The Fragrance of Memorial

The Fragrance of Memorial

From Frances Beauchamps

In the same way I could not ignore the beating of my own heart, or the breath flowing in and out of my lungs, I could not ignore the leading, the stirring, the flutter

of the dove-like voice singing its command, its urgency, its kind and gentle push, saying,

“Go. Go, and have no fear, but do and you will be blessed and at peace.”

So I took the treasured jar tucked away for so long, it’s true purpose hidden from me all this time, and wrapped it in a shawl, and made my way to the house where the men were gathered; my legs quivering all the while upon the road.

The paths rocky but worn from travelers and horses and carts and mothers with their babes,

and men in their garb, and soldiers with their staves.

How would I dare to do this if not for our Lord and His Father beckoning me?!

Per chance I be made invisible until I cross the threshold and come to drop before His face!

Oh, that the ones with their malice and hidden crime draped in piety would not prevent me from coming before this Most Precious Gift to all!

But with every step I take, I feel a strength, and I feel an energy taken hold of me as never before!

Oh, this I must do!

This I long to do…

How flooded my being is with thanks for the One Who has swallowed my pain,

and banished my despair of life.

Yet, I heard what He said of His time, of His enemy, of His mission,

and of the Kingdom of His Father.

And though I know not the ways of this Rabbi so extraordinarily alive,
I know He is sent and will also take His leave for something much grander than what I can see with my tear-filled eyes.

I draw close and see the door and the way shall be opened for me, and there it is!

I enter in smelling the meats and the aromas of feasting.

I hear the talk and the chatter; the drinking, the laughter…

And there, there He is at the table full, surrounded by all, and He sees me before anyone else does.

And His gaze is warm and inviting…and waiting.

Without hesitation, and with a boldness I’ve never before experienced – even in my most wicked of days – I burst forth with the jar already in my hands and I break the seal with a sound that seems to radiate throughout the whole house, stopping all other action.

I surge forward and while I hear the hush of the men and the questioning of what I am doing there, I see, ever so slightly, the bow of His head toward me, and I pour the oil.

Oh the fragrance that shocks the house!

The treasured oil pouring upon His head and through His hair so thickly, so shining, like light, like sun rays; and it seems like gallons, but it’s not. And it slides down the sides of His face and over His forehead, and down through His beard and His chest…

and He gazes at me.

With the tears already flowing down my own face, I bow myself before Him, and my tears are like cascading streams with my hair hanging like woven strips of cloth.

I simply act on what was so sweetly before me.

With watering tears making splotches in the dust on His feet and sandals,

I wipe with my hair as to wash Him; with the dove voice singing, and a choir of thanksgiving echoing all through my mind and heart.

Surely they all hear this symphony!

Surely they know what this is for!

But suddenly the men raise their voices.

Some in laughter.

Others in anger.

“Oh what waste!” they say.

“Why has she done this?!” they holler.

“Get her out of here!” they clamor.

And I feel their murderous eyes on me while I try to back away.

But He looks up and He commands them, my Rabbi does.

He commands them, “Leave her be! What she has done, she has done for Me!”

He scolds them. He corrects them, the men of our city; the men with their political stance and their religious pride.

They did not honor His Presence.

They received of His miracles and of His provision, but they honored Him with their lips only and that most sparingly.

Yet He received my gift, the only thing I could do, as was shown to me to do,

that could tell Him how much I care… how much I trust… how much I believe in Him, in His Truth and Way and Life…

Even as it’s marching toward death and burial and beyond.

The air is filled with the fragrance of passage and bodies and tombs.

The men in their affronted glares, clamor in confusion under their breath, but my Lord, He declares my gesture of thanks as a memorial of life for me in His Kingdom yet to come!

And I sense my tears will take another turn very shortly, but I go in peace.

For the fragrance is all about me now as well, as if I bathed in it in preparation for a King!

And so it is done.

It is finished.

May 27, 2018

 

 

Memorial Day-The Concept of Memorials in the Bible

 

Memorial Day is a day designated for the honor and remembrance of those in the military who gave their lives in service for us. The day was first known in history as "Decoration Day", when the graves of soldiers lost in the Civil War were decorated. The first known occurrence of this practice was as it was performed by slaves in Charleston, South Carolina, but it was also subsequently practiced in other states as well. In 1966, this day was officially declared by the President as Memorial Day, to honor fallen soldiers throughout America. In doing this, there was an official recognition of the connection of a memorial, or remembrance, and a sacrifice made. This concept of an eternal remembrance is founded in the Bible. It is a principle of God first mentioned in association even with His very name.
Moses, when first called by God, asked God what His name was, that he should tell the children of Israel:
"And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and He said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me to you....this is my name forever, and this is my memorial unto all generations."  Ex. 3:14-15 (see also Ps. 135:13)
We have said that a memorial is connected to sacrifice, so how does the name of God indicate a sacrifice? The Hebrew representation for the name "I AM THAT I AM" is YHWH, represented by the pictographic letters yod, heh, vaw, heh. Each individual letter in the Hebrew "alphabet" also represents a concept. The letters of the name of God revealed to Moses here represent, "Behold the hand, Behold the nail." The sacrifice of Christ was embedded into the name and character of God, and that name serves as a memorial to Israel, and before God.
Sacrifice and memorial are mentioned in the account of Passover. As the lamb, whose blood would cover and preserve the Israelite household from death, was selected, it was examined for any blemishes. Only a spotless lamb could be used, according to the instructions given to Moses by the LORD. After fourteen days of being examined for imperfection, the lamb was to be killed by the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel (Ex. 12:1-6).
"And they shall take of the blood and strike (given, bestowed) it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it...and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; you shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever."  Ex. 12:7, 13-14
Again, the sacrifice in this instance prophetically refers us to Jesus, the "Lamb of God" slain before the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8), who was also revealed to all by John the Baptist who declared, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."  (Jn. 1:29, 36).
Later, after fleeing Egypt, Moses and the Israelites were attacked by the Amalekites at Rephidim ("rest, support") on their journey to the Promised Land (Ex. 17:8-16). Joshua leading the army, finally secured the victory under the supported raised hands of Moses. The LORD commanded that this battle be kept as a memorial:
"...write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.. And Moses built an altar (meaning "sacrifice"), and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi."  Ex. 17:14-15
It was a place of physical sacrifice in battle by the Israelites, and a place of spiritual sacrifice at the altar of the One who is raised up on a pole as a sign for all to see, named "The LORD our Banner". The LORD commanded a memorial out of this event, so Joshua and the people would remember it always.
The New Testament tells of a Roman Centurion, named Cornelius, who was devout and feared God with all his house. He continually gave alms (charitable giving) to the people, and prayed always (Acts 10:1-3). An angel appeared to him in a vision one day, saying to him:
"Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God." Acts 10:4
Cornelius, as a soldier, must have been acquainted with sacrifice in battle, but it was his spiritual sacrifice, both in prayer and in possessions, that created a memorial before God. Out of this memorial came the salvation of his whole household, and the opening of the Gospel message to the Gentiles, in addition to Israel.
The LORD commands that we keep His word, and these memorials, not only for our benefit, but for the benefit of our children, and future generations:
"And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children...And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes."  Deut. 6:7-8
Our children, like never before, have suffered the consequences of a people who have failed to remember, and have failed to teach their children, the life-changing memorials created out of the sacrifices of not only brave soldiers and citizens, but more importantly the sacrifices of God, on our behalf. Let us remember, and let us teach our children, and let each of our lives come up as a memorial before God.

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A Tale of Two Weddings

 

The title of this message is taken from the Charles Dickens' novel, "A Tale of Two Cities". That book begins with the well known sentence that says in part, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...". With that beginning, Dickens was describing the moral and spiritual conditions of the society at the time, which served as not only the background of his novel, but also as a driving force behind the events in the book. Those same conditions also describe the times in which we are living. His book dealt with the themes of resurrection, water, darkness, light and justice.

We will see those same themes play their part in our "Tale of Two Weddings".

This weekend, the world gathered to witness and watch what was called, "the wedding of the year". It was the royal wedding of Prince Harry, the son of a future king, and Meghan Markle, an American commoner of bi-racial background, now the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The theme of the wedding was "Love", and the cost of it was over $40 million.

The coming Marriage of the Lamb will be the wedding of all ages. It is a marriage, like Prince Harry's, created in love, rather than social, financial or political convenience. The cost of the Marriage of the Lamb cannot be measured in dollars. Its cost is no less than the priceless, matchless blood of the Son of God.

A most interesting fact is that this wedding occurred on the Feast of Pentecost, the last of the spring feasts of the LORD, which was fulfilled by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon those who belong to the Messiah, Jesus Christ. When the Holy Spirit fell, it appeared as tongues of fire (Acts 2:3). This feast takes place fifty days after Passover, and includes a wave offering of two leavened loaves of bread, and an offering by fire (Lev. 23:15-22). It was on this feast that Israel also received the Torah (teaching) on Mt. Sinai ("thorny"), fifty days after their exodus from Egypt on Passover. The rabbis teach that when the Torah was delivered, it went out from the mountain, and over the congregation in palpable waves, and returned back to the mountain as flames of fire.
Pentecost is also about the LORD's instructions regarding the harvest (Lev. 23:22). Fields were to be harvested while leaving the edges unharvested for the poor (humble, lowly, afflicted) and strangers (temporary inhabitants, a newcomer lacking in inherited rights). Peter delivering his message on Pentecost, stirred the listeners to repentance and baptism (water). It led to the harvesting of more than 3,000 souls to salvation (Acts 2:36-41).

The Reverend Curry, an American Episcopal priest, who delivered the message at the royal wedding, spoke of the world-changing power of love, and the history-changing power of fire. He most assuredly had Pentecost in mind. Our heavenly Father gifted us His Son in love, and out of that love, also came the promise of the fire of the Holy Spirit:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved...but he that believeth not is condemned already...this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil..." excerpt Jn. 3:16-19

"...ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call."

                                                                                                                 Acts 2:38-39

Jesus instructed his disciples about the promise of the Holy Spirit, and the power of Its fire:

"And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high."   Lk. 24:49

This power being given by the Holy Spirit was for the purpose of the harvesting of souls (v.47).

Many at the royal wedding this weekend appeared uncomfortable, or displeased, even mocking of the message that Bishop Michael Curry delivered. There is a powerful parallel in scripture in a parable that Jesus taught about a wedding of a king's son:

"The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come...they made light of it and went their ways...the remnant took his servants, and treated them spitefully, and slew them...when the king heard thereof, he was wroth...Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore...and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage."   Mt. 22:2-9

The king's servants rounded up all they could find, both good and bad, and gathered them to the wedding. The only requirement for these new invitees was that they should be arrayed in the proper wedding garments. One man came without the proper garment. He had no answer to give as to why he was not wearing the proper garment, and was thrown out of the wedding. The place outside the wedding was a place of darkness, a place of bondage, weeping and pain. (v.11-14).

As in Jesus' parable, those invited to the royal wedding this weekend also had instructions of what was considered to be proper attire for those attending.
The royal bride had also carefully prepared her beautiful gown that not only adhered to royal expectations, but also included meaningful symbols of the kingdom into which she was marrying. The Bride of Christ must also be arrayed in her fine, clean, white linen, which is the garment of her righteousness. Markle's racial and national heritage is also reflected in the inclusive nature of the kingdom of God: out of every kindred, tongue, people, and nation (Rev. 5:9).

The royal wedding that the world watched this weekend was not only a showcase of grandeur, but a spiritual sign. As we can see, so many things about it serve as a reminder that another royal marriage is about to take place. The marriage supper of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready. Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:7-9).

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To Receive Christ as your Savior, to receive the promised Holy Spirit, and to be ready for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, begins with a simple, sincere prayer from your heart:
From Romans 10-

⁹ That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
¹⁰ For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
¹¹ For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Mother's Day 2018

 

Mother's Day for our ministry has always been a special day. It is not only a day to bring forth the truth in God's Word regarding mothers and families, but also to believe and pray for those who wish to conceive a child. Many miracle children have come forth from this special Mother's Day ministry.

The importance of mothers can be found even in the beginning of scripture:

"And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat and live for ever: Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden...and he (God) placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life."   Gen 3:20-24

Adam called his wife "Eve" (Chavvah- life, living, life giver)., and "the mother (am-as the bond of the family) of all living (chay- to live)". Adam and his wife were forced from the garden in order to keep him from having access to the tree of life. It was not God's intention to give immortality to sin and its effect: death. However, God would not let them leave without his promise. Eve, though cast with her husband from the garden, would carry within her a promise of access once again to the tree of life. From her would come the miraculous seed (it is only men who produce seed) that would bring forth Messiah, the Resurrection, and the Life. It was that Word of prophetic promise that became the seed of the woman. Her seed would be born to bruise the head of the serpent who fathered the lie which questioned God's Word to man (Gen 3:15).

This tree of life is given to those who believe Christ. There is a condition placed upon access to it, though. Jesus spoke of this condition to the Church of Ephesus ("permitted"). To this church, the Lord had wonderful things to say, except for one thing:

"I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: and hast borne and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast labored, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans ("conquer the laity"), which I also hate. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise (park, enclosed garden) of God."   Rev. 2:1-7

This church was doing so many things correctly, but there was an eternal life-giving force that was missing from all of their works, and all of their endurance in truth. That life-giving force, that "chay", pours forth from their first love (of Christ). This first love was their Tree of Life, from which they had grown apart.

So much of the church today has not been as faithful as the Church at Ephesus. They have, instead, compromised the truth of God's Word. They have followed after those false apostles and Nicolaitans who create doctrines in order to conquer the laity for their own greed. For those churches that have remained on the path of truth, patience, and the steadfast rejection of "them which are evil", have they forgotten their first love? If we repent and return to that first love, Jesus will give us to eat of that tree in the paradise of God.

That Tree of Life found in the paradise of God, which was always meant for our provision, is described for us:

"And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and of either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him. And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever."   Rev. 22:1-5

The Tree of Life, whether it is in the Garden of Eden, or in the paradise of God, grows from the first love that God has for us. The promise of access again to that Tree of Life was carried through the generations until Mary obediently and miraculously brought forth the Giver of Life, Jesus. This Tree of Life through Christ does not depend upon the seasons to bear fruit, nor the natural waters which can dry up, nor the sun to give it light.

Our access to this Tree of life and healing is given through our first love, as Jesus told the Church at Ephesus.

Revelation goes on to tell us in this chapter that Jesus is announcing to us repeatedly that He is coming quickly (v. 7, 12, 20). The Spirit and the Bride, and then those who hear, join together to agree and say to Jesus, "Come." (v. 17). The Bride's whole-hearted agreement with the Holy Spirit in our eagerness for Jesus to return to us, is the ultimate fruit of our first love. Then all who have thirst, whosoever will, may come to the water of life also and drink.

This Mother's Day comes with three challenges for those who are hearing this message:

Challenge 1- Repent, pray, and return to our first love.

Challenge 2- Determine not to be one who adds to, or takes away from, the Words of the Book (of life), as mentioned in Rev. 22 (v.18-19). Those who do so, will not partake in the Book of Life, nor the holy city, nor the promises found in the Book.

Challenge 3 (to mothers)- Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and the salvation of Israel. Pray that mothers will be life givers, and the bond of the family, and not life takers, as is so often found in our society today. Pray for those who desire to conceive, but have not been able to.

 

Heavenly Father, we do not desire to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, by the washing of the water of the Word. Those of us who know You, desire to repent, and return to You, and to renew our commitment to our first love.

Father, let those who do not know You, and are hearing this message, be drawn by Your Spirit to discover if all of these things are true. Let them search the scriptures for themselves, and discover Your eternal truth and salvation for them in Jesus, Your Son, Who gave Himself for them.

Let those who desire to conceive, be blessed and touched by You. Let them know that the child they conceive is Your miracle answer to prayer. We ask these things in Jesus' name, Amen.

 

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The Feast of Trumpets and the Return of the Bridegroom

 

The first coming of Jesus fulfilled the spring Feasts of the LORD which are Passover, First Fruits, and Pentecost. These feasts were ordained by the LORD to be a prophetic picture of the Messiah, so Israel would be able to recognize Him when He came. With His second coming, or return, Jesus will fulfil the fall feasts, as well. As there is a spacing of months between the series of spring feasts and fall feasts, there is a spacing of time between His first appearing, and His return. The first fall feast is the Feast of Trumpets. Scripture connects this feast with the resurrection of the dead in Christ, with an event called "The Rapture of the Church", and with Christ's return. First let us see the connection of this feast to these events in scripture:

"Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed...this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality...then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory...the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ."   1 Cor. 15:51-57 (excerpt)

"For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord..."   1 Thess. 4:15-17

At the end of the Feast of Trumpets, there is a last blast of the trumpet, or shofar, called

Teki'ah Gedolah (the Great Blowing), a long blast signaling victory, or good news. This is the last trump, the trump of God, referred to in the above scriptures.

Last week, we spoke about the bridal garment the Jewish bride would prepare for her wedding in order to make herself ready. Similarly, the fine linen, clean and white that the bride of Christ is given to wear for her marriage supper spoken of in Rev. 19:7-9, represents the righteousness of the saints. After the wedding covenant (Ketubah) was signed, the Jewish bride would also prepare woven and embroidered tapestries to beautify her new home with her bridegroom. For the Bride of Christ, the bridal garment, and the beautifully woven tapestries represent the works of  righteousness, the fruits of our faith, as led by the Holy Spirit. Our faith is expected to produce divinely inspired, eternal fruit, or righteous works. These righteous works of faith are described in scripture. They are works that come from holiness, prepared for the holy temple of God, which we are, and to which we are purposed. Our works are built upon the holy foundation which has been built by Christ, and is Christ. Carnality in believers, which produces strife and divisions, creates carnal works that will not survive:
"...every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor...Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burnt, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."   1 Cor. 3:8, 13-1
As we see and understand the times and the seasons in which we live, and understand that the Lord is soon to return, that the last trump is soon to sound, we are not to be caught unawares and unprepared (1 Thess. 5:1-6).
Jesus used the parable about the seed and the sower to illustrate the effects of carnality upon the Word that we have received, and the subsequent fruit, or works, that we produce. When we receive the Word, but don't bother to understand its value and therefore treat it carelessly, it is easily taken from us. When we receive the Word but fail to incorporate it into our character, "Yet hath he no root in himself", when tested by tribulation and persecution for the Word's sake, this person becomes offended at the Word that was sown into his life. When we hear the Word, but allow the Word to become choked by the cares of this world, and the "deceitfulness of riches" that we have given the greater importance, we become unfruitful. However, the Word that has been planted into good ground, is so considered because the hearer has made an effort to understand (to set or join together in the mind, to be wise) and join the Word into his life. This hearer of the Word with understanding also bears fruit. The fruit is abundant: "some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty". We bring forth fruit that spiritually feeds others, and impacts their lives with salvation (Mt. 13:19-23).
This parable above about the sower is very similar in meaning to the parable Jesus taught about the "talents" given by the master to "every man according to his several ability", who expected a multiplication and return (Mt. 25:14-30). Along with the Word, works have been ordained to us. These works have divine multiplication built into them.
In the telling of this parable, Jesus acknowledged that not all would "understand". That was the purpose of the parable form (Mt. 13:11). We need to be those who hear the word, and understand these mysteries of the kingdom of heaven that are being revealed to us.
Daniel, who wrote of the resurrection that was to come (Dan. 12:2), also spoke of those who are wise and have understanding. He wrote that "they shall shine as the brightness of the firmament" with those "that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." (v. 3). Daniel also referred to the Bride of Christ as he wrote:
"Many shall be purified and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand."  v. 10
Daniel was told by the LORD that what he was writing was to be sealed "till the end". We who have received Christ understand what Daniel was writing about, because it has become "unsealed" for us in this time of the end of the age.
We understand that now is the time to prepare ourselves for our Bridegroom's soon return, including the preparation of those works of righteousness, those fruits of the Word of salvation in our lives, works that will last through the fire of testing and purifying, built upon the holy foundation of Christ:
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." 
                                                                                                      1 Cor. 15:58

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Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior:

Lord Jesus, open the eyes of my heart. I want to know You as my Lord, and as my Savior, who covers my sins, and cleanses my heart. Come into my heart, and also fill me with the Holy Spirit, who will lead me into all truth, and will teach me how to follow You. I believe that You are the Son of God, the Messiah, that You were crucified for me, and rose from the dead to give me everlasting life. I believe that You are coming again. Lord Jesus, in Your name I believe, pray, and receive all of these things. Amen.






Preparing for the Marriage of the Lamb

(Bride praying at the Western Wall-Jerusalem)

 

Centuries ago, the Church made the decision to remove itself from its Jewish origins and heritage. When we did this, we lost something very valuable to our faith, walk, and understanding. Much of our relationship with Christ as described in the scriptures can be traced back to Jewish marriage customs. One of the most important upcoming spiritual events the Church, more accurately called the Ekklesia (the called out assembly of God's people), will experience, is a Jewish marriage to Christ: 

"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him (the Lord God Omnipotent): for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted (used in reference to something given by God, or a king) that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called  unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God."   Rev. 19:7-9

It is important to know the Jewish marriage customs, because the Lamb's wife "has made herself ready" for this prophetic event that is about to be fulfilled. We cannot make ourselves ready unless we understand what this means. These customs are also important to know because Jesus referred to them.

At the beginning of the forming of a marriage in the Jewish tradition, the father of the prospective groom chooses a woman whom he feels is a good marriage candidate for his son. He goes with his son to the woman's house and they knock. By answering the door, the young lady is stating her acceptance of the young man. They enter the home, where a meal has been prepared. Jesus described this for us:

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."   Rev. 3:20

A wedding covenant, or contract, is established at that time, which is called a Ketubah. By this covenant, promises are made by the groom to the bride. Guarantees are given pertaining to property and inheritance. As the bride and groom, and their families, sign the Ketubah, an engagement is established. That engagement commitment is almost as strong as the marriage itself. All it lacks in comparison is the consummation.

The meal, and the wine shared at the table, seal the covenant, as Christ's body and blood, represented by the bread and wine of the communion table (koinonia-intercourse, fellowship, intimacy, the sign, proof, and pledge of same), sealed our covenant agreement, or Ketubah, with Him (Lk. 22:20). Jesus said that He will not drink the wine again until He can drink it new with us in His Father's kingdom (Mt. 26:26). Peter assures us that our bride price was not paid with gold and silver, but with this blood of Christ, the Lamb without spot or blemish, who was foreordained before the foundation of the world (1 Pet. 1:18-20).

The Jewish groom then leaves the bride's house, returning to his father's house, where, under his father's supervision, he prepares a home for his soon bride. The groom cannot return for the bride until his father agrees that all has been made ready for her. Jesus promised us this same preparation:

"Let not your heart be troubled: ye 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 unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."   Jn. 14:1-3

Those present, hearing these words of Christ, would immediately associate them with the marriage customs, and the Ketubah covenant. Jesus wants us to "believe also in him". His promise here to us is as iron-clad as a Jewish Ketubah contract. We have lost the precious understanding of this, as we discarded our Jewish roots.

Before we leave the subject of the Ketubah, we should compare the guarantees or promises it contains to the future bride, with the promises made to us in our Ketubah with Christ. Peter wrote that we obtain these promises of "an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled...that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you." (1 Peter 1). Peter also describes them as being "great and precious promises", all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through which we become partakers of the divine nature. These promises remove us from the carnality of sin, that we should be neither barren nor unfruitful (2 Pet. 1).
As we said, the Ketubah marriage contract gives the bride certain material guarantees. So also does our Ketubah covenant with Christ. As we trust and believe Christ, "ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest (down payment, security for full amount subsequently to be paid) of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession..."  Eph. 1:12-14
The "earnest", or Spirit, is a guarantee of an inheritance, as the bride is guaranteed an inheritance by the Ketubah. This "earnest" or guarantee also assures us that this earthly house in which we are currently clothed, will be replaced by a house which is from heaven, for which we groan and desire. It is like receiving a title deed:
"Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Holy Spirit...we are confident that absent from the body...present with the Lord."  2 Cor. 5:1-8
The Holy Spirit promised and given to us by Jesus, is the earnest, or guarantee, of the heavenly house with which we will be clothed, as a house would be provided in a Ketubah contract.
According to the Jewish marriage customs, while the groom is preparing the house for his bride, the bride is also preparing, and making herself ready. One thing that the bride has to do is to take a ritual cleansing bath called a Mikvah, in order to achieve purity. Living (moving) water is sometimes required for the Mikvah. Paul tells us that those who are full of the impurity of sin, in such a condition, cannot "inherit" the kingdom of God. "And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."  1 Cor. 6:9-11
Like the Jewish bride, we are to be washed before we receive our inheritance. In scripture, our relationship with Christ is compared to a relationship between husband and wife, Like a husband is supposed to love and give himself to his wife, "Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself...not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."   Eph. 6:25-27
Have we allowed Christ to cleanse us in the bridal mikvah? Are we prepared in a way to receive our inheritance?
Lastly, the Jewish bride prepares her wedding garments. For us, the believer, our verse from Rev. 19 at the top of the page, describes those bridal garments. Those garments reflect the righteousness of the saints. It is not a righteousness "earned" by obeying the Law, but as in our whole marriage relationship with Christ, it is a righteousness of works that have been manifested in our hearts and lives by our faith. Our works do not replace our faith, but are the manifestation of our faith. These faith-created works cover us as a pure wedding garment covers a bride. Those without the appropriate wedding garments, will not be allowed to enter the marriage supper (Mt. 22:11-14).
Are our wedding garments prepared? Have we, the bride of Christ, made ourselves ready? The marriage supper of the Lamb could happen at any moment. Let us use the lessons from the Jewish marriage customs, which Jesus taught and to which scripture refers, to understand how to prepare for this soon event.

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Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior:

Lord Jesus, open the eyes of my heart. I want to know You as my Lord, and as my Savior, who covers my sins, and cleanses my heart. Come into my heart, and also fill me with the Holy Spirit, who will lead me into all truth, and will teach me how to follow You. I believe that You are the Son of God, the Messiah, that You were crucified for me, and rose from the dead to give me everlasting life. I believe that You are coming again. Lord Jesus, in Your name I believe, pray, and receive all of these things. Amen.