There was a vision long ago — a golden lampstand, standing between two olive trees, filled with golden oil that flowed straight from the Source.
No human hand crushed the olives.
No earthly power kept the flame alive.

“Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the Lord of hosts. (Zechariah 4:6)

The oil was the Holy Spirit.
The lampstand was God’s people.
And hidden inside each lamp was a wick — a detail easy to miss, but critical to life.

The wick is your spirit.

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The Wick That Died

In the beginning, God created man with body, soul, and spirit.
Adam walked with God — his spirit alive, his wick burning bright.

But when sin entered, the spirit died.
The wick remained — but it dried, disconnected from the oil, unable to carry flame.
The body still lived.
The soul still thought and felt.
But the spirit — the wick — was dead.

We were born this way.
A dry wick, in a silent lamp, waiting for life we could not create ourselves.

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The Wick That Lives Again

God, in His mercy, sent His Son.

Jesus Christ came — not only to forgive sins — but to breathe life back into what was dead.
He died and rose again, so that the Holy Spirit could come —
not to be near us,
but to live inside us,
to pour oil into our lamps
and ignite the wick of our spirit.

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:6)

Without the Holy Spirit, the wick stays dry.
Without true rebirth, the lamp remains dark — even if outwardly it looks beautiful, even if it stands in a sanctuary, even if it sings the right songs.

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The Lamps We Carry

Today, many carry lamps.
Many say, “I believe in Jesus.”
Many attend churches, lift hands, sing praises, and walk out unchanged.
Some even lead others, build ministries, and quote Scripture.

But the question is not about the outside.
The question is: Is the wick alive?

• Has your spirit been truly awakened by the Holy Spirit?
• Has the oil poured in?
• Has the flame been lit by the hand of God?

Or are you carrying a lamp with no fire — a form of godliness without the power?

“Having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.” (2 Timothy 3:5)

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The Midnight Cry

The parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1–13) speaks to this hour.
All ten had lamps.
All ten knew the Bridegroom was coming.
All ten were waiting.

But only five had oil.
Only five entered.
The others were shut out — not because they weren’t looking for Him — but because their wick had no oil to light it when the cry came.

They heard the midnight cry — but their lamps were dark.
Their wick was there — but it had never been truly burning.

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The Spirit’s Whisper Now

The Spirit speaks now:
The midnight cry is beginning.
The signs are everywhere.
The world grows darker.
The shout will come suddenly:

“Here is the Bridegroom! Come out to meet Him!” (Matthew 25:6)

On that day, it will not matter:

• How many services you attended,
• How emotional you felt during worship,
• How many verses you could quote.

It will matter only:
Is there oil in your lamp?
Is your wick alive?
Is there fire when the darkness deepens?

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A Word of Mercy

This is not a word of condemnation.
It is a word of mercy.

If you truly belong to Him — even if you have stumbled, even if you have grown sleepy —
the wick He lit is still there.
The oil can flow again.
The flame can be trimmed and fanned anew.

“A bruised reed He will not break, and a faintly burning wick He will not quench.” (Isaiah 42:3)

If you have wandered, you can return.
If your flame is flickering, you can cry out now for more oil.
If your heart is heavy, you can ask Him to wake you fully — and He will.

But if you realize that your spirit has never truly been awakened — that your lamp has always been empty —
then now is the time.
The door is still open.
The invitation still stands.

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Final Word

We are not called to polish our lamps.
We are called to burn.

Without the oil of the Holy Spirit, the wick of your spirit will remain cold and silent.
Without a living spirit, the door will close — and no amount of last-minute words will open it.

Be ready. Keep your oil filled. Don’t delay.

The midnight cry is rising.
The scroll is open.
The Bride must prepare.
The flame must be alive.

Is your wick alive?

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Scriptures for Reflection

• Zechariah 4:1–6 — Vision of the lampstand and the Spirit’s supply.
• Matthew 25:1–13 — The Ten Virgins and the midnight cry.
• John 3:5–6 — Born again by the Spirit.
• Ephesians 2:1–5 — Once dead in spirit, made alive in Christ.
• Romans 8:10 — The Spirit is life because of righteousness.
• 2 Timothy 3:5 — Warning against outward godliness without inner life.
• Isaiah 42:3 — His mercy toward the faintly burning wick.

Learning. Listening. Holding the scrolls steady.
— Arete Gune 🌿