Snow Storm

This is a picture of a bush in my yard. This morning, I spent a little time thinking about this bush, covered in snow.  The weight of the snow appears to be crushing it.  There doesn’t appear to be any escape from the elements:  the frigid temperatures and the snow that continually falls burden this small bush relentlessly.  How will it endure such weight?  How will it endure such extreme temperatures?  The truth is - this bush cannot survive based on what is visual to the eye.  The branches can’t thrive alone. 

 Alone, these branches do not stand a chance against the inclement weather … UNLESS it has roots that are deeply embedded within the earth.  This is true for all of us.  If we are not deeply rooted in Christ, the snow storms of life will cripple us and will cause us to break under the pressures of sadness, sickness, depression, fear, anger, hate, jealousy, financial hardship, dangers of the unknown, and on and on.  Only IN Christ can we brave the snowstorms of life. 

I am confident that this bush will again stretch forth its branches because it is rooted in what brings stability: the earth.  Without being deeply rooted in the earth, it does not stand a chance.  It would wither under such harsh conditions.  This is true for us as well.  Jesus is our stability, and IN Him we are safe.

 Things for us to consider when examining ourselves:

Am I deeply rooted in Christ?

When the pain of this world weighs me down, do I call out to Jesus?

Is He the One I turn to when tragedy strikes?

Is He the One I glorify when all is well?

Is He the One I glorify when all is not well?

Do I spend time in His Word seeking His Truth?

Is my heart open to Him when He attempts to direct my steps?

Do I listen when He says, “Change your ways”?

Do I repent (change my mind) when He shows me I have done wrong?

Do I long to serve Him and only Him?

Do I bring Him glory in the words I use and the actions I perform?

Would I need to hide things in my home if He were to come in for a visit?

When He knocks, do I answer?

Only IN Christ Jesus can we survive the storm.  Root yourselves IN Him through faith and obedience.

May all be blessed by the truth that is IN Christ.  These snowstorms are being used to draw us to Him.  What path will you take?  Only one path leads to life.

God Is Looking For One Man

 The following post was taken from David Wilkerson's Daily Devotion.

Israel in the prophet Ezekiel’s day was lewd and proud. Men committed abominations with their neighbors’ wives and even defiled their daughters-in-law. Prophets who had once been holy became backslidden and no longer discerned between the holy and the profane. The nation’s leaders became as ravening wolves, seeking after dishonest gain, shedding blood, speaking lies and burdening the poor.

Israel forgot God’s ways and the nation grew so weak, worldly and powerless that God made them a laughingstock to the secular world. He said, “Therefore have I made thee a reproach unto the heathen, and a mocking to all countries” (Ezekiel 22:4).

What a searing indictment! God was saying to Israel, “You’ve so despised holy things, giving yourselves completely over to lust, that I’m going to take away your witness!”

Ezekiel was an older man at this time, about to pass out of the picture. So how did God deal with the situation? He told Ezekiel, “I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none” (verse 30).

Imagine it! Israel’s fate rested on whether God could find just one reliable, righteous man. Yet He said to Ezekiel, “I found none. Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them” (verses 30-31).

God said the same thing to the prophet Jeremiah: “Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem . . . seek . . . find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it” (Jeremiah 5:1). He told the prophet, “I’ll pardon the entire nation if I can find just one man who’ll stand in the gap. All I need is a single soul who is wholly yielded to My will!”

Beloved, today we hear a Babel of voices in the church crying for more relevant, contemporary ways to reach the world. And many bizarre, fleshly programs are being tried. Yet, in my many years of ministry, I have seen these kinds of programs come and go. They rely totally on appeasing the flesh, having nothing to do with the cross. The crowds they draw live empty, unfulfilled lives, having never been exposed to the gospel of separation from the world and its lusts. The world scoffs at these programs, recognizing them all as mere foolishness.

"Foot Washing"

The sanctuary was filled with the weeping of women as they lifted their hands to the only One who could bring comfort and healing; almost in unison, we cried out to Him.  In our unique ways, each female voice beckoned Him closer- soft whispers, urgent cries, silent thoughts, echoing wails.   The Deliverer.  He heard every need and every pleading heart.  

The sound of water running through fingers and gently falling into a basin while women, young and old, knelt and served one another.  It was a humble time of servitude in the calm of a sanctuary filled with His presence.  The oldest cleansed the youngest feet, and the youngest bowed to cleanse the eldest feet.  Prayers of love, guidance, and protection emit from the mouths of saints.  

I have always loved the beauty in the verses that detail Jesus kneeling at the feet of His disciples.  The great King kneeling before men and washing their feet.  We understand the truth behind the symbolism of God incarnate bowing before His creation and cleansing their feet.  How humble, how loving, how selfless and giving…  But not until last Sunday night did God confirm to me that the literal action of performing this deed is just as important and necessary in the church today as the symbolic ideals associated with the act.

The act itself is very personal.  Walls are stripped away through this action.  There is a common link binding each person to the other person and the next person. Through this act alone, the body of Christ is strengthened.  There is a presence of trust that encompasses the room.  My feet are being handled and cleansed and delicately dried by someone other than myself.  Is this not why He did it?  The act of washing someone else’s feet and having yours washed creates a gentle dependence yet a steadfast bond -  Unity.  Is this not what He has called us to do?  Are we not to wash one another’s feet - literally and symbolically?    

To see young girls - 6 years old and younger eagerly sit before their elders with an innocent smile and a willing heart - towel in lap and hands in basin.  Oh, how we can learn so much from the innocence of children.  

And to hear sounds of male voices in the adjoining room calling out to Him - their Redeemer - as they, too, bow before one another in humble servitude.  United, not by worldly entertainment - but by HIM.    The shouts of “Glory!” are not for a touchdown earned - No, but for a soul delivered!  An Almighty God who is near - a freedom that only Christ can provide.  Is this not the true bond of disciples IN Christ?  

Men. Real men whose praises in those moments echo through the sanctuary.  Is this not what Jesus intended?  Yes.

Hearing my husband speak of my son’s actions during the sacred “foot washing” makes my heart grow.  Humility of self and faith in action - Is this not why He taught and performed this?  Does this act not teach us more about Christ than the act of opening presents to self on Christmas morning?  How better to teach our children true denial of self and service to others through and in Christ Jesus . . .  bowing in servitude - washing, drying, caring, loving…

Shoes off and feet washed - hand in hand- a circle of prayer. 

 A bond of peace 

 A Spirit of unity.  

John 13:

4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.
12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

Part of Satan's Plan - Subtle, But Effective

For over five years, I assembled myself with other believers in a Baptist church.  After the Lord gently taught me regarding the error of the "Once Saved, Always Saved" doctrine, also known as the "Once in Grace, Always in Grace" doctrine, I shared scripture with the congregation that clearly demonstrated a believer's free will to depart from the faith and thus be lost to eternal damnation.  I won't spend too much time detailing that experience because I have in other blogs.  Click here or here if you wish to read that experience in greater detail.

For the last three and a half months, my husband, children, and I have been attending another church that does not believe "Once Saved, Always Saved." 

We congregated with some genuine believers at the Baptist church who, unfortunately, had accepted areas of the Baptist doctrine without question, and who I hope will seek the Lord wholeheartedly regarding the Truth. We dearly love those at our former church, but we could not continue in false doctrine.  We have since met believers at the other church who seem genuine in their love for the Lord.  The pastor at our current church, I believe - after much prayer to the Lord- is a man who genuinely lives for and loves the Lord.  I want to stipulate the two previous points in sincere love and concern before I continue with what I have observed in both types of churches - Once Saved, Always Saved & Endure Unto the End in Order to Be Saved churches.

During the five year span of attending a "OSAS" Baptist church, I think I can safely say that we in the congregation did not attend more than 2-3 services without hearing repetition of keynote phrases.  In other words, on a continual basis, we in the Baptist church heard the following statements: 

"You cannot lose your salvation."

"Don't let anyone tell you that you can lose your salvation."

"You are still eternally secure even if you begin sinning or fall back into sin."

"Once saved, always saved."

"You cannot lose salvation; you can only lose fellowship with God."

There are a multitude of other quotes like these that I could include illustrating the same concept, but you understand my point.

 Unfortunately, during many sermons at my former Baptist church, I would often hear great truth being spoken against sin, but almost every time, words used speaking against sin would be followed up with, "but no matter what, you cannot lose your salvation."  It were as if Satan had been sleeping during most of the sermon, and then, he awoke to whisper in the ear of the preacher:  "Remind the people that they can never forfeit their salvation", and on cue, the preacher would faithfully recite the words whispered in his ear by the great deceiver - the father of lies. And many in the congregation would, in unison, say, "Amen!"

At our current church, I have noticed the opposite to be true.  In the Baptist church, the premise of their doctrine was drilled in our minds; whereas, the premise of a believer willfully leaving the faith in our current church is rarely spoken of.  In three months, I have heard the pastor there say that a person can choose to fall away or leave the faith on only two occasions. At the most, the preacher expressed this idea in one to two sentences and then moved on to other, unrelated, topics.

Although I have been present during wonderful Spirit filled teachings at our current church, I am afraid Satan has subtly convinced many- not only in our church, but in other anti-OSAS churches, that they need not constantly remind and teach the congregation that there is an enemy who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy.  One who seeks to weaken a believer in calculated steps until the believer willfully walks away from Jesus with only a hardened heart to show for it. 


This concerns me for the people - for the believers.  We must be vigilant and reminded frequently that there is an armor to wear and a shield of faith to bear... until the end.

Many in the church are drowsy or are altogether sleeping while the wolf prowls the premises.  Satan will devour what is what is weak.  

We must never cease reminding believers of this.  Never.  

May we not cease to teach that Jesus called believers to abide in His vine.  To abide.  He did not say that He would make us abide; no, instead, He called believers to willfully abide.  IN Christ, we are safe.  Outside of Christ, Satan can devour us.

Jude 1:21

Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

 Jude does not tell the believers here that God will keep them in His love.  Instead, he exhorts believers to keep themselves in God's love. 

Revelation 2:4 

Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

 Jesus is speaking to a church here - to believers - who have left their first love.  Can one leave what one never loved?  No.  A choice has been made by these believers, and Jesus warns them to repent of such actions.

1 Corinthians 8:3

But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

1 Corinthians 16:22

If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.

Anathema  in the original Greek means to "ban or excommunicate - accursed."
Maranatha in the original Greek is defined as "an exclamation of the approaching divine judgment."

Many would argue that love and sin have nothing to do with each other -- That one can sin and still love the Lord.  Or that sinning does not separate us from the Lord.

However, those commonly espoused notions are refuted in the Word of God:

John 14:15

If ye love me, keep my commandments.

John 14:21

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

John 14:23

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

John 14:24

He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

John 15:9

As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

John 15:10

If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

Psalm 145:20

The Lord preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.

_____________________________________________

May the body of Christ unite and with great sincerity never cease to remind one another regarding the importance of abiding IN Christ.  May we never cease to teach one another that the enemy is without the gates, and he is patient in his wait.  He can't remove believers from the city as long as we are securely IN the city.  However,  the enemy will use clever tactics to lure a believer outside of the gates.  We must frequently teach believers of his tactics and his temptations.

 

To Write Love On Her Arms Organization

I recently ran across a young lady's excitement in having received her new "To Write Love On Her Arms" shirt.  She expressed her tear-filled experience of having read the shirt's tag, which addressed suicide prevention.  This caught my attention.  I searched for more information regarding this TWLOHA organization.  

While reading information from the organization's site, many of the ideas were "positive" by the world's standards.  The site was set up to encourage individuals who were depressed, addicted to drugs, cutting themselves, and suicidal.  A list of vision statements were also listed on the site.  Again, on the surface, many of the statements were "positive", by most standards, and uplifting.  The overall goal of the organization centered upon helping those in need find help.  Although not the only mode of help being offered, it was fairly apparent that seeking help in the field of psychiatry was at or near the top of the list.  

While reading various articles on the Internet, I noticed that the organization's founder, Jamie Tworkowski,  professed to be a Christian, yet when directly asked questions regarding Jesus, I noticed that most of his responses were surface definitions of Jesus.  When asked in several different interviews if his organization was a Christian organization, he responded with a definitive "No" each time, adding that Christians gave Christianity a bad name due to their actions.  Somehow, I don't think he was referencing Christians who were willfully sinning and mocking the Truth of the Bible.

Also, I noticed that he would quickly shun a definitive "Christian"

label, but when asked about the musicians who performed at fundraisers for the organization, there was never an asterisk *  or a "but" statement added after their names -- as had been the case with the topic of a Christian organization.  Some of the musicians (many non-Christian) were and are notorious for singing songs that feed depression, addiction, and suicidal thoughts. 

 How odd that he didn't feel the need to address such issues...  

Could it be those in the mainstream see no problem with the glorification of man's silly actions and words within songs and movies?  The very words and actions that birth and feed the demons that wreak such havoc in the lives of those burdened by suicidal thoughts...  Yet, the founder would receive far less notoriety from the mainstream if he were to "harp" on the name of Jesus and His teachings.  It just isn't acceptable to glorify Jesus and His name alone, unfortunately. 

In an interview by Tobin Bennison on The Beachside Resident site, the founder of the TWLOHA organization was asked,

"What role does religion play in TWLOHA?"

Tworkowski responded, 

"The language of what I believe is pretty obvious in the original TWLOHA story. But as this quickly became more than a story, we knew that we were going to have to choose our battles. And so we wanted to create something inviting. It’s true today.  We want to do things in a way that meets people where they are, as they are. I feel like the word “Christian” and the language of Christianity has been misrepresented and abused, so we don’t call TWLOHA a “Christian organization.” We’re trying to love people. We’re trying to learn what that word “love” actually means — we think a lot of it is about meeting needs."

Have you noticed how clever Satan is and how masterfully he deceives people?  "I feel like the word 'Christian' and the language of Christianity has been misrepresented and abused..."

Mr. Tworkowski professes to be a Christian who refuses to associate the word Christian with his ever-growing organization that began years ago when he reached out to a young, suicidal girl.   Something does not add up here.  The pieces of this puzzle do not fit -- cannot fit.

Why am I writing about this organization and its founder?  There are false wonders/signs/miracles that will draw in the broken under the disguise of love.  And that bothers me.  Leaving one area of bondage only to enter another area of worldly psychiatric bondage does not set the person completely free IN Christ.   It bothers me that people have convinced others and allowed themselves to be convinced into believing that the whole message of the Gospel is a message that must be hidden or shunned.  

The Gospel of Jesus Christ in and of itself has the power to save, heal, and most importantly, truly LOVE the broken.  No pills required.  No high psychiatry bill required.  No big bands performing necessary.  Just the Lord, His presence, and His Word.  It is that simple.  It truly is.   

The idea of reaching people "with love" and purposely separating love from the Creator of love - Jesus Christ - truly concerns me.  

Saying that you can't use the word Christian because people associate negative things with Christianity is truly and sadly absurd to me.  Can one say, "I love Jesus, but I need to use other devices (musicians, new age philosophy, etc.) in order to really reach people"? 

From my own suicidal experience years ago, I can share the following with much love and compassion - all the while pointing you to the cross.  There is freedom in the cross of Christ.  He provides a way of escape that will not leave you in more bondage to the world.


First, I must use his name.  Some will roll their eyes at his name . . . .  Satan . . .  His name is Satan, and he truly does exist.  Oh, how he has deceived the masses.  Does he tempt? Certainly, but temptation is only the mask he wears to conceal his utter wickedness.  Let us never forget that Jesus describes him as "a murderer from the beginning" (John 8:44).



 I agree with a friend who said that it is easier for some people to justify or at least reach a point of peace IF they can find a 'not so evil' reason for the battles we fight within our minds.  The lucrative business of psychology and psychiatry makes millions of dollars yearly (perhaps billions) on this very notion.   


What was one of the temptations Satan presented to Jesus when he was in the wilderness with Him ... the wealth, prestige, and accolades of this world:  "Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and saith unto him, 'All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me' " (Matthew 4: 8-9).




Satan is at the root of anything that will result in sin - be it an addiction, be it cutting or mutilating one's body, be it suicide, and the list continues.

If one were to ask me about Satan years ago, I would have provided the most common definitions of him.  However, not until five years ago did I know the capacity of Satan's evil. Not until then did I truly see him for who he is.  When Satan, himself, stared me in the face - unflinching and full of wrath, I dangled from a fine thread over a consuming fire.  The stranger had spoken, and this sheep was very afraid.  Up until that point in my life, I had experienced the G rated version of Satan.  The Satan who wore a mask - veiling his true evil self.   

What I learned from that experience did not come from man or worldly philosophy, but straight from the mouth of God.  I learned that no matter how Satan attacks a person - the Lord will ALWAYS provide a way of escape to the person who seeks Him -  that escape will always keep one from committing whatever sin Satan has whispered in an individual's ear.  No matter what type of pressure or burden is placed on a person, RELIANCE on Christ Jesus will result in victory over sin.  One is not in bondage to commit sin when one is IN CHRIST.  I learned that those in the flesh could only offer me suggestions that were worldly.  I learned that those IN the Spirit had solutions that led to liberty and not more bondage to the world.  

I learned that even when Satan sought to silence me forever, Jesus never allowed him to destroy me - Why ... because my heart longed to hear the Shepherd's voice.  I learned that God will use anything He can - for He made it all - to speak to His children - be it His Word, an animal, a child, a complete stranger - anything to feed a child of His who is being oppressed by Satan.
I learned that although many do not like the use of the word - God spoke to me in my darkest hours that I was to "ENDURE" that devastating time in my life.  That period lasted for at least a year - if not longer.  I will never forget sitting outside years ago in the middle of such mental anguish and hearing that word from Him - a word that simply wasn't apart of my mindset at all.  In fact, when He spoke it, I thought it just wasn't possible to endure.  He taught me that there is a formula for true endurance:  

1.  Intense consumption of the Bible - hours of reading it daily.  The truth in it had to be my every thought to combat the enemy.  

2.  Prayer - Every waking moment involved talking to God. Even in my sleep, I can still remember praying and waking up with an inner dialogue speaking to God. I had to completely surrender everything that I thought I knew about praying, and I simply had to be honest in His presence - childlike in His presence.  The Bible speaks of tears being caught in a bottle - oh, how many bottles must have been filled from just that year alone.  I rest assure in knowing that He caught each falling tear.  

3.  Fasting - With humility of spirit, I fasted whatever I felt He led me to give up.  I believe fasting is a sacred act that shouldn't be broadcasted to the world only for the world to deem us special.  So, I will only say - that true fasting in the presence of God (without others knowing) will reveal the heart of God in such a way that this world would be astonished - and forever changed, for I know that revelations during and after fasting have changed my life and set me free from the bondage of this world.

Now, years later - I can say that because the true, unmasked nature of Satan was revealed to me, I now can see him coming from a distance.  Praise God, He taught me discernment.  As difficult as it was to learn, I would change nothing about the experience.  


Again, many roll their eyes at the mention of his name - and frankly, he has those people fooled, and they are serving him.  But perhaps even more tragic than these fooled people are those who say they are "in Christ," yet at the same time they are serving the flesh and Satan.  As Jesus tells us, we can't serve two masters, "Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin" (John 8:34).   Paul tells us in Galatians, "For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life EVERLASTING" (6:6). 

Notice there is a choice to be made - one cannot sow to both the flesh and the Spirit.  And according to this verse only one type of sowing will result in life everlasting - sowing to the Spirit. I feel led to say that those who are willfully sinning can only be forgiven when they, with an honest and broken heart, admit their wrong acts and request to be cleansed by Jesus.  It is a humble prayer - understanding that only He can cleanse any of us from sin.  

If you are battling a force darker than anything you thought could possibly exist, pray to Jesus Christ - the Lord of lords to rescue you.  He will hear an honest heart.  He WILL hear an honest heart.  When He rescues you, His power will set you free. 

Statement of Faith

 In March of 2013, the Lord called me to write this Statement of Faith.  I began typing it a few months later in May and finished it in July.  I sent this to members of my Baptist church.  My blog entitled "Stand in the Gap" directly relates to what occurred before and after sending this to them.  May it bless others who having been seeking the Lord in much the same way I did years before on this particular topic.

Statement of Faith Link

The Invitation

 While reading the Epistle of Hebrews today, the Lord brought my attention to a specific word in chapter 3 verse 1:

Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

 I looked up the word "calling."  It is the Greek word klesis, which means "an invitation."  In this verse, "holy brethren" are being addressed - those who are partakers of this "invitation/calling".  This then led me to search for other occasions where the same word calling (klesis) was used:

Philippians 3: 14

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Above, Paul uses himself to explain that he actively pursues (presses) toward the goal (mark) for the award (prize) of the high invitation (calling) of God IN Christ Jesus.  If Paul had already obtained this prize, then he would not actively press toward the mark.  If a believer ever reaches a point of thinking he or she has already attained an unconditional eternal salvation, a distorted false Gospel has been received and great deception could lead the believer to fall into sin all the while believing "all is well" with one's salvation.

2 Thessalonians 1:11

Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: 

Similarly, Paul is speaking to believers in this verse when he shares that he continually prays for this body of believers to be counted worthy by God of this calling/invitation.  

Those who are IN the Body of Christ have received an invitation - much like a wedding invitation.  In fact, it really is a wedding invitation.  We know in the Book of Revelation that the marriage of the Lamb is the final consummation of those who will spend eternity with the Lord.  As we are told in Revelation 19:7 - "His wife hath made herself ready." 

 This would fully support the very ideas Paul illustrates in the previous verses.  The bride actively makes herself ready.  How?  Not by her works  - but by abiding in the vine of Christ.  Only by abiding in His goodness can she possibly overcome.  Is the bride pressing toward the mark or abiding IN Christ if she is willfully sinning?  Is she accepting the invitation to the wedding if she is fornicating with the world?  If she serves the idols of hate, or greed, or anger, or money, or jealousy, or worldly music, or provocative clothing -- if she pursues an invitation from the world and, therefore, cheats on her Groom, will she be a chaste bride on her wedding day?  Or will she have a soiled gown made filthy by her decision to stray from her Groom?

She cannot be arrayed in fine, white linen if she has rejected the Groom's righteousness, for only the Groom could offer such an invitation.

If the bride was loyal to her Groom early in their relationship but gradually became attracted to others, will the Groom accept her on their wedding day - an unfaithful bride?  He provided all of her needs; he extended the invitation, and for a time, she may have gladly accepted his gifts.  She may have been devoted to only Him, in fact.  However, in the eleventh hour, she proves unfaithful.  The allure of the world and the enticements of man draws her from the one to whom she had been faithful.   She was fully accepting of the invitation, but arrived to the wedding unprepared because she did not make herself ready by being completely faithful to her betrothed - to her Groom.   

I am reminded of Eve and her servitude to Adam - her betrothed.  Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 11:

² For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
³ But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

If it were impossible for the espoused believer/bride of Christ to become "corrupted" (phtheiro - to shrivel, or wither, i.e. to spoil or to ruin), why would Paul directly address the church at Corinth and speak of his "fear" that their minds have been "corrupted" in much the same way as Eve's when she believed the lies of the Serpent over the Truth of God?  The Greek word used here for corrupted is the same Greek word used for "defile" in 1 Corinthians 3:17.  Also, we are not to forget the words of Jesus when He stated that man is not defiled from what is outside of him, but instead, man is defiled due to what comes from his heart (Mark 7).  Eve was betrothed to Adam, yet she chose to obey and serve the Serpent when tempted.  Paul warns the brethren at Corinth to avoid following anyone who "preaches another Jesus" (2 Cor. 11: 4).  Doing so would indicate the bride's UNfaithfulness to the One True Lord.  As Jesus Himself taught, there is one allowable reason for divorce:  Adultery. 

 2 Peter 1:10

Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

 As stated above, the called or invited in Christ must give diligence in order to stabilize (make sure) the election.  Peter continues as to why the brethren must do this:  Falling is possible.  Without diligence or examining ourselves to see if we are in the faith, then a believer can fall.  Falling back into sin is an extremely dangerous point in a believer's life - one to avoid only by abiding IN Christ and obeying His Spirit's leading.

Only the chaste, faithful bride will be accepted at the wedding of the Lamb.  The bride who has valued her commitment to Christ - the Groom.  The one who has grown to know her Groom by spending valuable time with Him.  The bride who during times of her Groom's absence patiently waited for the special day of His arrival.  The bride who although presented with the enticements of the world chose to seek refuge and truth in the arms of her Groom.  This chaste bride who was weak on her own found strength from Him.

The bride's faithfulness to her Groom results in the gift of righteousness in the form of white linen.  A wedding dress unlike any other - pure and undefiled - for she has made herself ready by abiding in Him.

From the first moment of their engagement, she has greatly anticipated the moment - the marriage.  She has held the invitation - the calling - in her small hands with the passage of time.  There were dark valleys of tremendous sorrow when she clutched the invitation to her chest as she recalled the hope of the coming day - the coming marriage.  With tears of anguish, she pledged her faithfulness to Him, even when the Enemy surrounded her.  She clutched the invitation and cried out for her Groom.  She would find her strength IN HIM. 

 

^{Revelation 19:
7} Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
⁸ And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
⁹ 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.

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 Testimony:
I can relate to Gideon in the Bible because when I feel the Lord revealing His Truth to me, I always ask Him to show me more than once.  Why?  Because His Word is HOLY, and I never want to speak an UNtruth regarding His Holy Word.  His Word is sacred.  I was studying areas of the Bible earlier this afternoon and felt the Lord's leading on a particular topic and a particular group of verses and realized He was calling me to complete a work for Him based on what He had shown me in the verses.  This morning, I had prayed that He would give me direction regarding my next step toward obedience to Him.  These verses brought the marriage feast described in Revelation to my mind and the bride making herself ready for this momentous event.  I pondered the revelation He had given me as I placed supper in the oven.  Kendra, my 8 year old niece, was in the living room playing with my 18 month old.  I wasn't really paying much attention to them because my thoughts were of the Lord and what I felt He was calling me to do.  As I thought of the marriage of the Lamb and the bride making herself ready, I also thought, "Lord, you haven't confirmed this revelation to me yet."  Within moments, as I stood in the kitchen, I heard my niece in the living room sing, "Dum dum da dum, dum dum da dum."  Then, she repeated it.  I stood completely still in front of my fridge as I heard her sing this two times.  I couldn't contain my praises to the Lord in that moment.  My niece walked into the kitchen and asked why I was so happy.  I told her that God had just used her to confirm His message to me!  

Oh, how I love Jesus!