I am adapting a message previously written on the Bride of Christ, because of the amazing response I had after posting a video of it on YouTube. I am still getting hits every day and am over 500 in just two weeks.
I decided to post this message in video format also just three days ago, and have had 190 hits already. There seems to be a great interest in the subject. Maybe the Spirit of God is now urgently calling His Church (The Bride) to get herself ready for time is running out. I don’t profess to have the only revelation there is on the subject.
I can see this is an incredibly significant time period before the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord, for these are the days to prepare for Christ’s Return and time is running out.
John the Baptist shouted out before the Lord’s first coming, “Prepare the Way of the Lord,” and these days are no less important.
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.' Mark 1:3
Today the Spirit is moving on His Church with a similar more urgent cry, “Bride get yourself ready.” “Prepare yourself for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.” “Time is running out.”
“Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.” Revelation 19:7
In these end days the Church needs to wake up to the lateness of the hour, for we don’t want to be those 5 foolish virgins who were shut out of the Marriage Banquet. It’s time to ‘Seize the Day.’ With 5 virgins being ready for their Lord and the other 5 unprepared, could it be that only 50% of the Church will be ready for the Lord’s return?
The Bible speaks of this hour and gives us advice on how we can get ourselves ready. One illustration is that of the story of Esther who was chosen to stand before the King of Persia. She had to go through a lot of preparation to get herself ready for the King, and so should we for the King of Kings.
“Before a young woman’s turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics. And this is how she would go to the king:” Esther 2:12-13
I want us to look at Psalm 45 which also speaks of a Marriage, a Bride and a Bridegroom, which is prophetically speaking of the Church the Bride of Christ and her Royal Husband, Christ.
This Psalm is described as a ‘Wedding Song’ in its introduction and seems to be similar in lots of ways to the Song of Songs. It gives us beautiful words and thoughts that can be used in worship to the King. It also helps us understand the love relationship that Jesus has for His Bride, (The Church) and also gives us her thoughts towards Him.
King David was the one who wrote this psalm, and his son Solomon was the one who wrote the Song of Songs, so it appears they must have shared notes together at some stage about love and marriage.
The heart of the Bride is filled with awe for her husband King and there will always be an overflow from our relationship with the King. Her love causes her to speak words of praise that flow from her heart like a river. The Bride of Christ is not barren in the praise department and her worship bursts its banks, refreshing all the dry places of the soul.
“ My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.” Psalm 45:1
I love the way the Message translation renders this verse.
“My heart is bursting its banks, spilling beauty and goodness. I poured it out in a poem to the King, shaping the river into words.” Psalm 45:1 The Message
Oh that we might dwell in this place of worship all the time. Unfortunately there are so many distractions and pressures upon us now days, that hinder us from getting to this place. We need to have an undivided heart if we want to be there. I believe it can get easier to achieve as you begin to know what God wants you to do and become aware of the Devil’s tactics. David said in Psalm 27:4
“One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.”
The Bride of Christ has found this place with Jesus and her pursuit of Him has become an addiction. Once you have been there you never want to go back again. Moses saw God at the burning bush, then again on the Mount, and so much so that it caused His face to shine. Moses still wanted more, for after all that he said to God, show me your glory. ‘That’s all I want’, said Moses, ‘don’t take me any further without your glory.’ For me personally it’s like a ‘sweet spot’ in worship. When you are in this place beautiful words flow from the depths of your heart. The Passion translation describes Psalm 27:4 in a more powerful way. David longed to find that place, and to see the face of his Lord.
“Here’s the one thing I crave from God, the one thing I seek above all else: I want the privilege of living with him every moment in his house, finding the sweet loveliness of his face, filled with awe, delighting in his glory and grace. I want to live my life so close to him that he takes pleasure in my every prayer.” Psalm 27:4 TPT
The climax of worship is when your heart bursts its banks and spills out in a spontaneous love song to the King. Many people sing songs about their lovers, country, pets and even their problems. But this song in Psalm 45 is a love song to the King – Christ, the Fairest of them all. Her mind is flooded with excellent thoughts of the King.
Verse 2 begins with words of worship about the excellency of Christ. There is no one like Him, He’s fairer than the sons of Adam.
“You are the most excellent of men and your lips have been anointed with grace, since God has blessed you forever.” NIV
“You are the most handsome of all. Gracious words stream from your lips. God himself has blessed you forever.” NLT
Another translation says. “You far surpass all mankind for beauty.”
Indeed He is worthy of a love song, there is no one else as beautiful as Christ, even the highest Arch Angel stands in awe of Him.
“The highest angelic powers stand in awe of God. He is far more awesome than all who surround his throne.” Psalm 89:7
Psalm 45:2 also mentions the lips of the King being anointed with grace. The Song of Songs also begins with a reference to the King’s lips smothering the Bride with kisses. Kisses come from the mouth and would speak to us of His words of love towards His Bride.
“I will sing a love song to my King that he might smother me with kisses.” Song of Songs 1:1
You’ll notice that after she sings a love song to the King - the kisses come.
“Listen, O daughter, Consider and incline your ear; Forget your own people also, and your father’s house; So the King will greatly desire your beauty; Because He is your Lord, worship Him.” Psalm 45:10-11
I find these verses very powerful. The King is calling to the woman to leave her people and come and give Him her full attention. He wants her beautiful worship, and to come and be one with Him. This is the heart of the Bride of Christ. If the Bride is to get herself ready then this attitude and garment of praise needs to be part of her clothing. Unfortunately there are many Christians who only want to point the finger and criticise others who think differently to them. Look at what it says in the Passion Translation.
“Now listen, daughter, pay attention, and forget about your past. Put behind you every attachment to the familiar, even those who once were close to you! For your royal Bridegroom is ravished by your beautiful brightness. Bow in reverence before him, for he is your Lord!”
Jesus wants His Church, His Bride to fall in love with Him. Fall for His beauty, His glorious attributes, and all of His ways. May our love for Him surpass our love for people, our country and our possessions. May there be nothing that takes up our focus more than Him.
Verse 11. “He greatly desires your beauty.”
Another translation says. ”He greatly desires your love.” How do you see yourself in God’s eyes?” Have you ever forgiven yourself for some of the things you did in the past? Do you hate your body? Do you hate your life? Remember that you are now a new creature in Christ, perfect in His eyes. You’re accepted in the beloved, and your confessed sin is under the blood. Even your mistakes and sins can be worked out by God for good. You need to see yourself as God sees you for the circle of love to be complete.
Its so amazing that Jesus finds His Bride so attractive. He is ravished by the beauty of His new creation. She is fresher than the dawn, fairer than the moon, purer than the sun, she’s utterly captivating.
The Bible says time and again that in Christ we are accepted by God.
“To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” Ephesians. 1:6
Receive these words of love from the King and you’ll be able to sing Him a new song with all your heart, with your banks overflowing in beauty and goodness. Not only will you please the heart of God by doing this, but you’ll rid yourself of a lot of frustration and tension. Worship is our highest calling and gives us the greatest satisfaction in life. Believe me.
I believe that those who are the Bride of Christ are in love with the King. Its possible to be a Christian and not in love with Him. You are saved and that is by faith, but how far you go with your love for Him is another matter.
Jesus said to the 5 unwise Virgins that He never ‘knew’ them. They didn’t have an intimate knowledge of Him. Bride get yourself ready, use these days to get to know the Lord so that you might be prepared for Him on that Great Day.