“Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light;
and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.” Mt 10:27
This week I would like to share with you what God has put on my heart regarding the Church of Jesus Christ, His bride.
Ephesians 5:25 tells us that Jesus loves His Church. That He gave up His life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to Himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.
Rev 19:7 says to rejoice and be glad and give Jesus glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.
In Rev 21:2, John sees the holy city, the bride of Christ, the Church, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
The word prepared, hetoimazo, means to make ready, prepare, and make arrangements. In addition to its normal use describing preparation for coming events, the word is used of preparation for the Messiah (Mt 3:3; Mark 1:3; Lk 1:76), of blessings that God has ordained (Mt 20:23; 25:34), and of judgement (Mt 25:41).
Jesus our bridegroom wants a glorious Church, holy and without fault. We His bride need to prepare; make ourselves ready.
Making us holy is the work of Holy Spirit. We need to yield to the process of sanctification (make holy) and cooperate with the Holy One who lives within us.
How do we, the Church of Jesus Christ, prepare? First, Jesus is saying to His Church REPENT!
In Rev 2 and 3 Jesus says repent for no longer having fervent love for Him. He says repent for tolerating immorality, idolatry and heresies and repent for being dead and lukewarm! Then Jesus instructs us to do the works we first did, be faithful until the end, keep the faith and strengthen what remains.
Jesus loves His Church. His heart is for us to humble ourselves and allow Holy Spirit to convict us remembering, ‘There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit’ (Romans 8:1).
We will then be able to repent with joy and receive freedom and joy and all the promises in Revelation 2 and 3, promised to those who overcome (life, the imputed character of Christ, robes of righteousness, rule over nations and Jesus Himself!).
For the Lord is the Spirit; and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (2 Co 3:17).
Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! (Ps 32:1-2).
Personally, I have experienced this over and over and I have witnessed others be set free as they repented. As they read or heard the word with humility and an open and teachable spirit, Holy Spirit brought conviction, repentance and freedom and joy!
I encourage all who read this blog to take time right now. Humble yourself. Welcome Holy Spirit’s conviction with joy. Allow Him to convict you onto righteousness. Repent with joy and receive forgiveness and freedom! Desire to be the prepared bride Jesus is coming back for.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches...” (Rev 2:7)
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