Exodus 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.
The light in the tabernacle was never to be put out. God commanded to bring pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always. In other words, the light could not burn without the oil. Likewise, the oil had no purpose without the light burning. You could bring in the oil, but if the light was not burning, there was no purpose for that oil. Moreover, you could let the light burn, but without the oil, that light would burn out. This lamp that is to burn always because of the pure olive oil teaches several principles for the believer to obey.
First, the believer is the light. God says about the believer in Matthew 5:14, Ye are the light of the world. My job as a believer is to be a light, not a light for myself, but a light in a dark world that points people to Jesus Christ. God did not say that the world is to give us light, but we are to be the light of the world. Many have found their light dim or almost out because their lives give off more darkness than it does light. You cannot live in and be of the world and be a light to the world. The mentality that I must partake in fellowship with the world is not true. Light does not partake with darkness, or else it becomes dark, but light shines in darkness so that darkness can see light. You are to be a light in a dark world, and you will only be that light by living a holy life.
Second, the purpose of light is to give light in darkness. There is no purpose for a light bulb if it is not turned on. There is no purpose for a candle if it is not lit. Likewise, the believer is not fulfilling their purpose if they are not being a light to the lost world. In other words, I must go into darkness and allow my light to shine so they can see the Light, Jesus Christ. You are not a light to the world because you live right in your house; you are a light to the world by being a soul winner. Yes, you should live right in your house, but you are to be a light to the world by giving them the Gospel.
Third, your light is to burn always. In other words, once a week soul winning is not what God wants, but He wants us to live our lives being a light to witness to every person every day. If you only look to see people saved one day a week when it is soul winning time, you are only being a light one day a week. To obey the command to be a light to burn always means I must always be a Gospel witness to the lost.
Fourth, you cannot be a light if you are not burning. To burn means I am giving of myself for the sake of others seeing the light. You cannot be a light to burn always if you are not giving of yourself to others. People often say you must be careful of burnout, but if we are to burn always, we cannot burn out. You cannot be a light to burn always if you are not always burning, or living your life in such a manner that you are looking for an opportunity to be saved.
Fifth, your light for God will never shine without being filled with the Holy Spirit of God. It is the Holy Spirit‘s power that causes our lamp to burn always. How do I keep from burning out? I keep from burning out by being filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is that pure oil that allows my light to always burn. My friend, you must yield to the Holy Spirit continually if you are to be a light to burn always as a witness in a dark world.
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