Midnight Alarm

Midnight Alarm

Sermon by Jack Nazary

Apparently one of his favorites:

Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Elkin, NC - 1983

Calvary Baptist Corinth, MS - 1984

Biggersville - 1984

West Jackson Baptist - 1987

Midway Baptist - 1992

West Carthage Baptist Mission - 1995

West Carthage Baptist Church - 1997

Ebenezer Baptist Church – 2005

"But at midnight there was a shout, 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.'  "Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the prudent, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'  "But the prudent answered, 'No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.'  "And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. "Later the other virgins also came, saying, 'Lord, lord, open up for us.'  "But he answered, 'Truly I say to you, I do not know you.'  "Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day or the hour. Matthew 25:6-13

Introduction: Engagement, Betrothal, and marriage (missing of oil - Holy Spirit; works, faith)

We need to be:

·         Spiritually alert, ready.

We need to know:

There are some things that you cannot borrow:

·         Knowledge

·         Skills

·         Repentance

·         Faith

·         Salvation

·         Character

You may have a confrontation with God and you may meet God today - Suddenly! "Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  'For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;  naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.'  "Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink?  'And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You?  'When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' "The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'

I.          Not all persons are saved who may think they are.

"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 will enter.  "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'  "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.' Matthew 7:21-23

II.        Not all persons are saved who my want to be - Virgins - "Later the other virgins also came, saying, 'Lord, lord, open up for us.

III.       Not all persons are saved who may ask to be. - Lord, Lord - open to us, but the door shut.  Matthew 25:11-12

IV.       More to be lost than saved. "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. Matthew 7:13-14

           

V.         No one saved after death.  "Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day. "And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man's table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores. "Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried. “In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. "And he cried out and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.'  "But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony. 'And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.' Luke 16:19-26

This could be your last chance to be saved!

VI.       Those not ready will be shut out.

VII.      Those who are ready will enter in with HIM. "they that are ready went in with Him to the marriage” Matthew 25:10

Conclusion:

When the bridegroom is coming, will you be ready?  You do not want it to be too late. 

2 Corinthians 5:21 - "For he hath made him to be sin for us"