–Pastor Ward Clinton
–Pastor Ward Clinton
For Bible background read Matthew 25:1-13
They all had some knowledge of and regard for the bridegroom.
They all had lamps that were burning/lit.
While the bridegroom tarried they all slept. Not until his coming was announced did the difference between them really reveal itself. In all outward things the wise and foolish virgins were alike; the difference between them was internal.
The foolish ones had a real regard for the bridegroom, they had gone far to meet him, and were disappointed at their exclusion. It is not that there were 5 believers and 5 unbelievers in this story that Jesus told; there were 10 believers waiting for His arrival in this illustration.
There was genuineness about them as far as they went; only they did not go far enough. They were not deliberate hypocrites (i.e. acting as though they had more religion than they actually did). No, my friend, they had some feeling of attachment to Christ. They had certain impulses Christ-ward which they did not resist, but they were not completely consecrated; they had a bit of the presence of the Holy Spirit but not at a full measure.
Character is confirmed by crisis. A man has only as much religion as he desires and can muster in the moment of trial. The minor surprises of life that come our way are to prepare us for the last emergency. Character is a personal thing and cannot be passed from one person to another, but must be acquired and manifested by each one for himself. I cannot give you my courage to fortify you for your duty. How perilous to leave preparation for the testing times till they have come upon us. Every time we perform duty the soul is made stronger. It is thereby the store of oil is obtained. 1 Peter 1:5,7
Right now is the time to be fully prepared. Certain lost opportunities cannot be recalled.
–Pastor Ward Clinton
–Pastor Ward Clinton
The events spoken of in this chapter will be in the latter days. (Soon?) These enemies will come together to invade the land of Israel but the God of Father Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will defeat them.
Eze 38:1-10 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Son of man, let your face be turned against Gog, of the land of Magog, the ruler of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and be a prophet against him, And say, This is what the Lord has said: See, I am against you, O Gog, ruler of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal: And turning you round, I will … make you come out with all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them in full war-dress, a great force with breastplate and body-cover, all of them armed with swords: Persia, Cush, and Put with them; all of them with body-cover and metal head-dress: Gomer and all her forces; the people of Togarmah in the inmost parts of the north, with all his forces: a great number of peoples with you.
Be ready, make yourself ready, you and all the forces who are with you, and be ready for my orders. After a long time you will get your orders: in the last years you will come into the land which has been given back from the sword, which has been got together out of a great number of peoples, on the mountains of Israel which have ever been a waste: but it has been taken out from the peoples and they will be living, all of them, without fear of danger. And you will go up, you will come like a storm, you will be like a cloud covering the land, you and all your forces, and a great number of peoples with you. This is what the Lord has said: In that day it will come about that things will come into your mind, and you will have thoughts of an evil design: To take their property by force and go off with their goods; turning your hand against the waste places which now are peopled, and against the people who have been got together out of the nations, who have got cattle and goods for themselves, who are living in the middle of the earth.
Sure, the ancient names tend to be somewhat confusing to our ears today but with a bit of study we can see North Africa and Turkey and Russia in their all plotting to invade Israel. It is obviously going to be an even more impressive coalition than the one that engaged Israel in the Six Day War. Apparently Allah and his forces have forgotten how badly they lost in that war. To human eyes this coalition is going to be able to come into Israel and kill every man, woman, and child in less than a day but the Muslim god is going to lose again; he should have been satisfied with having Mecca and all the land that he already had with all of its oil.
Everyone, open your eyes and see that Israel is dwelling “safely” in that land because they are under the protection of the God of Father Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is not because they deserve it but because God has promised to do this because of His own holy name. Endeavors against them therefore will end in failure. The 38th chapter of Ezekiel goes on to tell that the coalition that comes against Israel will be destroyed and there is nothing that the god of Mohammad can do to prevent it. Father God, God of Father Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the one true God who sees, hears, and speaks, glorify Thy name.
–Pastor Ward Clinton
–Pastor Ward Clinton
–Pastor Ward Clinton
Psalm 83:1-8 O God, do not keep quiet: let your lips be open and take no rest, O God. For see! those who make war on you are out of control; your haters are lifting up their heads. They have made wise designs against your people, talking together against those whom you keep in a secret place. They have said, Come, let us put an end to them as a nation; so that the name of Israel may go out of man’s memory. For they have all come to an agreement; they are all joined together against you: The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab and the Hagarites; Gebal and Ammon and Amalek; the Philistines and the people of Tyre; Assur is joined with them; they have become the support of the children of Lot. – Basic English Translation
Sometimes God seems not to be too concerned at the unjust treatment of his people. But then we may call upon him, as the psalmist does here. The God of Father Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob can answer; the god of Abraham and Ishmael does not and cannot answer. All who do not obey the God of Father Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are His enemies, whether they realize it or not.
The Lord’s people are his hidden one; the world understands them not. He, the one true God, the God of Father Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the one true God and He it is who takes them under His special protection. Do the enemies of the Lord’s church act with one consent to destroy it, and shall not the friends of the church be united? They are wicked men who wish that there might be no Jewish or Christian religion among mankind. They would gladly see all its restraints shaken off, and all that preach, profess, or practice it, cut off. This they would bring to pass if it were within their power. The enemies of God’s church have always been many: this magnifies the power of the Lord in preserving to himself a church in the world.
Psalm 83: 9-18 Do to them what you did to the Midianites; what you did to Sisera and Jabin, at the stream of Kishon: Who came to destruction at En-dor; their bodies became dust and waste. Make their chiefs like Oreb and Zeeb; and all their rulers like Zebah and Zalmunna: Who have said, Let us take for our heritage the resting-place of God. O my God, make them like the rolling dust; like dry stems before the wind. As fire burning a wood, and as a flame causing fire on the mountains, So go after them with your strong wind, and let them be full of fear because of your storm. Let their faces be full of shame; so that they may give honour to your name, O Lord. Let them be overcome and troubled for ever; let them be put to shame and come to destruction; So that men may see that you only, whose name is Yahweh, are Most High over all the earth. – Basic English Translation
All who oppose the kingdom of The Christ may here read their doom. God is the same still that ever he was; the same to his people (the Jews and the Christians), and the same against His and their enemies. God would make their enemies like a tumbleweed; unsettled in all their counsels and resolves. Not only let them be driven away as stubble, but burnt as stubble. And this will be the end of those who oppose the God of Father Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. His resting place is Jerusalem. The resting place of Allah and the Black Stone is Mecca, therefore be happy and no longer jealous lest what you have be taken away also.
Lord God of Father Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob let them be made to fear Thy holy name, and perhaps that will bring them to seek Thy name. We know we should desire no confusion to our enemies and persecutors but what may bring about their conversion. The stormy tempest of Divine vengeance will overtake them, unless they repent and seek the pardoning mercy of the one true God of Father Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God’s triumphs over his enemies, clearly prove that he is, according to his name YAHWEH, the almighty Being, who has all power and perfection in Himself. May we fear His wrath, and yield ourselves to be His willing servants that we may know the comfort of His Love and the joy of His salvation so freely provided by His glorious hand.
–Pastor Ward Clinton
–Pastor Ward Clinton
–Pastor Ward Clinton
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