The Feast of Dedication: Time To Hear, See, and Work

God's focus this year for the Feast of Dedication was all about us seeing darkness as the enemy. When we walk in darkness, we will not hear God's voice, see what He is doing, and will not and are unable to do the works that He has called us to do.

Jesus healed a blind man, John 9: 1-7, before He entered into the Temple to celebrate the Feast of Dedication, John 10:22. He makes a profound statement in John 9:4 to his disciples "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work." The meaning of works is occupation/employment. Jesus occupation was to do the works of His Father. Can we say the same thing about ourselves? The meaning of can in this scripture is the "legal right to do the works of God." Notice when night comes, no man has the legal right or can do the works of God. This meaning of night is "the time of moral stupidity and darkness" not a time of day or the time period when the sun goes down until it rises again. Jesus was talking about our spiritual condition.

No wonder there are so many "unemployed Christians" today. This message showed us without His presence, the fire on top of the candles, we will not be able to hear, see, or do the works of God because we will continue to try and work at night.

As the graphic shows, Isaiah 60: 1-5 is our answer. It is time for us to Arise and Shine for the light (God's presence) be upon and in us because is is the answer to the gross darkness that is covering the earth and gross darkness upon the people. Once we do that, He makes us some great promises in verses 4 and 5 about people coming to our light. We will be employed Christians being a witness others can experience God because we are hearing, seeing what God is doing, and then going to work to do what He tells us.

However it takes God to light our candles and he showed us that in Numbers 8:1-2 and Psalms 18: 25-28. It is time for us to be the light of the world and have our candles light up. As Bishop said, the fully lit menorah is an outward expression of the presence of God. May we truly be the light of the world that Jesus told us to be.

I am asking a few question this week for us to discuss about this message

• Why was the focus of the Feast of Dedication this year all about hearing, seeing, and working?

• What was Jesus really talking about when He said no man can work at night?

• What shift, day or night, have you been working in prior to this message?

• What will happen when you arise and shine?

• What is the significance of the candlestick/candle being lit in your life according to Numbers 8:1-2 and Psalm 18:25-28?

• What were some aha moments from this message that you are letting become life in your life?

Working the day shift,

Rev. Ryan Welker