Are You the Bride
(Sermon Notes) By Warren Zehrung 2/15/2020
The Bible tells us a lot about the Wedding Supper of Jesus Christ. The Wedding Supper is something that is actually going to occur. The serious question that must be considered is this: Are you the Bride? Will you, _____ write your name here… Will you, _____ be the Bride that Jesus will marry?
I’m sure that you’ve heard the story of the man who was searching for a perfect wife… he had searched the world over seeking the perfect wife. He was looking for the highest of standards – not just any run-of-the-mill girl would do, for him. He said that she had to be lovely and beautiful. She had to be good, and pure, and sweet, – knowledgeable and educated. She had to have poise, grace, polish, and culture.
So, he went into every nation – seeking and looking for the perfect wife. He said that when it came to his wife – she would have to be Holy, Virtuous, Just, and Faithful. And then one day, he found her – just the perfect Bride – whom he had been looking for all of his life.
He said, “I found her, but, – It didn’t work out. She was perfect in every way, but unfortunately,,, she was looking for the perfect husband!”
There is a lesson for us in that little anecdote. Let’s turn that little story around. Since we all seek, and expect to be the Bride of Christ… Let’s ask ourselves this question:
Are you the Bride… that Jesus is seeking? Jesus is the perfect husband. What will His bride be like? The institution of the Marriage relationship reflects the exact picture of Jesus Christ and His loving relationship with His Church. The marriage of the Lamb to the Bride will be an eternal covenant, bond, vow, and Godly relationship. Jesus speaking here of the Church – Spiritual Israel…
Hosea 2:19 And I will betroth you unto me forever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving kindness, and in mercies.
Jesus will cleave to His wife in perfect eternal unity and oneness. Picture the most perfect marriage you have ever known of – and yet, it will not compare—it won’t even come close to the perfection of Christ’s marriage to the Church. The Bible speaks of a “Bride” for Christ? We understand that the wife to be is the Church?
What is the Church? The Church is all of the called out brethren who are led by God’s Holy Spirit. The Church, that is who is going to marry Jesus Christ at his return. Jesus Christ, the coming Messiah, is going to marry the Church of God – all the brethren who are led by God’s Holy Spirit.
What attributes will the prospective Bride possess? Perfection, righteousness, Godly Character – all of the spiritual attributes that we saw in that little anecdotal story a moment ago.
The most important question to consider is what must the future wife of Christ be doing to Prepare herself and make herself ready for the marriage of the Lamb?
Revelation 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife has made herself ready.
Revelation 19:8 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.
Revelation 19:9 He said unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And He said unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
“True,” here means that this is not an analogy, metaphor, nor is it allegorical – but the true sayings of God. The Marriage Supper will actually occur – just like this! That means that there is a day coming soon when the Bride will actually stand alongside Jesus Christ and become His Wife forever. It is going to happen!
Will you be that Bride? These Prophetic Scriptures show us the splendor of the ultimate nuptial ceremony. We do not want to miss out on the most splendid and majestic wedding of all time. What an incredible truth that our Lord and Master has chosen to make us His Wife by entering into an eternal Marriage Covenant with us. Jesus Himself spoke of His wedding day – and how He would adorn His Bride:
Ezekiel 16:8 When I passed by you, and looked upon you, behold, your time was the time of love [speaking of mature Godly love]; and I spread my garment over you, [a symbolic proposal of marriage] and covered your nakedness [forgave our sins]: yea, I swore unto you, and entered into a Covenant with you, said the Lord God, and you became mine.
The New Covenant is an eternal unbreakable Covenant Vow.
Ezekiel 16:9 Then I washed you with water; yes, I thoroughly washed away your blood from you [forgiveness], and I anointed you with oil (Sanctification).
Ezekiel 16:10 I clothed you also with needlepoint work, and placed fur-lined slippers on your feet, and I dressed you about with fine linen, and I covered you with silk.
Speaking of spiritual things, Psalm 84:11 says, “… the Lord will withhold no good thing.”
Ezekiel 16:11 I embellished you also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon your hands, and a necklace on your neck.
Ezekiel 16:12 And I put jewelry on you, and earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown upon your head.
Ezekiel 16:13 Thus were you adorned with gold and silver; and your wedding garments were of glamorous, brilliant, radiant, gorgeous and stunning fine linen, and silk, and embroidered work; you ate of fine cakes, and honey, and oil: and you were exceeding beautiful, and you did prosper into a Kingdom.
Jesus sees His Bride as being exceeding beautiful.
Ezekiel 16:14 And your renowned reputation went forth among the heathen for your beauty: for it was perfect through my grandeur, which I had put upon you, says the Lord God.
We can see Jesus’ eager anticipation of that Day. In Ephesians 5, Paul speaks of how the Bride of Christ and the True Church of God are one and the same. Even now, Christ is preparing His Wife-to-be for their wedding day:
Ephesians 5:25 … Christ also loved the Church, and gave Himself for it;
Ephesians 5:26 That He might sanctify [set it apart above everything else on earth] and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
It’s is almost like Paul had just finished reading Ezekiel 16… that we just looked at.
Ephesians 5:27 That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it [the Bride] should be holy and without blemish.
The language is decidedly matrimonial in comparing a husband’s love for his wife – to the love of Christ for His Wife…
Ephesians 5:29 He nourishes and cherishes her, even as the Lord the Church [brethren].
God established the intimacy attainable within a blessed marriage as a mere indication of the transcendent unity and oneness achievable only in the spiritual realm of the God-plane marriage. There are so many Biblical marriage analogies going back to Adam and Eve’s wedding day. Marriage is a natural union, but a divine institution, ordained of God. God created the marriage covenant, not only as the basis of social order for mankind, but also to foreshadow His eternal Plan.
The marriage of Adam and Eve as husband and wife was the prototype of the eternal spiritual covenant between Christ and His Bride – the Church. That first marriage contract between Adam and Eve was a prophetic sign of Christ’s ultimate goal to enter into a perfect spiritual union with all the members of His Body.
Genesis 2:23-24 Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh …Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
That is a prototype of Christ and His Bride. Paul wrote:
Ephesians 5:30 We are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.
As the future Wife of Christ, we, the Church of God, are “of His bones,” just as Eve was bone of Adam’s bones.
None of Jesus’ bones were broken – like the Passover lamb’s bones were not broken (Exodus 12:46). Therefore, the Church is to be unbroken, and to remain one intact body—one in spirit—as the bond between Jesus and His Bride is unbreakable and inseparable. It is wrong to separate God’s people into separate corporate organizations that do not love and respect one another.
Paul reveals how God is showing us through the physical marriage bond, His intent for all the Church brethren to be joined eternally to Jesus Christ in an eternal spiritual covenant:
Ephesians 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the Church [brethren].
Most of us have been in God’s Church for a long time, a very long time. For some, the expectation has been to make it to the Place of Safety, or be caught up alive in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (1Thessalonians 4:15-17).
But those are merely steps to go through in order to become the Bride in the splendid Marriage Ceremony wherein Jesus Christ will be wed in an eternal covenant to the resurrected Spiritual Church. It is almost too beautiful to contemplate. Mere words fail to portray the most glorious ceremony ever; which Christ has reserved for His Bride alone. Divine music will reverberate across the heavens…,
If the Angels shouted for joy at the creation of the earth – think of the music they will make at redemption of the firstfruits and the marriage of the Lamb. Gleaming brilliance will illuminate the throne room as the Bride is presented to her Lord Jesus. The Bride will be adorned in her grand white linen wedding gown, symbolic of the righteousness of the Saints (Revelation 19:8).
Jesus showed Himself as Old Testament Israel’s husband and foretold that He would one day soon enter into a new marriage covenant with Spiritual Israel. The New Testament reveals that Jesus Christ will marry the resurrected spiritual Church.
Jesus Christ will take the spiritual Church as His Bride. A glorious inheritance awaits us if we endure to the end (Matthew 24:13). Because the Lord delights in His Bride, upon her head she will wear a beautiful sparkling crown. Isaiah 62 speaks of the Wedding Supper:
Isaiah 62:1 For Zion’s sake [For the Church brethren’s sake] will I not hold my peace [God is eagerly anticipating and waiting for this time Jesus marries the Church also], and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burns.
Isaiah 62:3 Thou [the Church brethren] shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.
The Book of Esther also speaks of the Wedding Supper:
Esther 2:17 And King Ahasuerus loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen …
That is a picture of Jesus Christ and His Bride, the Church.
Isaiah 62:4 Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land anymore be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah [My delight is in her says the Lord], and thy land Beulah [Married]: for the LORD delights in thee, and thy land shall be married.
Isaiah 62:5 For as a young man marries a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as with the joy of the bridegroom rejoicing over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee. [At the wedding Supper of the Lamb]
We are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. We have received our invitation directly from God the Father.
Matthew 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
At that soon coming Pentecost Feast at the throne of God, when the glorified, resurrected Saints of God are asked, “Do you take Jesus Christ to be your lawful wedded husband for all eternity to come?”
The true Saints will answer, “I do” (Exodus 24:3, 7).
Revelation 19:9 … Blessed are they who are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.
Brethren, we have received our invitation, but we are sternly warned to make absolutely sure that we are counted worthy to have this—the greatest of all honors—bestowed upon us. We find in the parable of the Ten Virgins that there are the two attitudes that are prevalent in the Church of God today. God says:
Matthew 25:2 And five of the virgins were wise, and five were foolish.
One manner of people will be eligible for the Wedding Supper of the Lamb, while the other—clearly will not. Peter tells us which manner of people we should be:
2Peter 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conduct and Godliness.
The question that must be considered at this time is this:
“Are you the Bride who will marry Christ,” or will you find the door shut, and hear the horrific words, “I do not know you.”
Brethren, I think that a lot of us do not examine ourselves closely enough. I get the feeling that we sometimes believe that we are automatically qualified to be the Bride of Christ? Jesus explains in this parable that that is not the case.
The wise and the foolish virgins—all slept—that is how God describes His Church today—asleep.
Matthew 25:1 Then shall the Kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the Bridegroom.
What we find in this parable are the two attitudes that are prevalent in the greater Church of God today. One group of people will be eligible for the Place of Safety – the other will not hear the words of Jesus Christ. Satan is subtle and not so blatant with this present deception that has swept over the Church brethren.
Last time, at the end of the “Worldwide Church of God corporation” the deception was about doing away with the Sabbath, and the Law of God, and bringing in of the Trinity, and changing the nature of God, etc. Throwing the Sabbath under the bus and embracing the Trinity as the apostate Church of God did was not subtle – that is why we all saw it.
Everyone would see that deception. Satan is much more cunning and subtle than that! That is why so many brethren and ministers are headed for the Tribulation. One of the most prevalent sins of the Church of God today is … “Going with the flow.” That is not what God expects of His people. The most characteristic defect in the lives of the brethren today is the belonging to a church group, – “I’m the right organization,” without making the weighty principles and profound tenets of true Christianity the number one priority in the relationships with all the brethren (Mathew 23:23).
Forgiveness, patience, Faithfulness, Godly Love, justice, going to the aid of a brother, faith, letting our light shine, caring about the little ones, laying down lives often and for everyone.
It is not enough be in the biggest group, “doing the Work,” “having the right government, “claiming to have the baton,” “being the closest to the way Worldwide was,” or, “ we’ve been around the longest.” Those are all the wrong criteria! The ‘I’m in the right organization’ attitude is here, and it is widespread.
Brethren, we want to make sure that we are doing everything we can to be in the Kingdom.
Matthew 25:2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
This is the very description of the Church brethren right now. Wise means being judicious, prudent, sensible, and showing sound judgment. Wise suggests an understanding of people and situations, showing Godly discernment and Godly judgment in dealing with them. A faithful person is trustworthy, scrupulous, honest, upright, and truthful.
Christ’s use of “wise” indicates an exercising of restraint, using sound, practical wisdom and discretion, and acting in good sense and Godly rationality. Christ expects the “wise” to be exercising love.
Christ admonishes us to live in a way that unites and inspires others to be faithful to Him. We do this by showing others the truth; showing others a good example, and giving encouragement. In that way, we are wise. God’s Spirit of wisdom is available to us – are we utilizing it?
Matthew 25:3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
Jesus says that many are not utilizing His Spirit – they took no oil with them.
Matthew 25:4-5 But the wise took oil [representing God’s Spirit in them] in their vessels with their lamps. While the Bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
Brethren, that is where we are right now – there’s not much zeal in God’s Church today—we’ve all become complacent and contented. Jesus warns us:
Luke 12:40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man will come at a time when you think, “He is not coming now!”
Matthew 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the Bridegroom comes; go ye out to meet Him.
Matthew 25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
Matthew 25:8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are going out.
Matthew 25:9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
God’s Spirit [oil] must be implemented in our daily lives. It cannot be shared or sold to someone who has not been practicing their Christianity.
Those who draw their line in the sand, when they obviously see much wrong-doing in the Church – will continue to slouch toward the Tribulation because they do not see their need to repent—and love all the brethren.
Too many of our church-going brethren seem to think that we are more privileged than the other Christians, and that we will just breeze into the Kingdom of God without learning to put God’s Will into our lives.
When Christ returns, there will be a people whose consideration for their brethren with a true Christian concern, will distinguish them from those who confuse their social life for Godly service.
What will happen to those who have not taken a stand for the true faith, or put their own well-being in harm’s way to save a brother from ruin? They will not be prepared to be the Bride of Christ.
Matthew 25 :10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
A saint’s loyalty and allegiance must be solely to God and His principled way of life—not to any man or organization. Over and over God tells us to make a difference between the clean and the unclean. Do we think that He is talking about pork chops, ham and pickled pig feet only? God is speaking of the Holy and the profane. Do we know the difference? Why does God tell His people to come out from among them and be separate?
We are not thinking correctly when we tell ourselves that, “I’ll go along with a big group that is self-satisfied” out of loyalty to an organization or a man … until they reach a certain point—then I’ll leave or take a stand. That is tantamount to saying that you are OK with being a part of a group where things are sliding in the wrong direction. That is where we must be so very careful.
Matthew 25:11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
Matthew 25:12 But He answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
Matthew 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man comes.
God warns us over and over of our complacency in these last days (Revelation 3:16).
Anyone who expects to be the Bride of Christ, is obligated to extend their realm of brotherhood, fellowship, and service to include all who have the earnest of God’s Holy Spirit. We cannot hate, despise, neglect, or reject any of the saints, as that behavior will disqualify us from the Kingdom of God.
Those who are only interested in preparing themselves, while neglecting the spiritual welfare of their brethren, have fallen for the deception of Cain, who asked in Genesis 4:9, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
At the close of the church-age just prior to the return of Jesus Christ, this terrible division is once again rampant among God’s people. The Laodiceans are not zealous and on fire, but weak and sick spiritually (Revelation 3:19).
Paul, too, was concerned about the spiritual welfare of the Church and had to warn the brethren:
2Corinthians 11:2 I am jealous over you with Godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
We are called to be the Bride of Christ! Why do so many fall away? And, how do so many fall away without knowing it? Paul says:
2Corinthians 11:3 But I’m afraid, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his treachery, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
It is simple! Jesus is our Savior. He died for us! He loved us!
John 13:15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
Jesus died for us!
John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye have love one to another.
Paul wrote to the church brethren of his day – as an example for us – because we are guilty of making the same mistake. Those Galatians that Paul was addressing had been removed from God the Father Who had called them into the grace of Christ unto false gospel—another gospel:
Galatians 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him [God the Father] that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Galatians 1:7 Which is not another gospel – but a false gospel
2Corinthians 11:4 For if he that comes preaches another “Jesus,” other than the One we have preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received from us, or another gospel, then you have accepted a different gospel way too easily.
And, way too easily the same thing has happened to the Church of God today. On Jesus’ final Passover just before He died, His earnest prayer was that all His followers be one in spirit, Godly love and truth.
John 17:20 Neither pray I for these [disciples] alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
Jesus was praying for, US!
John 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
Jesus was not praying that all Christians be in a single corporate organization.
John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
John 17:22 And the glory which thou gave me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
A scattered brethren cannot become the completed people that Jesus intended.
John 17:23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect [and complete] in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
Again, Jesus was not praying that all Christians be in a single corporate organization. His words of oneness go much deeper than that! Jesus was very well aware that there would be cunning men in the end-time who would rather have a following after themselves. It was the same in Paul’s day:
Paul Speaks to the Ephesian Elders
Acts 20:17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.
Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Spirit hath made you overseers, to feed the Church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood.
Acts 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves [the many false preachers that Jesus warned of] enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Acts 20:30 Also of your own selves [the church elders] shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after themselves.
Brethren, how was that any different from what has happened to God’s Church today? Look at the scattered condition of God’s people today: Ministers have drawn away disciples after themselves into their own corporate organizations—claiming that they are the only ones to be looked to. This contentious practice of separating the brethren into rival groups that have no concern for the entire Body of Christ is contrary to the teaching of Christ.
The terrible thing is how prevalent the accepted separation is today among God’s people. It has become an unquestioned and acceptable practice among almost all the churches of God. How many pastors today make no attempt to teach the brethren to reach out to all who are led by God’s Holy Spirit in an effort to provoke one another unto love and to good works (Hebrew 10:24)?
1Corinthians 6:17 He that is joined unto the Lord is one Spirit [with the Lord].
If you are truly in God’s Church, you are one Spirit with the Lord and one spirit with all the brethren. We are to…
“Walk worthy of the vocation [Christianity] wherewith ye are called… forbearing one another in love… endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1-3)
It cannot be emphasized enough how serious a matter it is that the True Church recognizes the unbreakable bond that exists between all its members. To what extent are we able to recognize that unbreakable bond?
Those who will comprise the Bride of Christ will be of one heart and mind as Jesus desires. They will love all the brethren – everywhere.
Most of the brethren alive today will go into the Tribulation because of their half-hearted approach to their faith. Though we have been the recipients of bountiful peace, fellowship, and doctrinal truth, we do not possess the full spirit of unity and brotherly love that Jesus expects of His Bride.
There are serious lessons that we still need to learn, so as to put on the required Godly character – gold tried in the fire. Jesus says:
Revelation 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou may be rich; and white raiment, that thou may be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou may see.
We must heal the breach that has separated us from the other brethren, or die trying. The will of God is perfectly clear:
“That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.” (1 Corinthians 12:25)
In this verse, the body is the Body of Christ, and the “one for another” referred to are all those who have God’s Holy Spirit in their minds – leading them in God’s way. Our hearts must be receptive. God demands that we must be a part of building close relationships across Church lines.
Brethren, we will not be prepared for the wedding until we truly seek to remove obstacles between ourselves and all of God’s people. How do we bind up the wounds of those who are afraid of being hurt again? Whose responsibility is it to apply the healing balm (Jeremiah 51:8)?
The answer is that it is every Christian’s duty, before God, to seek out others.
“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.” (1Thessalonians 5:14)
Christ is unified. We all know that. But, do we know this – the Body of Christ – His true brethren are not divided? That most certainly means that those brethren who are to make up the Bride of Christ cannot be divided.
If a member cuts off all fellowship from his former brethren – that is division – plain and simple. One, or the other is going to miss out on that precious opportunity – the wedding supper! We cannot seek to save ourselves while saying in effect, “I don’t care if others make it into God’s Kingdom or not.”
There are members who are not following the lead of God’s Holy Spirit in their personal lives. The Scriptures are clear – we are not to fellowship or socialize with them (1Corinthians 5:11).
There are ministers who have disfellowshipped brethren, not for sin or heresy, but for their own personal political purposes. They are no longer ministers of Jesus Christ if they persist in that un-Godly conduct. Within the Body of Christ, serious personal sin, ministerial abuse, and doctrinal heresy cannot be condoned.
Are we mature enough as Christians to be able to discern between conduct which ought not to be taught by the leadership and that which is truly Christian?
“But now I have written unto you not to keep company if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one, no not to eat [socialize].” (1Corinthians 5:11)
Just before He died, Jesus Christ told the apostles to love one another. Again, everybody knows that! All the “corporate organizations “would say that they uphold this principle. But they do not!
Have various Church leaders chosen a mistakenly narrow viewpoint in determining who to include in the “one another,” that they are to love? Do these leaders teach their congregations to have a closed circle of contact?
It is indeed an arrogant attitude of self-exaltation that is willing to sacrifice others for self-aggrandizement, justification, and vindication of self. How many organizations would say that their group is God’s favorite – the ones who are pleasing God the most? Brethren, are we blind to the divisiveness of that kind of rationale? When we close our eyes to that improper conduct—we are a foolish virgin!
Without the words actually being spoken, members are being taught by the attitude and behavior of leadership that there are lesser brethren who just don’t measure up. Their message is clear, avoid mixing with brethren from other groups.
Can we be so foolish as to come to the conclusion that we have been released from the commandment to love one another? Do we make void the commandment of God by loving only the people in our own group?
Everyone with the proper reverence for God’s way of life will be including all the brethren in their personal fellowship. There are no exclusions in the following verse:
“Then they that reverenced the Lord spoke often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.” (Malachi 3:16)
Those groups that are betting that God will choose only the members of their corporate organization to go to the place of safety, and be the wife of Christ, do not understand the mind of Christ.
How much longer do we have to get our act together? Jesus Christ is going to look at each of us in the eye and ask, “When did you, not your leader, reach out to your brother and sister?”
“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” (Philippians 2:3 )
Soon, the brethren who are led by God’s Holy Spirit will be together in mind, attitude, and spiritual community. This does not mean being in one earthly organization or group. It means having the Love of God for all of His people. It will be a miracle when it happens.
The lines must be crossed – the barriers will come down. Jesus will have only One Wife. Unless we begin to utilize the unifying nature of God’s Spirit, we will not be the Bride that Jesus will marry at His coming.
End: Are You the Bride