Overcoming with extra oil!

Matthew 25:1-12 Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish (thoughtless, without forethought) and five were wise (sensible, intelligent, and prudent).3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they did not take any [extra] oil with them;4 But the wise took flasks of oil along with them [also] with their lamps.5 While the bridegroom lingered and was slow in coming, they all began nodding their heads, and they fell asleep.6 But at midnight there was a shout, Behold, the bridegroom! Go out to meet him!7 Then all those virgins got up and put their own lamps in order.8 And the foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. 9 But the wise replied, There will not be enough for us and for you; go instead to the dealers and buy for yourselves.10 But while they were going away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were prepared went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut.11 Later the other virgins also came and said, Lord, Lord, open [the door] to us!12 But He replied, I solemnly declare to you, I do not know you [I am not acquainted with you].

Although many look at these verses with pertaining to the coming of the Lord, we must observe a closer look with these two groups. Both groups are believers. Both groups have the Holy Spirit. We can even say both groups have been baptized by the Holy Spirit as both with oil possess spiritual gifts. 

Where were the ten virgins taking their lamps? Only five virgins during their journey had taken extra flasks of oil along with them. Why were there two groups? Even in the church community, there is a division between those who seek and are spiritual and those who do not have much interest of it. Common ground or division is based on our interests. Is our interest all in the Lord or are there sub groups within the church who rather discuss about sports, money, ambition, greed, and/or other idols on His Holy Day?

Luke 12:49-51 (AMP) I have come to cast fire upon the earth, and how I wish that it were already kindled! 50 I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and how greatly and sorely I am urged on (impelled, [a]constrained) until it is accomplished!51 Do you suppose that I have come to give peace upon earth? No, I say to you, but rather division;


When Jesus comes to bring division, is He bringing division between the believers and heathens? No, He is bringing division between the sheep and goats. The goats or tares are not the unbelievers. Tares look like wheat as they grow. Only at the end will we see its fruit. The goat and tares are believers who are rebellious, disobedient, and/or corrupted. He comes to make us choose. 

The ten virgins have been broken up into two groups of five. The number five represents grace. Both groups have equal chance and grace to be received by the Bridegroom. Both groups are on a journey called life as they both wait upon His return. 

Both groups have spiritual gifts. Even the five foolish virgins with no extra oil have spiritual gifts. They have the original amount of oil given to them at the birth of their salvation. But at the end when the Bridegroom comes, He will declare, "I DO NOT KNOW YOU!." How come so many can not fear such words from the Lord?

Matthew 7:21-23 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name. 23 And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands]. 

In Matthew 7, the Lord said openly in public to those who disregarded His commands, I NEVER KNEW YOU. DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO ACT WICKEDLY!

But you see, in verse 22, it states that many will say to HIM, did we not prophesied in Your Name and driven out demons in Your Name and down many mighty works in Your Name? Too those He said He did not know not only had spiritual gifts but they also had POWER! 

The five foolish virgins can speak in tongue. The five foolish virgins can prophesied. The five foolish virgins can drive out demons. The five foolish virgins can do many mighty works in His Name. The five foolish virgins had oil to start with.

I have observed many Christians who may be stumbling or even who have fallen away. Many of them still possess their gifts such as to speak in tongue. Many of them still possess their gift to prophesied. Many of them still possess their gift to hear God. They may even still have dreams and visions. But many such Christians are struggling with addictions, idols, bondage, and can be very carnal and short sighted. They are the five foolish virgins who are still given grace. 

Many who struggle with addictions, bondage, idols, and the other problems of life have a choice. They can be content with their original amount of oil thinking it is suffice because they have been given grace to possess certain spiritual gifts. Or they can seek Jesus on a more intimate level to possess more of the Holy Spirit. The five wise virgins are those who have chosen to give their choices to God and seek the deeper things of God and to be FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. Many say they are filled with the Holy Spirit yet their joy and peace is not complete. The addictions, bondage, and idols in their lives prevent the joy and peace from being complete. They have not given all their heart to Jesus. They have not fully surrendered even though they have been led to believe it by the enemy and their own flesh.

What is the answer to being filled with the Holy Spirit? Have we forgiven our brethren? Have we forgiven those who have hurt us? You must fully surrender your lives. Is giving up watching NFL, soccer, NBA, and MLB sports such a high price for you? Is giving up your personal ambitions such a high price for you? Is giving up casual drinking too high of a price? Is giving up the secular music too high of a price? Is giving up watching hours and hours of TV too high of a price? Is going to church more than once a week too much for your time? Is praying and spending time in personal worship not important enough for you to make such a time? Is keeping His 4th commandment holy (Sundays) too much to ask? Is tithing and making offering to God just too much of a strain on your pocket books? Yet, we have the money to pay our cable, iPhone, buy video games and tickets to sports arena? And we wonder why we cannot get our spiritual breakthroughs? 

The remedies of life is not about having more money. It is not a seven step program. It is not a twelve step program. It is not about popping more pills for your physical ailments. It is not about getting more education. It is not about going to this place or that place. It is not about thinking you need to do God's work/ministry asap. It is not about going to theology school. It is not about finding a remedy through physical means. The remedy is spending more time with God and getting to know HIM and learning His Ways! It is simple as that. When your life is consumed with God rather than consumed with other idols, then you will be filled with extra oil on this journey of life. And as you are filled with extra oil spending more time with God, then you will achieve and overcome all the problems the world throws at you. Because the Word says, if you are born of God, you will overcome the world!

It is about spending quality time in prayer, worship, and reading. It is about keeping and walking in His Commandments. You cannot pray, worship, and read and break His commandments at the same time. You will nullify your time with HIM. You cannot say you love the Lord but have so much evil things to say about those who have hurt you. It is not about shouting "Jesus is Lord" on Facebook in so many different ways each and every day and then being a reviler off Facebook. Many are revilers on Facebook regardless!

And as we overcome all our trails and tests by spending more time with the Lord rather than focusing and spending our time in our problems, we are thus filled with His Spirit and we will OVERCOME!! And as we OVERCOME, we will qualify ourselves to be the bride of Christ for the rapture. Running from our problems and defeats thinking the rapture will rescue us is but delusion. There are no quitters or runners in the Kingdom of God. You must hold your ground. You are a child of the Most High! You must learn the ways of God. You must understand the spiritual authority of God so you do not become a rebel. Do you think Korah (Numbers 16) and his whole family went down to Hell alive thinking he was rebelling against God? Many think they are good to go. But in reality, they are already falling.

1 Corinthians 10:12 (AMP) Therefore let anyone who thinks he stands [who feels sure that he has a steadfast mind and is standing firm], take heed lest he fall [into sin].

Do not think you know enough or have reached a level in which you can relax. Such thinking is pride. Possessing spiritual gifts does not exempt one from hearing the words, "I DO NOT KNOW YOU!" You must continue to move forward knowing a higher cost is required. More of your time is required. Is your time more valuable than spending it with HIM? Be consumed by HIM. You must return to your First Love. He is a consuming Fire. May you all be baptized by His Holy Spirit Fire. Remember, prayer fans the Fire of God in you. Hallelujah!

Fire of God Ministries International Church
Pastor Steve Yong Kim
December 26, 2012