Tag Archives: 10 Virgins

How Bright is Your Bulb?

Be grateful for a giving heart, for a loving, giving, excited heart; exited about what God has for you. And what God has for you is His will for you. So we need to make sure that we allow God to be number 1 in our lives. At this time, we have to give honor to whom honor is due. Know this, how long halt you between two opinions? The Bible tells us to let your light so shine so that men will see you, but give God the glory for it. So let’s give God His due. My old Bishop use to say give the man his dough. This is God’s time, so take everything off your mind.

Matthew 5:16

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Shine. Shine. Let your light so shine. How are you shining? What do people see imminating out of you? Do they see the light of God? Do you represent Him, or is it what He represents in you? We need to understand one thing, we need to let Christ shine through us. Because if He doesn’t shine and we do shine, we will start leading people astray. Because its about the God in us.

The Greek words for shine is Lampo meaning shine like a torch. The word torch has been used so many times throughout history, even when they show men in a cave, they have a lit torch so they can see their way through the darkness. If you are light, then people can see the path that leads to righteousness through you. Let your light so shine. So you are that torch that will guide people to Christ. Now, the word torch is more often used in England, because they call a flashlight a torch. So we represent the flame of God. Its an awesome thing to be a representation of something that you believe in; that you love. If you love somebody, and you say, I’m coming in the name of the one I love, Jesus. In the natural sense you are always proud to represent your significant other. But think about it, how do you shine? Do you shine with that representation or are you shining of something else like mess or your burdens?

You’ve seen people loaded down, carrying the weight and burden of someone else. Then they come and say “Let me pray for you.” Then you should say “That’s ok, I prayed last night.” You don’t want them to lay hands on you. You don’t what them to pray for you because whatever is on them will transfer onto you. The Bible says lay hands on no man suddenly. If you are praying for someone on the other hand, you don’t pray for what they want, because you don’t know what they want. They may be going through, so don’t pray that they come out of it or that God delivers them from it because you know why? God wants them to go through, because you don’t know their life what they’ve been through, you don’t know what they need to go through so they can get through! So you pray that the Will of God will be done in their lives. When you aren’t around them you don’t know what they’re doing. People do mess, and try to get you to pray for them so their mess can go forward. Oh no! Its called validation of prayer. They need you to quantify what they’re doing. That is why the Bible says lay hands on no man suddenly. I will pray true enough, I will pray for you, and your family. You don’t have to pray out loud. The scribes and pharisees did it all the time. No, you pray “I pray the Will of God in your life.” They look at you like “but why aren’t you praying for my benefit?” The best way to help someone who is going through is to stand back and pray from a far. You get up on them and touch them and whatever is on them you may you go through. You lay hands on them, and then others on others, and then we’re all jacked up. How bright is your bulb? Could some of the things we’re going through be because of who we’ve been with? How bright is your bulb? You’re looking kind of dim.

A light designates some place of shelter or desire to be at. So when you are a light you are showing detail of everything. In the dark you can’t describe anybody. In the light you can tell what is what. For example, when you come to a crossing in a road, there are lights up there. What are the major colors? Red, green and yellow. We know what those mean. Stop, go and slow down. Some of you see a green light, that means to go as fast as you can, and yellow is go faster so you can beat the yellow light. When you come to a railroad crossing and the gate goes down, and the lights are flashing what do you do? Its not for you the snake through the gates and try to go through. It means stop and wait for the train to come. We have to pay attention because we know that those things are there for us to be cautious.

Can you use a black bulb to get through the dark? There are black bulbs, that are ultraviolet, but you can’t look in the dark. Can you look in the dark with a black bulb? No. You need something bright to light your path. The blind can’t lead the blind. You don’t know anything about anything but you’ll try to tell me how. Understand this, we can’t come to conclusions in our lives that we want to follow the correct path and the thing that illuminates in our hearts and minds we need to follow because it looks bright to us. Not every light leads to the right destination. If you wear the light of Christ, when you’re going through is your light bright? No. How can it be? Its just like a flash light. How many walk around the house at night with a weak flash light? Do you still use it? No because its dim. Associate that with your Christian walk. Now the world can see when there are things that are on you, and you want to pray for whom? You don’t want someone coming to you with a weak light, and you don’t want your light to be weak. What happens to a remote with a weak battery? How long does it take you to realize your bulb and battery are low? That means you’re not charged up by the Holy Ghost. “I’m strong, I understand, I have Christ in me. He’s all I need,” you say. Is He really all you need? If He is, then why is your battery so weak? How did it get that way? You got that mindset that “I’m going to ‘Jesus’ until I drop.” Then you go to Him and say Jesus why am I like this? He’ll say “Did you take a look at your battery?” But you say “Lord, You are the supercharge of batteries.” He’ll say “But didn’t I tell you to rest?” Jesus even got away from the crowd to pray, in one piece, not in bits and pieces. We don’t understand that our batteries need to be recharged as a Child of God because if you don’t you get the wrong information. How bright is your bulb? Just like the old scary movie. Someone walks in with a torch, and the wind is blowing, and just before it goes out something strange passes your way, and then the torch blows out.

People will drain you until there is nothing left but a spark and then there are those who try to take the spark! People plug into you and their meter goes up, but then your meter goes down. Then they get mad at you when you don’t have enough juice to power them up. Then they ask what’s wrong with you? Your bulb doesn’t look very bright. Well because you drained me! 10 wise and 10 foolish brides in Matthew 10, the 10 foolish immediately asked, can I used your battery back up!? And the wise said, well you could have bought one of these, just go down to the store and buy one. Well you have enough to give me some the foolish said. You saw that your meter was low, how is that going to help you?

When your fishing around to look for power, and you don’t get on your knees and plug it in the wall, if you’re there just the drain something and don’t recharge it back. Its just like the person who doesn’t understand the Word of God and goes out and tries to get a quick word and tries to explain it to someone else based on their skewed understanding. How bright is your bulb? Are you exuding Christ or exuding you? People who don’t have a clue and don’t have the light in them will always want to be around those that do, but they are like leeches.

You know what leeches do? Suck the blood out of you, because there is life in the blood, and they won’t let go until they are full. So we have spiritual leeches who don’t know anything about Christians and don’t have a clue about what a christian really is. They don’t know about humility, long suffering, but they know about complaining and whining. They don’t know the Word, but they look to you. They go to you for the word, prayer, and everything, because they can’t go for themselves. Can you get a letter through to Christ, my phone is being blocked. Why does a person get blocked? Because they don’t want to hear from you. Folks will use that to drain you, they’ll go to other people to hear from you because they can’t hear from you. Spiritual leeches need someone to latch onto to get to where they need to get to. They look for life in something because they’re dead, and can’t communicate with the One who give us power. I can’t get the Holy Ghost, but I know its in you and I know what it looks like. You are carrying Duracell, not those dollar store batteries that last long enough for you to get the product home and then go out. When everything else dies, Duracell endures. When everything else fails the Holy Ghost endures. People know that. That is why people mimic the Holy Ghost, they mimic tounges, because they want people to see that they have power, because as a Christina you can’t walk without power. I need to tap into that power. Even though you mimic and look the part, everyone can see that your bulb isn’t even bright, but its off. You have to be aware of these spiritual leeches.

To keep your energy up and the Holy Ghost up inside you, you need to take time in prayer. Those quick fixes “Jesus give me strength, you know and understand me. Amen.” How would you like if someone you love just said I love you and then quickly leaves? You wouldn’t, so does Christ want that? Now, where is quality time you spend with Christ? On the go? On the TV? Online? Why? Don’t have to give an offering. I can get the Word for free because I’m one of those spiritual leeches. How can you hear if you don’t have a preacher and how can he hear unless he’s been sent?

How many have battery back ups? Your battery back up should be your Bible. How many have phones? You are the phone. Getting on your knees makes the connection. Everything you need to live according to holiness and godliness is the Bible. Is the anointing enough in your life that you can hear from God and activate in God? Or do you have to go get one of those generators to activate in God? Picture this, all Christians are trying to get started in the morning, and you look over the horizon and see them all trying to crank a generator? The whole point is let your light so shine, the Holy Ghost shine. How can it shine if you haven’t feed it lately? Can your car get somewhere if it has no gas? No. So if you don’t have the anointing and Holy Ghost in your life, you can’t go anywhere. You may sound good and look good, that car may be beautiful and nice looking, but will it go anywhere? There may be some gorgeous and fine looking saints, who look presentable, but they aren’t going anywhere. Have you ever gone to a church and left there more depleted than when you came in? No power left in the house. The problem is we’re always trying to leech and latch onto others, when we should get it for ourselves. Maintain your bulb by being around people who will fill you up, not those who will drain you.

 

Matthew 25:1-12

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 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. 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. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

 

The Lord may need to take something away from you, to break something in your life, because He needs to lead you, because you aren’t listening to Him. So He has to break things in your life that you thought were secure. When God is getting ready to do something awesome in your life, watch how many old people and situations Satan throws up in your life again. Stay away from people that steal your light and your life. Make sure you stay around people who will encourage and inspire you; people who are blessed, who really genuinely care about you. Not people who are validated by your presence. You need to get away from them, because they can’t stand on their own 2 feet, and don’t look back. They are leeches in your life and when they drain your for themselves, they don’t care about you. Its time to let go. If they are draining you, they don’t love or care about you. The Lord said in the last days it would be husband against wife, sister against brother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law; I know you love them and care about them, but love them from a far, let them go. Its either the Lord or you. The Lord doesn’t drain you so let the other person go. Remember the Bible tells us to love one another. The people of God are your friends but you still have to love them, because you have the same goals in mind, and that is to be with the Lord, and we get there being of one mind, conversation and thought. Support each other, love each other, and care about each other.

Tell Me What’s Going On?

Tell Me What’s Going on in this age?

1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

When the people in this world or even in the House of God despise you because you choose not to indulge yourself in the sexual behavior of today, don’t allow those things to bother you. Because whom God has given His Holy Spirit to, they are holy and they have the power of the Holy Ghost to endure all these sexual behaviors. It is so easy these days to get caught up in some form or another of sexual depravity. It is so easy to get caught up in someone else’s sin. Those who are the Children of God have to be very careful whom they talk to, who they hang around with, whom they associate with, what they look at, where they go, and whom they listen to. Because Satan is trying his best to lure the Children of God into a snare. If you look at it, a snare does not kill the creature; its like when you have a snare to catch a rabbit or deer, it does not kill the creature, it holds the creature at bay. It keeps them from running away, from moving from their spot, so that when the hunter comes, he can capture it. So the snare delays your walk in Christ. And what men and women of the Church don’t understand is that Satan is not trying to kill you, he just wants to catch you up to put a snare or stumbling block in your way, because if he can put a snare around you, he’ll keep you from pursuing your growth and understanding in the knowledge of God. So don’t count it all strange when you enter into diverse temptations. Those are diverse snares. But when you overcome those diverse temptations, you will have the ability to go through to help someone else to come out of those snares in their life. You will become a living witness of the Word.

1 Thessalonians 4:9-11

But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; And that ye study to be quiet,

Sometimes, we have to know how to keep our mouths shut. Sometimes, we need to be quiet, so that we can hear what another individual is saying. Because a lot of times, their heart is speaking concerning an issue. Not their mouth. That is the problem with the Children of God today. They open their ears to someone telling them mess, but close their ears to someone telling the truth. The Children of God today would rather hear a lie about a thing than to hear the actual truth.

Its good to be quiet, because a lot of times when God is trying to talk to us, we can’t hear Him because we’re over talking Him! It’s what we call reasoning out God. In other words, we’ll reason something out 1st before we hear the Word of God. So we need to study to be quiet. Be abased in every situation. Some of us can’t get along with anyone on our jobs because we don’t know how to keep our mouths quiet. We’re mad at other employees because they said something to us we didn’t like. So now we have to get revenge. So we open our mouths and express ourselves. Most of the time the Children of God will tell someone they’re mad with “I’m saved,” as though that gives them license to speak and condemn someone. You don’t need to utilize salvation to attack someone. God never put us down on this Earth to attack our fellow man. As a matter of fact, He speaks against that all the time. In His statement to Peter, after he’d cut off the ear of the High Priest’s assistant, He said to Peter, put the blade away. If you live by the sword, you will die by the sword.

Your mouth is like a sword. It will cut people up, it will kill people. It takes no hostages. God said with a kind word have a drawn thee. Ain’t no kindness gone to come outta your flesh. There is no kindness that will come out of your flesh. You need to study on how to keep silent, how to keep quiet. It’s important that you hear the end of a matter before you speak. When you speak, make sure you speak from the Word of God, and not from your mind.

 

1 Thessalonians 4: 11

And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

We can’t be about someone else’s business. We are always up in side of some else’s mind and business. Ain’t got nothing to do with you. One of the first words that comes out of our mouth is “I just gave my opinion.” But no one asked your opinion. Keep you mouth quiet, mind your own business. The next word people may say is “Well I feel, I know better.” When a person says out of their mouth “I feel,” then its not God’s will, its that individuals will. Your feeling is based on your thought, how you want things to be. Then you begin to judge others according to your understanding, and not God’s understanding according to His word. Study to be quiet.

 

1 Thessalonians 4:12-14

That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing. But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

 

You can’t be worried about the dead. Let the dead take care of themselves. If they died in Christ, they are a raised in their dead. If they died without Christ, they will be raised without Him and go to Hell.

 

1 Thessalonians 4:15-16

For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

If they died in Him, the will be raised in Him. So why are you worried about what the dead are doing? Keep quiet, study to be quiet. Don’t go out asking off the wall questions or off the wall things. You are bringing up mess to hold others from the truth. Study to be quiet.

 

1 Thessalonians 4:17-18

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

 

1 Thessalonians 5:1-2

But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

 

Its so important that we be not concerned about the things going on around us because we are liable to get caught up with those things, and we’ll be like the 5 virgins who were not wise, and be left behind, because we are so entangled with the things of this world and life. I tell you brothers and sisters in Christ, don’t allow your family members to get you caught in your past. Don’t allow, yourself to be hung up with what someone has done to you in the past. Even if its not in the past and happening now, don’t allow that to lock your growth in Christ, and turn your walk off. You can’t allow old mess to become new mess in your walk. You can’t allow old mess to become new mess in your walk in Christ.

 

1 Thessalonians 5:3-4

For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

 

You are aware of the light, and know what is going on in this world. There is nothing going on in this world that should surprise, upset or cause you to turn back. So there shouldn’t be anything of this life that should catch you unaware.

1 Thessalonians 5:5-8

Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

Now if you look at that correlation. A helmet protects your head, which is where your thoughts and brain are at. The helmet is the hope of salvation. In your mind, your goal and your one hope is in Christ. That is your protection because in Christ you are a new creature, old things are passed away. Let that be your helmet so when other things come against you, you know the truth. When other lies come at you, you know the truth. When anything exalts itself against the Word of God you know the truth.

1 Thessalonians 5:9

For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

For God has not appointed the Children of God who worship and love Him to receive the damnation that is coming upon this world.

1 Thessalonians 5:10-11

Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

 

The Church today is guilty of attacking their brothers and sister, what the Bible calls biting and devouring one another. If you are busy attacking your brothers and sisters in Christ, not only have you become a hindrance to the Word of God being spread, your hindering someone else’s salvation. This is abomination to God. “I don’t like this,” and “I don’t like that.” Study to be quiet. We don’t need to hear your opinion, everything is not going to go your way, but God’s way. You have to study to be quiet.

 

1 Thessalonians 5:12

And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;

 

To know them that labor among you. We have an 8 weeks course, about knowing them that labour among you. Who is over you? Do you have someone that has the best interest of God over you, or do you have someone over because your friend likes them, or you hear someone else speak highly of them? Do you know them? This is personal, reason being is because your life depends on it. You have to know them that labour among you whether brothers or sisters, the Bishops, Pastors and Ministers. Because if they are wrong and lead you down the wrong track, you cannot do what God has purposed you to do. Sometimes, we go years being in a particular ministry or belief system, only to find out that late in your life, they’ve been teaching you wrong. If you aren’t getting the truth the unmitigated Word, then its time for you to leave that ministry, or call to question of your leaders, “What is going on? I don’t feel I’m getting fed.” If they are true leaders of God, then they will find out what will meet your needs. If they say this is all we have for you, then you need to leave. Go where you can grow. Ask God to lead and guide you to the right place, so you can grow to your potential in Him.

 

1 Thessalonias 5:13-14

And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

This 14 verse is an awesome verse.

1 Thessalonians 5:15-28

See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. Brethren, pray for us. Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss. I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Those from the 18th to the 28th verse, you need to read that and reread it over, and get an understanding. Christ doesn’t want us to quench the Spirit. Don’t halt the spirit God has placed in you. Don’t keep it from trying to perceive or stop it. Don’t quench the spirit of someone else. Prophecy comes to you from the prophet of God to warn, encourage, enlighten and guide you. Don’t say anything without proving all things. Hold fast to the things that are good. Don’t allow things that aren’t good for you to come into your life and hold fast to that. Sometimes you have to let it go. If they aren’t good for your growth and soul, you have to let your friends go. If its a lifestyle you’re trying to become accustom to, if its causing you not to pray, or spend time with your Lord and Saviour, or come to church its got to go. It also says abstain from all appearance from evil. If you know it doesn’t look good, why are you hanging around it, why are you even near it? “But everyone else in my job is going and I’m a part of that job.” Well i’m sorry. If they are going to be partying and drinking then, you shouldn’t be there because its evil. Anyone who sees you will associate you with that. You have to be in oneness with Jesus. Those who aren’t are against Him, so you have to be in oneness. You want to be presented before God blameless.

Its very important that we love and spend time with God, sometime during our lives. Its very important that we spend sometime. Its just like if you have a relationship with your wife or husband, they know time builds relationship. As you build a relationship, trust is built. They know that you can go here or there and you won’t be influenced by your surroundings, and the love won’t be lost. Spending time, builds character, builds trust. So its very important that you spend time with you husband your wife, and with your Lord and Saviour and also with the Body of Christ. The Bible says fail not to assemble yourself together. You draw strength in numbers. Someone may be going through something that you can help them with, and vice versa. Its very important to remember, study to keep quiet, listen first.

James 1:19

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: