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Posts Tagged ‘bride of Christ’

What’s Your Problem?

Posted in Bible, food and drink, investment, tagged , , , , , , , , , on February 18, 2009| Leave a Comment »

And the Lord said to her: “Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger.” Genesis 25:23A Picture of You

It is a true saying that for every New Testament principle, there is an Old Testament picture. Abraham is a picture (or type) of Father God, Isaac is a picture of Jesus, Rebekah is a picture of the church (the Bride of Christ), and Esau and Jacob are pictures of you and I. At the very least they are symbolic representations of the two entities that continually war within us: flesh and spirit. This enduring conflict (in my opinion) is the prevalent woe of the Christian church today.

The War Within

For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. Galatians 5:17

We are familiar with the old aphorism that tells us the dog who wins the fight is the one we feed the most—it is a model we can understand. The same principle holds true in regard to our flesh and our spirit—the one that develops and thrives is the one which is fed the most. It stands to reason that if we are miserable ~or~ if we want to feel miserable, then feed them both.

So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Revelation 3:16

Misery is Contagious

When we feed both the spirit and the flesh, we make ourselves miserable and in turn we make Jesus nauseous. In this verse from Revelation, Jesus is not telling us (as Christians) that He is disgusted with us, but rather that our miserable condition pains Him internally. If you have ever felt sick over a loved one’s destructive behavior, then perhaps you can commiserate with Jesus—in these situations there is little to do except ache and pray. When the victim is us we have one other option.

The Remedy

Jesus said His yoke was easy and His burden is light, therefore it stands to reason that a difficult yoke and heavy burden belongs to someone else. It really all comes down to one decisive problem—there are just some things we do not want to give up. Our salvation is not in question necessarily, but rather the choice to be miserable. The Jesus-solution is simple and straightforward…

Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts…For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Joshua 24:15, Romans 13:14; 8:6


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*The Function of the Church

Posted in Bible, discipleship, evangelism, Jesus, religion, tagged , , , , , on January 8, 2009| 6 Comments »

And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Revelation 22:17

The Role of the Holy Spirit

But when the Helper comes…He will testify of Me…He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. John 15:26; 16:13-14

The primary function; the purpose and the responsibility of the Holy Spirit, is as a witness to and glorifier of Jesus Christ. It is also the role of the church, the ‘bride of Christ‘ as well. The church operates in conjunction with the Holy Spirit in order that together they will give the invitation to come and know Jesus as Lord and as Savior. So while it is absolutely true Christians and the Holy Spirit do other things, our underlining, foundational purpose is to glorify Jesus by making Him known. In other words, we are most effective when we  point to Jesus Christ.

Yesterday

God’s timing is wonderful. I post this blog all over the place, including my local newspaper, the Asbury Park Press and yesterday my blog topic revolved around depression and the solution for it found in Christ Jesus. Sadly, depression is one of those hot-topics and the piece was worn. The majority of the responses supported the biblical position, but one reaction was not so favorable. I am posting an excerpt here because the answer jives with the message of today’s Bible verse.

“Nonsense! Millions of people — Christians and non-Christians alike — have been successfully treated for depression with medicine and therapy and by other means that in no way whatsoever involve faith in Jesus Christ. Clinical depression is a biologically-based illness that is best treated by medical doctors. You are not a medical doctor, Dave. You are not at all qualified or competent to give advice on how to best treat clinical depression — or how best to treat any other medical aliment, I might add. You ought to be ashamed of yourself for intimating that a non-Christian who suffers from depression should best treat that illness by seeking out a Christian preacher rather than a medical doctor.”

The writer is correct on some points and very wrong on others. The proper rejoinder would be for me to focus on what it is I am qualified to do: in the name of Jesus Christ, I am qualified to point people to Jesus Christ. It is a duty I take delight in and an honor I cherish. I don’t have to, I get to. I get to work in union with the Holy Spirit to glorify Jesus Christ as both a witness and encourager. Let it be known I am the exact opposite of ashamed.

The reality is this: when we  sincerely believe we have been healed by His stripes, it’s a demonstration that we’re submitted to the Great Physician. He is our true (and faithful) healthcare professional. Let no Christian ever be ashamed to proclaim the name of Jesus. It’s our first course of action!

Open the Book

And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.” Revelation 22:10-11

It is mandated by God that the Bible be an open book and it is mandated by God that Christians make the invitation to come. The Divine implication is that the two go hand-in-hand. Whatever happens after that, we are to do as God directed and let it be. The Christian is not required to defend his position. If he says, “The solution, the answer, the remedy is found in Christ Jesus alone, ” the truth of that remark stands on its own. Naturally if one is being drawn into a relationship with Jesus and is seeking clarification, we’re should amplify our remarks.

Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear (1 Peter 3:15)

However, if the truth is being rejected and an argument ensues, God would have us walk away. The Father”s timing is perfect and we may trust that He will provide discernment in this regard.

“What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” John 6:28-29

  1. What do these verses say about God?
  2. What do they say about ourselves?
  3. What’s our recourse?
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Brides and Bridesmaids

Posted in Abject Poverty, Bible, Christmas, tagged , , , , , , on December 17, 2008| 5 Comments »

And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. Revelation 7:14-15 Given a Choice…

Given a choice (and we are given a choice), I would rather be a bride (as in the bride of Christ) rather than a bridesmaid. As wonderful as it will be to get to Heaven, my desire is to go in the first wave, rather in the second, for it is the first wave (the raptured church) that is indeed Christ’s true bride. Again, the raptured church (are) those Christians who are plucked-out before the tribulation period begins and Revelation 7:14-15 is speaking of those people who come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior ‘during’ the tribulation period. They are Christians, they are saved, but they are not the bride of Christ.

Dave, You Lost Me

When we read today’s passage again, we see the revelation. First, we can rejoice for those who chose to believe in Jesus Christ during the tribulation because they are now in Heaven, having been martyred for their new-found faith. But we also notice that they stand before the throne and will serve Jesus forever, night and day. Make no mistake about it, they will be ecstatic that they have been given this eternal opportunity and will rejoice in it, but serve they will.

However, because we have believed in Jesus Christ before the tribulation (and also before the, ‘wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke, ’ spoken of in Joel 2:28-32, we will sit with Jesus in His throne (much as a bride would sit with her groom) and we will reign and rule with Him.

Because you have kept My command to persevere I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth…To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne…Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. Revelation 3:10, 21; 20:6

So What’s the Point

So many non-believers declare that if and when they see proof that Jesus is who He says He is, they will believe. That may be true for them, but there are these things they must consider:

1. If they die before the tribulation period, they won’t have this chance
2. If they come to believe during the tribulation, they will be martyred (murdered) for their faith.
3. They will get to be in Heaven forever, but will not be His bride, but His servants.
4. They will be happy to be His servants, but they should know now they could be His bride.
5. If a person cannot stand for Jesus now, what makes them think they will be able to stand for Christ when someone is threatening to kill them?

Brides and Bridesmaids

Finally, we see the differences between a bride and a bridesmaid as portrayed in these two Bible verses (both times Jesus is talking). Thomas (our bridesmaid) is most certainly blessed, but the bride (the one who elects to serve the Lord while on earth) is the one who is served in Heaven. The choice is always ours.

Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29

Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. Luke 12:37


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Six Words Women Hate to Hear (Maybe)

Posted in Abject Poverty, Bible, Jesus, religion, tagged , , , , , on October 22, 2008| 10 Comments »

Wives, likewise be submissive to you own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe you chaste conduct accompanied by fear. Do not let your adornment be merely outward–arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel–rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 1 Peter 3:1-4Dangerous Waters

The shortest sermon you will ever hear will likely begin with the idiom, “Wives, be submissive to your husbands.” Upon hearing that phrase it is practically guaranteed that you are only moments away from, “The Lord bless you and keep you… make His face shine upon you…be gracious to you…lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace. Amen.”

Pastors quake in their clericals for the fear of those six words, but that should not be the case, for these words are applicable to Christian men as well. So having said that, the best way to navigate these dangerous waters is to take the plunge, after all, are not men (also) the bride of Christ?

Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” Revelation 19:7

But make no mistake about it Peter is addressing Christian women here; however there is enough meat on this bone to be shared. Christ calls us (men) to be submissive too, our conduct can draw the unsaved to the cross, and like the ladies, our concern should be for our inward appearance and not the outward. Needless to say, there would be very little spousal objection (to the submissive doctrine) if the husband practiced what he preached.

Cosmos

Changing gears only slightly, I wanted to briefly address the outer woman. What is God telling us about hair, jewelry, and clothes? I think the (above) text is pretty clear, but in this instance, I believe the King James Version of 1 Peter 3:3 says it better…Take note that the word ‘fine’ is absent from before the word apparel.

Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel

Why is that significant?

It is important because some religious fanatics read this verse and take it to mean that women should not spend time fixing their hair, nor should they wear jewelry. If that was what Peter was saying, then he is also saying that women should not wear clothes—ever. Peter is not saying women shouldn’t wear clothes. Obviously the writer is merely declaring that the priority of the woman needs to be inward. As for make-up and such, some old-time pastor said it best when he said…

“If the barn needs painting, paint it.”

Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Proverbs 31:30


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