Ignite Our Wicks in 2006
Matthew 5:16
I. Introduction
Ok, everyone, I want you to sing along with me if you know this song.
Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning.
Give me oil in my lamp I pray.
Give me oil in my lamp keep me burning, burning, burning,
keep me burning ‘til the break of day!
This morning, I don’t believe that it’s the availability of the oil, as much as it may be the condition of our wicks that keep us from burning brightly for Christ.
In Matthew 5, Jesus is speaking to a large crowd, but more directly to His disciples, and He says this (v. 16), “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
This morning, I’d like for us to look at the condition of our wicks (our heart’s condition) and see if there are some changes needed in order for us as individuals, and as a congregation, to shine brighter and better for God in 2006.
It’s amazing to see how many times light, and lamps, and lampstands (or candlesticks) are referred to in Scripture. With multiple references, I felt that it would be well worth my time to research the art of maintaining oil lamps, being as these lamps have been around since 1,500 B.C., and they were the lamp of choice in Christ’s day. In my searching I discovered some interesting facts about these lamps that can relate directly to our spiritual lives.
I’d like for us to focus on and search out answers to this single question…
What is potentially wrong with a wick that won’t burn brightly?
II. Body
A. Dry
1. One of the things that is vital for a wick to burn brightly is that it must be soaked in oil.
a. The wick is typically made of cotton or some other absorbent material…and as the wick absorbs the oil, the oil provides the fuel and burns.
2. I thought the imagery here was too god to resist. In the Bible, you’ll find that many Scriptures that refer to oil actually relate it symbolically to the Holy Spirit.
a. This is such a great fit. In order for us to burn brightly we
must allow the Holy Spirit to saturate us or fill us.
b. The supply is abundant. We do not have an oil shortage when it comes to the Holy Spirit’s availability and desire to fill us, but it’s the condition of the wick, or our hearts, that determines if we will burn brightly or just spark and burn out.
c. We need to give diligence to soaking up God’s Word, and obediently responding to His direction. Being filled with the Holy Spirit.
3. Ephesians 5:18 says, And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation (harmful self-indulgence), but be filled with the Spirit.
The Amplified Bible reads this way…And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery (it cheapens your life); but ever be filled and stimulated with the [Holy] Spirit.
Nothing else provides the necessary fuel for the Christian life
Another potential problem with our wick (or heart) is that it…
B. Needs Trimming
1. I had always heard this expression when relating to candles or kerosene lamps, but I never understood why you need to trim them or what was involved with the trimming of a wick.
- We even sing about this process in one of our old hymns written by Fanny Crosby…maybe some of you remember the song…sing it with me…
“When Jesus comes to reward His servants, Whether it be noon or night,
Faithful to Him will He find us watching,
With our lamps all trimmed and bright?”
2. All the information I read about oil lamps confirmed this single point…if a wick goes untrimmed & uncorrected it will do nothing more than smoke and cause a mess.
- its ability to deliver light will be rendered ineffective.
3. Spiritually speaking, this is where we often find ourselves.
a. Doing things just for the sake of doing them. There’s really no power or passion or light behind what we’re doing, it’s just smoke…and it has the potential of causing a mess.
b. What happens when we just go through the motions, is our hearts, like a wick, grow crusted and hard.
• Our hearts need to be trimmed
• Our attitudes need to be corrected
• Our priorities need re-defining
c. We need to realize that it’s not about me…it’s not about growing our church…it’s all about bringing the light of Jesus Christ to this community so that people will glorify God.
d. Listen to what David writes in Psalm 51:10-13
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to You.
4. It’s not about a building…it’s not about church growth strategies… it’s about getting our hearts trimmed and bright, and then sending the light and love of Jesus into the lives of those living in darkness - the darkness of sin
- the darkness of religious deception
5. If we’ll allow God to trim us, if we’ll give the Holy Spirit room to fill us…I believe wholeheartedly that we’ll see
More souls saved
More relationships created
More lives enriched
More depth
More passion…in 2006
Our prayer should be…”God ignite our wicks in 2006” for Your glory!
C. Can I give you a couple more tidbits about wicks that I discovered and found interesting?
1. They burn best if trimmed to a point…pointed upward.
a. Isn’t this really what Jesus said? “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
2. In fragrant oil lamps, the flames only job is to bring light & release the fragrant oil into the air.
a. Listen to what Paul told the Church in Philippi…”Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Phil. 2:15).
3. Lamps with multiple wicks deliver greater light.
- Seems this should go without saying, yet many miss the command and the spiritual significance of joining their wicks to a lamp…or lampstand.
a. Back in our opening text in Matthew 5, Jesus spoke these words in the verses just prior to the one we read. In vv. 14-15 of Matthew 5, Jesus says this…”You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.”
b. You’ll find in the New Testament, that Jesus references a candlestick or lampstand 5 times…and each time He is referring to a place where individual wicks (or people) are brought together for a focused purpose.
1) That (place) or lampstand is the Lord’s local Church, and by joining together we can better light our community and world.
2) Adding our wicks together…fueled from the proper source…lit for the proper purpose.
4. One last tidbit…which seems obvious, but again, spiritually, we often miss it. A wick cannot light itself!
a. It must be lit by Someone with the power to ignite us!
b. I’ve experienced this, so I know how frustrating it is to try and manufacture a spiritual “fire”. No matter how hard we try, the reality is…it’s fake.
c. Let me point you to the One who can make our hearts blaze…or better yet, let me tell you what some disciples said after hearing of the news of Jesus’ resurrection…and then encountering Him on their way to Emmaus.
Luke 24:32 And they said to one another, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”
God, ignite our wicks in 2006!
III. Conclusion
This morning, I don’t know the condition of everyone’s wicks…
Perhaps you’re here and you know Christ as Savior, but your spiritual life seems a bit dry.
- I want you to know that the supply is abundant. God’s Holy Spirit stands ready to fill us but it’s up to us to humbly and honestly come.
Maybe you’re here and your heart has grown a bit crusted and hard…you keep doing the same old things, trying to light on your own…Jesus stands ready to ignite you…whether you need renewal, or you need to come for the first time and receive Him as Savior.
Perhaps you’re here and you need to add your wick to God’s candlestick here at Cornerstone.
(I’d like for you to listen to the words of this song("Go Light Your World"),and I hope you find yourself both encouraged and challenged to let God ignite you…and to then take the steps He is calling you to take)
Let this be the year you…we…shine better and brighter for God!
