Mike Oliver's Messages

Today I am looking out not on the poor but on the rich who are the ones meant to have inherited the gift of the Holy Spirit.  I am looking as God looks on servants who have been invested with heavenly wealth and the expectation is that more will be won by the endowment of God upon them. Some have been given much while others have received quite a bit and others something. It is like the parable of the sower where some bear fruit 100 fold, some 60 fold, and some 30 fold. (Matt 13) The kingdom of heaven is once again the focus of this week’s reading.  Jesus will be leaving his disciples and the gift of the Holy Spirit will be left behind to further His mission on Earth. The disciples called will become the apostles sent to further the mission of God among the called out ones; the growing ecclesia. Jesus is not only preparing them but also warning his disciples that with the investment there are expectations and consequences. The Lord is not leaving God’s investment of the death of His

As I look out on this congregation I see only lamps rather than people this morning.  I am looking at us as God might look upon us in the Gospel parable.  We are to be children of light, of which the Gospel is that light.  We are to be as attendants of Christ Jesus  professing not only to believe and look for but  to love and long for the appearing of Christ,  not only enlightened by it ourselves but must shine as lights. I am looking this morning through the eyes of Jesus’ parable of the Ten Virgins.  I am seeing two different characters, with proof and evidence of it.  I see lamps with oil for that is what God has told me He has done. B ut do I see lamps with fire; that is the question today.  Do I see extra virgin oil in reserve for the late coming Bridegroom.  There is no doubt the Bridegroom is our Lord Jesus Christ.  There is no doubt we live in a darkened world awaiting His return.  We need to figure out exactly what we are waiting for in Jesus return. When he saw the Pharis