Saturday, July 23, 2011
RESCHEDULED. Stephen James visit rescheduled.
Stephen James has been rescheduled to share his ministry trip to Africa at the Waverly CGP on the first Sunday in August 7th. NOTE:See previous post.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Stephen James To Share At Waverly CGP
On Sunday July 24th, Stephen James, son of Shirley (Stephenson) James, will share his testimony of his recent trip to Africa. Stephen is the grandson of David and Peggy Stephenson. We appreciate Stephen and look forward to hearing him share his journey to Africa and the ministry he was involved with there.
THE MIDNIGHT CRY
Matthew 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
JESUS IS COMING! JESUS IS COMING! The cry has gone out for many years since he ascended after His resurrection. There are those who scoff and say that everything is the same and there is nothing to prove that he is coming. The Apostle Peter records in 2 Peter 3:3&4 "Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." Jesus spoke of ten virgins who were to be ready to meet the bridegroom. It is obvious that he is speaking of His own return as the bridegroom and of those who are to be ready when He comes again. He uses this analogy of the bridegroom and the ten virgins.
He says five of the ten were wise and five were foolish. The five wise had oil in their vessels and their lamps. Because the bridegroom tarried they all ten slumbered and slept. The cry was made at midnight (an unlikely hour for him to come) that the bridegroom is now coming. The ten virgins arose from slumber and trimmed their lamps. The five foolish virgins trimmed their lamps as the five wise did but the foolish had no vessels with oil to re-fuel their lamps. The five foolish were out of oil and asked for oil from the five wise ones. The five wise would not give oil to the foolish lest they not have enough but told them to buy their own. It is interesting to note that the five wise brought, not only their lamps but VESSELS with OIL IN IT. Verse eight indicates that the foolish had trimmed and lit their lamps but had not brought vessels with oil and their oil had depleted in their lamps and their light had gone out.
There can be no light burning in lamps without oil. Oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit. Without oil in our vessels the light or fire cannot burn in our lamps and must be replenished. Some have compared the ten virgins to ten churches - five wise, prepared, empowered and on fire churches and five foolish, cold, dead and unprepared churches. Whether the ten virgins were churches is not the critical point. Jesus makes clear what is critical in verse thirteen. He says, "watch, for ye know not what hour the Son of Man cometh." Lamps will burn out and oil has to be replenished. Without lamps burning with oil we cannot watch. We must have the Holy Spirit in our lives in order to have our spiritual eyes burning to see the coming of the bridegroom - our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Verse ten says, "And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut." Those that were ready went in with the bridegroom and the door was shut. I remember hearing former General Overseer M. A. Tomlinson say that one of his favorite songs was "Getting Ready To Leave This World." Being ready is what our Lord is emphasizing - watch and be ready for His coming. JESUS IS COMING! JESUS IS COMING! SOON!!! Keep your vessels full of oil and your lamps trimmed and burning!!!
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
JESUS IS COMING! JESUS IS COMING! The cry has gone out for many years since he ascended after His resurrection. There are those who scoff and say that everything is the same and there is nothing to prove that he is coming. The Apostle Peter records in 2 Peter 3:3&4 "Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." Jesus spoke of ten virgins who were to be ready to meet the bridegroom. It is obvious that he is speaking of His own return as the bridegroom and of those who are to be ready when He comes again. He uses this analogy of the bridegroom and the ten virgins.
He says five of the ten were wise and five were foolish. The five wise had oil in their vessels and their lamps. Because the bridegroom tarried they all ten slumbered and slept. The cry was made at midnight (an unlikely hour for him to come) that the bridegroom is now coming. The ten virgins arose from slumber and trimmed their lamps. The five foolish virgins trimmed their lamps as the five wise did but the foolish had no vessels with oil to re-fuel their lamps. The five foolish were out of oil and asked for oil from the five wise ones. The five wise would not give oil to the foolish lest they not have enough but told them to buy their own. It is interesting to note that the five wise brought, not only their lamps but VESSELS with OIL IN IT. Verse eight indicates that the foolish had trimmed and lit their lamps but had not brought vessels with oil and their oil had depleted in their lamps and their light had gone out.
There can be no light burning in lamps without oil. Oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit. Without oil in our vessels the light or fire cannot burn in our lamps and must be replenished. Some have compared the ten virgins to ten churches - five wise, prepared, empowered and on fire churches and five foolish, cold, dead and unprepared churches. Whether the ten virgins were churches is not the critical point. Jesus makes clear what is critical in verse thirteen. He says, "watch, for ye know not what hour the Son of Man cometh." Lamps will burn out and oil has to be replenished. Without lamps burning with oil we cannot watch. We must have the Holy Spirit in our lives in order to have our spiritual eyes burning to see the coming of the bridegroom - our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Verse ten says, "And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut." Those that were ready went in with the bridegroom and the door was shut. I remember hearing former General Overseer M. A. Tomlinson say that one of his favorite songs was "Getting Ready To Leave This World." Being ready is what our Lord is emphasizing - watch and be ready for His coming. JESUS IS COMING! JESUS IS COMING! SOON!!! Keep your vessels full of oil and your lamps trimmed and burning!!!
Monday, July 18, 2011
YES We Are Continuing Pastoral Ministry At Waverly COGOP
Several asked after the appointments at the COGOP State Convention and by text and email if we were going back to Waverly and why our names were not called. I cannot answer as to why our names and some others were not called but I (Milton) did speak with Bishop McKinley who said Karen and I are officially appointed back to Waverly COGOP. We anticipate great things in the Lord, seek to reach the harvest and pray to that end. We pray for Holy Spirit empowerment.
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