Fill The Lamp

“For He recognizes and knows false and worthless men, And He sees wickedness, will He not consider it?  Job 11:11

"Nevertheless in the same way, these dreamers [who are dreaming that God will not punish them] .  These men are hidden reefs [elements of great danger to others] in your love feasts when they feast together with you without fear, looking after [only] themselves; [they are like] clouds without water, swept along by the winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted and lifeless; ".   Jude 8, 12

The pathway to deeper joy and intimacy with God may be a surprising one: learn to fear him. As the prophet Isaiah says, “Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he will become a sanctuary” (Isaiah 8:13–14). Let him carry you as you wade deeper into the wild, overwhelming waves of what he has revealed to you.
Desiring God.org

There is no fear in love [dread does not exist]. But perfect (complete, full-grown) love drives out fear, because fear involves [the expectation of divine] punishment, so the one who is afraid [of God’s judgment] is not perfected in love [has not grown into a sufficient understanding of God’s love].

1John 4:18

“The master was furious. ‘That’s a terrible way to live! It’s criminal to live cautiously like that!  If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least?  The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest.  Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most.  And get rid of this “play-it-safe” who won’t go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness."    Matt 25:26,27

God's Gifts and Talents are not merely the gifts of the natural  knowledge and riches or, the gifts of nature and of providence; nor the external ministry of the word, Gospel ordinances, and opportunities of enjoying them; but ministerial gifts,  that qualify men to be preachers of the Gospel, as appears from their name, "talents": they are His gifts for usefulness and service in the church.

Matt 25

Jesus provides a picture of the coming reality of the kingdom of heaven. As they approach the time of His sacrifice, Jesus makes sure the disciples know that soon it will be too late; the door of opportunity will close, and for many the door will remain shut. He gives them another image of the same reality to bring the picture into focus. Once they were bridesmaids waiting for their bridegroom; now they are slaves waiting for their Master. This time they are given responsibilities that will be rewarded. The blessings of the Kingdom bring risks along with the benefits

Neil Parks

The heart is the vessel, which it is our wisdom to get furnished; for, out of a good treasure there, good things must be brought; but if that root be rottenness, the blossom will be dust. 2. Grace is the oil which we must have in this vessel; in the tabernacle there was constant provision made of oil for the light, Exod. 35:14. Our light must shine before men in good works, but this cannot be, or not long, unless there be a fixed active principle in the heart, of faith in Christ.   But remember that this oil which keeps the lamps burning, is derived to the candlestick from Jesus Christ, the great and good Olive,

Matthew Henry

36 “But of that [exact] day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son [in His humanity], but the Father alone. 37 For the coming of the Son of Man (the Messiah) will be just like the days of Noah. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the [very] day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not know or understand until the flood came and swept them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be (Unexpected Judgement).

 Matt 24:36-39

Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. 25 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? 26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels

Luke 9:23-26

“Obedience to the commandments is a trajectory of life — repenting of failures, confessing sins, and getting back on — has got to happen.” In other words, the central requirement — covenant-keeping through faith in Jesus — has got to be real. And obedience is the evidence that it’s real. It’s the sign that it’s real. It’s the mark that it’s real. It’s the fruit that says the tree is real.

John Piper