He will light your candle again

Daffany Smith Sunday, June 26, 2011

Candle 1. A long, but small cylindrical body of tallow, wax, formed on a wick composed of linen or cotton threads, twisted loosely; used for a portable light of domestic use. 2. A light. 3. A light; a luminary (the most prominent thing in your house that gives light or gives off light). In scripture, the candle of the Lord is God s divine favor and blessing; or the conscience or understanding. Prov. 20:27, says The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly. There is nothing hidden from God. Your candle/light is most noticeable when used properly. Take your candle outside the realm of God s protection and (blow) it goes out. Matthew 5:16 says, Let your light so shine, before men that they may see your good works and glorify you father in heaven. He will light your candle again Psalm 18:28, For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness. Revelation 2 1 TO THE angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Ephesus write: These are the words of Him Who holds the seven stars [which are the messengers of the seven churches] in His right hand, Who goes about among the seven golden lampstands [which are the seven churches]: I know your industry and activities, laborious toil and trouble, and your patient endurance, and how you cannot tolerate wicked [men] and have tested and critically appraised those who call [themselves] apostles (special messengers of Christ) and yet are not, and have found them to be impostors and liars. I know you are enduring patiently and are bearing up for My name's sake, and you have not fainted or become exhausted or grown weary.
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But I have this [one charge to make] against you: that you have left (abandoned) the love that you had at first [you have deserted Me, your first love]. Remember then from what heights you have fallen. Repent (change the inner man to meet God's will) and do the works you did previously [when first you knew the Lord], or else I will visit you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you change your mind and repent. Yet you have this [in your favor and to your credit]: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans [what they are doing as corrupters of the people], which I Myself also detest. He, who is able to hear, let him listen to and give heed to what the Spirit says to the assemblies (churches). To him who overcomes (is victorious), I will grant to eat [of the fruit] of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.(A)
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Text: Psalm 18:28 Why do we need the Lord to light our candle again? A. Sin and we have abandoned our first love, we have abandoned God. Matthew 22:37(KJV)Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. a. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (a) Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (b) John 1:9, If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. (c) God breathed into man the breath of life and man became a living soul. (d) Jesus before he left breathed on the disciples and said, Receive ye the Holy Ghost. b. There is a part of us saved and unsaved that needs to be revived.

A. We need Jesus to light our candle again in order to be restored, revived and renewed. a. Sin affectseveryone. The light of Jesus Christ blasts away all the darkness in our lives. It doesn t just get rid of it, the light explodes the darkness. (illustration with the light switch) In order for the darkness to come back you have to turn the light off. That s way Jesus said Let your light shine. You have to allow your own light to shine. You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:32). Truth kicks you out of the house and says, There what are you going to do with this. Because you are responsible for you actions once you know the truth. (1) Romans 8:19, For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 24, O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (2) That is why Paul is so happy in Romans 8:1 and says, There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (3) The most dangerous part of is separation from God and separation from the blessings God has for us. For some of us it will be eternal death and destruction. This is the end for every one that does not accept Christ as their Lord and Savior. B. Why do we need the Lord to light our candle again? To get rid of confusion, if you have lost your first love there is confusion. a. Confusion is a lack of order; irregularity; commotion; a blending of ideas; confusion brings about shame; agitation and a distraction of the mind. Confusion brings defeat and ruin. James 3:16: For where envying and strife [is], there [is] confusion and every evil work.

b. Confusion is a shameful blending of the sexes, a shocking crime; Leviticus 18:23, 20:12-13; Romans 1:24-27 cf. 1Corinthians 6:9-10. God is not the author of confusion. 1 Corinthians 14. O Lord, let me never be put to confusion. Psalm 71. We lie in shame and our confusion covereth us. Jeremiah 3. The makers of idols shall go to confusion together. Isaiah 45. C. Confusion is caused by the mysteries of God we cannot explain. (Everybody wants to be a wonder. There is no one wonderful but God.) Isaiah 9:6(KJV) For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. D. Caused by things that God allows in our lives that we cannot explain. It s the providence of God. (Everything is not the devil. God allows us to go through things in order for us to see if we will stand and fight. It s not always the devil. It s God that sends tests to sharpen us. I LOVE ACTS 4, BECAUSE, THE FIRST TIME THE DISCIPLES WERE PRESECUTED, THEY DIDN T WHINE AND CRY AND SAY, WE RE NOT GOING BACK TO CHURCH, WE RE NOT GOING OUT THERE ANYMORE THOSE PEOPLE DON T LIKE US. THEY WENT BACK TOLD THE SAINTS WHAT HAPPENED AND THE SAINTS PRAYED. THEY DIDN T PRAY FOR A WAY OUT. THEY DIDN TT EVEN PLEAD THE BLOOD OF JESUS OR REBUKE THE DEVIL. THE SAINTS PRAYED FOR BOLDNESS TO SPEAK GOD S WORD.) C. WHY DO WE NEED THE LORD TO LIGHT OUR CANDLE AGAIN? Because of fear sin brings about fear and depression A. Fear of death B. Fear of future C. Just plain old fear d. The Prayer, Lord Light My Candle Again A. We must realize we cannot do this on our own. Whatever we do will fail. B. Only God can chase away the darkness of sin, death and fear.

You will light my candle, you will revive and comfort my troubled spirit, and not leave me depressed, you willmend me and restore me to peace and prosperity; you will restore my honor, which is now hidden; you will guide my way, and make it plain before me, that I may avoid the snares of the enemy; you will light my candle, so I can work, and give me an opportunity to serve you and the comfort those in the body of Christ."