This is Part 11 of our 15-part series walking through Session 1 of “The Assassins Among Us.” Check out the blog for previous posts.
ELEMENT 10: THE LIGHTING OF THE LAMP – MAINTAINING THE LIGHT
Numbers 8:1-4 gives God’s command about the lamps:
“Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to Aaron and say to him, When you set up the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand.’ And Aaron did so: he set up its lamps in front of the lampstand, as the LORD commanded Moses. And this was the workmanship of the lampstand, hammered work of gold. From its base to its flowers, it was hammered work; according to the pattern that the LORD had shown Moses, so he made the lampstand.”
Exodus 27:20-21 specifies the requirement:
“You shall command the people of Israel that they bring to you pure beaten olive oil for the light, that a lamp may regularly be set up to burn. In the tent of meeting, outside the veil that is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall tend it from evening to morning before the LORD. It shall be a statute forever to be observed throughout their generations by the people of Israel.”
The priests kept the lamps burning continually. Light must be maintained. This wasn’t a one-time lighting. It was daily, ongoing responsibility.
LIGHT DOESN’T MAINTAIN ITSELF
Here’s what this reveals about spiritual reality: Light doesn’t maintain itself. It must be tended, fueled, and protected.
In the New Covenant, we are the light.
Matthew 5:14-16 declares Jesus Christ’s words:
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Notice: “You ARE the light of the world.” Not “you should try to be.” Not “you might become.” You ARE. If you belong to Jesus Christ, you carry His light.
THE SOURCE OF LIGHT
John 1:4-5, 9 reveals the source of this light:
“In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it… The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.”
Jesus Christ is the true light. You don’t generate light—you reflect His light. You don’t create illumination—you carry His illumination. But you must maintain what you’ve been given.
WALK AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT
Ephesians 5:8-14 commands us to walk as light:
“For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, ‘Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.'”
Notice the progression:
You WERE darkness (past tense—before Christ) Now you ARE light in the Lord (present reality—in Christ) WALK as children of light (ongoing responsibility—maintain it) Expose the unfruitful works of darkness (active function—use it) Awake from sleep (warning—don’t let it go out)
This is the lamp-tending principle. You have the light. Now maintain it. Walk in it. Let it expose darkness. Don’t let it go out through neglect or compromise.
WHAT DIMS THE LIGHT
- Unconfessed sin—Sin harbored in your life dims the light of God’s presence. The darkness you tolerate diminishes the light you carry.
- Neglecting the Word—The lamp oil was pure beaten olive oil. In Scripture, oil often represents the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God is repeatedly called light (Psalm 119:105). When you neglect God’s Word, you’re not refueling the lamp.
Psalm 119:105, 130 declares:
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path… The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.”
- Compromise with darkness—Ephesians 5:11 commands: “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness.” When you participate in what belongs to darkness, you dim the light you’re called to carry.
- Hiding your faith—The basket and the bed Jesus Christ mentioned. When you hide your faith out of fear, convenience, or desire for acceptance, you’re covering the light you’re meant to display.
- Spiritual laziness—The priests had to tend the lamps daily. It wasn’t automatic. Maintaining your spiritual light requires intentional, daily effort empowered by the Holy Spirit.
THE KEY TO MAINTAINING LIGHT
The written Word (Scripture) becomes the spoken Word (as the Holy Spirit illuminates it to your heart) which becomes the revealed Word (truth applied and lived out in your life).
This is the process of tending the light—the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ. You don’t just read Scripture as information. You encounter the living Word through the written Word by the power of the Holy Spirit, and that revelation transforms how you walk.
1 Corinthians 12:3 declares an absolute truth:
“Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says ‘Jesus is accursed!’ and no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except in the Holy Spirit.”
“No one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except in the Holy Spirit.” To truly confess Jesus Christ as Lord—to recognize who He is, to submit to His authority, to comprehend His deity—this is only possible through the Holy Spirit’s revelation.
APPLICATION
- Are you tending your spiritual light daily, or letting it dim through neglect?
- Is there unconfessed sin dimming the light you carry?
- Are you neglecting the Word that fuels your lamp?
- Are you compromising with darkness while claiming to carry light?
- Are you hiding your faith under a basket or letting it shine?
The light must be maintained. It requires daily attention, daily fuel from the Word, daily walking in obedience. The battles ahead require bright, well-tended lamps—not flickering, neglected ones.
TOMORROW: Element 11: The Cleansing of the Priests
We’ll discover why those who serve must be cleansed by God’s process, not human methods.
Most ministries stay in the safe middle. We bring marginalized truth back to the center.
THE PROPHET’S MARGIN Truth From the Narrow Place
ONE TRUE LIGHT MINISTRIES Calling believers to authentic faith Damascus Road Journey: STOP. LOOK. LISTEN. LIVE. www.onetrulight.org