Are You Ready to Be the Bride?

2016-06-22

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Are You Ready to Be the Bride? Are You Ready to Be the Bride? Introduction This message explores the concept of believers preparing themselves to be the bride of Messiah, drawing parallels between the Israelites preparing to meet God at Mount Sinai and the church preparing for the return of Yeshua. It emphasizes the need for self-examination, purity, and focus on spreading the gospel rather than being distracted by irrelevant issues. The Betrothal at Mount Sinai The teaching begins by referencing the event in Exodus 19 where the...

Are You Ready to Be the Bride? Are You Ready to Be the Bride?
Introduction

This message explores the concept of believers preparing themselves to be the bride of Messiah, drawing parallels between the Israelites preparing to meet God at Mount Sinai and the church preparing for the return of Yeshua. It emphasizes the need for self-examination, purity, and focus on spreading the gospel rather than being distracted by irrelevant issues.

The Betrothal at Mount Sinai

The teaching begins by referencing the event in Exodus 19 where the Israelites were instructed to consecrate themselves and wash their clothes in preparation for meeting God at Mount Sinai. This event is presented as a betrothal, symbolizing God's desire to enter into a relationship with His people. The Israelites' preparation highlights the importance of purity and readiness when approaching God.

Key Points from Exodus 19:

God tells Moses that Israel will be his people and a kingdom.
The people agree to obey God's commandments.
Moses is instructed to have the people wash their clothes and prepare for the third day.
God will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.
The people are warned not to touch the mountain.
On the third day, there is thunder, lightning, a thick cloud, and a loud trumpet blast.

The Bride of Messiah

The message draws a parallel between Israel preparing to meet God and the church preparing for the return of Messiah. Just as the Israelites had to purify themselves, believers today must also strive for holiness and blamelessness. The speaker, Matthew Vander Els, emphasizes that Yeshua is looking for a bride without stain or wrinkle, someone who has prepared herself to meet Him.

Ephesians 5:25-27

This passage is central to the message, describing Messiah's love for the church and His sacrifice to make her holy:

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Messiah loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless."

The Ministry of Reconciliation

A core aspect of preparing to be the bride is fulfilling the ministry of reconciliation. Drawing from 2 Corinthians 5:18-20, the message emphasizes that believers are ambassadors of Messiah, tasked with spreading the message of reconciliation to the world:

"All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Messiah and gave us the ministry of reconciliation...We are therefore Messiah’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us."

Key Responsibilities of Believers:

To carry the message of reconciliation forward.
To represent Messiah with integrity.
To implore others to be reconciled to God.

Distractions and Hindrances

A significant portion of the message addresses the distractions that prevent believers from fully preparing to be the bride. These distractions range from focusing on irrelevant debates to being consumed by personal issues such as unforgiveness and addiction. The speaker cautions against getting sidetracked by conspiracy theories, end-times speculations, and other diversions that detract from the primary mission of spreading the gospel.

Common Distractions:

Arguing over non-essential issues.
Showing off knowledge of scripture instead of spreading the gospel.
Engaging in Facebook fights and online debates.
Focusing on paganism in the world instead of sharing God's love.
Unforgiveness.
Addictions.
Broken marriages.
Conspiracy theories and end-times speculations.

Attributes of Yeshua

The message highlights several key attributes of Yeshua that believers should emulate:

Love: Loving one another is the primary way the world will know you are His.
Forgiveness: Forgiving others, even those who have wronged you deeply, is essential.
Zeal: Being passionate for God's kingdom and His mission.
Focus: Keeping your eye on the goal of fulfilling the message of the gospel.

The Importance of Forgiveness

Forgiveness is presented as a critical requirement for believers. Drawing from the Lord's Prayer and the parable of the unforgiving servant (Matthew 18:21-35), the message underscores the idea that those who do not forgive others will not be forgiven. Unforgiveness is portrayed as a weight that holds believers back and stains their garments, preventing them from being the radiant bride Messiah is seeking.

Focus on the Gospel

The speaker stresses that Yeshua was primarily focused on fulfilling the message of the gospel. Distractions, even those that seem important, can hinder believers from achieving this goal. Drawing from Mark 8:33, the message warns against allowing anything to become an adversary to the gospel:

"Get behind me, Satan! You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns."

Practical Application

The message provides several practical applications for everyday life:

Audit Your Life: Regularly examine your life to ensure you are aligning with the standards of the kingdom.
Prioritize the Gospel: Make spreading the message of reconciliation your primary focus.
Eliminate Distractions: Identify and remove anything that hinders your ability to focus on the gospel.
Emulate Yeshua's Attributes: Strive to embody love, forgiveness, zeal, and focus in your daily life.
Forgive Others: Release any unforgiveness you are holding onto, recognizing that it is a barrier to your relationship with God.
Serve Your Spouse: Follow Yeshua's example by serving your spouse and prioritizing unity in your marriage.
Train Your Children: Equip your children to spread the message of reconciliation to the world.
Pursue Progress, Not Perfection: Recognize that righteousness is about progress, not perfection, and continue to refine yourself through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Conclusion

The message concludes with a call to action, urging believers to audit their lives, eliminate distractions, and focus on becoming the radiant bride that Yeshua is returning for. By embracing the ministry of reconciliation and emulating the attributes of Yeshua, believers can prepare themselves to meet their King and fulfill their purpose in the kingdom.

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