WEBVTT 00:04.115 --> 00:12.546 [SPEAKER_00]: As we conclude our week on Living for Heaven, today we'll explore the return of Christ and what that means for us. 00:13.648 --> 00:17.053 [SPEAKER_00]: How can you be best prepared for the return of Jesus? 00:18.034 --> 00:20.597 [SPEAKER_00]: What has God expect of you as His child? 00:21.699 --> 00:32.113 [SPEAKER_00]: May your heart only grow in anticipation and joy at the thought of His return after today. 00:54.233 --> 01:13.086 [SPEAKER_00]: Our verse for today comes from Matthew 24, verse 36, Scripture says, but concerning that day and hour, no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the sun, but the Father only. 01:15.985 --> 01:20.550 [SPEAKER_00]: Have you ever counted down the days until you'll be able to see a good friend? 01:21.951 --> 01:28.898 [SPEAKER_00]: Have you ever felt anticipation and butterflies as the time separating you and the loved one gross smaller? 01:30.420 --> 01:33.743 [SPEAKER_00]: I grew up knowing that I should feel this way about heaven. 01:34.804 --> 01:44.794 [SPEAKER_00]: But if I am honest, I never truly felt the same anticipation and longings for perfect communion with my Savior as I did for a dear friend. 01:46.293 --> 01:50.263 [SPEAKER_00]: I think the idea of an eternal worship service scared me. 01:51.446 --> 01:59.728 [SPEAKER_00]: Having to worship God for all eternity sounded far worse than spending time hanging out with my best friends here on Earth. 02:00.974 --> 02:06.380 [SPEAKER_00]: The truth is, I didn't have a true tangible revelation of God's love for me. 02:07.582 --> 02:18.114 [SPEAKER_00]: I didn't have an understanding of the incredible, deep, overwhelming satisfaction I feel when my heart touches God's heart in worship. 02:19.656 --> 02:26.104 [SPEAKER_00]: I honestly didn't know the person of Jesus enough to want to spend all of eternity with him. 02:27.890 --> 02:40.142 [SPEAKER_00]: Jesus teaches in Matthew 25, verses 1 through 13, then the kingdom of heaven will be like 10 virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 02:41.223 --> 02:44.947 [SPEAKER_00]: Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 02:46.148 --> 02:54.977 [SPEAKER_00]: For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 02:55.261 --> 02:59.795 [SPEAKER_00]: As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 03:00.818 --> 03:05.693 [SPEAKER_00]: But at midnight, there was a cry, here is the bridegroom, come out to meet him. 03:06.719 --> 03:09.826 [SPEAKER_00]: than all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 03:10.648 --> 03:16.180 [SPEAKER_00]: And the foolish said to the wise, give us some of your oil for our lamps are going out. 03:17.242 --> 03:27.023 [SPEAKER_00]: But the wise answered saying, since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves. 03:27.627 --> 03:30.631 [SPEAKER_00]: And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came. 03:31.573 --> 03:36.781 [SPEAKER_00]: And those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 03:38.163 --> 03:48.398 [SPEAKER_00]: Afterward, the other virgins came also saying, Lord, Lord, open to us, but he answered, truly I say to you, I do not know you. 03:49.660 --> 03:54.647 [SPEAKER_00]: Watched therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour 03:58.441 --> 04:01.164 [SPEAKER_00]: The day of Jesus return is approaching. 04:02.466 --> 04:08.533 [SPEAKER_00]: Matthew 24, 36 says, but concerning that day and hour, no one knows. 04:09.214 --> 04:13.940 [SPEAKER_00]: Not even the angels of heaven, nor the sun, but the Father only. 04:16.503 --> 04:24.313 [SPEAKER_00]: Our Savior, the King of Kings, will return with love in His heart for all those who have come to know Him. 04:25.036 --> 04:33.104 [SPEAKER_00]: The question before us today is this, are we like the five wise virgins who have prepared ourselves? 04:34.566 --> 04:52.123 [SPEAKER_00]: Our our lamps burning with the intimacy of unveiled relationship with our creator while here on the earth, are we preparing for the return of our king by cultivating a lifestyle of love for both our bridegroom and others around us? 04:53.622 --> 05:04.253 [SPEAKER_00]: I've spent most of my life declaring I knew God by going to church, going on mission trips, saying the right things, and trying to do nothing wrong. 05:05.674 --> 05:15.564 [SPEAKER_00]: My actions represented fear, and a desire for inclusion in the Christian culture, more than actual love and desire for Christ Himself. 05:17.486 --> 05:21.030 [SPEAKER_00]: Take time and guided prayer to truly analyze your heart. 05:22.445 --> 05:27.890 [SPEAKER_00]: There is a abundant grace today for wherever you find yourself in relation to your Savior. 05:29.111 --> 05:33.135 [SPEAKER_00]: Be honest with yourself and look at how you feel about heaven. 05:34.477 --> 05:40.282 [SPEAKER_00]: Are you prepared for the return of the King or living for the earth over heaven? 05:41.704 --> 05:50.292 [SPEAKER_00]: Is the oil of relationship with Jesus in your lamp or are your fumes running out with the cares and pursuits of the world? 05:51.942 --> 06:00.861 [SPEAKER_00]: May the Holy Spirit draw each of us into greater depths of intimacy with Jesus until the day our bridegroom returns. 06:02.385 --> 06:05.732 [SPEAKER_00]: Settle your heart and mind as you enter guided prayer. 06:29.135 --> 06:40.189 [SPEAKER_00]: As we begin, meditate on the parable of the 10 virgins, allow Scripture to stir your heart toward deeper relationship with Jesus. 06:41.972 --> 06:56.931 [SPEAKER_00]: Matthew 25 verses 11 through 13, and while they were going to buy, the brideroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, 06:58.126 --> 07:22.345 [SPEAKER_00]: Afterward, the other virgins came also saying, Lord, Lord, open to us, but he answered, truly I say to you, I do not know you, watch their form, for you know neither the day nor the hour. 07:29.125 --> 07:57.057 [UNKNOWN]: Thank you very much. 08:02.707 --> 08:06.852 [SPEAKER_00]: And next, are you prepared for the return of Jesus? 08:08.314 --> 08:12.479 [SPEAKER_00]: Truly look at your heart, what longings are driving you? 08:13.761 --> 08:17.485 [SPEAKER_00]: Are you living for heaven or pursuing the things of the world? 08:19.087 --> 08:22.952 [SPEAKER_00]: Is the oil of intimacy with Jesus in your lamp? 08:22.972 --> 08:26.436 [SPEAKER_00]: Or are you running on the fumes of cultural Christianity? 09:00.335 --> 09:00.997 [SPEAKER_00]: last. 09:02.181 --> 09:06.955 [SPEAKER_00]: Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into greater depth of relationship with Jesus. 09:07.978 --> 09:12.572 [SPEAKER_00]: Ask Him to reveal to you the depths of God's love and grace. 09:31.722 --> 09:38.188 [UNKNOWN]: Thank you. 09:53.457 --> 09:58.241 [SPEAKER_00]: God has a plan to guide you to a path of greater relationship with Him. 09:59.062 --> 10:01.865 [SPEAKER_00]: If you will simply choose to follow His leadership. 10:03.086 --> 10:11.974 [SPEAKER_00]: If you will daily say yes to Him over the world, you will begin to feel a fire growing in your heart for Jesus' return. 10:13.315 --> 10:20.882 [SPEAKER_00]: Once we experienced the relationship with God we were created for, nothing else truly satisfies. 10:21.790 --> 10:31.143 [SPEAKER_00]: His love is greater, pure, more real, and more powerful than anything else we will ever experience. 10:32.224 --> 10:42.178 [SPEAKER_00]: Choose today to follow the leadership of the Spirit, and grow an intimacy with the King who laid down his life for you to know his love. 10:51.727 --> 10:54.491 [SPEAKER_00]: Thanks so much for listening to today's podcast. 10:54.912 --> 10:56.534 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm Josh with 1st 15. 10:57.415 --> 11:03.825 [SPEAKER_00]: I wanted to take a moment to remind you today that 1st 15 is a completely donor-funded ministry. 11:04.606 --> 11:10.174 [SPEAKER_00]: If God has been using 1st 15 in your life, would you consider making a donation? 11:10.154 --> 11:21.611 [SPEAKER_00]: You are one of the millions of people being impacted by first 15 this year, and we could use your support to continue helping even more people around the world draw closer to God. 11:22.452 --> 11:31.285 [SPEAKER_00]: To give head over to supportfirst15.org, where you can make a one time donation or become a first 15 monthly partner. 11:31.926 --> 11:35.571 [SPEAKER_00]: Again, that's supportfirst15.org. 11:35.551 --> 11:41.994 [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you so much for your generosity and simply for being a part of what God is doing here at verse 15. 11:42.797 --> 11:47.434 [SPEAKER_00]: Have a wonderful rest of your day and may God bless you as you see him.