Isaiah 44:19 And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?

Yesterday we spoke of the candle and how nothing in Revelation 2:1-5 spoke about the candle. My first instinct is to say that the candle is not to be glorified but Romans 8 says otherwise.

30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Consider if you will being the wick of that candle. The wick is a vessel of transformation of wax into light. The melted wax fuels the fire and the wick gives the flame a place to shine. The wick is only noticeable as it is used. In its use it is consumed.

Psalm 102:3 For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.

Shall I make the residue thereof an abomination?

A candle that has been blown out, its light extinguished, leaves a black hard residue, which is unfit for use. The wick must be trimmed, restored to a suitable condition to shine brightly once again.

Exodus 30:7 And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it.

Proverbs 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.

When the light goes out we are exposed for what we are, unfit for use. It is only through repentance and confession that we are restored. Daily!

Consider this closely if you choose to execute God’s will. It is the order of things.

Revelation 2:1-5 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

I am going to ask you to read these verse five times before you continue. Five verses, five readings. Go.

Ready?

What is missing? What isn’t addressed? If you do not see it, then look again for what is not talked about.

See it?

Candles. Nothing is said about the candles. The candlestick is the church. It is a place in which candles are held up, to shine, but nothing in these verses directly relate to any individual candle. Do you find that just a little strange?

The right hand is the hand of execution of power. We have been speaking about executing power in accordance with God’s will, so this a lesson to look at in reference to the meaning of being taken away. It is not a removal of the candle. It is a removal of a place to be held.

What is the Lord saying to you if He is not speaking to you, the candle, but rather the church which is a place to be held up to shine?