Hi, Pastor John here. I'd like to welcome you to our broadcast. You know, for some time, the folks at Warrington Bible Fellowship have been praying for God to expand our children's ministry. Well, little were we aware that God has been answering that prayer in a most supernatural way. Join us as we enjoy a visit from Brother Ovidio from Romania and Pastor Keith, his translator, as they describe the progress that they're making in their ministry to the gypsies in Romania. I greet you all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. For me, it's a joy to be here together with you and your pastor, your pastor here on this earth, because we have one supreme one, that's the Lord Jesus Christ. I was sitting there on the bench and I was thinking, what did the God see in us that he gave us such a great work to do? He said, Lord, what did you find in us? I was looking at you, myself, and through the Holy Spirit, it's not what we are, but it's what Jesus is. He chooses things, weak, with hair, without hair, fat, skinny. To show the glory of God. I have a great respect for your church. And I think we've been working together for more than 10 years. And we're taking the message of God to as many souls as we can. And if you give me the opportunity, and I was thinking in these days, I want to be an ambassador for your church, with your blessing, to take all the time the message of God. And this year, where we've had the mission work, and I've told like to brothers in your churches, that you are my church and my heart, that together we do this work, this great work that God has called us to. Maybe you don't see or know certain things, but you need to know one day you will see all that you've done for the glory of God. God's great and wonderful. And for this reason, it's a great joy that we can work together. I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to come here this year after the things that have been going on in this world. As you know, as well as I know, that the Lord Jesus is gonna be coming soon. Everything that's happening on this earth shows us and moves our souls that the Lord's coming as soon. After the slideshow, After the slideshow that we'll get ready to see, this is just a little thing that we were able to put together this year. There was over 2,000 young people and teenagers being able to hear the Word of God. in Romania and Ukraine, and about 1,000, between 800 and 1,000 adults heard the gospel. And for this, you guys are guilty that we were able to do 13 weeks through the support that you were able to send. We were able to go there and young people and old people were able to hear the gospel. Somebody asked me this year in the mission work, how do you manage to do all this work? Every week, 200-300 kids, how are you able to do all this? I said, I have this big church in America. This big powerful church, and they look at me with big eyes, and they're very rich over there. Very exaggeratedly rich. But their richness is in their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. That's their riches. And this is the way the mission is able to go forward with people that love the Lord Jesus Christ and love those around them. And I've put this proposal for the year that's coming up, if the Lord will help us to do even more, to take the gospel to even more people. The word strengthened me and I want to read a verse from Matthew 25. in Matthew chapter 25 and verse 6. And at midnight there was a cry made, behold the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him. And when I read that, uh in a sadness at the same time that he's coming and we have a debt and we'll talk about this after we show you You are my strength when I am weak You are the treasure that I seek You are my all in all Seeking You as a precious jewel Lord, to give up I'd be a fool Taking my sin, my cross, my shame Rising again, I bless your name You are my all in all When I fall down, you pick me up When I am dry, you fill my cup You are my all in all Jesus, Lamb of God, worthy is your name. You are my strength when I am weak You are the treasure that I seek You are my all in all Seeking You as a precious jewel Lord, to give up I'd be a fool You are my all in all Jesus, Lamb of God Jesus, You're the Lamb of God. Worthy is Your name. Jesus, Lamb of God. Worthy is Your name. You're the Lamb of God. Worthy is Your name. Jesus, Lamb of God. Worthy is Your name. Worthy is Your name. Passion, a love that's never failing. Let mercy fall on me. Everyone needs forgiveness, the kindness of a Savior. ♪ He can move the mountains ♪ ♪ For my God is mighty to save ♪ ♪ He is mighty to save ♪ ♪ Forever offer up salvation ♪ ♪ For heroes may conquer the grave ♪ ♪ Jesus conquered the grave ♪ Me as you find me, all my tears you bear dear. ♪ My God is mighty to save ♪ ♪ He is mighty to save ♪ ♪ Forever, author of salvation ♪ ♪ He rose and conquered the grave ♪ ♪ Jesus conquered the grave ♪ ♪ Savior, he can move the mountains ♪ ♪ My God is mighty to save ♪ Shining bright He can move the mountains. My God is mighty to save. He is mighty to save forever. Author of salvation, the heroes and conquerors. This is just a tenth of what you see. We shortened up a lot of stuff. What's been done this year. And you saw in the Ukraine with the war zones and with the soldiers there. And we will also work in that area as well. You saw our van. You guys helped us get that about, I think, seven years ago. It's got about 500,000 kilometers on it right now. If we're praying to God, we'll prepare another one. The Lord knows all of our needs. We ask that you pray, we need this. When you don't have a vehicle, it's like you don't have shoes on your feet. It's on. It's on, yeah. It's green. Hello? Testing, one, two, three. Testing, testing, testing. That's the work that God's called us to do together. Until he comes again, or until he calls us to be with him, we would like to participate in the enlarging of the kingdom of God, with souls being saved. And if you have any questions or anything like that, at the end, we can stay as long as we need to. I don't want to take from this time here together. But at the end, we can speak. All right. Here I am. And I was thinking about the message today. I've been preparing for a while. Lord, I want you to show me something. And the Lord kept bringing me back to this verse. I would like to share with you Matthew chapter 25 from 1 to 13. Okay, I'm gonna read one through 13. Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto 10 virgins which took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, and behold, the bridegroom cometh. and go out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so, lest there be not enough for us and you. But go ye out and gather rather to them that sell and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut. And afterward came also the other virgin, saying, Lord, open unto us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for you know not the day nor the hour when the Son of Man cometh. I was thinking, while I was studying this biblical text, I was thinking in the time that I was studying this passage, Lord, what are you trying to teach me here? And I understood what the Lord was wanting to say to me, and I would like to interpret together with you. Verse number six, it says, and at midnight there was a cry made, and behold, the bridegroom cometh. Go you out to meet him. And for me, it was a warning. The Lord is coming. And then when we read the whole text here, and we see these 10 virgins, And all of them had their lamps on. Some of them didn't have enough oil. And I was thinking in the work that we do here on this earth, this oil. And this is how I feel from the Lord. And I'm thinking of this as the work that we do here on this earth, that oil and that flame that's going, it's burning. We on this earth, we need to work for the glory of God, that we can have that oil in our lamps. Because this holds that flame that's alive and burning. Every soul, every Christian. If we understand the leading of the Lord, the work that he's called us to, this light will shine and it won't go out on this earth if it's fueled by the work of God. Because he brings that oil into our lamps so that that flame can go forth. You see, they were split up into upwards. Some of them had plenty of oil and that flame was bright. But the other half, it was going out. Their flame was going out. And they knew that they wouldn't be able to make it in time. But it's interesting that they were all sleeping, and in a moment, half of them were afraid because their light lamp was going out. But the other ones were calm. He said, hey, give us some of yours. But you can't do that. Hey, go and go buy some for yourselves. Romans chapter 13. The night has passed, and the day is coming. The day of the Lord is coming. Look in your lamp. How much oil do you have there? How is your flame? We're too occupied with ourselves, of our things that we do here on this earth. But we forget, the Lord is at the door. There's no more time for these earthly things. Brothers and sisters, time is running out. And I'm thinking about these other ones where they didn't have enough oil in their lamps. How much despair was in their lives. Like many Christians today. Some are calm. They have peace in their hearts. Because their light is shining. Because they've listened to their Savior. And they're doing His will. Some are worried. They're worried about the material things of this earth. But in their interior, they know that they're empty. They know that their light is weak. There's no oil in their lamps. And many times the Holy Spirit is speaking to them, hey, come, let's do something for They have that desire to do, but their lamp is going out. They're overcome by the worries and things in this world. And they don't have the oil. And I was thinking, many Christians today, And they look at their lamps, and there's nothing in their lamps. And it's a little bit worrisome. Hey, our bridegroom is coming. And what I think is beautiful here, where he calls the church the bride, look at the Lord Jesus Christ, how beautiful he is, how bright he is. But then look at the church. You see, when you go to a wedding, how many of you look at the groom? Everybody's looking at the bride. How beautiful she is. And I was thinking, look at the Lord Jesus Christ and how he lifts us up. How he calls us his bride. You see, in that day, in this event, in this comparison, the bride of Christ is so wonderful to understand. how the Lord presents us and talks about us. And looking once again at our text here, and it shows about the ones that were unwise. I've seen Christians here on this earth, that have wasted years of their lives. And then before they left this earth, and they would beg from the Lord just a few more moments in their lives. But the years keep passing by and they wasted it in this world. And they don't have anything. And when it comes to the time to leave, then there's a realization how short this life is. And I would like today for you to think a little bit. Slow down from your thoughts and your travels. And stand before our bridegroom, Lord Jesus Christ, and think, how much oil do you have in your lamp? The Bible talks about a man in the Bible. He was looking at all his barns and things like that. You know what I'm going to do tomorrow? I'm going to knock them all down. I'm going to make them bigger. The word says. Foolish. What is he called? Foolish man? What do they call him? Crazy man? Whatever. The Bible. He had earthly thoughts. He wasn't thinking about his soul. And the Bible says, and that night his soul is going to be required. And everything that you have, you're going to leave here. Everything that you work for and slave for. And I like the fact that God's Word also says, and when the Lord says, I was hungry and you didn't give me anything to eat. I was without clothing and you didn't give me clothing. I was sick and you didn't give me medicine." And he says, he said, well, when did we see you like that, Lord? When we say that you're hungry or cold or sick, and he says, however many times you didn't do this to the least of these, you didn't do it for me. And then he talks to the others, the ones that have the big flame in their candles. I was hungry and you gave me to eat. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you came and helped me. Lord, when did we see you like that? However often you did it to the least of these, you did it to me. And the oil in their lamps, and the flame was shining in it. I've heard many times among Christians prayers that people didn't know how to talk to the Lord. Maybe sometimes it happens in your church. Faithful brothers praying, loving their neighbors and say, Lord, Lord, go help this person. Lord, give food to the orphan. Lord, help the widow. Lord, help the poor. And the Lord sends, like the Lord doesn't know anything about it. That's not the way. You need to say something different. Lord Jesus, Lord, you see that widow? Send me over there. I've prepared something. Show me and I'll go to that person. Lord, there's an orphan with problems. Show me, show me where he is. Lord, I want to go there. Send me. There's a difference here. From the one that wants to have oil in their lamps, wants to be useful for the Lord, obedient to the Lord, fulfilling the word of the Lord. I don't know how it is in my youth, but if you had this habit, Stop that habit. Because the Lord is calling you. The Lord put in you what He's put in you, He wants to use that. Do you remember the work of the Lord when there were 5,000 men, not counting the women and children? Let's say that maybe there was 10,000 altogether. And the disciples go to Jesus. Lord, you need to send them home so they can buy their food and whatever they need. You know what the Lord said? You give them something to eat. Lord, all we got is five loaves and two fish. He says, well, give them to me. He blessed them and then they gave it out and there was much left over. That's how I see your church. What you've had, you've put in God's hands and look what God does. Thousands and thousands of souls are fed, clothed, helping in war zones, which you've participated with here in this work. May God bless you. The love that you have for the Lord and for your neighbor. I would like to close with this thought. How much oil do you have in your lamp? How is your flame? I want you to think hard on that. The Lord's coming. And there won't be any more time. Now is our time. Let's have that oil in our lamps. May God bless you. We love you. And for me, it's a great honor to be together here with you. How great this is here. May God hold you in his grace. Amen. Okay, so we just went through Philippians. And the reason that I believe the Lord led me to go through Philippians was it's a story of a small church that had a huge impact throughout Macedonia and Southern Greece. And I wanted to share that message with you. It's been on my heart for over a year. So here's what just happened. I forgot Ovidio was coming several weeks ago. Now, Keith has kept me up to date, so I wasn't unaware that he was coming. I was looking forward to the visit, but I didn't plan on ending Philippians last week and then having our brother show up this week. But this is what God does, because he sent this man 3,500 miles to show you the impact that a church like this can have on people they haven't met and people they haven't seen. But you just saw 2,000 children hear the gospel, perhaps for the first time, and another 1,000 adults hear the gospel for perhaps the first time. What he does is absolutely amazing. If you haven't been over there, you have to see this because they go into these villages and they play music and the kids come and they feed them and they give them clothing and they play. Probably one of the most amazing things I've ever seen. We were in one of those villages, and they've got these games going on. Kids are running back and forth, and there's balls flying here, and balloons, and that sort of thing. And I said, eh, nice. They're playing. And one of the brothers, Sebi, said to me, you know, they don't know how to play together. This is probably the first time they've done this. What? He said, they don't do this. and we come into the village and we give him some candy, and we show him how to play some games, and then we invite him back, and eventually they bring their parents, and when their parents hear the gospel, the ones that step forward, he plants a church. And he brings people from the neighboring villages to help them start their church. So I've been telling you for a long time that God does amazing things when we work together. This man is the tip of the spear. and you're the shaft. And that spear has been thrown 3,500 miles and lands in the middle of Romania to share the gospel with people who would not otherwise, marginalized people, people that have no official governmental position. And the amazing thing is, over the last two years, the ripples have gone into Ukraine. This is what God does with churches like this. Don't ever let anybody tell you we're too small or too old, because God is working through us, amen? When we work together, people like him get to do what he does. And you know something, Pastor Ovidio and I, he doesn't like to be called pastor, but he is, isn't he? We have a bond with Keith. We have a passion for the word, we have a passion for the gospel, and we have people around us. The folks that he's gathered around him to minister are people that have that same passion that we do, and most of them are his family. So when you see all this going on and going into dangerous areas and everything, this man's put everything on the line, including his children, for the sake of the gospel. And I pray that that keeps motivating us because the things that we do are for the sake of the gospel. You know, we can't all go to Romania. We don't all have the fortitude or the physical capability to put up tents and minister to 200, 300 kids at a time. But we can help in that. We can be part of that ministry. We can be part of what God is doing all over the world. And I praise God for that. Can I pray for you guys? Father, I thank you for these men. I thank you for the ministry that you have laid on their hearts. I thank you for all the people that participate in it, Father, to see your kingdom grow. to see you magnified, Father, to see you lifted up, and to see people changed and transformed and brought into your kingdom so that they can disciple people that can bring more people into the kingdom. This, this is the gospel. And we thank you for the honor of sharing it and proclaiming it together. I pray your blessing on them. I pray a blessing of safety, Father, that you would just encompass about them your angels, that they might continue to speak and love in the safety of your protection. I pray, Father, a blessing of abundance upon them, that the ministry would continue to grow, Father, that you would continue to pour in them and through them, Father, that you might be glorified, Father, that your kingdom might expand. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen. Thank you. Thank you. Stand, please. Bow your heads. Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful and he will surely do it. Everybody said amen. Thank you for tuning in online. We'll be back next week. I think Bill Schwetke is going to be preaching. Is that correct, Bill? Yeah, he agrees. Praise God. Have a great day. Thank you. Pastor John back here again. If you are blessed by the service, let me ask you to do us a favor. Would you click on the like button below that little thumbs up? If you're listening on Sermon Audio, perhaps you can comment or even share the sermon with someone else. We'd love to hear from you. We're on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter at WBFVA. We're on the World Wide Web at WBFVA.org. Let us know if you'd like us to pray for you. If you'd like to support us financially, you can make donations through our website at wbfva.org. Just click on giving. You'll receive a tax deductible receipt at the end of the year. Either way, we would love to hear from you or even have you visit us in person one Sunday. We meet at 46 Winchester Street in downtown Warrington, Virginia at 11 o'clock every Sunday morning. And now, may God bless you richly until we gather again.