Randy Green's Blog - Posts Tagged "revelation-22"
Unique Wedding Invitation – Part 1
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost [Revelation 22:17].
I remember my wedding. The invitations went out, inviting the guests to the gala event. The invitation read something like this: “The people of God cordially request your attendance to witness the union of Randy & Jossie”. Of course it was a little more formal than that. It did include our full legal names!
This memory got me to thinking. At a wedding it is traditional for the bride to be given to the groom by the bride’s father. Am I not right? In that context consider the phrase in the Bible verse quoted above: The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Sounds like a wedding invitation to me.
Even more, it smacks of the father of the bride and his daughter. This Scripture has to do with inviting folks to come to the Lord Jesus and live. Anyone doing so is born again, which is to be baptized in the Spirit as a part of the Church. The Church is the Bride of Christ Jesus.
Let’s list the apposite Biblical truths:
• the Groom is the Lord Jesus
• the Bride is the Church
• the Spirit indwells the Bride and fits her for her Groom
Now let’s roll this concept over our tongue a bit and get the full flavor. When I was born, my parents were the source of my life. Of course God gives life, but His normal way of doing so is through procreation. This is to be done within the context of one man/one woman marriage.
In this vein when I was born again, I received the new life of the Spirit. The Spirit is the source of my new life, indwelling me and conforming me into the image of Jesus. Do you see the correlation between parents in the natural realm and the Spirit in the spiritual realm?
Now consider the phrase The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” It is the wedding invitation. The Bride is the Church, the Groom is the Lord Jesus, and the Bride’s parent is the Spirit. The Bride and her Father are inviting everyone who will to the wedding ceremony.
This is a most unusual ceremony, however. Those who do come don’t function as the attendees. They come to the Lord Jesus, the Groom, and are born again. In doing so they too become a part of the Bride, the Church. By accepting the invitation, the guests are transformed into the Bride who sends the invitations.
Wow! This is deep theology. We must continue this analysis and see what else we can learn. But it will have to wait until the morrow. Let’s visit with the Groom now.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
I remember my wedding. The invitations went out, inviting the guests to the gala event. The invitation read something like this: “The people of God cordially request your attendance to witness the union of Randy & Jossie”. Of course it was a little more formal than that. It did include our full legal names!
This memory got me to thinking. At a wedding it is traditional for the bride to be given to the groom by the bride’s father. Am I not right? In that context consider the phrase in the Bible verse quoted above: The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Sounds like a wedding invitation to me.
Even more, it smacks of the father of the bride and his daughter. This Scripture has to do with inviting folks to come to the Lord Jesus and live. Anyone doing so is born again, which is to be baptized in the Spirit as a part of the Church. The Church is the Bride of Christ Jesus.
Let’s list the apposite Biblical truths:
• the Groom is the Lord Jesus
• the Bride is the Church
• the Spirit indwells the Bride and fits her for her Groom
Now let’s roll this concept over our tongue a bit and get the full flavor. When I was born, my parents were the source of my life. Of course God gives life, but His normal way of doing so is through procreation. This is to be done within the context of one man/one woman marriage.
In this vein when I was born again, I received the new life of the Spirit. The Spirit is the source of my new life, indwelling me and conforming me into the image of Jesus. Do you see the correlation between parents in the natural realm and the Spirit in the spiritual realm?
Now consider the phrase The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” It is the wedding invitation. The Bride is the Church, the Groom is the Lord Jesus, and the Bride’s parent is the Spirit. The Bride and her Father are inviting everyone who will to the wedding ceremony.
This is a most unusual ceremony, however. Those who do come don’t function as the attendees. They come to the Lord Jesus, the Groom, and are born again. In doing so they too become a part of the Bride, the Church. By accepting the invitation, the guests are transformed into the Bride who sends the invitations.
Wow! This is deep theology. We must continue this analysis and see what else we can learn. But it will have to wait until the morrow. Let’s visit with the Groom now.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Unique Wedding Invitation – Part 2
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost [Revelation 22:17].
Imagine folks, as they go to their mailbox and pick up their mail. As they sort through the various correspondence, they find a most attractive envelope sporting a seal and vignette. It is a wedding invitation from the world’s most famous person. Wow! They are floored.
Of course they accept the invitation. RSVPs are dispatched forthwith by overnight delivery and plans are made for their trip to the ceremony. Who in their right mind wouldn’t attend? It is an honor to be invited, one never anticipated or expected. It is a most humbling experience.
The world’s most famous person, the Groom, is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. He is marrying His Church, the Bride. This will occur at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. The father of the Bride is the Holy Spirit. He has teemed up with His daughter to invite all mankind to the ceremony.
Though it seems incongruous, nay, unconceivable, that anyone in their right mind would decline the invite, alas, a not inconsiderable number of folks do just that. Those who do not accept demonstrate thereby that they are not in their right mind. Sin makes us crazy, dear people. When we submit to sin we become certified loonies. We are not in our right mind.
Those who do accept the gracious offer, however, form a sizable contingent of mankind. Even more, they are transformed from being attendees into being the Bride. Whoever heard of a wedding invitation having such powers? Wow!
Now that they are the Bride too, they join in sending out the invitations. The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” They, you see, fit the criteria “the one who hears”, so they also say, “Come.” They join in by inviting others to the ceremony.
This pretty much exhausts the list of folks from the quoted Bible verse which began this study. Oh, I almost forgot! We did leave off some folks who are essential to the story. They would be,
• the one who is thirsty
• the one who wishes
The one who is thirsty should “Come!” because there will be plenty of invigorating drink at the ceremony. He will have no difficulty quenching his thirst. After all, the Groom is able to change water into wine.
The one who wishes should “Come!” He will sate his thirst with an abundance of the water of life. Yea, even better, he won’t have to pay a penny for it! It is totally free of charge. It doesn’t get any better than this.
I guess all that’s left to ponder is where I fit in the story. Am I a part of the Bride of Christ? Perhaps I am not but I am one who is thirsty. Maybe I am one who wishes to drink of the water of life without cost.
Whoever I may be, one thing is certain: I am invited! It’s up to me how I will respond to the invitation. Will I come? Will I drink of the water of life freely, i.e., by grace?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Imagine folks, as they go to their mailbox and pick up their mail. As they sort through the various correspondence, they find a most attractive envelope sporting a seal and vignette. It is a wedding invitation from the world’s most famous person. Wow! They are floored.
Of course they accept the invitation. RSVPs are dispatched forthwith by overnight delivery and plans are made for their trip to the ceremony. Who in their right mind wouldn’t attend? It is an honor to be invited, one never anticipated or expected. It is a most humbling experience.
The world’s most famous person, the Groom, is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. He is marrying His Church, the Bride. This will occur at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. The father of the Bride is the Holy Spirit. He has teemed up with His daughter to invite all mankind to the ceremony.
Though it seems incongruous, nay, unconceivable, that anyone in their right mind would decline the invite, alas, a not inconsiderable number of folks do just that. Those who do not accept demonstrate thereby that they are not in their right mind. Sin makes us crazy, dear people. When we submit to sin we become certified loonies. We are not in our right mind.
Those who do accept the gracious offer, however, form a sizable contingent of mankind. Even more, they are transformed from being attendees into being the Bride. Whoever heard of a wedding invitation having such powers? Wow!
Now that they are the Bride too, they join in sending out the invitations. The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” They, you see, fit the criteria “the one who hears”, so they also say, “Come.” They join in by inviting others to the ceremony.
This pretty much exhausts the list of folks from the quoted Bible verse which began this study. Oh, I almost forgot! We did leave off some folks who are essential to the story. They would be,
• the one who is thirsty
• the one who wishes
The one who is thirsty should “Come!” because there will be plenty of invigorating drink at the ceremony. He will have no difficulty quenching his thirst. After all, the Groom is able to change water into wine.
The one who wishes should “Come!” He will sate his thirst with an abundance of the water of life. Yea, even better, he won’t have to pay a penny for it! It is totally free of charge. It doesn’t get any better than this.
I guess all that’s left to ponder is where I fit in the story. Am I a part of the Bride of Christ? Perhaps I am not but I am one who is thirsty. Maybe I am one who wishes to drink of the water of life without cost.
Whoever I may be, one thing is certain: I am invited! It’s up to me how I will respond to the invitation. Will I come? Will I drink of the water of life freely, i.e., by grace?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Unique Wedding Invitation – Part 1
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost [Revelation 22:17].
I remember my wedding. The invitations went out, inviting the guests to the gala event. The invitation read something like this: “The people of God cordially request your attendance to witness the union of Randy & Jossie”. Of course it was a little more formal than that. It did include our full legal names!
This memory got me to thinking. At a wedding it is traditional for the bride to be given to the groom by the bride’s father. Am I not right? In that context consider the phrase in the Bible verse quoted above: The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Sounds like a wedding invitation to me.
Even more, it smacks of the father of the bride and his daughter. This Scripture has to do with inviting folks to come to the Lord Jesus and live. Anyone doing so is born again, which means he is baptized with the Spirit as a part of the Church. The Church is the Bride of Christ Jesus.
Let’s list the apposite Biblical truths:
• the Groom is the Lord Jesus
• the Bride is the Church
• the Spirit indwells the Bride and fits her for her Groom
Now let’s roll this concept over our tongue a bit and get the full flavor. When I was born, my parents were the source of my life. Of course God gives life, but His normal way of doing so is through procreation. This is to be done within the context of one man/one woman marriage.
In this vein when I was born again, I received the new life of the Spirit. The Spirit is the source of my new life, indwelling me and conforming me into the image of Jesus. Do you see the correlation between parents in the natural realm and the Spirit in the spiritual realm?
Now consider the phrase The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” It is the wedding invitation. The Bride is the Church, the Groom is the Lord Jesus, and the Bride’s parent is the Spirit. The Bride and her Father are inviting everyone who will to the wedding ceremony.
This is a most unusual ceremony, however. Those who do come don’t function as the attendees. They come to the Lord Jesus, the Groom, and are born again. In doing so they too become a part of the Bride, the Church. By accepting the invitation, the guests are transformed into the Bride who sends the invitations.
Wow! This is deep theology. We must continue this analysis and see what else we can learn. But it will have to wait until the morrow. Let’s visit with the Groom now.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
I remember my wedding. The invitations went out, inviting the guests to the gala event. The invitation read something like this: “The people of God cordially request your attendance to witness the union of Randy & Jossie”. Of course it was a little more formal than that. It did include our full legal names!
This memory got me to thinking. At a wedding it is traditional for the bride to be given to the groom by the bride’s father. Am I not right? In that context consider the phrase in the Bible verse quoted above: The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Sounds like a wedding invitation to me.
Even more, it smacks of the father of the bride and his daughter. This Scripture has to do with inviting folks to come to the Lord Jesus and live. Anyone doing so is born again, which means he is baptized with the Spirit as a part of the Church. The Church is the Bride of Christ Jesus.
Let’s list the apposite Biblical truths:
• the Groom is the Lord Jesus
• the Bride is the Church
• the Spirit indwells the Bride and fits her for her Groom
Now let’s roll this concept over our tongue a bit and get the full flavor. When I was born, my parents were the source of my life. Of course God gives life, but His normal way of doing so is through procreation. This is to be done within the context of one man/one woman marriage.
In this vein when I was born again, I received the new life of the Spirit. The Spirit is the source of my new life, indwelling me and conforming me into the image of Jesus. Do you see the correlation between parents in the natural realm and the Spirit in the spiritual realm?
Now consider the phrase The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” It is the wedding invitation. The Bride is the Church, the Groom is the Lord Jesus, and the Bride’s parent is the Spirit. The Bride and her Father are inviting everyone who will to the wedding ceremony.
This is a most unusual ceremony, however. Those who do come don’t function as the attendees. They come to the Lord Jesus, the Groom, and are born again. In doing so they too become a part of the Bride, the Church. By accepting the invitation, the guests are transformed into the Bride who sends the invitations.
Wow! This is deep theology. We must continue this analysis and see what else we can learn. But it will have to wait until the morrow. Let’s visit with the Groom now.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Unique Wedding Invitation – Part 2
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost [Revelation 22:17].
Imagine folks, as they go to their mailbox and pick up their mail. As they sort through the various correspondence, they find a most attractive envelope sporting a seal and vignette. It is a wedding invitation from the world’s most famous person. Wow! They are floored.
Of course they accept the invitation. RSVPs are dispatched forthwith by overnight delivery and plans are made for their trip to the ceremony. Who in their right mind wouldn’t attend? It is an honor to be invited, one never anticipated or expected. It is a most humbling experience.
The world’s most famous person, the Groom, is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. He is marrying His Church, the Bride. This will occur at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. The father of the Bride is the Holy Spirit. He has teemed up with His daughter to invite all mankind to the ceremony.
It seems incongruous, nay, inconceivable, that anyone in his right mind would decline the invite. Alas, but a not inconsiderable number of folks do just that. Those who do not accept demonstrate thereby that they are not in their right mind. Sin makes us crazy, dear people. When we submit to sin we become certified loonies. We are not in our right mind.
Those who do accept the gracious offer, however, form a sizable contingent of mankind. Even more, they are transformed from being attendees into being the Bride. Whoever heard of a wedding invitation having such powers? Wow!
Now that they are the Bride too, they join in sending out the invitations. The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” They, you see, fit the criteria “the one who hears”, so they also say, “Come.” They join in by inviting others to the ceremony.
This pretty much exhausts the list of folks from the quoted Bible verse which began this study. Oh, I almost forgot! We did leave off some folks who are essential to the story. They would be,
• the one who is thirsty
• the one who wishes
The one who is thirsty should “Come!” because there will be plenty of invigorating drink at the ceremony. He will have no difficulty quenching his thirst. After all, the Groom is able to change water into wine.
The one who wishes should “Come!” He will sate his thirst with an abundance of the water of life. Yea, even better, he won’t have to pay a penny for it! It is totally free of charge. It doesn’t get any better than this.
I guess all that’s left to ponder is where I fit in the story. Am I a part of the Bride of Christ? Perhaps I am not but I am one who is thirsty. Maybe I am one who wishes to drink of the water of life without cost.
Whoever I may be, one thing is certain: I am invited! It’s up to me how I will respond to the invitation. Will I come? Will I drink of the water of life freely, i.e., by grace?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Imagine folks, as they go to their mailbox and pick up their mail. As they sort through the various correspondence, they find a most attractive envelope sporting a seal and vignette. It is a wedding invitation from the world’s most famous person. Wow! They are floored.
Of course they accept the invitation. RSVPs are dispatched forthwith by overnight delivery and plans are made for their trip to the ceremony. Who in their right mind wouldn’t attend? It is an honor to be invited, one never anticipated or expected. It is a most humbling experience.
The world’s most famous person, the Groom, is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. He is marrying His Church, the Bride. This will occur at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. The father of the Bride is the Holy Spirit. He has teemed up with His daughter to invite all mankind to the ceremony.
It seems incongruous, nay, inconceivable, that anyone in his right mind would decline the invite. Alas, but a not inconsiderable number of folks do just that. Those who do not accept demonstrate thereby that they are not in their right mind. Sin makes us crazy, dear people. When we submit to sin we become certified loonies. We are not in our right mind.
Those who do accept the gracious offer, however, form a sizable contingent of mankind. Even more, they are transformed from being attendees into being the Bride. Whoever heard of a wedding invitation having such powers? Wow!
Now that they are the Bride too, they join in sending out the invitations. The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” They, you see, fit the criteria “the one who hears”, so they also say, “Come.” They join in by inviting others to the ceremony.
This pretty much exhausts the list of folks from the quoted Bible verse which began this study. Oh, I almost forgot! We did leave off some folks who are essential to the story. They would be,
• the one who is thirsty
• the one who wishes
The one who is thirsty should “Come!” because there will be plenty of invigorating drink at the ceremony. He will have no difficulty quenching his thirst. After all, the Groom is able to change water into wine.
The one who wishes should “Come!” He will sate his thirst with an abundance of the water of life. Yea, even better, he won’t have to pay a penny for it! It is totally free of charge. It doesn’t get any better than this.
I guess all that’s left to ponder is where I fit in the story. Am I a part of the Bride of Christ? Perhaps I am not but I am one who is thirsty. Maybe I am one who wishes to drink of the water of life without cost.
Whoever I may be, one thing is certain: I am invited! It’s up to me how I will respond to the invitation. Will I come? Will I drink of the water of life freely, i.e., by grace?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Unique Wedding Invitation – Part 1
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost [Revelation 22:17].
I remember my wedding. The invitations went out, inviting the guests to the gala event. The invitation read something like this: “The people of God cordially request your attendance to witness the union of Randy & Jossie”. Of course it was a little more formal than that. It did include our full legal names!
This memory got me to thinking. At a wedding it is traditional for the bride to be given to the groom by the bride’s father. Am I not right? In that context consider the phrase in the Bible verse quoted above: The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Sounds like a wedding invitation to me.
Even more, it smacks of the father of the bride and his daughter. This Scripture has to do with inviting folks to come to the Lord Jesus and live. Anyone doing so is born again, which means he is baptized with the Spirit as a part of the Church. The Church is the Bride of Christ Jesus.
Let’s list the apposite Biblical truths:
• the Groom is the Lord Jesus
• the Bride is the Church
• the Spirit indwells the Bride and fits her for her Groom
Now let’s roll this concept over our tongue a bit and get the full flavor. When I was born, my parents were the source of my life. Of course God gives life, but His normal way of doing so is through procreation. This is to be done within the context of one man/one woman marriage.
In this vein when I was born again, I received the new life of the Spirit. The Spirit is the source of my new life, indwelling me and conforming me into the image of Jesus. Do you see the correlation between parents in the natural realm and the Spirit in the spiritual realm?
Now consider the phrase The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” It is the wedding invitation. The Bride is the Church, the Groom is the Lord Jesus, and the Bride’s parent is the Spirit. The Bride and her Father are inviting everyone who will to the wedding ceremony.
This is a most unusual ceremony, however. Those who do come don’t function as the attendees. They come to the Lord Jesus, the Groom, and are born again. In doing so they too become a part of the Bride, the Church. By accepting the invitation, the guests are transformed into the Bride who sends the invitations.
Wow! This is deep theology. We must continue this analysis and see what else we can learn. But it will have to wait until the morrow. Let’s visit with the Groom now.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
I remember my wedding. The invitations went out, inviting the guests to the gala event. The invitation read something like this: “The people of God cordially request your attendance to witness the union of Randy & Jossie”. Of course it was a little more formal than that. It did include our full legal names!
This memory got me to thinking. At a wedding it is traditional for the bride to be given to the groom by the bride’s father. Am I not right? In that context consider the phrase in the Bible verse quoted above: The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Sounds like a wedding invitation to me.
Even more, it smacks of the father of the bride and his daughter. This Scripture has to do with inviting folks to come to the Lord Jesus and live. Anyone doing so is born again, which means he is baptized with the Spirit as a part of the Church. The Church is the Bride of Christ Jesus.
Let’s list the apposite Biblical truths:
• the Groom is the Lord Jesus
• the Bride is the Church
• the Spirit indwells the Bride and fits her for her Groom
Now let’s roll this concept over our tongue a bit and get the full flavor. When I was born, my parents were the source of my life. Of course God gives life, but His normal way of doing so is through procreation. This is to be done within the context of one man/one woman marriage.
In this vein when I was born again, I received the new life of the Spirit. The Spirit is the source of my new life, indwelling me and conforming me into the image of Jesus. Do you see the correlation between parents in the natural realm and the Spirit in the spiritual realm?
Now consider the phrase The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” It is the wedding invitation. The Bride is the Church, the Groom is the Lord Jesus, and the Bride’s parent is the Spirit. The Bride and her Father are inviting everyone who will to the wedding ceremony.
This is a most unusual ceremony, however. Those who do come don’t function as the attendees. They come to the Lord Jesus, the Groom, and are born again. In doing so they too become a part of the Bride, the Church. By accepting the invitation, the guests are transformed into the Bride who sends the invitations.
Wow! This is deep theology. We must continue this analysis and see what else we can learn. But it will have to wait until the morrow. Let’s visit with the Groom now.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Unique Wedding Invitation – Part 2
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost [Revelation 22:17].
Imagine folks, as they go to their mailbox and pick up their mail. As they sort through the various correspondence, they find a most attractive envelope sporting a seal and vignette. It is a wedding invitation from the world’s most famous person. Wow! They are floored.
Of course they accept the invitation. RSVPs are dispatched forthwith by overnight delivery and plans are made for their trip to the ceremony. Who in their right mind wouldn’t attend? It is an honor to be invited, one never anticipated or expected. It is a most humbling experience.
The world’s most famous person, the Groom, is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. He is marrying His Church, the Bride. This will occur at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. The father of the Bride is the Holy Spirit. He has teemed up with His daughter to invite all mankind to the ceremony.
It seems incongruous, nay, inconceivable, that anyone in his right mind would decline the invite. Alas, but a not inconsiderable number of folks do just that. Those who do not accept demonstrate thereby that they are not in their right mind. Sin makes us crazy, dear people. When we submit to sin we become certified loonies. We are not in our right mind.
Those who do accept the gracious offer, however, form a sizable contingent of mankind. Even more, they are transformed from being attendees into being the Bride. Whoever heard of a wedding invitation having such powers? Wow!
Now that they are the Bride too, they join in sending out the invitations. The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” They, you see, fit the criteria “the one who hears”, so they also say, “Come.” They join in by inviting others to the ceremony.
This pretty much exhausts the list of folks from the quoted Bible verse which began this study. Oh, I almost forgot! We did leave off some folks who are essential to the story. They would be,
• the one who is thirsty
• the one who wishes
The one who is thirsty should “Come!” because there will be plenty of invigorating drink at the ceremony. He will have no difficulty quenching his thirst. After all, the Groom is able to change water into wine.
The one who wishes should “Come!” He will sate his thirst with an abundance of the water of life. Yea, even better, he won’t have to pay a penny for it! It is totally free of charge. It doesn’t get any better than this.
I guess all that’s left to ponder is where I fit in the story. Am I a part of the Bride of Christ? Perhaps I am not but I am one who is thirsty. Maybe I am one who wishes to drink of the water of life without cost.
Whoever I may be, one thing is certain: I am invited! It’s up to me how I will respond to the invitation. Will I come? Will I drink of the water of life freely, i.e., by grace?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Imagine folks, as they go to their mailbox and pick up their mail. As they sort through the various correspondence, they find a most attractive envelope sporting a seal and vignette. It is a wedding invitation from the world’s most famous person. Wow! They are floored.
Of course they accept the invitation. RSVPs are dispatched forthwith by overnight delivery and plans are made for their trip to the ceremony. Who in their right mind wouldn’t attend? It is an honor to be invited, one never anticipated or expected. It is a most humbling experience.
The world’s most famous person, the Groom, is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. He is marrying His Church, the Bride. This will occur at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. The father of the Bride is the Holy Spirit. He has teemed up with His daughter to invite all mankind to the ceremony.
It seems incongruous, nay, inconceivable, that anyone in his right mind would decline the invite. Alas, but a not inconsiderable number of folks do just that. Those who do not accept demonstrate thereby that they are not in their right mind. Sin makes us crazy, dear people. When we submit to sin we become certified loonies. We are not in our right mind.
Those who do accept the gracious offer, however, form a sizable contingent of mankind. Even more, they are transformed from being attendees into being the Bride. Whoever heard of a wedding invitation having such powers? Wow!
Now that they are the Bride too, they join in sending out the invitations. The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” They, you see, fit the criteria “the one who hears”, so they also say, “Come.” They join in by inviting others to the ceremony.
This pretty much exhausts the list of folks from the quoted Bible verse which began this study. Oh, I almost forgot! We did leave off some folks who are essential to the story. They would be,
• the one who is thirsty
• the one who wishes
The one who is thirsty should “Come!” because there will be plenty of invigorating drink at the ceremony. He will have no difficulty quenching his thirst. After all, the Groom is able to change water into wine.
The one who wishes should “Come!” He will sate his thirst with an abundance of the water of life. Yea, even better, he won’t have to pay a penny for it! It is totally free of charge. It doesn’t get any better than this.
I guess all that’s left to ponder is where I fit in the story. Am I a part of the Bride of Christ? Perhaps I am not but I am one who is thirsty. Maybe I am one who wishes to drink of the water of life without cost.
Whoever I may be, one thing is certain: I am invited! It’s up to me how I will respond to the invitation. Will I come? Will I drink of the water of life freely, i.e., by grace?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
