Preparation

Revelation 16:15“Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”

The point of storing oil and keeping the lamp burning is sight...vision.

In the midst of deep darkness, light will shine. This is primarily about seeing and being salt and light. Jesus coming will be mostly unseen and misunderstood until it is too late for many to rightly respond.

Many mistakenly think as Jesus returns it will be more obvious. This is the opposite of how it works. Spiritual confusion, selfishness, and delusion are growing. That makes it harder to see what is happening with truth, not easier.

Jesus said "watch, pray, I'm coming like a theif in the night"

The events of His coming are unfolding in very clear, measurable, observable, and dramatic ways all around us. Do I see them? Are they fueling a response? Will I be found growing in holiness, peace, patience, clarity, joy, self control, and faith... Or am I running out of steam and can hardly see the hour.

Many are tempted to blend in to the world. To lose saltiness because it seems so futile. This is due to a lack of vision.

Tired revival messages won't carry anyone through this season. We need salt and light. We need something more than "good days are ahead.". The disciples in Acts 2 didn't pray for revival. They tarried for readiness to obey Jesus. You won't find a pattern of tarrying for revival in the Bible any more than you would see a lovesick spouse who's partner is missing hoping to have one more party before the beloved is returned.

No.

What we see in Acts 2 is a searching of the heavens in the heart for anything that will advance the return of the missing groom. When he was taken away, they fasted and prayed.

Jesus is coming. His winnowing fork is in His hand, He will immerse in fire and the Holy Spirit. He, even now, is thoroughly cleaning out His threshing floor.

We need to see in the dark....see the hard to see because we spent time learning to see with eyes of faith long before now.

Matthew 25:1“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

2“Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

3“Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them,

4“but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

5“But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

6“And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’

7“Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.

8“And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’

9“But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’

10“And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.

11“Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’

12“But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

13“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.