He Kindled a Few Candles
A true testimony should continue until death and kindle new candles to keep the light alive, shining on and on until it covers the whole world.
Watchman Nee emphasizes the importance of maintaining a continuous testimony for Christ, likening believers to candles that should burn brightly until consumed. He illustrates that each believer's light can ignite others, creating a chain reaction that spreads the Gospel throughout the world. The sermon reflects on how Jesus kindled the first candles, including Paul, and how the Church has carried this light for over 2,000 years. Nee encourages believers to witness for the Lord, ensuring that His testimony shines perpetually. The call to action is clear: to keep kindling new lights even as our own burns out.
Text
"Among whom ye are seen as lights in the world." Philippians 2:15
A candle should burn until it is all consumed; likewise a man's testimony should continue until his death. It one candle's light is to live on, then it needs to kindle another before it is completely burned out. By kindling candle after candle, the light can shine on and on until it covers the whole world. Such is the testimony of the Church.
When the Son of God came to the earth, he kindled a few candles; later on he ignited another candle in Paul, and of course many more. During the 2,000 years since then, the Church's light continued burning on in candle after candle. Many have even sacrificed their lives to ignite others, but although the first candle gutters out, the second one continues, and so on and so on. Go therefore and witness for the Lord! Let his testimony shine out in the earth unceasingly.
Sermon Outline
- The Nature of a True Testimony
- The Importance of Kindling New Candles
- The Example of Christ and the Church
- Christ kindled a few candles initially
- Paul and others were kindled to continue the light
- Many have sacrificed their lives to ignite others
Key Quotes
“A candle should burn until it is all consumed; likewise a man's testimony should continue until his death.” — Watchman Nee
“By kindling candle after candle, the light can shine on and on until it covers the whole world.” — Watchman Nee
“Go therefore and witness for the Lord! Let his testimony shine out in the earth unceasingly.” — Watchman Nee
Application Points
- We should strive to kindle new candles by sharing our testimony and witnessing for the Lord.
- Our testimony should continue until death, and we should be willing to sacrifice for others to keep the light alive.
- The Church's testimony is a chain of kindled candles that continues to shine on and on until it covers the whole world.