It belongs to the very idea and nature of man to be in communion with God. It was once said to a useful minister, “Sir, if you did not plough in your closet, you would not reap in your pulpit” (Samuel Prime).
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Keep The Lamp Burning

Keep The Lamp Burning KEEP THE LAMP BURNING B6-08-6A Lev. 24:2 (1-4)

PURPOSE: Revival–To encourage a return to an active

prayer life and submission to God.

INTRODUCTION: The Lighthouse

  1. The most celebrated lighthouse of antiquity was the one erected by Ptolemy Soter on the island of Pharos opposite Alexandria. Josephus says it could be seen at a distance of 42 miles. It was one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world.
  2. The most famous modern lighthouse is Eddystone which is visable 13 miles.
  3. The world needs a lighthouse today…
  4. We must “cause the lamps to burn continually.”
  5. THE LAMP MUST BE ORDERED
  6. There should be an order for important things
    1. Placed “before the Lord”
    2. “Upon the pure candlestick”
  7. The priests were to light the lamps each evening
  8. “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet”
    1. Ministers must “preach the Word”
    2. The Word will bring light to our path
  9. Lord, cause your Word to start a fire in me…

II. THE LAMP MUST BE SUPPLIED WITH OIL

  1. Any fire must have fuel to burn
  2. The Holy Ghost is symbolized in the Bible by a fire
    1. Associated with tongues of fire (Acts 2:3)
    2. We are baptized “with the Holy Ghost and with fire” (Mt. 3:11)
  3. But, He is the fire (not the fuel)
  4. The fuel that is to burn is US
    1. Fuel was GIVEN by individual members
    2. It was extracted by pressure (“beaten”)
      1. Smyrna (Rev. 2:8) would have tribulation ten days: “be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life”
      2. Our value & beauty is revealed after we suffer pressure & tribulations
  5. Lord, make me oil for your lamp & let me burn

    for you…

III. THE LAMP MUST BE TRIMMED

  1. The charred wick must be trimmed back clean
  2. This was the work of the priests (now, all Christians)
  3. The lamp was trimmed when the sweet incense was offered (Ex. 30:7) “And Aaron shall burn… sweet incense every morning; when he dresseth the lamps”
  4. This was symbolic of PRAYER (Rev. 5:8), “four & twenty elders… having… golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints”
    1. Prayer necessitates subjection to God
      1. Is. 58 has promises & commands
      2. Promises
        1. “Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer”
        2. “Lord shall guide thee continually”
        3. “Satisfy thy soul in drought”
      3. Commands
        1. “Loose the bands of wickedness”
        2. “Break every yoke”
        3. “Draw out thy soul to the hungry”
        4. “Honour [God], not doing thing own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words”
    2. Prayer brings cleansing: (2 Chr. 7:14),

      “If my people which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land”

  5. Acts 4:31, “And when they had prayed, the place

    was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”

  6. Lord, remind me to pray so that you can trim off the charred-over areas of my life and let my light shine bright again for you…