What kind of idiot needs a warning like this?" But say, "Lord, if I'm the idiot, let me hear this warning today." Let let me hear the words that you have for us. Let me share with you the last verse that we're going to look at today. Matthew 25:13, Jesus said this, "Watch." Everyone shall watch. Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. Here's the warning. Be aware, look out, be watchful of all the things Jesus wants you to do as he does not want you to be ignorant, naive of things to come. He wants you to be prepared. There's some urgency here that this isn't for another day or a better day. That today Jesus wants you to be prepared to watch. He wants you to be aware, to watch. Traditionally, this
date on the Christian calendar is known as Palm Sunday. It's the day that Jesus rode into Jerusalem for the last time before being crucified. Jesus, the King of all kings, came in humility on a cult to fulfill the prophecy that he is Messiah. It's on this date that we can look back on the calendar and read in the scriptures that Jesus would ride into Jerusalem one last time. He he would he would show us his heart and as he as he entered Jerusalem, it would be Jesus that that wept. He he he would cry. His heart was broken because the people did not recognize him for who he actually is. This is the heart of Jesus. It breaks when you do not see him clearly for who he is. Matthew 2023
tells us in verse 37, Jesus says, "Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it. How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing. See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." This is the heart of Jesus broken because people did not see him accurately for who he is. One that wants to gather together the children, one
that wants to protect, one that wants to love, the one that wants to point you to the hope of life. It was this Jesus that when he entered Jerusalem, the crowds were shouting hosana to the son of David, a title preserved for Messiah. This is a king. The word hosana means he's going to save us. He's going to save us. He's going to be the king. And they could have witnessed Jesus the Christ, but they didn't. They should have been patient and waited to witness what Jesus was willing to do, offering them eternal life, but they didn't.
Instead, they miss the opportunity. And if we're not careful, we will miss the opportunity. Jesus doesn't ask for people to go half in. He doesn't ask people to just go partly in. He asks us to go all in. He He asked for absolutely everything of all of us. Not some of us, not some of the time, but to go allin. I'm sure if you were to go back in time and you were to interview the the 12 disciples of Jesus, these students of Jesus, and if you were to ask them, "Are you allin for Jesus?" I would bet that they would probably say, "I'm all in. I I gave it all in for for Jesus. I'm going all in." In fact, if you were to look at the three elite of the 12, Peter, James, and John, these these ones
that went with Jesus to these secret places like the mountaintops and witnessed Jesus transfigured, I bet they would say, "I'm all in for Jesus." Yet, in Jesus' last and final hours of his life, when he went and prayed in the garden of Gethsemane and he said, "Could you guys just go with me? And I've just got one request. be watchful. Can you watch right now? Could you just be aware of what's happening right now? I need you right now. Watch with me right now. And when Jesus went to pray, he came back and he found them what? Sleeping. He woke them up and said, "Really? Could you not watch for one hour?
I'm just asking for this moment right now for can you just wait and watch with me right now?" town. He went and prayed again only to come back and find them what? Sleeping. Oh, be not mistaken. It's easy to fall asleep when the Lord's telling you, "Watch out. Be aware. This is no time to be asleep. This is no time to slumber. This is no time to sit back and relax. This is a time to be aware that what's happening in this world is not by accident or happen stance. He is a sovereign God that's in complete control and knows exactly what's happening. And you have a great potential in your life for God's kingdom to come in your life right now.
You have potential. And the only way to reach your potential is to be prepared. Tell your neighbor, "Be prepared. Be prepared. Be prepared." Come on. Hey, maybe uh this is the 8:30 service, so it felt just a little bit like a library. Like you whispered to your neighbor. Could you just preach to your neighbor? Be be prepared. Be prepared. Be prepared. Come on. Be prepared. Listen. Listen. You don't show up to a piano recital never having practiced the piano. You don't show up to the football game having never trained for the game. You don't go to Home Depot and buy a bunch of wood to build a house without having the plans to prepare for the house. You've got to be prepared if you want to play in the game. And Jesus is going to teach us today, you need to be ready. You need to be prepared. And the potential is that God wants to give you
his kingdom. Not someday, but his kingdom can come today. But you've actually got to be prepared. And what Jesus is telling us in this story today, a parable to tell us things we otherwise wouldn't understand had he not used an earthly example to teach us these things. So, I'm just going to ask you, don't miss the moment. In fact, that's going to be the title of today's sermon. Don't miss the moment. Let me just say it one more time. Don't miss the moment. Why don't you say it with me? Don't miss the moment. Jesus knows you better than you know yourself. And he knows the one thing that will stop you from the kingdom is distraction.
Waking up and not even thinking about the king today. waking up not even realizing you have potential today. Waking up unprepared today. And I'm telling you, Jesus wants to do more in your life than you can imagine. But don't miss the moment. We're looking at kingdom, which is telling us there is a king and there's a domain. And when you have King Jesus in your life, you're saying my life is his. That's kingdom. You You're letting him have dominion over your life. He's the king. He has dominion over everything. Your heart, your future. When you allow Jesus to be the ruler inside of you, that's kingdom. And the kingdom doesn't have to wait until you get into heaven someday for eternity. It can happen right here, right now. We're going to Matthew
chapter 25. We're going to look at 13 verses today. Jesus shares us story after he's entered into Jerusalem. These are the last hours of his life. What are the final words that Jesus will leave with us before he's crucified, before he raises from the grave on this Sunday? These are the last words of Jesus in the last days of his life. If you would stand for the reading of God's word, I'll read you the text and then we'll better understand the application. Matthew 25:es 1-13. Then the kingdom of heaven will be like 10 virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them. But the wise took flasks of oil
with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, "Here comes the bridegroom. Come out to meet him." Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, "Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out." But the wise answered, saying, "Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves." And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward, the other virgins came also, saying, "Lord, Lord, open to us." But he
answered, "Truly I say to you, I do not know you. Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour." This is the word of the Lord. You may be seated. Jesus is speaking and sharing a story and the setting is really clear. It's a wedding. And unlike the parable we looked at last week, which was also the setting of a wedding, where there's a great invitation and all are invited, today's illustration is different. The setting is different. The theme is the same. It's about the kingdom. This is what Jesus wants us to know in the last hours of his life. You you want to lean in when someone's about to die and they have a final word. What do they have to say? And Jesus says in Matthew
25 verse1, "The kingdom of heaven will be like." So you can understand the king's ways. You can understand King Jesus. You can understand what it means to have him rule in your life. It's like this. He says it's like 10 virgins. Now, let's understand the cultural context because if you read this without context, it might sound even it might sound really weird. In fact, we live in such a sexualized world that we somehow think that these virgins have something to do with the groom. But let me let me just make sure that we understand the ancient Middle Eastern context so that we understand our world. 10 virgins just simply mean 10 young ladies who are not married. That's all that means. Don't read into it that it means more than that. These would be the equivalent of our language in our world. We call them today bridesmaids.
These are the ladies that have a role in the ceremony. They're young. In the old English, it would be called young maidens. They're the servants that are there to celebrate the wedding, but they have a part in the wedding. They have a role to play. And Jesus says the kingdom will be like 10 virgins. The number 10 is significant in the scriptures. It represents God's perfect order, his divine order. We could even say his divine law. If you remember God's plan to set his people free from slavery, he sent 10 plagues upon Pharaoh. If you remember on this journey from slavery to freedom, he gave them ten commandments.
This is God's order here. here and we have 10 virgins representing that there is a place here that all of us can find ourselves in this particular picture. We are one of two here. There are 10 virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. So all 10 look the same. Are we in agreement with that? They have the same appearance. They have the same role. They have the same posture in the wedding ceremony. They all have a lamp. And they're going to be the ones that when the bridegroom comes, they're going to light the way. When there's a procession, they're going to be the ones lining up to light the way for the groom to come get the bride. Jesus tells us that everyone looked ready, but everyone was not ready.
There was 10 of them and they they they all looked the same, but they were not the same. In fact, he calls them in verse two, look at this, five of them were foolish and five of them were wise. They all 10 had the lamp. They all 10 were in the same place. They were all called to have a role in the wedding. From the outside, they looked the same. They had the access to the same lamp. My friends, when it comes to Jesus, may I just remind you, we all have the same access. Doesn't matter what family you were born into. Doesn't matter how often you went to church. It doesn't matter what kind of sins you've committed or what kind of sins were committed to you. You have the same access to the same gift of God's grace. That free gift of salvation. When
Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that whoever believes in him, the whoever means whoever. If you believe in Jesus, he gives you the free gift of eternal life. You could be brought up in the worst of situations, but I need you to know there's a place for you in the kingdom. God teaches us that he loves you so much. He's got a purpose for you. He's got a plan for you. He He He's got a good plan for you. And Jesus tells you this today so that you can understand his ways right now, not someday. He gives you access. It's yours. Not Not because I give it to you, not because anyone else will give it to you, but God gives it to you.
But you've got to make sure that you're ready. You got to make sure that you're prepared. We've got these 10 virgins and they all have a lamp. The Bible says in Psalm 119 verse 105 that your word is a lamp unto my feet. It's like a light for my path. So if if I want to know God's ways, I've got to have the word. God's word will be a lamp for my feet. But you can have a lamp and it does not produce light. You could have a lamp and not have the oil. You can bring your Bible to church and you can hear the same word that someone else hears and you could leave exactly the same way that you came.
And some people will hear the word of God and they will forever eternally be changed by the word of God. What's the difference? It's the same lamp, but one has oil and one does not. Because the lamp's not going to burn without the oil. It can look like a lamp, but it doesn't have the light. What separated them was not the appearance. They they all had the lamp. It was the preparation. One brought enough oil for later. See, in the days of old, and I know you know this, but we got to put ourselves immerse ourselves in the eastern thinking of the story. In the ancient Middle East, they did not have electricity. So once that sun went down, you could not see without a lamp. And so you would have these lamps which would have the
oil and the the the lamp would just be a normal part of the life. So so having a lamp in the story is is not extraordinary. The listener would have known very clearly you've got to have a lamp to see. But what Jesus is going to explain in the story which is significant. These ladies have a particular role in the wedding ceremony. They're going to be a part of the processional and they don't know when the groom's going to come. See, in the the ancient Middle East, the the Jewish weddings in the days of old were very unlike the days of today. They they sound similar, but they're different. There would be a betrotheal period between the groom and the wife. They would not be married yet, but it would be a contractual covenant relationship. The only way to get out of a betrothel would be a divorce.
But they're not married yet. They've not consummated the marriage. They cannot have kids yet, but they are committed to one another. The way it would work is there would be families that would come together and they would come in agreement of a purchase price and they would agree that they would get married and sometimes a a couple would get married and they wouldn't even know each other. And it might sound foreign to us, but it was the promise of a future. It was the promise of a family. It was the promise of provision. And in the betrotheal period, the way it would work is the groom would go and prepare a place for his bride. [snorts] In fact, it was the tradition that you'd take your father's house and you'd build a room on your house for you and your future bride. So, although you're
betrothed to be married, you're not married yet. So, you're preparing for that marriage. And so, the bride doesn't know exactly when her wedding day will be. They didn't have the calendars to slap on the wall. They didn't have an Apple Watch. Nor did they have an iPhone to remind them that this is going to be the day of your wedding. You would get married when all the preparations were ready. Are you tracking with me? And so in this imagery here, the groom in the story is clear that it's Jesus. He is the groom and he's getting ready. John chapter 14, Jesus says, I go to prepare a place for you. And where I go, there are what? Many rooms. I want you to know that I'm making room for you. And I'm going to come at the right hour.
And when the groom comes, he knows exactly when he's coming, but the bride doesn't know when he's coming. And there could come a moment where you think there's a delay. But may I just say, God is never late. He's never early. He's always on time. And what sets apart the difference of the foolish and the wise here is the wise were the ones that were prepared. And Palm Sunday reminds us that you you might think one thing, but you might actually be another thing. You might call out praise with your lips, hosana, but just several days later, where are you? Jesus made a statement that should haunt so many of us. He says, "These people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me." You could sound good, you could look good, but you might not be good. You could be in church, you
could sing the songs, you could lift your hands, you could say the right words, and everyone actually might be impressed with you, but God. And so Jesus tells us that it's it's not about what you look like on the outside, it's about what's on the inside. I I've been around church long enough that here's what I've discovered. I've been that person. I've sounded good. I've looked good. But on the inside, I've not been good. Hey, don't be so holy you miss this moment. Journey Church is 16 years old. And in 16 years, I've seen a lot of people that say one thing who go do another thing. I've been in Ben long enough to have Christians attend our church only to leave our church to go find some deeper teaching somewhere else.
And what they do is they sit under that deeper teaching. And I see them several years later and they look exactly like the same person when they left this church. Because you could sit under deeper teaching, but that doesn't mean you have the oil. You're just looking for a bigger lamp. You're not looking for more oil. And I want you to know that it doesn't matter. You You go get some deep teaching, but you need the oil with it. That's right. So, see, you can sit under the teaching and you you can absolutely miss what matters most. And what matters most is not just that you got the lamp, but that you got the oil for the lamp. And my friends, it's not the preacher's job to feed you. It's not my job to show you all the food up here cuz you won't get full looking at the food.
It's my job to make you hungry. But because Jesus said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness." That's when you're going to be satisfied. When you see the kingdom is real, the kingdom is good, the kingdom is for you, that I want to get into God's word, not when I'm at church, but I just want to get to know God more. I want more oil. I I want some oil with me on Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday. It's why I come to pursuit on Thursday. I just need a little more oil. I love having pursuit night on Thursdays. We used to do it on Sundays and that day was exhausting. It was just like oil in the morning, oil at night, and then trying to keep that oil going through the rest of the week. But having it on Thursdays right now is just so nice cuz there's a lot of Thursdays. I
don't even want to go into pursuit nights. But by the time 6:33 happens, there's a shift that happens in your heart. It's like that first note on pursuit. I was like, "Okay, there's some oil. Give me some oil. I want the oil." In this story, Jesus says in verse three, "For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them." They they had the oil. They They It was available. It was available. But when they left, they didn't take any with them. But the wise, verse four, they took flasks of oil with their lamps. They they took some extra.
Jesus is being really specific in this story here. Oil is personal. I can't give you my oil. You can't give me your oil. Let me just put it another way. You can't be saved because of someone else. You get saved because of Jesus. And Jesus gives you God himself, the Holy Spirit, the spirit of Jesus. That's what saves you. So raising your hand does not save you. Going to church does not save you. Calling yourself a Christian doesn't save you. Being a good person does not save you. It's the oil. And and this is an illustration here. It's not meant to be literal. This is a metaphor to something so that you would understand something you couldn't understand with something you can understand. You can understand a lamp
and oil and fire. And if you want the fire of God in your life, you need the oil of God in your life. Oil represents throughout the entire Bible the Holy Spirit. That's right. over and over. The oil represents the Holy Spirit. So when you read in the scriptures about oil, you can always just think in your mind that's the Holy Spirit. And if you really think about oil that it doesn't cause friction, it doesn't cause uh tension. Oil actually lubricates. Oil is actually smooth. Oil represents a living relationship with God. God doesn't make it difficult. When you pour oil on someone's head, it's naturally going to cover their body. Oil is meant to be a relationship with God. And it's it's not a life of emotion. It's actually a life of devotion.
It it's a life of consistency. That if I have oil now, I need to continually come back and get more oil. The foolish had the lamp, but they had no extra oil. They had the form, but when the right time came, they had no fire. They had the appearance, but they weren't willing to do the work to have the endurance. Let me just be really clear here. anointing that is the power of God. That's the oil. That's the Holy Spirit. Anointing isn't knowing about the Holy Spirit. It's operating in the Holy Spirit. We often reference Jesus that even the demons know Jesus and they shudder. But I know Christians that know Jesus and they don't even shudder. There's no awe of God. There's no reverence of God. There's no fear of God. And the Holy Spirit is God. One God in three persons. the Father, the Son,
and the Spirit. And it's not enough just to say, "I understand that. I know there's the Holy Spirit." I'm not asking you if you know the Holy Spirit. I'm asking you if you have the Holy Spirit. Are you operating in the Holy Spirit? Do you have the anointing in your life? Because the Holy Spirit is God himself. And the Bible tells us that when you have the Holy Spirit, God comforts, God encourages, God equips, God instructs you. That's the Holy Spirit. In fact, the Bible calls the Holy Spirit the spirit of wisdom, the spirit of life. In fact, the words of Paul in Philippians 1:19 is the spirit of Jesus Christ. So, when you believe in Jesus, you get the spirit of Jesus. That's the Holy Spirit. In Romans 8:11, we're told the spirit, that's the Holy Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you.
This is awesome. The Holy Spirit that rose Jesus from the grave is the same spirit that when you believe in Jesus takes your dead spirit and makes you alive in Christ. You have the Holy Spirit in you. So how do you receive this oil? It's so important that you understand this. In the book of Ephesians 1:13 in him Jesus in Jesus you also when you heard the word of truth. Faith comes from hearing the truth. When you understand you're a sinner, when you understand Jesus saves you, when you understand you repent of your sin, you receive salvation in Jesus. That's why the kingdom is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. When you heard the truth, the gospel, gospel means what? Shout it out. Good news. When you heard the good news of your salvation, that you didn't
have to earn it, you didn't have to buy it. When you heard it and believed in Jesus, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. That's it. It doesn't say you feel it all the time. It doesn't say this is about emotions. It's about God being devoted to you because you believed in the one he sent as Messiah. I didn't just get all the hype and wave the palms and say, "Hosana, you be the new king of of Rome." No, no, no. This isn't about what the crowds are doing. This is about what are you doing in your heart. It's not about what somebody next to you is doing. Have you believed in Jesus? And if you have, you've been sealed with the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in John chapter 7, "Whoever believes in me," Jesus said, as the scripture says, "Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." Now,
he didn't say oil here because living water is also attributed to the Holy Spirit because it's not stagnant water. It's lifegiving water. John gives us a commentary and says, "Now this he said about the spirit that if you believe in Jesus, you have life in you." Yes. The very first sermon in Acts chapter 2 came when those who believed in Jesus received the Holy Spirit and Peter got up and preached because he said, "I'm not crazy. It's kingdom." He said, "Listen, Jesus who died on the cross for our sins, rose from the grave, and when he preached this message powerfully, the people said, "Well, how can we be saved?" That's an appropriate question. The people of Central Oregon ought to hear the message of Jesus and say, "How can we be saved?" And this is what Peter said in verse 38 of chapter 2 of Acts.
Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. We're going to have baptisms in just two weeks. And if you've not been baptized, I want you to know today, you can be saved in Jesus. You could be forgiven of your sins in Jesus. You could receive the Holy Spirit in Jesus. And you can be baptized in one baptism in Jesus in just two weeks. It's a water baptism. It's symbolic of what Christ has done for you. He died. He was buried. And he rose from the grave. When we have a water tank, it represents that old life. You died. You've been buried, but you're born again. You're raised in Christ. And I want to encourage you to get baptized in just two weeks, the week after Easter. But you received the Holy Spirit
by believing in Jesus. And once you believed in Jesus, you received the oil. But there is a warning that even if you have the oil, at some point you could still drift. At some point, you could still fall asleep. We know this is true because when you read two chapters in the book of Revelation, chapters 2 and three, Jesus is speaking to the church. He's speaking to all of us in the church and he gives all of these warnings to the church. You've abandoned your first love. You've become lukewarm. that you're you're poor, you're naked, and you're blind. And Jesus says, "And you don't even know it." How could you be poor, naked, and blind and not even know it because you're distracted?
You think that the things you know are what matters most? But you you can have the whole lamp and not have the oil. So Jesus says, "You want to know how to clothe yourself? You want to know how to really be healed? You want to know where these things are found? It's all about Jesus. Don't abandon your first love in Jesus. Don't live a lukewarm life. Be on fire for Jesus. Cover yourself with the robe of righteousness of Jesus. We come back to this story and I want you to find yourself in the story because Jesus says there's only two. There's the wise and there's the foolish. There's only two kingdoms in this world. There's a kingdom of God and there's the kingdom of this world. There is the kingdom of heaven and there's the kingdom of this world. There's not many religions. There's not many different ways to God. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to
the father except through me." This is about kingdom here. This is about you saying, "I've got one way to live either with God or apart from God." He doesn't say there's some who are half-wise and half foolish. Some of us will try to justify our own lives today. Well, I'm pretty all in, but I'm not all in. I'm kind of like I'm all in for Jesus, but not really. I'm kind of messing up in some. No, no, no. You're either wise or you're foolish. And wisdom is not how intellectually, academically intelligent you are. It's making the decisions day today that you won't regret tomorrow. It's making decisions today to say, "I'll be happy tomorrow." Because some of us just want to be happy right now, but you will regret it tomorrow. So we come back to this story and verse 5 tells us as the bridegroom was delayed. Everyone say delayed. Delayed.
The groom knew what he was doing but the bride didn't know it. What's he up to? That room must be really good he's building. What's he working on? And in the delay they became drowsy and they slept. I want you to note here both the foolish and the wise became drowsy. The the Bible speaks of this often. both in the Old Testament and the New Testament that those who are chosen by God can fall asleep. So even though you're set apart for his purpose, even though you are saved, you might not be fulfilling your full purpose. You might be sleeping on the job because the reality is there might seem like a delay. Doesn't it feel like a while since Jesus rose from the grave? Like is he really coming back a second time like he promised? Is he really going to do exactly what he said? Like he promised? Is he going to do it? Well, he said it.
And there's a moment where you got to believe God's promises even if you're not feeling them. And here's the one thing that will be true of all of us. The delay reveals what's real. The delay reveals what's real. Because the bridegroom was delayed. And because of this, over a period of time, it reveals how prepared each of these young women were. And for all the men out there, the the Bible says in the New Testament that Jesus is the groom and the church is the bride. We're the bride because he loves us. It's just an illustration. It's not meant to be gender confused or I choose a new identity. It's simply given an illustration that God loves you
so much. He's getting ready for an eternal relationship with you and he is coming back for his bride. And the delay is intentional. And although they didn't have clocks, some were still ready for when the groom would come because you got to imagine, day after day, they still had to lamp their they had to light their lamps. Day after day, they had to ask for new oil. Day after day, they they had to be ready for the groom. So if if you weren't prepared for the delay, what would happen is you would run out because you actually didn't believe that the the groom could take as long as he actually wants. There is a sacrifice to surrendering your whole life to Jesus.
There's a price to pay. You You can't have your old life and your new life in Christ. You got to have the oil. And there's a picture here of buying the oil. And I thought that salvation was free. It is free. But once you've believed in Jesus, Luke chapter 9, Jesus says, "Now you have to daily deny yourself and pick up your cross." Because it's no longer about you. It's about the groom. It's no longer about what I want. It's about what Jesus wants. It's no longer me being led by my flesh as being led by the spirit. So I I've got to recognize that in the delay I still have the oil because there is coming a moment what verse six tells us here comes the bridegroom. In the ancient days they would take a chauffear a ram's horn and they would blow the horn and you know what the bride would do? Her heart would flutter and say today's the day.
She didn't even know it was the day. And Paul says to the church in Thessalonica, first Thessalonians, he says, "There is a day that the horn's going to sound." And it may not be a chauffear. It's an illustration to say, "There is a day that Christ is coming. You won't know the day nor the hour, but the church is going to be snatched up and it's going to be good." And so, we don't want to try to predict the day. We want to be ready as if every day is the urgency that Jesus is real. Jesus loves me and I want to be ready. The difference shows up when times get tough and there's a delay. Matthew chapter 24, Jesus is in Jerusalem. He he's speaking forward of the end days.
The formal theological phrase for this is esquetology. It's the study of the end times. And if you really want to see people get wacky, it's studying the end times. And Jesus says, "All you need to know about the end times is things are going to get worse before they get better. It's going to be like birth pains. There's going to be wars and rumors of wars. There's going to be earthquakes." And Jesus warns in Matthew 24:12, "Because lawlessness will be increased." What does he mean by lawlessness? He's he's not saying that we're to be religious and legalistic regarding law. That's not what Jesus is saying here. Lawlessness means people would choose their way instead of God's ways. They'll choose the kingdom of earth instead of the kingdom of heaven. And when people do that, the love of many will grow cold. So when you start to settle and think this world is all
there is to offer, the oil is gone. The love of God is gone. The passion for Jesus and being with him forever and longing for his return is gone. That's why Jesus tells the church in Revelation 2:10, "Be faithful. Be faithful. I know days are difficult. I know times are tough. I know that people are protesting. I know that there's wars going on. I know that gas prices are going up. I know that the stock market is sensitive. I know that days are difficult. But be faithful even unto death. And Jesus, the King of Kings, says, "I will crown you with life." Listen, anybody can praise God when it's easy, but you really praise God when it's hard. You really keep coming back when you need the oil.
You need the oil because at midnight, look at verse six, at midnight, midnight is symbolic of the difficult days. Midnight is symbolic of the dark days. Midnight is symbolic of the end times. That's when the cry is going to come. The groom is here. This is a critical moment because when you face the judge, you cannot say that it's because of someone else that you get into eternal life. You need your own oil. The foolish ones, they heard the cry and they realized, "My lamp's out. I can't take my position. I can't be a part of the wedding." So, they say, "Give us your oil.
Give us what I don't have." And I I've got to tell you, the opportunity for you to be saved is yours today. But the Bible says in Philippians 2:12, "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." Come on, slap your neighbor and say, "It's mine." Come on. I got to deal with my own salvation. I got to deal with with I got to work out my own salvation. I got to work out the Holy Spirit in me. I've got to realize that God wants to do something in me. I can't force you to be led by the spirit. If I do, it's on the outside and it's not a product of fruit that's been growing from the inside. I've got to be connected to the vine so that I the branch can bear my own fruit. But I can't give you the fruit from my life because the Holy Spirit didn't produce that through you. You got to work this out in you. Listen, here's the
thing about Jesus. Get this. Here's the thing. You cannot be a victim in Christ. And I I I don't say that because you weren't traumatized. You could be sexually molested. You could be used and abused. You might have been hurt 10 times over again. But in Christ now, you're no longer the victim. You cannot blame somebody else and say, "I am who I am because this happened to me." No. In Christ, I am healed. I am restored. I am redeemed. I am saved. I have the hope of salvation in me. Oh, you you got to hear this clearly. I can't blame my spouse. I can't blame my kids. In a world of entitled estrangement from parents, I can't even blame my parents.
I can't blame the government. I can't blame the president. I am responsible for my own oil. The Bible tells us Romans 14:12, each of us will give an account to himself, to God. You're not going to go before God and try to explain how messed up you are. I I tell you why I didn't really live for you, Lord. My boss, he was not the best boss. Okay? I would have done it, Lord, if you gave me a good boss that gave me a bigger raise. Listen, if if it wasn't for my next door neighbor, if it wasn't for our city government, if it wasn't for the state that we live in, I would have done it, God. No, the Bible says you're going to be responsible for yourself. So, this
is important for you today. You can't live off your pastor's oil. You can't live off your spouse's oil. You can't live off the oil that you had yesterday. Listen, if you were saved at youth camp, don't be certain that that was a salvation. That might have just been a feeling that you understood you were a sinner. You need oil today. So, be a child of God today. Be born again today. This I'm not trying to question your salvation. I'm not trying to say you can lose your salvation. But what I'm trying to say is if you're saved, you want more oil. You just want more oil. There's grace for today. Maybe just say that. I need oil. I need some oil. Cuz you want the oil. It's not a burden, but it's exactly what you need. I need some fresh oil today.
Because the wise replied, "There will not be enough for us and for you." And it sounds harsh, but I need you to remember Jesus, God himself, who is all knowing, is saying this. And he's not he's not being mean here. He's just simply letting you know you can't borrow someone else's oil. That's a good God. That's a good God that actually prepares you. He's not trying to scare you. If if there's a place in your heart where you're questioning, am I really saved? That's the Holy Spirit that just loves you so much and wants to make sure that you're really saved. There's no guilt or shame or condemnation. Romans 8:1, there's therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ. In fact, instead, if you keep re reading Romans chapter 8, you get the Holy Spirit. That when you don't even know what to pray and you're like, "Ah, I might not be a good Christian. I don't even know what to pray." Romans 8 tells
us that when you don't know what to pray, the Holy Spirit's groaning for you. Holy Spirit's already. Don't worry. By the time you get to the end of Romans 8, when you're really wondering, "Am I really saved? Because I am poor and I am wretched and I am blind." Because you actually realize those things with the help of the Holy Spirit. The Bible says nothing can separate you from the love of Christ. There's no nakedness. There's no famine. There's no financial problem that you're like, "God, do you really love me?" No. Nothing can separate. Not even a demon himself can separate you from the love of Jesus. It's yours in Christ. I got to go quickly because I'm out of time. There's a warning that those who did not have oil, they had to go buy it. Meaning, it was available, but they didn't take the opportunity before the groom came. Are you seeing this?
It was available, but they didn't do it. And when the groom came, those five who were wise, they went with him to the marriage feast. Say those last four words with me in Matthew 25:10. The door was shut. You know, when you fly somewhere, they give you a departure time. That doesn't mean show up to the airport at your departure time. There's also a boarding time. And if you're anything like me, you're always running late. you're always just a little bit behind because you're just enjoying life right where you are. Right. But but I'll tell you if the TSA line is long, you need to make sure that you're there on time because you've got the ticket, you've got the time, the door was open, but there is a moment I don't know if you've ever been there or not, but it is a terrible moment because once that door is shut, they're not opening it.
It's a terrible feeling. And Jesus is saying, "There comes a moment in your life where the door will be shut and there's nothing you could do about it." In fact, they think they know the groom and they say, "Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord, let us in." Jesus says it's the same language in Matthew 7 and in Matthew chapter 25 where they know about the father, they know about the son, Jesus, they know about the holy spirit. So they know about God and they say, "Lord, Lord, open to us. Open the door for us." But he answered, "Truly I say to you, I do not know you." This wasn't about looking the part. It wasn't about acting the part. It's not about church attendance.
It's about being known. It's about the Holy Spirit. Jesus says in Matthew 7:21, "Not everyone who has the right language, Lord, Lord. Not everyone who read the Bible gets in." You might know all the right lingo and the right language, but do you have the oil? Cuz on that first Sunday coming into Jerusalem for the very last time, they welcomed the king, but they weren't ready for the true King of Kings. They had a moment of praise, but they weren't prepared for Friday. And Jesus isn't saying, "I I just need you to celebrate with me." No, no. He's saying, "I just need you to be ready with me. I need you to be ready because I am coming and I want you to live like it. I want you to act like it." And so he says, here's the warning label. Verse 13, "Watch." Everyone shout, "Watch." Watch
therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. Jesus is coming back. So it's not do you have the lamp? I'm not asking you, do you have good enough church attendance? I'm not asking you do you have a Bible. What I'm asking you is do you have the oil? Because if you have the oil, it's oil over your fear. It's oil over your family. It's oil over your finances. What I'm saying is there's anointing with this. There's God in this. You're inviting the Lord into every area of your life. Holy Spirit, I'm inviting you over every area of your life. I, King of Kings, I'm ready to receive you because I've got the oil in my life. And I want every head up and every eye open right now. There are people in this room that you could be going to church your entire life. I'm talking decade after decade after decade. And this happens all the time and you're still not saved.
Oh my friend, you need to hear clearly. Going to church cannot save you. Going to catechism does not save you. Being an altar boy does not save you. Taking communion does not save you. Being baptized does not save you. The only one that can save you is Jesus Christ. And when you do, you receive the oil of the Holy Spirit. And be not mistaken, this is just a representation of God himself. That means that God's going to give you sustenance. God's going to give you life. He's going to let you know that you've had purpose your entire life. You've had potential your entire life. That's so I want to just ask right now today if you're uncertain of your salvation, if you're uncertain if you're fully surrendered to God, if you're uncertain if if if you have the gift of eternal life, the Bible says all you got to do is confess it with your mouth and believe it in your heart that Jesus did die for your sins. You don't have to earn it, my friend.
You don't have to go clean your life up first. I love how the Bible says this. Behold, now is the favorable time. There's no better time than today. Behold, now is the day of salvation. And so I say to you, don't miss the moment. Now is the day of salvation. You see, if you believe in Jesus, from this day forward, you don't care about what anybody else thinks about you but God. You're just longing for Jesus. You're not trying to please people anymore. You're trying to please God. And let me just tell you today with full confidence, God is pleased with you today. If you say yes to Jesus, he says in Luke chapter 15, there's more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 people who need no repentance.
God loves it when you say, "Yes, I need you. Yes, I want you." He loves it. So today, just with a show of hand before God, if you want to make sure that you're saved, if you want to be surrendered to God, if you want to go all in and receive the oil of the Holy Spirit, would you just raise your hand right where you are? Just loud and proud saying, "Yes, praise God. Yes, he loves you. Praise God. Amen. Praise God. Praise God. Yes. Anyone else? Right. Right where you are. Come on. Don't delay this. Receive the Holy Spirit today. You see, in the ancient days, oil did so much. It brought healing. And it still does. In the ancient days, shepherds would put oil on the heads of the sheep to prevent [music] the flies from going
into the ears, causing irritation, tormenting. Without oil, the the sheep would knock their heads against the rocks because they they feel like they were going crazy because of the flies. The devil might be making some of you feel like you're going crazy. What you just really need is the oil. It's going to protect your mind. Is there anyone else today? I'm just sensing this. There's someone over here. I don't want to pressure, but you just want to say, "Yeah, I'm I want to just declare I'm saved. I want to I want the oil. I want the power. I want the life. I want the comfort." Praise be to God. I love that children are so unashamed.
If we would just be a little more [music] like children. Is there anyone today that says I don't want to rush this but I you see when someone says yes to Jesus you become a part of a great family because you simply say you have what I have. We all need the oil and I beg you journey [music] church that we would plead for Central Oregon to be saved and receive the oil. that revival would come not because of a church or a name, but because people said yes to Jesus. There'd be oil in the schools, oil in the government, oil in the workplace.
Don't be ashamed of Jesus. I want to pray with you just in this moment. If you would just join with me and now you can close your eyes if you want to. You don't have to close your eyes to pray, but there's just something about focusing on the Lord. And I want you to join with me out loud. All those who believe in Jesus, that we would affirm that right now out loud. Just join with me. [music] Jesus, I surrender my life to you. Forgive me of my sin. Fill me with your Holy Spirit. I don't want religion. I want relationship. I want oil. I choose you today. Make me ready for your return in Jesus name.
Everyone shout amen today. Amen. Amen. Praise God.
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Reading the Warning Rightly
The message opens with a string of odd product warning labels, then argues that Matthew 25 functions like a warning from Jesus. Pastor Keith insists the purpose is preparation, not fear, and asks listeners to imagine themselves as the one who needs the warning rather than someone else.
Matthew 25:13
- When you hear a hard warning from Scripture, is your first instinct typically 'who else needs this?' or 'what does this say to me'—and why?
- How, practically, can a warning be heard as preparation rather than shame or fear?
Same Lamp, Different Oil
Pastor Keith explains that all ten virgins share role and appearance, but only five bring extra oil. He connects lamps to Psalm 119's word for the path and oil to the Holy Spirit, and notes that a lamp with no oil can look right while giving no light.
Psalm 119:105 · Matthew 25:3-4
- Where in your life might you be carrying the lamp but not the oil right now?
- What is the difference between knowing about the Holy Spirit and actually depending on him?
- Pastor Keith calls oil a life of devotion and consistency rather than emotion—how does that reframe your expectations of spiritual life?
The Delay and the Wait
Grounded in the ancient betrothal custom of a groom preparing a room, the message says the delay tests what is real. Both wise and foolish grow drowsy; the difference is whether there is enough oil to outlast the waiting.
John 14:2-3 · Matthew 25:5
- What seasons of waiting have tested your faith, and what did they reveal?
- Pastor Keith says God is never late but the delay is intentional—how do you hold trust and patience together?
- What keeps you going when you do not feel God's promises?
Personal Oil and the Holy Spirit
This section grounds salvation and the Spirit's work. Pastor Keith says oil cannot be transferred—it represents the personal gift of the Holy Spirit received by believing in Jesus, not borrowed from family, church background, or yesterday's experience.
Ephesians 1:13 · Romans 8:1
- Where might you be relying on borrowed faith—someone else's experience rather than your own?
- How does Pastor Keith distinguish believing in Jesus from religious participation, and how does that sit with you?
- How does the promise of the Spirit's presence meet you in uncertainty about your own standing with God?
The Shut Door and the Cry at Midnight
The final movement moves from midnight as a symbol of dark days to the shut door and the groom's refusal to recognize the unprepared. Pastor Keith connects this to Palm Sunday crowds who praised Jesus but missed the true King, and to Revelation's warnings to the church about first love and faithfulness.
Matthew 25:10-12 · Matthew 7:21 · Revelation 2:10
- The parable's door is shut—how does that picture of finality sit with you?
- How does Pastor Keith connect Palm Sunday praise with the warning of the parable?
- What would it look like to be known by Jesus, not just to know the right language?
Answers from this recording
Start a conversation.
What does the oil represent in the parable of the ten virgins?+
Pastor Keith says oil represents the Holy Spirit throughout Scripture. A lamp can look right but produce no light without it, so the five who ran out had the form without the fire. Oil stands for a living, ongoing relationship with God—devotion and consistency rather than mere emotion or religious familiarity. He carefully notes the Spirit is received by believing in Jesus, and that even those with oil can drift or grow drowsy if they stop returning for more.
Why can't the wise virgins share their oil?+
Pastor Keith reads this as a picture of personal responsibility, not selfishness. No one can be saved on someone else's faith—oil cannot come from a pastor, a spouse, a parent, a church background, or a past experience. He grounds this in Philippians 2:12 and Romans 14:12, noting each person gives an account to God. The good news in it, he says, is that the Spirit is God's own gift, received by believing in Jesus.
What does the delay of the bridegroom mean for us?+
Pastor Keith explains that ancient grooms built a room onto the family house for the bride, and the bride did not know the day—tying this to Jesus promising to prepare a place in John 14. The wait reveals what is real: both wise and foolish became drowsy, but only the prepared had enough oil. He applies it to the long wait for Christ's return, saying God is never late, and that believing his promises matters most when feelings fade.
What does the shut door at the end of the parable mean?+
Pastor Keith compares the shut door to missing a flight—once it closes, it does not reopen. The unprepared virgins return and address the groom as Lord, but he tells them he does not know them. He connects this to the Palm Sunday crowds who praised Jesus one day and missed him days later, and to the warning that attendance, baptism, communion, or language about God are not the same as being known by Jesus. The door shows a real moment of finality.
How can someone who feels uncertain about their salvation respond?+
Pastor Keith asks anyone unsure to raise a hand and tells them not to clean their life up first. He points to confessing with the mouth and believing in the heart, and to the words that now is the day of salvation. He also offers a prayer of surrender, asking God for forgiveness, the Holy Spirit, and relationship rather than religion. He grounds the absence of shame in Romans 8:1, so the Spirit's prompting toward assurance is loving, not condemning.
