Our 41st president, George H.W. Bush, whose passing this week is being closely followed by the beginning of Hanukkah, referred to "a thousand points of light" in his inaugural address. He used this expression to refer to American's good works and volunteerism.
This famous quote of President Bush comes to mind as we enter the season of Hanukkah, also called the Festival of Lights, and the Feast of Dedication. The source of this feast is a historical event recorded in Maccabees 4 of the extra-Biblical books known as the Apocrypha. This book records the Maccabean rebellion against the Syrians who had taken control of Jerusalem, including the Temple of God.
Under the rulership of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the Jewish religion was forbidden, and the Temple was defiled with the sacrifices of pigs. After the Maccabean revolt and victory, the Temple was once again in Jewish hands, but had to be cleansed of the pagan defilement. During this eight day cleansing, or rededication, God miraculously kept the Menorah in the Temple burning, when only a single day's supply of oil was available. "Hanukkah" is the Hebrew word meaning "dedication", and even "inaugural". In the New Testament, the Greek word which is the equivalent means renewal, or to make new. The number "8" in Hebrew, which is the length of days that the menorah remained lighted, also signifies new beginnings.
This dedication and renewal of the natural Temple in Jerusalem also has a corresponding spiritual importance to us. We are the living temple of God. It is time for our temples to be rededicated, cleansed, and renewed in Christ. It is time for the Ekklesia (Church) to be qualitatively renewed, meaning to replace everything that needs replacing until it is in "like new" condition. Let's see how we can begin.
Jesus observed the winter Feast of Dedication (Jn. 10:22-25), where He was asked by the religious leaders to identify Himself outright as the Christ. He said that He had already told them, but they refused to believe, and that His miraculous works identified Him clearly with His heavenly Father, which works they also did not believe. It is time for the Church to decide if it believes.
Like the miraculous Menorah of the Dedication, Jesus clearly identified Himself with light:
"...I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darknss, but shall have the light of life." Jn. 8:12
Not only was Jesus light, but He expected His followers to stop walking in darkness, and share be that same light:
"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Mt. 5:14-16
The nature of light is to be openly displayed in order to repel darkness. Is the Church shining the light of Christ, or hiding it? Have we conformed to the darkness of this world rather than the light of the unchanging way, truth and life of Jesus?
As Jesus said above, His light is also the life of men. It is written regarding Him:
"In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not." Jn. 1:4-5
The darkness cannot receive the light. Do we have any part of us that embraces darkness, that refuses to receive light? Jesus said, "If ... the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness?" (Mt. 6:22-23). And, "...less darkness come upon you (seizes you)...While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light." (Jn. 12:34-36). Afterwards, Jesus purposefully hid Himself from them. Those who sought His truth had to search Him out. Are we continuing to search out Jesus, and the light and renewal that He offers? Or have we stopped seeking Him?
This special feast of Hanukkah, or dedication, tells us that it is time for rededication, and qualitative renewal for the Church as a whole, and each one individually, the living temples of God, who are His chosen, royal, holy, peculiar people who should show forth the praises of Him who has called us out of the darkness of sin and the world, and into His marvelous light: who did not have mercy, but now have obtained mercy (1 Pet. 2:9-10). We are not to be partakers of the darkness with the children of disobedience as we used to, but reproving those works of darkness, because now we are light in the Lord, walking as children of light (Eph. 5:6-11). It is that very darkness that will cause people to be overtaken on the soon coming day of the Lord. However, we are not of that darkness and night, but children of light and day (1 Thess. 5:4-5). On the contrary, in these last days, we are to shine in wisdom and light like the stars in the firmament, because we are ones whose names have been written in the book (of life) by the blood of Christ (Dan. 12:1-3, Rev. 13:8).
This special feast of Hanukkah, or dedication, tells us that it is time for rededication, and qualitative renewal for the Church as a whole, and each one individually, the living temples of God, who are His chosen, royal, holy, peculiar people who should show forth the praises of Him who has called us out of the darkness of sin and the world, and into His marvelous light: who did not have mercy, but now have obtained mercy (1 Pet. 2:9-10). We are not to be partakers of the darkness with the children of disobedience as we used to, but reproving those works of darkness, because now we are light in the Lord, walking as children of light (Eph. 5:6-11). It is that very darkness that will cause people to be overtaken on the soon coming day of the Lord. However, we are not of that darkness and night, but children of light and day (1 Thess. 5:4-5). On the contrary, in these last days, we are to shine in wisdom and light like the stars in the firmament, because we are ones whose names have been written in the book (of life) by the blood of Christ (Dan. 12:1-3, Rev. 13:8).
How can we seek this qualitative renewal, this rededication, Hanukkah, and purifying needed in our lives? Like the light of life, it is also found in Christ for those who will seek it, and He has promised that if we will seek Him, we will find Him:
"Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are past away; behold all things are become new." 2 Cor. 5:17
Hanukkah, with its miraculous light and new beginning, is the perfect time of year to remind us of this glorious and eternal promise in Jesus. As we see the lights of the menorah, we can take the opportunity to dedicate ourselves anew in Him.
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Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior: Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.
To Contact/Submit Prayer Request/Support the Ministry/Order the book, "NAZAH":
https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8
http://endtimeschool.com/
To watch Dr. Stevenson's complete message:
https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8
Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior: Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.
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