Trim Your Wick!

I have recently bought a large candle that to all intent and purpose looked like a famous brand. Same shape and size jar and to all intent and purpose would perform the same function, as well as being a third of the price. It wasn’t masquerading as a counterfeit as the label was plain with the words scented linen!

It gave off a pleasant smell, but unlike a certain brand as the wax melted it stuck to the side of the jar rather than decreasing in line with the wick.

All was well for a few weeks, until the wick was getting lost in the wax, killing the flame. I struggled to light it and eventually tried digging around it, to expose more of the wick. Eventually I gave up and inserted a new longer wick. A messy job, one I wouldn’t recommend doing.

You may ask, why I didn’t throw it away? I like the smell, simple as that!

Recently I was on a weekend retreat with a great bunch of other people as part of the ministry I serve with. It was fun, yet very challenging. On the Friday evening the teaching covered the need to deal with jealousy, our own or being the target of another person’s jealousy. A great portion of scripture was used, 1Samuel 1 the story of Hannah and Peninnah. I would encourage you to read it and allow the Holy Spirit to highlight any pockets of your heart that is or has been affected by jealousy.

That Friday evening as I went to bed, Holy Spirit began talking to me about the need to trim our wicks on a daily basis!

"Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it; he shall burn it every morning when he trims the lamps.

"When Aaron trims the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense. There shall be perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations.

"You shall not offer any strange incense on this altar or burnt offering or meal offering; and you shall not pour out a drink offering on it.

Exodus 30:7-9

The LORD said to Moses,

“Command the people of Israel to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually. This is the lampstand that stands in the Tabernacle, in front of the inner curtain that shields the Ark of the Covenant. Aaron must keep the lamps burning in the Lord ’s presence all night. This is a permanent law for you, and it must be observed from generation to generation”.

Aaron and the priests must tend the lamps on the pure gold lampstand continually in the LORD ’s presence. Levicticus 24: 1-4

As a New Testament believer our bodies are now the temple of the Holy Spirit.

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own". 1Cor 6:19

We are the fire, the flame, the lamp.

“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. Matt 5:14-16 MSG.

We aren’t meant to be silent, or actionless. We are co-labourers, joint heirs and each one of us have a role to play as one of his ambassadors. We are to pray and demonstrate the kingdom of God here on this earth. It will look different for each one of us! So the wick needs to be trimmed daily so that the flame can burn brightly.

Too many of us burn out because we are not taking the time to trim our wicks (dealing with our soul/heart issues) Our spirit always wants to burn but often those things of the soul, if not dealt with quench the fire and cause the flame to dim or go out!

Look what Jesus had to say to the church at Laodicea.

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!

So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

I know what this feels like because I have been in that position where my flame was so weak,

just about a flicker. I had allowed others and given them power to use their words to crush, kill and wound my spirit and soul. I believed the lies rather than declare truth. I lost sight of who I was in Jesus and allowed myself to be silenced. I was looking for a cave, but Holy Spirit had a blow torch in mind!

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy"

refers to an enemy, often understood as the devil or false teachers, whose purpose is to cause harm and take away spiritual life.

"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" Jn 10:10

states Jesus' purpose: to give life that is not just an existence, but a life filled with grace, forgiveness, and love, a life that is overflowing and complete.

In essence, the verse is a declaration that Jesus offers a life superior to anything the world or the enemy can offer, a life characterized by abundant blessing and fulfilment.

After burning ( that’s our hearts) our wicks (our soul) need trimming so we can continually burn. The end of the wick has to be placed into the oil (candle wax) the Word and the Spirit. The wick can then absorb the oil and that enables the light to burn longer and brighter.

There are times of refreshing in God’s presence!

Our spirit isn’t the problem, we are not told to renew our spirit, that is a complete work at the point of receiving Jesus as our saviour. To enable him to be Lord of our lives we have the job of renewing our minds.

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5

"Instead, they find happiness in the Teaching of the Lord, and they think about it day and night." Psalm 1:2

"Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life." Proverbs 4:23

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Philippians 4:8

If we don’t attend to the wick (our soul) the wick becomes charred and difficult to lite. An untrimmed wick gives out a lot of smoke! I want the fire.

Untrimmed wicks can produce unholy fire as in the case of Hophni and Phinehas the sons of Eli the priest. 1 Samuel 2:12-36

They were wicked and had no respect for the Lord, or for their duties as priests!

The bible tells us that we are:

"Kings and Priests unto God" refers to a declaration in the New Testament Book of Revelation (specifically 1:6 and 5:10) that believers, through Jesus Christ are now called to a dual role of kings and priests. This means Christians are empowered to reign on the earth with authority, and they also serve as spiritual representatives before God, mediating the things of God. The phrase signifies spiritual authority, purpose, and a shared destiny with Christ.

Understanding the dual role:

Kingship:

This aspect implies rulership and authority on Earth, allowing believers to align with God's will and decrees, thereby breaking the power of negative influences.

Priesthood:

This refers to the spiritual function of mediating God's will and administering divine things. It also involves the work of prayer and serving God.

The Holy Spirit will never force any of us to deal with those heart issues that dampen the fire within us. He does, however, point them out, often through a message, a worship song, through the word etc. His aim is to bring us into a place of greater authority and anointing so that that we can experience what it means to be an overcomer, more than a conqueror! To experience Colossians 2:9-10!

"Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls". 1 Peter 2:25 NLT

The Holy Spirit is the one that will not only highlight the adjustments we need to make in our characters but will also heal the wounds of our souls (trimming our wicks) so that we can arise and shine!

ARISE [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you–rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! Isaiah 60 AMPC

When oil comes in contact with fire, it can ignite it and cause the fire to become much stronger and more difficult to control!

It’s about time that some of us rose up out of the ashes of oppression and gave the devil a ‘black eye’!

“I can’t afford to live in reaction to darkness. If I do, darkness has had a role in setting the agenda for my life. The devil is not worthy of such influence, even in the negative. Jesus lived in response to the Father. I must learn to do the same.”

Bill Johnson, Hosting the Presence: Unveiling Heaven's Agenda