APRIL 28
GLORIOUS VICTORIOUS BRIDE
Over April we have covered the theme “Beyond the consummation of all perfection” Psalm 119: 96 (NKJV)
Let’s read it together – God’s word goes beyond all the perfection seen on earth.
In previous weeks we have explored some of the ways the scriptures show us God’s command – His word takes us beyond “the consummation of all perfection” :
Living in Command mode - God being God is the ultimate authority, He has ultimate power and He operates in Command Mode. HE has supernatural eternal power - He wants US to live in Command Mode as well
The Indescribable Gift – eternal life is a gift , Eternal relationship with God – all that that entails in His gift goes beyond.
Unspeakable Joy - there is a joy that comes by the Holy Spirit that goes beyond what we can put into words, a joy that carries us not just when everything is going well, but also when we are going through storms in life.
This week the focus is on the ultimate – in terms of going beyond all perfection – We (born again, Bible believing Church) get to experience being the bride of Christ!!
Yes, we get to marry Jesus! I am going to share some thoughts and scriptures to touch on this amazing eternal reality. We all come with a different understanding and experience of marriage which can be good, or bad – or both - or ugly
Marriage is Central to God’s eternal Kingdom purposes
No matter what our experience is to date God wants to transform our minds to His Master plan, lets not settle for what we see around us or have come to believe due to disillusionment, failures… and even if our experience of marriage is a good one, the Marriage of the Lamb – is going to be on a whole other level.
How much value does God place on this? Most of us have heard that Jesus died for our sins, but He didn’t stop there, also He paid for the gift of Eternal Life and he Purchased the Church for Himself to be His Bride by the shedding of his blood, laying down His Life.
Acts 20: 28 “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
General
God’s word tells us in Psalm 19: 1 – 6 ; “The Sun is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber.”
God speaks to every language , every day via the picture of the Sun - that golden orb in the sky is central to life on earth. Just as the sun rises, and darkness is dispelled, it provides energy, light, and it interacts with the whole of creation as God every day creates a new expression of His infinite creativity.
We cannot live without the sun.
Psalm 19: 1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.] The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. 2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. 4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, 5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. 6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
We aren’t living if we don’t have God in our lives either. We are the walking dead.
Specific
1 a) Marriage is central to human life
Marriage is central to God’s plans for our lives on earth. We see it weaved throughout the Bible from Genesis to Revelation and everywhere in between. I get it everything gets corrupted in the world due to sin and the power of Satan. But let’s look at what God intended:
Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Jesus spoke of it - Mar 10: 7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;
Gen 2: 18: And the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
Marriage is the most intimate of relationships and it was God’s plan was for children to be brought up under the shadow of the loving relationship between their parents
Analogy of the rope
Ecc 4: 12: And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Marriage between one man and one woman and where God is in the center and head of the relationship is right where that marriage should be.
b) Marriage is central to Eternal Life
John 17: 3 tells us what Eternal Life is And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Ephesians 5: 32 ; This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Ephesians 5: 21 ; 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.
Rev 21: 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Isaiah 62:5 For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.
We get to know Him individually as a friend and together as a bride.
Thus the Glorious Victorious Bride is beyond all perfection
Who is Jesus going to marry?
This (marriage) is a great mystery
Ephesians 5: 32 ; This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
2. The bride will be Glorious
Ex 19: 5 if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
Rev 19: 5 - 9 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. 6: And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 7.Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
Revelation 19: 7.Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
We are being transformed from Glory to Glory.
2 Cor 3: 18: But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Q: How do we make ourselves ready?
A: We must live a life of obedience
Lu 6: 46 - 49 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? 47 ; Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: 48; He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. 49 : But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
Be like the 5 wise Virgins who had their lamps filled with oil, they daily trimmed their lamps and kept looking for His coming.
3. Victorious
Rev 12: 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Rom 8: 37 in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
1 Sam 17:47 The Battle is the Lords
Chron 20: 15 The Battle is NOT yours but the Lords
B.I.D -
How do we get to be the bride?
Born again
Living in obedience to His Holy Spirit
Being Church
Get this, The Bride sends out the invitations
Lets make it a goal to be a part of God’s Glorious and Victorious Bride