WEST CENTRAL INTEGRATED TREATMENT FACILITY – July 11, 2015
Wayne Smith and Thirley Ross joined 23 ladies (3 new) at West Central to worship our Lord and study His Word. They sang five songs in which the girls specifically picked out.
After Thirley gave her testimony, Wayne ministered on Matthew 25.
After Thirley gave her testimony, Wayne ministered on Matthew 25.
Wayne Smith and Thirley Ross joined 23 ladies (3 new) at West Central to worship our Lord and study His Word. They sang five songs in which the girls specifically picked out.
After Thirley gave her testimony, Wayne ministered on Matthew 25. He opened the sermon with the ending of a statement that made no sense. He was trying to prove a point of how context is important when reading Scripture.
Wayne switched the subject to the advantage we would have had if we would have known, before we got into trouble, when we were doing the things we got in trouble for, it would have been an advantage if we would have known every thing that the prosecutor and the judge were going to look at; were going to judge us on. We are going to stand before a great Judge one day. We are not blind to what He’s judging us on; in fact, we are given specific points in two different spots in the Bible - Revelation chapter two and three and Matthew 25.
Moving back to context, Wayne then showed how Matthew 25 was a continuation of chapter 24. This meant that Jesus was continuing His explanation of the end and was giving three very important clues to what He will be judging us on.
The first clue is located within the parable of the Ten Virgins (Matt 25:1-13). After reading the passage Wayne pointed out that understanding of the passage needed some knowledge of the ancient Jewish wedding practices.
When a man would propose to his bride, he would fill a glass with wine and pass it to her. If she drank from it, she accepted the proposal. This is why a glass is broke at the wedding ceremony - so no one else can drink from the glass. The bride and groom did not set the time the wedding would take place, the father would. And only the father knew the time. During that time, the son would return to his fathers house and prepare a place for his bride; typically by building on a portion to his fathers house. The engagement would last for a minimum of one year; in which, during that time, the bride and groom are separated. The father would send watchmen to care for the needs of the bride and the bride would keep a lamp in her window burning. If the lamp were to ever go out, it meant that she had been unfaithful and the wedding was off. With this understanding, they started to point out what they were seeing in the passage.
There were 10 brides waiting on a groom. They were all brides which means Yeshua is talking about the church and not the world. The groom seemed to be delayed in his coming; just as it would seem that Jesus is delayed today. Five of the brides did not acquire enough oil for the lamps. They were unfaithful. In the Old Testament, we notice that God calls Israel unfaithful and a harlot or whore when ever they would become engrossed with worldly things over Him. We are either married to Christ or we are married to the world. When we become engrossed in the world, we become a harlot that is unqualified for marriage.
The second clue is located within the parable of the Talents (Matt 25:14-30). In looking at a little context, Wayne pointed out that talents, in this parable, is not things we are good at. Talents is money; riches. In looking at what we are seeing, the ladies pointed out that the riches of God, and the riches of Heaven, are the souls that are saved. We see that each person is given a portion of riches; a portion that is dependent upon that servants ability. We see that this parable shows that it was a long time before the master returned also. We also see that the servant who received one talent was still a servant; which means this parable is about people in the church.
We were all given a portion of riches from God, based upon our abilities. Some of us may be knowledgeable and some not. Some of us may be a little more quiet, some out going. Yet, there is no excuse, we each are given a portion; and we each are responsible for that portion. We have a purpose which is to expand into the Kingdom of God. We are not vegetables, we are fruit. The reason Christ used fruit so often is because it includes the seeds that reproduce. We are to reproduce. When we bury the riches of God and we don’t reproduce, we are unfaithful and wicked - and are in danger of judgement.
The third clue is located within the parable of the Sheep and Goats (Matt 25:-46). In looking at what we are seeing, we notice that to do something to a person in need is just like doing it to Christ. We also notice that the sheep did not realize they were doing it. We noticed that the sheep and goats were dwelling together; which would give a clue that Christ is talking about the church. That clue is further enforced when we see the goats call Him “Lord”.
The Father is Father to the orphan and Husband to the widow. He cares for people who are in need. He wants to use His people and allow them the privilege of joining in His work. When we are given desires to help, we need to act upon those. It’s not good just to have the desire and to do nothing. If we don’t have desires, we need to be examining ourselves and praying for a desire. Until then, we understand that doing good to those in need is a command that we should do joyfully. When we don’t act in a connection with the character of God in love and mercy to those in need, we are in danger of judgment.
They closed the service with community prayer for the ladies, their needs, and their families.
After Thirley gave her testimony, Wayne ministered on Matthew 25. He opened the sermon with the ending of a statement that made no sense. He was trying to prove a point of how context is important when reading Scripture.
Wayne switched the subject to the advantage we would have had if we would have known, before we got into trouble, when we were doing the things we got in trouble for, it would have been an advantage if we would have known every thing that the prosecutor and the judge were going to look at; were going to judge us on. We are going to stand before a great Judge one day. We are not blind to what He’s judging us on; in fact, we are given specific points in two different spots in the Bible - Revelation chapter two and three and Matthew 25.
Moving back to context, Wayne then showed how Matthew 25 was a continuation of chapter 24. This meant that Jesus was continuing His explanation of the end and was giving three very important clues to what He will be judging us on.
The first clue is located within the parable of the Ten Virgins (Matt 25:1-13). After reading the passage Wayne pointed out that understanding of the passage needed some knowledge of the ancient Jewish wedding practices.
When a man would propose to his bride, he would fill a glass with wine and pass it to her. If she drank from it, she accepted the proposal. This is why a glass is broke at the wedding ceremony - so no one else can drink from the glass. The bride and groom did not set the time the wedding would take place, the father would. And only the father knew the time. During that time, the son would return to his fathers house and prepare a place for his bride; typically by building on a portion to his fathers house. The engagement would last for a minimum of one year; in which, during that time, the bride and groom are separated. The father would send watchmen to care for the needs of the bride and the bride would keep a lamp in her window burning. If the lamp were to ever go out, it meant that she had been unfaithful and the wedding was off. With this understanding, they started to point out what they were seeing in the passage.
There were 10 brides waiting on a groom. They were all brides which means Yeshua is talking about the church and not the world. The groom seemed to be delayed in his coming; just as it would seem that Jesus is delayed today. Five of the brides did not acquire enough oil for the lamps. They were unfaithful. In the Old Testament, we notice that God calls Israel unfaithful and a harlot or whore when ever they would become engrossed with worldly things over Him. We are either married to Christ or we are married to the world. When we become engrossed in the world, we become a harlot that is unqualified for marriage.
The second clue is located within the parable of the Talents (Matt 25:14-30). In looking at a little context, Wayne pointed out that talents, in this parable, is not things we are good at. Talents is money; riches. In looking at what we are seeing, the ladies pointed out that the riches of God, and the riches of Heaven, are the souls that are saved. We see that each person is given a portion of riches; a portion that is dependent upon that servants ability. We see that this parable shows that it was a long time before the master returned also. We also see that the servant who received one talent was still a servant; which means this parable is about people in the church.
We were all given a portion of riches from God, based upon our abilities. Some of us may be knowledgeable and some not. Some of us may be a little more quiet, some out going. Yet, there is no excuse, we each are given a portion; and we each are responsible for that portion. We have a purpose which is to expand into the Kingdom of God. We are not vegetables, we are fruit. The reason Christ used fruit so often is because it includes the seeds that reproduce. We are to reproduce. When we bury the riches of God and we don’t reproduce, we are unfaithful and wicked - and are in danger of judgement.
The third clue is located within the parable of the Sheep and Goats (Matt 25:-46). In looking at what we are seeing, we notice that to do something to a person in need is just like doing it to Christ. We also notice that the sheep did not realize they were doing it. We noticed that the sheep and goats were dwelling together; which would give a clue that Christ is talking about the church. That clue is further enforced when we see the goats call Him “Lord”.
The Father is Father to the orphan and Husband to the widow. He cares for people who are in need. He wants to use His people and allow them the privilege of joining in His work. When we are given desires to help, we need to act upon those. It’s not good just to have the desire and to do nothing. If we don’t have desires, we need to be examining ourselves and praying for a desire. Until then, we understand that doing good to those in need is a command that we should do joyfully. When we don’t act in a connection with the character of God in love and mercy to those in need, we are in danger of judgment.
They closed the service with community prayer for the ladies, their needs, and their families.