Podcast Summary: "READY OR NOT, HERE I COME" | Paul Daugherty | Jesus Is Coming Back Soon Pt. 2

Victory Church: Paul Daugherty
Date: October 19, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Pastor Paul Daugherty continues his series on the return of Jesus, focusing on the urgency and necessity for believers to be spiritually ready at all times. Drawing from Matthew 24 and 25, particularly the parable of the ten virgins, Pastor Paul emphasizes how proximity to religious environments or people is not enough—personal preparedness and relationship with God are essential. He draws practical life analogies, shares memorable personal stories, and unpacks five key principles for readiness.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Urgency of Christ’s Return (Matthew 24:30)

• Pastor Paul reminds the congregation that Jesus’ second coming will be visible to all and accompanied by widespread regret among those unprepared.
• Quote (00:19):
  “Why didn’t I listen to the warnings? Why didn’t I listen to the Word of God? Why didn’t I care that Jesus was coming back soon?”
• He shares a story about a churchgoer distracted during his sermon, likening it to how many are spiritually “checked out” and risk missing the profound reality of Christ’s return.

The Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1–13)

• Pastor Paul unpacks the cultural context of first-century Hebrew weddings and how this frames the parable.

  • The engagement process was as binding as marriage.
  • The bride and her party awaited the groom’s return, not knowing exactly when he would arrive.
  • Lamps required extra oil to remain lit during the wait—a metaphor for sustaining spiritual preparedness over time.

• Quote (08:22):
  “Jesus is not talking about five Christians and five atheists… He’s talking about churchgoers.”

• He interprets the “ten virgins” as representatives of believers:

  • 10 = completeness (a congregation, a church).
  • 5 wise (prepared, vigilant), 5 foolish (careless, unprepared).

Readiness Is Personal and Ongoing

• No one knows the exact time of Jesus' return (Matthew 24:44).
  • Quote (36:20):
    “The Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect him.”
• Being a passive part of church or relying on others’ faith is insufficient.
  • Quote (43:00):
    “My salvation is not transferable to my son… It is your personal responsibility.”

Regret and Missed Opportunities

• Pastor Paul draws parallels between people begging to enter Noah’s ark and travelers missing a flight, underlining the unchangeable finality when the “door shuts.”
• Quote (46:55):
  “He was giving them a window of time to get right… You better get your oil right now.”
• He shares his own story of missing a connection to Australia, relating it to missing out on the kingdom if one is not “ready.”

Relationship, Not Just Ritual

• Even those once close to Jesus can drift. Preparation is continuous, not a single event.
• Quote (54:31):
  “They went down to an altar call, they said a prayer, but somewhere along the way, they stopped lighting their lamp… They stopped following the word of God.”
• Pastor Paul emphasizes that truth, while sometimes offensive, is more necessary than ever.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Distraction in Church:
  (03:10) “He said it was such a picture of what you were talking about… people who listen in church and people who are checked out on Instagram, checked out on Zillow, sleeping during the message.”
• Personalized Faith:
  (43:45) “My ticket won’t work for him… It is personal responsibility.”
• Offense and Losing One’s Fire:
  (59:20) “You want to lose your fire? Get offended at people… No wonder you lost your fire.”
• Readiness over Prediction:
  (01:06:00) “We’re so focused on the calendar, we should be focused on our character.”

Five Essential Lessons from the Wise Virgins

1. Stay Filled with the Holy Spirit

• Continuously seek renewal and communion with God.
• (01:00:30) Pastor Paul describes Pastor Bill Johnson’s daily practice of communion—staying humble, repentant, and connected.

2. Spiritual Preparedness & Vigilance

• Keep “extra oil” by nurturing your relationship with God; anticipate delays and persevere.
• (01:09:30) “Their anticipation led to their preparation.”

3. Active and Ongoing Faith

• Faith is not static; act on it daily through prayer, Bible reading, worship, and service.
• (01:24:00) “Take some time every single day to pray... to ask the Holy Spirit, who do you want me to minister to today?”

4. Individual Responsibility

• You cannot borrow faith or salvation from others; it's not transferable.
• (01:30:00) “Even as a pastor's kid, I oftentimes wanted to live off my mom and dad’s fire… Develop your own personal relationship with Jesus.”

5. Perseverance Through Trial

• Prepare during peaceful times for the trials that will certainly come.
• (01:36:00) “We prepare while we’re here on Sundays… before you’ve opened your phone. We prepare with extra oil.”

Powerful Analogies & Illustrations

• Hide and Seek with His Kids:
  (06:15) Connects the game’s “Ready or not, here I come” to the urgency of being prepared for Christ’s sudden return.
• Airport & Missed Flights:
  (42:35, 47:10) Stories of narrowly missing flights underline the finality and regret felt by the unprepared.
• Lamp and Oil Demonstration:
  (21:35, throughout) Using a physical lamp, Pastor Paul illustrates the need for extra oil—being continuously filled.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening & Matthew 24:30 — Jesus’ Return - 00:03 to 06:00
• Parable of the Ten Virgins and Wedding Customs - 11:30 to 24:00
• Extra Oil: Preparedness Explained - 25:30 to 34:00
• End Times Regret and Personal Stories - 38:30 to 49:00
• Truth, Offense, and Ongoing Readiness - 54:00 to 01:03:00
• Five Lessons from the Wise Virgins - 01:10:00 to 01:40:00
• Closing Reflection on Series and Need for End Time Messages - 01:43:00+

Summary Table: Five Lessons from the Wise Virgins

| # | Lesson | Description | |---|----------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1 | Stay Filled with the Holy Spirit | Actively seek God daily, repent, forgive, nurture your faith | | 2 | Spiritual Preparedness & Vigilance | Anticipate delays, be ready at any time, keep "extra oil" | | 3 | Active and Ongoing Faith | Engage in daily worship, study, prayer, and service | | 4 | Individual Responsibility | Salvation is not transferable; own your spiritual journey | | 5 | Perseverance Through Trial | Prepare in good times to endure trials—build resilience |

Final Thoughts

Pastor Paul’s message is a heartfelt and often urgent plea for believers to shift focus from merely forecasting end times to cultivating readiness—character, relationship, and daily filling. He calls the congregation to take personal responsibility, keep their spiritual lamps burning, and to live fully awake and expectant for Christ’s return—ready or not.

“Ready or not, here I come. Jesus says, I don’t even know [the day]…only the Father knows. Since we don’t know, be ready.”
(01:06:00, Paul Daugherty)

Next week's episode will continue the discussion on end times, exploring further parables and biblical prophecy.