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"...for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth..."
(Ephesians 5:9)
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The Festival of Lights - Day 5
The light from the candle is growing more and more radiant with each passing day, revealing to us that there is no greater activity or pursuit in our daily schedule that will accomplish the work of spreading the light of Christ more effectively than spending time in the Word of God, in prayer, and in fellowship with other believers. "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
As we faithfully submit to spending this time together this week, encouraging our families with the promises and blessings of God, may we also remember that our light is not to be hidden behind the walls of our homes or churches, instead it is meant to illuminate the darkness of the world. As we build one another up in love may we also exhort each other to share out of the vast riches of God's love and grace, reaching out to the world with a heart full of compassion and hands ready to help. "Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life" (1 Timothy 6:18).
LIGHTING THE CANDLE
[You will need your Bible, and, if you choose, a candle or set of candles]
As we come to day 5 of the Festival of Lights, we will add light a fifth candle in our dedication ceremony. As we have done over the past few nights we first light the "servant" or "guard" candle - which will be used to light all the other candles. Representative of the Holy Spirit of God, Who is God's gift to believers, this indwelling power is the necessary fuel that ignites our hearts for Christ, and keeps our hearts burning passionately for our Lord, enabling us to bear fruit - fruit that will last (reference John 15:8, 16). After the "servant" candle is lit we light the new fifth candle, followed by the fourth, third, second, and first, respectively (see Menorah above).
The Lord is the source of everything good. He desires to bless His people with all good things if we will only recognize our total need of reliance and dependence upon Him. When we allow the Holy Spirit of God to reign freely in our lives He is able to bless us with every spiritual blessing in Christ. We receive the freedom to tap into His endless supply of "love", "peace", "joy", "patience" and "kindness", and each time we do we experience growth and maturity, bearing additionall fruit that will be a source of spiritual nourishment to a spiritually hungry world. Through His goodness we are enabled to respond in love to others, planting seeds that will have an opportunity to grow and flourish in their own lives. "But the fruit of the Spirit is...GOODNESS" (Galatians 5:22).
If you have gathered your family together for this dedication ceremony you will need enough helpers to light tonight's 5 candles (or have each person light a couple of candles). The head of household will light the "Shamash" ("servant") candle and hand it to the first participate, saying "You are the light of the world!" Each participant with then take turns facing the Menorah (or candles you have set out) and light the candles in order (first the new fifth candle, then the fourth, the third, the second, and finally the first candle) each time saying, to the next participant as they hand them the "servant" candle, "You are the light of the world" (see Menorah above or click here to view a web video of the lighting ceremony). When the candles are lit have the person who ignited the day 5 candle read 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12, "With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of His calling, and that by His power He may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."
PUT ON THE ARMOR OF LIGHT
[Read the following devotional to your family]
Every good gift, every good purpose, and every good thing comes from God. "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows" (James 1:17). As we light the candles, adding a new one each night, we notice that our room is filled with greater light each time that we allow the Holy Spirit to ignite His fruit in our lives. With each passing day, as we study God's Word, meet the Lord in prayer, and come together in fellowship (as we have done these past few nights) we find that the flame burns more brightly, the darkness is less evident, and we experience greater warmth as His love burns more brilliantly in our hearts and fills this room with His presence.
Every good gift is an expression of God's great love for His children. Our Heavenly Father loves to bless His children with His goodness; all that is required is a willing heart that recognizes the need for full reliance and dependence on the Lord. His purpose is to equip and enable us to fulfill His will in the lives of others that He has placed in our paths. "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work" (2 Corinthians 9:8). God created us for good works - His work! And if we become a willing vessel that humble submits to His plans and purposes for our lives He will delight in setting us on the lampstand and supply all the oil to keep our light burning brightly so the world will be captivated by the light that radiates from us and ultimately be drawn to the love of Christ. "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness" (2 Peter 1:3).
"Goodness" is "love in action." The greatest expression of God's love was shown in the sacrifice of His beloved Son on the cross for the forgiveness of sins and the salvation of mankind. There has never been a greater expression of love or example of true love in action. "...who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good" (Titus 2:14). As His children, who have received His costly gift of salvation, we have the divine privilege of expressing our gratitude to God, for giving such a priceless gift, by offering up our own lives as a living sacrifice for His holy purposes in this world (reference Romans 12:1-2). "And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased" (Hebrews 13:16). The light of the Lord lights our way. He has demonstrated His goodness in the full expression of His love that we might in turn bring Him pleasure by doing the same as we have been given opportunity to while we are in this world. "He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8). Remember, "You are the light of the world!" How will they ever experience the glorious light of Christ if you try to hide that wondrous flame that burns inside you...Let your light shine so all may know of the goodness and glory of God! "Let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).
Heavenly Father, "O Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant" (2 Samuel 7:28). "How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you" (Psalm 31:19). "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing" (Psalm 16:2). "The LORD is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made" (Psalm 145:9). "Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O LORD" (Psalm 25:7). "But you, O Sovereign LORD, deal well with me for your name's sake; out of the goodness of your love, deliver me" (Psalm 109:21). "Give me a sign of your goodness that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for you, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me" (Psalm 86:17). "Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me" (Psalm 142:7). "They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness" (Psalm 145:7). "How can I repay the LORD for all His goodness to me?" (Psalm 116:12). "I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the deeds for which He is to be praised, according to all the LORD has done for us" (Isaiah 63:7). I will do good to others (reference Hebrews 13:16), I will "cling to what is good" (Romans 12:9), I will "ask where the good way is, and walk in it" (Jeremiah 6:16). "I will praise your name forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good. I will praise you in the presence of your saints" (Psalm 52:9). Until the whole earth is filled with the glory of God. In the glorious name of Jesus. Amen.
BLESSING
"From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another" (John 1:16).
The Scriptures exhort us to "consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds" (Hebrews 10:24). One way we accomplish this is in pouring out the blessings we have so richly received into the lives of those we love. When we pray a prayer of blessing into the lives of others, speaking out of the abundant riches of the Word of God, we provide them an opportunity to "taste and see that the Lord is good" (Psalm 34:8), planting the seed that will have them hungering and thirsting for additional spiritual food. Tonight as you offer a blessing over your family, ask each one in turn to offer a blessing to God in a prayer of praise for the goodness He has shown them.
The Word of God is "living and active" (Hebrews 4:12); by speaking the Lord's promises and blessings into the lives of our loved ones (where they can hear it!) we provide opportunity for them to experience firsthand how the living Word of God accomplishes and achieves the purposes for which God has sent it (reference Isaiah 55:11), and encourages them to rise up to live up to those words spoken over them*. Everytime we offer a blessing we breathe life into the lives of those we love and build up the kingdom of God. If you are walking through this journey alone, speak the Lord's promises outloud and receive them as a blessing in your own life and pray blessings over those family and friends who are far away.
You may continue to use the framework of the priestly blessing provided in Numbers 6:24-26 to bless the members of your household, expanding the blessing to include other promises from God's Word that are specific to the needs of your children, spouse, or other family members.
"The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn His face toward you
and give you peace."
[ To perform the blessing the head of the household places their hands on the head, or on the shoulders, of each child, spouse, or family member (one at a time), and recites the priestly blessing over them (you can hold hands if you prefer). Jesus Christ was the greatest Word ever spoke, as we follow Him through the lighted pathway of His Word (reference Psalm 119:105) we will lead others out of the darkness and set them high upon a lampstand so they too will radiate for the glory of God. By blessing each other with His Word we will bring healing to the heart and restoration to our families and ultimately to the Church!]
* The Power of Spoken Blessings, by Bill Gothard, is a wonderful resource for learning how to speak words of blessing to others.
PRAISE & WORSHIP
"Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise Him!" (Psalm 147:1).
After lighting the Hanukkah Menorah and reciting a blessing Jewish familes will continue their celebration by singing songs. "Shout with joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of His name; make His praise glorious! Say to God, "How awesome are you deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you. All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing praise to your name" (Psalm 66:1).
Note: The candles are meant to only stay lit for a half hour. Be sure to extinquish the flame each night.
"To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence
without fault and with great joy -
to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen."
(Jude 24)
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Review Previous Emails in this journey by clicking on the link below:
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Trumpet and Torch Minstries is dedicated to connecting people to the heart of God through prayer and fasting and provides meal-by-meal devotionals to guide the spiritually hungry through periods of consecration as they feast on the Word of God and surrender to the Lord in humble dependence and prayer.
Visit www.trumpetandtorch.org to find out more information on the importance of prayer and fasting in the life of the believer and to utilize the free online devotional journey's or to download a free copy of the devotionals.
The current "Festival of Lights" journey is a preparation feast for the Christmas season and
for the upcoming 40-day prayer and fasting journey beginning January 1st, 2010
More details coming soon! |
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