How can we tell when we actually are living in the Spirit, when we have oil enough to keep our light going?

I like the above verse. It tells us a lot about the Spirit-filled life.

The person who is living in the Spirit is continually talking to the Lord, singing to the Lord, thinking about the Lord, going about his or her business singing spiritual songs and often speaking in tongues—sometimes prophesying.

Speaking in tongues is God's way of bringing us into His rest. God's rest is the condition in which we are living in God's Presence, doing His will in every matter great and small.

When we are speaking in tongues our spirit is speaking instead of our natural mind.

Now if you will notice, when you are living in the flesh it is much more difficult to talk in tongues. Try to talk in tongues while you have been using profanity. Try to talk in tongues when you are on the phone criticizing a fellow believer. Try talking in tongues when you are in a rage. Try talking in tongues while you are fornicating. Try talking in tongues when you are at a party.

You will find that talking in tongues, singing in the Spirit, worshiping the Lord, are a different part of your personality than your ordinary fleshly life.

We Christians, regardless of the circumstances we are in, regardless of the tasks we are performing, regardless of the decisions we are making, should be able to sing in our heart to the Lord, worshiping Him. This is what it means to live in the Spirit rather than in the flesh. It really is not as difficult as it may sound.

The foolish virgins had a touch of life when they came to Christ and received eternal life. But they were counting on that one experience to qualify them for the Lord's appearing.

The wise virgins came to Christ every moment of every day. They always were coming to Christ, always being filled with His Life.

The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. (Matthew 25:5—NIV)

One of the main problems with the Christian life is boredom. We start off in the grand parade and then the years begin to roll by and nothing happens. Sometimes churches maintain an endless series of activities and special speakers to keep the people interested. While such events may attract people to the services it does not always result in their being discipled. After the entertainment is over we may notice that little of eternal substance has transpired.

The experienced Christian understands very well that the Bridegroom is a long time in coming!

At midnight the cry rang out: "Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!" (Matthew 25:6—NIV)

The Lord comes at midnight, at the moment we are least prepared. We have to be ready at all times.

When the Lord appears we will have to take a step of faith. "Come out to meet Him." We usually think of events such as the coming of the Lord, or the resurrection from the dead, as being sovereign interventions in which we are carried out of ourselves. If this were the case the Lord would not warn us to "remember Lot's wife."

To be continued.