The Lighting of The Prophecy Candle – (purple) the candle of hope
Read Romans 15:12-13
We begin the Christmas season with a review the Old Testament prophecies that foretold the coming of a Savior. In Matthew 1:22-23, the gospel writer said, “Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”
Matthew quoted a specific prophecy from Isaiah that was declared more than 700 years earlier. In Isaiah 7:14, God spoke through His prophet: “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”
Mary did conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit, and she did bear a Son whom she named Immanuel. This one event should assure us that whatever God has said, He will do, and as the Great “I AM” He has the power to do, even if that means a virgin girl would need to conceive and give birth to a Son.
As we light the prophecy candle, may we allow the flame to enlighten our understanding of God’s Word regarding the prophecies that have already been fulfilled and warm our hearts regarding the prophecies yet to be fulfilled, including the imminent return of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
- Read Psalm 80:1-7
- Read Isaiah 40:1-11
- Read Revelation 7:9-17
Like God’s people before the first coming of Christ, we now look ahead to the time when Christ, our Lamb, and our Shepherd, will finish His work of redemption, and God will wipe away every tear from our eyes.
A Prayer of Hope
“Dear God, as we light this candle, we hope for your coming as our Good Shepherd. Please gather us in your arms, feed us with spiritual food, wipe away every tear from our eyes, and let Your face shine on us, so we may be saved. Come, our Shepherd! Amen.”
The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make straight in the desert
A highway for our God.
Every valley shall be exalted
And every mountain and hill brought low;
The crooked places shall be made straight
And the rough places smooth;
The glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
And all flesh shall see it together;
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
Isaiah 40:3-5