As I mentioned yesterday the disciples who spent over three years with Jesus had TROUBLE BELIEVING some of the miraculous things He did. When Jesus miraculously took 5 loaves & 2 fish, prayed over them (one child’s lunch) and started passing it out and it became enough to feed about 20,000 people with 12 bags of food left over. “For they had not understood about THE LOAVES (really, how could 20,000 lunches come from one lunch?), because their HEART WAS HARDENED” (pōroō: lose the power of understanding because of unbelief).” (Mark 6:52) And as mentioned the disciples WERE NOT AT THE TOMB for Christ’s resurrection. When the women who went to prepare Christ’s body, they couldn’t do it because Jesus was hurriedly put in the tomb and sealed the stone over the entrance. But when they saw that Jesus was resurrected, they told the disciples and “…their words seemed to them LIKE NONSENSE.” (Luke 24:10-11)
So, when Jesus explained about the unbelief in the last days it makes sense, “Then (the end of time) the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN (this is the Last Days church) shall be LIKENED TO TEN VIRGINS who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now FIVE of them WERE WISE, and FIVE WERE FOOLISH. Those who were foolish took their lamps and TOOK NO OIL (oil, is associated with our relationship with the Holy Spirit) with them, but the wise TOOK OIL in their VESSELS WITH THEIR LAMPS.” (Matthew 25:1-4) Jesus is telling us that HALF THE CHURCH is like the disciples, “their HEART WAS HARDENED” (pōroō: lose the power of understanding because of unbelief).” (Mark 6:52) When it came time to go into the marriage supper, “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But Jesus answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I DO NOT KNOW YOU.’” (Matthew 25:11-12) BE SURE TO MAKE YOUR HEART READY, ASK JESUS TO FORGIVE YOU AND COME INTO YOUR HEART. Remember what Jesus said, “…MANY are called, but FEW are chosen.” (Matthew 22:14)
Remember the promise Jesus gave us, “whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” (Matthew 21:22)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham