Keep The Light Burning!
1 Samuel 1:1 – 3
In this passage we see the contrast between the wickedness of Eli’s family and the faithfulness of the young boy Samuel.
He ministered before the Lord under the guidance and supervision of Eli at a time when God was not speaking to His people very often.
The spiritual leaders were corrupt, and God’s people weren’t obeying His Law, (sounds a lot like today)
The “Lamp of God” was the seven-branched golden candlestick that stood in the holy place before the veil, to the left of the golden alter of incense.
Verse 3 tells us that the light was about to go out. It was the only source of light in the holy place and the priests were commanded to keep it burning always. Exo 27:20 And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.
Leviticus 24:1 – 4
The veil divided the tabernacle proper into two parts, the holy place and the holy of holies. In the holy place were three pieces of furniture: the golden altar of incense, the table of shew bread, and the golden lamp stand. As the priest faced the incense altar, the table would be to his right and the lamp stand to his left.
Since there were no windows in the tabernacle, it was necessary to have light in the holy place so the priests could see as they ministered there. The golden lamp stand provided that light.
The Candlestick was one piece of gold (Divine Nature) and one beaten work which had six (the number for man) branches and one (Jesus) central shaft. So we have God and man together, Christ as the central shaft is the mediator (1Tim. 2:5), the one through whom flows oil (anointing) to give light. As branches, our connection with Christ brings light and life. The Candlestick was both the light and the light bearer.
Each morning and evening, when the high priest burned incense on the golden altar, he was to care for the lights on the lamp stand to make sure they would continue to burn. Special golden instruments were provided for pulling up the wicks from the oil and trimming them.
The lamp was a symbol of the Lord Jesus Christ and therefore a picture of the light of Gods truth. The light of God’s Word was burning dimly in those days, and as a result the priests were barely able to see.
When we accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour, when we’ve repented of our sins and our name is written in the “Lamb’s Book of Life,” it DOES NOT end there.
Once we’ve been ignited by the flame of God’s love, His forgiveness, His Word etc, once the Light of the Lord Jesus Christ shines in our hearts, it is so important that we keep the light of God burning in our lives, for others to see.
Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. (15) Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. (16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
We keep that light burning so that we are a witness to others.
We keep that light burning so that people can see what Christ has done for us.
We keep that light burning so that we can direct people’s paths to the right road.
We keep that light burning so that we can direct people to the cross.
Let the light shine to our family
Let the light shine to our friends
Let the light shine to our neighbours
Let the light shine to our co-workers
Let the light shine to the total stranger
Let the light shine to every person that we come in contact with
Walk and talk with God every day to keep our light burning brightly. Don’t let it go out, don’t let it flash on and off – Keep the light burning!!
People will know that there is something different about us and about our lives: -
The way we walk / talk / act / react
The places we go
Benjamin Franklin wanted to interest the people in Philadelphia in street lighting. He did not call a town meeting nor try to persuade the people by talking about it. He acted upon what he considered a good idea. He hung a beautiful lantern on a long bracket in front of his house. He kept the glass polished and carefully trimmed and lit the wick every evening at the approach of dusk. The lamp helped the people see the pavement ahead; made them feel more secure at night. Others began placing lights in front of their houses. Soon Philadelphia recognized the need for street lights.
Be the one today to light up your neighbourhood with the light of life. Let it shine. Let your light shine TODAY!
What happens when the light goes out?
Look at what happened to Eli because he allowed the light to go out.
I. Lost Relationship
1Sa 3:17 And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee.
Eli did not know what God was saying (he had allowed sin to come into his life)
Pastor Ed always used to say – Sin will take you furthaer than you want to go, keep you there longer than you wanted to stay and cost you more than you wanted to pay……..
How sad it is to see some people who were once on fire for God, and now their light has gone out..
A young girl once consulted with her minister. “I cannot stick it out any longer. I am the only Christian in the factory where I work. I get nothing but taunts and sneers. It is more than I can stand. I am going to resign.”
“Will you tell me,” asked the minister, “where lights are placed?”
“What has that to do with it?” the young Christian asked him rather bluntly.
“Never mind,” the minister replied. “Answer my question: Where are lights placed?”
“I suppose in dark places,” she replied.
“Yes, and that is why you have been put in that factory where there is such spiritual darkness and where there is no other Christian to shine for the Lord.”
The young Christian realized for the first time the opportunity that was hers. She felt she could not fail God by allowing her light to go out. She went back to the factory with renewed determination to let her light shine in that dark corner. Before long, she was the means of leading nine other girls to the Light.
Many steps away from God, but only one step back to Him.
Eli did not know what God was saying because he had allowed his light to go out..
If someone says that God does not speak to them, or that God has stopped speaking to His people it is for a number of reasons…..
They are no longer reading their Bible
They are no longer attending church
They are no longer praying
They no longer having fellowship with other believers
They no longer have a relationship with God.. Light has gone out.
The light represents God’s Word
The light represents the Lord Jesus Christ…
If the light has gone out, then God’s Word is no longer in their life.
If the light has gone out then Christ is no longer a priority in their life.
We have to read God’s Word – to meditate upon it, take it in, act upon it, live by it.
We have to put Christ first in our life…
II. Lost Protection
1Sa 4:10 And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.
We need to protect ourselves form the evil one. – it is written!!!
We need to protect our hearts - Psa 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
CONFESS!!!!
Armour of God – Breastplate
If we are not walking with God:-
Decisions become difficult – Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, it directs our paths..
What should I do about……? Check the Word – Instruction book
III. Lost Opportunities
1Sa 4:11 And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.
Eli no longer had the opportunity to be a light to his children, he had left it to late.
We need to realise how important it is to walk with God every day
Abraham Lincoln’s comment, made when talking to a father who was chagrined and embarrassed because his 17-year-old son had begun to indulge in liquor, is most convincing: "Well, there is just one way to bring up a child in the way he should go, and that is to travel the way yourself."
Pro 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Samuel was about 12 years old when the Lord spoke to him. He had grown up in the presence of the Lord and learned to serve in His Tabernacle, though Samuel did not have a personal experience with the Lord yet.
It is important that those raised in a Christian home make their own personal decisions about Christ, mum and dad can’t save them, but by their light they can point the way.
The greatest light our children will ever see is our lives
Eli should have been a better light to his children – he knew what they were doing was wrong –
They were unsaved / regarded Belial as true God (1 Sam 2:12)
They stole the offering and bullied people (1 Sam 2:14)
They committed adultery on the Temple steps (1 Sam 2:22)
The caused God’s people to transgress (1 Sam 2:24)
Eli did not stop them or rebuke them (1 Sam 3:13)
Jam 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
Eli did not let his light shine to them to make a difference in their lives, now it is too late, he has lost the opportunity.
Don’t leave it too late to make a difference. Let your light shine, keep that light burning, don’t let it go out and loose the opportunities to make a difference.
1Sa 4:18 And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.
The Lord Jesus Christ is walking in the midst of the lamp-stands today. He is our Great High Priest. He trims them every now and then as He moves into our hearts and lives. Sometimes He must snuff out a light that is giving off smoke instead of light.
If people saw the life of Eli, would they want what he had? Would they want to be like him?
I wonder if people look at us and see our light shining brightly – do they want what we have?
If we are not living right and our light has gone out, what kind of a witness are we. People see our lives, would they want to become a Christian as a result of our witness???
Keep the light burning!
When trials come – praise the Lord
When pain comes – praise the Lord
When the enemy comes – praise the Lord
Keep the light burning!
Rom 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
