“…It is not good …[however]…that the man should be alone…” (Genesis 2:18 KJV).“…The
man said, “This is now bone of my bones, And
flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” For this reason
a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be
joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh…”
(Genesis 2:23-24 NASB).“… [God sent the ] …one
… who can reconcile (restore the covenant relationship between) God and
humanity—the man Christ Jesus…” (1
Timothy 2:5 NLT).“...Christ also died for sins once for all,
the just for the unjust, so that He
might bring us [back].. to God...” (1 Peter 3:18 NASB).“… I will bring them home again,” says the Lord….” (HOSEA 11 NLT).“…He that is joined (restored) unto the Lord
(Jesus) is ONE
spirit … [or in a covenant
relationship with God again]” (1 Corinthians 6:17 KJV).“…. Old things are passed away; behold, all things are
become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV).
*
“…He
(she) that is joined (restored) unto the Lord (Jesus) is ONE SPIRIT
… [or in a covenant relationship with God again]” (1
Corinthians 6:17 KJV). The term “ONE SPIRIT” describes the unique intimacy that God, the
Holy Spirit and the “redeem’s” SOUL share together.
God intended to MARRY the REDEEMED again
through his PLAN of SALVATION. Thus he has pursued them, he personally choose each one, he drew them
with his love, he courted them through revelation knowledge of himself and his
intentions toward them, he made them his betrothed, and he processed them into
the MARRIAGE stage of relationship.
The MARRIAGE phase of the covenant
relationship means that God, the Holy
Spirit and the REDEEMED are no longer two entities, but have now become ONE
ENTITY or truly ONE SPIRIT.
The marriage is ALREADY and has ALWAYS
been important to God, the Holy Spirit and
NOW it is important to the BRIDE (the REDEEMED).
The MARRIAGE aspect of the covenant
relationship, for the BRIDE, NOW takes precedence over ALL over relationships
and agendas.“…Anyone who
wants to be my follower must love me
far more than he does his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, or sisters—yes, more
than his own life—otherwise he cannot be my disciple” (Luke
14:26 NLT).
“.. For everything in the world—the lust of
the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its
desires pass away, but whoever does
the will of God lives forever.”
(1 John 2:16-17 NLT).
In the MARRIAGE phase
of the covenant relationship the BRIDE has conceded to trust in, depend upon,
and cooperate with the GROOM to provide ALL their emotionally, spiritually,
financial, and mental needs.
The BRIDE receives the
CARE of the GROOM and KNOWS that all he has NOW belongs to THEM (his REDEEMED).
Spiritually they have
BECOME “ONE SPIRIT” through time and experiences, which is WITNESSED by the
production of spiritual FRUIT.
The ENGAGEMENT has
grown into the MARRIAGE stage where the BRIDE is committed to the covenant
relationship no matter what it takes or what it cost.
The REDEEMED - by
accepting his PLAN of SALVATION and willfully choosing to enter into the
covenant relationship (marriage) with God, the
Holy Spirit, again through Jesus Christ –
has already been CHANGED into HIS BRIDE. “…He (she) that is joined (restored) unto
the Lord (Jesus) is ONE SPIRIT … [or
in a covenant relationship (marriage) with God again]” (1
Corinthians 6:17 KJV). “Therefore
if any man (woman) be in Christ, he (she) is a new creature: old things are passed
away; behold, all
things are become new...” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV).
The REDEEMED has
CHANGED into HIS BRIDE already, but the God, the indwelling Holy Spirit, empowers them to TRANSFORM into their
NEW identity or status.
To CHANGE into HIS
BRIDE means there is something DIFFERENT about the REDEEMED.
To TRANSFORM into HIS
BRIDE means that what is DIFFERENT about the REDEEMED has BEGUN to VISIBLY ALTER
their character.
The REDEEMED CHANGED
into HIS BRIDE when the indwelling Holy
Spirit took residence in their heart where the WORD was planted like a seed
within the earth.
The REDEEMED was
immediately CHANGED because the
indwelling Holy Spirit, in seed form, was SENT to dwell within their HEART.
“…If any man (woman) be in
Christ,
he(she) is a NEW creature …” (2
Corinthians 5:17 KJV). “... The old life is gone...” (2 Corinthians 5:14-18 NLT).
“…God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son “INTO” [the HEART of the REDEEMED]…”
(Galatians 4:6 NASB). “…I will put a new spirit in [the redeemed]…”
(Ezekiel 36:26 NLT). “…The Lord (JESUS) is that [indwelling]
...Spirit…” (2 Corinthians 3:17 KJV). “…Jesus Christ (the word, seed, etc.) is IN [them]…”
(2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV).
The REDEEMED or HIS
BRIDE can be empowered to TRANSFORM because the indwelling Holy Spirit is planted, within their heart, like a seed
and it will start to GROW. “… …The seed is the WORD OF GOD ….. THE WORD …was sown in THEIR HEARTS…”
(Mark 4:14-15 & Luke 8:11 KJV). “…The seed that fell on good
soil ...
[will]... produce ” (Matthew 13: 18-23 NLT).
When the WORD/SEED
grows it will PRODUCE spiritual FRUIT that works “IN” and “through” the
REDEEMED. “…The seed that fell on good soil ... [will]... produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had
been planted... ” (Matthew 13: 18-23 NLT). "....The Holy Spirit
produces this kind of fruit in
[y]our lives …”
(Galatians 5 NLT). “…The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance…”
(Galatians 5:22-23 KJV).“…God ...does the work IN AND THROUGH all of us who are his
(the REDEEMED)… (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT).
“…The Holy Spirit gives birth to SPIRITUAL LIFE (TRANSFORMATION)…”
(John 3:6 NLT).
“…GOD IS SPIRIT…” (John 4:24 KJV). “…The Spirit of God dwell[s]… in [the redeemed]…” (Romans 8:9 KJV). “…The Lord (the Word, the SEED) is that Spirit
(too)…” (2 Corinthians 3:17 KJV). “…Jesus Christ (the
Word and the SEED) is IN [the REDEEMED]…” (2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV).
“… [The REDEEMED]
... CAN DO all things (TRANSFORM) THROUGH Christ (the word, the seed, etc.)
which strengtheneth [or EMPOWERS them]…” (Philippians 4:13 KJV).
“…the Father that dwelleth in … [the redeemed
through the SEED], he doeth the works (of TRANSFORMING
them)…”
(John 14:10 KJV).
“…God
…works in
[the redeemed] …
TO ACT (TO actually become
TRANSFORMED) in order to fulfill his good purpose…” (Philippians 2:13 NIV). “ … God
… equip [the redeemed]... (with the indwelling Holy Spirit or) with
everything good for doing his will (transforming you
into the image of Christ) …” (Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV).
“…Apart from [the indwelling Holy
Spirit] … [the redeemed cannot] ... do nothing [they cannot be TRANSFORMED]…” (John 15:5 NIV).
The TRANSFORMATION into
HIS BRIDE, comes as God, the Holy Spirit,
REVEALS himself to the redeemed, through Jesus Christ, his WORD. “…Faith cometh by hearing … THE WORD of God...”
(Roman 10:17 KJV). “...Jesus’] name is [also] ... called The
Word of God…” (Revelation 19:12-13 NASB). “... [THE WORD]... is a light to reveal God to the nations (the
redeemed)...” (Luke 2:32 NLT).
“....The bride (the redeemed.... now)...belongs to the bridegroom...” (John 3:29 NIV).
“…If
any man(woman) be in Christ, he(she) is a NEW creature (HIS BRIDE)
…”
(2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV). “...This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person (HIS BRIDE through Christ)...” (2 Corinthians 5:14-18 NLT).
“…[The REDEEMED]... BELONG to him … ” (Romans
8:1-14 NLT). “...[The REDEEMED]... are his;
[they]...
are HIS PEOPLE...” (Psalms 100:3 KJV). “...[Everyone]… who believe the
Good News...[and are REDEEMED]... BELONG TO CHRIST JESUS…” (Ephesians 3:6 NLT).
For instance, “…The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and
to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him…”
(Genesis 2:20 NASB).
God put Adam in “…a deep sleep... [took] one of his ribs...[made
him] a [physical] woman, and … [bought] her [to him]...” (Genesis 2:21-22
KJV). “…So the LORD God
caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of
his ribs and
closed up the flesh at that place…” (Genesis 2:21 NASB).
“…The LORD God fashioned into
a woman the rib which
He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man…”
(Genesis 2:22 NASB).
.
“…Neither
was the man created for the woman; but the woman
for the man…” (1 Corinthians 11:9 KJV). “…For
the man is not of the woman; but the woman of
the man…” (1 Corinthians 11:8 KJV). “…For Adam was first formed, then
Eve…” (1
Timothy 2:13 KJV).
God made a decision to make Eve, the BRIDE
and a HELPMEET for Adam, the GROOM. Adam had a place for his BRIDE (Eden) and
he could CARE for her (he had DOMINION over all God’s provisions).
Eve belonged to Adam, because she was HIS
BRIDE in every way. “…The man said, “This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called
Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” For
this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh…” (Genesis 2:23-24 NASB).
However, the first covenant relationship
with between Adam/Eve and God, the Holy
Spirit. “...God blessed them and said to them, “...Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it ...RULE OVER (have
dominion over).... Then God said, “I give you every
seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it.
They will be yours for food ...And it was so...”
(Genesis 1:28-31 KJV).
Adam/Eve was God’s BRIDE and he was their
HUSBANDMAN. The term BRIDE and HUSBANDMAN is only a metaphor to describe the
COVENANT relationship between God and Adam/Eve
Adam/Eve had been GIVEN a PLACE to live,
and were given ALL of God’s provision, which they also had dominion and
authority over.” ...RULE OVER (have dominion over)...And it was so...”
(Genesis 1:28-31 KJV).
The first covenant relationship was
between Adam/Eve and the second covenant relationship was between Adam and Eve.“...God blessed them and said to them, “...Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it ...RULE OVER (have dominion
over)...And it was so...” (Genesis 1:28-31 KJV). “…The
man said, “This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my
flesh ...a man shall ...be joined to his wife; and they
shall become one flesh…” (Genesis
2:23-24 NASB).
Adam had named all the creatures who seem
to have help-mets, but he had none. “…The
man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every
beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper
suitable for him…” (Genesis 2:20 NASB).
Eve, the very first BRIDE, and help-met, was
given to Adam as a gift. “…The
LORD God fashioned into a woman
the rib which
He had taken from the man, and brought her
to the man…” (Genesis 2:22 NASB).
The REDEEMED, God’s BRIDE, will also be
presented to HIM one day as a gift or “radiant”
church.“...to present her (the REDEEMED) to
himself as a radiant church (HIS BRIDE), without stain or
wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless...” (Ephesian 5:27
KJV). “...Your new name will be ...“The
Bride of God,” for the Lord delights in [the redeemed]... and will claim
[them] ... as his bride...” (Isaiah 62:4
NLT). “...to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach...” (Colossians 1:21-23 NLT).
This COMMITTED,
covenant companionship, called MARRIAGE, was God’s idea and NOT man’s idea.
The bible says, “…God, not you (humans), made marriage. His [HOLY]…Spirit inhabits even the smallest
details of marriage…” (Malachi
2:14-16 MSG). God’s
IDEA: “…It
is not good that the man should be alone; I will
make …a helpmeet for him”…”
(Genesis 2:18 KJV). God’s BLESSING: “…Fathers
can give their sons an inheritance of houses and wealth, but only the
Lord
can give an understanding wife…”
(Proverbs 19:14 NLT).
Marriage, for the redeemed,
was MEANT to be an UNBREAKABLE, blood covenant relationship and NOT simply a
LEGAL one. “..As
the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and
is joined to his wife, and
the two are united into one…”
(Ephesians 5:31 NASB).
At this phase, the REDEEMED
has been TRANSFORMED into HIS BRIDE. The
main ROLE of HIS BRIDE, in this phase, is to be a suitable HELPMET for God, the Holy Spirit.
HIS BRIDE will be a
WITNESS to his indwelling HOLINESS when spiritual FRUIT is produced “IN” and
“THROUGH” them. “…The fruit of the Spirit
(the righteous conduct of the Holy Spirit) is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance…”
(Galatians 5:22-23 KJV). “... The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in ...[the BRIDE’S]... lives…”
(Galatians 5 NLT).“…God ...does the work
IN AND THROUGH all of us who are his
(the redeemed)… (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). “…[People will]… know (witness) that everything [the redeemed]… have IS
A GIFT “FROM” [God]…” (John 17:6-9 NLT).
Interestingly, God made
mankind from the dust of the ground, yet his HOLY SPIRIT dwells “IN” them. “ …We have this treasure (the
indwelling Holy Spirit) “in” earthen vessels…” (2 Corinthians 4:6-7 KJV).
The REDEEMED was literally GIVEN a
spiritual PART of God. “….ye shall receive the GIFT of the Holy
[Spirit]…” (Acts 2:38 KJV).“ …God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son “INTO” [the]... HEARTS ...[of the REDEEMED]…”
(Galatians 4:6 NASB).“…Jesus Christ is IN [them]…” (2 Corinthians 13:5
KJV).
The role as HIS BRIDE is one of HONOR. God, himself, “IS” HONOR. “…To you, O God, belong
the greatness and the might, the glory, the victory, the majesty, the splendor…”
(1 Chronicles 29:11 MSG). God is
HONORABLE. “…Everything in heaven, everything on earth; the kingdom all yours! You’ve raised
yourself high over all (in a position
of honor, title of honor (which is GOD, the Holy Spirit)…”
(1 Chronicles 29:11 MSG).
God places HONOR
on HIS BRIDE. “…I have given
you a title of honor …”
(Isaiah 45:4 NLT). “…No one takes the honor to himself (herself), but
receives it when he
(she) is called by God…”
(Hebrews 5:4 NASB).
HIS BRIDE is the church and these terms
are ONLY metaphors to describe the unique
intimately, covenant relationship between God and the REDEEMED.
When it comes to being HIS BRIDE everybody
(male or female) is EQUALLY a member of the church body or the REDEEMED. “…YE ARE “ALL” CHILDREN OF GOD
BY FAITH “IN” CHRIST JESUS.
…There is NEITHER ….male nor female: for YE ARE ALL ONE IN CHRIST
JESUS “…Then Peter replied, “I see
very clearly that God SHOWS NO FAVORITISM. In every
nation HE
ACCEPTS those who fear him and do what is right. …” (Acts 10:34-36 NLT). “…Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a
truth I perceive that God is no RESPECTER OF PERSONS: …” (Acts 10:34-36 KJV).
“…Christ …. died for sins ONCE for “ALL”…” (1
Peter 3:18 NASB). …” (Galatians 3:26-28 KJV).
The ROLE of HIS BRIDE is give glory to
God, the Holy Spirit. “…Ye shall know [HIS BRIDE]… by their fruits…”
(Matthew 7:16 KJV). “…He(she) who ABIDES in Me and I in him (her), he(she) bears
much fruit …
” (John 15:1-11 NASB). "…My Father is glorified by this, that...[HIS
REDEEMED]... bear much fruit, and so PROVE to be My disciples (MY BRIDE)...”
(John 15:8 NIV).
HOW?
“…God ...does the work
IN AND THROUGH all of us who are his
(the redeemed, HIS BRIDE)… (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). “…The fruit of the Spirit (the righteous
conduct of the Holy Spirit) is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,
faith, Meekness,
temperance…” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV). "....The [indwelling]
...Holy Spirit produces
this kind of fruit in [the
BRIDE’S]... lives …”
(Galatians 5 NLT).
GOD’S BRIDE now KNOW
they been given a greater purpose for being married to God, the Holy Spirit.
They KNOW that the
covenant relationship is meant to serve a GREATER purpose that mere marriage.
HIS BRIDE also knows that in order to serve
that purpose, God will supply everything needed. “…
[God]… will supply [his BRIDE’S]…every
need…” (Philippians 4:19 KJV).
Therefore HIS BRIDE, “…take[s]
…no thought, saying What shall we
eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Where withal shall we be clothed? …[their]…
heavenly Father knoweth that [they]… have need of all these things…”
(Matthew 6 KJV). “…[Their]… God will
supply all [their need]… according to
His riches in glory in
Christ Jesus…” (Philippians 4:19 NASB).
God will take of care
of HIS BRIDE’S every needs. “… [God]…
will supply [his BRIDE’S]…every
need…” (Philippians 4:19 KJV).
God will even take care
of HIS BRIDE’S emotional needs, because he deeply cares for THEM. “...he careth for [the redeeded; his bride]…” (1 Peter 5:7 KJV).
HIS BRIDE can put God first knowing he will take care of every
need. The REDEEMED can rest and be SAFE in his loving, immutable care while
serving his purpose. “…seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness;
and all
these things shall be added unto you…” (Matthew 6:33 KJV). “…[The]…
heavenly Father knoweth that [his bride]… have need of all these things…”
(Matthew 6 KJV).
While he CARES for the
REDEEMS every need, God empowers HIS BRIDE to SERVE his purposes. “…For it is God who works in [HIS BRIDE]… to will and
to act in order to fulfill his good purpose...”
(Philippians 2:13 NIV). “… The God of peace, …equip[s HIS BRIDE]…with everything good for doing his will, and may
he work in …[them]… what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ…”
(Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV). “ …[HIS BRIDE]…can do all things through Christ which
strengtheneth [them]...” (Philippians 4:13 KJV).
The MARRIAGE between
God, the Holy Spirit and the REDEEMED
“IS” the covenant relationship.“... In
Him .., [the
redeemed was]... SEALED ...WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE.…”
(Ephesians 1 NLT). “...he(she)
that is joined (SEALED) unto the Lord (Jesus) is ONE spirit…
[in a covenant relationship with God again]” (1 Corinthians 6:17
KJV).
When the REDEEMED or
GOD’s BRIDE transforms into the MARRIAGE phase they have BECOME fully committed
to God, the Holy Spirit and have
chosen to FULLY serve his WILL and PURPOSES. “... I said to the Lord, “You are my Master! ...” (Psalm
16:2 NLT).
The MARRIAGE to God, the Holy Spirit is NO longer a MERE
moral or religious bond, for the BRIDE, but one of committed LOVE. “…‘We’ve
given up everything to follow you…” (Mark
10:28-31 NLT). “... I desire you more
than anything on earth...” (Psalm 73:23-26 NLT). “….everything else
is worthless when compared with the
infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus [my]… Lord...”
(Philippians 3:8 NLT). “...God
remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever...” (Psalm 73:23-26 NLT). “...my
portion for ever...” (Psalm
73:25-26 KJV). “... I said to the Lord, “You are my Master! Every good thing I have comes from you...” (Psalm 16:2 NLT).
The BRIDE chooses to
submit to God, the Holy Spirit’s ROLE
as LORD over their lives by TRUSTING him, DEPENDING upon him, and cooperating
with him through the leadership of his
WORD.“…not My will,
but Yours be done…" (Luke 22:42-43 NIV). “…I do
nothing of myself…”
(John 8:28 KJV)
The MARRIAGE between God, the Holy Spirit and the REDEEMED is
meant to be a WITNESS for the covenant relationship. “…Ye shall know [HIS BRIDE]… by their fruits…”
(Matthew 7:16 KJV).
“....The bride (the redeemed)...belongs (through the covenant relationship) to the bridegroom (god, the holy spirit)...” (John 3:29 NIV).
“…[People will]… know (WITNESS)
that everything [the redeemed, the BRIDE has]… IS A GIFT “FROM” [God, the Holy
Spirit, their BRIDEGROOM]…”
(John 17:6-9 NLT).
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