The lamps in the temple were lit with holy fire Nothing could extinguish the flaming oil’s desire The light of God cannot go out when it’s living in our heart On Pentecost it’s glow descended, the Spirit to impart God’s children are the temple, God’s Spirit the glow within Our choice, the way of light, or the darkness of our sin You cannot hate your brother and claim to walk in light The flame would be extinguished, bringing in the night We must walk in truth and mercy so all the world will know The love that God the Father has for us who dwell below Clouds of darkness hide His Presence as He rides the ancient sky Testing hearts of men with holy fires to purify Debbie Furey December 16, 2020 Malachi 3:2-4 – “But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, 4 and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the LORD, as in days gone by, as in former years.” Revelation 3:17-19 – “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.” 1 John 1:5-10, 2:1-14 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 I was thinking about it being the season of Hanukkah this morning. That is the Jewish festival where they celebrate the miracle of the lamps in the Jewish temple burning for eight days even though there was only enough sacred oil to burn for one day. Oil and fire are a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Fire can symbolize power, like on the day of Pentecost, or it can represent a trial sent by God to test us. The enemy of our soul also sends fire into lives on earth, but it is for our destruction. All who follow his evil ways will suffer forever in that fire. Fire also has good properties like light and heat. They are necessary for our quality of life. There is another kind of fire that God sends for our benefit. It is a purifying fire. Yes, it is painful, but those who have gone through it are changed and become a part of God’s light burning for Him, like the lamps in the temple.