ADORNING THE BRIDE OF CHRIST
(week 52/15)
OLUBI JOHNSON
As the year 2015 comes to an end, we wish ALL our readers a victorious, healthy, wealthy and fulfilling New Year!
Revelation 19:7-8 KJV: Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. (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.
Ephesians 5:25-27 KJV: Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (26) That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (27) That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Psalms 45:9-14 KJV: Kings’ daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir. (10) Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house; (11) So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him. (12) And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour. (13) The king’s daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold. (14) She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.
These scriptures speak of the bride of Christ: members of the body of Christ that have made the decision to become perfect virgins.
They are described as a glorious church; not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; all glorious within; their clothing wrought of gold; clothed with fine linen: clean and white symbolizing the righteousness of God.
All Christians are in the body of Christ; but NOT ALL Christians are in the bride: the bride is made of up of Christians who have made the decision, followed by practice of actions to be vessels of gold:
2Timothy 2:20-21 KJV: But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. (21) If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.
With what then is the bride of Christ to be adorned?
With the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit:
1Peter 3:3-4 KJV: Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; (4) But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
Matthew 11:29 KJV: Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
A meek and quiet spirit here speaks of an inner attitude of humility and unwillingness to strive or be quarrelsome.
2Timothy 2:24-25 KJV: And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, (25) In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
Why meekness?
MEEKNESS or an inner attitude of HUMILITY is the KEY to BOTH WISDOM AND POWER!
Proverbs 11:2 KJV: When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
Proverbs 11:2 NKJV: When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
1Peter 5:5 NKJV: Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “GOD RESISTS THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.”
2Corinthians 12:9 NKJV: And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
How then do we cultivate or develop this spirit of meekness?
By perfecting the love of God, which is the fruit of the Spirit, by the blood, the Word and the Spirit:
If you keep the commandment of love, you will automatically begin to be adorned with meekness. Love suffers long and is patient and is kind. All the fruits of the Spirit are in love, including joy and peace, meekness and longsuffering.
So by the word in our mouths and in our hearts, we can DO and BECOME love: become like God!
Deuteronomy 30:11-14 NKJV: “For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. (12) It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ (13) Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us that we may hear it and do it?’ (14) But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.
There are three agents by which the life and power of God that enables us grow unto perfection (walking in the fruit of the Spirit consistently) is released:
The Blood; Heb. 13:20-21: It is the blood that removes sin so that sin doesn’t block the flow of the life and power of God. The blood ?is our confidence, the basis of our right standing before God. The purpose of confessing our sins is so that the blood can flow, not to inform God.
The Word; 1John 2:5: Keeping the word in our mouth and heart consistently (at least once every 6 hours (Dt.6.7, 2 Sam.6.13, Mk.13.35) and at every opportunity) enable us to perfect the love of God.
The Spirit: 1 John 4:12-13: The power of the Spirit is also released when we pray in the Spirit (with tongues (1 Cor.14.2, travail (Rom.8.26) and all kinds of prayer (Eph.6.18)) to perfect the love of God in us.
With all these three agents working in synchrony, with the foundation of an honest and a pure motive – you are being adorned and prepared to be part of that glorious company of the Bride of Christ that will manifest and inherit the power of the Spirit without measure!
