Which is the Bridal Church? - 2

Ephesians 5:30

For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.

Ephesians 5:32

This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Revelation 19:7

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 21:2

Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Revelation 21:9.

Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife.”

2 Corinthians 11:2

For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

Ephesians 5:25-27

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

1 Peter 2:5

You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Which is the Bridal Church? - 1

Colossians 1:13

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

1 Corinthians 11:12-13

For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God.
   Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?

Hebrews 12:23

To the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,

Hebrews 12:10-13

For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

    Renew Your Spiritual Vitality

    Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

Acts 2:47

Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

Hebrews 12:22-24

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

1 Corinthians 12:27

Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

Divine Guide

Begone unbelief, my Savior is near,
And for my relief will surely appear;
By prayer let me wrestle and He will perform;
With Christ in the vessel, I smile at the storm.
Though dark be my way, since He is my guide
‘Tis mine to obey, ‘it’s His provide;
Though cisterns be broken and creatures all fall,
The word He hath spoken shall surely prevail.
-John Newton

Temptation

Let no man think himself to be holy because he is not tempted, for the holiest and highest in life have the most temptations. How much higher the hill is, so much is the wind there greater; so how much higher the life is, so much the stronger is the temptation of the enemy.
-John Wycliffe

Revenge

In taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy; but passing it over, he is superior.
-Francis Bacon

Quotes

. There is no better evangelist in the world than the Holy Spirit.

. Lying covers a multitude of sins – temporarily.

-Dwight L. Moody

. The golden rule for understanding in spiritual matters is not intellect, but obedience. – Oswald Chambers

. A theology without spirituality would be a sterile academic exercise. – John Macquarrie

Why we are all sinners today?

1 Corinthians 10:13 says, all of us have sinned. Today, all this is happening because of our self-pride and we are lacking humility.

Why Fasting?

1. It’s God’s command

Joel 1:2

Hear this, you elders,
 And give ear, all you inhabitants of the land!
 Has anything like this happened in your days,
 Or even in the days of your fathers?

2. God has chosen

Isaiah 58:6

“Is this not the fast that I have chosen:
 To loose the bonds of wickedness,
 To undo the heavy burdens,
 To let the oppressed go free,
 And that you break every yoke?

3. Example of Jesus

Matthew 4:2

And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.

4. Example of the church

Acts 14:23

So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

5. To pray with

Daniel 9:3

Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.

6. To worship God

Luke 2:37

And this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

7. For the leading of the Spirit

Acts 13:2

As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Types of Fasting

1. Absolute Fast

Acts 9:9

And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

2. Normal Fast

Luke 4:2

Being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.

3. Partial Fast

Daniel 10:3

I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.

4. Spiritual Fast

Isaiah 58:6

“Is this not the fast that I have chosen:
 To loose the bonds of wickedness,
 To undo the heavy burdens,
 To let the oppressed go free,
 And that you break every yoke?

5. Hypocritical Fast

Matthew 6:16

“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward

6. Pharisaical Fast

Luke 18:11-12

The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’

7. Real Fast

Matthew 6:18

So that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Defeating Negativism

By your decision

Deuteronomy 30:19

I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;

Genesis 50:20

But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.

By your devotion

Psalm 119:11

Your word I have hidden in my heart,
 That I might not sin against You.

Luke 18:1

Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,

By your diligence

Proverbs 11:27

He who earnestly seeks good finds favor,
 But trouble will come to him who seeks evil.

Proverbs 11:30

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
 And he who wins souls is wise.

By His direction

Psalm 32:8

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;

 I will guide you with My eye.

2 Corinthians 6:1

We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

Proverbs 3:6

In all your ways acknowledge Him,
 And He shall direct your paths.

Ways to receive God’s Mercy

1. By being merciful

Matthew 5:7

Blessed are the merciful,
 For they shall obtain mercy.

2. By pleading for mercy

Psalm 51:1

Have mercy upon me, O God,
 According to Your lovingkindness;
 According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
 Blot out my transgressions

3. By approaching God’s throne

Hebrews 4:16

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

4. By renouncing sin

Proverbs 28:13

He who covers his sins will not prosper,
 But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.

5. By following the new creation

Galatians 6:15

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.

Galatians 6:18

Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

 Spiritual Thoughts

. Never call it quits in pursuing Jesus.

. Our greatest hope comes from trusting God.

. Commitment to Christ is a daily calling.

Amazing Grace

Hebrews 4:16

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Redeems from Sin

Ephesians 2:8

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

Relives our Fears

1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

Reassures through Danger

Psalm 91:11

For He shall give His angels charge over you,

 To keep you in all your ways.

Psalm 91:14-16

Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
 I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
  He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
 I will be with him in trouble;
 I will deliver him and honor him.
  With long life I will satisfy him,
 And show him My salvation.”

Rewards Eternally

1 Peter 1:13

Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

John 14:1-3

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.