INSIGHTS & NOTES FROM
"VERS. 1 - 13. Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto 10 virgins."
"'5 were wise & 5 were foolish.'" "...CHARACTER IS REVEALED BY CRISIS." "...CHARACTER IS A PERSONAL THING, & cannot be given by one man to another, but MUST BE ACQUIRED & MANIFESTED BY EACH ONE FOR HIMSELF." "...LOST OPPORTUNITIES CANNOT BE RECALLED." "The souls NEEDS LIGHT. The fact that Christ died to save sinners is the only torch that can scatter the soul's gloom." "The gospel the only true soul torch" "The folly & danger of resting satisfied with the outward form of godliness" "...many professed Christians content themselves with the mere outward forms of religion." "'5 of them were wise & 5 were foolish.' Their wisdom was shown in making a proper preparation for the future." "...those who make such a vain profession are most unwise." "Not what I say, but what I am, is my security." "The design of Christ in the parable is to induce watchfulness" "'And the door was shut.'" "Heaven will never be seen & enjoyed by sinners. Their probation is ended; their glad time is over. All the means of grace have passed away. The dispensation of the gospel is closed. All instruments employed to convert & to save will be employed no more. The Spirit will strive no more. Hope is for ever past." "Let Christians be watchful: trim their lamps; the Bridegroom is at hand." "Many talk well; their notions are high & strict, but observe them narrowly, & you will find them cold & careless" "The folly of the foolish: - It consisteth - I. In their attaining to some degree of the knowledge of the way of salvation, & yet having no interest in the blessed Saviour." "Their folly consisteth in believing the father of lies, & in trusting in their own hearts, when nothing is more deceitful." "Trimming the lamps: - The trimming of the lamp denotes the cleansing of it, & the taking off of the dead ashes that hinder the light, or prevent its burning so clearly as otherwise it would. Now what is this, but the putting away of all iniquity by faith & unfeigned repentance." "Unbelief, deadness, earthliness, & self-confidence is like to a thief in the candle, or dead ashes in the wick of a lamp, & therefore must be snuffed by mortification, lest the spirit of God be grieved & depart from us" "...a man may be very much like a Christian & yet not be one. He may come very near the kingdom, & yet not enter in." "He may have the complete dress of the saint, & yet not be one. He may have a good life, a sound creed, a strict profession; he may be one who says & does many things excellent;" "He may lack the oil, the Holy Spirit. (H. Bonar, D. D.)" "...wisdom lieth in providence, & folly in negligence" "The lamp of faith is only an instrument. It needs the oil; 'That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.' Therefore arise & trim the lamp. (Paxton Hood.)" "A creed about Christianity will not do. A philosophy of Christianity will not do. Deeper, deeper - 'I know whom I have believed.'" "Ver. 10. And the door was shut." "EXCLUSION." "WHAT IS THE DOOR WHICH IS SHUT. 1. The door of repentance will be shut." "The door of heaven was shut." "The door of mercy was shut." "The door of hope was shut." "It is God who shuts the door." "Distinction between saints & sinners is a lasting one. (B. Beddome, A. M.)" "The duty of watching for the Lord's coming; - Many things should make us look & long for the Lord's coming." "If you were always watching, it would have an effect on those among whom you live; it would either condemn or awaken them." "Vers. 14 - 30. Who called his own servants, & delivered unto them his goods. - Life a journey" "Time is a talent. Intellectual power is a talent. Moral capacity is a talent." "Relative influence is a talent." "...HE WHO HAS IMPARTED THESE TALENTS RIGHTEOUSLY DEMANDS THEIR IMPROVEMENT." "THE PERIOD WILL ARRIVE WHEN HE WILL COME TO DEMAND AN ACCOUNT." "...make the best use of whatever we have." "Make a good investment by investing in eternity." "When the talents are used they grow by use, & increase for God." "No commendation like the Master's 'well done.'" "If Christ has given you 1 talent; it is because at present He sees you cannot handle more." "...NEW OPPORTUNITIES COME TO US WITH OUR IMPROVEMENT OF THOSE WHICH WE ALREADY HAVE." "Faithful service widens opportunity." "He who buried 1 talent would have buried 5, his failure was in his character." "The reward of faithful service will be enlarged capacity & scope for service." "Better to use 1 talents well than 5 wickedly" "ALL THAT WE HAVE, &, INDEED, ALL THAT WE ARE, BELONGS TO GOD." "We are servants - under authority... God's authority over us is entire & unlimited." "God has entrusted us with 'His goods.'" "THE DOOM OF THE SERVANT WHO HAD BUT 1 TALENT..." "His sin was slothfulness." "There can be no valid excuse for not serving God. (T. D. Crothers.)" "The good servant: - 1. He is commended. 2. Promoted. 3. Admitted to joys unspeakable. (W. Jowett, M. A.)" "What a lamentable state of mind to wish to get to heaven, & yet to turn in a bad temper from the only path that leads to it!" "The sin of unprofitableness: - I. UNPROFITABLENESS IMPLIES A MIND UNLIKE THAT OF GOD, & THEREFORE UNFIT FOR COMMUNION WITH GOD. 1. The mind of the unprofitable one is marked by indifference to the welfare of others." "'Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness.' (D. Moore, M. A.)" "He was wicked because unfaithful to his trust." "...THOSE WHO FAITHFULLY IMPROVE THE BLESSINGS WHICH GOD BESTOWS UPON THEM MAY REASONABLY EXPECT FURTHER MARKS OF HIS FAVOUR." "God has promised to reward past fidelity with future favours." "Those who abuse God's favours have reason to expect that He will diminish them. (N. Emmons, D. D.)" "Every one hath his service & opportunity to do something for God" "Use the talent we have" "Strength is not to be wasted in sin & vanity, but employed for God." "'Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down & cast into the fire.' Not only the poisonous, but the barren tree." "Oh! for a spirit that bows always before the sovereignty of God. (C. H. Spurgeon.)" "Multiplied talent: - It is not only enjoined upon us if we would be Christians to occupy with our gifts, but to multiply them. The industrious servant of God will do this." "The faithful servant of Christ studies to do his Lord's will, & has a delight in the work." "THE FAITHFUL SERVANT'S REWARD. 1. He receives the commendation of his Master. 2. Made ruler over many things. 3. Enters into the joy of his Lord." "The noblest powers are often the most slowly developed." "It is faithfulness, & not amount, which links the talent to the joy of the Lord, the 'few things' to the 'many.'" "Each time we use the grace we have by responding to the demands made upon it, it returns to us increased." "The average man: - 1. HIS DANGERS." "He will be tempted to underrate himself." "He may lose himself in the crowd." "THE ENCOURAGEMENTS." "God designed to do most of His work in the world through the average man." "The magnificent reward that awaits him. (F. E. Clark.)" "Do not darken your life by fear." "The judgment is severe, not on those who tried & failed, but on those who never tried." "The reward will be in proportion to the actual improvement which men make of the talents entrusted to them." "The world we live in is not a great play-ground, but a vast harvest field, where every man, each in his own particular sphere, must thrust in the sickle & reap." "Ver. 31. When the Son of Man shall come in His glory." "THE IMPORTANT PERIOD REFERRED TO - 'When the Son of Man shall come.'" "...how He will come." "'in His glory.'" "The great separation" "It will be made by the Judge Himself." "It will be made wholly on the ground of moral character." "It will be a separation in place & residence." "It will be a separation in interest & employment." "It will be eternal." "Vers. 34 - 44. Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed." "THE PERSONS TO WHOM THIS INVITATION WILL BE GIVEN. 1. Those who have abounded in good & charitable works." "The righteous, to their astonishment, hear themselves commended for loving services to the King, which they are quite unconscious of ever having rendered. The wicked, on the other hand, to their amazement & dismay, hear themselves condemned for having refused to the King services which they are quite unconscious of ever having had opportunities to render or refuse." "Selfishness is a direct contradiction of the entire mission & character of Christ." "There is joy in an unselfish ministry." "Love thinks nothing of the sacrifice it makes." "Self-forgetfulness is the first sign that we are doing work for the God above us. (C. D. Bridgeman, D. D.)"
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AuthorCross Preaching Pentecostal Pastor. Husband to Tonia, Father to 3 beautiful girls, Monica, Zoe & Briana, & Grandfather to Wesley & Elliott Archives
September 2023
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