Flame Holders
Flame Holders
I saw seven golden lampstands. Revelation 1:12
Your local church exists for one primary purpose—to hold out the flame of Christ’s manifest presence. This is the single mark that distinguishes the church from every other organization on earth.
When the Apostle John turned to see the exalted Christ, the first thing he saw were seven lampstands, or more accurately, seven flame holders. “Lampstand” is actually a bad translation. The Greek word used here is luxnos, or a freestanding piece of furniture designed to hold oil. The oil was then ignited so that the luxnos would serve as a flame holder. In the first three chapters of the book of the Revelation, we see local churches uniquely described as flame holders. This is a profound picture of the essence of the purpose of the local church on earth.
What separates the church from the golf club or the Kiwanis club down the street is not the size of your building, nor the way your people dress. The uniqueness of your church is that it is the only organization in your area that is given the privilege of actively holding out to the community the raging inferno of Christ’s manifest presence.
What a privilege! What a high calling!
Father God, on behalf of my local church, I declare that we are a flame holder. I embrace our identity and our calling to hold out the manifest presence of Christ to our community. Send Your fire and fill my local church with Your radiant presence today.
YEAR ON FIRE
© Fred A. Hartley, III
All rights reserved
Unless otherwise indicated, the English Standard Bible (ESV) is used.
This daily Christ-encountering, fire-starter is not intended to replace your daily Bible reading and prayer time, but rather to motivate you to spend extended time in His presence.
I saw seven golden lampstands. Revelation 1:12
Your local church exists for one primary purpose—to hold out the flame of Christ’s manifest presence. This is the single mark that distinguishes the church from every other organization on earth.
When the Apostle John turned to see the exalted Christ, the first thing he saw were seven lampstands, or more accurately, seven flame holders. “Lampstand” is actually a bad translation. The Greek word used here is luxnos, or a freestanding piece of furniture designed to hold oil. The oil was then ignited so that the luxnos would serve as a flame holder. In the first three chapters of the book of the Revelation, we see local churches uniquely described as flame holders. This is a profound picture of the essence of the purpose of the local church on earth.
What separates the church from the golf club or the Kiwanis club down the street is not the size of your building, nor the way your people dress. The uniqueness of your church is that it is the only organization in your area that is given the privilege of actively holding out to the community the raging inferno of Christ’s manifest presence.
What a privilege! What a high calling!
Father God, on behalf of my local church, I declare that we are a flame holder. I embrace our identity and our calling to hold out the manifest presence of Christ to our community. Send Your fire and fill my local church with Your radiant presence today.
YEAR ON FIRE
© Fred A. Hartley, III
All rights reserved
Unless otherwise indicated, the English Standard Bible (ESV) is used.
This daily Christ-encountering, fire-starter is not intended to replace your daily Bible reading and prayer time, but rather to motivate you to spend extended time in His presence.
Posted in Year on Fire
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