Sermon Central
-
The Bride
Contributed by Anoop Samuel on Dec 28, 2007 (message contributor)
Summary: Jesus is coming soon, Are you ready as a bride? Are you missing something? Is bible, the word of God missing from your hearts? Are you a pure and holy bride?
The Bride (Revelation 21:1-2)
Pentecostal brides (Indian Pentecostals) are expected to have a certain standard and dressing to attend weddings. The saree is usually white. I think I have never seen a Pentecostal wedding where bride wears color sarees for the main ceremony. They are expected to have a bible. Around the last decade or so crowns started appearing on the heads of brides and also a small bouquet to be held in the hand. Brides are expected to look humble and pay attention to the ceremonies being conducted.
If any one of the items is missing, people will start talking about why someone is being so and so? There is a possibility of additional comments and criticism. The wedding attendees could feel out of place. For example, if the bible is missing, some comments or critique can be expected. Any missing element of brides dressing would bring comments or frowns from the crowd and the bride groom. Today as we are fasting, we should not forget that we are the bride of Jesus Christ. Jesus is coming soon, Are you ready as a bride? Are you missing something? Is bible, the word of God missing from your hearts? Are you a pure and holy bride? Let us see if we are or not.
1. Garment of salvation
Basic necessity of a bride. If you are not a bride, you won’t be wearing a brides dress. If you are not wearing a brides dress, you won’t be allowed into the wedding. Sometimes the basics of Christian foundation are not stressed enough that a lifetime of spiritual effort is wasted. As a bride, have you attained true salvation? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is Lord? Do you love the Lord more than anything else?
The other important thing about bride’s garment is that she is not going to wear something that is old and worn out. She is not going to put her wedding dress on the top of her old dress. She always buys a new (sometimes relatively speaking) wedding dress.
Do you like to wear patchy clothes for your wedding? Jesus does not like you to have a double life? He don’t expect you to have a cloak to cover up your “other” life just for Sundays. He expects you to be a bride that is pure and holy.
2. Robe of righteousness
Matthew 5:6 – As a bride, we are to hunger and thirst for righteousness.
Matthew 5:10 – You might face persecution, but the rewards are greater too.
Matthew 5:20 – Our righteousness has to exceed that of other people. Mat 5:20 – “ For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven”.
3. Garment of praise
James 5:13 – Has anyone seen a sad bride? There might be tears of joy. Bride is a happy person not a sad one.
Matthew 21:16 – If even babes can praise God, why not the bride?
Luke 5:34- “ And Jesus said unto them, Can ye make the sons of the bride-chamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?”
Philippains 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say, Rejoice.”
4. Armor of God
Ephesians 6:11-13 – Put on the whole armor of God. This may sound that it does not belong to what a bride should wear. Till Jesus comes, the bride needs the armor to protect her from Satan the enemy. Before a marriage, a bride has to be extra careful to make sure that she remains holy and pure for her husband. The church and the individual should do the same.
5. Gifts of Holy Spirit – Weapons of warfare
1 Corinthians 12:1 – A bride wouldn’t be ignorant about the spirit of love that she has for her to be husband. So does a Christian shouldn’t be ignorant about the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:8-10 – Not only does the bride need to have armor to defend her against the enemy, she also needs weapons to fight the enemy. Till the bride is in the arms of the bridegroom she needs armor and weapons to protect and defend her.
Conclusion
It is every important for a woman to find the right person to be husband. Let us make sure that we have Christ as our spiritual bridegroom. John3:29 – “ He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, that standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is made full”.
