READ: MATTHEW 24:1-24
“And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold,
the bridegroom comes; go you out to meet him” (Matthew 25:6).
In the parable of the virgins recorded in Matthew 25:1-13, a call was made to the virgins to alert them of the imminent return of their Lord. It says, ‘Behold, the bridegroom comes.’ The word ‘behold’ means watch out, pay attention and be on the look out. ‘Behold’ is an alarm sending out warning shouts. Why do you have to ‘behold’? It is because there are evidences of His second coming all around us. The multiplicity of fake prophets and christs, wars and rumours of wars, increase in devastating natural disasters claiming many lives, the spread of the Gospel across the globe, intense and sustained prosecution of the Church, betrayal of fellow believers, and hatred in our midst, etc. affirm His coming is very close.
“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Matthew 25:12). We live in a period when very many Christians are distracted from a close and vibrant relationship with God. Some of such distractions are even legitimate things such as work, family needs, ministerial challenges, etc. In most churches, instead of fire, there is coldness; in place of zeal you have detachment. This is equally common among workers and ministers. It has come to a time that believers want to be paid in monetary terms before they will render service to God. You hardly find those whose hearts are in the work of the Lord.
Compromise and backsliding are rife and their effects are very visible in the various leadership ranks of the Church. Pride, love of money, fornication, lies and disrespect to authority have become common place in the Church today. ‘Behold, He comes!’ Many believers and church leaders find it difficult to believe He is coming in their generation, which explains why they live as if there is no tomorrow. We have taken liberty of the Spirit as license to continue in fleshly lusts thereby warring against the soul (Galatians 5:13). He is coming because He promised. Whether church leaders believe it or not, He is coming. He does not require your permission to come. He is committed to His promise. The saints in heaven are earnestly expecting that day when the family in heaven will forever unite with His family on earth. Oh, what a glorious day it will be! Are the signs of His second coming already manifesting in your life? Repent and return fully to the Lord. Don’t be a victim of negative prophecies.
In the parable of the virgins recorded in Matthew 25:1-13, a call was made to the virgins to alert them of the imminent return of their Lord. It says, ‘Behold, the bridegroom comes.’ The word ‘behold’ means watch out, pay attention and be on the look out. ‘Behold’ is an alarm sending out warning shouts. Why do you have to ‘behold’? It is because there are evidences of His second coming all around us. The multiplicity of fake prophets and christs, wars and rumours of wars, increase in devastating natural disasters claiming many lives, the spread of the Gospel across the globe, intense and sustained prosecution of the Church, betrayal of fellow believers, and hatred in our midst, etc. affirm His coming is very close.
“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Matthew 25:12). We live in a period when very many Christians are distracted from a close and vibrant relationship with God. Some of such distractions are even legitimate things such as work, family needs, ministerial challenges, etc. In most churches, instead of fire, there is coldness; in place of zeal you have detachment. This is equally common among workers and ministers. It has come to a time that believers want to be paid in monetary terms before they will render service to God. You hardly find those whose hearts are in the work of the Lord.
Compromise and backsliding are rife and their effects are very visible in the various leadership ranks of the Church. Pride, love of money, fornication, lies and disrespect to authority have become common place in the Church today. ‘Behold, He comes!’ Many believers and church leaders find it difficult to believe He is coming in their generation, which explains why they live as if there is no tomorrow. We have taken liberty of the Spirit as license to continue in fleshly lusts thereby warring against the soul (Galatians 5:13). He is coming because He promised. Whether church leaders believe it or not, He is coming. He does not require your permission to come. He is committed to His promise. The saints in heaven are earnestly expecting that day when the family in heaven will forever unite with His family on earth. Oh, what a glorious day it will be! Are the signs of His second coming already manifesting in your life? Repent and return fully to the Lord. Don’t be a victim of negative prophecies.
MEMORIZE:
MATTHEW 24:42 –Watch therefore; for you know not what hour your Lord does come.
