THANKYOU 4 THE CHURCH 4
GLORIOUS VICTORIOUS BRIDE
A GREAT MYSTERY
Today,s message is in the format of an acronym – B.R.I.D.E
B – Biblical examples of the Bride
R - Relationship
I – Intercession
D – Dominion
E – Eternal
B - Biblical examples of the Bride
Esther 2: 1 - 17
A beautiful story of a young orphan who became a queen. Esther was not only beautiful and was a virgin, she was also smart. The most beautiful looking young women were brought to the King’s palace and she needed an advantage. Something that would make her stand out. She gained favor from Hegai the keeper of the women in the king’s house. She didn’t know the King but she was able to please him. How? She listened to her uncle’s advice AND she listened to Hegai. The preparation time for each maid was 12 months!
Esther 2: 12 “Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit , six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women”
Esther 2: 15 “she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her”
The analogy here is if we who were not in God’s family, become born again, we enter into His family, as we listen to the Holy Spirit, the HS will work in our lives, prepare us over time so that we can be presented to the Lord God , as His Bride.
R – Relationship
Ephesians 5: 21 - 33
21 “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God” 22 “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord” 23: “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body 24: Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
I - Intercession
Esther 4: 16 “If I perish, I perish”. Esther went on to be an intercessor for her people, in essence laying down her life to do so,
His plan is that we intercede for the nations.
Isaiah 6:1–8 8“Also, I heard the voice of the Lord, saying “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then I said Here am I; send me”.
D – Dominion
Rev 1:6 And has made us kings and priests unto God and his Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen
Rev 5 10 – and hast made us unto our God kings and priest and we shall reign on the earth.
E – Eternal
Revelation 21 – whole chapter
Revelation 21:1 “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea…10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God …
1 Corinthians 3:12 – Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, Stubble
Biblically Informed Decision
If you die tonight do you know where you are going to spend eternity?
God’s plan right from the start was with you in mind. He wants to have a relationship with you. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only son that whosoever will believe on Him will not perish but have eternal Life”
God’s plan is that He will present to Himself a glorious church without spot or wrinkle or blemish. For you to be included in that church, you need to be:
Born again of the Spirit of God
Committed to God - the First Commandment Deuteronomy 6: “ You will love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength”.
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