Like Peter
There is a shifting going on in the church today and a sifting. The shifting are the ones that hear the Lord and are making that transition from an authoritarian church to a serving one and the sifting is a judgment between them. Peter did end up in strengthening his brothers but first he had to be tried and converted from his worldly attitudes and proven faithful. What was the attitude of Peter?
From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Matthew 16:21-23
Jesus answered, [to Pilate] My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. John 18:36
Jesus left to prepare a place for us, He is in His kingdom now and reigns in our hearts. He is wooing His Bride out from the erring nations. Are we to think that there is a perfect part of the remnant that is ready as one of the nations and used of God to usher in the kingdom? Much of the church is trying to take the kingdom by force by acting like Peter as if it is of this world, of this political generation and this anointed political administration. What is truly worshipped is not Jesus but the image of the beast. By setting up a worldly kingdom with it's military might to force nations that disagree with false economic policies in the name of a false freedom and a false democracy for the rich in a so-called God ordained course, they have taken the mark. The enemy has blinded a worldly church and harlot bride to think of the kingdom of God in a fleshly realm to raise the sword against perceived enemies in the flesh. They refuse to come out of this delusion because they love this world and defend a worldly mammon system. Rather than accepting the way of Jesus to understand these things, they believe that the same political leaders that they have exalted to ride upon Babylon are anointed to rule their own worldly desires. It is giving in to a lie and by believing that lie, they become part of the judgment coming upon the church that will fall along with Babylon. Peter was afraid, he did not want Jesus to be tried and to go through that tribulation, he wanted the military might and political clout and kingdom promises now without going the way of the cross. Just like Peter, the church wants a quick way out of the tribulation, taken out of the testing and trial and sifting. Not so, judgment begins with the church of God and to its political image as well but like Peter, Jesus is standing by us to encourage us and pray for us. Like Peter, we shall not fail. Like Peter, we can strengthen our brothers with the words:
It will take some time and some events on earth and heaven for these things to be recognized by the church. Until then, we can renew our own minds but like Peter, it takes conversion and faith in the Lord Jesus of heaven and what He has taught us about worldly things.
The church is at a crossroads concerning the nation of Israel where false prophets take the advantage to prophesy bullets and missiles and justify taking up the sword against the enemies of Judah. The kingdom of Jesus is not of this world but He has given us a responsibility to take care of the poor and needy, the disenfranchised, the alienated and the oppressed and preach the gospel. What these false prophets are doing are speaking in the name of Jesus to bring the kingdom down to the earthly realm to protect their own privileged positions. Even the poor Christians among them cannot see past the delusion.
Read below of the dialogue this time. We hear of excellent examples of judgment coming. The pathway of the cross is repentance, working through love in our hearts, being like Jesus, the way to escape judgment. We should all be a part of that high calling through taking on Jesus and bring many into righteousness. It is mentioned in this edition that the Bride is New Jerusalem but remember that we are the Bride if we can overcome the evil, shake the image of the beast from our minds and actions and accept what comes out of heaven. New Jerusalem is the spiritual city of God that comes down from heaven. New Jerusalem is not of this world.
Jesus is coming to bring judgment and a erring church conformed to this world without fear of retribution ignore the warnings. Repentance comes before revival but the church cannot repent if they are ignorant of their own sins. Compare the mountain of the Lord described by Isaiah in the 25th chapter to the 21st chapter of Revelation. The New Jerusalem looks very much like this mountain. We know that death will be defeated but God shall wipe away the tears - what tears? Like the tears of children accidentally falling down and bruising our knees? Or tears of repentance and the travail on our knees for the church through intercession? This is yet to happen to the degree that makes us ready as the Bride of Christ. We are engaged to be married but Jesus is still expecting a perfected Bride. We are not ready and it seems that only a remnant of the so-called remnant is yet in place to prepare her. We have yet to really see these tears because a lukewarm church is rich and has need of nothing. They have gone the way of Jezebel, serving Baal in the name of Jesus. The mountain of the Lord is exalted because they have been a strength to the poor and needy in his distress and a refuge from the storm. The church that loves the kingdom of this world is in the eye of the storm blinded to what is going on around them.
A discussion of the wedding feast would be good at this point. A question was posed of the difference between the Bride and the wedding guests. What is the difference? The parable of Jesus in Matthew 22 relates the story of the king and the marriage of his son. Those that were invited would not come and those invited mistreated the kings servants bringing destruction to them and guests comes out from the streets. Much of this thinking has been used to describe the wedding feast. Many have thought that it was time to go into the streets already but this has always been so and the fulfillment of this is not yet of the magnitude that should come in great power. One mentions the hunger in the eyes of street people lately. Should the judgment on the church come first? Can the guests be invited before the Bride is prepared? Is she ready? (My last question and the consensus seems to be no but we should keep on asking.) Anyway, we should be able to bring a lot into the discussion by identifying the timing of the different invitations and the nature of the wedding feast. Get back to me on this. Wedding feast, invitations and guests.
Jay
Has anyone mentioned Ezekiel 16 when speaking of the preparation of the
Bride?
This was an interesting discussion.
The Lord is Good,
==============================================================
Hi Marilyn,
Arlette was studying Eze 16 and mentioned something not in reference to the Bride but to the church. The Bride and the church may be the same thing but it would have to be a perfected church and not the one that we see today. Short as it is, this is a real good question because it gets my mind going.
I did write a couple of weeks ago the part in the 15th verse that God made us beautiful but then we trusted in our own beauty. I think that this is a very good example of what happened in the church in that Jesus gave us power and then we trusted it as our own instead of His. I just read it and it looks like it speaks of the judgment on the church, not the Bride. It mentions the harlot and the daughter and her mother which describes the Babylon type of church. Studying these things however brings us to how the church is but not supposed to be which helps make us into a perfect bride. It makes a lot of sense here to be focusing on the negative as well as the positive. Through this judgment that is coming upon the church, we come through that purifying fire. I would like to move on but if the Lord has other things for us to do in this area, I must be obedient.
My focus is the real question here as to what goes on in these discussions. Sometimes it takes me a while to find that focus for we need to identify what the Lord would have for us to do at this very point in time. We must proceed as the remnant and part of the restitution. How do we proceed? I am still listening but if the judgment on the church precedes the harvest and the marriage supper and the Bride being ready, then what are we to do? It is real hard for many to pronounce judgment on the church and easy for others. How do we speak the truth in love if it is in condemnation? Ultimately it is God that will be doing the judging and we are to come into repentance. What is our responsibility here? We shall see.
Jay
==============================================================
Jay, I think the answer may very well be found in
Ephesians 3:9. Thanks for your response. Marilyn
Thank you for sending me this information. I too feel that a lot of ministers and pastors are doing the same
thing you just mentioned. They really do feel that it is the will of God to do what they are doing, but it
is not. For example, the church I attend feels as though they are in his will, but they are not. Don't
get me wrong. They love the Lord, but there are some things that are taught that do not coincide with what
scripture says on a particular subject. But, because the pastor feels that he has revelation knowledge
higher than anyone else, it is hard to show him in the scripture that he is wrong. Some of the members
also see the false teachings, but they just won't say anything out of respect for him. Could you please help
me by giving me some tips or advice that will help me to reach him? In Christ I thank you.
--Sheldon Bennett
==============================================================
Hi Sheldon,
I wish I could give you a really good answer here but I am waiting for it myself. There is judgment coming to the church. A big, big part of that judgment will be against false authority, the attitude that pastors and church "leaders" can Lord it over the flock just because that it the way it is done. Revelation the fourth chapter, before the seals are opened, have 24 elders bowing before the throne and casting down their crowns. Giving up our authority to Jesus is the first step in avoiding the judgment. If we cannot give up our crowns, Jesus will take them away. We know that the spirit of prophecy is judged by the prophets, that means that we defer to each other, not to our own understanding and that we may have a part in the judging. We are to judge ourselves and that is plural. We know that it will be God that will judge His people but Paul also says in I Corinthians 6:2 that the saints shall judge the world, angels too. If that is true, again, we may have something to do with the judgment coming to the church. It is worthy of discussion anyway. I will submit this to the yahoo forum and see where it goes.
Many pastors are learning and coming into one accord but many will be weeping between the porch and the altar. It is pride that keeps churches bound to incompatible doctrine, it is what sets them apart as special, above all the rest as if their own particular doctrine exalts their own pretense of being the truth instead of actually knowing the truth. That is the mark of denominationalism. It takes more than love and deference, it also takes unity to the one truth that comes from a common denominator and that will involve repentance and humility. Pride stands in the way of that.
And it is not enough to quote the Bible to him, the scriptures have been so misinterpreted by those who do not accept the prophetic that their consciences have been seared. I do not say that is the case with your pastor but it has happened often enough to insulate Bible teachers with misquotes and half truths. It takes taking it into the heavenlies and hopefully, they have ears to hear what the spirit is saying. If not, they will fall with Babylon. Pastors are hearing a lot from prophets lately, some listen and learn, some try to gag them. If you have special unction from the Lord to prophesy to your pastor, speak clearly but test all things first.
Thanks,
Jay
"The Shepherd" - The Path is Laid - Are We Ready to Walk?
He's the Shepherd of my soul, the flower may fade and pass away but the
Shepherd He leads me home.
How does the cross - the Shepherd - find His way, into the depths of the
darkest soul. How do you become so equally yoked with Him that His cross is
engraved deeply upon your life, so that you allow it to guide you - to move
within you - each day and faithfully lead you home, into His arms of
protection and comfort. Maybe the path leading to victory in the cross
started the day you realized, that you no longer wanted your will - your way
- but His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. A time came when you
would gladly give up your struggles and lay down your life - so that the
Hands of the living God could pick you up and mold you into His image. You
realized the world would pass away, but one truth that you could safely stand
upon - His Word - it would not change, it would remain the same as the day
that He first spoke "And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the
waters." Gen. 1:2.
If now you realize that the Spirit is the living waters that you have
partaken of - then move forward and let God's Spirit rise high and fill the
valleys between the clefts of the mountainous walls around you. Rise so high
in His Spirit that there are no mountains - problems that can overtake you -
in your life. No longer allow yourself to stand at the bottom of the
mountain of your flesh - shouting and demanding it to come down, instead
allow yourself to rise high in the Spirit and overtake the mountain. As you
rise higher you will see that the mountain has disappeared into the sea below
you. That it no longer remains. As you continue maturing in the Spirit and
flowing with the waters - you will find that God will create new level paths
for you to stand and walk upon.
Relax into the spirit of the Shepherds hands - let the waters overtake you.
Don't fight it for the waters will produce abundant life. As you allow the
Spirit to flow into every area of your life you will begin moving in
directions that will bring strength, joy and hope into the foundations of
your mind. Allow yourself to taste and see that He is good as you continue
moving within the Lamb and the Spirit. Within the freedom of God's promises.
Move freely - with confidence - within the Spirit and His Light. The Good
Shepherd laid down His life so that you could rise up with Him into a new
everlasting life in the Spirit - a life to be lived in abundant victory.
Don't let the problems of this life steal from you the world of truth - that
He created just for you. To those who love Him. Promises He made to those
who believe on Him, who know that it is "Not by might, not by power, but by
My Spirit saith the Lord." Zec. 4:6. All problems will become level plains
in which you will live and walk each day as you allow His Spirit to do the
work in your life.
The Shepherd knows His flock and has laid down His life for His sheep. Rise
up with Him today into the fullness of the power of His Spirit that has been
placed within you.
Blessings,
Jay,
I agree that the churches are being refined. I believe the Lord is tired of
the churches all over the world because of the man-full acts they perform
instead of God-full acts. The majority of churches across the nation are so
man-guided that they have forgotten there is only one head of the body
(church). That is Jesus. For centuries man had made an attempt to replace
Jesus and are continuing to do so. Do you honestly think that the churches
we see today are absolute representations of the body of Christ? The
building (the church) is just a shadow of the real thing. The real thing is
us being in Christ. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and
fellowship with others is a by-product of our relationship with Jesus. Man
has put the thought in this world's mind that church (the building) is the
way. It is not.
To continue...
Richard
Jay wrote....
God IS doing a revealing, a judging ... and as He does, "we" shall see.... We shall see the truth about ourselves.. and then comes our choice.
What shall we do with this Truth?
Or will we see and receive the Truth about ourselves -- that we are yet sinners, in need of salvation. Will we embrace the truth which shows us the true state of being of our hearts? Are we truly Lovers of Truth?
What is our responsibility in all this?
We must remember that we stand before Him "an Individual". We must remember that no matter how many others
might 'approve' of us -- might love us and see the good in us -- we must remember that the only opinion which truly
matters is His.. and He has called us to Himself. As He removes from us every source of independence from Him,
our responsibility is to hang on in faith, trusting that He is doing a good work in us, despite how great is the turmoil,
raging all around us. We are to keep our focus on what He is doing -- and not fall into self-pity, or self-protection, either
one -- but instead, keep our eyes locked upon His Eyes as He peels away from us every layer which has stolen from
us our sensitivity to Him -- hearts hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
As God reveals the truth about ourselves... our responsibility is to not run and hide from that truth; not to cover
ourselves up with rags of human righteousness. Not to hide ourselves in the midst of the multitudes -- or the midst of
the remnant. Not to increase our "service" unto Him, hoping to present our works to Him -- in exchange for His Favor..
Not to cloak ourselves in our 'rightness' -- religion or any of the myriad of means that we, like Adam and Eve, try to
'cover ourselves' in. Our responsibility is to trust Him as He removes all those layers of covering which were not Him.
He watches to see, as He peels away these layers.. will we trust Him? As He removes every false lover, every idol,
every source of comfort and security other than Him, will we continue to cling to Him in faith and Love?
He will be our All in All.
There will be nothing left to place any false trust in, for He is a jealous God, who will not allow anything any longer to
steal from us, our pure and simple devotion to Him.
What is our responsibility as He removes all these things -- all these people -- all these temporal substitutes for Him?
Our responsibility is to not lose hope -- not give up -- not deny the truth that He brings forth into His Light -- but rather,
to embrace that truth, and let Him bring forth humility and contriteness again to hearts which have become hardened
by the deceitfulness of sin.
Are we truly "lovers of Truth" -- the "Truth" about ourselves?...
Ultimately THIS is the judgement we face. God look upon us as 'individuals' -- Christianity is a relationship;
one-to-another.. us to God. God deals with each of us, as an individual at the heart level... If our foundations are built
upon the Grace of God, we will embrace the truth about ourselves, allowing this Truth to have its full work in us --
humbling us, causing us to cling afresh to our Savior Jesus!
A Humble Heart -- a Contrite Heart... A Heart of devotion to Him -- this is what Our Lord is looking for in His Bride... this
humbling-separating work is happening in the Bride, who is making herself ready... first coming through the
purifications of the suffering... and only then to share in His glory.
May we fall to our faces in humble adoration and embrace the fullness of the revealing under His Relentless Love Light
-- which does indeed show us the truth about ourselves. The more Savior we need -- the More Savior He is. He knows
us -- and He Loves us anyway... what other opinion matters more than His? Let us be of good courage.. and embrace
the Light, that it might be seen that our works were of Him.
His Workmanship - yet in progress.
Dear Jay,
Most believers of this day have lost sight of
the true gospel which is not just come to Jesus but
come and become like Jesus. Right now he sits at the
right hand of the Father as the first born/resurrected
son. "When he appears/is manifest we shall be like
him for we shall see him as he is"...in glorified
life.
Many times in the past few weeks the Lord has shown
me that we are not waiting for him but he is waiting
for us. We have been admonished in so many scriptures
that we are to become complete in him to the fullness
of the measure of the stature which is being filled
with the seven spirits of the Lord manifesting fruit
as healing for the nations. The overcomers
testimonies are all to be seen in Christ's body.
The word all have sinned and fall short of the
glory of YHWH is not a beginning salvation scripture.
We must become as Adam before the fall. HE walked in
a glorified/incorruptible body in the third heaven the
paradise of God. He did not receive the Resurrection
because he "fell" and put on death through sin. Those
who overcome will be granted to eat of the Tree of
Life which is wisdom. Knowledge puffs up but Love
edifies and never fails for our faith being mixed with
what we believe is working through LOVE.
In 2 Peter 1 we see that if we put on all these
spiritual attributes of the divine nature we shall be
given an open door into the Kingdom. We can no longer
be satisfied in saying we cannot become perfect when
the way has been made for us to shine forth as the
firmament. Those who obtain the high calling shall
bring many into Righteousness. This robe of
righteousness is in the experience of putting on the
total promises of Christ. The bride being the
sanctified soul of the believer in my understanding.
Romans 12:1-2. (Possession not presumption of
position in Christ).
I could go on for several pages. That's where I'm
finishing a booklet called the Birthpangs which shows
the reasons for the tribulation and the bringing forth
in groaning/labor the mature sons or Manchild.
Verily in Yahshua
¤º°`°ø,¸¸,ø¤º Living °`°º¤¤º°`°º¤ø, Waters ¸¸,ø¤º°º¤ø flowing ø¤º°º¤
'NEED' creates a place for the Lord God Almighty in which to tabernacle.... or dwell. Just as High Pressure flows into low pressure
pockets... His Life and Grace flow most unrestrictedly into those areas (hearts) which manifest the greatest Need for Him. The Bride
"making herself ready" describes this humbling heart-work, as she is restored (by needing Forgiveness) to her First Love relationship
-- she who has been forgiven much, Loves much. I believe this is also the means of the wise virgins filling up their jars/lamps with
Oil.
Let us not fear the great revealing taking place in us... or in those around us. But rather, let us understand what is taking place and encourage one another to face the truth about ourselves -- to be honest -- to acknowledge our own shortfallingness, knowing it is Love Himself at work in our hearts creating a space in which HE shall tabernacle.
The New Jerusalem can see from Ezekiel's vision (Chapter 16) -- how to avoid the outcome of the 'old Jerusalem'. We can learn from those who went before us -- not to place trust in our own 'beauty' (righteousness), but to remain humble, never forgetting from whence we came...
May we not think too highly of ourselves.
Needing His Grace and Love -- and Forgiveness.
In the teaching of Jesus.---So far as its outward form is concerned,
Jesus' conception of judgement and punishment is wholly on apocalyptic
lines. The Judgement will come at the end of the age; it will be a
judgement of individuals; and it will be universal [Matt. 22:13, 16:27].
The sentence pronounced will be final: nowhere do we find a hint of
future probation. With respect to the person of the judge, Jesus follows
the tradition that assigns the office to the Son of Man. 'For the Son
of Man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then
shall he render unto every man according to his deeds' [Matt. 16:27,
13:41, 25:31]. No particular significance is, however, attached to this
fact: the emphasis falls, not on the personality of the Judge, but on
the judgement He conducts. What is Jesus' teaching with regard to the
doom of the lost? Uniformly He follows the tradition that regards them
as consigned to Gehenna or hell [Matt. 5:22,29., 10:28, 18:9]. And, as
in apocalyptic, Gehenna appears as a fiery furnace in which the wicked
suffer unending torment [Matt. 5:29, Luke. 16:24, Matt. 25:46]. Jesus is
no theologian, but something incomparably greater. In the main He
appropriates the conceptions of His time, modifying or rejecting them
only when they conflict with some vital religious or ethical interest.
What is original in His teaching is not the theological conceptions but
the new content with which they are charged. If His conception of the
Judgement and of punishment is in formal respects that of Jewish
apocalyptic, the spirit of which it is the vehicle is all His own. New
is the moral earnestness with which He brings each individual soul face
to face with the Righteous Judge. 'And be not afraid of them which kill
the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which
is able to destroy both soul and body in hell' [Matt. 10 28]. New also
is the moral purity with which the conception of judgement is carried
out. Everything national and sectarian falls away. Of a mechanical
balancing of good and bad actions we hear nothing. The one test is
character, and character in its deepest principle---the love in which
lies the root of all morality and all religion. 'I was thirsty, and ye
gave me drink...Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren,
even these least, ye did it unto me' [Matt. 25:35]. And what is true of
Jesus' teaching about judgement is true also of His teaching about
punishment. The element of originality is to be found not in the formal
conceptions but in the spirit they enshrine.
In Christ, Timothy.
Maranatha
Shalom Jay & others,
May this short one find you well & in His peace,
For myself I have always been too precocious re: the events leading up to Christ's return, so I have had to better learn to pace
it in the meantime. This does not mean I do not work or do no good for others. Indeed I've been putting in 9 & 10 hr. days
chopping down trees with a brother this past wk. and I do work with street people in the neighboring town. Still though more
could be done and certainly re: getting others reborn into Christ (Note: The only savior!) For 'I' know that this is the real work
of the Christian first (Or should be?)
Yet in all of Christianity's some 2000 years and it started shortly after his ascension- the church (churches) have seemingly
agreed to disagree. I call it being Reduced to Interpretation. What I mean by this is, e.g. take almost any church dogma and it
would be hard to find Christians across the board that would all agree, no. Thus the Enemy has us grouped and sub-grouped
into the denominational-'mess' of today.
Remember, Christ did not come to bring 'peace'. Yes, there 'should' be consensus, accord and above all brotherly love among
the brethren and in some circles there is. Yet, and not meaning to change the topic, but (My point o view) is that unless we as
believers "overcome" ourselves first nobodies going up- in the so called Rapture! (See Rev. 3:14- church o Phile.)
Thus, from my point of view it is now and especially as we enter the Apocalypse that will be the weeding out of the 'wise
maidens' from the 'foolish' (Note in this parable all ten are presumed believers!)
OK, this is my share for today gotta run.
Bless you all through Yehoshua,
Al
God bless you brother Jay,
And this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith. The fact
remains that what Jesus accomplished on Calvary, solidified our
'completeness' in Him. This is subjective and relative. My 'now' state in
the flesh is striving on to perfection. My promised 'then' states that I am
now the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.
I really appreciate this site, a welcome change, for sure.
Peace, Corey
Dear Jay and everyone,
Please forgive me for lagging behind all the time:
I have a sensation like business is being done in the upper room, and I
am still outside in the foyer taking off my coat! The internet is new to
me and I am making mistakes finding my way around.
I hope I haven't missed the boat.
The bride is surely ready when she's ready, and not
before. Personally I am thrilled to see how beautiful she is looking in
the discussion archives, and it is clear to me that she hasn't been
spending all her time in the hairdressers and painting her nails, praise
the Lord: there has been a lot of hard graft and suffering that is
bringing her to maturity.
I notice something new happening which I must
report: The last two people that I spoke about Jesus to on the streets
had a hunger in their eyes I have not seen before, they were fixed on me
as if they were afraid of missing anything, as if they knew it was
really important to listen properly.
Reading the Word at home I felt sure it was really
happening as written in Matthew 22,vv 8 and 9. I think if we can catch
hold of the excitement of what we have ahead, we will HAVE to spill the
beans and invite anyone we can: there are no numerical restrictions.
In love, Mary
MY BRIDE
[27] and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. [32] This is a profound mystery--but I am talking about Christ and the church. Eph. 5
"I see my church as a radiant bride because I see her as she "will be." While it is true that she is imperfect, she is becoming more and more beautiful. What
husband looks at his bride as though she was not beautiful? But the clothes she has been wearing have not been the most "beautiful" on her."
(The Lord showed me a young woman, a bride. Behind her someone was placing on her a necklace, a string of pearls. She then was looking into a mirror to see
how she looked. However, her eyes were intentionally shut as to not "see" her appearance. As I looked at her face all that I could see were her eyelids. She didn't
want to see what she looked like. Then this scene shifted and the bride now had on a shawl that covered her face, as if she was in shame. Her countenance was
different, perhaps she seemed older, like a mother. She came out from where she had been inside and was now out on a balcony. She looked out onto the city and
it had been destroyed. Much of it lay in ruin, and the situation appeared to be hopeless, and she was in despair. But now a man, who was her "husband" gently had
her look again outward into the surrounding area. Where destruction and ruin had been before, a glorious city was coming down out of the sky. It was beautiful and
shimmering in appearance. However, the most interesting thing of all was that what had been a woman who had grown "old" in her years, was now a young girl, a
child. She who had been looking out onto the city with eyes of despair and hopelessness, was now looking at this "new city" as a child.)
"This is my radiant bride, and I long for her to be "my bride." Do not be carried away in hopelessness or futility about the earth and its present condition. For it
is sometimes just for the moment that things sometimes appear to be cast as they are. Look past all the trials of this earth. Look past the sorrows. Look with the
eyes of eternity. Look towards my holy city that is coming down. This city is my bride. For the dwelling of God is "with men." You will be beautiful, my bride, in
all that I have provided for you. You are not to be ashamed of your appearance but you are to be hopeful in what you will be. Wear the clothes that I have
prepared for you. Your clothes are not to be the clothes of this world. For then you will be without spot or blemish. You are my glorious bride, and I treasure
you. You are the sheep of my pasture and you are the people that I love, and everything in this earth is in my hands."
Stephen Hanson
JUBILEE
For My kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage
for his son. I have said that I would send out My messengers proclaiming the
day for the marriage ceremony to take place and this I have done. So
whosoever shall have understanding let them come unto the wedding and forsake
all things that would hinder them from entering in. If any have wisdom then
listen to My call - come unto the marriage supper I have prepared for you. Do
not take lightly the wrath of the Lord. For I am a jealous God, and I have
called you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to
Christ. Do not become entangled with the things of the world that would take
you from the marriage feast that I have prepared. Choose today to come unto
Me and receive all that I have prepared for you, that I desire to place
within you, to place upon you. Receive today your robes of righteousness,
your crowns of gold.
Enter into the heavenly realm and listen to My voice on this day of glory. I
have created a new song for those who have entered into My presence. A new
song to sing for those who now have ears to hear. A new song to be sung unto
Me. It is the song of freedom, a song of truth, it is the song of Jubilee.
The song I am placing within your hearts so that you will know the truth that
who I have set free is free indeed. Put on your wedding clothes and sing the
song of Jubilee. Dance and rejoice for you are the redeemed, captives set
free. So stand in this freedom and proclaim the song of victory. Your debt
has been paid you have been set free. Do not take this day lightly but stand
strong, stand boldly, and sing the new song of Jubilee. The trumpet has
been blown, the festival has now begun. A great price was paid for your
redemption, for your freedom, so that you would be able to sing this song
along with all the heavens, shout with all the earth, that I the Lord have
glorified Himself in you this day.
For I am the Lord that has created all things; that has stretched forth the
heavens. I have said the temple would be built and that My foundation would
be laid. That what I have appointed would come, at the appointed day it
would arrive. A day of revelation, a day of truth and that you would partake
of this day, My faithful servants. So stand within the temple walls, within
the day of revelation, stand upon My foundation of truth in freedom and joy
and receive all that was created for you. I am opening your eyes so that you
will understand and partake of all the glory of My majesty that surrounds
you. Of all My splendor that I have desired to reveal to you. For you have
become partakers of My glory, all who have heard My call and joined Me at the
banqueting table. Shout, make a loud noise, proclaim the day of Jubilee,
push back the darkness that would try to steal away My joy placed upon your
heart. For I am the first and I am the last; and beside me there is no other
God. You, my servants, are the people that I have formed for myself; that I
have created to show forth to all the world My glory and My power.
Arlette
I couldn't help but see all the articles people had written on the Wedding feast, and I have to respond with this at the Early Church page. It is with the accounts of the early
church that we can find who is the bride, and who is not.
Let's take a realistic view from our day, well most people's day. When a woman gets married, she takes on the name of the bridegroom. We are the bride, WE MUST
take ON the name of Jesus! How you might ask?
Acts 2:38, Peter said to them, "Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy
Spirit."
All through Acts not a christian was baptized in the titles as stated in Matt. 28:19. This is because the Apostles understood what Jesus was saying. Jesus
said"...baptizing them in the NAME (singular) of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus also told the Apostles in Matt. 10:22, "And you will be hated by all for My NAME"S SAKE, but he who endures to the end will be saved."
Let's take a look at circumcision, it was commanded by God to the israelites to be circumcised, right? When were they to circumcise newborns?
Luke 1:59, "Now it was so, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the Name of his father, Zacharias."
So we see that at the time of circumcision a child was named. The same for those born again, if we look in scripture:
Colossians 3:9-12, "For in Him (Jesus) dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him (Jesus), who is the head of all principality and power. In
Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in BAPTISM, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God,
who raised Him from the dead."
So, through baptism we are circumcised, as we call on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16), we are promised the Holy Spirit. So then to be the Bride we must be Obedient
to the Gospel. Death (repentance), Burial (baptism, name, circumcision), Resurrection (Filled with the Holy Spirit).
Thank you for the opportunity to share some truth.
July 5, 2001
And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. Luke 22:25-32.
Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? John 18:10-11.
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you, but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. I Peter 4:12-13
MarilynAnd to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ... Ephesians 3:9
The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the Lord
bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower
fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand forever. Isaiah 40:7-8
Arlette
Ultimately it is God that will be doing the judging and we are to come into
repentance. What is our responsibility here? We shall see....
Shall we run and hide from it? Put the blame upon others for our shortfallings? Reach around and pull our coverings of human righteousness, tighter around us, that our darkness might not be seen?
To remember that we are to continue the way we began this journey... in pure and simple Faith and Devotion to Jesus Christ -- In Utter Dependence upon God; In relationship with the One our hearts adore.
Linda
Jan Cline For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name [is] Holy; I dwell in the high and holy [place], with him also [that is] of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. Isa 57:15
your sister, LindaI saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. "Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb." And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. Rev. 21: 2-11
In Christ,
Harley Serafini Latter Rain Discussion Archives
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