BRIDE OF THE LAMB

 

BRIDE OF THE LAMB Study of Revelation Continued REVELATION 19.6 I heard something like the voice of a great multitude, and like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of mighty thunders, saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns! 19.7 Let us rejoice and be exceedingly glad, and let us give the glory to him. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready.” 19.8 It was given to her that she would array herself in bright, pure, fine linen: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 19.9 He said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” -WEB Bible. Immediately following the story of the harlot of Babylon, Revelation introduces the Bride of Christ. She is portrayed as a city, just as the harlot was. Each "city" is a representation of many, many people.  The contrast between the two women is meant to be noticed and appreciated, because they are as different as night and day. God intends for us to see the differences, and take heed. The Bride of Christ is chaste and lovely, seeking to please her husband. She is everything that a sweet bride should be, just as her husband is perfect in every way. The Bride of Christ is the ultimate revelation of a perfect marriage. Submission has become an extremely negative word in today’s world, but Jesus set a different example for submission. He submitted to his Father in all things, and he asks that his followers submit to him. Perhaps it’s impossible to understand the beauty of this relationship without God’s help. When there’s no sin or cruel subjection involved, submission is the path to perfect unity and fellowship. In its purest form, submission is a gift of love. God the Father and Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are in such complete unity as they work together, that the Bible says they are ONE GOD even though they are three distinctly different persons. Humans are incapable of this kind of perfect unity so we really don't get it. We can't fathom how this works. It's a very beautiful mystery, because the unity that exists between the three persons of God is pure and perfect. It is this kind of perfect unity that God desires with us, and it only happens when we learn the spiritual benefits of submission to the will of God.  2 JOHN 1:6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. NIV ROMANS 12:10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. NIV JOHN 14:8 Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us." 9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you such a long time, and do you not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father. How do you say, 'Show us the Father?' 10 Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I tell you, I speak not from myself; but the Father who lives in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me; or else believe me for the very works' sake. 12 Most certainly I tell you, he who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do also; and he will do greater works than these, because I am going to my Father.  WEB Bible John’s vision of the Bride of Christ is something that’s impossible to fully understand. We know that the vision was beautiful. And we know it’s something for believers to look forward to, but we won’t know what the vision means until the time comes. I do think this lovely vision is meant to challenge us to do better as Christians, and to embrace a life of holiness that is pleasing to Christ. We want to be ready to take our place in this beautiful city. The Harlot of Babylon is the end result of rebellion against God. The Bride of Christ reveals the beauty that comes from submission to God. Study of Revelation Continues Next Thursday IMAGE CREDIT: The Bride of Christ, generated by SeaArt.ai and edited by C.A. Stevens.

 

BLESSINGS FROM JUDE 1

 

BLESSINGS FROM JUDE 1 To those who have been called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance. Dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. Jude 1:1-2,17-23 NIV

 

REHEARSE YOUR TROUBLES TO GOD ONLY

 

REHEARSE YOUR TROUBLES TO GOD ONLY Love covers. Proverbs 10:12 Rehearse your troubles to God only. Not long ago I read in a paper a bit of personal experience from a precious child of God, and it made such an impression upon me that I record it here. She wrote: I found myself one midnight wholly sleepless as the surges of a cruel injustice swept over me, and the love which covers seemed to have crept out of my heart. Then I cried to God in an agony for the power to obey His injunction, ’Love covers.’ Immediately the Spirit began to work in me the power that brought about the forgetfulness. Mentally I dug a grave. Deliberately I threw up the earth until the excavation was deep. Sorrowfully I lowered into it the thing which wounded me. Quickly I shoveled in the clods. Over the mound I carefully laid the green sods. Then I covered it with white roses and forget-me-nots, and quickly walked away. Sweet sleep came. The wound which had been so nearly deadly was healed without a scar, and I know not today what caused my grief. From Streams in the Desert by Mrs. Charles Cowman

 

THE BRIDGE IS OUT!

 

THE BRIDGE IS OUT! Preacher Davis was driving home one night with his wife and two daughters in the car. It was raining and dark, and because of the intensity of the rain he could hardly see past his headlights. On the way he had to drive over a huge bridge. There were signs posted all along the road that said "DO NOT PICK UP HITCH-HIKERS." There was an institution for the criminally insane near the base of the bridge and sometimes people would escape from it and try to hitch a ride. On this particular night, as he turned his car onto the bridge, he had to drive very slowly because he could hardly see the road. Somewhere near the top of the bridge a man suddenly appeared in the headlights. He was soaked, standing in the middle of the road with his shirt off frantically waving it over his head and screaming. Preacher's wife began to say, "Oh please don't stop, try to drive around him!" But the man was unavoidable and there was nowhere for the car to go to miss him. So, Preacher Davis had to stop the car and as soon as he did, the man slapped his hand down on the hood of the car and was screaming at the top of his lungs. Preacher looked over at his wife and said to lock the door after him and not to unlock it until he returned. His family was now crying and pleading with him not to get out of the car. But he opened the door, and as soon as he stepped outside, he was immediately soaked from the rain. As Preacher approached the front of the car, he suddenly understood what the frantic man was screaming, "THE BRIDGE IS OUT! THE BRIDGE IS OUT! AND A CAR JUST WENT OVER, INTO THE FLOOD!" As these words registered in Preacher Davis’s mind, he looked back in the car at his wife and two daughters. Then he wrapped his arm around the man and wept in gratitude. Preacher stood there with the man for the next hour in the middle of the road, waving his jacket above his head screaming, "THE BRIDGE IS OUT! THE BRIDGE IS OUT!" We need to warn this lost and dying world that "THE BRIDGE IS OUT!" For people heading to a Christ-less eternity, they desperately need to know that "THE BRIDGE IS OUT!" Where are the men and the women who will stand in the middle of the road and forbid people to perish? HELL has opened its mouth wide and many are speeding into it! Where are those who will stand in the gap, on the streets, the highways and the byways to forbid multitudes from going to such a horrible place? Jesus left his disciples with one primary task: go into all the world and spread the good news of Jesus Christ. Tell them Jesus is the only bridge to eternal life and they need to get on it because the BRIDGE THEY'RE ON IS OUT. Author Uknown, Social Media source.

 

A SOUND HEART

 

A SOUND HEART May my heart be fully committed to keeping your statutes, so that I might not be ashamed. Psalm 119:80 This prayer holds within it the assurance that those who stay close to God’s Word will never regret it. Notice that the prayer is for a sound heart. A solid understanding of the Bible is good, and having sound judgment about it is even better. But having a heart that loves the truth and lives by it is best of all. We must love, feel, and obey the truth. Otherwise, we aren’t truly sound in God’s ways. How many people in these difficult days are truly sound? Many will be ashamed on the final day when all disputes are settled before God. They’ll see the foolishness of their own ideas and feel deep regret for their pride and rejection of the Lord. But those who believed what God taught and lived by what He commanded will be vindicated. Those who were slandered and insulted will see their shame turned into glory. Let’s pray this prayer, trusting that God will fulfill its promise. If the Lord makes us sound in heart, He will keep us safe. By Charles H. Spurgeon