The What: A Christmas Eve candlelight service usually includes choir performances, congregational Christmas carols, scripture readings, prayers and possibly a short sermon or special speaker.
The what: A Christmas candlelight service holds deep meaning for believers, as it allows us to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Light of the world. It invites us to reflect on the nativity story, proclaim God’s love and salvation, worship and adore our Savior, and experience unity and communion with fellow believers.
Are you doing a good job being the light of the world?
Are you shining as a candle who gives full light?
Is your light produced under a cover?
Does your wick need a trim?
Does your wick need re-lit?
Is your light neon or just an overcast?
Do you shine in and out of the church house?
Most of us here can make a good case when it comes to being the light in the church. However, Jesus never called us to be the light of the church… He calls us to BE the church in this world.
My response to this realization of how I let my light shine was to be much more intentional about publicly showing the love of Jesus. I also began to point my acts of love back to Jesus, so people didn’t think I was just a nice person. I wanted my actions to glorify God.
Tonight, the Holy Ghost wants to give you three steps to enact this year!
Three Steps To Being A Light
1. Recognize the Open Doors
Every day you have an opportunity to be a light in someone’s life. We can often get too busy with our own schedule and our to-do list that we miss these simple opportunities each day. Whether it’s at a bus stop with someone in need, a restaurant with a server, or even online when someone mentions they had a bad day or that they are in need of prayer – there will never be a shortage of open doors through which we can shine.
We should never had our light from the world. We are ashamed of God, and who we are; then, scripture tells us, Jesus will be ashamed of us before God.
When our light does not illuminate in this dark world; then, we need to run to Jesus in prayer. Jesus never will leave us or forsake us. It is us who does the leaving. It is us who closes our Bibles and does not open them. It is us who forget to pray, it is us that has send made a rift in the relationship with Jesus.
Your light only shines when you were sanctified and walking in the spirit and not walking in the flesh.
2. Act in These Moments
I realize some of these opportunities may only present themselves once. If the Holy Spirit unions you to intervene in the life of others, do it right then and do not wait. I’m learning it’s one thing to recognize opportunities, but it’s another thing to act on them at that moment. Could it be inconvenient? Possibly! But it could also be life-changing when you stop and put God’s love into action for a few moments.
So, Is your light neon or just an overcast? If you are taking every opportunity to shine your light in this dark and dying world, then I would say you are on fire for the Lord. You are seizing the opportunities that the Holy Spirit gives you, and you are a neon light to the world, however, most of us could confess That our light should not be overcast. We should be walking in the spirit and not after the flesh. When they when the Holy Spirit functions, we should not question or second-guess. We should not run and hide but we should be a willing vessel, like mother, Mary. Mother Mary made herself available for God. She put her whole trust and faith in the creator. This season and threw out next year we should make ourselves available for the use of God.
The third way that we can be the light of Jesus is to….Point Them to Jesus
If you are giving God the credit, then your light is aluminating in the darkness. Often we do for others, but we take sole responsibility and doing so.
Letting our light shine by showing love to others, is only the most challenging part, if we are not walking by the spirit. The flash will lead you the wrong way every time! Loving people shouldn’t be too hard, but the Jesus part is why many men avoid this altogether.
Pointing others to Jesus doesn’t mean you’re answering deep theological questions with them or that you’re the one giving an altar call.
Pointing people to Jesus should just make them aware that Jesus is behind your actions.
I think it’s a little naive for us to assume they will know this without verbally sharing something about Christ. You can use a little phrases like the following: I did this, because the Holy Ghost unction me, God told me to do such and such, or God gave it to me, so I’m helping you. We need to always leave a comment with them, directing them back to Jesus.
The Man Up Challenge
Be intentional about being a light of the world. This week you will have many doors open to potentially change someone’s life by showing them Jesus through your actions and words. Despite it being out of your comfort zone and even a little inconvenient, you might only get one chance with that person you encounter today. This new year challenge you to be more in tune with the spirit, and to be more obedient when he gives you an opportunity.
