THE CANDLE CHRISTIAN--Matt. 5:13-16

1. Salt--speaks of Spiritual Influence.

2. Light--speaks of Spiritual Radiance.

     a. Salt creates Desire--Work of the Spirit of God in our Life.

     b. Light creates Direction--Work of the Son of God in our Life.

3. Light--The combination of all known colors--All the perfections and

    attributes of God as revealed in Christ.

I. THE FIGURE OF THE CANDLE--Vs. 15--Four parts to the Candle

     A. Candle--Saved man--formed in the shape and size by Candlemaker

     B. Wick--Human Spirit--Our Attitude--Must be Trimmed and Cleaned

     C. Flame--Power of God--Every Candle must be lit from and

          Outside Source

     D. Candlestick--The Church House--Our Place of Service--A

          Candle is Dangerous when it is out of the Candlestick.

II. THE FUNCTION OF THE CANDLE

     A. Shine Privately--Vs. 15-- “it giveth light unto all that are in the

          house.”

          1. Many times--those who speak the loudest in public have no

               witness at home.

     B. Shine Publicly--Vs. 14-- “Ye are the light of the world”--A City

          light is made up of many lights--Speaks of cooperation.

          1. I don’t have to light all the world, but I do have to do my part

     C. Shine Purposefully-- “glorify your Father which is in heaven”

          1. Light Dispels Darkness--Clears up Ignorance and Purifies the

               Dirty

          2. Light Discovers Dangers--Exposes and Uncovers

          3. Light Determines Directions--Phil. 2:15-16-- “among whom

               ye shine as lights in the world; holding forth the word of life.”

               a. Forerunners--Blazing a trail thru the darkness.

III. THE FACTS OF THE CANDLE

     A. A Candle Shines Independently--Not just when other Candles

          are around.  If the only time it shines is when I’m around other

          Christians, it would make me wonder IF I HAD A LIGHT or if I

          was just seeing by someone else’s.  Do you quit shining when

          Everybody else is Gone??

     B. A Candle Shines Brighter--When it is Darker--Some people

          quit shining when Trouble, Sickness, Disaster, Affliction

          Tragedy comes.

          1. “Sin abound, grace did much more abound”

     C. A Candle Shine--In Spite of Criticism--Let someone talk about

          the Candle--I don’t like your Shape, Size, Amount of Light, Color,

          Position, Height.  Candle doesn’t waver--Keeps on Shining!!!

          1. Some people quit when Gossip, Slander, Criticism, Ridicule

               comes.

     D. A Candle Shines--Regardless of Recognition--I know you’ll

          come if we’ll let you Preach, Teach, Lead, Sing

          1. Some people quit if you don’t recognize them,. Brag, Promote

               and especially if you demote them  (Illustrate--move the

               candle down to another lever)  Organ--choir, Pulpit--pew,

               Choir--Door mat

          2. A Candle is happy to Shine wherever it is Placed!!

     E. A Candle Shines--Tho they Vary in Shapes and Sizes--A

          Candle doesn’t put itself in somebody else’s Mold--Happy to

          Shine like it is!

          1. Put a Candle in a Cadillac or Pinto--just keeps on shining.

          2. Dress a Candle in Royalty or Rags--just keeps on shining.

     F. A Candle Shines--All that is Noticed is the Flame--As the

          Flame burns, the Candle melts and eventually burns away until

          nothing is left.  John the Baptist-- “Bright and shining light”--”I

          must decrease and he must increase”

          1. Notice--A Candle never say Anything or Does Anything to

               Draw attention to itself.

     G. A Candle Shines--The Flame always burns UPWARD--Turn it

          sideways or upside down--Flame always points UPWARD.

     H. A Candle Shines--Regardless of IT’S CONDITION--Bend it,

          melt it, crush it--Just light it--Start Shining.

IV.  THE FAILURE OF THE CANDLE--Mark 4:21-- “and he said unto them,
Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to
be set on a candlestick?”  A Light only Fails if it is hid

     A. Hide under a Bushel--A flour bin--From which they made their

          daily bread

          1. So busy--Just making a living--hide our light

     B. Hide under a Bed--So lazy--Hide our light

          1. Worship in the Light--I Chron. 5:13-14

          2. Work--John 9:4

          3. War--Romans 13:12

          4. Walk--Eph. 5:8

          5. Witness--Phil. 2:15

          6. Watch--I Thess. 5:5-6

CONCLUSION:  Are We Creating Direction or Darkness?