"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:29).

Jesus Christ came into this world as a servant. He humbly stepped down from His throne and cast aside His radiant robes to put on a garment of human flesh, the sweet smelling flesh of a newborn baby! Nothing could be more fragrant! More extraordinary! More wonderful! He gave mankind the opportunity to wrap their arms around the Savior of the world and care for Him with gentleness and love. His face was kissed, His tiny brow was wiped, His every need was met by those He entrusted Himself to. For a moment man had the divine opportunity to hold God in their hands so that He could provide them the opportunity to have God dwell in their hearts and ultimately dwell with Him for all eternity. His humble descent into the hearts of mankind provides us a portrait of the depths we must be willing to go to carry the message He has entrusted with us to the world. "Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:4).

LIGHTING THE CANDLE

Dedication Ceremony

We are coming near the end of the "Festival of Lights" dedication ceremony. Tonight we will light a seventh candle. 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 seventh candle, followed by the sixth,  fifth,  fourth, third, second, and first, respectively.

The vibrant light that burns even more brightly as we light additional candles each night symbolizes the inner working of the Holy Spirit of God activating the Word of God in our lives as we humble ourselves in prayer.  The effect of our abiding faith is the fruitful production of love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, and faithfulness in our lives. With our increased fruitfulness comes even greater responsibility as the Lord equips us for even greater work and far reaching impact in the world. The next flame has the potential to burn us or to cast the light of Jesus even further.  Tonight we light the seventh candle igniting the fruit of meekness. "But the fruit of the Spirit is...MEEKNESS" (Galatians 5:22).

If you have gathered your family together for this dedication ceremony you will need enough helpers to light tonight's seven 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 participant, saying:

"You are the light of the world!"

Each participant will then take turns facing the Menorah (or candles you have set out) and light the candles in order (first the new seventh candle, then the sixth, the fifth, the fourth, the third, the second, and finally the first) each time saying, to the next participant as they hand them the "servant”" candle, 

"You are the light of the world"

When the candles are lit have the person who ignited the day seven candle read Philippians 2:1-11,

"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in the very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

PUT ON THE ARMOR OF LIGHT 

Devotional

Read the following devotional to your family.

When a fire receives fuel it rises with more fervency, and its heat grows with greater intensity. Each night, as we've ignited one new candle after another, we've seen the light expand to fill this room with its radiance. The beauty of the light should never being taken for granted, however, for if not kept under control its flame can bring harm and cause great damage. The indwelling power of the Holy Spirit produces the fruit that will help us control the power we have been given - the fruit of MEEKNESS. At this point in our journey we are experiencing even greater strength as we have been refreshed and strengthened by the Word of God, therefore, we should not confuse meekness with weakness. Meekness is the fruit of the Spirit that enables us to control the power and authority we have been given in Christ, and through His Holy Spirit, to fulfill His purposes in the world. "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time" (1 Peter 5:5,6).

The purposes of God's work in and through the lives of His children is for the strengthening of the whole Body of believers to continue the work He began - building the Kingdom of God for His glory and honor. The fruit of meekness establishes a guard rail to keep our motivation in check; calling us to question if our labor for the Lord is to truly bring glory to God, or to simply gain the respect, applause, and praise of man. "For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted" (Luke 14:11). The indwelling power of the Holy Spirit enables the believer to put aside fleshly (worldly) pursuits, being clothed instead with the spiritual armor of light so that the light of Christ will radiate with great intensity and urgency through us.  "He must become greater; I must become less" (John 3:30).

When we serve the Lord in the spirit of humility our greatest desire should be to receive His pleasure and praise and not the praise of men. When we surrender ourselves to the work of His will He promises to lift us up - in His time. "Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life" (Proverbs 22:4). Remember, "You are the light of the world!" You have been given the divine privilege of carrying the torch of the Lord to light the way for the whole world to be set on fire for Christ - one heart at a time! Radiate for Him - He is smiling on you! 

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, "You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty. You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light" (Psalm 18:27). You "delight in your people"; You "crown the humble with salvation" (Psalm 149:4); You "guide the humble in what is right" (Psalm 25:9); You "give grace to the humble" (Proverbs 3:34).  Those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and tremble at your word, are the ones You esteem (reference Isaiah 66:2). "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word" (Hebrews 1:3a). May our attitude be transformed into the image of Christ as You continually dwell in us through the power of your Holy Spirit so we would radiate more of Your glorious light (reference John 3:30). "In your majesty ride forth victoriously in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness; let your right hand display awesome deeds" (Psalm 45:4). We exalt Your glorious name giving You all honor and praise.  In the name that is above all names, Jesus Christ, Amen.

BLESSING 

"From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another"

John 1:16

In the last hours of His ministry on earth, the Lord Jesus took upon Himself the lowliest position to show that He had come to be a servant of all (reference John 13:1-17). He had taught His disciples many things while He was their Teacher; and in His last class, before facing the cross, He spoke from the depths of His heart as He knelt before them and washed their feet. When He was finished He challenged them, "I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you" (John 13:15). This is the high and holy call of every follower of Jesus Christ: to be "clothed with humility toward one another" (1 Peter 5:5) and "in humility to consider others better than yourselves" (Philippians 2:3). As we bless our families may we be an example to them as Christ has been to us, remembering to "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Mak[ing] every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:2).

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). 

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 families will continue their celebration by singing songs. You might choose to close tonight's celebration by singing one of your family's favorite Christmas carols or "O Little Town of Bethlehem."

Note: The candles are meant to only stay lit for a half hour. Be sure to extinguish the flame each night.

The Festival of Lights:  Put on the Armor of Light   © 2009, Traci A. Alexander

Trumpet and Torch Ministries    www.trumpetandtorch.org