The Bride of Christ Lesson 5d (The Bridegroom: Preparation and Provision for Wedding)

Today we will continue looking at the fifth characteristic of the Bridegroom: Preparation and Provision.    

As I’ve stated, we are investigating the traditional Jewish wedding customs/ceremony as they were practiced in Biblical times. Today we will continue to look at part two: the time of preparation (the bride).      

Revelation 19:7, Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself. (NLT)  

The Bride’s Responsibilities During the Preparation  

Ephesians 5:27, and that He might present to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish.  

Jesus is coming back for a spotless bride.  We will continue today using the acronym BRIDE as we look at each of our preparation responsibilities as the Bride of Christ. 

Recap of last lesson. 

B- Be Filled with and Led by the Spirit (Walking in Anointing) 

R- Remain Watchful 

I-Invest in Love 

Today we will focus on:  

D –Devotion to Intimacy 

John 17:3, And this is eternal life: [it means] to know (to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with, and understand) You, the only true and real God, and [likewise] to know Him, Jesus [as the] Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), Whom You have sent. (AMPC) 

Webster 1828 dictionary defines intimacy as: Close familiarity or fellowship; nearness in friendship.  Another definition I read that I like better is to know and be known.   

The essence of intimacy is to know someone else for who they are and to be known by them simply for who we are, without any pretense or façade.i 

Why do we need intimacy with God? 

2 Peter 1:3-4, His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who has called us by His own glory and excellence, by which He has given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, so that through these things you might become partakers of the divine nature and escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. 

This verse tells us that God has given us everything we need for life and godliness through His divine power. However, everything we need is not automatically dropped into our lap at salvation.  At salvation we gain access to everything, but our receiving is contingent upon our knowledge of him (God/Jesus) who has called us by His glory and excellence.  This knowledge can only be gained through intimacy, through knowing God and being known by Him!!! 

First, Intimacy Brings Life. 

John 11:25-26, Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, yet shall he live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 

John 6:35, Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me shall never hunger, and whoever believes in Me shall never thirst. 

John 10:10, The thief does not come, except to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. 

Christ gives abundant life, for he is the bread of life, however, we must believe in Him to receive that life.  To believe in him we must know him. This type of knowledge does not come from just hearing about him.  It comes through deep fellowship with him. This level of fellowship is only possible through reading and meditating on his Word and through spending time in communication with him, through intimacy.   

Second, Intimacy Fosters Love. 

Isaiah 54:10a, For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. (NLT) 

Zephaniah 3:17, The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. (ESV) 

Romans 8:37-39, No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

1 John 4:16, And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 

The more time we spend together with Jesus, the more we understand his love for us and can then give his love back to him. 1 John 4:19 says, We love Him because He first loved us. Only through intimacy can we experience the magnitude of God’s love for us.   

In Ephesians 3:17-19 Paul prayed these words over the believes in Ephesus.  I pray them over you now!!! “and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” 

Thirdly, Intimacy Cultivates Trust. 

Proverbs 3:5-6, Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths. 

Psalm 56:3-4, In the day when I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God whose word I praise, in God I have trusted; I will not fear. What can mere flesh do to me? 

Psalm 37:5, Commit your way to the Lord; trust also in Him, and He will bring it to pass. 

Isaiah 26:3-4, You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in God the Lord we have an everlasting rock. 

To illustrate: I trust my husband with my life because he has proven through our relationship that he is trustworthy. My deep knowledge of him and firsthand experiences with him, allow me to trust that he is looking out for the best interests of my children and myself.  The longer we have been together the deeper that level of trust has become.   

The same holds true for our relationship with God. The depth of our trust in God directly correlates to our level of intimacy with God.  

Fourth, Intimacy Protects Peace. 

2 Thessalonians 3:16, Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all. 

Philippians 4:6-7, Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with gratitude, make your requests known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will protect your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 

Psalm 4:8, I will both lie down in peace and sleep; for You, Lord, make me dwell safely and securely. 

Proverbs 16:7, When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. 

When we know that we have been given life and are loved by God and we are so intimately acquainted with God that we know he is totally trustworthy, we can then walk in peace that surpasses understanding! We can find rest in him even amid the storms of life!! 

Isaiah 26:3, You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. 

As I stated above, our level of intimacy with God directly correlates to our levels of trust and peace.  It also impacts our ability to receive everything we need for life and godliness as well as our understanding of the depth of love the Father has for us.   

As I studied for this lesson, I discovered 4 levels of intimacy found in Exodus 24.  I want to briefly touch on each of the levels. We will look at the 4 levels as a target beginning with the outermost ring. 

 

Level 1: The outer circle (Acquaintance) 

The outer circle is composed of those who know about the Lord but only have a shallow relationship with him. They might attend church regularly but have no real desire to get personally acquainted with Jesus past their initial salvation experience.   

Exodus 24:2, Moses alone shall come near the Lord, but they shall not come near, nor may the people go up with him. 

Exodus 19:11-12, ...and be ready for the third day, for on the third day the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people on Mount Sinai. You shall set boundaries for the people all around, saying, ‘Take heed to yourselves so that you not go up onto the mountain or touch its border. Whoever touches the mountain will surely be put to death. 

The people of Israel we not allowed to come near to God.  They had to stay off the mountain where the Lord’s presence dwelt, or they would die.  Sadly, most of the people were content with this relationship with God. When Moses told them God’s instruction about staying off the mountain, they readily agreed (Exodus 24:3).  

Level 2: The second circle (Friend) 

This level is made up of those who have pushed further up the mountain and have seen a glimpse of God. They have not opened themselves up to be moved upon by him, however, they have witnessed his working in the lives of others.  They have a desire for more but not the motivation to press further.  Occasional Bible reading or prayer when there is a need but nothing consistent or intimate. 

Exodus 24:9-11, Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel, and under His feet there was something like a paved work of sapphire stone as clear as the sky itself. He did not lay His hand upon the nobles of the children of Israel. Also they saw God, and they ate and they drank. 

Level 3: The third circle (Close Friend) 

This circle is made up of those, who like Joshua, press higher up the mountain to experience the Shekinah glory of God for themselves.  Those who make intimacy with God a regular part of their daily life.    

Exodus 24:13-14a, Moses rose up with Joshua his attendant, and Moses went up to the mountain of God. He said to the elders, “Wait for us in this place until we return to you. 

Level 4: The inner circle (Laid Down Lovers) 

This circle is made of up the smallest percentage. These are those who have made intimacy their highest priority. They daily acknowledge their total dependence on God and walk in continual communion with him.  They talk to him face to face.  They walk in humble obedience and submission to his will.  They want all that God has to offer them.  This is the level God desires us all to reach! This level takes daily conscience choice and effort on our part. 

Exodus 24:15-16, Moses went up to the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the Lord rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. And on the seventh day He called to Moses from the midst of the cloud. 

Exodus 33:11, The Lord spoke to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. When he returned to the camp, his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tent. 

Exodus 33:18-22, Then Moses said, “I pray, show me Your glory.” 

Then He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.” He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live.” 

Then the Lord said, “Indeed, there is a place by Me. You must stand on the rock. While My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. Then I will take away My hand, and you will see My back, but My face may not be seen.” 

Numbers 12:8a, Face to face I speak with him [Moses] clearly, and not in riddles, and the likeness of the Lord will he behold.” [My addition for clarification.] 

Moses wanted all of God that he could get.  He longed to be closer to God as he understood his total dependence upon God.  He spoke with God like a mans speaks to his friend. He asked to see God’s face.  His face is his glory.  God wants us to seek his face daily. To rest, live, move, walk, work, and abide in his glory is the essence of intimacy. We can have it if we choose. 

Both Scripture and experience teach that it is we, not God, who determine the degree of intimacy with Him that we enjoy. We are at this moment as close to God as we really choose to be.ii 

In closing, intimacy brings life, fosters love, cultivates trust, and protects peace.  The level of intimacy we have with God is based on our choice not God’s willingness.  He is always ready to meet us as we draw near to him!! 

Questions for reflection:             

1. Am I daily seeking to have intimacy with God?         

2. Am I experiencing a deeper level of the breadth and length and depth and height of God’s love than I did last year? Last month? Last week? Yesterday?     

3. If they answer to question 2 is “no”, what is keeping me from going deeper?       

4. Have I become content in one of the three outer circles or am I daily pressing to climb higher up the mountain of intimacy with God?           

Note: All Scripture references are from the MEV unless otherwise specified.       

Works Cited:

i https://restoringthefoundations.org/podcast/intimacy-with-god/ 

ii https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/resources/four-circles-of-intimacy-with-god/