Why would we talk about sex in church? Our sexuality—our natural desires and attractions—are a major part of who we are as humans. Sexual interest is being used as a major driving force in every aspect of our culture and daily lives today. But we seem to forget the fact in our “Christian Taboo” mentalities that God Himself masterfully, purposefully created every detail and facet of sexual intimacy. He created the equipment, the desire, the excitement, the unbelievable intimacy and bonding. It was one of His most amazing and powerful gifts ever given to mankind. Even the very act of union is designed to show Him becoming One with us. She gives herself to him, allowing him to be in her as one. He leaves a part of himself which creates new life together. If a chance for new life is missed, the loss is purified with blood.

Jesus taught over 30 clear Parables during His earthly Ministry. Today, we will look at just one of them: The Parable of the Ten Virgins which most of you have heard many times, and which has been interpreted in many different lights. But, have you ever Scripturally, contextually looked closely? Because all of Jesus’ parables are powerful and relevant, but this one speaks directly to those living at His Return. And when we discern the times in which we are living, we should pay extra careful attention to this warning. I understand that a number of sincere, saved Christians believe differently about when Jesus will come to take His own home. Some believing it will be at different points of the Great Time of Tribulation on earth, before His final return; some believing He will not come to take us home at all before His final return.

But I sincerely believe Scriptures are very clear in showing two distinct appearances of Our King in the End of Times with a distinctly separate mission for each. Listen to these two passages closely: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18. This appearing of Jesus is in the clouds. He is never seen as even touching down on this earth. This appearance of Jesus involves no one, but His elect saints. This appearance immediately takes us up to where He is. This appearance involves no judgment, no destruction—but a loving rescue of His beloved. Now, listen to this passage: Jude 1:14-15. This passage clearly speaks of a time when Jesus returns to the earth physically, with a different agenda: to bring judgment and conviction. Judgment to unfaithful, unsaved people left on earth, and this verse is careful to say, “all” left on earth. How, at His return can He Judge all on earth? Because His Bride are with Him at this coming. If He does not take them home before this event, how is this event even possible as described? Listen to other passages describing the same scene in the end: Revelation 17:13-14; Revelation 19:11-14. It is as clear as possible in these passages that He will be coming soon to receive His Bride into His Kingdom, unexpectedly. Shown again, even in this parable we are about to study: Matthew 25:10-11. After the True Bride of Jesus was safely returned home at the marriage feast and the doors were shut, others remained behind still searching to buy oil, only to come to His doors later knowing all that Scriptures say of events preceding His return, and knowing that Jesus said we can recognize the season that we are to look for Signs of His coming: be watching. He tells us in this Parable that many will still be caught unprepared. Let’s delve deeply into the reality of this Parable as it applies right now to all of us. Here is the setting of this Parable as understood in light of the Jewish culture. A man would be betrothed to his bride in this culture, then leave for a period of up to a year to prepare a place for her before consummating the marriage. As the Bride would stay ready and waiting, lighting a lamp to show that she was looking for his return. Then, when His Father says it is time, He returns for her to take her to be where He is to remove her from the rest of the world and He usually came blowing trumpets in a procession, often at night, where she came out (up) to meet Him and they left everyone else, together. The Bride would be anxiously watching for His return, and would go out to meet him with her lamp lit. The Bridegroom would take her back to their new home for a week-long celebration, leading to the wedding with this cultural mindset. Let’s read the Parable: Matthew 25:1-13. Jesus starts this Parable by saying the Kingdom of Heaven will be like this, describing the event and describing the True Bride. To clearly understand the Parable, the key is to understand what each aspect of the Parable represents. Obviously, Jesus is the Bridegroom returning from Heaven after sealing a Covenant of betrothal with His Bride; after going to prepare a place for Her; after the Father has said, “Go and get your Bride.” The Ten Virgins must represent those who have professed to be waiting for their Groom; those proclaiming Jesus Christ; those who have accepted Him publicly, in Betrothal. But here, some are obviously portrayed as divided at heart or uncommitted Brides; those who proclaim Him in Name only and do not live with a true desire and hope for their Groom. The Lamps, or Lanterns, or Torches represent their faith and devotion to Him as they burn bright in anticipation and declaration of their Beloved. And the Bride must carry this flame until they see Him again, or they will not be in the Wedding Procession. The Oil is controversial in meaning to many. Some say it represents the Spirit which lives in every believer. But in the ending of this Parable, Jesus Himself says, “He never knew them.” Therefore, in this instance, some might say the oil would not represent the Spirit of God. If He did not know us, did not dwell in us. Here, it seems obvious the Oil represents their level of true love in Him. Scriptures are clear that many start out with powerful faith in Who He is, but not in Him intimately. They may have a desire to follow that “belief” in Him, but still have conflicting motives and false commitment: Matthew 13:5-7.
With all of the pieces in place, let’s ponder the meaning. The fact that Jesus Himself, said His faithful believers would be at a time of slumber as He tarried tells us that He knew His return would not be for some time from that point because He had caused quite a stir and many anticipated His Kingdom immediately. Jesus is warning the many untrue followers who are mixed with true believers; those that know Who He truly is and profess to love Him. Yet, in their hearts they love self, more, and eventually they begin to love the world more, and in their time of watching and waiting for Him because they are not truly longing for Hiim, wanting Him. Their Oil, their faith and commitment runs out (they wither), and although they outwardly still proclaim His Name, their thoughts and lives have begun to show the truth—their lamp has run out. And when the realization of His return occurs, they are in a panic suddenly realizing they are not burning for Him anymore and they begin to “trim their wicks,”—begin to try and make their light look bright again, and they look to those around them who are still burning to help them be acceptable to the Groom. This is a very accurate description of many, many professing Christians today, looking and feeling like they are Betrothed Virgins to Our Lord, even deceiving themselves. But in reality, their hearts are empty for Christ and as time goes by, as trials come, as temptations call their light for Him grows ever dimmer, even though they sit with the other Brides in waiting; they do not Know Him, have no root to keep them, and they continue in their happy stupor of comfort until that day when they realize they are about to meet Him. They realize no one else can save them; no one else can give them oil for their lamp; no sermon can save them; no church attendance or good works can save them; no lies to others about how they love Him; growing up in a Christian home can’t save them; accepting that He exists or that He is even Coming Again can’t save them. Only a sincere heart that wants His Love, trusts His ways, and is willing to live for Him, long for Hiim to the end—has been bought by the Bridegroom with His Blood. Only those with lamps still burning bright will be able to join the Wedding Procession. Listen to these Passages describing exactly what Jesus is portraying here: Revelation 2:3-5; Revelation 3:1-3; Revelation 3:15-20. If this were not such a real and persistent issue in Jesus’ Church, would Jesus have devoted a Parable specifically to this? Would He have addressed it repeatedly to the churches in His Final Book of Scriptures? Would He have given such dire and fearful warnings to His own people? Our fruits do not save us. Only a real, true, lasting love for Him that wants to be covered under His Blood! that wants to belong to Him completely at the cost of anything else in their lives. Only they will be carried away by the Bridegroom. But Jesus clearly warns every professor of His Name that a healthy tree bears signs of good fruits. Otherwise, it means the tree is sick and diseased. The lamp is running out of oil, it has no root. Although it may look like all the others for a time; although their lamps may be burning for a while, at harvest time they will have no fruits; at the time for the Wedding, their lamps will be out.
In our final passage, listen to this serious warning given to churches just like us who have many sitting smug and secure in false security among other brides, yet having lives that are not truly given to Him: Matthew 7:16-23. If it was not possible to repent and turn from this fake faith; if it was not possible that the Spirit could help us see Truth and turn to Him in sincerity, why would Jesus give so many warnings? Why would He literally call us to repentance and restoration? Why would He show such heartbreak and passion?
Drop your pride; drop your own self-deceit; stop being a foolish virgin. Ask yourself, do you really love Him? Are you really living to please Him? Longing to be with Him? Or, are you living your own life playing the fool with false security, simply because you have claimed to be His Bride and you don’t even know Him, aren’t longing for Him, aren’t living for Him? You have to know that ignorance is not bliss but destruction. Don’t just trim your wicks (and look better), fill your flask with oil.

In my personal time with God He has revealed to me something that I needed to work on that is much bigger than I realized. And I decided to be transparent about it because it is obvious that we all struggle with this to some degree. Sometimes our biggest sins as Christians come in very innocent looking packages that don’t seem overtly sinful. But are strongly condemned in His Word when we stop to examine Scriptures honestly, because as natural or innocent as some things may seem, God knows they are very hurtful to our spirit and intimacy with Him. Let’s read a Passage from Paul to the Church of Corinth which was concerning the Israelites when Moses led them out of their slavery in Egypt.

Paul reflects on this time with a message to Christians about things the Israelites did after their deliverance, which he warns they should be careful not to repeat because these things caused God such displeasure in them that they were all either punished immediately or ultimately, kept from the Promised Land: 1 Corinthians 10:1-12 (grumble). Numbers 11:1-3. Why would God put something as simple as complaining in a list with Idolatry, adultery, and rebellion? Today we will reveal this clearly!. Please do not think this message is saying we should just “suck it up, buttercup” and never have a complaint again. We all have legitimate things that make us feel dissatisfied; that give us reason to complain in this world. Almost every business and advertisement in existence actually tries to create dissatisfaction and complaining in our minds so we will turn to them for our relief. Almost all politicians will try to show reasons for complaining so they may become our answer as well. But because of these purposeful influences from many directions, and our tendency to focus on ourselves, it has become all-to-common for us to make complaining a constant reaction of thought and response even in the not-so-bad areas of life, even in the normal events of life, until it becomes a natural and regular response—it becomes a way of life.
Psychologists agree that complaining stems from a need to control things which we cannot control. So, complaining gives us a false sense of doing something about it. Or, fear to act when we actually can do something so we choose to complain as our response to guilty feelings. Or especially a need to validate ourselves and our tough situation so that we may get attention above others. “They tend to be focused on themselves and their own—presumably negative—experience. By showing their anger, frustration, or disappointment, they are soliciting attention from their confidantes. They can feel validated by receiving attention and sympathy. Venters are particularly likely to discount advice and proposed solutions to their problems. They aren’t looking to solve anything; they simply want validation.”
This has become a serious issue for many because much study of compulsive complaining has revealed that it can rewire the brain—so that this path of thinking becomes ingrained in our constant thought process. It becomes a part of how we constantly view life. This causes us to lose perspective of all of the good around us; causes us to miss so much happiness we could enjoy; causes us to miss many opportunities that may be present. All because we are too focused on the negatives to see and enjoy (Proverbs 15:15). Secondly, even though it may feel satisfying in the moment, to complain, God’s Word (and secular psychologists) emphatically say after complaining, the speaker and the listener usually feel worse—proving it is a fruitless and hurtful endeavor (Proverbs 16:24; Proverbs 18:14). Those who use complaining as a means to draw people to themselves actually end up making themselves and others more miserable—and in the process drive others away instead. Compulsive complaining is absolutely contagious. It sets the mood and expectation for all around you. It greatly reduces determination, hope, drive and actions, and it discourages others to feel and act the same. Have you ever been assigned to, or worked with, compulsive complainers? Usually the whole group echoes the same attitude. We as Christians are called to be Light, Salt, Hope, Faith (Proverbs 12:25; Isaiah 50:4; Ephesians 4:29
(sapros). Instead of doing this, we often become the ones to blow out the candle first!; to bring spoilage rather than preserving; to show the least faith and hope in our complaints; to show there is no joy in following Jesus Christ. Which brings us to our biggest issue with compulsive complaining and shows us just why God is so against it. Do you believe that God is completely Sovereign? That He is in control of our live and the world? Hopefully your answer would be, “Yes!” If so, you can understand this Passage of Scripture about the complaints of the Israelites: Exodus 16:8. Complaining about our circumstances all of the time flippantly and pitifully says to God: “I don’t accept what you are doing in my life and I want it done another way.” “I refuse to do what you want because I don’t like it!” (Psalms 106:24-25). It shows that we are not surrendered to God’s Will; that we are not trusting His Heart and Character; that we don’t really think He has a plan and purpose behind all He allows; that we feel He is out of control in our lives. It shows that we are not willing to walk through hard times in faith and courage for Him.
If you find yourself complaining often in life and you want to do something about it: 1) Realize that it is a sin against God (a big sin), and stop thinking it is trivial, natural or overlooked by Him. But, realize that it instead grieves His Heart as much as adultery and idolatry. Listen to these Passages of Scripture: Zechariah 13:9; Job 23:10. When gold and silver are refined or purified. They are placed under extreme heat (by fire in Biblical day), and the impurities become visible, floating to the top. And when they reach their purest state, they become very soft and moldable. When you and I are given to quick and constant complaining, God has turned up the heat enough to make all of the hidden impurities float to visibility for us. He has revealed the dross (worthless part) that even we did not see. That we really don’t trust how He is working in our lives or in the world; that we really aren’t willing to walk where He leads; we really aren’t moldable in the hands of Our Father. We should do this when we see the feel the urge to complain coming to surface. 2) Realize we have begun to trust our own way more than we trust God’s ways of working in our lives, and we are showing by our attitude that we want to depart from God’s Leading for our own (John 6:66-67). [A few years ago, I was forced to mid-shift due to injury at work and couldn’t counsel or teach Wednesday nights. I wanted to be anywhere but there, and questioned God nightly. [Randy helped me see the light)]]. 3) Know that you are hurting God and hurting His Name before others when you complain. [I did not show genuine love for others in my bitterness for a time, or faith that God was in control of my life. I was complaining to every manager and person I saw. (Matthew 5:14-16).] 4) Decide this: once and for all I truly know that God is in control and that He is working in all things. Therefore, I will surrender to His will and trust His heart over my own wisdom and wants. Let it be a time of real given worship, trust and intimacy rather than a fight and a rejection (Isaiah 55:8-9). [I truly determined that God had a plan on mid-shift, and I surrendered to finding His will and making the most of the situation. My attitude changed, and my love for others returned. My joy in everyday experiences came back; my desire to witness and help others returned (Colossians 4:5-6). I ended up being so blessed that I didn’t want to leave. God worked through me to help heal a life and lead back to Christ. I made a life-long bond that has grown to many over years. And then I was moved from there to QC, first shift (unheard of at work). I received a real and awesome peace after accepting God’s way of working (Colossians 3:14-15). 5) Be willing to endure whatever comes even if it does not change (Philippians 4:11-13; Job 13:15; Daniel 3:16-18; Philippians 1:29). Know this: if you have to endure for His sake, sometimes it’s as much a part of God’s Plan to go through the fire to the end as supernatural deliverance would be, because He gets even more Glory sometimes in the rock-solid faith shown by His beloved. 6) Talk it over with Him. Having reasons to complain will come, so rather than complain about Him, complain to Him. Openly, sincerely, intimately tell Him how you feel. Surrender to Him, telling Him it is even in your lack of understanding. Let Him be your comforter because He truly knows the pain you are carrying and He cares deeply (Psalms 142:1-3). He will give you strength and refreshing, and maybe even reveal some of His Reasons: 1 Peter 5:10. 7) Stop and realize all that you do have to be thankful for, to continue fighting for, to live for. Nick Vujicic, a faithful follower of Christ with no arms or legs said this: “I have the choice to be angry at God for what I don't have, or be thankful for what I do have.”) Philippians 4:6-8.) 8) In light of all we have just learned and considered, hold your tongue from sinning against God: Philippians 2:14-18. Will you join with me in recognizing, admitting and repenting of sinning against our God in our complaints? And working to show our faith and surrender to Him from this point forward?

Let’s open today simply by reading a couple of Passages of Scripture: Luke 18:9-14. This is one of the most well-known little Parables of the Bible. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most quickly disregarded parables of Scripture. Disregarded because to us the Pharisees, represent those people—the Bible-thumping, hard-nosed legalists. The mean, narcissistic fuddy-duddies who have long sleeves, proper hair, and no fun; those who preach fire and brimstone and judge everyone else by their standards. Most Christians today live their spiritual lives with a self-centered approach as the very basis for their faith, constantly driven by guilt, fear and performance to act better, do more, avoid the ways of the world—which are all good things in themselves but it is still obsessed with self over the desire for a real relationship with Christ.

I know there are a number of people in dire need of this Message today—I personally am one of them. I want to share with you all what God has shared with me. Some will hear these things and think, “Man, you guys must be depressed!” My answer to that is extreme pain and difficulties come to even the most engaged and joyful people. And the burden they bring has nothing to do with depression, but with the passion felt and the helplessness often experienced. So, either your time just hasn’t come yet [hold on tight because it is a guarantee that life will happen], or maybe you’ve allowed yourself to live a bit too carefree because this world has burdened and broken Christ’s heart (the toughest and most joyful of all), and He has called us to share in and carry that weight with Him. When you get to a place in your life for various potential reasons—where you sincerely feel you just have nothing left in you and you don’t have the will to try anymore (relationships, sickness, conflict, sins, ministry, job, family, uncontrollable events that hit like a hammer and often stay); where you feel very alone, as if no one knows quite how badly you are suffering inside (no one sees, appreciates, seemingly cares what’s happening in your life); where you feel you have lost the reason, lost the motivation to keep going anymore; where you question where God is in this moment and you can’t seem to even sense His presence or comfort, and you even wonder if you are in His will anymore; where you’ve done all you can, faithfully and nothing is working out right, nothing is getting better—when we get to this point in our minds and souls, we need consolation and hope desperately. But if that’s all we get (consolation and hope), we have been done an injustice. At this point in our fight we don’t just need comfort, we need courage, perseverance, and a reason to continue the battle or we will quit. We will surrender in the company of empathetic and well-meaning consolers and Satan will win. As we abandon our faith and sacrifice for Our Jesus.

What do you do when you don’t even want to do anymore? How do you find the “encouragement” to press on? First, you realize that you are in great company. You are not the only one who has reached this point, even though Satan will make you feel this way. The majority of the most faithful and obedient servants of God in Scriptures have made it to this point in their journeys: 1 Samuel 1:7-8, 10; 1 Kings 19:4-5; Job 7:3-4, 15-16. And what about David, Naomi, Joseph? The disciples? The list goes on endlessly. What about Jesus, the Messiah? A Man of sorrow, deep grief, filled with burdens (Isaiah 53), weighted down, almost to despair: Matthew 26:37-38. Next, get a firm grasp on the reality and importance of just where you are in these moments—it is possibly one of your most important times with God, possibly your key to mental, emotional and spiritual healing that you would have found and experienced in no other way. How is suffering the key to healing? Because it is in these times when you have no other motivation or hope in your life, that you will decide concretely, wholeheartedly to follow Jesus Christ because he has become your only hope: John 6:68-69. You draw closer to Him for no other reason in your life than because He is worthy because you love Him and because He has become your greatest hope. He becomes the One you cling to with all your might, as we were meant to do all along but were too self-sufficient: Psalms 71:14. It is here that you will learn to trust in faith like never before, that He really is in control. He can make a way out of chaos and mess if you just keep walking, sometimes letting that be all you can do; that others have tremendous value even when they are broken, hurtful, or rejecting as you learn to keep loving selflessly, without reward; that life does not have to be lived in constant comfort, provision or happiness in the moment to be rewarding and full—but often just the opposite. Real living, real purpose, real love is almost always grown, lived out and experienced in some of the toughest, heaviest times of life. It’s these moments that shape, build, and grow who we are and what we hold dear in life, what we cling to, that shape our true joy in living. Through purpose and sacrifice for those things, we learn that victory may not always be in changed circumstances, in physical blessing, or even in removal of pain, but in how deeply you learn to trust, cling to, and honor God; in how deeply you draw nearer to Him in the midst; in how you recognize what is truly important in the life you have been given: Philippians 4:11-13. It’s only in the difficult struggles and costly moments that we truly commit to what we believe in and care about with faith that can only be proven and strengthened in resolve. Don’t waste these opportunities in despair, but embrace them with one goal when you have nothing else left to cling to. Listen to Paul’s motivation when awaiting death in his last imprisonment at Rome: 2 Timothy 2:7-11. Paul says when all is lost, when you have no reason or hope left on which to cling, remember Jesus, the reason you fight, and endure all things for the sake of His children around you. This shows whether you truly love Him more than your life—when His people are more important than your discomfort.
It is difficult to even know where to begin when you are empty and emotionally broken. So, where do you even start? How do you find your way out of Satan’s attacks? 1) Remove any option of quitting. Decide that you will show Jesus Christ, your Savior who died for your soul, that you are in this for Him to any end, until He alone tells you to step away—doing it all for His sake alone, even if nothing changes. Decide to show Him with your life what you’ve claimed with your lips: Galatians 2:20; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15; John 4:34. Your calling is to live the life He has planned for you right now, not the life you decided you should live or have. When pleasing Him is the only motivation you have left, you are living your faith to the fullest, and you have no idea where you will be in a month, a year—no idea what God may be planning to do if you stay. 2) Guard your mind from bitterness and resentment, concerning how you ended up in this trial. Don’t dwell on one more negative thing about your circumstances, what has been done to you, what you’ve lost, or what you can’t accomplish. Focus on truly loving, serving, and praying for those who may even be part of your pain; understanding that your life in Christ is rooted in loving even the broken and undeserving, and that your calling in Him is bigger than your pride or discomfort. Focus on the fact that if God is with you (He is), He will do amazing things you can’t imagine, or He has planned for His glory in your perseverance. Your triumph is not in winning the battle but in your faith-filled obedience in the trial: Daniel 3:17-18. 3) Remove all the distractions that are keeping you from hearing and leaning on Him more deeply. Remove negative talk and gossip. Remove everything keeping you from being with Him now. Understand that prayer and truth are the privilege and power that will carry you through. Prayer and truth keep your perspective in trials; keep your love for others tour focus on His purposes. Prayer and truth keep you clinging to all that matters—Him. Prayer and truth give you hope, worth, and perseverance in His work. Prayer and truth release Him to do amazing things you can’t imagine. Jesus went away into desolate places alone to pray often (when tired, weary, anxious, in need of power and wisdom). If He needed prayer to get through His trials, how much more do we need it? Satan will attempt to steal these things away most of all. 4) Stand ready to give all, lose all. Release your needs, release your identity, release your security, release your desire for acceptance from anyone—give it all to Him alone. Care only about what He thinks of you, care only if you are pleasing Him, obeying Him. Release yourself to His Sovereignty and purpose first. If you can’t do this in troubled times, you never truly surrendered anything in life to Him before. Decide that you are not the most important thing in this situation and refuse to defend your rights; refuse to do only what makes your life better. Let your hope and self-worth rest on these thoughts: I have my God, His love, His salvation, His future. I have one sole purpose—bigger than anything else in life—to follow His desire and see the worth of those around me. Therefore, my course, my focus is unchanged no matter where it leads. Understand that adversity and trials are literally God’s path to often strengthen us beyond our own ability. We are ripened by the Son, in our trials to become so much more than we think possible, do so much more than we would attempt. Muscles only grow with resistance. Soldiers become elite through testing and real experience (battle-hardened soldiers know how to win): James 1:2-4. Don’t waste your chance to grow into the warrior God is Calling because you want to shrink back into your comfort: Hebrews 10:35-38. Maybe one of the biggest reasons for your trials is to learn this one thing. God only works through broken and humble people: Matthew 5:3. [poor]. It means, those who realize they are not the power or the answer or the righteousness. Those that realize they make mistakes are sinful so they will not condemn others. Those that will not rely on what they are capable of doing. Those who are ready to be filled and led by something new and different because they know they can’t do it alone. That is being spiritually poor. Most of us here today are not truly broken and humble enough to let Him flow. And it often takes trials which bring us to the end of ourselves to empty us enough to be filled with something much better. What does it take for Satan and this world to make you quit, to make us miss what God was willing to do through you? Because our lives were too precious to be poured out? Listen to Jesus’ Own Words regarding our perseverance in Him: Luke 14:29, 33; Luke 9:62. Don’t let Satan win. Don’t give in to adversity that crushes, but hold to your purpose. Let these Verses be our security and inspiration: Acts 20:24; Acts 21:13; 2 Corinthians 4:7-9, 17-18.
Never give in to surrender; never stop walking at any cost. Make your single goal when you can’t focus on anything else in your distress be to hold onto Him, follow Him, until you are incredibly victorious or you have honored Him in your sacrifice to the end. Either way, you win. Let your joy in life be that He is working through you. Understand that real life and love are grown in the sacrifice of the battle, not in the rest and ease of life: 1 Corinthians 13:7-8, 13.

Question: If the Rapture doesn’t occur in our lifetime, how many in this room are going to pass away at some point? How many will stand before Christ at the Bema Judgment and be accountable for how we have lived on this earth as His Bride? Obviously every one of us. But do we live like it? In that moment, as everything is laid bare before Our King. The actions and choices of the lives we are living right now will clearly establish just how much we have genuinely loved and trusted Him verses how much we have loved this life over Him: 2 Corinthians 5:10-11. We will be rewarded, entrusted, and assigned positions of honor and authority (positions closer to Jesus) according to what we have done in devotion to Him that reflected what was sincerely important to us in this life: 1 Corinthians 3:11-15. So, stop and ponder: are you building with gold, silver and costly stones, or hay and straw? What things in our lives, right now that seem so important to us that we give so much time and effort towards building and protecting, that we base so much of our very identity, pride and self-worth upon will instantly not even matter to us in the slightest? Maybe even be shameful to us in that moment because of the improperly placed significance it held? How are we spending the lives He bought with His Sacrifice? Consider the Judgment we experience on that Day will only be for us to see and understand our own hearts clearly because He already knows our hearts at this very moment: Jeremiah 17:10.

How many times have we said, or heard others say, "I am so thankful that God saved me from my sins?” I understand and obviously totally agree with that statement. But most often all we really mean by that is, "I am so thankful that I am forgiven and saved from Hell." Many of us do not realize or ever contemplate all we are being forgiven and saved from in our sin. Or what the real effects of sin would be on us right now if we had not been saved from them through His Word, Spirit and Blood. Or, what that sin truly represents to God and how it affects Him. We cannot even begin to appreciate our deliverance from sin until we see these things clearly. We cannot ever praise, worship and thank Him from the heart until we comprehend where we were and how we've hurt Him. So today, let's stop and take a hard look at these things together. For some, maybe for the first time and I promise you, it will change your view of God and of the sins we often still covet.

We have done a number of lessons on prayer through the years, but this one will be very different because it won’t be about ‘how to pray’ but rather a restoration of our faith in prayer. A remembering of its power and purpose, when done effectively because everything that we do—everything that we are as a church, and as individuals—to God completely relies upon our desire to pray. It is that paramount in our lives. Many of us do not pray as we know that we should be praying. And when we do pray, most often, it is not in real earnestness and passion. it is not with boldness and faith. And if you get behind all the proper ‘church answers’—and often behind even our own conscious thoughts sometimes—we do not pray as we should because we do not truly believe that it makes a real difference. If we did, you couldn’t stop us from praying. A lot of Christians kind of feel that other than drawing closer to God and bending my will to fit His, do my prayers really matter? Do they actually change anything?

For those of us who have lived in the joy and security of God’s love and salvation for many years, we can many times experience that gift, rest in His security and peace, and yet miss so, so much about all that our salvation reveals of the true heart of our Lord, and what it really cost Him for our security. For all those who do not know Christ as their King and Savior, there are so many questions about Him. Why is He so special, above all other religions? Why is He supposed to be the “Only Way?” What does it truly mean to “Be saved,” to “accept Jesus as my Savior?” Won’t everybody be saved in the end? Won’t all religions save you, as long as you are sincere? Today, we will take a Biblical look at these questions and more because not only is this the single most important topic you will ever in your life contemplate—you will learn more about Who Jesus truly is than you have ever known in your life. You will know clearly what it means to accept Him as your Savior and God, and you will see clearly how incredible His love really is and why He definitively and unmistakably is the only way.

Why do we need to be saved? And from what exactly? Genesis 1:1, 26-28, 31. So, God made a perfect, beautiful, Paradise and called it “very good.” Then He created man and woman in His very image—meaning as intelligent, creative, skillful, loving, productive beings. He created them to be everything necessary to fulfill one another in perfect intimacy and design, and He gave the whole earth to them to care for and have authority over—as He dwelt with them walked with them, had perfect love and fellowship with them. But they chose to embrace the temptation to rebel against Him; chose to follow the deception of the King of fallen angels, Lucifer; chose to doubt God’s goodness and become their own gods just like our mentality today. And this seed of selfishness and evil that sprang in their souls ruined the perfect love, trust and fellowship God had with them, bringing separation from God, and death as a result. All creation under their authority was cursed with the same fate and this seed of evil has been passed and taught to every generation: Romans 5:12; Romans 3:23. Salvation, then is God’s Plan to take away our guilt of rejecting Him; to take away the sentence and punishment of the sins in our hearts and lives; to restore our perfect unity and love with Him by making our hearts and souls as loving as His once again, and to make all the cursed creation we ruined new again: Revelation 21:1-5. God knew we would fall even before He placed us here on earth and He already had plans to come to our aid: Ephesians 1:3-5. Everything that God has done through the ages, every page of His precious Book has been written and lived out in His passionate and costly quest to restore us back into intimacy, joy, and adventure with Him on a perfect earth once again. That is salvation for those who desire it.
The next logical question is: “If God loves so deeply, why did He let us fall in the first place?” He let it happen because real, intimate, passionate love requires a free will and a desire from both involved. God knew that free will would allow some to reject Him and hurt others. He knew it would bring pain and chaos for a time. But He also saw every soul that would truly embrace Him in love, even through the tainted and ruined world we created. And so, this dilemma basically gave Him three options: 1) Never create this magnificent masterpiece called mankind with whom He could spend an eternity of joy and intimacy, with whom He could share blessings and adventures beyond our wildest dreams. 2) He could destroy all the evil that has ever existed since we fell and start over from scratch, losing every soul that He knew before they were in existence. We wouldn’t know because that includes you and I who are part of that rebellious mob He loves dearly. 3) He could make a way to bring justice for the evil done and yet forgive, redeem, heal and embrace
those who saw Him for Who He truly is—which would be hard, costly and painful. But all things that are of great worth are expensive, and God saw all of the temporary pain and sacrifice as well worth the Love found in the end: Romans 8:18. And this short time of trials and testing has been ordained by Him to allow us to show Him, in return, just how much we truly want Him, how much we trust Him, how much we will endure to be with Him as well: 1 Peter 1:6-9. God allowed this—even when He knew it would be hard and costly because He was not willing that any be lost: 2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:3-4. He allowed this mess because any cost is worth having us back. Without the fall, we would never see just how far He would go to save us, never know how deep His humility, mercy and love run—because it cost Him infinitely more than it cost us. We would never have real choice given to us, and we would never have seen the horrors that pure selfishness, evil and pride could bring. But, if God went to such extreme measures to save us all, why does He not just save everyone through His Work? Why will some still be forever rejected? Let me ask you this question: How many times have you heard people say (or even said yourself): Why does God allow such terrible things? Why doesn’t God just take out those evil people? Why doesn’t God just remove the evil from the world?” And you are right, for feeling this way. But, remember we are all part of that evil right now, and He is long-suffering until any who would want Him will turn from evil and trust Him. But for those who refuse to accept love and selflessness, refuse to live for anyone but themselves, how could a just God (that we already question for allowing sin for a short season) not possibly remove those who refuse to surrender their sin even for a short time? How could that be loving, just, fair to those who do choose Him? When it would simply destroy all He makes new again? Understand that God is not willing that any be lost, and He did not create hell and damnation for any of His own: Matthew 25:41. They openly, freely, rebelliously chose to join Satan and his fallen hoard, even, over Jesus’ own dead body, placed there to save them. So, we see why Salvation is needed by all men; we see why He had to allow the fall that demanded Salvation; we see that, even though He wants all to be Saved; His justice and love for those who want Him will not allow for the evil in some hearts to be with Him.
Let’s take a look at just what it means to be ‘saved,’ what Salvation is and is not. It is easier and clearer to start with what Salvation is not: Salvation is not just about getting your sins forgiven so that you can live in Paradise when you die. Salvation is not just about living a better life or attending church so you will be worthy to be saved. Salvation is not just believing there is a God even just believing Jesus exists: James 2:19. Salvation is not about proclaiming your belief and trust in Christ and living the life you choose to live afterwards but wanting blessings. Salvation is not given because God is so nice and good that He decides to forget about what you did or bend or break His own Laws to let you into Heaven. Salvation is: realizing that you have sinned against and lived against the God Who loves you and created you for Him, that you lived against the God whose very creation you have the privilege of living in right now. It’s realizing that you have a seed of evil in you that has helped to ruin His Creation and is capable of unspeakable evil. Salvation is realizing that you cannot be allowed in His perfect Heaven when you would simply destroy it again. It’s realizing that you should be done away with, rejected. Then it is realizing He has placed such value, worth and love on you that He is willing to destroy His entire Creation and start over just to have you with Him. It’s realizing that Jesus Christ—the Eternal Go, the Masterful, Artistic Creator of all in existence, the worshiped, loved, Ruler of countless beings in Heaven, the One who holds all power, riches and authority—is so precious and humble even in all that power and authority that He would give it all away—become One of us, walk with us in our pain, be judged in place of us, hated, made a worthless criminal, be rejected by His Father God on our behalf, be unimaginably tortured for our sins and die thinking He was rejected and alone because nothing He owned as God was more important than saving you and being with you again. Salvation is realizing these things and then understanding that He deserves your everything in return. It’s seeing His preciousness, humbleness, sacrifice and then wanting to turn from everything that made Him go so far to save us. It’s trusting that what He says is good that you want never again to do the things He died to remove and forgive: Romans 12:1-2. Salvation is accepting such an amazing gift given to you, knowing there is nothing you could do to save yourself—because no amount of good works can take away the Law, take away the punishment deserved for what has already been done. And God is a just and righteous God who cannot simply put away sins that have hurt others—they must be paid for. So, He had to pay that price Himself. He did not excuse you; He did not remove the Law; He did not give a pass. He paid for everything you ever did Himself so you could be considered innocent: Colossians 1:13-14; Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 Peter 2:24-25; John 3:16-17. Salvation is saying “If He gave His life for mine I will give my life for Him.” And I will live all my life trying to please Him, trusting Him enough to stay away from all He died to save me from knowing His ways are better than the world’s; willing to give up anything and everything just like He did for me, to show my love back to Him—simply because He is unbelievably worthy after giving up so much for me. It’s knowing that He alone made the way for my Salvation, but He doesn’t want someone who just needs a ticket punched. He wants someone who wants Him back just as passionately Who’s willing to give just as much in return, or the relationship is not real: Matthew 22:37-40. It is trusting that He knows we are weak and will fail sometimes, but that He is not focused on us having a perfect life, rather, in having a perfectly given heart ready to get back up, trust His forgiveness and keep trying to please Him in all I do; having complete confidence in His love for me even in my failures. It’s being unashamed of Him in a world that hates Him. It’s being ready and wanting to give Him everything in my life—health, money, possessions, reputation, relationships—if He asks it of me. Because I trust Him, because I want to make Him happy, because He has earned it with His Own Life. It is forsaking all and being completely happy, knowing that I have Him and He will care for me: Philippians 3:7-8. It is gladly giving Him my whole life just as He gave His for me. Anything less is simply using Him for your own gain.
So, why are we so adamant that Jesus is the only way? No matter how many ideas we have about the afterlife, there is only one that is true. Every other religion in the world tells how to live kindlier or how your good must outweigh your bad. But God is perfect; God is just; God is fair; God is pure. And living better or letting your good outweigh your bad, does not pay for the evil that has been done. Only the sacrifice of God can do that. And only Jesus made the payment Himself. Jesus did not take away the Law; He fulfilled its sentence for you. No one else did this. Every other religion focuses on your good deeds and good life. Only Jesus is concerned with changing your heart to righteousness. Only Jesus seeks passionately for your love and not just your good actions or abject worship. Of course, there is only one Creator, one way. It would not even be logical to assume otherwise. And no other religion known has the history of a real man that lived, died and rose again; the prophecies fulfilled; the total dedication, humbleness and love to become One with us; be our Brother, unashamed in our sins; the care and sacrifice enough to die in order to cover our sins: Acts 4:10-12.
What about those who wait their whole lives and decide to accept Jesus on their deathbed? Are they Saved? Many have asked this question, hoping to put off living for God until later. But others—because they sincerely worry about someone who accepted Christ at the end of their lives. Let’s look at two verses which give a solid, Biblical answer: Luke 23:39-43. Did this criminal ever have the chance to live a single day for Christ? No. Did he come to Jesus in his final moments on earth? Yes! But He was saved—for certain. Why? Because Salvation has nothing to do with your deeds and all to do with your sincere heart wanting Him. 1 Samuel 16:7; 1 Chronicles 28:9; John 2:23-25: A sincere heart wanting Jesus in their last days will always find His mercy and Salvation because Christ is not a legalist. He does not have to follow a set pattern that we hold Him to. He simply wants your heart! and nothing is hidden from His eyes. But if we live any way we choose, betting our Salvation on a quick prayer of repentance in the end, trying to hold God’s feet to some self-believed fire, trying to save our souls, but never truly caring about Christ. He sees this clearly and He does not play games. He is not under any obligation or binding agreement. He does not want, nor does He have any obligation to anyone who simply tries to use Him for their purposes. He deserves so much more. He deserves our everything, because God Himself has given His everything in sweet, humble, dedicated passion to bring you home to Him. What else could possibly be more important than giving yourself to Him completely? Now is the time: 2 Corinthians 6:1-2.

We’re going to cover a lot, so just focus on what is for you. Somehow, most Christians today have this deeply embedded, subconscious idea in our hearts that living for Christ simply means: removing what Jesus calls “Sin” from our lives, then continuing to live, do, work, go, buy, act as we have planned in life, as long as it is not overtly sinful—hoping to get blessings and favor from Him because we have proclaimed His Name and have removed the destructive things of which He disapproves. But this mindset is completely foreign to what every Scripture actually calls us to be as His disciples. Many of us are living our lives for Christ halfway at very best; removing and avoiding sins in our lives and not even trying too hard at that. But never really giving our entire lives to Him, as every page of scriptures command and instruct. We are not surrendered and belonging to Him in our lives. We are simply changing a few things about our lives, removing a few things that are considered offensive to Him. And as long as our lives do not seem overtly sinful or openly offensive to Him, we consider this as having devoted our lives to Him. In the Great Breakfast Buffet of Heaven, we are chickens, offering a few eggs here and there. But we are called to be pigs, offering bacon and sausage. All in, totally committed, costing everything. I say that jokingly, but stop and consider: is He truly “Lord of all” in your life? Romans 11:36 - 12:2; Matthew 13:44-46; Galatians 2:20.

Seriously consider if the men and  women who made it into Scripture, who are supposed to show us how to be close to God, had just “curbed their sins a little bit” and decided that was what it took “to follow God with their lives.” Would Noah have dedicated 75 years to building an Ark? Would Abraham have left his “well-to-do” family in Ur to chase a Promise he didn’t understand I n a land he’d never been to? Would Moses have faced the most powerful man on earth and wander in the desert with those who questioned and rejected him? Would Daniel have risked the highest office in Babylon to instead be offered as lion food? Would Hosea have married a prostitute? And went back to her again? Would Mary and Joseph have destroyed their futures simply to be shamed and rejected all their days? Would Paul have given up a powerful, prestigious position to become hunted, tortured, imprisoned and executed? Would John choose boiling in oil only to be exiled to slave labor on the Isle of Patmos? Would Jesus Christ have offered Himself to torture and death as a Criminal? These people chose to change every facet of their lives; chose to leave their lives, leave or change occupations. They chose to leave relationships, start new relationships; chose to go against governments and society; chose to leave the life they had planned to accept a new one. Some to join in God’s Will and Mission on earth; some to avoid disobeying His Commands. All by choice, at great change, even risk of great loss: Colossians 3:2-3; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15. These core statements about becoming a disciple of Jesu are not just sweet ‘theological or spiritual declarations.’ They were not just for exemplary Bible characters, and today are not just for a few, select Saints. But for every person who has surrendered to the will of Christ. Nothing has changed; we are called to this same life right now. Just because we have trouble recognizing, just because we may resist or ignore this fact does not make it less true. Living for Christ with your whole life is not just about sinning les, not just about what to let go of, but about everything you pick up, change, pursue, and decide your entire life, being given to Him in love and trust. First, remove yourself from consideration. Do not start, or interrupt one thing we consider from here with: “I deserve to have this. This is what I want in my life. This is where I’d like to go. What I would like to attain. I only have one life, one chance. Isn’t my life and happiness important? I don’t like change. I’m just fine where I am.” Let me ask you something big here Hopefully, it will be a serious wake-up call): What would have happened if any of the men of Scriptures felt their own lives were too important, too special, or worthy above others to change, interrupt or be given to God’s Will? Would we even know who they are now? Would their lives really have mattered in the scheme of things? Would their personal successes have made the impact, their lives made, when given away? Would we have God’s Word or Will? What if Jesus—God on earth—had felt His Life was too special? Would you even be sitting here with breath in your lungs? What if every grave dug for someone who died to protect your freedom, whose life was just as unique, special, promising, and full of potential, was never dug because they were too special and chose self? Would you be sitting here? God knows all of your potential [He gave it to you], and He wants you to be joyful and successful. But also know that your idea of success in this world is based upon a completely different foundation than God’s. And His successes are what truly last in the end; His are the only ones that matter. Know that we wouldn’t even have an opportunity at success if He had not placed us here, gave us what we have now, and saved us from our own destruction. Therefore, our life is not even ours to even decide what we think should be done with it because we have literally chosen to give it away to Him, just as He has done for us. Know that your life and mine are absolutely no better than all the lives given for us to be here today and know about His Salvation for us; no better than all the hurting, broken lives around us now. Know God’s way of measuring your life as successful Is based upon nothing else but your willingness to give it away to Him: Luke 14:33. We start with humility, real perspective, and sacrifice. And then we ask ourselves some easy (but revealing) questions. The key is this:
Answer these questions in honesty and decide if you are willing to change whatever they may reveal simply because God is Worthy, because He became our Servant, because we want to serve Him more than we want our own life. 1) Are you living right now, where I shouldn’t be? Are you literally dishonoring Him with my current lifestyle or habits? That means pornography, substance abuse, living with someone, having unwed sex, freeloading off someone else, holding grudges? If you know you have embraced something in your lifestyle that you have justified or put off dealing with, you are not surrendered to Him and you must start here. He is smarter; He Loves perfectly; He has reasons for everything He asks. Trust Him wholeheartedly or stop lying to yourself. 2) Are your relationships in His Will? Are you with someone Scriptures say you shouldn’t be with because they are not following Him? Because they are not Scripturally free to be with you; (divorce for wrong reason/wrong sex); because you are not Scripturally free to be with them and should be trying to reconcile to the one you left. Trust that He has a better Plan with the right person that will bring more fulfillment and less pain. Are you contemplating or actively pursuing a divorce from someone who has not Scripturally given a reason? Focus everything on honoring and healing them as His wonderful plan compels us to do in real love rather than chasing what you feel you deserve or want instead. 3) Do you put your desire to enjoy leisure activity and downtime over the importance of knowing and serving Him? Do you spend hours a week enjoying social media, hobbies, sports, games, and yet have no time or desire to spend time knowing Him in study and prayer? Or to spend time serving those in your life around you helping others at home or in His body of believers? No time to invest His world that is lost and broken because you are too occupied with self? Do you even stop and access the needs and desires of those around you? Have you taken an honest look at the conditions of the time and place in which you now live to see where you may be God’s answer, to see where you may be needed right now? Answer the call from God and decide to change what you derive pleasure from; letting your leisure activities and rewards come after you have actually given yourself in joy and concern to God and others first. 4) Is your desire to live a fun, fulfilled life with your family or spouse completely taking the place of anything you would do for God? Are you robbing your own family of the treasure of serving and instead teaching worldliness, selfishness, and pursuit of pleasure over responsibility and commitment? Teach them to humbly serve with you in the most practical and selfless ways. 5) Are you working where He would have you work? The hours He would have you work? Or are you involved in an occupation that is not honoring Him? Are you working so hard to achieve material things that you have no time for God or loved ones? Make the decision to put God first, people first, convictions first, at any financial cost or lifestyle change. 6) Have you discerned the times in which you are living the beliefs, practices, attitudes, laws in your society and weighed them against God’s principles and commandments? And chosen to follow God’s Ways everywhere they are at odds? Or have you taken the easy path going along with the culture, become part of the world around you? Weigh every aspect of the world in which you now find yourself and take fulfillment and joy in drawing a line for Christ and stepping out of the world’s ways, at any cost. Stand for God, stand for real love, stand for truth, and let the world see Christ rather than you. 7) Do you spend your financial and material blessings on building more, having more, and looking better to the world, or being a blessing to others in real need and supporting God’s work? Do you have a nice home, cars, clothes, phones, internet, gaming systems, and yet say you have nothing to give to others or church because you are just too poor? Realize the blessings you have received from Him; realize the real needs of those around you that are so much greater, and show the love and mercy you have received. Your giving is supposed to be sacrificial, supposed to cost something, supposed to mean you might do without sometimes. That is where joy is found, character is built and seeds are planted (faith). 8) Have you simply, literally asked God what would He have you do in His Kingdom and meant it? With the talents, skills, education and opportunities, He has given to you? What would He have you to prepare for, run to, involve yourself in, commit to doing which may be scary, costly, difficult, bigger than you. but is needed for your Kingdom, for your hurting people. Maybe a ministry, maybe missions, maybe teaching, maybe fostering/adopting, maybe just loving on someone near you. 9) Are you focused on genuinely, lovingly addressing every soul that touches or even passes through your life for whatever time they are present? Whether a coworker, a church member, a friend or even a cashier or mechanic? Are you focused with concern on their worth at that moment? Jesus showed the Love of the Father, showed genuine concern and met the most needs one person at a time—usually those He met along the way—because He walked in total surrender at all times. Do those around you see Jesus, or you? When Mary was greeted by the Angel Gabriel and told she had been chosen by God to carry the Messiah, she responded in love and devotion in this way: Luke 1:38. [handmaid]. In the Mosaic Law, an indentured servant working off debt or a criminal sentence to another could (after their debt was paid and they were free to leave), give themselves to the one they had been indebted to by choice for life. If they had been cared for and loved so dearly, they wanted to remain part of the household: Deuteronomy 15:16-17. Mary was saying just this. God had been so loving and kind to her that she had given herself to Him forever as His servant to do whatever He asked of her.
If we know He Loves us so much, if we know we will prosper with Him, it is time for us to forget what we have been taught about being His disciples, exchange who is on the Cross and Who is on the Throne. And offer ourselves in reality as His bond-slave for life. If you do, He will lift you up, give you His Glory and make you His treasured Bride instead.