Jesus WILL Get His Pure Bride!

3/27/2019

Some Dialogue about His Pure Bride being Ready!

speech bubble representing person 1 talkingIs this binary, A or B? Or is there a compromise C Jesus would be open to?

As it relates to THIS generation:

A) Jesus will get His Bride, truly made ready, whole-hearted for Him, and come Back for her — or B) he will at some point give up on that Bride made ready, for this generation.

Is there a C) — will he eventually give up on that Bride and pull back provision for that if we don’t embrace his heart for us?

Can you think of Scripture or Precedent to support your answer?

speech bubble representing person 2 talkingTwo examples come to mind:

1. The Children of Israel and entering the promised land - opportunity lost after the faithless spies returned. Provision gone!

2. Also, Matthew 21:43: “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. ”

speech bubble representing person 3 talkingI have always functioned as if there is no C... and I don’t want to even think about a C. I just want to go for A with all we’ve got.

Ughhh. Moses didn’t get another chance when he hit the rock. No warning. He just was no longer going into the Promised Land.

speech bubble representing person 1 talkingI’m not asking you to make up a C) IF it does not exist. I’m asking us all to be unified on God’s character.

speech bubble representing person 4 talkingI cannot think of a single incidence of God accepting C.

speech bubble representing person 3 talkingGood. Because I can’t make up a C either... wow... My heart started beating fast (painfully) just thinking about it! I barely want to consider a B (but I KNOW it is IMPORTANT that I realize B is a possibility... that we all have choices and He will take our Destiny away if we mess around). But, that said, I Believe He is going to do what it takes to get us to A. To cause us to keep His commands and decrees, and I want to do all I can to line up with THAT!

speech bubble representing person 5 talking...I’m wondering if it won’t look much like A on a wide scale until pretty close to the end. Jesus’ prophecy in Matthew makes it sound like there will be a significant purification process in the very last of the last days. And as a precedent, the generation that got to cross the Jordan and enter the promised land needed a pretty significant purifying right before. There were thousands who were killed for worshiping baal at Peor. So I am not saying there is a plan C, but maybe we shouldn’t be discouraged if it still looks like there’s quite a ways to go before plan A. We can ask Jesus to come back and give our all to make the Bride ready and stay focused on finishing strong.

speech bubble representing person 6 talkingAn option C of God just giving up on the planet for good—telling His Son that the investment of His humiliation and His Blood was just a bad one, no return, no reward for His Suffering, a sunk cost, a write-off. No waaaaay!!!!!

An option B of abandoning a generation, if we judge ourselves not worthy — Acts 13:46 or are too busy or distracted or unmotivated to pay attention when he says “everything is ready!” — Matthew 22, is definitely within God’s character.

But giving up on the Lamb’s reward seems unthinkable, even if we won’t carry out His will that he has been working out in front of our eyes and preparing us for — Esther 4:13. But if like Esther, we obey with abandonment no matter how threatening the stage, of course A would be what every Father and Groom to be would want, and ours can’t be the exception.

speech bubble representing person 1 talkingThere is no C. That’s the refuge of a lazy or self-deluded person. He WILL eventually give up on those who will not embrace ALL of Him. His words and thoughts and decisions ARE Him. They are inseparable— John 1. He WILL take away and give to those more worthy if we “will not.” Matthew 7, Matthew 25, Luke 9-14, and a thousand other Places make this clear.

Based on the dramatic, awful and just outcome of saying “no” to Jesus, is it fair to say we have the CHOICE to say no to what he wants for our lives – but we do not have the RIGHT to say no to what he chooses for our life? Do you see the difference? The RIGHT to choose our own heart path is very different than the CHOICE. Consequences prove they must be different, right?

speech bubble representing person 2 talkingSUCH a difference... YES!

speech bubble representing person 5 talkingCould it be that the last scene of the Drama plays out like Gideon? The fearful—Judges 7:3 and the sloppy—7:5-7 get sent home, and God deliberately chooses “too few” for the task of storming the gates of hell and taking the Good News of the Kingdom to all nations, “or else Israel might elevate themselves over me and say, ‘My own strength saved me?’” I want to act decisively against any fear and sloppiness now and stay ready.

speech bubble representing person 1 talkingNo doubt that’s a God Way.

speech bubble representing person 3 talkingYes... it doesn’t take a lot of people to change the world or represent Jesus. Whether by few or by many as Jonathan’s armor bearer said.

(And I know we all know it, but just as a reminder, because there are people out there who want to wickedly twist things—that does NOT mean there are 2 kinds of Christians. The ones who went home and the “strong ones.” We met someone years ago who was saying that not all Christians are part of the perfect Bride, that there are those who will be made ready and those who are fearful, lazy, foolish, still sinful—NOT!!!!!!)

A few days later....

speech bubble representing person 3 talkingI started writing this yesterday...thinking of these things and the conversation from last week about whether or not there will be any compromise or is it just option A (Jesus get his Bride, truly made ready) or option B (He gives up on that Bride being made ready for this generation and chooses another). Clearly there is no compromise option!

I’m not sure I was “finished” with the “list” but you/we can add to it as we’re considering this together.

What kinds of things kept People from inheriting God’s Promise?

• Arrogant Disobedience - Adam and Eve kicked out of the garden

• Not seeing Value in your birthright and selling it to gratify the flesh - Esau lost it all

• Grumbling and Complaining - (The Israelites fussed about anything not going their way even though God had been MIGHTILY taking care of them all along the way... all they had to do was ask, not FUSS)

• UnBelief in God regarding giants in the land - (some might label this fear, as if that is any better than UnBelief vs being the SAME as unbelief) and lack of remembering what God had already done for them (they wandered around and died in the wilderness vs go into the land)

• Being so fed up and frustrated with other people’s sin that YOU disobey God and let your emotions take over - (Moses striking rock instead of speaking to it kept him out of the Promised Land)

• Shrinking back - Hebrews 10

• Holding Back and Lying about it- Ananias and Sapphira

• No Holy Spirit LIFE - The 5 virgins

• Losing your First Love - Church in Ephesus

• Tolerate Nicolaitanism - Church in Pergamum (tolerating clergy/laity... letting someone ambitious “lord it over” OR letting people “take a backseat” because they prefer a backseat! Both are guilty.)

• Tolerate Balaam-ism - Church in Pergamum (Tolerating letting people be slowly led into sin.)

• Tolerate Jezebel - Church in Thyatira (tolerating conniving, self important, self promoting, or CONTROLLING women)

• Asleep, even though they had deeds and an APPEARANCE of Aliveness, God knew they were close to dead because they had MORE deeds to be doing than they were doing - Church in Sardis

• Lukewarmness - Church in Laodicea

What will keep US from being the People who usher in the End of the Ages?

• Disobedience

• Gratifying the flesh

• Unbelief

• Letting emotions be God.

• Lying about giving it all

• No Holy Spirit LIFE

• Losing your First Love

• Tolerate ambition or backseat-ers!

• Tolerating letting people be led slowly into sin

• Tolerating controlling women

• Asleepness

• Lukewarmness

It’s not some “general” “we’re not good enough” that will keep us from being the Ones to Usher in His Return! It will be Specific.

Today, I asked myself.... Which of these areas has the greatest chance of tripping US up? Of tripping ME up? Keeping US/ME from entering the Promised Land... what would it be? And, what about others close to me?

I realized that I could think of myself and different individuals and how they would be more likely to be tripped up in one area over another. Do I have the courage to ask a couple people around me what THEY think my weakest areas would be? And to be honest with them if they ask me? So, I can be sure there is no hole in my armor or theirs.

speech bubble representing person 5 talking • Laziness, playing it safe, risk aversion - (parable of the talents)

• Excuse-making for worldly priorities and double-mindedness - (parable of the wedding banquet)

• Using or abusing opportunities Jesus gives us in the House for our own self-indulgence - (Matthew 24:45-51)

And yes, I’m going to ask others...

speech bubble representing person 3 talkingYes. And I realized that while I THINK I know which area is most likely to trip me up, I’d do better to keep my mouth SHUT and let others say what they see. It’s only pride that would want to “say it first or say I already know such and such about myself.” And I am sure we can put pride on that list too!

• Pride

speech bubble representing person 2 talkingI’ve been thinking and recalibrating around what it means for me to BE about nothing that is not aimed at speeding His return. No activity, no thought, no care, no preference, no opinion, no indulgence. If it is not part of making it possible for HIM to have His full and complete way, then I want no part in it. Period.

speech bubble representing person 5 talkingAll day long Jesus’ warning that “the love of many will grow cold” has been ringing in my ears. I just have to think that since he made a special point of it, a whole-hearted, full-throttle, action-and-truth devotion to obeying the two greatest commandments has a lot to do with Jesus coming for us. The love of many growing cold, perhaps, but the love of some coming to a boil.

speech bubble representing person 1 talkingIs “love growing cold” intentional? Is it immediate?

How does that happen in a relationship? How is it remedied if one even values it enough to remedy it?

Is “lukewarm” acceptable? Is cold a destiny, or the product of something? What? Is hot destiny, or the product of something? Does any of this matter?

Please do participate, all who read this, even if you don’t answer here.

speech bubble representing person 7 talkingLove growing cold is the natural order of life lived outside of the one whose name is Love.

speech bubble representing person 8 talkingIn my relationships with others—particularly with my husband (a shadow for sure!), my love wanes when I fail to appreciate him, or allow myself to feel critical of his decisions, or don’t invest in communicating with him on a deep level. This is never instant—it is gradual. It changes because I see what I am doing internally, and decide to CHANGE! Love growing cold is always our fault, not the fault of the loved. Change goes back to the 20:1 rule.

speech bubble representing person 2 talkingWhen I tolerate human thinking, carnal sympathy, worldly definitions of value and success and priorities with time or money, hurt feelings, comparisons with others .... I am CAUSING my love to grow cold.

And if I do not course-correct with forceful repentance and acts of self-sacrifice and choosing what I choose out of the conscious intent of pleasing Jesus over myself, pleasing another over myself... then my love will grow even colder and I’ll not notice...

speech bubble representing person 5 talkingNothing could be more important. At least part of the answer is that passion is a zero sum game, it seems. Wasting it on one thing means you won’t have it for something or Someone else. Back at the beginning of the year I was convicted that I had been making Esau decisions about food. I had been mindlessly eating because I was anxious or tired or sad, or just because food was there. Pretty shameful. So in repenting of that, I didn’t want to “diet,” just to eat for the Right reasons. Anyway, I was surprised to see how many things changed in a short amount of time. Moods. Focus level in prayer. Awareness of others on a deeper level. Joy. Mental and spiritual sharpness. I was choosing to repent of a sin, but I had NO idea how the short-term decisions for self indulgence had been ripping me off and depriving Jesus of a friend and worshipper. It’s been shocking and eye opening. Like, oh yeah, I remember, this is what life is supposed to be like. I’m bringing it up, although I am ashamed of myself that I ever CHOSE Esau, because it’s been a recent example that it’s impossible to turn to something else for comfort or security or fake peace without damaging your love for Jesus. And the flip side is true, Walk in the Spirit and you will not indulge the flesh.

speech bubble representing person 2 talkingThanks for bringing that up... I am glad you made me note where I’m turning when I feel “pressure.” At times it is food and other things too. But, surely one of the fastest ways to heat up our love is to turn to Him in our time of need, big or small.... I’ll be making that different...today!

speech bubble representing person 4 talkingJust a picture...

Jesus love is an ever flowing geyser, sometimes exploding with a great, towering shower and flood and at other times flowing and inundating the land. But always, it is hot, boiling and active - purifying and clarifying everything it touches to bring out the beauty within from the Spirit himself. Let us not allow the waters to grow cold through diversions, dams and eddies, but let it work as only it can.

speech bubble representing person 9 talking“We love because He first loved us,” so to forsake the love I had at first seems to come when I see only my “duty and responsibility” instead of His Love and provision and respond out of worship and a grateful heart. It’s also allowing the cares and worries of life to choke out Real Life and turn to stress relief like food... something I am also repenting of. It’s a slow dulling process from being self-focused and ungrateful... at least that’s part of it.

speech bubble representing person 1 talkingWe ask a child about the Moon: “Is it waxing or waning?”

What would we say about God-ordained relationships he has given us, or with him? And do we value the relationship enough to make the choices you have referred to above? As someone said, “It’s work.” But what does the loss cost? Even if the gain may be somewhat unknown, what would the loss cost? Does it matter to us? Is the value of prideful or lazy neglect worth the cost of waning, and eventual total loss? Is it worth the “work” of giving as a “cheerful” giver, as a worshipper (“VERTICAL glad choices and words”)?

Does this not all go back to A, B, and C?

speech bubble representing person 3 talkingOh, we know it does.

speech bubble representing person 6 talkingA quick thought: love of Jesus and eating only of Him and drinking only Him is what was said...living water flowing from within and expanding, touching people and us. Love of self and protecting and preserving ourselves is cannabilism. Yes, a zero sum game, but also the difference between an endless gushing torrent from within or a self-destructive eating away of ourselves and others. A giver or a taker. Night and day. I’ve been reminded of this chasm of a difference last night and today. Jesus is Life and pursuing anything else is Death in every way.

speech bubble representing person 10 talkingA simple thought that came to mind about lukewarmness.

Half-baked is not acceptable. Anyone who has eaten something that’s not quite done or heated through, immediately sticks it back in the oven. You don’t serve that to anyone. We don’t serve Jesus a half-baked life. A half-baked love, half-baked worship, half-baked loyalty. A complete, hot, best, pleasing aroma, satisfying oneness with, to and through Him is the only acceptable offering of our life we give to Him.

speech bubble representing person 1 talkingSatan’s little trick is to get us to stop listening and just turn off the thoughts above, and it takes forcefulness to “snap to” and get out of the lukewarmness just mentioned, in relationship or relationships. Action. The violent take it by force, as was said yesterday here.

speech bubble representing person 11 talkingThe zero sum point brought up is so true in my life. I know If I allow the love to be choked out because of my sometimes subtle choices to run solo into the world's daily chaos, that love of God and for others starts to go cold.

God wants all of us. Love takes effort and total commitment, but what could be more important.

speech bubble representing person 12 talkingRegarding the zero sum game; for me the wasting often comes in the form of reading something that seems “neutral,” often at the end of the day before bed. Could be the news, could be a Wikipedia article about something I was curious about. It isn’t really unto anything besides relaxing and feeding my curiosity and carving out a portion of my day for myself.

It’s missed opportunity. I’m repenting of this.

speech bubble representing person 8 talkingSomething I was just considering: “There will be terrible times in the last days, and the love of many will grow cold...” the Israelites’ love for God did not wane when they were oppressed or at war; they walked away when things were “comfortable” and “easy.” I must redefine what a “terrible time” looks like. Superficial peace and physical abundance are snares...

speech bubble representing person 2 talkingRight!

speech bubble representing person 1 talkingYour last sentence is profound.

speech bubble representing person 8 talkingI’ve thought of Revelation looking like WWII on steroids—it may well look like now.

The people who will usher in the end of the age

 

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