A Candle and a Broom

There are no words tonight to express my gratitude to God for his message to us. God is abundantly blessing us with His Spirit and love. The text for tonight's message was taken from Luke 15: 1-3, 8. The message began with the woman sweeping for the lost coin and rejoicing when she found it; but we learned so much more. Here are a few things:

The Woman

1. Was a bride: custom was to sew 10 coins on a head band to be worn on her wedding day to meet her groom
2. Had 10 coins likened to the number of nations
3. Is likened to the Church

The Candle

1. Is the light of the poor not a lamp of the wealthy
2. Is made of tallow (animal fat of a lamb) like our sacrificial lamb-Jesus
3. Has a wick made of flax (beaten to produce pure linen threads) - likened to Jesus and His righteousness
4. Purpose is to produce light made from fire-likened to Jesus, our light and righteous judge

The Broom

1. Begins in the dirt with roots attatched to the Earth like the lost soul
2. Must have a reaper (Sword of the Lord) to come and cut us off from this sinful dirty world
3. Made of individual straw that must be added to others to do work and is bound together tightly at the top (the bottom may break, but the top stays attached
4. Is trimmed even; everyone is the same
5. Is bound with steel wire (steel is strong and is made from iron) and is likened unto the blood of Christ
6. Is attatched to the wood handle (likened to a tree and notice the nail that holds it to the wooden handle)
7. Is bound by four cords: as the people are bound by love, joy, fellowhip, and trust
8. Purpose is to sweep out lost coins
9. Can do nothing by itself it needs someone to guide it (as the church can do nothing of itself without the Holy Spirit

Bro. Jeff had a candle, a lighter, a new broom and an older "experienced" broom. The Lord mightily used him to bring the message to life. The message ended when he took out a knife and began to cut away the cords (of love, joy, fellowship and trust) as straw began to fall away and break. The broom appeared to be useless; but then showed us how that with help the straw that was left could be bound back together, maybe not in its former glory; but well enough to do the work of sweeping to find "a lost coin." And there is much joy when the lost coin is found.

Many came to the alter. A true spirit of revival was experienced tonight.

Please come join us in worship tomorrow. The revival is not in Bro. Bass; only through him as a mouthpiece. May we all be found faithful and sweeping.