Matt 25: Get the Oil While There’s Time

Scripture

Matthew 25:1–13 (NIV)

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

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

“Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

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

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

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

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

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

Scripture Reflection
This parable, though technically about the end of the age, is deeply relevant to revival. Revival is a kind of miniature second coming, a special visitation of the Bridegroom in the middle of history. Martyn Lloyd-Jones called it “days of heaven on earth.”

In a kairos moment like revival, when the manifest presence of God sweeps into a church or a city, there is really only one thing that will matter: whether or not we are carrying a burning love for Jesus. The only way to keep a flame burning is to secure a supply of oil — a love for Jesus marked by devotion, intimacy, and surrender.

Oil is what qualifies us to partner with Jesus and to lead his people when he visits us in revival. We cannot burn from someone else’s relationship with Jesus — we need our own oil. Oil is plentiful, both now and at the hour of our visitation. But on that day, time will be scarce. This is why the wise bridesmaids took time beforehand to store oil. And we must follow their example. 

Praying it UP / IN / OUT

UP: Worship Jesus, the soon-coming Bridegroom, who is worthy of a Church prepared and burning with love for Him.

IN: Ask the Spirit to search your heart. Are you cultivating reserves of oil in the secret place - or just enough to run the machinery of your life and/or ministry? Repent of self-reliance or apathy. Pray for renewed intimacy and hunger.

OUT: Pray for the Church in New England to awaken, to tend its lamps, and not to miss the Lord’s visitation. Ask God to stir fresh watchfulness in pastors and believers.

Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, our Bridegroom,

We confess how easily we grow drowsy in the delay, how often we coast on borrowed faith, how easily we crave spectacle instead of secret oil.

Grant us grace to seek you in the hidden place.

Teach us to value intimacy with you above all else, and to burn with true flame — not hype, not borrowed light, but holy love.

Make us wise: not anxious, but alert; not hurried, but hungry.

Teach us to live now for the day you draw near.

We ask not just for revival, but for readiness.

Pour out your Spirit as we draw near.

Give us hearts that watch, wait, and worship — so that when you come, we may rise with lamps burning and full of joy to meet you.

Come, Lord Jesus.

Until you do, keep our lamps lit.

Amen.