“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.” (Luke 12:35-36)

I’m praying for revival, and I hope you are too. Consistently. Fervently. Alone in my prayer closet … and with others as well. But prayer is only the beginning of our involvement. We need to prepare for action too, because when the Lord moves, bringing effective change to the world, He wants all of us to come along and enjoy the spiritual banquet with Him.

Os Guinness writes in his book The Call, “Readiness for followers of Jesus is obedience honed to the highest level of responsiveness. Like a symphony orchestra well-rehearsed, perfectly tuned, and with all eyes on the conductor’s baton, followers of Christ should be poised to respond to his slightest word or sign.”

What are some of the things we may be called upon to do in times of revival? First and foremost, we must be ready to share the Good News with those convicted by God’s Spirit of “sin, righteousness, and judgment” (John 16:8). He will use us in His work of reconciliation “as though God were making his appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20). We will serve as ambassadors for the Kingdom in every way we can, representing Jesus to those around us. We may be called upon to teach Scripture, encourage, exhort, provide meals, or pray for our neighbors and friends. Often our homes become incubators for new babies in Christ during revival periods. A place where others find fellowship or are discipled in God’s truth. As spiritual needs increase around us, Jesus wants us to offer ourselves – all we have in resources, time, and personal energy – for His use and glory.

Those who know Christ become “frontline workers” in the battle for souls. Satan becomes very busy in times of revival, trying his best to undo all that God is doing. We stand against him in prayer and through our testimony. It’s a great privilege to partner with Jesus and see Him save, sanctify, empower, and set people free. But it can be exhausting too.

To fully enter into the joys of revival we will need to have our lamps burning brightly. We will need an ample supply of heavenly resources, and only those prepared will be ready to thrive (not just survive) revival.

In Matthew 25 Jesus tells some parables about the nature of the kingdom of God. In verses 1-13 we read the familiar story of ten bridesmaids (virgins) who go out to meet a bridegroom. All take lamps with them, knowing he may not show up till the middle of the night, but only five have planned ahead …  taking with them extra oil for their lamps. “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’” All ten virgins wake up and trim their lamps so they can accompany him to the wedding banquet, but only the “wise” ones are ready for action. The “foolish” virgins say to them, “Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out” (vv. 6-8).

Sometimes we read their response (v. 9) – “No … go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves” – and think the “wise” virgins are a tad heartless. What would it hurt to share some of their oil with the ones who forgot to bring an extra supply? Wouldn’t that be the loving thing to do, especially since without oil the foolish virgins will miss out on the big event?!

To fully understand what Jesus was teaching about His kingdom, we need to remember what oil represents in Scripture. It’s a picture of the Holy Spirit. He’s the essential “fuel” by which our “lamps” … our Christian testimonies … keep burning brightly. Each Christian must cultivate his or her own relationship with the Holy Spirit. We cannot borrow the experience of someone else. There’s only one place where oil for the lamps can be “purchased” – by asking the Father. In Luke 11:9-13 Jesus tells His disciples about the “good gift” of the Father and encourages them to ask, seek, and knock … so they are adequately prepared for the service they will do for and with the Lord.

All of us who know Christ are indwelt by His Spirit (Romans 8:9-11), but we choose which nature we’ll obey. When we yield to the Holy Spirit we’re equipped to partner with Jesus in His kingdom work. But when we’re distracted by the things of the world and give in to our sinful nature, our lamps grow dim and our Christian witness is weakened. Jesus warns us in Luke 21:34, 36: “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life. … Be always on the watch and pray.” Paul echoes this: “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:17-18). Some have suggested a better translation for verse 18 would be “keep on being filled with the Spirit” since the verb tense used implies an ongoing action. We can continue to ask, even on a daily basis, for the fuel we need. When we sense our lamps are flickering and about to go out, the Father welcomes our request for a fresh infilling of His Spirit.

As we wait for our Bridegroom to come in revival power, are we preparing like a wise virgin? Or are we living off past spiritual accomplishments and decisions, trusting they’ll be sufficient? Will we be ready to accompany Him, or will we miss out on all the fun? Those invited to a wedding feast in Middle Eastern cultures knew the wait could be long. They had to plan ahead to have enough oil to last through the night. The bridegroom never announced in advance when he would be coming to get them. His servants had to be ready at any time to open the door for him.

When the cry “He’s here!” goes out, it’s too late to look for more oil. In revival times, only those living in close communion with the Holy Spirit are prepared (dressed and ready) to accompany the Bridegroom to the spiritual banquet. Only with the help of the Spirit will we be able to discern how we can best serve the purposes of God in each situation we face.

None of us wants to miss out on the joys of the wedding banquet. Jesus promised His disciples they need never be caught short or miss out, as the foolish virgins did. There is plenty of oil … and the Father is happy to supply us with all we need. But we are filled for His purposes, not our own. As Andrew Murray writes in The Spirit of Christ, “Let the Spirit and His power have possession of you. God does not give this power for our own enjoyment, or to save us from trouble and effort. He gives it for one purpose, to glorify His Son.”

Let’s not be foolish. Let’s prepare for revival by investing in a relationship with the Holy Spirit on a daily basis. That way we’ll be ready to welcome the Bridegroom the moment He arrives!