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Showing posts with label Bridegroom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bridegroom. Show all posts

Thursday, October 15, 2015

IN Name Only- A Dream of Two Sisters

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If you have any American cash or coins, take a minute to look at them.  Can you find the words, “IN GOD WE TRUST” on them?

Like streets signs you pass by everyday but pay no mind to their name, so goes the words, “IN GOD WE TRUST” on American currency that gets shoved into our pockets, wallets and purses.

Does America trust in God, considering it’s present undertakings and falling morality?

Annuit Coeptis?  God certainly would not favor America’s present positions.  We would have to be ignorant to His Word for one and brash to think God would continue to favor America and let America get away with such immorality.

Present lawmakers, by their choices, seem to think they can govern and make a nation great without God. This is far from the heart and mindset of the forefathers of the United States who established America’s republic in the everlasting truths of God. 

“The great, vital, and conservative element in our system is the belief of our people in the pure doctrines and the divine truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” - Charles Carroll, Congress 1854

Had the people, during the Revolution, had a suspicion of any attempt to war against Christianity, that Revolution would have been strangled in its cradle... In this age, there can be no substitute for Christianity... That was the religion of the founders of the republic and they expected it to remain the religion of their descendants.” – signer of the Constitution - Charles Carroll.

Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they, therefore, who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime and pure...are undermining the solid foundation of morals, the best security for the duration of free governments”- Charles Carroll

It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible.” - George Washington 
Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.”– George Washington

“In the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior. The Declaration of Independence laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity.” - John Quincy Adams


Further these present politicians seem to distance themselves from God, and only use God’s name when to suits them.  They forget God makes a nation great and without God, men make a nation and themselves a disgrace.  

It has become like the quote, "History has become legend and legend to myth."  This has only happened in 239 years.

 Two Sisters

In a recent dream, there were two sisters.  There was a younger sister and an older sister.  The younger sister is certain the groom is going to marry her.  In haste she buys her wedding gown and tells people about the wedding but the groom isn’t interested in her but instead her older sister.  He has been in love with her for sometime.  She is not brash like her younger sister but conservative in outer appearance and attitude.   The groom tells the mother he can’t marry the younger sister because he doesn’t know her.   His heart is solely for the older sister.  He “knows” the older sister intimately.  They have danced and he has lain down with her, consummating the marriage. 

I had to look this up but in the Hebrew the word is “ginōskō“.   It is to sexually/intimately know. 

Example of this is Joseph did not “ginōskō” Mary until after Jesus was born. 
“And did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son.  And he called His name JESUS.” Matthew 1:25

The groom in this case “knows” the older sister intimately and sexually.  Like Mary, who was a virgin, who became pregnant by the Holy Spirit.  Note: Matthew 1:18

“Look! The virgin will conceive a child!  She will give birth to a son, and he will be called Immanuel (meaning, God is with us).” Matthew 1:23

However I believe these sisters are illustrations.  They are not two human sisters like Mary and Martha or Leah and Rachel but are illustrations of two countries.

Ezekiel 23:2,4 uses similar language as the dream when speaking of the sisters. 

" Son of man, once there were two sisters who were daughters of the same mother."  The older girl’s was named Oholah and her sister was Oholibah, I married them, and they bore me sons and daughters.  I am speaking of Samaria and Jerusalem, for Oholah is Samaria and Oholibah is Jerusalem.
   
I believe the mother, is the illustration, of the belief/faith that birthed these two countries.

I could only think of Israel and the United States as two such countries born from the belief faith in the ONE TRUE GOD.

Historically speaking, Israel would be the older sister and United States would be the younger sister.

Knowing of someone is different then knowing them, trusting, depending, looking to and so on…  The present spiritual state of United States- the powers that be, shows it only wants “relations” with the worldly narrative and society.  It trusts not in God but in worldly elements such as money and popularity.   It may want the benefits of God but she has shown herself unfaithful to God.  If you were God, would you want to marry/support a country that has adulterous and idolatrous actions and thoughts in her mind and heart?  How could God bless a nation that goes against Him?  

God says, “You shall have no other gods before me.”  Who does America trust?  Does it trust in itself?  Does it trust in money?  Does it trust in its past reputation?  What lusts drive it?  Does it have any self-control or does it continue to fall deeper and deeper into sin?

Jesus said, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.
James 4:6 says “… God sets himself against the proud, but shows favor to the humble.”

United States in a nation who turns to God in crisis but then forgets Him.

We see lies and injustices in government officials and courts, a mounting tidal wave of debt, a rise in drug use, and an American holocaust where babies are killed for convenience and profit.  We see people calling what is good bad and bad good.  We see discontentment and distrust in government leaders, we see same sex marriage become legalized and celebrated even in and on the White House.   We see our government falsely accusing Israel of terrorism for going after those who have hurt and killed their own.  We see our government publically declassifying private information about Israel?  Is that a way to treat a sister?   We see America’s government unable and unwilling to rescue and negotiate for American citizens to be released from a Muslim country but give this same Muslim country billions of dollars to support their “nuclear development technology”.   Further this Muslim country hates Israel and its people chant death to America on public television.  America reminds me of the church of Laodicea who said, “ I am rich.  I have everything I want.  I don’t need a thing! And God said to it,  “You don’t realize you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.”  Further America now persecutes Christians with jail time and fines for not following the rules of the land, rules that go directly against God’s word.

How backward American has become, this nation founded on principles and truths of God is now persecuting those compelled to live by the principles and truths of God.    

Followers of Christ remember this:

Jesus said, “God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are my followers.  Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven.  And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too.”  Matthew 5:11-12

Christians will be like the prophets who spoke out and lived out their faith while their nation fell to sin, was taken by its enemies and was even destroyed.  Christians will suffer by and for actions of unbelievers.  In a way, if we are not taken up before then, we will taste a little tiny measure of what Christ suffered for the sins of the world. 

Jesus said, “Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.”  Also “Then you will be arrested, persecuted and killed.  You will be hated all over the world because of your allegiance to me.”  Matthew 24:9

Again God does not “know” a country that denies him.  He does not propagate a nation that does not follow, pursues, trusts, submits to, and loves Him.

I know this isn't an uplifting message and seems harsh but sometimes the truth is the truth, no matter if it's comforting or not.  But I want to share one more thing.  God spoke this to me this morning as I was relieving some burdens, "There are very many moments that come and go on the Christian stage but stay faithful to what you do know so you do not give up hope and become weary."  





 

Wednesday, February 04, 2015

Dream

On the first month of the 26th day of the year twenty fifteen I was given a dream…
I had never experienced a dream quite like this before.  In my dreams I have always been myself, at least I believe it to be so, but this time I experienced the position of someone else's point of view.  And after the dream I had to ask if this dream was from God and if it was... "What did it all mean?"  He directed me to Song of Songs.  I will do my best to reference these illustrations with biblical texts.
      
In this dream I was put in the position of the groom.   The groom had been away and was returning from afar.  Jesus is the groom/bridegroom.  (John 3:29-36)


References
“Who is this sweeping in from the wilderness like a cloud of smoke along the ground? Who is it that smells of myrrh and frankincense and every other spice?” Song of Songs 3:6

“Who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning on her lover?” Song of Songs 8:5

When the groom enters the house “He” sees his bride and her father.  The father is dressing her in white. The Father (God) tells the groom, the bride’s dress is modest and conservative where not even the backing of the dress shows the skin on her lower back.  Her blond straight hair is made up into a bun on the back of her head.

(There is something beautiful about a modestly dressed woman with her hair up.  A woman who has saved all the enticing attributes of her physical body for her husband.  Now think about this in a spiritual sense as our bodies are the temple of God.)
 
The bride is an illustration of the Christian church.

 References:
“For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called.” Isaiah 54:5


“And you husbands must love your wives with the same love Christ showed the church.  He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the baptism of God’s word.  He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead she is holy and without fault.” Ephesians 5:26-27


“Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” Revelation 19:7-9


And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  Revelation 21:2


And let us not forget the verse “first love” in Revelation 2:4


I noticed a label on the dress that read “Infinity”. Think about what a label represents... When you think of a label you think of the maker of the label.  You think of the designer.  You think of the person who owns it.  The label is a seal.


References
The “seal” has nothing to do with us but Jesus to whom we belong and those who belong to Jesus have been given the Holy Spirit.


And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:13

Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.  2 Corinthians 1:21-22

The groom kisses his bride’s warm moist lips that were full of passion for her soon to be husband.  She has been waiting for Him with anticipation.  She loves Him with all her heart, mind, body and soul. 


References
“Your lips, my bride, are as sweet as honey.  Yes, honey and cream are under your tongue.” Song of Songs 4:11

“May your kisses be as exciting as the best wine, smooth and sweet, flowing gently over lips and teeth.” Song of Songs 6:9

“As the deer pants for the streams of water, so I long for you, O God.  I thirst for God, the living God.  When can I come and stand before him?” Psalm 42:1-2

“Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind’.” Matthew 22:37

The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Isaiah 58:11


“You are like a private garden, my treasure, my bride!  You are like a spring that no one else can drink from, a fountain of my own.”  Song of Songs 4:12

These last two verses reminds me of our "personal" relationship with the Lord.   It seems no matter how well we may verbally or inscribe that content we receive from the God it is not to the depth and meaning in which we received it.   It's personal....  and with anything personal- no words can accurately convey it's meaning.   It is a "spring" and "fountain" with the Lord that we only can fully enjoy.  


It is as Proverbs 14:10 states: "Each heart knows it own bitterness and no one else can fully share it's joy."
   

It is spiritual matrimony of sorts because it is an intimate partnership.   God invented marriage to illustrate this truth as well.  Our relationship with our spouse is like a fountain no one else can drink from.  It is meant to be an intimate partnership just as our relationship with the Lord is to be.  And in that partnership precious spiritual fruit is grown.

“You are like a private garden, my treasure, my bride! You are like a spring that no one else can drink from, a fountain of my own.  You are like a lovely orchard bearing precious fruit, with the rarest of perfumes: nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, myrrh and aloes, and perfume from every incense tree, and every other lovely spice.   You are a garden fountain, a well of living water, as refreshing as the streams from the Lebanon mountains.”   Song of Songs 4:12-15
  

"He who believes in Me (Jesus), as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'"  John 7:38


The “family” shared a satisfying filling meal with the groom.


References
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20


“I am the bread of life.  No one who comes to me will ever be hungry again.   Those who believe in me will never thirst” John 6:35



The Father then asked the bride’s mother to dance with the groom and that she did gracefully with no utterance.


This dance, reminds me Jeremiah 31.

"This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt.  They broke that covenant, though I loved them as a husband loves his wife," says the LORD.  But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel after those days," says the LORD. "I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts.  I will be their God and they will be my people.  And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying 'You should know the LORD.'  For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already," says the LORD.  And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins." Jeremiah 31:32-34


For how could God not remember their sin? A sacrificial animal offering was to cover skin but it wasn't forgotten but to be forgotten they must put their faith in God's Son, Jesus Christ who was the sin offering for all humanity and of all the ages of man.  For not only would their sin not be remembered by God, but they too would be given the Holy Spirit who puts God's instructions deep with them and they we know the LORD. 


It is as it is written: "And I will give you a new obedient heart.  And I will put my Spirit in you so you will obey my laws and do whatever I command."  Ezekiel 36:26-27


In dream the groom gently took hold of the wife's soft hand and put his other hand around her petite frame.  The mother exuded warmth, peace, purity and unfading beauty in her quiet persona, which I cannot accurately describe..... For one would have to dance with her to experience such things. And this experience has encouraged me to seek God to take on some of her honorable attributes in Spirit.  She did not wear fancy clothes but a simple dress and long sleeve blouse or shirt.  She was of natural beauty.  She was earthy in the good sense.  She wore no jewelry and had her long straight auburn hair tied back in a simple ponytail.

The mother is probably Judaism.  Judaism is where Christianity comes forth from- for Jesus is the Messiah of the Jews and Gentiles.  Jesus is the Savior.

For Jesus said, "You Samaritans know so little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews."  John 4:22 

The mother, petite, is like Israel who small but beautiful and precious in God’s sight.  And those who listen to God will “dance” with the Son of God- Jesus Christ who is the lasting covenant with God's people.
   

References


The mother was all that 1 Peter 3:1-4 speaks of:


Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.  Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

 “As the church submits to Christ, so you wives must submit to your husbands in everything.” Ephesians 5:24

At the end of the dream there was no wedding. There was no banquet of great celebration. The groom did not sleep with the bride.  He loves the bride and she loves Him.  The groom did not sleep in the family’s house but stayed right outside on some high platform were He kept watch- for a sign perhaps.

Reference

“Before the dawn comes and the shadows flee away, I will go to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of frankincense.  You are so beautiful, my beloved, so perfect in every part.” Song of Songs 4:6

The dream ends there.  Bride of Christ is waiting for her Lord to come with anticipation and every ounce of her being.  She is looking forward to being united with her Lord but as she does so, she is also waiting for the God's will to be done.
 
It reminds me of these verses:

“First I want to remind you that in the last days there will be scoffers who will laugh at the truth and do every evil thing they desire.   This will be their argument: ‘Jesus promised to come back, did he?  Then where is he?  Why, as far back as anyone can remember, everything has remained exactly the same since the world was first created’. They deliberately forget that God made the heavens by the word of his command, and he brought the earth up from the water and surrounded it with water.  Then he used the water to destroy the world with a mighty flood.  And God has also commanded that the heavens and the earth will be consumed by fire on the day of judgment when ungodly people will perish.  But you must not forget, dear friends, that a day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day.  The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise to return, as some people think.  No, he is being patient for your sake.  He does not want anyone to perish, so he is giving more time for everyone to repent.  But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief.  Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and everything in them will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be exposed to judgment.” 2 Peter 3:3-10

And then we know why Spirit emphasizes this verse…


“Promise me, O women of Jerusalem, by the swift gazelles and the deer of the wild, not to awaken love until the time is right.”  Song of Songs 3:7

May God be given praise.