Why do I still feel empty even though I go to church every week?

Going through the motions—singing, serving, even leading—can become routine if the Holy Spirit isn't truly filling your heart. Jesus calls this having a lamp without oil. He longs for you to have your own living relationship with Him, not just a borrowed faith or a performance. Ask Him today to fill you with love that's real, not just visible.

How do I stop letting bitterness control me when people hurt me at church?

Bitterness dims your light and keeps the Spirit from flowing. Trimming your lamp means cutting away the grudges, even when the wound is real. Forgiveness isn't about pretending it didn't hurt—it's about refusing to let that hurt define you. When you forgive, you make room for God's oil to burn brighter. You can't love deeply without His help.

What if I've inherited patterns of sin I can't seem to break?

We all carry inherited weaknesses—anger, lust, deceit—passed down through generations. Jesus knows this. He doesn't condemn you for stumbling; He calls you to keep getting up and seeking Him. The Holy Spirit is stronger than your family history. Confess what you're struggling with, let Him trim away what doesn't belong, and trust that His power can break what feels unbreakable.

How can I tell if I really have the Holy Spirit or if I'm just going through the motions?

The Holy Spirit shows up in love—patient, kind, forgiving love, even toward difficult people. If your worship is loud but your heart is cold toward your brother or sister, that's the warning. Ask God to search you. If you sense emptiness, don't despair—He's waiting to fill you. True oil isn't about performance; it's about surrender and love that others can see.

What does it mean to be ready for Jesus to come back?

Being ready isn't about perfect attendance or flawless behavior—it's about a heart filled with His love and Spirit. It means forgiving today, confessing today, loving the unlovable today. The wise virgins weren't sinless; they had oil when the moment came. Keep your relationship with Jesus alive and active, not dependent on yesterday's faith or someone else's fire.

SABBATH · SEP 27

Trimmed and Burning

Collis Glasgow

Originally streamed on YouTube

We long for Jesus to return, but are we ready—not just in name, but in love, light, and Spirit?

Trimmed and Burning · Collis Glasgow

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Questions this message meets

Why do I still feel empty even though I go to church every week?

Going through the motions—singing, serving, even leading—can become routine if the Holy Spirit isn't truly fil...

Going through the motions—singing, serving, even leading—can become routine if the Holy Spirit isn't truly filling your heart. Jesus calls this having a lamp without oil. He longs for you to have your own living relationship with Him, not just a borrowed faith or a performance. Ask Him today to fill you with love that's real, not just visible.
How do I stop letting bitterness control me when people hurt me at church?

Bitterness dims your light and keeps the Spirit from flowing. Trimming your lamp means cutting away the grudge...

Bitterness dims your light and keeps the Spirit from flowing. Trimming your lamp means cutting away the grudges, even when the wound is real. Forgiveness isn't about pretending it didn't hurt—it's about refusing to let that hurt define you. When you forgive, you make room for God's oil to burn brighter. You can't love deeply without His help.
What if I've inherited patterns of sin I can't seem to break?

We all carry inherited weaknesses—anger, lust, deceit—passed down through generations. Jesus knows this. He do...

We all carry inherited weaknesses—anger, lust, deceit—passed down through generations. Jesus knows this. He doesn't condemn you for stumbling; He calls you to keep getting up and seeking Him. The Holy Spirit is stronger than your family history. Confess what you're struggling with, let Him trim away what doesn't belong, and trust that His power can break what feels unbreakable.
How can I tell if I really have the Holy Spirit or if I'm just going through the motions?

The Holy Spirit shows up in love—patient, kind, forgiving love, even toward difficult people. If your worship...

The Holy Spirit shows up in love—patient, kind, forgiving love, even toward difficult people. If your worship is loud but your heart is cold toward your brother or sister, that's the warning. Ask God to search you. If you sense emptiness, don't despair—He's waiting to fill you. True oil isn't about performance; it's about surrender and love that others can see.
What does it mean to be ready for Jesus to come back?

Being ready isn't about perfect attendance or flawless behavior—it's about a heart filled with His love and Sp...

Being ready isn't about perfect attendance or flawless behavior—it's about a heart filled with His love and Spirit. It means forgiving today, confessing today, loving the unlovable today. The wise virgins weren't sinless; they had oil when the moment came. Keep your relationship with Jesus alive and active, not dependent on yesterday's faith or someone else's fire.

Read the heart of this message

Jesus told a story about ten people waiting for a wedding. All of them carried lamps; all of them called themselves believers. But five were wise and five were foolish. The difference wasn't in their activity or their attendance—it was in their oil. The foolish had the form of faith but no fuel, no love, no Holy Spirit sustaining the light. They looked right on the outside but were dark within.

We inherit brokenness—sharp tongues, unforgiving hearts, old family sins we can't shake. Jesus knows we stumble. He knows we fall asleep. But He calls us to wake up, to trim our lamps, to cut away the worldly clutter and bitterness that dims the light. No one can give you their oil. Not your parents, not your pastor. You must have your own relationship with Christ, your own surrender, your own filling of the Spirit.

The bridegroom is coming. The door will close. And on that day, religious activity won't matter if love was absent. The call is urgent: confess today, forgive today, let the Holy Spirit fill you today. Keep your lamp trimmed and burning—not for show, but because you truly long to meet Him.

The Scriptures Pastor opened

MATTHEW 25:1-13 · KJV

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
PSALM 119:105 · KJV

NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
JAMES 3:13 · KJV

Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
REVELATION 3:18 · KJV

I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

If this spoke to you, also hear…

forgiveness · holy spirit · preparation · hypocrisy · love