Lampstand or Lampshade?

Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a
candlestick? Mark 4:21
Jesus taught His disciples daily. He many times taught them in parables. Let us, His
current day disciples, learn what the Spirit of the Lord is saying from the Parable of the Lamp.
Psalm 119:105 says, Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. His Word is
our lamp; it lights us the way before us. As we give attention to Gods written word the logo
or whole of His written WordHe directs us by speaking to precisely to us in a rhemaa
precise word, or a word in season for us. By His Spirit, He directs us north, south, east, or west;
wherever He wants us to go, He shows us by lighting up the way before us. Through His Word,
we know what step to take next. His Spirit shows us what our goals should be and what steps to
take to achieve them.
Where is your lamp located? Where is your Bible? Is it on a bookshelf somewhere? Is it
on your coffee table? It needs to be front and center in our lives, so we can look to it often for
direction. As Gods prophetic people who confess to hear His voice, we must make sure
everything we are hearing lines up with the written Word of God. If the Word of God is our
lampstand to our daily life, then it must have a place of prominence in our homes and hearts. It
must be front and center, and it must be looked into daily for inspiration, direction, and
confirmation.
The Holy Spirit accompanies us as we look into His Word. He will bring out His divine
highlighter. He highlights His Word to our hearts, and we then in turn get out our physical
highlighter and highlight the verses in our Bible. His Spirit shines His light upon His written
Word making it shine in our hearts. This brings a word in season for us. This is our daily
breadfresh bread from heaven. It is like the manna that was poured out from heaven to the
Israelites on a daily basis. What happened to the manna when it was kept over a day? It grew
moldy (see Exodus 16). Likewise, we too, need daily, fresh bread from heaven.
Heres Lukes version (Luke 8:16): No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it
with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in
may see the light. We become lit when the Holy Spirit fills us. He is the oil that fills our
lamps. When we received the baptism in the Holy Spirit, our wicks were lit. We were set
ablaze for Him. It is our responsibility to keep our lamps lit. Read the Parable of the Ten
Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), like the five wise virgins, we must keep oil in our vessels with our
lamps. Staying filled with the Spirit of God is our responsibility. It is like when the car is on E,
and we try to blame someone else for not filling the tank. We are responsible to keep our vessels
filled with oil, and our lamps trimmed. The oil is the Holy Spirit, and the light is the revelation or
illumination that He gives us. That light is new every day, every moment. The sun goes down at
night and then a new day comes, with fresh light for that day. We want our lamps lit when He
returns.

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Be a lampstand
As children, we would sing This little light of mine, Im going to let it shine. We were
referring to telling others about Jesus. That still stands. But being a lampstand is more than just
telling people about Jesus, it also evolves telling people what Jesus is saying. Its by speaking out
His Word to others that we light us the way for them; in this way we are being a lampstand for
others.
It can be as simple as sharing a revelation that you yourself received early that day with
them. As you spend time with the Lord and He gives you a Word for the day, share that Word
with others that day. Its like the little lad who had a small lunch of loaves and fish. Jesus took
that small lunch and multiplied it to feed thousands of others. In the same way, He will take your
daily bread and bless it as you share it with others. Its like He told His disciples, You give
them something to eat (Mark 6:37). Stretch yourself to press in for a Word to share during the
day. Go to the storeroom of your heart and ask the Lord for a Word in season for your friend,
neighbor, or co-worker.
Light up their wick. People out there are walking in the darkness and need Gods Word
to light up the way. You were lit when the Holy Spirit came upon you and filled you with His
oil and set you ablaze. Now, go light another. I remember back when I was a young adult and
was smoking cigarettes, how smokers would huddle in groups outside and light up each others
cigarettes. Well, light their wick. Share a Word with them, and pray for them to get filled and
baptized with the Holy Spirit.
Take off your lampshade
Did you ever enter a room that has a light on but it is dim? It is hard to see. What do you
do then? I dont know about you, but I take off the lampshade! Then the light shines brightly and
I can see well. Likewise, if you take off your lampshade, others will see better. So, I ask you,
what is your lampshade? What is it that tones down the Glory of God in you?
Lampshades
1. Shades of the fear of man. We are afraid of what people think so we put on our lampshade.
We are afraid of offending others, so we put on our lampshade. As a result of our fears,
people are standing in the dark, unable to see Christs light. Take off your lampshade and
shine.
2. Shades of unbelief. Not believing Gods Word or doubting what He says are shades of
unbelief. You say, Oh, but I believe! Well, maybe you have a shade of unbelief. There
may be an area that you are wrestling with and doubtful in. This will shade the glory of God
within you. Perhaps you dont believe who God says you are. When we compare ourselves to
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one another, we miss it. Let God hold His candle to you, and stop holding it to each other in
comparison.
Also, we must stop magnifying the problem. We cannot walk in His light and reflect His
light if we are magnifying the problem. The problem is dark, but Gods Word shines a light
upon it, bringing the solution. Words of knowledge and Words of wisdom are manifestations
of the Spirit of God that are given to you to light up the way for others (see 1 Cor. 12:1-11).
Ask the Lord to use you in these manifestations.
3. Shades of the shame. Perhaps you have a shame of the Gospel. Cast off that shade and pray
for God to give you a fresh filling of His Spirit and boldness to share His Word. Perhaps you
are ashamed of past sin. My friend, Jesus has died and rose again to give you the victory over
sin. He is faithful and just to forgive you of your sins and to cleanse you from them (see 1
John 1:9). When we turn to Him and ask forgiveness, He forgives and cast even the memory
of your sin in the sea so that it will be forgotten (Micah 7:19). Be free my friend, and allow
Gods light to shine the way ahead for you. Dont allow the shadows for the past to shade the
glory that lies within you. Also, dont be ashamed of the place where God has you in
presently because you rather be somewhere else. If you complain about where you are, it can
shame the glory within you, which is what would have drawn people the Lord. Live in today
and embrace the Glory within. Tomorrow will come in the dawn of His light.
4. Shades of Selfishness. Sometimes we dont want to bother because we are caught up in
ourselves. When we allow this to happen, we dont give others the light of day. Take off
your lampshade, and shine for Him.

5. Shades of Busyness. It is easy to allow the busyness of life to shade the glory within. This is
actually a perspective problem. Remember what you are here for. Psalm 90 tells us that we
need to learn to number our days. We dont know when our time is up. Live like He is
coming back tomorrow.
Example: Blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52). In the account of Blind Bartimaeus we see
this poor blind man begging in the streets. He cries out to Jesus when He is passing by Him.
Many people shushed the beggar. It is possible, that Jesus disciples were among those doing
the shushing. Perhaps he had a reputation as being a pest, and they didnt have time for him.
They were on their way somewhere with Jesus and busy, very busy, with spiritual things;
again, a perspective problem. Blind Bartimaeus could see better than they, for he cried out all
the more! He apparently believed in who Jesus was, for He called Him, Son of David. His
faith got Jesus attention for He stopped in His tracks, and had His disciples call for him to
come. Then the peoples tune changed and they said, Oh be of good cheer, Rise, He is
calling you (Mark 10:49). We must be like Jesus and be willing to stop what we are doing to
do what He wants to do.
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Example: The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). The Good Samaritan is probably the
best known Biblical example of not taking time to help others. It wasnt the religious priest
who made the time for the beat up man in the ditch, but the Good Samaritan man. Samaritans
werent well accepted by the Jews of the day, because they differed in theology on the place
to worship (see John 40:20). The Jews worshipped in the temple, where as the Samaritans
worshipped in the mountains. Likewise, those who differ with us on some theological point,
may well have the heart of Jesus to reach out and minister His love, kindness, compassion,
and healing.
Whats your lampshade? What is it that shades the glory of God within you? Is it fear,
unbelief, shame, selfishness, or are you just too busy? I encourage you, take off your
lampshade and shine bright for God today!
Prayer
Dear Lord, I humbly ask you to forgive me for shading Your glory within me. Please
forgive me and light me up for You again. I pray that You would shine forth from me today.
Speak to my heart and give me the perspective and boldness to share your Word out of the
love of God, with others today. Give me Your light to shine forth. Shine forth Jesus, shine
forth. Amen.
Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
-Isaiah 60:1-

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