We can and should pray fervently for revival, but revival is ultimately a work of God’s Spirit alone. We see this demonstrated in Ezekiel 37 when God led the prophet out into a valley full of dead, dry bones and asked Ezekiel pointedly whether those bones could ever live again. Ezekiel was honest in his answer. He didn’t know, but he recognized that God knows all things and can accomplish anything – even restoring those bones to life. Ezekiel was obedient when God commanded him to preach God’s Word to the bones. In response, God knitted the bones back together but they remained as lifeless corpses. Then God commanded Ezekiel to pray for God’s Spirit to breathe life back into the corpses, and God then brought the corpses back to life with His Spirit.

As we pray we must do so in the sure knowledge that God also desires revival in us and through us. We must pray with the expectation, that God will indeed fulfill all the promises we find in His Word regarding our Spiritual revival.

In this passage, we review two of Jesus’ so-called “kindom” parables in which He likens the coming Kingdom of God to some familiar earthly things. In the parable of the ten virgins, He warns us to always be prepared for His return because no one knows when He will come again. In the parable of the ten talents, He warns us not to squander the spiritual gifts He has bestowed upon us, but to use them faithfully in the work of His Kingdom.

We need to look at salvation and what it really means for the person who chooses God over self. Our salvation has more to do with Him than it does with who we are. Yes, we are special and the greatest of His creation, but our salvation demonstrates the mercy and grace of a loving God.