I Am Light – Season of Dedication
1 John 1: 5-7 (Amplified)
God Is Light
5 This is the message [of God’s promised revelation] which we have heard from Him and now announce to you, that God is Light [He is holy, His message is truthful, He is perfect in righteousness], and in Him there is no darkness at all [no sin, no wickedness, no imperfection]. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness [of sin], we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we [really] walk in the Light [that is, live each and every day in conformity with the precepts of God], as He Himself is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another [He with us, and we with Him], and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin [by erasing the stain of sin, keeping us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations].
Chanukah (meaning “dedication” in Hebrew), a feast on the
Hebraic calendar celebrated across the world by Jews and Messianic Jews; was
commemorated from Sunday, 28 November to Monday, 6 December 2021 (Eve of 24th
Kislev to eve of 2nd of Tevet 5782).
In John 10:22-42 this feast is referred to as the “Feast of
Renewal” or “Feast of Dedication” or “Feast of Lights”, depending on the Bible
translation you are reading.
The feast is the commemoration of the recapturing, cleansing
and rededication of the Holy temple in Jerusalem during 168 – 165 BC when the Antiochus
IV Epiphanes introduced the Greek culture with their false gods to the Jews. He
took over the Holy temple of Jerusalem by defiling the temple with these false
gods and ideologies, deceiving the Jewish people who compromised their faith
and beliefs over time. God raised up a remnant who courageously overcame the
enemy and took back the Holy temple of Jerusalem. This is when they found one
sanctified flask of oil used to light the lampstand (menorah) in the temple –
Exodus 25:31-40 and Numbers 8:1-4. The lamp was to burn continuously in the
temple; however, there was only enough oil to burn for one day. The miracle of
this story is that the oil lasted for a total of eight (8) days until the next
batch of sanctified oil was ready to be used.
The lampstand (menorah) used during the Feast of Dedication
has 9 branches instead of the 7 with the normal menorah. The middle branch of
the lampstand has the “servant candle” which is lit first and used every night
to light the candles until all eight candles are lit on the last day of the
feast.
This "servant candle" represents Jesus, the Light who came to bring the TRUTH of His Word to this world, spreading the light to all who believes in His Kingdom.
A
Prophetic Picture of The Story of Chanukah (Past) and Our Present
Last year, as we entered the year and the news about this “pandemic” started spreading globally, I asked the Lord to show me what is happening now. I was reminded of the idol or image that was made by king Nebuchadnezzar for all to worship, as we read in the book of Daniel 3:1-18.
Daniel 3:2-3 (Amplified Bible)
2 Then Nebuchadnezzar, the king, sent word to assemble the satraps, the prefects and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates and lawyers and all the chief officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 3 Then the satraps, the prefects, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates and lawyers, and all the chief officials of the provinces gathered together for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood before it.
King Nebuchadnezzar invited all the dignitaries of the
provinces to the dedication of the image that was set up to be worshipped when
the proclamation is sounded by the instruments. This image was about 27,43
meters high (an eight-storey building) – that could be seen from a distance. If
they did not fall down and worship the image, they were warned to be thrown
into the fiery burning furnace.
I’m reminded of a trip to Mauritius in 2010. Our group were
taken on a tour of the island, and we headed towards the southern part where
their temple is located. As we approached the temple, we could see a very high
type of image from quite a distance and the closer we got, it was clear that
this was an idol erected as a “god” at the entrance gate of the temple.
In the same way that this idol or image could be seen from a
distance, in the same way today are we seeing an idol namely a “virus” that can
been seen across the globe – because of its height.
Just like every language in the provinces of Babylon had to
fall down and worship this image when the heralding is announced, so today in
the same way are we globally (every language) bowing down to this image and
crowing it with reverential fear.
Whenever the false prophets (the media) announce the “waves” or the
“death rates” or “number of infected cases across the nation or nations”, they
are spreading fear and we fall down and bow this “virus”. Words of fear
controlling the people with death if certain conditions are not followed.
Do we see the pieces of the puzzle coming together?
Question: Are we choosing to partner with this idol
worshipping?
We call it…
·
“Stay safe”
·
“Social distancing“
·
“Use wisdom”
And so many other catching phrases that we have been
indoctrinated with, but all amounts to FEAR.
Churches have been closed due to lock-down regulations and
when opened, are controlled by the capacity of people allowed onsite. Pastors
who have continued to keep their churches opened, has been ridiculed and even
persecuted by the government in other parts of the world.
God gave us the gift of FREE WILL, yet mandates are being passed globally forcing people into certain "protocols" that goes against their will.
Daniel 3:11 (Amplified Bible)
Whoever does not fall down and worship shall be thrown into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire.
What Does This Picture Reveal To Us And Where Do We Find Ourselves Today As The Body of Christ - The Ecclesia?
- Even more division than before – now it is no longer just division of different denominations and doctrines, but also who is following the systems "protocols" of this world vs. following God’s ways.
- More confusion….more judging...
- Do we eat from the Tree of Life or the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil?
BELOVED, I HAVE
GOOD NEWS FOR YOU ! ! !
We are in the SEASON OF CHANUKAH – the season of rededicating our temple to Yeshua Hamashiach – JESUS THE MESSIAH.
KING JESUS AND HIS KINGDOM WAYS
Solomon’s portico….
Acts 3:11: this is the same place in the temple where Peter and the apostles met when he had his second sermon, days after being baptised with the Holy Spirit. The same place where they gathered after meeting a crippled man at the Beautiful Gate and healed through the power and authority of Jesus Christ.
Acts 3:6 ‘But Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have; but what I do have I give to you: In the name (authority, power) of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—[begin now to] walk and go on walking!” ‘.
Acts 5:12: the same place the apostles gathered where signs, wonders and miracles took place.
Verse 12 “At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders (attesting miracles) were continually taking place among the people. And by common consent they all met together [at the temple] in [the covered porch called] Solomon’s portico.”
WHAT DOES THIS
ALL MEAN?
In John 10:22-42, we read that Jesus entered the temple area under
(king) Solomon’s walkway – covered porch – “portico”.
The Jewish leaders of the day did not recognise Jesus as the Light of the world – John 12:46. Instead, they were questioning Him because of the miracles He has done among the people in and out of Jerusalem.
Ironically, they are commemorating – the Feast of Lights,
Dedication, Renewal – Chanukah, remembering the one day's oil supply that has miraculously increased to last for eight days keeping the lampstand burning; yet in front
of them, the very Person they are questioning, is the Light of the world – He
is the Miracle Worker – He is the Lampstand/ Menorah filled with the Holy
Spirit, the Oil – burning continuously…..YET they are still in the dark.
Are we in the dark because of the darkness of this world?
Today, King Yeshua – I AM LIGHT, is in the temple...waiting to meet with you as your King and to walk with Him on the walkway of His portico - the way of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
YOUR body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Is your lampstand burning with His Light? Do you have extra sanctified Oil to keep your light burning continuously - day and night?
YOUR LIGHT HAS COME
Isaiah 60:1-3 (Amplified Bible)
A Glorified Zion
I Am Light HAS COME and is shining HIS LIGHT on you to draw you closer to Him as your FIRST LOVE. Do you choose HIM as your LIGHT to SHINE IN YOU – searching out the darkness; to SHINE UPON YOU – filling you with HIS RADIANT LIGHT OF GLORY and to SHINE THROUGH YOU – reflecting HIS LIGHT to this dark world displaying HIS GLORIOUS RAINBOW COLOURS – the Seven Spirits of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2).
Do you choose to be filled with the Holy Anointing Oil of the
Holy Spirit, continuously burning for YOUR KING OF GLORY?
Do you choose to turn away from this Babylonian system and its
ways – all the COMPROMISES THAT HAVE CREPT INTO OUR SOUL (mind, will, emotions
and intellect) over time? Taking over our temple by defiling it with the ways
of this dark world – its thinking patterns, ideologies and deception?
We still have the grace and mercy to turn from this worldly
ways and to turn our hearts towards King Jesus, our First Love – The Word Who
became flesh, walked this earth in doing signs, wonders and miracles. As THE
LIGHT who came to expose and expel the darkness, bringing the truth of the
WORD to light on the ways of the KINGDOM OF GOD. As Messiah, Saviour – dying on the Cross of
Calvary to save the world from ALL their sins (past, present and future) and purchasing our souls with His
Precious Blood so that we can be made righteous and have our fullness in
Him. As THE WAY – as He is the Only Way
to the Father, reconciling us through His Precious Blood. Giving us the promised seal of the Holy Spirit – THE Anointing
Oil that miraculously keeps us burning for our King of Glory.
I encourage you beloved, to meet Jesus in the temple of the Holy
Spirit – YOU, during this season. Switch off the news of this world and turn to
God’s Word – the GOOD NEWS FROM HEAVEN guiding you into ALL TRUTH AND WISDOM. Seek His Face and ask Him the questions of what is to come. Seek His guidance on the choices to make. Ask for Wisdom and it will be given to you.
Be love to those around you. Choose your words (written and verbally) wisely. Be kind, be loving and support each other with encouraging words, praying for one another in love. Choose LIFE - in whatever you do, choose life for God is LIFE and He died for us so that we can have LIFE IN ABUNDANCE.
Choose to worship God, the Great I Am. Choose to give Him your praise and thanksgiving irrespective of how you are feeling or what you are facing. Be thankful for WHO I AM is in every season of your life. For God is ALWAYS GOOD and FAITHFUL.
HE IS IMMUTABLE - HE NEVER CHANGES
THE GREAT I AM - COVENANT KEEPING GOD
“For I am the Lord, I do not change [but remain faithful to My covenant with you]; that is why you, O sons of Jacob, have not come to an end.
Malachi 3:6 AMP
God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “You shall say this to the Israelites, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”
Exodus 3:14 AMP
Abba Father, I approach Your Throne today with boldness because of the Precious Blood of Jesus. I firstly confess that I have allowed the patterns and ideologies of this world to creep into my soul. I have compromised Your Word and Your Ways over time by not continually seeking Your Face and guidance on my daily matters of life. I have allowed myself to be influenced through what I have been experiencing with my natural eyes. I ask for Your forgiveness Father, and I thank You that I am forgiven because of the Precious Blood of Jesus sprinkled on the Mercy Seat, speaking on my behalf. Lord Jesus, I rededicate myself unto You to be set apart and holy as I work out my salvation with Holy Spirit preparing me for the Wedding Feast in Heaven. Holy Spirit help me to catch the sly little foxes that tend to creep into my vineyard (soul) and destroy our relationship through compromising to this world. Continuously shine Your Light onto my heart and expose the darkness that is hidden. Jesus paid for me with His Blood, and I no longer want to have anything in common with the enemy and his wicked, deceitful ways. I pray that the Light of God will illuminate the eyes of my heart, flooding me with light, until I experience the full revelation of the hope to which You have been calling me – the wealth of God’s glorious inheritance that I find my life being hidden in Jesus Christ. I pray that the Word of Christ Jesus lives in me richly, flooding me with all wisdom as I apply the scriptures daily in my life. I thank You Abba Father, thank You Jesus, thank You Holy Spirit for completing the good works that you have started in me. Thank You Father that You ordained my steps even before I have been born into this world. I say yes to Your Will for my life and to follow You on Your pathways of life. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.
Lord Jesus, Your word in Romans 10:9 says that “For if you publicly declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will experience salvation.” Today I confess with my mouth that You came to this earth to die for my sins and bought me with Your Precious Blood to reconcile me with the Father, making me righteous in His sight. I confess that You were raised on the third day and ascended into Heaven where You are now seated on the right hand of the Father as my High Priest and The Sacrificed Lamb. Jesus, come and be Lord of my life and King of my heart. I commit my life to You to be set apart in holiness, following Your Word and the Ways of Your Kingdom. I repent of all my sins; my old nature and I ask for Your forgiveness. Wash me clean with Your Precious Blood and purge away all that is not from You. Thank You Lord, that You have bestowed upon me the promised seal of the Holy Spirit making me a new creation as I am continually being renewed into the likeness of the One who created me, giving me the full revelation of I Am. Thank You Jesus that by the Blood of Your Cross, I am brought back to Yourself, back to Your original intent for my life – restored to innocence again. Thank You Father for Your gift of Grace and for Your mercy upon my life. I pray this in the Name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Saviour, Amen.
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