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    In Matthew 25:1-8 we find a story that most of us have heard before. It reveals how the coming of the Lord caught five virgins unprepared upon His appearing. The five virgins that were awaiting His return are noted as being wise; those left behind were considered foolish. Many Bible students differ on the timing of this story. Some hold to the view of this being church age revelation, while others consider it to be future dealings after the tribulation period. My intention is not to deal with its timing but to deal with its truth.

The story unfolds as five foolish virgins run out of oil. Their request was not for the wise virgins lamps, but rather it was for their oil. The foolish had their own structure (lamps) but they were missing something on the inside of their lamps, the oil. We have got caught up in the theory that if it's of God then it has to be big. We are more concerned about structure than we are the Spirit (oil). What profit is a big beautiful lamp if it has no oil? I’m tired of hearing how many your lamp will seat, tell me the last time you witnessed the fullness of the oil in your lamp.

Because our churches have began to dry up and die, we decided that instead of repenting and turning back to God, we will allow substitutes to replace God's Spirit in our worship. Now we have created the most wicked, wildest, weirdest church services ever conducted in our history. Even some of those that were leaders in this new phase of worship, have backed off, admitting that it has gotten out of hand. Churches with smoke rolling from the platform during song service, volume levels that will deafen the ear, drums beating in the background, hippies leaning backwards picking a guitar, and lights flickering in different colors, and even young people joining hands and dancing to the music.

    Why? Because we have no oil. We now have a generation that does not know the difference between flesh and Spirit.  Preachers are bowing to this new mold of worship for fear of loosing the teenagers.  We have allowed the church to become the universal structure of entertainment, instead of a place to witness the power of God.

     I do not care if I lose every meeting I have, I'm not willing to give up the oil for the crowds or the money.  I thank God daily that the Lord allowed me to get under some men that walked in the old time way, and because of that, I cannot and will not give in to the popular worship of our day.

     The oil in our text could stand for the anointed things of God.  I believe that this "Johnny come lately' religion will try to drain the true church of all of its power and influence.  I pray that God would raise up a generation that will dare to be different from the religious entertainers they will face in days to come.  May God help us to stay true and dedicated to that which is holy and right.  

Dr. Phil Kidd
Amory, Mississippi