The Prophecy Candle
Long, Long, Long Ago…
(As you and/or your family gathers around for Advent, it is good to ask or assign one member to light the candle, another to read the Scripture out loud, and a third to read the devotion. At the beginning of each new week, your family will need to read the new week’s introduction, as well as the devotion, for the first evening of that week. )
WEEK 1 INTRODUCTION
For this week, we will use one of the darker color candles. As we light the very first candle of the Advent Season, we remember that Jesus came into the world long ago as the Light of the World. We also remind ourselves that He is still the Light of our lives today, if we choose to receive the greatest gift any man will ever receive: Eternal Life. Long ago Jesus came into our dark world of sin. Today, He still lives at the right hand of the Father and in the hearts of all who will receive Him. He will one day come again in the full light of His glory— and darkness will be no more. Charles Stanley wrote this hymn, Come Thou Long Expected Jesus, in 1744. As we read or sing the words, let us notice the things Christ came to do for mankind.
Come, Thou long expected Jesus, Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us; Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation, Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart.
Born Thy people to deliver, Born a child and yet a king,
Born to reign in us forever, now Thy gracious Kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit, Rule in all our hearts alone.
By Thine all sufficient merit, Raise us to Thy glorious Throne.
Amen.
He came to set us free!
He came to give us rest!
He came to bring us joy!
He came to deliver us!
He came to reign, rule, and rise up His people unto Himself!”
People from all nations cry out to Him and Haggai 2:7 says, “The desire of all nations shall come!” We know that He has been faithful to come once already, and we believe He will be faithful to come again! May Christ reign in our hearts today as we celebrate His long awaited arrival and as we await His promised return!
-Marilyn Williams
DAILY DEVOTIONS FOR WEEK ONE
DEVOTION 1
ISAIAH 9:2, 6, &7
(Look this up together in your Bibles and have someone read the verses out loud.)
It is interesting to note that scripture in the Old Testament often refers to Jesus’ birth and Jesus’ return at the same time, leaving us sometimes wondering if the verse is referring to Jesus coming as an infant and a Savior or to Jesus coming as a warrior and a reigning King. What is actually important to understand about these verses is that Jesus is always both the Savior and the King, never either. God gave the prophet Isaiah these promises about the coming Messiah as an infant as well as a returning conquering warrior. It is important for all mankind to know that we are walking in the darkness of
death until we receive the light of God’s presence in our hearts personally. Although Jesus was born a baby, Isaiah gives several significant names that we must know Him by: “Wonderful,” “Counselor,” “The Mighty God,” “The Everlasting Father,” and “The Prince of Peace”. He is not merely the baby in a manger! As we prepare to celebrate Christ’s birth this Christmas, let us remember that not only has He come to us on that starry night long ago, but He still lives now and forevermore! Not only does He
reign from Heaven’s Throne, but if we crown Him our Eternal King, He rules in our hearts as well. He has come once as a gift for all, but He will return someday as a ruler over all. He didn’t come all the way from Heaven to merely rule over us, but to rule in us! Whether we receive Him as our Lord and Savior or not, He will still rule. The question to ask yourself is: Are you with Him; being ruled by Him from the inside out, or are you against Him—merely waiting to be ruled over by Him when He returns?
(Optional: additional verses; Romans 14:11, Matt. 1:21&23, Ps. 24:8, Is. 54:5)
-Marilyn Williams
copyright: Safe Harbor Ministries, Inc.
November 30 2009
http://www.marilynwilliams.com/
Long, Long, Long Ago…
(As you and/or your family gathers around for Advent, it is good to ask or assign one member to light the candle, another to read the Scripture out loud, and a third to read the devotion. At the beginning of each new week, your family will need to read the new week’s introduction, as well as the devotion, for the first evening of that week. )
WEEK 1 INTRODUCTION
For this week, we will use one of the darker color candles. As we light the very first candle of the Advent Season, we remember that Jesus came into the world long ago as the Light of the World. We also remind ourselves that He is still the Light of our lives today, if we choose to receive the greatest gift any man will ever receive: Eternal Life. Long ago Jesus came into our dark world of sin. Today, He still lives at the right hand of the Father and in the hearts of all who will receive Him. He will one day come again in the full light of His glory— and darkness will be no more. Charles Stanley wrote this hymn, Come Thou Long Expected Jesus, in 1744. As we read or sing the words, let us notice the things Christ came to do for mankind.
Come, Thou long expected Jesus, Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us; Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation, Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart.
Born Thy people to deliver, Born a child and yet a king,
Born to reign in us forever, now Thy gracious Kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit, Rule in all our hearts alone.
By Thine all sufficient merit, Raise us to Thy glorious Throne.
Amen.
He came to set us free!
He came to give us rest!
He came to bring us joy!
He came to deliver us!
He came to reign, rule, and rise up His people unto Himself!”
People from all nations cry out to Him and Haggai 2:7 says, “The desire of all nations shall come!” We know that He has been faithful to come once already, and we believe He will be faithful to come again! May Christ reign in our hearts today as we celebrate His long awaited arrival and as we await His promised return!
-Marilyn Williams
DAILY DEVOTIONS FOR WEEK ONE
DEVOTION 1
ISAIAH 9:2, 6, &7
(Look this up together in your Bibles and have someone read the verses out loud.)
It is interesting to note that scripture in the Old Testament often refers to Jesus’ birth and Jesus’ return at the same time, leaving us sometimes wondering if the verse is referring to Jesus coming as an infant and a Savior or to Jesus coming as a warrior and a reigning King. What is actually important to understand about these verses is that Jesus is always both the Savior and the King, never either. God gave the prophet Isaiah these promises about the coming Messiah as an infant as well as a returning conquering warrior. It is important for all mankind to know that we are walking in the darkness of
death until we receive the light of God’s presence in our hearts personally. Although Jesus was born a baby, Isaiah gives several significant names that we must know Him by: “Wonderful,” “Counselor,” “The Mighty God,” “The Everlasting Father,” and “The Prince of Peace”. He is not merely the baby in a manger! As we prepare to celebrate Christ’s birth this Christmas, let us remember that not only has He come to us on that starry night long ago, but He still lives now and forevermore! Not only does He
reign from Heaven’s Throne, but if we crown Him our Eternal King, He rules in our hearts as well. He has come once as a gift for all, but He will return someday as a ruler over all. He didn’t come all the way from Heaven to merely rule over us, but to rule in us! Whether we receive Him as our Lord and Savior or not, He will still rule. The question to ask yourself is: Are you with Him; being ruled by Him from the inside out, or are you against Him—merely waiting to be ruled over by Him when He returns?
(Optional: additional verses; Romans 14:11, Matt. 1:21&23, Ps. 24:8, Is. 54:5)
-Marilyn Williams
copyright: Safe Harbor Ministries, Inc.
November 30 2009
http://www.marilynwilliams.com/
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