Flame Holders
Flame Holders
I saw seven golden lampstands. Revelation 1:12
When the Apostle John saw the risen, ascended, glorified, exalted Christ, he saw Him standing in the middle of seven flame holders. The Greek word used here is LUXNOS, which represented a freestanding piece of furniture that held oil and was continuously lit as a flame holder. This means that the church exists for one primary purpose: to hold out the flame of the manifest presence of Christ.
If the purpose of the church was primarily to hold out propositional truth, Jesus might have been walking in a library. If the church was ultimately a preaching center, He might have been walking among the seven pulpits. If the church was primarily to deploy troops on mission, Jesus might have been walking the deck of an aircraft carrier. While each of these word pictures contain an element of truth, the pictures Jesus uses is flameholders. Jesus walked among the flame holders because the primary purpose of the church is to hold out the reality of God on fire so people might encounter the manifest presence of Christ.
Father God, I declare my church—Your church—a flame holder. Manifest today the flaming, glorious reality of the ascended Christ right down the middle of my church life.
Please PRAY!
We are asking God for the remaining world countries and U.S.A. states to receive the training of the College of Prayer. Pray with us today for Liechtenstein and Idaho.
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.
YEAR ON FIRE
© Fred A. Hartley, III
All rights reserved
Unless otherwise indicated, the English Standard Bible (ESV) is used.
I saw seven golden lampstands. Revelation 1:12
When the Apostle John saw the risen, ascended, glorified, exalted Christ, he saw Him standing in the middle of seven flame holders. The Greek word used here is LUXNOS, which represented a freestanding piece of furniture that held oil and was continuously lit as a flame holder. This means that the church exists for one primary purpose: to hold out the flame of the manifest presence of Christ.
If the purpose of the church was primarily to hold out propositional truth, Jesus might have been walking in a library. If the church was ultimately a preaching center, He might have been walking among the seven pulpits. If the church was primarily to deploy troops on mission, Jesus might have been walking the deck of an aircraft carrier. While each of these word pictures contain an element of truth, the pictures Jesus uses is flameholders. Jesus walked among the flame holders because the primary purpose of the church is to hold out the reality of God on fire so people might encounter the manifest presence of Christ.
Father God, I declare my church—Your church—a flame holder. Manifest today the flaming, glorious reality of the ascended Christ right down the middle of my church life.
Please PRAY!
We are asking God for the remaining world countries and U.S.A. states to receive the training of the College of Prayer. Pray with us today for Liechtenstein and Idaho.
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.
YEAR ON FIRE
© Fred A. Hartley, III
All rights reserved
Unless otherwise indicated, the English Standard Bible (ESV) is used.
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