Stephen Crews: Why Intimacy With God Must Come Before Ministry

Send us Fan MailHungry work without holy fuel only scorches the wick. We open the new year by digging into the parable of the Ten Virgins and asking a simple, searching question: are we carrying oil or just waving lamps? With Stephen Crews back in the studio for our Covenant Alignment series, we frame this moment in Tevet, a month in the Hebrew calendar known for divine strategy and instruction, and we focus on building an inner life that can bear the weight of our calling.Together we trace the parable verse by verse, drawing out clear meanings: the lamp as ministry, the oil as intimacy with the Holy Spirit, and the midnight cry as the moment that reveals reality. We talk about why even sincere people grow weary, how delay exposes our foundations, and why the wise prioritize presence before performance. From Mary and Martha to the sober warning of Matthew 7, we keep the spotlight on one theme—knowing Jesus matters more than doing things for Jesus. You can’t borrow oil; you must buy it in the secret place.We get practical with rhythms that cultivate oil: steady prayer that reframes decisions in God’s presence, fasting that quiets the flesh and clears the static, and Scripture that anchors discernment so we hold tightly to what God is saying and loosely to our first interpretation. We look at Abraham’s long wait to show how perseverance is disciplined fidelity, not mere survival. If burnout has crept in or your lamp feels dim, this conversation offers a path back to intimacy, clarity, and resilient joy.Subscribe for more on covenant alignment, share this episode with someone who needs fresh oil, and leave a review to help others find the show. Then tell us: what practice will you adopt this week to tend your oil?Support the showLoving Yeshua/Jesus, Loving people... Come as you are and you will be loved! Feel free to check out our website by typing in lifearoundthefire.com or Life Around The Fire ... We think you'll find some beneficial stuff to look at and apply to your life. Shalom to you and your home.